Managing Coastal Hazards in the Burdekin Dry Tropics

Parts of the Burdekin Dry Tropics coastal strip has a long history of natural and human induced issues and some coastal areas remain very fragile. In many instances, management effort has been hampered by conflict between stakeholders, or poor practice e.g. construction of inappropriate erosion mitigation structures, revegetation at wrong time of year or not using the most appropriate species. NQ Dry Tropics Sustainable Coast’s program aims to ensure any management effort provides every opportunity for the coastal strip to remain resilient into the future and accounts for the additional pressures associated with climate change e.g. more frequent and intense storms. Generally the program works with Local Government to identify priority areas for coastal rehabilitation activities e.g. a site of persistent beach erosion. One such priority area is Cungulla beach. It has been the subject of persistent beach erosion and was a high priority for Townsville City Council. Some residents had taken action into their own hands building structures in an effort to protect their property. In many instances the structures, built without the necessary approval, accelerated erosion and resulted in waste material being distributed over the beach.