The City of Busselton has released a 100-year plan to guide a long-term strategy on how it deals with coastal erosion and inundation.
The draft Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaption Plan is out for public consultation, in response to the state government's Coastal Planning Policy, which estimates sea level rise at 0.9 metres in the next century.
The city developed the plan to ensure the community and decision makers understood and were equipped to manage potential future risks to private, public and community assets including coastal wetlands.
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The draft plan breaks the city's coastline into 19 management areas. Within each area potential risks and management and/or adaptation options are identified including broad recommendations to protect, accommodate or retreat from the coastline.
The proposed strategies are estimated to cost billions over 100 years, accounting for research, protection measures, relocating or removing public buildings, land acquisition and legal costs.
In the shorter-term, protecting the city's coastline is a key strategic priority funded through the city's financial plan, in which it is proposed to spend $4.4 million over the next 10 years.
City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said with most development situated on land less than 3m above sea level, the risk of coastal hazards impacting the region's life-style and future developments could not be ignored.
"Council is taking a proactive stance to protect our coast line and central to this is ensuring we have a sustainable and equitable financial model," he said.
The estimated cost of the 'protect' strategy is approximately $1.6 billion over 100 years and the cost of a 'retreat' strategy is approximately $9 billion over the same period. Most of the costs would not need to be met until after 2040 and in many cases not until after 2070.
The plan doesn't propose that those costs are all met by ratepayers either, with the city engaging with the state government and other stakeholders to develop an equitable and sustainable funding model over time.
To find out more about the proposed CHRMAP and information about public forums please visit the city's website yoursay.busselton.wa.gov.au/chrmap.