Last week, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal scotched plans for the building of six seaside homes at Toora near Corner Inlet and Wilsons Promontory.

South Gippsland Shire's original decision to grant permits was challenged in the VCAT by the Gippsland Coastal Board.

The decision sparked calls for the Government to speed up its Future Coasts report, which it is claimed would assist the Government obtain an accurate understanding of climate change risks on the state's coastline.

The report, not due until the end of next year, will include a digital model of the entire Victorian coast created by an airborne laser system, which will show 10metres above and below sea level. Another section will contain the latest CSIRO data predicting sea level and storm-surge levels.

The VCAT ruling is of particular interest to Frankston and Mornington Peninsula councils, which front Port Phillip. The shire also has coastline on Western Port and Bass Strait, and has almost 10 per cent of the entire Victorian coast.

Mornington Peninsula Shire's director of sustainable environment and planning Alex Atkins said the shire was waiting on the Future Coasts report to continue its planning for climate change.

He said that for more than two years the shire had been part of the Western Port Greenhouse Alliance study examining the affects of climate change over the next 50 years.

The shire has sent all residents a booklet Climate change: what we are doing about it. It was also running seminars for residents this month and next.

The booklet states about 640 residential and 30 commercial properties could be affected by rising sea levels, but Mr Atkins said the shire had not yet identified the affected properties.

"Areas at risk of rising sea levels are shown in the greenhouse alliance report but Future Coasts will show more accurate probabilities."

Mr Atkins said each report enabled the shire to better understand what would happen and prepare plans to mitigate against rising sea levels.

"We have to be realistic and practical and rely on state and national government information."

He said the shire had not sought legal opinion on the implications of granting building applications for buildings on the coast but had a duty of care to protect property and people.

"This is the start of a longer journey of learning to adapt to climate change."