Have your say on protecting coastline

Moreton Bay Regional Council’s community consultation team will be visiting coastal locations in February, so residents can have their say on how to protect and manage the region’s beaches and waterways.

Drop-in sessions will be hosted at Toorbul, Donnybrook, Bongaree, Beachmere, Deception Bay and Scarborough to give residents the chance to contribute to Council’s Living Coast: Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS).

Mayor Peter Flannery says he doesn’t want computer access to be a barrier for locals wanting to have their say on this long-term plan for managing the region’s changing coastal conditions.

“Building on from the information we gathered last year, we are continuing to listen to the invaluable experiences of locals and visitors to help plan, prepare and manage our coastal areas into the future,” Mayor Flannery says.

“Please come along to any of the sessions, and bring your family and friends, and help us plan for the future management of our dynamic and much-loved coastal landscape.

“If you can’t attend a drop-in session, you can still share your coastal experiences and have your say via the short online survey before March 7.”

Keen to know more

Mayor Flannery says the first step of creating a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS) is identifying what is important to the community.

“Our bays, estuaries and beaches mean different things to different people, and are used, loved and enjoyed in a range of ways,” Mayor Flannery says.

“By understanding what is important, we can develop a strategy that incorporates the needs and interests of land and asset owners, and coastal communities. This shared understanding will help inform appropriate coastal management options for the Moreton Bay Region.

“Given our vast coastline, there are certainly parts of the region which are more susceptible to change from natural hazards including coastal erosion, storm tide inundation and predicted sea-level rise.

“Many of these locations play a crucial role in Moreton Bay - contributing to recreation and leisure, business and economic activity, history and culture, environment and our local lifestyle. The development of a CHAS will help us make better decisions to mitigate those potential risks so we can continue to enjoy our coast for generations to come.”

Get involved

Dates and locations for community drop-in sessions:

Saturday, February 6

• Toorbul: 8-10am, Toorbul Boat Ramp Park
• Donnybrook: noon-2pm, Pumicestone Park, Alice St

Saturday, February 13

• Bongaree: 8-10am, Bongaree Jetty Park (corner of Welsby Pde and First Ave)
• Beachmere: noon-2pm, Lehman Park, Biggs Ave

Saturday, February 20

• Deception Bay: 8-10am, Captain Cook Parade Park (opposite library)
• Scarborough: noon-2pm, Thurecht Park

The development of the Council’s CHAS has received funding support from the Queensland Government’s QCoast2100 Program, an initiative assisting more than 30 coastal local governments to plan and prepare for coastal change.

Council will be communicating and engaging with the community while it prepares a CHAS, from now to 2023.

To complete the community values survey and learn more about CHAS, visit https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Projects/CHAS