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Latest News
Close X11 November 2026
Upcoming temporary closure – 13th Beach sand ramp beach access and car park
Expressions of interest are now open for temporary summer food vendor permits across Barwon Coast Caravan Parks from 19 December 2026 to 31 January 2027.
9 November 2026
Hooded Plover update: three chicks thriving and a new nest
Three chicks thriving and a new nest
5 November 2026
Three Hooded Plover chicks hatch at Barwon Bluff South
Three chicks have hatched at Barwon Bluff South
3 November 2026
Hooded Plover update – two active nests
Two nests have failed and two remain along our coastline.
3 November 2026
Final Foreshore Master Plan released
Barwon Coast has launched its new Foreshore Master Plan, setting a shared direction for the management of 22 kilometres of coastline over the next 15 years.
Key Project Dates
8 October to 5 November 2025
Community consultation period 100%
Late Nov 2025
Review and analyse community input 100%
May 2026
Close the loop 100%
May 2026
Final Strategies shared 100%
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Biodiversity and Mature Tree strategies
Published on 8 October 2025
Project Overview
Over 2025-2026 Barwon Coast developed two important draft strategies to guide the future care and management of our coastal reserves. The Biodiversity Strategy 2025–35 outlines our goals and actions to protect and enhance natural habitats, guide sustainable land management, and monitor environmental progress. The Mature Tree Strategy sets our vision for safeguarding mature trees, planning for their long-term succession, and maintaining the unique character of our coastal landscapes. Together, these strategies have helped shape the forthcoming Draft Foreshore Master Plan.
Final Barwon Coast Biodiversity Strategy 2025–35 and Mature Tree Strategy
Following community, stakeholder and community group consultation on the draft strategies, we have finalised the Barwon Coast Biodiversity Strategy 2025–35 and Mature Tree Strategy.
Closing the Loop on what we heard and what we did
Over the consultation period, Barwon Coast sought feedback through a mix of in-person, online, and written engagement methods, including:
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Consultation session with volunteer and conservation groups – provided an opportunity to discuss the draft strategies, share insights, and ask questions.
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Community pop-up session at the Barwon Heads Makers Market – allowed face-to-face engagement with residents and visitors.
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Online information session – offered remote participation, presentation of the strategies, and a Q&A opportunity.
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Online survey – collected structured feedback on what resonated, what could be improved, and any missing information.
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Written submissions via email – enabled individuals and organisations to provide detailed feedback in their own words.
All feedback received through these channels helped shape the final strategies. If you’re interested in learning more about the community engagement process and how the strategies were updated in response, a Community Engagement ‘Closing the Loop Report’ can be found below.
Read the Closing the Loop Report
Why your input matters
Community voices, together with technical evidence, are shaping the Foreshore Master Plan and related strategies. Alongside community and stakeholder input, other key technical documents also helped guide this work:
- Accessibility Audit
- Bancoora Coastal Adaptation Plan
- Coastal Hazards Exposure Report
About the strategies
- Biodiversity Strategy 2025–35: outlines our goals and actions to protect and enhance natural habitats, guide sustainable land management, and monitor progress.
- Mature Tree Strategy: sets our vision and actions for safeguarding mature trees, planning for their succession, and maintaining the unique character of our coastal reserves.
Frequently asked questions
What was being consulted on?
During the consultation period (8 October – 6 November 2025) community feedback on two draft strategies: the Biodiversity Strategy 2025–35, which outlines how we will protect and enhance natural habitats along the coast, and the Mature Tree Strategy, which sets objectives and actions to safeguard and manage mature trees across our reserves.
Where can I read the final strategies?
You can read the draft strategies here:
Who could provide feedback?
Anyone with an interest in Barwon Coast’s coastal environment was welcome to provide feedback, including residents, visitors, conservation groups, and partner organisations.
Was this consultation genuine?
Yes. Barwon Coast was genuine in asking for feedback on the draft strategies.
We sought to discover:
- What aspects of the strategies resonated with stakeholders and community members
- What could be improved
- Anything missing or areas where we may not have enough information.
This is referred to as the ‘scope’ of the consultation.
The level of consultation for this project under our community engagement participation spectrum as found in our Community Engagement Framework which is in line with the International Association for Public Participation’s Public Participation Spectrum, is ‘consult’, as the community interest is medium/high, and the impact on the broader community impact is classified as ‘low’.
What couldn’t change about the strategies based on community feedback?
Some elements of the strategies could not be altered because they have been guided by the Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP), follow established industry-standard methodologies, must be delivered within available resources and capabilities, or relate to works required for safety and risk mitigation. While we welcome community input, these components are essential and must remain in place.
All input was considered and a feedback report will has been published summarising the key themes and how the input has been reflected in the final strategies: Closing the Loop Report
Who can I contact if I have questions?
For questions about the consultation, you can email office@barwoncoast.com.au
ℹ️ Service disruption – Microsoft outage
Barwon Coast is currently experiencing some system disruptions due to the global Microsoft issue, which may affect our ability to respond to enquiries as quickly as usual.
