Last chance to comment on coastal importance

Time is fast running out for residents and business operators to tell Council what the Cairns coast means to them.

Coastal environments under pressure from rising sea levels and erosion have been put under the spotlight through the “Our Cairns Coast – adapting for the future” project.

As part of this project Council are conducting a community survey exploring residents’ connections with the region’s coastline.

Results of the survey will be used to help inform how council adapts to coastal changes now and into the future.

Cairns has 11 coastal communities and beaches spread across 81km of coastline, and this survey provides residents the chance to share their views and what they value about our significant seaside environment.

The project will deliver a strategic approach to managing future coastal changes relating to erosion, storm tide inundation and sea level rise throughout the next 80 years.

However, there is less than a week left for residents to have their say with the survey closing 30 June.

The Our Cairns Coast project is being delivered by Council with funding under the Queensland Government’s QCoast2100 program.

Council has received $500,000 in funding towards an eight-phase, multi-year project that will help to minimise potential future risks from long-term coastal changes.

In undertaking the QCoast2100 program, Cairns joined 31 other Queensland coastal councils that are developing their own adaptation plans.

To promote the project, Council also held six information stalls at local markets and ECOFiesta, since the launch of the project on 7 March.

The online survey is now open and can be accessed online from the Cairns Regional Council website homepage (www.cairns.qld.gov.au), click on the “Our Cairns Coast” tab.