Queensland councils to share in funding to fight rising sea levels
Published Wednesday, 30 August, 2023 at 03:23 PM
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Leanne Linard
- Ten coastal councils will share in $3.3 million in funding for projects to protect their communities from coastal erosion, storm tides and the threat of rising sea levels.
- The funding is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $20 million QCoast2100 program.
- Delivered in partnership with Local Government Association of Queensland, the QCoast2100 program helps councils prepare and implement coastal hazard adaption strategies.
Environment Minister Leanne Linard has today announced that ten of Queensland’s coastal councils will share in $3.3 million in funding for projects aimed at safeguarding their communities from the impact of coastal erosion, storm tides and rising sea level caused by climate change.
The Minister said the funding was part of the Palaszczuk Government’s highly successful $20 million QCoast2100 program.
Delivered in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), the QCoast2100 program helps councils to prepare and implement effective coastal hazard adaption strategies by funding on-ground works and actions.
Round 3 of the QCoast2100 funding focuses on nature-based solutions to ensure the risk of coastal inundation is being managed, while also maintaining the natural value and character of Queensland’s coastline.
Projects to receive funding include sand placement works to restore eroded beaches and build dune resilience at South Mission Beach, Bargara and Lucinda; riverbank and estuarine stabilisation works at Noosa, the Gold Coast and Redlands; the relocation of community assets at risk of being lost due to erosion in Seventeen Seventy; and dune revegetation works for erosion management at Mapoon in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard:
“We know that climate change is only going to increase the risk of coastal hazards in Queensland, with the sea level predicted to rise by up to 0.8 metres by the year 2100.
“This means coastal communities will be impacted more and more by storm tide inundation and coastal erosion.
“The QCoast2100 program has been incredibly successful in helping coastal communities to plan for and adapt to the risk of climate change now and into the future through the funding of long-term mitigation strategies and vital on-ground works.
“We are committed to working with the LGAQ to continue supporting our coastal councils to implement works to keep the community safe.”
Quotes attributable to the Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer, Alison Smith:
“The QCoast2100 initiative has since 2016 addressed a very real need for Queensland’s coastal councils and communities and the funding it provides will ensure councils are best prepared for these upcoming uncertainties.
“Queensland’s coastal councils are focused on reducing risks, improving the health of our coastlines and working with the State Government to implement these important projects.”
Further information:
The full list of successful projects under Round 3 of QCoast2100:
|
Council |
Project description |
Funding amount |
|
Gladstone Regional Council |
Council will relocate critical community infrastructure – a sewer rising main – at Seventeen Seventy under immediate threat from coastal erosion. Pipework has already been exposed and broken and a temporary fix implemented. Relocation landward to the roadway solution avoids construction of erosion protection works and preserves the coastal environment. |
$500,000 |
|
Cassowary Coast Regional Council |
Investigation of sand back-passing systems to re-nourish eroded beaches in tropical north Queensland. This method has been successfully used in southern areas but is untested technology in North Queensland. The investigation will be of interest to all councils in central and north Queensland |
$66,000 |
|
Cassowary Coast Regional Council |
To conduct beach nourishment activities to rebuild the beach and dunes on an actively eroding coast to reduce the risks to recreational and road assets at South Mission Beach |
$263,620 |
|
Hinchinbrook Regional Council |
To conduct beach nourishment activities to rebuild the beach and dune on an actively eroding coast to protect recreational and residential assets at Lucinda Beach. An existing seawall will be extended further inland to reduce end scour risk |
$300,000 |
|
Bundaberg Regional Council |
To conduct beach nourishment activities to rebuild the beach and dune on an actively eroding coasts in the Bargara area |
$480,000 |
|
Moreton Bay Regional Council |
This planning project will provide residents in high-risk coastal areas with a framework to improve resilience of their properties. The product will be a property and asset scale adaptation pathway plan which is an innovative solution and may be extended to other areas and councils. |
$116,000 |
|
Noosa Council |
To address bank erosion in the Noosa River using nature-based solutions, as an alternative to rock walls, to stabilise the ban to reduce the risk to park assets and major roadways |
$466,330 |
|
Redland City Council |
This project will deliver bank stabilisation in estuarine areas using nature-based solutions for the protection of park land and assets. |
$469,028 |
|
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council |
This project is a dune revegetation project to improve the stability and protection provided by the dunes and prevent further erosion. The project areas are of high recreational, cultural and heritage value to the community. |
$225,000 |
|
City of Gold Coast |
This project addresses bank erosion in the Coomera River using nature-based solutions as an alternative to rock walls. The large park area in behind is earmarked for future development of community recreational assets. |
$486,794 |
To date, the QCoast2100 program has provided $16.2 million to assist 37 councils to advance coastal hazard adaptation planning.
Further information on the QCoast2100 program is available here.
ENDS
Media contact: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339