If your enquiry is urgent, please give us a call on (03) 5254 1118.
Thanks for your patience and understanding. We`ll keep you updated and let you know when we are back to normal.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17929250781430885
A little kindness goes a long way.
This World Kindness Day, we`re encouraging everyone in our coastal communities to show kindness to one another, to our environment and to the people who care for it.
Our Barwon Coast team works hard, and with heart, every day to care for the coast we all love. Whether they`re maintaining our beaches and facilities, protecting our natural environment or helping visitors enjoy their time on the coast, they do so with pride and dedication.
We ask our community to extend the same care and respect to our staff that they show to our coastline.
A friendly smile, a kind word or a simple thank you can make someone`s day. Be kind to each other. Be kind to our staff. Be kind to our coast. 💙Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18117989651177046
The coastal skies can be so much more interesting than just clear blue (although we do love a sunny day on the coast!). This pic by one of our clever staff members gives yet another new perspective on the Bluff, sea and skies 🤩 What a magical place to live, work or visit - we are so lucky.
Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18030846653916129
A little chick, with a watchful parent close by! 🐣
Filmed on Monday at Barwon Bluff, this Hooded Plover chick is one of three that hatched last week. All three chicks were last sighted yesterday and are still going strong!
A big thank you to Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine for their incredible work monitoring these vulnerable birds and for sharing this precious footage with us.
Please continue to respect beach closures and follow signed detours to give these little ones the best chance of survival.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17870379807676431
🚧 Temporary beach access closure – Thirteenth Beach
The car park and beach access path at Thirteenth Beach sand ramp beach access (Emergency Marker THI182, formerly 40W) will be temporarily closed on Friday 13 November 2026 for essential track surface repairs.
Works are expected to take one day.
Thanks for your patience while we complete these important maintenance works to keep our coastal access tracks safe.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17913952881474350
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
– Laurence Binyon, For the Fallen
Today, we honour those who have served and sacrificed in times of war, conflict and peacekeeping.
We also acknowledge the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have served in defence of our country and the freedoms we enjoy today.
At 11 am, we join Australians across the country in observing one minute`s silence to remember all who have served and sacrificed.
Lest we forget. 🌺Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17894808372457653
💙 Hooded Plover update – Three chicks and a new nest!
Some positive news from our coast today (9 November)!
🐣 Barwon Bluff South: All three chicks are now five days old and were spotted foraging on the intertidal reef this morning.
🥚 Thirteenth Beach at Boings: A new nest has been discovered with three eggs!
How you can help:
💙 Do not enter the closed section of beach between The Bluff Dune South and The Hole beach accesses.
💙 Follow the signed pedestrian detours.
💙 At Thirteenth Beach at Boings, keep dogs on lead and walk close to the waterline.
💙 Follow local signage and give nesting birds and chicks plenty of space.
Thank you for helping give these vulnerable shorebirds the best chance of survival! And a big thank you to Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine for their ongoing monitoring efforts and for sharing this wonderful video with us!
Find out more, including the beach closure map, on our website news section (link in bio).Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18118997903333198
The magic of the sun rising over this beautiful stretch of coastline will never be taken for granted - at Barwon Coast, we count ourselves lucky to be tasked with caring for the coast. Do you love to catch a sunrise, or a sunset, at the beach? Where are the best vantage points? What about a sunrise swim, like the @sunrise.hunter_ group that meets every morning at Ocean Grove Main Beach all year round?
Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18116099363118368
📣 Did you know you can report an issue via our website?
Whether it`s vandalism to one of the facilities we manage, a maintenance issue or something else that needs fixing, you can let us know using our online reporting form.
Our team will review your report as soon as possible and follow up where required.
💻 Report an issue via our website (link in bio)
Thanks for helping us care for our coast!
P.S. This is an old picOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17912764764576019
💙 Three Hooded Plover chicks have hatched at Barwon Bluff South! 🐣
Three Hooded Plover chicks hatched today (5 November), marking a positive milestone in this year`s breeding season.
To protect the chicks, a temporary beach closure is being established between The Bluff Dune South and The Hole beach accesses for approximately five weeks, until the chicks can fly and are considered self-sufficient.
💙 Please respect the closure and follow local signage and barriers.
💙 Follow the signed pedestrian detour or explore one of our other beautiful local beaches while the chicks grow.
💙 Keep dogs away from the protected area and give the chicks plenty of space.
A big thank you to the Friends of the Hooded Plover – Bellarine volunteers for their ongoing efforts!
Read the full update, including the beach closure map on our news story on our website - link in bioOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 18167792071514931
This is Wadawurrung Country. We acknowledge the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the land, waters, seas and skies of Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, 13th Beach, Black Rock and Breamlea. We honour and say Nyatne to Elders past, present and future whose ancestors, for thousands of years, have cared for this part of Dja (Country). We are committed as an organisation to meaningfully work together with Traditional Owners to make Wadawurrung Culture and Country strong.
© 2026 Barwon Coast. Website by Residency Studios.
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