Council is developing a Coastal Management Program (CMP) in accordance with the Coastal Management Act 2016, setting the long-term strategy for managing our coastline.

Acting Mayor Giacomo Arnott said the coast is one of our greatest assets and it’s constantly changing.

“Port Stephens is known for its unique coastal zones and we’re blessed with some of the world’s most beautiful sandy beaches, rocky headlands, mangrove areas, saltmarshes and seagrass beds,” Acting Mayor Arnott said.

“We know the community has concerns about the changing coastal environment and we’re already seeing and experiencing some of these changes.

“The Coastal Management Program will identify risks to our coast and how we can prepare our communities from the impact of climate change now and into the future.

“We need to work on reducing the impacts of a changing coastal environment so that we can all continue to enjoy the benefits of the coast for years to come,” he added.

The Coastal Management Plan is a 5 stage process and Council has already completed stages 1 and 2. Stage 1 identified a range of priority threats affecting the Port Stephens coastal zone. These include coastal hazards such as erosion and inundation, stormwater management, biosecurity threats, land clearing and run-off.

In Stage 2, the priority coastal hazards; coastal erosion, tidal inundation, coastal inundation (caused by storm events) and wind-blown sand were mapped for 2020, 2040, 2070 and 2120.

Strategy and Environment Section Manager Brock Lamont said we’re now moving into Stage 3 of the program, working with our community to consider options to manage the identified hazards and threats to our coastal zone.

“We’ll be holding 4 drop-in sessions in May where the community can meet with Council staff and coastal specialists to learn more about the coastal hazards and look over the key management areas to see what’s involved,” Mr Lamont said.

“We want to understand what’s important to the community and integrate this into Council’s priorities and response to the increasing coastal hazards.

“Residents can drop in anytime between the allocated hours at each location,” he added.

Additional drop-in sessions will be held in June to discuss and identify potential strategies to manage the risks to the coast. These workshops will be available both online and face-to-face.

Community members can also have their say on future management options by completing a survey from 7 June to 28 June 2023.

Feedback from the workshops and survey will inform the draft Coastal Management Program, which will be available for further comment during a formal public exhibition period next year.

To read more or to register your interest to get involved and have your say visit pscouncil.info/cmp

MAY 2023 | DROP IN SESSIONS	LOCATION
Wednesday 3 May 2023, 12pm to 2pm	Tanilba Foreshore Hall, Tanilba Bay
Wednesday 3 May 2023, 4pm to 6pm	Bruce Scott Pavillion, Tomaree Sports Complex
Thursday 4 May 2023, 11am to 1pm	Murrook Cultural Centre, Williamtown
Thursday 4 May 2023, 4pm to 6pm	Birubi Surf Life Saving Club, Anna Bay

JUNE 2023 | DROP IN SESSIONS	LOCATION
Wednesday 7 June 2023, 5pm to 7pm	Online
Thursday 8 June 2023, 10am to 12pm	Bruce Scott Pavillion, Tomaree Sports Complex
Thursday 8 June 2023, 3pm to 5pm	Tanilba Foreshore Hall, Tanilba Bay