Our Coast Our Future – Coastal Hazard Adaption Strategy
Shoreline Erosion Management Plans
Coastal vegetation and sand dunes
Pandanus dieback

The coastline of the Gladstone region supports a diverse range of natural and man-made assets, supporting our economy and lifestyle.

Our Coast Our Future – Coastal Hazard Adaption Strategy

Council has been on a journey to develop Our Coast Our Future, a long-term strategy to help manage and adapt to the coastal hazard impacts on our coastline and communities. Coastal hazards include erosion of our sandy coastlines and short or long-term seawater inundation of low-lying areas along the coastline.

Council was awarded funding through the QCoast2100 program, a Queensland Government and Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) initiative. The initiative was designed to assist local governments in planning for the potential impacts of coastal hazards associated with climate change.

Throughout the development of the strategy, detailed coastal hazard modelling studies were undertaken as well as a range of engagement conversations with the community to ensure the values and ideas of residents were incorporated into the strategy.

Our coastal lifestyle in the Gladstone Region is unique and worth preserving for generations to come. This Strategic Plan enables Gladstone Regional Council and stakeholders, including Traditional Owners, industry and residents, to be better prepared to reduce the impacts of coastal hazards on our communities, environment, cultural values, infrastructure, lifestyle and services, both now and into the future (to 2100).

The Our Coast Our Future Strategy is a key action in achieving Gladstone Regional Council Strategic Plan Goal 2 – Healthy Environment, Healthy Community.

For more information and to get involved go to conversations.gladstone.qld.gov.au.
Our Coast Our Future Strategy Factsheets

Shoreline Erosion Management Plans

Coasts and beaches are dynamic systems subject to the constant influence of wind, waves and tides. Erosion, accretion and storm tide events are natural processes that shape the coastline over short and long timeframes.

Council has developed Shoreline Erosion Management Plans (SEMPs) in consultation with our coastal communities to identify values associated with our coastal areas and how to manage threats to natural and man-made assets associated with coastal erosion.

BITS Shoreline Erosion Management Plan

Coastal vegetation and sand dunes

The foredunes, or the area directly behind the beach is a critical part of the dune ecosystem. It is essential to keep the foredunes intact and well covered with vegetation to maintain beach stability and minimise coastal erosion.

All dune plants, whether they are grasses, shrubs or trees growing in groups or by themselves have a role to play in stabilisation. Plants such as grasses and vines or obstructions such as fallen timber, trap windblown sand and help build the foredunes. The aerial parts of trees, such as the coastal she-oak obstruct the wind and absorb salt spray.

To maintain the health of our coastal foredunes it is important that dunes are managed correctly and treated as an important and delicate ecosystem. The foredunes are not recreational areas or extension of residents’ backyards and are instead important natural areas that if managed correctly will help protect the environment.

All plants (living or non-living) that grow on or adjacent to tidal lands are protected and regulated by Council and the Queensland Government and in some instances the Australian Government.

What you can do to protect our coastal foredunes:

• Do not establish turf within the foredunes, turf does not have the ability to trap wind-blown sand and cannot withstand burial or excessive salt spray
• Do not plant exotic garden plants within the foredunes
• Do not light fires on the beach or collect deadwood for use as firewood
• Stick to the official beach access tracks and do not sand board on the dunes, dune vegetation is susceptible to trampling and soil disturbances
• Do not drive on the dunes, dune vegetation cannot tolerate damage by vehicles
• Dispose of garden waste correctly and do not dump green waste in the foredunes
• Do not cut or prune trees growing within the foredunes. If you believe a tree is dangerous contact Council and an arborist will inspect it.

Factsheet

Pandanus dieback

Pandanus (Pandanus tectorius) is an iconic species growing on coastal dunes and headlands from north Queensland to New South Wales. Pandanus trees provide several important ecological services such as stabilising dunes and providing habitat and food for native animals.

Pandanus trees in parts of Queensland and New South Wales have been suffering from dieback since the 1990s, a condition mainly caused by infestations of the Pandanus leafhopper (Jamella australiae).

The leafhopper is endemic to north Queensland where it is controlled by predators not naturally present in our region. The insects feed on the trees’ sap and produce a sticky honeydew which encourages mould and fungal growth. The trees become weakened and susceptible to secondary infections and insects attach, which eventually kills them.

The parasitic wasp (Aphanomerus pusilius) is a natural predator of the leafhopper in its native range and has been introduced to southern Queensland and New South Wales as a biological control agent. Ensuring there are active populations of the wasp is considered the most effective long-term management for Pandanus dieback.

Factsheet

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