Fire danger updates

Published on 27 January 2026

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 For the latest warnings and details:
Download the VicEmergency app or visit emergency.vic.gov.au

Where to go

If you have evacuated and need a place to seek shelter or refuge, there are emergency relief centres open in Colac and Geelong.

If a fire reaches your town and all of your other bushfire plans have failed, there are designated Bushfire Places of Last Resort in various locations within Surf Coast Shire. As the name suggests, these should be treated as a last resort.

Please see details below:

Emergency relief centres

Emergency relief centres

  • Colac Showgrounds (enter via Bruce Street)
    This is the only centre that you can take large domestic animals (like horses)
  • Colac Blue Water Leisure Centre (118-134 Hearn St)
  • Grovedale Community Hub (45-47 Heyers Road)

Bushfire Places of Last Resort

These places are available for use when your primary bushfire plan has failed.

Lorne

  • Lorne foreshore
     Mountjoy Parade (grassed area between the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club car park and the pool on Cypress Avenue). 
  • Point Grey picnic area and car park
    Great Ocean Road (between Mountjoy Parade and Hird Street) - this site was scheduled to be temporarily decommissioned on 27 Jan but will remain open due to the Watch and Act in place.

Deans Marsh

  • Martian's Café car park
    Corner Birregurra-Deans Marsh and Deans Marsh-Lorne Roads

Aireys Inlet

  • Bottom shops car park area
    Great Ocean Road (opposite Inlet Crescent)

Details of all Bushfire Places of Last Resort in Surf Coast Shire

If you evacuate to a family member or friend's house away from the warnings area you should register with Register. Find. Reunite. to help others find you. 

Changes to Council services

For the safety of the community and employees, some services and facilities may change in high risk times.

The following services and facilities will be impacted at this time:

Service Area

Service Delivery

Waste Services

Lorne transfer station closed Wednesday 28 January

 

Surf Coast Classic cycling events

The Surf Coast Classic women's and men's cycling races, scheduled to be held in the Surf Coast Shire on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 January, have been cancelled in the interests of safety.

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