34 minute read
14 Local adaptation pathways
Clifton Beach and Kewarra Beach, approximately 23 km from the CBD, are home to more than 8000 people. These communities boast picturesque quiet beaches, parklands and a mix of housing, retail and businesses.
CLIFTON BEACH
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Beaches • Foreshore parks • Surf life saving infrastructure at
Kewarra Beach • Environmental areas (e.g. Brolga Park
Drainage Reserve,
Gibson Close Reserve) • Various roads (e.g.
Arlington Esplanade and Clifton Road)
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
KEWARRA BEACH
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
• Clifton Beach has experienced persistent shoreline recession resulting in a loss of dunes • A 550m long rock seawall and beach nourishment works at Clifton Beach has been undertaken to reduce further impacts from coastal hazards • Historical planning responses have ensured that development along Kewarra Beach is well setback from the shoreline • Kewarra Beach has experienced recent coastal erosion impacts in some areas WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Culturally significant sites • Open coast • Restaurants and amenities • Beachside palm trees • Ecological areas with
Flying Fox habitat
COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Restoring wetlands to protect wildlife habitat • Planning policy responses to provide a suitable buffer zone to coastal hazards • Vegetation and dune management / construction • Avoiding further intensifying development in public land along the esplanade
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
COASTAL ENGINEERING
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES • Beach access management (remove unnecessary or informal access, formalise appropriate public paths and inspect and repair access after erosion) • Beach scraping as required to reinforce dunes and reduce risks of erosion scarps
• Beach nourishment on both beaches as required • Dune maintenance and enhancement seaward of Arlington
Esplanade and north of the seawall along Clifton Beach, and along areas of Kewarra Beach • Develop local adaptation plan for foreshore incorporating nature-based solutions
• Relocate existing community infrastructure that is at the end of its design life, such as public toilets and paths near Clifton Beach and
Kewarra Beach and the sewage pump station on Kewarra Street to reduce their exposure to coastal hazard risksife • Relocate existing foreshore park assets that need updating or locate new assets outside the coastal hazard area
• Manually change land levels or road levels within coastal inundation hazard areas to reduce risk for new or upgraded public assets. This should focus on public land along Arlington
Esplanade at Clifton Beach that may become inundated from
Euston Close Reserve • Maintain existing foreshore and shoreline structures (e.g. existing seawall at the southern end of beach and foreshore retaining wall at Deadmans Gully Park)
• Construction of a seawall at Clifton Beach to protect roads • Small groynes to complement beach nourishment and hold sand in target areas as required
• Allow erosion of the foreshore in areas that do not have critical public assets, such as Deadmans Gully Reserve
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
Trinity Beach and Trinity Park are northern coastal communities 20km north of Cairns. Key features of these suburbs include the popular Earl Hill walking track, a marina, canal estates and foreshore dining and retail along Trinity Beach esplanade.
TAYLOR POINT
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
TRINITY BEACH
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Beaches • Foreshore • Environmental areas (e.g. Saddle
Mountain Drainage Reserve and
Poolwood Drainage Reserve) • Bluewater canal estate at Trinity Park • Various roads (e.g. Vasey
Esplanade and Reed Road) • Supporting services (e.g. sewer and water networks)
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring EARL HILL
Community awareness and education TRINITY PARK
Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
• Historically, the northern end of Trinity Beach suffered from erosion which resulted in construction of a rock seawall to protect the road • Trinity Beach is relatively stable and protected by
Taylor Point and Earl Hill • Trinity Beach has a vegetated buffer between landbased assets and the shoreline which gradually narrows from north to south. • Most areas of Trinity Park affected by coastal hazards are vegetated sites with lower-lying canal residential areas at highest risk • Trinity Park Beach has experienced erosion since the construction of the entrance to Bluewater Canal. • Entrance to the canal at Bluewater Estate has to be dredged regularly to keep access open WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Culturally significant sites • Beaches and waterways • Earl Hill tracks and trails heads at Trinity Park Beach • Taylor Point • War heritage • Mangrove and native ecological areas
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
COASTAL ENGINEERING
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES • Beach access management (remove unnecessary or informal access, formalise appropriate public paths and inspect and repair access after erosion) • Beach scraping as required to reinforce dunes and reduce risks of erosion scarps • Continue beach nourishment on Trinity Beach using sand dredged from Bluewater Channel and undertake small-scale beach nourishment at Trinity Park if required • Dune construction to public areas on the southern end of Trinity
Beach due to the narrow buffer between the shoreline and land-based assets
• Plan to update or relocate existing infrastructure, including three sewerage pump stations and two public toilet blocks at Trinity
Beach and nine sewerage pump stations at Trinity Park to be resilient to coastal hazards
• Relocate existing foreshore park assets that need updating or locate new assets outside the coastal hazard extent
• Manually change public land levels or road levels within coastal inundation hazard areas to reduce risk for new or upgraded assets.
