Coastal protection grant funding success

Yorke Peninsula Council has been successful in securing grant funding for important coastal protection planning.

Council will receive $55,000 to put toward a $92,345 project to design coastal defence structures, plus $20,000 for a $32,628 project to review hazards and adaption options at Foul Bay.

Both projects will ensure there are plans in place to protect coastal settlements from future flooding, including from projected sea level rises.

Foul Bay circa 2011

Mayor Darren Braund thanked the State Government, in particular the Coast Protection Board and Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs, for funding Yorke Peninsula Council’s projects through the Regional Coast Protection Grant program.

“Our projects are all about looking forward and planning to protect our coastal settlements against potential future sea level rise,” Mr Braund said.

“Foul Bay is one of the communities in most urgent need of such a plan.

“In fact sea water flooded the public access to Mud Alley in mid-2021, reducing the foreshore sand dune bank, resulting in there now being limited controls in place to stop seawater inundation.

“Council will work with landowners to help reduce risks to private property.

“This is the aim of our project, and having a professional plan in place is an important step.

“Thanks to assistance from this grant plus Council’s financial contribution, we aim to complete this planning and present the findings later this year.”

Yorke Peninsula Council has also received funding through the program to design coastal defence structures at Port Clinton, James Well, Pine Point and Coobowie.

“These locations were also identified as high priority because of erosion and flooding issues, and Council cannot proceed with any construction works to address the issues without detailed designs,” Mr Braund said.

“Council intends to source funding to implement this design work in future years.”

The Coast Protection Grant program is administered by the Coast Protection Board with the support of the Department for Environment and Water.