A City that is adapting and resilient to climate change

We will work with our community and partners to adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.
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What we’re doing

Investing in our assets

  • Developed new standards to make Council’s assets, including roads and buildings, more resilient to climate change. An example of this is the updated Environmentally Sustainable Design Strategy (ESDS) with contemporary targets for Council buildings and private developments. 
  • Planning for the future of our foreshore to be resilient to climate change, including updating our Foreshore Management Plan and developing a Coastal Adaptation Plan.
  • Ensuring our pipes and pits function at 95 per cent capacity to minimise flooding and install pits to clean pipe infrastructure effectively.

Working with our community and partners

  • Working with Melbourne Water, other councils and the Victorian Government to update modelling and flood overlays to ensure we use the best available science on climate change in decisions about infrastructure planning.
  • Collaborating with Victorian Government and other partners develop the Fishermans Bend precinct as a leading example of environmental sustainability. Fishermans Bend precinct is being developed as a leading example of Australia’s largest urban renewal Green Star Community.
  • Funding the Port Phillip EcoCentre to deliver a range of community, school and citizen science programs. 
  • Delivering the Climate Ready Communities program to support community members develop and lead their own climate ready plans. 
  • Partnered with Melbourne Water and the Cities of Kingston, Bayside and Glen Eira to deliver actions in the Elster Creek Flood Management Plan, such as a community campaign with letters sent to households, schools, and sporting clubs, with a map showing areas at risk of flood.

Changing how we deliver our services

  • Partnering with the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance to deliver a range of climate adaptation projects.

The Port Phillip EcoCentre delivers sustainability programs that educate and empower our environmentally aware community. Pictured: The Port Phillip Baykeeper gives a presentation to local school students.

What we have done

Recent examples of how we are fostering a City that is adapting and resilient to climate change:

  • In 2023-24, City of Port Phillip funded the Port Phillip EcoCentre with 95 per cent of participants committing to new climate or environmental actions, and 4,928 volunteers contributing 20,623 hours to environmental initiatives. Activities included:

    • Sustainability education for 145 schools and early learning centres including 22 in the City of Port Phillip.
    • Tomorrow’s Leaders for Sustainability program delivered to 182 students and 8 schools in our region.
    • 4 Teachers Environment Network events delivered as professional development for educators.
    • Sustainable Schools Festival attended by 230 students from 18 schools.
  • 5,991 road segments 224 buildings, 27,458 drainage pits and pipes and 494 open spaces reviewed as part of our 2020-21 Asset Vulnerability Assessment.
  • Installed more than 1.6 km of dune fencing which has allowed dune grasses to grow and stabilise more than 1000m2 of sand along the foreshore.
  • Conducted a 'Climate Change Risk Assessment on Council operations.'
  • Worked with the Victorian Government to develop a Coastal Hazard Assessment to understand the impact of climate change on the Bay and foreshore areas.

The impacts of climate change

Port Phillip is already experiencing the impacts of climate change.

Since 1950 globally:

  • Temperature increase: 1.2 to 1.4°C
  • Rainfall decrease: 10 to 20 cm
  • Sea level rise: 8 to 20 cm

2019 was:

  • Australia’s hottest year on record with a 1.52°C increase above the long-term average
  • Australia’s driest year on record with 40% less rain than the long-term average

Looking ahead

Climate change projections by 2050:

  • Temperature increase and double the number of hot days --> leading to health impacts, fire risks and heat-related deaths
  • Extreme weather: More extreme storms and intense downpours with declining winter rainfall --> Leading to property and infrastructure damage, biodiversity loss, water shortages, disruption to services and safety issues
  • Rising sea levels: Increase by around 24 centimetres --> Leading to property damage, erosion, loss of open space and safety issues

Sources:

  1. Victoria’s Climate Science Report 2019
  2. Victoria's Climate Science Report 2024
  3. Under a high emission scenario - Victoria’s infrastructure strategy 2021-2051.