Change size

Print

Bays, coasts and oceans

EPA programs

EPA is involved in programs aimed at understanding and protecting our bays, coasts and oceans.

More about EPA programs related to bays, coasts and oceans.

Beach Report

Beach Report provides the community with the latest information on water quality and beach conditions at 35 Port Phillip Bay beaches during summer.

More about Beach Report.

Better Bays and Waterways program

Better Bays and Waterways aims to improve water quality in the region’s bays, rivers, creeks and estuaries. It is a partnership at the local, regional, state and national level.

The program will integrate current water quality activities with new ideas to frame water quality improvements for the major rivers, creeks, estuaries and bays.

More about the Better Bays and Waterways program

Investigation at Black Rock near Geelong

Following comments in the media in June and July 2006 about the impact of Barwon Water's ocean outfall at Black Rock on the environment, EPA Victoria conducted an investigation into water quality at nearby beaches.

More about the investigation at Black Rock

Investigation at Boags Rocks

EPA Victoria has recently completed an investigation into community reports of discolouration of water and foam at Mornington Peninsula surf beaches in the vicinity of the Melbourne Water ocean outfall at Boags Rocks.

More about the investigation at Boags Rocks

Western Port beach water quality

As a result of community concerns about beach water quality, EPA is involved with partners in a project on the Western Port Bay. Testing for indicator bacteria was carried out during the 2005-06 summer and will again be conducted in 2006-07.

More about Western Port beach water quality

Surf diatoms

From time to time, visitors to surf beaches along the coast of Victoria notice patches of brown discolouration along the shore line. Although oil may occasionally be washed up on our beaches, this discolouration may be due to natural accumulations of large numbers of microscopic plants called diatoms.

More about surf diatoms