The Department of Environment and Science’s highly successful QCoast2100 Program is to be expanded to defend Queensland’s coastal communities from climate change-induced sea level rises, storm tides and coastal erosion.
Additional funding is to help 31 Local Councils implement their Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategies and enable Councils to begin critical on-ground works to safeguard coastal communities.
Minister for the Environment, Meaghan Scanlon said coastal communities were particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and the Government was acting to support them.
“It is vital we understand the threats to these homes and businesses and how we can best manage those risks,” Ms Scanlon said.
“This new funding will also help communities in Far North Queensland and Cape York develop strategies for their communities,” she said.
Ms Scanlon said the funding boost resulted from a partnership between the Government, the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and coastal Councils to tackle climate change at a local level.
President of the LGAQ and Mayor of Sunshine Coast Council, Mark Jamieson welcomed the extension of the QCoast2100 Program.
“Coastal Councils have produced some outstanding work in developing coastal hazard adaptation strategies to better enable their communities to respond to the impacts of a changing climate,” Mr Jamieson said.
“The extension of the Program provides all 31 coastal Councils with the opportunity to complete this important work on behalf of their communities,” he said.
