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Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts The Honourable Leeanne Enoch
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The Palaszczuk Government is providing a grant of $84,350 for Weipa Town Authority, and the Mapoon and Napranum Aboriginal Shire Councils to jointly develop a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS).
Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said the money is part of the Queensland Government’s $12 million QCoast2100program.
“The program helps communities understand and prepare for coastal erosion, storm tide inundation hazards and the emerging threat of sea level rise caused by climate change,” Ms Enoch said.
“The areas identified include the towns of Weipa, Mapoon and Napranum and extensive coasts on the western side of Cape York.
“These councils join 28 others that have already been awarded funding, which is available to all coastal councils.”
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the councils will use the funding to carry out the first two phases of their CHAS and focus on specific areas of risk, including settlement regions, community infrastructure and places of cultural importance.
“Engagement and education of the community is an important part of the project to ensure people have a role in shaping the response to this significant issue,” Ms Lui said
“The councils intend to carry out this project over the next 6 months.
“It’s great to see both levels of government partnering together to address this issue which has the potential to be devastating to these communities.”
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 the QCoast2100 program is designed to be accessible to coastal local governments irrespective of their current level of planning, capability and resourcing.
“More than half of Queensland’s 77 councils will be exposed to coastal hazards in the future,” 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.”
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