$392,000 for Gympie Council to address climate change impacts

Protecting the Gympie region from the changing climate and the threat of storm tide flooding has been boosted by $392,727 funding from the Palaszczuk Government.

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said she was delighted a grant of $392,727 under the Palaszczuk Government’s QCoast2100 program would enable Gympie Regional Council to further develop its coastal hazard adaptation strategy to protect at-risk locations such as Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay and Cooloola Cove.

“These areas have significant cultural and economic value and preparing for the damaging impacts of coastal hazards including sea level rise is absolutely crucial,” Ms Enoch said.

“This new grant is in addition to $48,000 the council received for phases one and two to help guard against future threats to the coastline and local communities caused by storm tides, rising sea levels and the changing climate.”

The Palaszczuk Government’s $12 million QCoast2100 program is helping Queensland communities to better understand and prepare for future risks.

“Gympie Regional Council will now be able to undertake phases three to eight of its strategy between now and October 2019,” Ms Enoch said.

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

LGAQ President Mark Jamieson said coastal hazards would affect more than half of Queensland’s 77 councils in the future.

“The QCoast2100 program is designed to be accessible to coastal local governments irrespective of their current level of planning, capability and resourcing,” 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.” 

More information on QCoast2100 program can be found here: http://www.qcoast2100.com.au/

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