In collaboration with the local community, the City of Casey has developed a draft Coastal Framework to help protect Casey’s coastline from the impacts of climate change.
The framework, which the community can now view and provide feedback, will help guide how we manage and adapt to coastal hazards such as coastal erosion, temporary inundation, and sea-level rise while maintaining and balancing social, cultural, environmental, and economic values.
Located within Victoria’s Western Port Bay, Casey’s coastal area encompasses the communities of Warneet, Cannons Creek, Blind Bight, and Tooradin. This region is not only home to diverse marine and coastal ecosystems but also serves as a vital environmental, social, and economic asset for the community.
As sea levels continue to rise in Western Port Bay, coastal hazards such as land erosion and temporary flooding pose increasing risks to the region. These hazards are anticipated to have environmental, cultural, economic, and social impacts on Casey’s coast.
Funded through the Department of Transport and Planning’s Coastal Planning Grants program, Casey’s Coastal Framework will guide Council’s approach for managing and adapting to these coastal hazards.
Casey’s coastal area is home to important ecological habitats such as native mangroves, seagrass beds and saltmarshes which provide refuge to endangered shorebird species. Acknowledging its ecological significance, the region is protected under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and is declared a protected Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Under the Local Government Act (2020), Council also has a responsibility to inform the community of potential risks related to climate change, as well as ensuring that decisions are informed by these risks.
To support the development of the draft framework, last year Council engaged with coastal communities with close to 200 responses received.
City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff PSM said through the engagement exercise Council gained a better understanding of what the community value about the coast, what is important to coastal communities, and any coastal hazards or changes they have experienced in the region.
“Love and appreciation for the natural and serene areas, unique and significant flora and fauna, resilient assets, facilities and services, and access and connectivity, were common themes amongst the responses,” she said.
“Bringing together community feedback, technical hazard assessment, and strategic work, the draft Coastal Framework aims to enhance the resilience of the region’s coastal areas to changing climatic conditions. It seeks to provide strategic direction for coastal planning, recommendations for adaptation pathways, and to inform decision making on how to respond to increasing coastal hazard risks.
“As part of developing the draft framework, we have examined coastal hazard risk for the Casey coastal region and its communities. This assessment provides key information on coastal hazards, when and where they may occur, levels of risk, and what values and assets may be impacted into the future.”
Council is inviting the community to share their feedback on the draft Coastal Framework. Community knowledge and feedback will help inform how we adapt to and manage coastal hazards in the City of Casey.
For more information and to share your feedback visit Casey Conversations or come and speak with Council at community pop-ups at Blind Bight Community Centre on Sunday 26 May at 2.00 pm, and at Tooradin Sports Club on Wednesday 29 May at 4.00 pm.
Consultation is open until 7 June 2024.
Once community feedback is reviewed, the draft Coastal Framework is expected to be considered by Council for adoption in late 2024.