This should be focused on Coastline Parade Park
• Maintain the existing rock retaining structure at the entrance to
Half Moon Creek
• Extend existing rock retaining structures where required to protect public land, road and assets where dune management and beach nourishment is not viable
• Large groyne required to eliminate further shoreline recession near Bluewater Channel
• Tidal gate may be required near the mouth of Half Moon Creek at
Trinity Park • Allow erosion of the foreshore in areas that do not have critical community assets, such as the vacant shoreline areas in Trinity
Park COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Restoring wetlands to protect wildlife habitat • Planning policy responses to provide a suitable buffer zone to coastal hazards • Vegetation and dune management / construction • Beach and foreshore management and monitoring (i.e. beach nourishment) • Retain conservation areas south of Earl Hill
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
Smithfield is a thriving centre area located 15 km north of Cairns between Trinity Park and Kamerunga, home to more than 5000 people, and considered the business and trade centre of Cairns’ northern beaches.
SMITHFIELD
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Culturally significant sites • Bushland • Agricultural land • Cattana Wetlands • Mountain bike park • Shopping centre
• Smithfield is vulnerable to inundation from coastal hazards due to the lowlying land adjacent to watercourses • Important infrastructure and assets are at risk from coastal hazards
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Marlin Coast Wastewater
Treatment Plant • Smithfield Transfer Station • Open space areas (e.g. Oakville
Parade Park, Cattana Wetlands
Environmental Park) • Industry areas • Tourism and Community infrastructure (e.g. Skyrail
Rainforest Cableway) • Various roads and services (e.g. sewer and water networks)
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES • Plan to update or relocate existing public infrastructure that is at the end of its design life, including a sewerage pump station, wastewater treatment plant, waste transfer station, roads and services to reduce their exposure to coastal hazard risks • Manually change land levels or road levels within coastal inundation hazard areas to reduce risk for new or upgraded public assets. This should focus on evacuation routes including, Captain
Cook Highway, Yorkeys Knob Rd and Dunne Rd and Smithfield
Bypass (by asset owner). • Protect public infrastructure by constructing protection works (e.g. engineered walls) seaward of valued assets to hold the shoreline in the current position and reduce inundation impacts • Tidal gate across Yorkeys Creek and / or Half Moon Creek to decrease inundation in Smithfield which will protect low-lying assets in the area
• Progressively review or relocate public infrastructure as inundation encroaches on assets COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Restoring and migrating wetlands to protect wildlife habitat • Avoid long-life assets in coastal hazard areas • Planning policy responses to retain conservation areas • Raising road levels to mitigate impacts from inundation • Investigation into coastal hazard impacts on key infrastructure (i.e. transfer station, waste water treatment plant)
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
Yorkeys Knob is a quiet coastal community located 13 km from Cairns, separated from residential areas to the west by wetlands and farmland. The township has a mix of low to medium density housing, foreshore parklands with playground, accommodation, a golf club, boating club and marina.
