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Latest News
Close X15 October 2026
Hooded Plover update β two new nests at Thirteenth Beach
Great news for Hooded Plovers, with two new nests identified at Thirteenth Beach
13 October 2026
Temporary parking changes at Lahey Square β Wedsnesday 14 October
Filming for a car commercial is taking place in Barwon Heads on Wednesday 14 October.
7 October 2026
Hooded Plover breeding season update
Hooded Plover breeding season is underway across our coast, with a new nest now confirmed.
7 October 2026
Damage to Crater toilet block at 13th Beach
The Crater public toilet block at the lower car park next to Barwon Heads Thirteenth Beach Surf Life Saving Club has been temporarily closed following significant damage to the building overnight.
6 October 2026
Increased mosquito activity across the region
Barwon Coast is aware of increased mosquito activity following an unusually early start to the mosquito breeding season.
Related Documents
Key Project Dates
Late November 2023
Notification of upcoming change 100%
August 2024
First phase of markers installed 100%
Feb 2025
Remainder of markers installed 100%
Emergency Markers at Barwon Coast
Published on 23 November 2023
Enhancing Safety Along The Coastline
Weβve taken a significant step forward in public safety with the installation of 60 new emergency markers along the coastal reserve from Collendina to Breamlea. These markers are part of the Triple Zero Victoria emergency marker system, designed to pinpoint exact locations during emergencies in open spaces.
What are Emergency Markers?
Emergency markers are green signs with white text, displaying a unique six-character alphanumeric code. This code is linked to Triple Zero’s Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, providing vital information such as:
- Precise location
- GPS coordinates
- Road access routes
- Other crucial navigational data
When a person in distress quotes this code to a Triple Zero operator, it enables swift and accurate dispatch of emergency services to the exact location.
Why the Change?
Determining caller location is the most critical piece of information used by emergency (Triple Zero/000) call takers to dispatch emergency personnel and resources. While the familiar yellow beach location signs (e.g., 36W) have served the community well, they are not integrated with the Triple Zero CAD system. This limitation can lead to delays in emergency response times.
The new emergency markers address this issue, offering a standardised system that is immediately recognised and actioned by Triple Zero operators.
What this Means for Beach Users
For those enjoying Barwon Coast’s beaches and trails:
1. Look out for the new green emergency marker signs.
2. In an emergency, dial 000.
3. Quote the unique code on the nearest green emergency marker to the operator.
4. If no green marker is visible, describe your location as clearly as possible.
**Important:** The rule of thumb for beach users in case of emergency is if there is a green emergency marker sign with an alphanumeric code, that is what should be provided to 000 operators, rather than the previous yellow beach location sign numbers.
A Phased Implementation
The installation of these emergency markers is being carried out in stages:
- Stage 1, which has just been completed, includes 60 markers primarily located at beach access points. THIS STAGE IS NOW COMPLETE.
- Stage 2 is currently underway. To read more about Stage 2, please click below.
A Collaborative Effort
This initiative is the result of collaboration between Barwon Coast, Triple Zero Victoria, and local emergency services. It represents our ongoing commitment to enhancing safety measures for our community and visitors.
While Barwon Coast understands and respects the history and community connection to the yellow beach location signs, safety is of paramount importance, and the new emergency markers will save our emergency responders time in locating those in need.
Find Emergency Markers
For more information or to view the locations of the new emergency markers, please visit: the Emergency Markers website:
Emergency Markers Website
Remember, in an emergency, every second counts. These new markers are here to help emergency services reach you as quickly as possible when you need them most.
π₯ A little egg-citing news from Ocean Grove!
A new Hooded Plover nest has been reported along Ocean Grove Beach, between Wedge Street and Tuckfield Street! π£
These tiny shorebirds nest directly on the sand, making their eggs incredibly vulnerable to disturbance.
If you`re heading to the beach, please give our little beach-nesting locals the best chance of success by keeping your distance, following signage and keeping dogs away from nesting.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18094379864659562
A huge congratulations to Breamlea Coastcare! πΏπ
We`re incredibly proud to celebrate Breamlea Coastcare being named Coastcare Group of the Year at the 2026 Victorian Coastcare Awards! πΏπ
What a fantastic achievement and such well-deserved recognition for a group that gives so much to protecting and caring for our beautiful coastline.
Much of the hard work that goes into coastal conservation happens quietly behind the scenes, but the difference it makes is enormous, with benefits that will be felt for generations to come.
To everyone involved with Breamlea Coastcare, a heartfelt congratulations and an even bigger thank you! Your passion, commitment and countless hours of volunteering make a lasting difference to our coastal environment and the wider community. πOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 18640240123062951
π¦ Don`t forget β the Aussie Bird Count starts today!
Our friends at @birdlifeoz are calling on everyone to spend just 20 minutes counting the birds around them between now and Sunday 25 October.
Whether you`re walking along our beautiful coastline, exploring a local park or relaxing in your backyard, it`s a great way to connect with nature and contribute to important citizen science. πΏ
No experience needed β just download the free Aussie Bird Count app and get counting!
