Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Coastal Adaptation Planning

At the Ordinary Council Meeting 11 June 2025, Council endorsed to advertise the draft Marybrook Siesta Park Coastal Erosion Strategy. Community engagement on the draft Strategy will occur over the coming months. Next steps are for a consultant to undertake a Benefit Distribution Analysis of the draft Strategy before further advertisement of this later in the year.

The City applied for funding assistance under the State Government 2023 Coastal Management Plan Assistance Programme (CMPAP) and received a $150,000 grant. The funding will assist the implementation of a key recommendation of the CHRMAP being the development of an integrated coastal erosion protection strategy for a section of the Geographe Bay coastline in Marybrook/Siesta Park.

The project has commenced with the engagement of Westpeak Engineering to undertake the scope of works for the project and the establishment of a Steering Group which includes the following representation –

• City of Busselton
• Geographe Bay Coastal Action Group
• Department of Transport
• Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
• Water Corporation
• Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

A Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan has been prepared and consultation with landowners, stakeholders and the broader community will occur during the project duration. Further updates on consultation will be provided as the project progresses.

The project is to be completed by September 2025.

The Council adopted the CHRMAP for final approval on 27 July 2022. In response to the substantive issues raised during advertising and consultation afterwards, a number of changes to the general and management unit specific adaptation pathways (as contained in the draft CHRMAP) have been incorporated into the final CHRMAP.

CHRMAP (Final) October 2022

The draft ‘Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan’ (CHRMAP) was adopted by the Council for public consultation purposes on 24 February 2021 and an extended public advertising period conducted between 21 May – 28 September, 2021.

The main purpose of the CHRMAP will be to: ‘…identify the current and projected extent of risk to public assets, public infrastructure and environmental/social/cultural values from coastal hazards, including those arising from projected sea level rise, and to provide a meaningful framework for responding to those hazards, including financial modelling, for recommended adaptation pathways over a 100-year timeframe.’

During the public consultation period an extensive community engagement process was initiated by the City and staffed information displays and community information sessions organised in both Dunsborough and Busselton centres. For interested community members and other parties who were unable to attend these, a series of online or specially convened information sessions were also provided.

There was an encouraging level and range of community interest, enquiry, conditional support and concern received by the City in regard to proposed recommendations made in the draft CHRMAP. A total of 62 formal submissions were received.

The City wishes to acknowledge and thank those members of our community who have actively participated in this important strategic process to date; your observations, suggestions, concerns and constructive feedback will all help inform the further critique and refinement of the draft CHRMAP.