ELLIS BEACH
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
BUCHANS POINT YORKEYS KNOB
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Beaches • Community assets (e.g. boat ramp, school, golf clubs, parks and recreation areas) • Low-lying farmland • Essential habitat and threatened wildlife habitat • Various roads and supporting services (e.g. sewer and water networks)
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management PALM COVE
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
• Historically, Yorkeys Knob beach has experienced significant erosion where southward alongshore sand movement occurred depleting the beach and accreting the beach north of Richters Creek • A groyne was built in 1960 at the northern end of Yorkeys Knob beach to help stabilise the shoreline following severe cyclone erosion • Currently dunes provide adequate protection for shoreline change with no engineering structures required • Important infrastructure and assets are at risk from coastal hazards WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Culturally significant sites • Beach and foreshore recreational areas • Bluewater and Yorkeys Knob
Marinas • Half Moon Bay Golf Course and Yorkeys Knob Boating
Club • Mangroves and fish habitat at river mouths
COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Restoring wetlands to protect wildlife habitat • Creek mouth management • Avoid long-life assets in coastal hazard areas • Small groynes and seawalls along the beach • Dune vegetation and management • Landfill management review
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES
COASTAL ENGINEERING • Beach access management (remove unnecessary or informal access, formalise appropriate public paths and inspect and repair access after erosion) • Beach scraping as required to reinforce dunes and reduce risks of erosion scarps • Beach nourishment to protect against erosion and maintain / improve beach amenity • Dune construction focused on the public foreshore adjacent to
Sims Esplanade where there is minimal natural buffer • Plan to update or relocate existing public infrastructure that is at the end of its design life, including nine sewage pump stations, two public toilet blocks and lengths of sewerage and water pipes • Relocate existing foreshore park assets that need updating or locate new assets outside the coastal hazard extent
• Manually change land levels or road levels within coastal inundation hazard areas to reduce risk for new or upgraded assets.
This should focus on Sims Esplanade • Maintain or upgrade the existing groyne at the northern end of the beach
• Seawall to protect public assets along Sims Esplanade and a breakwater to protect Yorkeys Knob marina where dune management and beach nourishment are not viable • Tidal gate may be required near the mouth of Half Moon
Creek at Trinity Park • Allow erosion of the foreshore in areas that do not have critical assets, such as the spit near the entrance to Yorkeys Creek • Progressively review or relocate infrastructure as inundation encroaches on assets. This may be a last resort option for areas along Sims Esplanade and around Half Moon Bay Golf Club
SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
Holloways Beach and Machans Beach are the northern beach suburbs closest to Cairns city and to the airport. These localities are well loved for their beaches, recreational activities, fishing spots, estuaries, wetlands, coastal cafes and sense of community.
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Beaches • Community infrastructure (e.g. Machans Beach Progress
Association Hall and Holloways
Beach Environmental Centre) • Foreshore parks and environmental areas • Tourist accommodation • Important infrastructure (e.g.
Australian Federal Police Asset and Radar Station) • Various roads (e.g. Casuarina
Street, O’Shea Esplanade and
Marshall Street) • Servicing (e.g. water and sewer pipes)
HOLLOWAYS BEACH MACHANS BEACH
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
• Erosion has occurred along Holloways
Beach causing a narrowing of dunes that protect shoreline development • Beach nourishment works have occurred at Holloways Beach which is typically placed seaward of the rock revetment to protect residences along Hibiscus
Lane and maintain the foreshore. Recent groynes have been installed to reduce the need for sand nourishment. • Creek entrances have typically supported the sand supply at Machans
Beach however, a rock seawall built in 2016 has assisted in continuing to stabilise the beach. This has resulted in sand being deposited at the northern end of Holloways Beach which is used as a source for sand nourishment. WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Culturally significant sites • Traditional Custodian values • Beach and foreshore recreational areas • Mangroves and fish habitat at river mouths • Littoral rainforest
COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Creek mouth management • Dune vegetation management • Coastal engineering in specific areas (i.e. tidal gate, levee) • Planning considerations • Maintain or enhance extent of current wetlands • Modify existing infrastructure to be resilient to coastal hazards
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES
COASTAL ENGINEERING • Beach access management (remove unnecessary or informal access, formalise appropriate public paths and inspect and repair access after erosion) focusing on Redden Island. • Beach scraping as required to reinforce dunes and reduce risks of erosion scarps • Undertake or continue beach nourishment to maintain beach width and visual amenity of public foreshore • Dune construction along foreshore where dune crest is minimal • Plan to update or relocate toilet blocks and sewage pump stations, the boat ramp at Holloways Beach at end of design life, and ensure roads, bridges and trails are resilient to coastal hazards • Relocate existing foreshore park assets that need updating or locate new assets outside the coastal hazard area
• Maintain existing structures, including the groynes and seawalls protecting public infrastructure • Seawall may be required if dune management and beach nourishment are not viable, particularly for the southern portion of
Machans Beach and Holloways Beach. • Refurbish or realign the existing seawall at Holloways Beach to reduce erosion pressures • Consider small groynes to maximise benefit of beach nourishment, particularly for the northern end of Holloways Beach • Tidal gates around creek mouths as required
• Allow shoreline erosion where land is undeveloped, particularly to the north of Poinsettia Reserve at Holloways Beach and to the northern end of Machans Beach
SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
Barron and Kamerunga are outer suburbs of Cairns CBD around the Barron River. Key features of these semi-rural low-density residential include the Kamerunga Nature Reserve, Lake Placid and Barron Gorge.
