City of Stirling: Long term coastal hazard report delivered

The City of Stirling has released its draft Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Planning (CHRMAP) report, with some areas along the coast designated at extreme risk of coastal erosion subject to the City adopting adaptation measures around as early as 2045.

CHRMAP is a strategic, long-term plan that guides the response to existing and potential risks of coastal hazards, assessed at 10-, 25-, 50- and 100-year horizons.

Beaches, dunes, jetties, footpaths, community spaces and amenities, services, utilities and major infrastructure (such as West Coast Drive) are at risk from coastal erosion and inundation hazards over the next 100 years, with risk increasing as projected sea level rise takes effect.

Mayor Mark Irwin said that the report highlights the state of Western Australia’s coastline based on the latest scientific data and geophysical investigations. It makes several recommendations, including:

• establishing a fund for ongoing coastal adaptation and management;
• exploring long-term adaptation measures for land expected to be at risk of coastal erosion by 2122, which contains major infrastructure such as:
  • West Coast Drive;
  • The Esplanade, Scarborough carparks and the Whale Playground;
  • Scarborough Amphitheatre;
  • Scarborough Beach Pool;
  • Scarboro Surf Lifesaving Club;
• immediately implementing soft protection measures, such as dune restoration and sand-fencing;
• conducting targeted beach nourishment of beaches that are vulnerable in the short term;
• investigating the implementation of engineered measures that will help keep nourishment in place, such as nearshore reef(s) at Watermans Bay and Mettams Pool, and groynes at Scarborough Beach;
• initiating a long-term coastal monitoring program incorporating ad-hoc storm and metocean monitoring, coastal asset condition assessments and geological risk monitoring.

At the June 2022 Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) annual conference, Mayor Mark Irwin moved a motion calling on the Federal Government to provide funding to local governments who will need to prepare coastal areas for the increased risks of a changing climate.

According to the city, it was unanimously supported.