Coastal vulnerability

Mersey Point coast

Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Planning

In September 2019, Council endorsed a Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP), in accordance with State Planning Policy 2.6 (SPP 2.6).

The CHRMAP is a strategic planning document that informs community and decision makers about potential coastal hazards (such as erosion and inundation), the risks and necessary actions. The CHRMAP will outline key directions for coastal adaption over a 100-year planning timeframe, while also prioritising management responses over the next 10 years.

What is the process?

There are four key parts to the development of a CHRMAP, as shown below:

CHRMAP flow chart. Steps detailed in text.

    1. Hazard assessment
    2. Community Coastal Values Survey
    1. Risk assessment and potential adaption options
    2. Public Information Sessions and Adaption Workshops
    1. Draft Adaption Plan
    2. Draft Adaption Plan released for public comment
  • Final Adaption Plan

What coastal hazards have been identified?

We engaged coastal engineers to assist with Parts 1 and 2 of the project. This included modelling coastal erosion and inundation hazards over different planning timeframes (2017, 2030, 2070 and 2110) relative to projected sea level rise (0.9m by 2110) and storm event scenarios.

​The modelling identified that much of the City's coastline is potentially vulnerable to coastal hazards, particularly in the areas from Port Kennedy northward to Rockingham. The modelling methods and results are detailed in a Coastal Hazard Risk Modelling Report, which can be viewed below.

​This technical report will now inform preparation of the City's draft CHRMAP. The CHRMAP will consider these potential hazards, together with feedback received through community consultation, to recommend appropriate management responses for the future.

Please note that the erosion and inundation hazard extents shown are based on a suite of assumptions and have varying degrees of uncertainty, which may influence the likelihood of the predicted level of erosion or inundation occurring at each planning timeframe.

​The hazards mapped have potential to occur, but that's not to say they will. The purpose of the CHRMAP is to ensure we have a plan in place should these potential hazards become a reality in the future.

Further, SPP 2.6 requires revision of the CHRMAP every 10 years, which would include an update of hazard estimates using the most up-to-date information available at that time, the findings of any specialist investigations undertaken, changes to projected sea level rise and any changes to the use of the foreshore.

Community consultation

OpportunityTimingStatus
Community Coastal Values Survey made available onlineSeptember 2017Completed
Information sessions and adaption workshopsAugust 2018Completed
Draft CHRMAP made available for public comment (for a period of nine weeks)June - August 2019Completed
3x community drop-in information sessionsJune - July 2019Completed

If you would like to receive CHRMAP project updates please subscribe through Rock Port, the City's online portal.

Alternatively, you can email us on customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au or call 9528 0333 should you have any queries or wish to be placed on the CHRMAP project stakeholder register.

Go to Top of the page