ELLIS BEACH
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
SMITHFIELD BUCHANS POINT
KAMERUNGA
KAMERUNGA BARRON RIVER
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations AIRPORT
Native vegetation and habitat management
WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Culturally significant sites • Traditional Custodian values • Farmland • Green belt separating urban areas • Barron River delta
• The Barron River delta has changed since the mouth switched 1.5km to the north in 1939 from its former position adjacent to Ellie Point • The area is predominately low-lying and is vulnerable to inundation
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Community assets (e.g. Cattana
Wetlands and Harley Street
North Park) • Environmental areas (e.g.
Kamerunga Conservation
Park and Stoney Street
Environmental Reserve) • Various roads (e.g. Kamerunga
Road, Captain Cook Highway and Yorkeys Knob Road) • Servicing (e.g. water pipes)
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise) COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Modify existing infrastructure to be resilient to coastal hazards • Planning considerations to retain rural zoning • Protect vegetation along banks of Barron River and foreshore
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES • Existing public infrastructure that needs updating or new infrastructure to be installed should be resilient to coastal hazards
• Relocate existing community assets in coastal hazard areas that need updating or locate new assets outside these areas • Manually change land or road levels where are risk of coastal inundation and this is important to the community e.g. boat ramp car park • Levee or bund wall around the waste water treatment plant to reduce exposure to coastal hazards
• A training wall to maintain the position of the Barron River channel
• A levee may be required to prevent low-lying land within Barron from becoming inundated
• Progressively review or relocate infrastructure as inundation encroaches on assets, particularly for low-lying rural areas
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
BUCHANS POINT CAIRNS CBD
CAIRNS CBD
PALM COVE
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
Cairns city and inner suburbs includes the CBD, Cairns Esplanade, Botanic gardens, parklands, saltwater creek, Cairns Airport and other transport, commercial, tourism and marine hubs. The centre of Cairns,established on reclaimed swamp land and river delta at Trinity Inlet, and its surrounding inner suburbs house more than 11,000 people.
• The land that the city is located on has progressively been filled by 2 to 4m to raise the elevation above tidal and flood levels • The city is vulnerable to storm-tide inundation and long-term sea level rise • The city contains the highest number of priority assets at risk from coastal hazards • Erosion has effected the foreshore since the 2000’s however a seawall and rock wall were constructed to protect the esplanade and boardwalk • Beach nourishment works have occurred periodically along the northern section of the CBD foreshore
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Foreshore parks • Key infrastructure (e.g. airport, port, marina precinct, hospital) • Industrial areas • Business, tourism and commercial infrastructure • Emergency services and health infrastructure (e.g. Cairns Hospital, ambulance stations, fire stations, community health facilities, police stations and QFES) • Servicing (e.g. water and sewer pipes) • Variety of schools (e.g. Cairns State
High School, St Monica’s, Trinity Bay
State High School, Parramatta State
School) • Key utility infrastructure (e.g. Ergon
Energy’s substation and wastewater treatment plants) • Variety of roads (e.g. Mulgrave Road,
Sheridan Street, Comport Street,
Anderson Street) • Drainage infrastructure (e.g. Fearnley Street Drain)
• Culturally significant sites • Wharf precinct • Foreshore recreational areas, including lagoon, esplanade boardwalk and picnic areas • Marine precinct, Navy base and
Port area for the economy • Wetland and nature reserves • Community assets, such as airport and hospital • Botanic Gardens and Centenary
Lakes • Unique wildlife and biodiversity • Public facilities, such as museums and art galleries
• Creek mouth management • Vegetation retention e.g. mangroves on the Esplanade • Coastal engineering works • Flood resilient infrastructure • Accessible evacuation routes • Protection of port area
COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
As part of ‘Phase 7 – Undertake socio-economic appraisal of adaptation options’, we assessed several potential adaptation options for the Cairns CBD. This work helped us understand the qualitative costs and benefits of different responses. Recognising the complexity of coastal hazards and our coastal environment, as well as the need for workable solutions, Council is committed to undertaking further cost-benefit analyses to ensure any future adaptation measures deliver value for money outcomes and maximise community benefits.
