Study to put the spotlight on the future of 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 to16.

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 Connecting Mackay.