Government funding to help Burdekin combat sea level rise

The Palaszczuk Government is providing Burdekin Shire Council with a grant of $425,810 to progress its Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS).

Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said the money is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $12 million QCoast2100program.

“The Palaszczuk Government accepts the science on climate change.  Unlike the Federal Government we are already working to help our local governments and communities to plan and better respond to forthcoming impacts from the changing climate”.

“The CHAS program helps communities understand and prepare for coastal erosion and storm tide inundation hazards and the emerging threat of sea level rise caused by climate change,” Minister Enoch said.

“The council has already received $44,633 to complete the initial phases of its CHAS, which included understanding the areas and assets at risk and how to best engage the community in the project.

“This preliminary work indicated that the Burdekin region has significant areas of land at risk from coastal hazards or sea level rise.

“This new funding means they can carry out a detailed assessment of coastal hazards in these areas and identify assets at risk as well as examining management options to keep the community safe.

“Engagement and education of the community is an important part of the project to ensure people have a role in shaping the response to this significant issue.

“The council intends to carry out these next phases by September 2020.

“This council joins 30 others that have already been awarded funding.”

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) is administering the QCoast2100program and helping councils with the development of their 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,” Mr 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 inundation, coastal erosion and sea level rise from climate change.” 

ENDS

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