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES
COASTAL ENGINEERING • Beach access management (remove unnecessary or informal access, formalise appropriate public paths and inspect and repair access after erosion)
• Beach scraping as required to reinforce dunes and reduce risks of erosion scarps
• Beach nourishment to maintain beach width and visual amenity • Develop local adaptation plan for foreshore incorporating nature based solutions such as mangrove with integrated protection responses. • Develop integrated catchment management plans (ICMP) for
Saltwater Creek and Fearnley Street drain • Plan to update existing infrastructure (e.g. raise infrastructure, bund wall) or locate new infrastructure to ensure it is resilient to coastal hazards and outside inundation extents.
• Refurbish or upgrade existing structures to be resilient to coastal hazards which could be undertaken as part of broader Esplanade works
• Increase the capacity of flood pumps (mainly in the CBD)
• Relocate foreshore park assets to outside the coastal hazard extent
• Raise services (e.g. vehicle access points, electricity points) in CRC owned buildings that are likely to be regularly inundated due to sea level rise or storm surges • Investigate a raised road around the city foreshore area to form a levee preventing tidal inundation and allow for effective drainage
• Maintain existing seawalls to hold the shoreline in position. • Seawalls may be required along the foreshore and Chinaman
Creek to prevent inundation and protect CRC infrastructure. • Small groynes to maximise the benefit of small-scale beach nourishment
• Scour protection works along waterways to protect public assets • Investigate tidal gates along the length of the port waterway area to prevent elevated water levels from penetrating into upstream areas
• Investigate additional engineering options such as artificial reef and detached breakwater to protect foreshores • Progressively review or relocate public infrastructure as inundation encroaches assets or protection works are not viable or effective
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
Edmonton is located at the southern end of the region’s urban settlement about 15km south of Cairns CBD. Historically, sugarcane was area’s primary industry but the area has experienced rapid housing, business and industrial with a population of 10,750 in residential areas and outlying rural properties.
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
ADMIRALTY ISLAND
EDMONTON
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Traditional Custodian values • Cane farming lands • Scenic values • Trinity Inlet and Admiralty
Island for its cultural heritage and ecosystem values • Protection of wetlands • Sugarworld water park and recreation area
• The main township area of Edmonton is outside the coastal hazard extent • Storm-tide inundation and permanent sea level rise poses severe risk to the greatest number of assets • Edmonton Wastewater Treatment Plant and Southern Wastewater Treatment Plan are both at risk from coastal hazards
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Edmonton Wastewater Treatment
Plant • Community infrastructure (e.g. sports facilities, golf club, parks) • Parks and environmental assets (e.g. Cracknell Rd Drainage
Reserve and Fishermans Rd Park) • Various roads (48 km within the coastal hazard areas) • Servicing (e.g. sewerage and water pipes)
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise) COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Planning considerations • Avoid long-life assets in coastal hazard areas • Modify existing infrastructure to be resilient to coastal hazards
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES • Plan and update existing infrastructure at end of design life (e.g. raise infrastructure, bund wall) to be resilient to coastal hazards or locate new infrastructure to be outside inundation areas, particularly relevant for wastewater treatment plants and pump stations
• Manually change land levels or road levels within coastal inundation hazard areas to reduce risk for new or upgraded assets, particularly focusing on the Edmonton Wastewater Treatment
Plant
• Levees to hold shoreline in the current position and protect public assets
• Progressively review or relocate infrastructure as inundation encroaches assets
East Trinity is a tiny coastal community of 212 people nestled in Yidinji traditional Aboriginal country. The area, predominantly covered by vegetation, is bound by Trinity Inlet to the south and west, Pine Creek to the south-west, and mountainous peaks to the east.
