Bundaberg to get $451,000 to prepare for climate change

Bundaberg’s coastal communities will be better prepared for the impacts of rising sea levels, storm tides and erosion as a result of a $451,000 grant from the Palaszczuk Government.

Minister for Environment and Science Leeanne Enoch said the funding would allow Bundaberg Regional Council to identify risks and examine management options in communities threatened by climate change.

“This grant, which will fund the completion of the council’s coastal hazard adaptation strategy, is drawn from a $12 million QCoast2100 fund established to prepare our coastal communities for emerging threats,” the Minister said.

“We want people who live at the coast to have a role in shaping the response and we know that Bundaberg has a number of communities at significant risk from our changing climate and more extreme weather patterns.

“These include Moore Park Beach, Woodgate Beach, Buxton, Bargara, Burnett Heads, Innes Park, Elliot Heads and Winfield.

“Each of them have infrastructure and areas of high ecological significance.

“Engagement and education is an important part of the strategy and residents will be consulted over the estimated 16-month span of the project.”

Bundaberg Regional Council joins 24 others that have already been awarded funding, which is available to all coastal councils.

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

“The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) is administering the QCoast2100 program and helping eligible councils with proposals and 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 flooding, coastal erosion and sea level rise.” 

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