Palaszczuk Government funds more council projects to cope with climate change

The Palaszczuk Government’s $12 million QCoast2100fund will assist another five local governments to help coastal communities prepare for rising threats such as erosion and storm tide flooding caused by climate change.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said Torres Shire, Cassowary Coast, Mackay, Cairns and Redland City councils were all successful in their applications for funding, which is available to all coastal councils.

These councils join six others that have been awarded funding – bringing the total so far to 11.

“The Councils will now either commence or improve their Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy for their region based on an assessment of local conditions and the challenges which they need to meet,” Dr Miles said.

“I encourage all other eligible councils to get on board and follow the lead in taking action on climate change.”

Dr Miles said coastal communities are already at risk from sea erosion and storm tide inundation caused by cyclones and other severe storm systems and these will become a greater threat with rising sea levels from climate change.

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said the Mackay Regional Council project will be supported with a Government grant of $219,250 to fund further development of their Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS).

“The focus of the project will be storm tide inundation risk to the community and this will be integrated with an assessment of inland flooding risk,” Ms Gilbert said.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring communities are protected from coastal hazards”.

Redland City Council’s project will receive $215,215 in QCoast 2100 funding to begin their CHAS which looks at emerging coastal hazard risks and builds on work already undertaken by council on current day risks.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s project will receive $170,000 to improve the resilience of the Cassowary Coast region to coastal hazards in a changing climate.

The Cairns Regional Council project will receive $91,204 and the Torres Shire Council $68,280 to begin the first stages of their CHAS.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) is administering the QCoast2100program and helping eligible councils with proposals and preparation of their potential projects.

LGAQ President Mark Jamieson said the QCoast2100 program is designed to be accessible to coastal local governments irrespective of their current level of planning, capability and resourcing.

“More than half of Queensland’s 77 councils will be exposed to coastal hazards in the future,” LGAQ President Mayor Mark Jamieson said.

“It’s vital that local governments work together to assess risks and identify practical solutions that will help coastal communities prepare for serious issues such as storm tide flooding, coastal erosion and sea level rise.”

Councils so far awarded QCoast2100 funding are: Torres Shire; Cassowary Coast; Mackay; Cairns; Redland City; Whitsunday; Moreton Bay; Noosa Shire; Townsville; Douglas Shire and Livingstone Shire.

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