SECOND BEACH
GIANGURRA
EAST TRINITY
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Culturally significant sites • A natural backdrop to the city • Natural ecosystems and mangrove habitat • Boat ramp
• The areas currently have little to no protection from coastal hazards • The limited development is located on the coastal fringe and is at risk of coastal hazards
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Environmental areas (e.g. Malbon
Thompson Conservation Park) • Radio receiver station • Various roads • Servicing (e.g. water pipes)
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise) COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Beach and foreshore management • Coastal hazard resilient infrastructure • Partnering with Traditional
Custodians
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES • Beach scraping as required to reinforce dunes and reduce risks of erosion scarps • Dune construction along Pine Creek Yarrabah Road which is within the coastal hazard area to protect the evacuation route in collaboration with the State
• Plan to update or relocate existing infrastructure, including public toilet blocks and linear infrastructure that is nearing the end of its design life to be resilient to coastal hazards • Manually change land levels and road levels within coastal inundation hazard areas to reduce risk for new or upgraded assets, including raising sections of Pine Creek Yarrabah Road to be above inundation height • Protect public assets by constructing protection works seaward of valued assets to hold the shoreline in the current position, focusing on the access road in collaboration with the State
• Allow erosion of the foreshore in areas that do not have critical public assets • Progressively review or relocate infrastructure as inundation encroaches on assets
Deeral and Russell Heads are located 45 to 65 km south of Cairns CBD in an area dotted with small rural and residential communities connected by the Mulgrave River. The area is also the gateway to the nearby Frankland Islands.
DEERAL
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
• Low-lying areas adjoining the rivers are vulnerable to storm-tide inundation and sea level rise impacts • Cultural and environmental assets as well as important infrastructure are effected by coastal hazards • Russell Heads beaches are currently stabilised by a 150m groyne • There is a very narrow foreshore area between the shoreline and development making erosion damage likely during storm events.
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Foreshore parks • Various road (about 76 kms) • Supporting services WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Access to Frankland Islands • Boat ramp • Schools • Holiday shacks • Marine plants around the rivers • Cane farms
COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Planning considerations • Planned transition and relocation of important assets • Vegetation management along the length of Mulgrave and
Russell Rivers • Detailed investigation to develop a landfill management review • Dune vegetation management and dune / beach monitoring
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
COASTAL ENGINEERING
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES • Beach access management (remove unnecessary or informal access, formalise appropriate public paths and inspect and repair access after erosion)
• Support maintenance of existing groyne to hold shoreline into position while viable
• Progressively review or relocate infrastructure as inundation encroaches on assets,mainly in foreshore areas on either side of the creek mouth
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE
SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
Rural Babinda and its surrounding townships, 60km south of Cairns city, is in the shadow of Queensland’s two highest mountains, Mt Bartle Frere and Mt Bellenden Kerr in Wooroonooran National Park. Key attractions are the Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls and Eubenangee Swamp National Park – home to over 190 species of birds.
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
BABINDA
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Boat ramp • Sugar cane farms • Cane rail adjacent to rivers • Tourist attractions (e.g.
Babinda Boulders) • Schools
COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Modify existing infrastructure to be resilient to coastal hazards • Habitat revegetation along the length of Russell River and in the wetlands
• Babinda is at risk of inundation due to its low-lying position • Priority areas of significant environmental value are at risk from coastal hazards
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Various road (4.7 km) • Supporting services (e.g. water)
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES • Upgrade or relocate existing infrastructure, including Russell River
Road and the public toilet block at end of life at Russel River Boat
Ramp to be resilient to coastal hazards • Manually change land levels or road levels within coastal inundation hazard areas to reduce risk for new or upgraded public assets. This is important to ensure that access is maintained to key infrastructure, such as the transfer station, and ensure safe evacuation outside of inundation areas
• Progressively review or relocate infrastructure as inundation encroaches on assets
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE
SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
Bramston Beach a small beachside town located 80 km south of Cairns directly east of Babinda known for its sweeping sandy beach, open spaces and significant wildlife habitat. The locality is adjoined by rural farmland and the Russell River National Park to the north.
