Community members attended workshops last week to have a say on the importance and priorities of Mandurah's northern beaches and coastline, to help the City of Mandurah plan for potential future coastal hazards.
More than 60 residents got involved in helping the City to develop a Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP) for beaches from Halls Head to Madora Bay.
Community input forms a large and important part of informing these plans.
Mayor Rhys Williams said community thoughts and priorities would help to shape future plans for beaches and the communities that live, work and play in these areas.
"Planning for the future of these coastal areas is hugely important for us, as coastlines change over time and we need to be prepared on how to respond to these changes," Mayor Williams said.
Project Steering Committee member Caroline Knight agreed, saying it was crucial to identify how vulnerable the northern beaches and nearby developments are to coastal processes including flooding, erosion and climate change.
"Developing a Plan will allow us to identify immediate to long-term coastal hazard risks, and plan for that accordingly. It will also help us to manage and plan for future land use and development with changing coastlines," Cr Knight said.
"The community's input into this process through previous surveys and the recent focus group will help us to know what our residents see as priorities, and where we should be directing our attention.
"Our adaptation plans need to be robust and take community priorities into account, so we're looking at what the community values about the coast, and managing risks to maintain features that are most important to the community.
"Our community has told us that the environment is one of the biggest priorities, and we're dedicated to working with our residents on future plans and solutions. Thanks to everyone who has participated in this process, your input is really valuable," she said.
To find out more about the project, go to mandurahmatters.com.au/CHRMAP
