Patrick Goldsmith, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Yorke Peninsula Council’s first coastal protection structures and adaptation projects community information session was attended by about 30 people at Warooka on Friday, 28th July.
Further sessions will be held in Coobowie, Pine Point, James Well and Port Clinton as council looks to deal with the looming threat of flooding to coastal towns.
The recently initiated coastal protection structures and adaptation projects are supported by funding from the Coast Protection Board in response to previous coastal damage events.
“The conditions in Gulf St Vincent leave some townships vulnerable to seawater flooding during high tides and storm surges,” YPC operations manager Stephen Goldsworthy said.
“Over time the seawater flood risk will also increase with sea level rise.
“Council has previously completed seawater flood studies, investigated the potential extent of seawater flooding and identified future adaptation options to manage seawater flood risk.
“Areas have been identified which require flood protection to prevent inundation of roads, other assets and properties.”
Mr Goldsworthy said the project is about looking forward and planning to protect coastal settlements, instead of reacting to events.
“Foul Bay is one of the communities in most urgent need with seawater flooding preventing public access to Mud Alley in mid-2021,” Mr Goldsworthy said.
“This event reduced the foreshore sand dune bank, resulting in there now being limited controls in place to stop seawater inundation.”
Port Clinton, James Well, Pine Point and Coobowie have also been identified as high priority because of erosion and flooding issues.
“Council cannot proceed with any construction works to address the issues without detailed designs,” Mr Goldsworthy said.
“Council intends to source funding to implement this design work in future years.”
To find out more, or to register your attendance, visit https://yorke.sa.gov.au/coastal-protection-structures-and-adaptation-projects/.
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 8 August 2023.
