As we work to upgrade the seawall in front of the Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-operative we will update this page to keep you informed.

Why are we upgrading the Apollo Bay Harbour Seawall?

The Apollo Bay Harbour is an important community and commercial asset. The seawall protects the slipway, port depot and the Fisherman's Co-op building which is currently the focus of the Apollo Bay Harbour Redevelopment project.

The existing seawall is nearing the end of its life with a condition assessment of the existing seawall in mid-2025 showing a risk of failure in the next decade.

The planned seawall upgrade supports the Apollo Bay Harbour Redevelopment and will secure the future for recreational and commercial activities at the harbour.

Project Stages for the Apollo Bay Harbour Seawall Upgrade

Below we have outlined the four stages for this project. We completed Stage 1 in 2025 and Stage 2 earlier in 2026.

We are currently at Stage 3 - Detail Design and are progressing towards Stage 4 - Construction.

Watch the short video below in which Ruby Campbell - Coastal Projects Senior Officer at Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority - provides a quick overview of the project.

How are we planning to upgrade the Apollo Bay Harbour Seawall?

A new wall will be built in front (seaward side) of the existing wall. The seawall upgrade will occur around the harbour slipway yard.

Seawall upgrades are assessed by technical experts, and our approach to coastal hazard management and adaptation follows the directions of the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020  and the Victoria's Resilient Coast Adapting for 2100+.

The new seawall is designed with a 50-year lifespan, it maintains a vertical profile with a stone-patterned finish using varied rock size texture to mimic traditional masonry.

It will be designed to current Australian and maritime standards, meet heritage design requirements under the Colac Otway Planning scheme and protect against current and future coastal hazards.

What's involved with a stacked gravity block seawall?

A stacked gravity block seawall is a type of gravity wall built from precast concrete blocks arranged in vertical tiers (see photos below).

This design is used where space is limited and a steep or vertical face is required.

Construction will involve:

• Installing a new seawall seaward of the existing wall, which will remain in place.

• Backfilling the space between the old wall and the new wall.

• The new seawall will use stacked precast concrete block units to form a gravity wall.

• The design relies on the self‑weight of the blocks for stability, with each block interlocking with adjacent units.