Mackay Coast Our Future Study

Council adopts a plan to safeguard our coast

At today’s ordinary council meeting (December 13), council adopted a proactive plan to ensure the region’s coastal communities are as prepared as possible for the impacts of climate change.

The Mackay Coast Our Future – Coastal Hazard Adaptation Study identifies coastal hazards that may impact our region both now and into the future including erosion, coastal flooding and rising sea levels.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the study also identified adaptation options to mitigate the risks associated with these coastal hazards.

“The study guides land use planning and investment in infrastructure, ensuring that the values of our coastal areas and the contribution they make to the community’s way of life are protected,” Mayor Williamson said.

“It analyses the risks different coastal hazards pose in each of our regions and identifies adaptation options that may be suitable to mitigate the risks associated with them,” he said.

“From groynes and seawalls, to increased vegetation on the foreshore and everything in between, there are a range of adaptation options that have been considered for our coastal areas.

“It is important that we have a shared understanding and focus when responding to coastal hazards, given the importance these areas have to our way of life.

“That is why we conducted extensive community consultation in producing this document.

“We need everyone in the community to understand and prepare for the impact these coastal hazards may have on local communities, the environment, our cultural values and the built assets in our coastal areas.”

Mackay Coast Our Future is funded under the QCoast2100 program, which is funded by the State Government and administered in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland.

Click here to read the study and learn more about Mackay Coast Our Future.

Watch the Mackay Coast Our Future wave tank demonstration video

If you didn't make it along to last week's Mackay Coast Our Future wave tank workshops, you can watch our consultant's 12-minute wave tank demonstration video here.

The wave tank simulates the ocean’s movements to demonstrate how different combinations of coastal defences and wave and tide conditions can affect issues such as wave overtopping and flood risk.

Learn more about the Mackay Coast Our Future study at connectingmackay.com.au/future-coast

Mackay Coast Our Future is funded under the QCoast₂₁₀₀ program, which is funded by the State Government and administered in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland.

Workshops will turn the tide on coastal hazards

See a wave tank in action when environmental consultants Alluvium visit our region next month.

The wave tank simulates the ocean’s movements to demonstrate how different combinations of coastal defences and wave and tide conditions can affect issues such as wave overtopping and flood risk.

Alluvium will be hosting four community workshops in February as part of the Mackay Coast Our Future program, which will include coastal erosion and storm tide inundation displays and maps, and opportunities to discuss possible adaptation options for the region.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the workshops would allow residents to gain a better understanding of what adaptation options would be most suitable for specific locations in our region.

“When you install a barrier like a seawall to help protect the coastline, the water has to go somewhere,” Mayor Williamson said.

“The purpose of the wave tank is to demonstrate that not every adaptation option is suitable for every location,” he said.

“We want to take proactive action to protect our region’s coasts and foreshores from the future effects of climate change and coastal hazards, such as erosion, storm tide inundation and rising sea levels.”

The Mackay Coast Our Future study aims to determine what adaptation options are best suited to the areas that have the most risk of these coastal hazards in our region.

Council conducted two surveys last year to gather feedback on how residents use the coast and what knowledge they had in relation to coastal adaptation options.

“Next month’s workshops will be an opportunity for residents to learn from experts about what coastal hazards exist in their area and what adaptation options make the most sense,” Mayor Williamson said.

Residents are invited to attend one of the following workshops:
> Thursday, February 2, from 11am to 1pm at the Jubilee Community Centre
> Thursday, February 2, from 4pm to 6pm at Seaforth Community Hall
> Friday, February 3, from 4pm to 6pm at Llewellyn Hall, Armstrong Beach
> Saturday, February 4, from 1pm to 3.30pm at Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club

No bookings are required.

Recent results of the Mackay Coast Our Future surveys revealed:

• The top three reasons that attract people to live and visit our region are:
  > Outdoor experiences and recreational opportunities (boating, fishing, camping, 4WD etc)
  > Unique landscapes and natural beauty
  > Access to the beaches
• 68 per cent of respondents visited the beach or foreshore weekly, with 43 per cent visiting the beach two to three times a week
• 49 per cent of respondents believe there is a lot more planning and preparation required to prepare for coastal hazards
• 49 per cent of respondents have been affected by coastal hazards
• 63 per cent of respondents believe they have a good to expert understanding of potential coastal hazards such as sea levels rising and changing storm tide intensity.

Mackay Coast Our Future is funded under the QCoast₂₁₀₀ program, which is funded by the State Government and administered in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland.

