Is Gippsland prepared for rising sea levels?

Local councils around Victoria are set to overhaul their flood overlays to get a better idea of how the encroaching ocean will impede development.

Author

Jacob Wallace
April 17, 2026

The Monitor spoke to University of Melbourne coastal geomorphologist, Professor David Kennedy, about how climate change and sea level rise are impacting coastal towns around the country.

Kennedy said there will be areas along Australia’s coast that, in 50-100 years time, will be entirely uninhabitable.

The Victorian government currently plans for sea level rise of “not less than 0.8 metres by 2100”.

Kennedy said 0.8 metres was a conservative estimate and thought a 1.2 metres was more likely.

Take a look at a video the Monitor made on rising sea levels below or read the full story here.