Rundle Park and St Georges Beach were identified as important coastal assets in the Community Coastal Planning Survey.

More than half of the assets identified at risk to coastal erosion and inundation in the Community Coastal Planning Survey conducted late last year were those related to recreation.

The beaches, sand dunes, including their flora and fauna, and the walking and cycling paths along the coast were mentioned 518 times in the survey undertaken by the City to inform the development of a Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the survey results aligned with the results from the Coastal Planning Community Workshops held in October 2017.

“We live in a beautiful coastal community that has spectacular beaches and coastal reserves that our community loves to visit and enjoy,” he said.

“Therefore, it wasn’t surprising to learn that more than 53 per cent of the 376 survey respondents identified coastal recreation areas as being significant to them as more than 71 per cent of the participants who attended the two coastal planning workshops had said the same thing.”

Understanding how the community values an asset plays a key role in developing coastal inundation and erosion adaptation options.

“The survey results showed natural assets such as beaches and social or cultural assets such as shared paths located along the coast were highly valued for their sports or recreational use and community amenity,” Mayor Van Styn added.

“This is vital information that helps inform the development of our Coastal Adaptation Plan which will provide us with a number of options to implement should erosion or inundation put assets at risk.

“Options can range from refraining from building anything new in the area to removing or repositioning existing assets or building infrastructure such as rock groynes or sea walls to protect assets at risk.”

The City’s Coastal Adaptation Plan is currently in the final draft stage and will go out to public comment before the end of the financial year.

For more information on the survey results visit the City’s website www.cgg.wa.gov.au