Authority monitoring recent coastal erosion

Published on 03 October 2024

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority is responding to the impact of erosion along our coastline.

Recent large swell, high tides and heavy rain have significantly impacted the Great Ocean Road coastline, prompting our crews to assess and repair damage from Torquay to Port Campbell.

Beach nourishment works at Mounts Bay and Skenes Creek have provided increased resilience to storm erosion, and we continue to monitor these sites closely.

Additional beach nourishment works are being planned at Skenes Creek due to sand loss between the creek and the carpark. Natural sand cycles are expected to restore beaches like Bells Beach, Fairhaven and White’s Beach over the summer months.

Dune stabilising works have been recently undertaken at Mother’s Beach in Apollo Bay.  

At Torquay’s Back each (69W), storm damage has caused a sinkhole in the walking track, damaged the stairs, and led to gravel washout. Our Coastal Operations team restored access ahead of the long weekend.

We’re also planning a structural assessment of the sea wall at Torquay Back Beach to determine if any repairs are required.

In Port Campbell, crews have spread 15m² of mulch and 9m² of gravel to ensure the recreation reserve was ready for visitors, following sustained heavy rain.

Recent weather conditions serve as a timely reminder of the importance of cliff safety along the Great Ocean Road and we remind the community and visitors to follow safety guidelines when near cliffs.

At Point Roadknight, approximately 70m north of the boat ramp, a 5m section of undercut cliff collapsed last week. We are actively monitoring the area and urge the public to avoid the site and follow all safety signage in place.”