General

• Will this project affect Frankston City's Planning Scheme?

• Council has committed to working with the Victorian Government to ensure flood and coastal hazards identified through the project are reflected in the planning systems, through a range of mechanisms that are still being explored. This may include planning scheme overlays, building and development controls and rezoning of land. These planning instruments are an important part in helping to avoid poor decisions that have lasting and costly impacts such as building in, developing and investing in areas that have increasing risks into the future.

  The information we receive from the community during this engagement will be added to data already gathered by Council from previous community reports, DEECA and Melbourne Water. Once we have comprehensive flood and coastal hazard maps, this will inform planning controls that will ensure future developments are better designed to avoid flooding impacts.

  Other Councils are undertaking updates such as new stormwater maps under the Building Regulations, Special Building Overlays (SBO) and Land Subject to Inundation Overlays (LSIO).

  If Council intends at any time to introduce new planning overlay controls or amend existing controls, it would need to commence an entirely new planning scheme amendment process with the State Government. Any planning scheme amendment would need to be based on strategic justification and would involve consultation with the affected property owners. You would have a chance to submit a comment on any future planning amendments during the exhibition period.

  We encourage you to ‘follow’ this page to receive updates on possible future planning changes.

• Are other Councils doing this work too?

• All Councils have a role to play in building their community's resilience and many Councils across Victoria have been doing this work already, or are about to start.

  With multiple Councils, Melbourne Water, and DEECA working on this at the same time, we've been able to collaborate, share insights, and benchmark our efforts to ensure that our modeling and preventive measures meet the diverse needs of our individual communities.

• Is my area at risk?

• If the map marks your area with flood information, it does not mean there’s an immediate danger. The mapped information will be used to identify which areas are considered to be at higher risk of flooding during extreme and severe weather events. It is important that we gather all relevant information so that we can effectively manage, reduce and respond to the risks.  

Floods

• How do we define 'flooding'?

• Flooding and rising water levels are a natural occurrence across Victoria. All Councils have a role to play in building their community's resilience. This is in partnership with water authorities, emergency services and other government bodies.

  Flooding can be influenced by factors including:

  • Severe rain events.
  • Land topography.
  • Capacity of the drainage system.
  • The extent that water can be absorbed into the ground.

  In a Council context, flooding is defined as a natural yet persistent gathering of stormwater that disturbs the intended use of infrastructure and properties.

  For this project, we have categorised different types of flooding in the following ways:

  1. Flooding on public land: Includes flooding on streets, path and reserves.
  2. Flooding for private land: Includes flooding that enters private land and/or homes.
• What is flood mapping?

• Melbourne Water and Frankston City Council are working together to map where flooding has occurred across Frankston City's inland and coastal areas. This will provide up-to-date information on the extent of flooding across Frankston City.

  With a comprehensive flood map, Melbourne Water and Council can facilitate robust planning for the future, and improve the resilience of our City. Our flood map will be used to support updates to Frankston City's Planning Scheme, emergency management, community awareness and, where practicable, flood mitigation works.

• Why is flood mapping happening now?

• Melbourne Water is re-modelling the whole of the Melbourne riverine and drainage network.

  Melbourne Water's Flood Strategy - Port Philip and Westernport (2021-2031) establishes a key objective to ensure “the right information is available at the right time to the people who need it.” The flood mapping project with Frankston City Council will provide fit-for-purpose flood maps indicating the location, extent, depth and velocity of flooding under both current and climate change conditions.

  The Flood Mapping Project is planned for completion in 2025, the project is being delivered by Melbourne Water in partnership with Council.

  The objective of this flood modelling study is to create new flood information for Council using current rainfall and land development data, flood modelling standards (such as Australian Rainfall and Runoff 2019) and modelling methods.

• How are Victoria’s rainfall levels changing?

• While the amount of rain falling over the whole year is likely to decrease, studies tell us with a high degree of confidence that the intensity of rare rainfall events are increasing.

  Flooding and rising water levels are a natural occurrence across Victoria as a result of this, and all Councils have a role to play in building their community's resilience. This role is shared with water authorities, emergency services and other government bodies.

• How does Frankston City Council manage water and flooding risks?

• Council manages water and flooding to ensure the safety of our residents and the municipality. This is also required under the:

  • Water Act 1989 (Vic)
  • Building Act 1993 (Vic)
  • Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic)

  Council's actions include:

  • maintaining the existing drainage network
  • undertaking periodic inspections
  • regularly cleaning pits and pipes
  • proactive planning of capital or renewal work
  • monitoring rainfall data and undertaking flood analysis
  • boosting community preparedness through education
  • identifying and upgrading critical drainage assets
  • encouraging permeable surfaces on new developments
  • creating new green spaces that absorbs stormwater
• ​Does this mean my house is going to flood?

• We are currently gathering information from the community to understand where flooding has occurred previously. This will then be added to Council and Melbourne Water's existing data to build a comprehensive flood map.

  If the map marks your area with flood information, it does not mean there’s an immediate danger. The mapped information will be used to identify which areas are considered to be at higher risk of flooding during extreme and severe weather events. It is important that we gather all relevant information so that we can effectively manage, reduce and respond to the risks.  

