Gladstone Region Coastal Adaptation Study

Abstract

The coastal landscape in the Gladstone region is a diverse and dynamic stretch of the Queensland coastline. The coastal zone is characterised by wide coastal plains, tidal embayments, creeks and inlets, rocky peninsulas, and a network of sandy barrier islands and beach ridge systems. The landscape supports a diversity of cultural, economic and environmental values. The Our Coast Our Future Strategic Plan is a resource for the entire region that will guide how we proactively manage and adapt to coastal hazards. Council’s role in developing the plan is to ensure the continuity of services it provides, and making the information available to support industries, organisations and residents to implement their own actions to adapt to coastal hazards. The strategic plan and implementation action plan sets Council in good stead for ongoing investigation, conversation and planning of all assets to ensure services continue to be provided in coastal areas, albeit in a different way, into the future. The Plan provides a region-wide approach for identifying coastal hazards impacts and implementing management responses founded on the principles of proactive management and shared responsibility. Underpinned by extensive coastal modelling and community engagement, the information gathered and actions recommended by the Plan will be imbedded into Council’s asset maintenance, monitoring and planning processes, and the Regional Planning Scheme to provide an adaptation pathway that maintains the vision for the Region.