Coastal Adaption and the Cockburn Sound Coastal Alliance

What is the Cockburn Sound Coastal Alliance?

The Cockburn Sound Coastal Alliance (CSCA) is a partnership between the cities of Cockburn, Fremantle, Kwinana and Rockingham and Perth Region NRM. The CSCA receives support from the Department of Transport, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, the Cockburn Sound Management Council and the Department of Defence. 

The CSCA was formed to understand and respond to climate change impacts along the Cockburn Sound coastline. The CSCA recognises that coastal issues are common problems that cross local government boundaries and require integrated and collaborative approaches and solutions, including:

• Building and sharing knowledge relating to the climate change impacts affecting the Owen Anchorage and Cockburn Sound such as sea level rise, erosion and inundation

• Developing strategies to help address climate change impacts

• Developing Coastal Adaptation Plans for its member councils

What work has the Cockburn Sound Coastal Alliance completed?

The CSCA has taken a staged approach to climate change adaptation along the Cockburn Coast, which includes:

• Stage 1: Coastal Vulnerability Study (completed in 2013)
• Stage 2: Coastal values and Risk Assessment Study (completed in 2014)
• Stage 3: Coastal Adaptation Plans (completed in 2016)

View the Coastal Adaptation Plans below.

Each local government is now individually responsible for managing the implementation of coastal adaptation measures as it sees fit.

How is the City of Cockburn responding to coastal vulnerability?

The City of Cockburn has in place a Coastal Adaptation Plan that was developed in collaboration with the CSCA using information from the earlier Coastal Vulnerability Study and Values and Risk Assessment processes. The CAP guides the City in managing coastal risks and adapting to coastal changes in a sustainable and flexible manner. Key measures the City has in place to manage coastal risks in alignment with the CAP include:

• A Coastal Monitoring Program that tracks shoreline movements and identify changes in condition of beaches and coastal assets

• Periodic sand replenishment of eroding areas such as C Y O’Connor Beach as required

• Detailed planning and design for responses to coastal hazards at specific sites, such as the design of long term erosion protection measures for C Y O’Connor Beach and creating a long-term Foreshore Management Plan for Coogee Beach

• Ensuring planning schemes and controls are appropriate to the latest hazard information

• Engagement with the community and stakeholders to raise awareness of coastal hazards and adaptation planning.

More information and contact

Visit the Cockburn Sound Coastal Alliance website for report appendices and more information.