Geelong council supports sea level rise inundation overlay

THE City of Greater Geelong will support a planning model to protect Bellarine residents and properties forecast to be affected by future sea level rises and severe storm surge events.

Amendment C394 – Proposed Coastal Inundation Overlay will introduce the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay around the Bellarine Peninsula and Corio Bay.

The overlay would help reduce risks to public safety and damage to properties, which have been identified as being prone to future flood events and climate change induced sea level rise.

Many properties are already covered by flood overlays, but this overlay implements the State Government policy of planning for a 0.8m sea level rise by 2100 and allowing for the combined effects of tides, storm surges and coastal processes.

Mayor Bruce Harwood said the City of Greater Geelong had a duty of care to act on this modelling, to protect residents and properties forecast to be affected by future sea level rises and severe storm surge events.

“The amendment is based on scientific reports, hazard assessments and inundation maps,” Mr Harwood said.

“Assessment of planning permits for new development on the coastal fringe can lower the risk of potential injury and death, damage to property, agricultural losses and hardship in our communities.”

More than 1,725 properties around the City’s coast would be affected, including 1,241 residential properties of which 62 are vacant land.

The areas that would be covered by the amendment are Avalon, Geelong, Moolap, Newcomb, Portarlington, Indented Head, St Leonards, Swan Bay, Barwon River estuary Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Breamlea.

Point Lonsdale is excluded for now but will undergo further flood modelling that considers The Point waterway system, which is currently being constructed.

The overlay means a planning permit would be needed for buildings and works with exemptions, including upper storey extensions and additions less than 20 square metres.

The amendment also aims to avoid development in coastal hazard areas that are susceptible to inundation.

Subject to the Minister for Planning authorising the amendment to process, affected property owners will be directly notified and then get a chance to have their say.

The proposal will go on display and public submissions are likely to go through an independent panel process.

The amendment proposes to implement the Bellarine Peninsula – Corio Bay Local Coastal Hazard Assessment December 2015.

The development of the hazard assessment involved significant community engagement.