Town of Cottesloe Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP)

A CHRMAP is a long-term plan to address the impact of coastal hazards on our coastline. It looks at various scenarios within 25-, 50- and 100-year time frames and, with input from the community and key stakeholders, identifies the most appropriate adaptation strategies and options.  

When we say ‘coastal hazards’ we mean, naturally occurring events that impact our coastline, such as coastal erosion or flooding (also referred to as inundation).  

Erosion is a process where parts of the shoreline are worn away due to waves, tides, wind or human activities. It can change the shape and form of the coast, reducing the area between the ocean and features on the land, and even allowing inundation

Inundation is when water occupies previously dry land.  It can be temporary or permanent: 

Permanent inundation refers to the loss of land due to sea level rise.  

Temporary inundation is the flooding of an area due to storm surge, high tides or large waves.

There are four overarching ‘strategies’ to manage coastal hazards. These are: 

1. Avoid (erosion and inundation) - identify ‘non-build’ area for the future           
2. Managed Retreat (for erosion) - withdraw, relocate or abandon assets at risk
3. Accommodate (for inundation) - continue to use the land but accommodate changes by building on piles or converting land use
4. Protect (erosion and inundation) - use hard or soft solutions to protect land from the sea / river

 Within the strategy/ies chosen, the CHRMAP can further specify options to manage coastal hazards. These include, but are not limited to:  

• Building Design
• Planning Controls
• Engineered Structures (eg Seawalls, Groynes, Breakwaters, Revetments)   
• Nature Based Solutions (eg Beach nourishment, Planting)

The inherent nature of a CHRMAP is to look ahead several decades into the future and propose potential solutions to perceived changes along the Cottesloe coastal foreshore. In the short term there may be minimal or no impact to your use of the area. It is most likely that the next generation will experience the impact of coastal hazards and change in usage.

While this is a strategic, long-term plan for managing coastal hazards, it is important for the community and key stakeholders to be involved. We want the plan to reflect what is important along the coastline, what you want future generations to be able to enjoy and what management options to introduce to ensure this.

Funding for the preparation of the CHRMAP is jointly funded by the Town and State Government.

However, the long-term financial implications and funding options to implement planned coastal adaption strategies will need to be considered.

Regardless of whether you believe climate change or not, coastal erosion and inundation is already impacting the Cottesloe foreshore and shoreline assets.

The CHRMAP will look at current coastal hazard risk and provide management options for now and into the future, if the risk increases due to climate change (eg sea level rise, more severe storm events)    

The Town believes in being proactive regarding the potential impacts of climate change and taking action to reduce any negative effects.

There are many examples and these can be found at the following link:  

CHRMAP's in WA - November 2022

There will be several opportunities for the community to provide input during the CHRMAP process.

• Register your interest via the Cottesloe CHRMAP webpage and follow this project to stay informed and be invited to engagement activities
• Attend one of our Community Workshops to discuss the effects of sea level rise and how to mitigate these

So far the community has been involved through stakeholder interviews, attending information sessions and a coastal values survey.

A Community Values Survey was conducted with the community from 1 September to 16 October 2022.  

The survey helped to understand the coastal values of community and key stakeholders and what was important to them.

The survey covered visitation frequency, activities undertaken and the impact of coastal hazards on the community. 

Key findings were:

• The community valued the ‘natural environment’ most about their foreshore, with ‘access to water-based activities’ and ‘opportunities for health and well-being’ also highly valued.
• The Cottesloe foreshore is well utilised with a range of land and water-based activities occurring frequently in the area.
• Whilst a smaller proportion of respondents noted that they were undertaking activities in the area because ‘I can’t do this activity elsewhere, it is unique to this area’, a vast many felt that their lives would be impacted adversely if they were unable to undertake these along the Cottesloe foreshore.
• The community were concerned about erosion and inundation along the coast, particularly in relation to sand erosion and the potential to expose rocks. This was also noted by the key stakeholders are being an important issue that influenced the use of Cottesloe beach.

For more information please contact town@cottesloe.wa.gov.au