Addiscot Beach hit by fresh cliff collapses

A series of cliff collapses has occurred along the Surf Coast, with multiple fresh falls at Addiscot Beach between Southside and Point Addis sending rock and earth across the sand below.

The collapses at Jarosite Point have stripped back sections of the sandstone face, exposing new rock layers and leaving debris spread along the base of the cliff, affecting movement along the beach.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) said it was aware of and was monitoring the collapses.

“Safety advice is the same as ever around these unstable cliffs,” the land manager said in a post on Facebook on Thursday.

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

Beachgoers are encouraged to stay clear of cliff edges and bases, stick to established paths and follow warning signs.

The latest falls come after repeated cliff failures along the same stretch of coastline in recent months.

A significant collapse occurred at Jarosite Point in August last year, prompting safety warnings and ongoing monitoring.

In early January, another large section of cliff gave way at Addiscot Beach between Southside and Point Addis, within an existing exclusion zone, after a paraglider reported visible cracking in the cliff face shortly before the collapse.

At the time, GORCAPA said cliffs along the Surf Coast are constantly changing due to wind, rain, wave action and natural erosion.

Further cliff movement have also been recorded at other Surf Coast locations over the past year, including near the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club and at Demons Bluff.

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