ELLIS BEACH
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
BUCHANS POINT
PALM COVE
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
• Bramston Beach is relatively stable and has a wide 70m vegetated foreshore park • A rock seawall was constructed in 1986 at the end of Bramston Beach Road following repeated storm erosion events • Important assets at risk include the SES facility and Bramston Beach Transfer Station • Beach nourishment has historically occurred and dredging is undertaken as needed at Joyce Creek
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Bramston Beach Transfer Station • Community infrastructure (e.g. boat ramp and caravan park) • Foreshore parks and environmental areas • Various road (12kms) • Supporting services (e.g. water pipes) WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Traditional Custodian values • Important habitat area (e.g.
Cassowary and Mahogany
Glider habitat and turtle hatching area) • Eubenangee Swamp • Marine plants around the waterways • Holiday homes
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
BEACH & FORESHORE MANAGEMENT
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN
COASTAL ENGINEERING
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES • Beach access management (remove unnecessary or informal access, formalise appropriate public paths and inspect and repair access after erosion) • Beach scraping as required to reinforce dunes and reduce risks of erosion scarps • Beach nourishment to protect against erosion and maintain / improve beach amenity • Update or progressively relocate existing public infrastructure that is at the end of its design life to reduce exposure to coastal hazard risks
• Relocate existing foreshore park assets that need updating or locate new assets outside the coastal hazard area
• Manually change land levels or road levels within coastal inundation hazard areas to reduce risk for new or upgraded assets.
Raising road levels should focus on the Bramston Beach Road and
Evans Road intersection.
• Maintain existing groyne to hold the shoreline in position • Protect public assets by constructing protection works seaward of public assets to hold the shoreline in the current position. This could include a levee or retaining wall to protect low-lying public assets against inundation from the creek, including the Bramston
Beach boat ramp. • Allow erosion of the foreshore in areas that do not have critical public assets. • Progressively review or relocate infrastructure as inundation encroaches on asset COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Vegetation management and habitat protection • Review planning considerations • Dune management including vegetation enhancement and augmentation if necessary • Landfill site investigation • Creek mouth management
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
Fitzroy Island and Green Island are tropical islands less than an hour’s ferry ride from Cairns. They are popular spots for day-tripping and snorkelling and have resort accommodation. 6000 year-old Green Island is the only cay in the Great Barrier Reef with rainforest cover.
FITZROY ISLAND
Areas vulnerable to erosion or inundation (high tide and storm tide) if sea levels rise by 0.8 metres by 2100 as predicted, and no adaptation action is taken.
Mapping is in draft form for consultation purposes. For more information www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ourcairnscoast
GREEN ISLAND
PRIORITY WHOLE OF COAST ONGOING ADAPTATION ACTIONS
Monitoring
Community awareness and education Emergency management
Planning considerations
Native vegetation and habitat management
• Both islands have experienced erosion which has been managed by CRC and private tourist operators • Temporary and permanent inundation from coastal hazards is a risk for some areas, particularly on Green Island • Sand bags have been installed in some areas of Fitzroy Island and concrete block walls have been installed on either side of the Green Island jetty to control inundation WHAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES
• Culturally significant sites • Fitzroy Island for its turtle rehabilitation and coral restoration • Green Island jetty • Boating • Scenic natural environment • Coral and sea life • Recreational opportunities, including snorkelling, camping, fishing, swimming and diving • Tourist opportunities • Beaches
COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PRIORITIES
• Dune vegetation management • Dune and beach monitoring • Review planning considerations
COMMUNITY ASSETS AT RISK BY 2100
• Beaches • Tourist development • Jetties • Helicopter pad at Green Island • Community infrastructure (e.g. public toilet)
(For community assets, based on monitored sea level rise)
MODIFY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAZARD RESILIENT DESIGN • Relocate existing low-cost infrastructure if impacted by coastal hazards
• Progressively review or relocate infrastructure as inundation encroaches on asset
ACCEPT THE RISK AND EMBRACE COASTAL PROCESSES
TIMING BASED ON SEA LEVEL RISE
SHORT TERM MED TERM LONG TERM 0-0.3m 0.3-0.6m >0.6m