Coastal hazards

• What is a 'coastal hazard'?

• Stretching from Kackeraboite Creek in the south to Keast Park in the north, our 9.5km of coastline is renowned as the most pristine and accessible stretch of foreshore on Port Phillip Bay.

  However, natural processes such as erosion and inundation continually shape our diverse and dynamic coastline. We refer to these processes as coastal hazards when they could have an adverse impact on environmental, cultural, social and economic values along the coast.

  Coastal hazard exposure occurs periodically across the coast, and is projected to increase with changes in wave action, storm activity and sea level rise associated with climate change.

  Council is taking a strategic approach to coastal hazard risk management and adaptation. Learn more about our Coastal Resilience 2100 project, and more detail about the coastal hazards that impact our coastline here.

• What is 'erosion'?

• Coastal erosion is the process of winds, waves and coastal currents shifting sediment, for example sand, silt, or soil away from a localised area of the shoreline.

  Areas around Port Phillip Bay are prone to coastal erosion. Rising sea levels and bigger storms also mean waves can reach further onshore, which is likely to cause more erosion.

  

• What is 'coastal inundation'?

• Coastal inundation is flooding of low-lying land by seawater.

  Some lower lying land around Port Phillip Bay is prone to coastal flooding.

  With sea level rise, areas flooded by the sea during storms may become bigger.

  

• What is 'cliff instability'?

• Like all coastal environments, cliffs are dynamic features subject to cracking, erosion and landslips. They are influenced by geological factors, weather events, wave action and erosion, groundwater seepage, vegetation changes, and human activity. These pressures often work in combination, making cliff instability an ongoing and complex issue.

  It can be hard to accurately predict when landslips may occur. There is often no warning and the volume of material that falls can be very large.

  

• What is coastal hazard mapping?

• Council is mapping hazards across Frankston City's 9.5km of coastline. Natural processes such as erosion and inundation continually shape our diverse and dynamic coastline. These 'coastal hazards' are projected to increase with changes in wave action, storm activity and sea level rise associated with climate change.

  Building on the Port Phillip Bay Coastal Hazard Assessment released by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in early 2024, Council is developing a comprehensive map of coastal hazards at a local scale, to support long-term adaptation planning and minimise vulnerability.

• What else is Council doing to manage coastal hazards and resilience?

• The Victorian State Government released the long-anticipated Port Phillip Bay Coastal Hazard Assessment (PPBCHA) data and reports on 11 January 2024. This information complements the Kompas et al 2023 report prepared for the Victorian Marine and Coastal Council (VMaCC) with support from Life Saving Victoria (LSV) and the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA).

  This new information is vital to guide Council’s long-term risk management and mitigation measures. Further work now needs to be done at our local level to understand the implications of the hazard assessment in terms of potential exposure, risk and cost.

  Council commenced the Frankston City's Coastal Resilience 2100 Project (FCCR2100) in 2024. The FCCR2100 project follows the Victoria’s Resilient Coast: Adapting to 2100+ (VRC) framework set up by the State Government. Over the next 2 years, the FCCR2100 project will:

  • Undertake stages 1 to 4 of the VRC framework.
  • Incorporate the PPBCHA findings and other relevant data and/or information into the local assessment of coastal hazard exposure, vulnerability and risk.
  • Identify, and where appropriate, address gaps on the local and site level.
  • create a robust local benchmark for adaptation planning (adaptation planning will be based on stages 5 to 7 of the VRC framework).
  • align with the corresponding work undertaken by our neighbouring and broader bayside municipalities, ensuring a coordinated approach to this issue on a regional level.
• What other plans and strategies does Council have to mitigate sea level rise and other adverse climate change impacts?

• Council adopted a Climate Change Strategy in April 2023. A vulnerability assessment was undertaken as part of its development, identifying the coastal and marine areas as the most vulnerable system in the municipality, followed by residents and businesses in coastal and low-lying areas, land subject to inundation and/or localised flooding in the top 10 vulnerable systems. The findings of this assessment informed several high priority actions that drive stronger climate action based on best available research and data that will guide Council’s strategies and planning scheme changes.

  Council also adopted a Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP) in July 2024. This comprehensive CMMP aims to protect and enhance the iconic Frankston and Seaford coastal and marine areas. From Olivers Hill to Seaford North, our CMMP:

  • Sets out our vision, objectives and actions for the management of our coastal and marine areas.
  • Features actions across all coastal precincts, focusing on building resilience of our marine and coastal environment, health of the natural coastal reserve, pedestrian access and connectivity.
  • Covers topics like access to the beach, water quality and marine life protection.

  The CMMP aligns with current legislation, policies and guidelines of the Victorian State Government. This legislation includes the Marine and Coastal Policy (2020) that specifies the climate change adaptation pathway approach to planning for the impacts of sea level rise and storm surges. The Marine and Coastal Policy (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, March 2020) sets out the policy and strategic direction for responding to coastal hazard risks in the context of climate change. It identifies the need to:
  “Plan for sea-level rise of not less than 0.8 metres by 2100, and allow for the combined effects of tides, storm surges, coastal processes and local conditions such as topography and geology when assessing risks and impacts associated with climate change.”