Inverloch Coastline Erosion
Our story of the Inverloch coastal erosion began in 2013 with a major research project, the Inverloch Coastal Resilience Project, which mapped the blah blah of the Inverloch waterway. Since then the coastline has been eroded by increased and more severe storms which threaten the natural and built environments.
Pictorial History of Coastline Changes – photographic record of changes to the beach 2004-2026
Chronology of Events – key milestones relating to Inverloch coastline changes 2013-2026
Inverloch Coastal Resilience Project – The South Gippsland Conservation Society’s Inverloch Coastal Resilience Project (ICRP) has been monitoring and analysing coastline changes at Inverloch since the current recession sequence commenced in 2013. The project is aimed at raising awareness of the loss of vegetated dunes within the coastal reserve and the threat posed to the Surf Beach and adjoining infrastructure and residences.
The investigations undertaken by the ICRP team are outlined, as are its campaign activities that contributed to the Victorian Government’s decision to commence its Cape to Cape Resilience Project (C2CRP) in 2019. Between 2021-2024, the ICRP team provided extensive input and comment to the C2CRP team.
In 2025, SGCS linked with the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club and the Inverloch Tourism Association to form the Inverloch Coastal Advocacy Network (I*CAN). I*CAN met regularly with the C2CRP team throughout 2025 during finalisation of the Cape to Cape Resilience Plan and planning for the beach renourishment and dune revegetation now underway.
This section compiles the key findings of the ICRPs analysis of coastline changes and identifies the factors that have contributed to the accelerated erosion that has occurred since 2013.This draws on the investigations undertaken for ICRP, as well the Inverloch Region Coastal Hazard Assessment undertaken by Water Technology for the C2CRP.
Cape to Cape Resilience Project –
The Victorian Government’s Cape to Cape Resilience Project was completed on two stages:
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Stage 1: 2021/22-Undertaking of a Community Values Study and the Inverloch Region Coastal Hazard Assessment
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Stage 2: 2022/25- preparation of the Cape to Cape Resilience Plan, a long-term adaptation plan for the coastline from Cape Paterson to Cape Liptrap. This plan drew on the Stage 1 studies, as well hazard maps, a risk and vulnerability assessment and Government policy.
The slides in this section provide an overview of the key elements of the project and its main findings, with a focus on the adaptation plan for the Inverloch Coastline. This includes adaptation options considered and the beach renourishment and dune revegetation works that commenced in June 2026.
This section explains the background to SGCSs support for the C2CRP Plan and the beach renourishment and dune revegetation project. The SGCSs Inverloch Coastal Restoration Project (ICRP2.0) is also outlined.