Initiatives by WA local governments to preserve, protect and rehabilitate coastal areas have been recognised at the state’s Coastal Awards for Excellence.

The awards, presented by the WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage on behalf of the WA Planning Commission, are given out every two years to recognise excellence in coastal planning, protection and management, across a wide range of initiatives and projects by research agencies, community groups, local government and state agencies.

Winners were announced at a ceremony in Mandurah on September 19 and presented with awards by planning minister Rita Saffioti.

Local government working together

The Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) was recognised for its interactive approach to managing coastal hazards through the sharing of information across more than 20 councils via its Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaption Planning forum.

The Forum provides opportunities for officers working in coastal councils to share solutions, challenges and experiences in relation to coastal hazard risk management adaptation planning and coastal adaptation in general, as well as offering presentations from coastal experts.

Ms Saffioti described it as “an outstanding example of local governments working together to resolve complex coastal planning challenges”.

Managing coastal hazards

The Town of Port Hedland was celebrated for robust planning in managing coastal hazards, with special commendation going to the City of Wanneroo for its work at Quinns Beach, and City of Cockburn for its trial engineered fringing reef at a notorious coastal erosion hot spot.

Installation of the first stage of the reef includes 135 concrete modules, in 100 metre arrays, around 100 metres from the coast at C.Y. O’Connor Beach.

The Shire of Broome got a gong for coastal design for the Guwarri Town Beach Redevelopment, which the minister praised for setting a new standard for public open space in the Kimberley.

“(The redevelopment) addressed dilapidation and social issues to revitalise and bring back community ownership and pride into the Town Beach area,” Ms Saffioti said.

City of Albany received a special commendation for the Middleton Beach Foreshore Enhancement Project.

Coastal Champion went to Walter Kolb for his work with the City of Sterling to restore and conserve coastal foreshore dunes.