π Register at https://aussiebirdcount.org.auOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 18117035636092839
We`re Hiring! Sustainability & Community Officer
Help shape a more sustainable future for our coast and community!
Are you passionate about sustainability, connecting people and making a real difference to our coastal environment?
We`re looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Sustainability & Community Officer to join the Barwon Coast team!
This is an exciting opportunity to help drive our sustainability initiatives, strengthen relationships with our incredible volunteers and community groups, and create meaningful environmental education and engagement opportunities.
You`ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to protecting and caring for the beautiful coastline across Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and beyond.
Sound like you, or someone you know?
We`d love to hear from you!
π Apply now: https://barwoncoast.com.au/career/sustainability-community-officer/
Please share with your networks and help us find our next team member!
#BarwonCoast #Sustainability #CommunityEngagement #EnvironmentalEducation #CoastalConservation #GeelongJobs #BellarinePeninsulaOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17900276976670927
πΏ What does caring for the coast mean?
Well, it means lots of things! From maintaining the facilities and infrastructure across the 22 km of coastal Crown land we manage, to doing everything we can to protect our precious natural environment and restoring native vegetation.
π± Like this little Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood) tree β one of 250 plants of varying native species planted across our coastal reserves over the past three months.
Choosing the right plants for the right places helps restore habitat, support local biodiversity and ensure our coast continues to thrive for generations to come.
It`s all part of the everyday work that goes into caring for our coast. π
#CaringForOurCoast #BarwonCoast #CoastalConservation #BiodiversityOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17906692704576068
π£π£ Great news for our little Hoodies!
We`ve got two new Hooded Plover nests at 13th Beach, and the existing nest at Bluff South Dune (The Corner) is still going strong! π
π₯π₯π₯ 13th Beach β Boings: 3 eggs
π₯ 13th Beach β The Ant: 1 egg
π₯π₯π₯ Bluff South Dune β The Corner: Nest still in place!
We`re also keeping a close eye on three potential nesting sites at Bancoora β Black Rock, Breamlea and Wedge Street to Tuckfield Street at Ocean Grove/Collendina.
It`s encouraging news for these vulnerable little shorebirds, but there`s still a long way to go before any chicks successfully fledge.
If you`re heading to the beach, please give our Hoodies plenty of space, follow temporary signage and keep dogs on lead where required.
A huge shout-out to the wonderful Friends of the Hooded Plover β Bellarine volunteers, whose dedication, countless hours of monitoring and tireless efforts to protect these vulnerable little birds make such a difference. We`re so grateful for everything you do to give our Hoodies the best chance of survival! ππ£
π Read the latest nesting update on our website news page.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18416111614155062
π¦ Calling all bird lovers!
The Aussie Bird Count is back from 19β25 October, and our friends at BirdLife Australia (@birdlifeoz) are inviting everyone to get involved!
Whether you`re exploring our beautiful coastline, relaxing in your backyard or visiting a local park, all it takes is 20 minutes to discover the birdlife around you.
It`s a fun, free way to connect with nature while contributing to important citizen science that helps us better understand Australia`s bird populations.
πΏ No birdwatching experience needed β just a keen eye and a little curiosity!
π Register now at https://aussiebirdcount.org.au and get counting!Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18097783967401894
π± Our fleet is getting greener! πβ‘
We`re making the switch to greener ways of working, with three electric cleaning carts and an electric car already part of our fleet β and an electric van joining us soon!
Even better, our electric fleet is partially powered by renewable energy generated by solar panels installed on some of our facilities. βοΈ
It`s all part of our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint and finding more sustainable ways to care for the 22 km of coast we manage.
Small changes making a positive difference for our coast and community. π
#BarwonCoast #Sustainability #GreenFleetOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17993381511020214
π¬ Lights, camera, Barwon Heads!
We love seeing our beautiful coast in the spotlight! Tomorrow morning (Wednesday 14 October), a car commercial will be filmed around Lahey Square.
π Temporary parking changes
Lahey Square car park will be closed from approximately 7am to 10.45 am, with some gravel parking along Jetty Road also unavailable during filming.
Parking will remain available at At The Heads and along Flinders Parade.
Thanks for your patience while the cameras roll β we can`t wait to see our coast on the telly! πΊπOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17972896956179183
While the risk of H5 bird flu in pets is extremely low, it`s best to take precautions.
If you`re out walking your dog or spending time outdoors:
β Keep dogs on a lead in areas with native wildlife
β Don`t allow pets to investigate or eat dead animals
β Stop cats from roaming and hunting wildlife
These simple actions help protect pets, wildlife and curbs the spread of disease.
If you suspect H5 bird flu in birds, mammals, poultry or other captive birds, report it immediately by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 or to DEECA online.
Find out more at agriculture.vic.gov.au/birdflu
More information about responsible pet ownership and legal requirements: agriculture.vic.gov.au/animalwelfareOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 18078512987719592
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.
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