MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is inviting the community to have a say on a new strategic plan to increase the resilience of its coastal areas.
The shire says its Our Coast Our Future Coastal Strategy will include long-term plans to manage current and future coastal hazards and risks, drawing on science, technical assessments and community input, and drive sustainable outcomes in the face of climate change.
Stretching almost 200 kilometres, the peninsula’s natural environment, especially its coastal and marine areas, are diverse and always changing.
The coast’s landforms and ecosystems vary from sandy beaches and dune systems, rocky shores and cliffs, wetlands and waterways to mangroves, saltmarshes and mudflats.
Coastal erosion and storm tide flooding are natural processes that shape the coast over time and are expected to increase with changing climate and rising sea levels.
Members of the public are being asked to let the council know what is important and meaningful about the coast to them, experiences of living near or visiting these coasts, and ideas for adapting for the future.
The mayor Cr Steve Holland said the council was working with key community groups and a range of stakeholders and agencies to develop the plan.
“We also need to hear from the rest of our community who love, use and enjoy our beaches and coast. Share your aspirations and join the conversation,” he said.
Community consultation is now open online at: mornpen.vic.gov.au/ourcoast
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 10 October 2023