Click here to learn more about Mackay Coast Our Future study and subscribe to project update emails.

Click here to read the full values survey feedback summary document.

Learn more about coastal hazards in your locality

Council is encouraging residents to familiarise themselves with coastal hazards in our region as part of the Mackay Coast Our Future study.

Coastal hazards are natural coastal processes that may negatively impact the natural environment or human use of a coastal zone, including erosion, storm tide inundation and inundation due to rising sea levels.

This comes after council recently secured $5 million in federal funding for the construction of stage one of the South Mackay levee wall, which will help reduce the impact of coastal hazards in this area.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council was working towards better understanding and preparing for how the future effects of climate change may impact our coastline.

“Mackay has 320 kilometres of mainland coastline, so flooding and storm tide inundation is something we must be prepared for,” he said.

“While council is working to develop adaptation options that will reduce the risks of coastal hazards in our region, such as the South Mackay levee wall, not every natural phenomenon can be prevented.

Mayor Williamson said this was the second survey council had conducted as part of the Mackay Coast Our Future study.

“The first survey focussed on what residents’ valued most about the coastline,” he said.

“This time we’re hoping to gain a better understanding of residents’ observations and knowledge of coastal hazards and adaptation options.

“We would like residents to look at the maps of their area to gain a better understanding of how coastal hazards may impact them both now and into the future and complete the survey to test their knowledge on coastal adaptation options in the locality they live in and those they visit frequently.”

The Mackay Coast Our Future survey will be available to complete online at connectingmackay.com.au/future-coast until midnight on December 18.

Alternatively, attend one of five drop-in sessions and talk to council staff and learn more about coastal hazards that may affect your locality:

• Caneland Central (Cyclone Saturday) – Saturday, November 19, from 9am to 1pm
• Seaforth Community Hall – Thursday, November 24, from 4pm to 6pm
• Jubilee Community Centre – Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, from 11am to 1pm
• Armstrong Beach Progress Association Hall – Friday, November 25, from 4pm to 6pm
• Eimeo Surf Lifesaving Club – Saturday, November 26, from 1pm to 3.30pm.

This study is being undertaken under the QCoast₂₁₀₀ program, which is funded by the State Government and administered in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland.

Click to view the current and future coastal hazard maps:

• Mackay CHAS present day erosion and tide
• Mackay CHAS present day storm tide
• Mackay CHAS year 2100 erosion and tide
• Mackay Coast 2100 storm tide maps

Click to view the Mackay Coast Our Future factsheet.

Learn more about Mackay Coast Our Future or take the survey at connectingmackay.com.au/future-coast

Mackay Coast Our Future study promotional material distributed with rates notice

The Mackay Coast Our Future flyer was distributed to all property owners throughout the Mackay region on August 22, 2022. See flyer below.

Study to put the spotlight on the future of our coastline

Council is taking action to better understand and prepare for the effects that climate change will have on our coastline.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council had been awarded funding to undertake a coastal hazard adaptation study to help identify and prepare for future impacts associated with coastal hazards.

The study is being undertaken under The QCoast₂₁₀₀ program, which is funded by the State Government and administered in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland.

“Council’s Mackay Coast Our Future study will improve our understanding of coastal hazards and provide a proactive plan to manage the impact of coastal hazards on our communities, environment, cultural values and built assets,” Mayor Greg Williamson said.

“We’ve appointed consulting company Alluvium to assist us with the study,” he said.

“The study will be undertaken over the next twelve months and will address issues such as coastal erosion, coastal flooding and rising sea levels.”

The Mackay Coast Our Future study will focus on the following areas:

• Coastal values: What communities and stakeholders value most about living near the Mackay coast and how we currently use the coast, what we value about our coastlines and how we connect with them.
• Coastal hazard risk: Current and future risks of erosion and flooding, and how this may impact our coastal values.
• Adaptation options: The range of adaptation options available to assist council in avoiding, mitigating and managing coastal hazard risks, and the appropriateness of each option for different locations along the coastline.

Mayor Williamson said community views were also an important part of the study.

“Our current focus is on getting out into the community to understand key issues and values and to gain more knowledge about the history of our coastline,” he said.

“Over the next month our project team will be out and about talking to interested residents about the project and asking important questions such as how locals currently use and enjoy the coast, and what important historical events have helped shape the coastline over time.”

Come and have your say and meet the project team at the Mackay Show from June 14-16.

Or, complete the community values survey online and subscribe to update emails to stay informed on the project’s progress and public events by visiting connectingmackay.com.au/future-coast.

Consultation closes Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 11.59pm