How we’re charting the future of coastal areas
Council has endorsed two plans to help manage erosion and keep our coastal areas healthy into the future.
Our coastal areas underpin our communities and our region’s very identity, so how will we continue to enjoy these places and keep them healthy for generations to come?
Sunshine Coast Council now has two new plans that will shape these areas into the future: the Healthy Coast Management Plan and the Shoreline Erosion Management Plan.
Council endorsed both plans, which were developed through two rounds of community consultation, at its Ordinary Meeting today (May 21).
They also complement existing plans and reports including the Environment and Liveability Strategy, Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy, Recreation Parks Plan and the Coastal Health Report.
Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said our coastal communities would continue to rely on healthy coastal areas.
“In our connected Sunshine Coast Biosphere, our coastline supports our way of life, our health, our local businesses and so much more,” Cr Suarez said.
“We know our region will continue to grow, so we need this careful planning and preparation to ensure everyone can continue to enjoy our coastline for generations to come.
“Our changing climate also means we need to prepare for sea level rise and more severe weather, which could lead to increased erosion or inundation, impacting on these places we love and with flow-on effects across both our ecosystems and community.”
An overarching plan for a healthy coast
The Healthy Coast Management Plan is a new plan that for the first time brings together Council’s priorities to manage our coastline now and into the future, while responding to population growth and climate change impacts.
The plan outlines how we will protect and enhance our coastline’s environmental, built asset, and sustainable use values.
This covers everything from invasive weeds and revegetation activities to placemaking and active transport upgrades in our coastal areas.
Preparing for erosion on our shores
The Shoreline Erosion Management Plan 2025-2035 updates the existing 2014 plan.
For specific locations throughout the next decade, the Shoreline Erosion Management Plan describes processes that influence erosion, identifies Council assets at risk, and outlines Council’s preferred coastal erosion management actions.
Feedback received was generally supportive of the actions in the plan with themes focusing on levels of intervention by Council along the coastline, suggestions for nature-based solutions, and requests for action in specific locations.
Working with community
Fellow Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Tim Burns said residents provided invaluable insights and management ideas for different locations along the coast.
“We have so many community members who are passionate about coastal areas: the resident who loves to walk the beach or park, the surfers and fishers, or those who dedicate their time to protecting our endangered turtles,” Cr Burns said.
“All that accumulated local knowledge and insight helped shape these plans, and in turn will shape our region for future generations.
“Thank you to everyone who took part in this process and helped create that legacy.”
Council embarked on two rounds of consultation across 2023 and 2024 to inform the two plans.
The first round gathered knowledge from locals who work in the community to make our coastal areas better, inviting 89 community groups to be involved through workshops.
The second round presented the draft plans for feedback to the whole community through pop-ups, Council’s Have your Say website and email responses.
Council also worked with communities in coastal areas where planning for change is most important, through Coastal Hazard Adaptation Precinct Planning investigations.
Visit haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au for a detailed summary of feedback provided on both plans.