Ten coastal Queensland councils have received a collective $3.3 million worth of state government funding for projects to protect their communities from coastal erosion and rising sea levels.

The councils came up with nature-based solutions to managing coastal inundation while maintaining the integrity of the coastline, the government says.

Projects include sand placement works to restore eroded beaches and build dune resilience at South Mission Beach, Bargara and Lucinda; riverbank and estuarine stabilisation works at Noosa, the Gold Coast and Redlands; the relocation of community assets at risk of being lost due to erosion in Seventeen Seventy; and dune revegetation works to manage erosion at Mapoon in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Re-nourising eroded beaches

Cassowary Coast Regional Council will use the funding to investigate sand back-passing systems to re-nourish eroded beaches in the state’s tropical north.

The method has been successfully used in southern parts of the state but is yet to be tested up north, and Cassowary Council says the investigation will be of interest to all councils in central and northern Queensland.

Meanwhile, Moreton Bay Regional Council says it will undertake a project to give residents in coastal areas a framework to improve the resilience of their properties which has the potential to be extended to other LGAs.

Sea levels predicted to rise 0.8m by 2100

The funding is being delivered in partnership with Queensland’s local government association and is the latest round on offer from the $20 million QCoast2100 program.

Environment minister Leanne Linard said climate change is going to increase coastal hazards in the state, with a predicted rise in sea levels by up to 0.8 metres by 2100.

“This means coastal communities will be impacted more and more by storm tide inundation and coastal erosion.

“We are committed to working with the LGAQ to continue supporting our coastal councils to implement works to keep the community safe.”

LGAQ CEO Alison Smith said coastal councils are focused on reducing risks and improving coast health.

“The QCoast2100 initiative has since 2016 addressed a very real need for Queensland’s coastal councils and communities and the funding it provides will ensure councils are best prepared for these upcoming uncertainties,” she said in a statement.

Thirty-seven councils have so far received funding via the program.