Cliff collapse near Point Addis triggers warning

A RECENT cliff collapse at Addiscot Beach has prompted renewed warnings about coastal safety, with authorities urging beachgoers to keep well clear of cliff edges and bases.

The collapse, which occurred on January 4 near the stretch of coastline between Southside Beach and Point Addis, came just days after a local paraglider raised concerns about visible cracking in the cliff face.

The incident marks the second significant cliff fall in the immediate Addiscot–Point Addis area since August, reinforcing warnings that the Surf Coast’s cliffs remain highly unstable.

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) confirmed the collapse occurred within an existing exclusion zone and said the area had already been subject to ongoing monitoring following earlier land slips.

“We are aware of and are monitoring a cliff hazard between Southside and Point Addis,” a GORCAPA spokesperson said.

“It’s near the same location as a large slip earlier this year, with safety advice the same as ever around these unstable cliffs.

“There is an exclusion zone already in place around the cliff and signage is installed near public access points.”

GORCAPA said cliffs along the Surf Coast are constantly changing due to wind, rain, wave action and natural erosion, and can fail without warning, even when conditions appear calm.

The land manager has reiterated its advice for people visiting coastal areas this summer to stay clear of cliffs and caves, stick to established paths, follow warning signage and remind others nearby to move away from cliff edges and bases.

The Addiscot collapse follows several other major cliff movements along the coast in the past year, including incidents near the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club in January, Demons Bluff in June, and the nearby collapse at Addiscot Beach’s Jarosite Point in August.

GORCAPA says regular geotechnical assessments, drone flights and on-ground inspections are carried out to track cliff movement, with fencing, signage and track closures adjusted where required to reduce risk.

Beachgoers are reminded exclusion zones are in place for safety reasons and that standing or sitting beneath cliffs, even briefly, can be dangerous.