Protecting Coogee Beach from future erosion

The Coogee Beach Foreshore Management Plan 2020-2070 recommends strategies and short and long term actions to manage the coast’s natural and built assets which are likely to be affected by hazardous rising sea levels predicted later this century.

The plan recommends ongoing strategic planning to maintain the foreshore in its current state, with the overall goal of preserving the sandy beach, dune vegetation and bush, paths, carparks, playgrounds, toilets, plus the holiday park, surf club and café.

It also details a trigger point framework of strategic decisions and actions in response to coastal risks associated with the uncertainty of longer term sea level rises and the severe impacts of erosion and inundation.

City of Cockburn Acting Director, Engineering & Works, Anton Lees, said the City was proactively preparing for predicted coastal hazards as a result of a +0.5m Sea Level Rise erosion line anticipated to occur by 2070.

“This plan is a high level strategy and acknowledges that final decisions will be made on the basis of environmental, economic and community values closer to the time,” Mr Lees said.

“Planning for capital works and redevelopment of the foreshore will be undertaken separately but consistent with the plan’s measures.

“We are focused on managing coastal risks and prolonging the use of assets and areas for as long as it is safe and practical.” 

Some of these actions include consolidating beach access tracks, revegetation, weed management, sand replenishment, managing social behaviour, ongoing monitoring of all assets in relation to shoreline movements and developing a long term masterplan to assess alternative locations for, and relocation of, assets.In the next decade, the cost of implementing the plan will be up to $1.2m over and above the existing expenditure, and subject to any additional sand replenishment requirements.

Preparation of the management plan involved consultation with community members and stakeholders across two engagement periods, with 275 survey submissions received following a series of workshops, meetings and online surveys in February and September this year.

Incorporating 1.2km of shoreline, the Coogee Beach foreshore study area is bounded by the Coogee Beach Surf Life Saving Club site, east to Cockburn Road and north to the corner of Perlinte View and Socrates Parade.

Read more about the plan on the City’s website opens in a new window.