Council’s plan to shore up precious coastline

Published 31 May 2023

Moreton Bay’s coastal communities will be better prepared for the impacts of coastal hazards, with Council today setting the long-term strategy for managing the coastline.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the Living Coast Plan, developed in consultation with the community, will guide the actions needed for residents to safeguard properties, and for Council and the State Government to improve coastal resilience and infrastructure now and into the future.

“Moreton Bay is home to 294 kilometres of stunning coastline and flourishing estuaries, but it’s at risk of succumbing to the impacts of hazards like coastal erosion, storm tide inundation and sea level rise over time,” Mayor Flannery said.

“It’s predicted that in years to come we will see king tide events start to impact more areas by the coast, and there’s potential that water could regularly inundate some homes in decades to come if preventative action isn’t taken.

“Coastal hazards cost Council and Moreton Bay property owners an average of $13 million a year in damages to physical assets, but that could blow out to $151 million a year by the year 2100 which is incredibly alarming.

“The average annual damages to intangible assets such as the environment and impacts such as stress, anxiety, injury, and loss of life is currently estimated at $24 million however, increases to $264 million by 2100 if untreated.

“The Living Coast Plan identifies Council’s approach to adaptation, including a framework for shared responsibilities, adaptation responses and options to tackle these issues head on.

“The Plan highlights what actions State Government and Council must take and what infrastructure may need to be delivered to provide protection against these hazards in the future.

“And while it’s government’s responsibility to maintain and protect public land and the environment, and implement appropriate planning rules, the Plan highlights how Council will enable and support private owners to proactively manage coastal hazard impacts on their property.

“This plan was developed in consultation with our community, and I want to thank all the residents who had their say in one of our surveys or got involved in sharing their stories, popping into our information sessions, or taking their time to join our community reference group.

“It’s important for Council to get this right and taking the community along on the journey to develop this plan helped us understand what is important to the community about our coastline and estuarine environments so we could develop a strategy that incorporates the needs and interests of property owners and coastal communities.”

For more information, or to read the Living Coast Plan please visit the project web page.