The City of Casey is embarking on an important initiative to develop a Coastal Framework in collaboration with the local community to help protect Casey’s coast. The aim of this framework is to safeguard Casey’s coastal region and address the risks posed by climate change and rising sea levels.
Situated within Victoria’s Western Port Bay, Casey’s coastal area encompasses the vibrant 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 floods 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.
City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson, notes Council’s commitment to protecting Casey’s coastal region and the vital role the Coastal Framework will play in achieving this objective.
“Recognising the growing impact of climate change, the framework will allow us to prepare for changing climate conditions,” said Mr Patterson.
“However, we cannot do this alone. Community participation and engagement is essential in developing a successful framework that incorporates community concerns, knowledge and solutions.
We look forward to the active involvement of residents in shaping the Coastal Framework and working together to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for our coastal community.”
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).
Throughout Council’s 2021 “Shape Your City” engagement campaign, the Casey community feedback highlighted that a safe and sustainable future is a high priority for Casey residents. Council has responded to this by embedding climate resilience in Council’s Environmental Strategy, demonstrating its commitment to address these concerns.
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 help shape the framework, Council is inviting the community to share with us what they value about the coast, and what is important to coastal communities. Residents are encouraged to share what they love about the coastal areas and identify specific locations that they perceive changes or vulnerabilities to coastal hazards, such as storm surges and rising sea levels.
For more information and to share your feedback visit Casey Conversations or come and speak with Council officers at community pop-ups along the coast, including at Pearcedale IGA on Tuesday 4 July. Consultation is open until 13 July 2023. Once community feedback is reviewed, the Draft Coastal Framework will be developed and available for community consultation early 2024.