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WA Coastal Governments Form Partnership to Tackle Climate Change Impacts

Nine Local Governments covering the coast from Cape Peron to Cape Naturaliste in the South West of Western Australia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which pledges cooperation and integration of effort in responding to the impacts of climate change.


The Mayor of the City of Rockingham Barry Sammels, who also chairs the National Sea Change Taskforce, said he was delighted that the cities of Bunbury, Mandurah and Rockingham and the shires of Busselton, Capel, Dardanup, Harvey, Murray and Waroona had come together to focus initially on coastal vulnerability and risk and effective adaptation strategies to address impacts on the coastal zone.

“Following the Australian Government’s “Climate Change Risks to the Australian Coast –A First Pass National Assessment” report which identified the Peron Naturaliste area as having the highest level of risk, it became clear that to effectively respond to impacts caused by climate change would require resourcing beyond the capacity of individual local governments,” he said.

Mayor Sammels went on to say; “The Memorandum of Understanding and associated Business Plan not only demonstrates an appreciation of the size and complexity of issues generated by changes in our climate, but also the willingness
of participating Local Governments to combine resources and work in partnership with State and Federal governments.”
Mayor Paddi Creevey of the City of Mandurah who is a member of the Australian Government’s Coast and Climate Change Council highlighted the importance of integrating effort across all three tiers of government.

“It is critically important that climate science and high level policy is translated into appropriate actions at a regional and local level. The Peron Naturaliste Partnership provides an important link between the ‘hands–on’ local level and the policy directions of the State and Australian Governments” she said.

The Partnership is supported by a Senior Officers Group who has identified priority projects to be undertaken on a regional basis and is establishing dedicated project management resources to achieve these with the assistance of the Western Australian and Federal Governments.

For further enquires contact GEOFF KLEM at the City of Bunbury 08 97927038, 0439966485 or gklem@bunbury.wa.gov.au

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