ABOUT THE PROJECT

In early 2011 the Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM) discussed a strategic approach to Adapting to Coastal Climate Change in Port Phillip Bay in response to a Federally funded Coastal Adaptation Pathways program. With successful funding the Port Phillip Bay Coastal Adaptation Pathways Project was initiated in 2011 by the Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM) with support from the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), and the Central Coastal Board (CCB).

If a rigorous economic model could be developed, trialled and favourably assessed, this could then be shared by all decision-making bodies with an interest in coastal flood mitigation.

A central piece of research such as this would prevent the need for each of the bodies to develop their own models. Not only would shared research result in massive cost savings, but the process of working together on the modelling would also unite the various government bodies - an important consideration with long-term benefits for the community.

Funding was sought and has been provided by the Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD).

Four municipalities offered five specific case-study sites to apply and test the thinking behind the project, which was developed by consultant economists and engineers AECOM. The councils are: City of Kingston, City of Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula Shire and City of Port Phillip. Each council put forward an area for study, with the City of Melbourne nominating two sites.

Other parties involved in the project are: Melbourne Water, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research (VCCCAR).

The final report of the project is available for download here.

Individual case study reports can be found linked within this website under the Case Studies tab.