Adapting to Coastal Change

Townsville City Council, in partnership with the Queensland Government, is planning for coastal change via the Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville project. The changes brought by storm tide, sea level rise and coastal erosion can have a big impact on our city and the day-to-day lives and wellbeing of our population.

As part of the Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville project, Council is developing a long-term strategy for the city to help us manage these changes in a sustainable way.

Project Background

Coastal areas experience a range of impacts from weather events and sea level rise, such as beach erosion, coastal recession and storm tide inundation. These impacts are generally more significant when there is a cyclone and can result in changes to the coastline and impacts to our community.

To help plan for coastal change, Queensland coastal councils have been given the opportunity to obtain State Government funding via the QCoast2100 initiative to develop a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS). This will help to improve resilience of coastal regions and adapt to coastal hazards.

In 2012, Council completed the Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy for Townsville City Council Pilot Project (GHD, 2012). The Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville project (the Project) will build on information presented in the 2012 pilot project, encourage community capacity and inform council’s decision-making about coastal hazard adaptation in the short, medium and long-term.

Project Milestones

The Project will be led by Council and administered under the QCoast2100 initiative, where Council will appoint specialist advisors to deliver key components of the project. Key tasks include:

• mapping areas at risk due to storm tide and coastal erosion in both present day conditions and conditions in 2100, as well as areas of permanent sea level rise
• consulting with the community through the Adapting to Coastal Change Survey to establish a baseline understanding of the Townsville communities’ sentiment towards climate change, understanding of coastal hazards and the cultural, environmental and lifestyle values that relate to Townsville’s coastline
• reviewing infrastructure and areas within the city at risk
• identifying adaptation options for key infrastructure and areas within the city
• evaluating and selecting preferred adaptation in consultation with the community and stakeholders
• finalising the Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville Strategy Report.

Project Timeline

• Consult with the community (complete)
  • The survey closed on Friday 26 October 2018.
• Consider survey responses (complete)
  • The Community Values Survey Summary Report is now available.
• Stakeholder Reference Group
  • Involve stakeholders in the development of draft coastal hazard adaptation options.
• Draft Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville Strategy.
• Consult with the community 
  • Council will seek community feedback on the Draft Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville Strategy.
• Consider survey responses 
  • Council will consider community feedback and report on key outcomes.
• Final Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville Strategy.

Adapting to Coastal Change Community Values Survey

A community survey was conducted as part of the Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville project, to understand what the community value about coastal living in Townsville and how these values may be affected by coastal change.

In particular the survey sought to:

• Identify the lived values of the Townsville community’s interaction with the coast, and how these values may be at risk from coastal processes such as storm tide, sea level rise and coastal erosion
• Determine the Townsville community’s coastal values, and the level of tolerance the community has towards coastal hazards and the potential impacts on these values
• Understand the Townsville community’s awareness and preparedness for coastal change.

You can download the Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville Community Values Survey Summary Report.

Next Steps

The outcomes of the community survey will be used by Council to better understand what the community value about living in Townsville and how these values may be affected by coastal change. The outcomes of the community survey will also inform the development of the Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville Strategy Report, and Council’s coastal hazard adaptation planning and decision-making.

Documents

• Adapting to Coastal Change Information Sheet (PDF, 2.6 MB)
• Summary Report – Adapting to Coastal Change in Townsville Community Values Survey (PDF, 5.3 MB)

Keep Informed

Should you have any questions regarding the project, please contact Planning Services by phoning 13 48 10 or emailing enquiries@townsville.qld.gov.au.