Cassowary Coast Regional Council

The Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC) and a number of our coastal communities are set to benefit from the recent announcement by the Federal Government of successful applications under its Community Coastcare Program.

A project titled “Improved Management of Coastal Reserves within the Cassowary Coast Region”, promoted by the Council, will receive more than $45,500.

A second project titled “Local Government Planning and Reserve Management in Far North Queensland”, promoted by Terrain NRM, and including the CCRC and two other councils, will receive $225,000.

Cassowary Coast Mayor, Bill Shannon, said the newly amalgamated region had approximately 160 kilometres of coastline to maintain.

“The majority of this is protected and in a natural state, but approximately 20 kilometres is adjacent to developed townships and open to a range of impacts, both natural and human induced,” he said.

“The Council has a responsibility to work with other lead agencies to ensure that our beaches have the resilience to withstand the impact of human usage, the vagaries of storm events, and the challenges ahead due to climate change.”

“Coastal management planning and works have received allocations of $422,000 in the CCRC 2008/09 budget, including more than $100,000 in State Government subsidies. The addition of this Federal Government grant funding will see over $540,000 invested in strategic coastal priorities,” Cr. Shannon said.

CCRC Manager, Parks & Natural Environment, Paul Devine, said community groups from Tully Heads, Mission Beach, Bingil Bay, Cowley Beach and Flying Fish point were involved in project development.

“All of these groups demonstrated a passion for their beaches and coastal reserves and they also shared a vision with the Council that these areas be well managed and their natural values protected,” he said.

The Community Coastcare funding will be used to develop, in consultation with the community, Management Plans for the areas of coastal reserves under the control of the Council within coastal villages.

“As soon as the Management Plans are developed and approved by the Council, works such as weed control, revegetation, construction of fencing and beach accesses can commence and opportunities for community members to become involved will be provided through volunteer working bee days.”

Meanwhile, the early New Year will see two other important coastal projects rolled out by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.

The Tully Heads to Hull Heads Shoreline Erosion Management Plan Draft Final Report will be made available for public consultation.

Cr. Shannon said the Draft Report, developed by the Council with input from the community and government agencies, analysed and defined the risks of sea erosion between Tully Heads and Hull Heads, and proposed management recommendations.

“I urge all residents of the Tully Heads and Hull Heads community to read the document and provide their ideas to the Council,” he said.

The Draft Report can be viewed for the next six weeks at the Googarra Beach Caravan Park and on the Cassowary Coast Regional Council website. Information will be provided at a later date regarding a meeting time which will provide residents with the opportunity to discuss the Report with Council representatives and the consultants.

In another project, up to $100,000 will be spent on implementing some of the recommendations of the Cardwell Shoreline Erosion Management Plan, which was completed earlier this year. The Plan had indicated that there was a deficit of 90,000 cubic metres of sand from Cardwell Beach.

“Earlier this year, the Council began a sand nourishment program which will continue with the placement of approximately 3000 cubic metres in early January,” Mr Devine said.

“In addition, the Council will begin constructing a small geo-textile catch groyne near the end of Tsakisiris Street, which will collect sand as it drifts north and allow it to be redistributed back onto the beach further to the south.”