The Alexandrina coastline is of significant cultural, social, environmental, and economic value to the local community, the Ngarrindjeri Nations and visitors to the region.
Rising sea levels will exacerbate erosion and seawater inundation in many coastal areas, including Alexandrina’s 25-kilometre coastline, and the rate of change will increase over coming decades. In our region, sea levels have been rising on average at 4-5mm per year.
Using an evidence-based approach, Council has identified what actions are needed to adjust to the impacts and prepare for the future.
Strategies
Coastal Adaptation Study
Council prepared the Coastal Adaptation Study in 2021. This study investigated the impact of rising sea levels and how stakeholders can plan for the future.
Alexandrina’s Coastal Adaptation Study includes nine reports for six settlement areas:
- Murray Estuary Settlements (Mundoo and Goolwa Channels)
- Goolwa Beach
- Middleton
- Ratalang to Basham Beach
- Port Elliot
- Boomer to Knights Beach.
View all the reports and fact sheets below.
Eight stand‐alone draft reports describe in detail the outcomes of the study for the separate coastal locations along our coast. The main draft report summarises the overall outcomes of the study.
Reports
- Alexandrina Coast Main Report
- Murray Estuary Settlements (Mundoo and Goolwa Channels), Hindmarsh Island
- Goolwa Beach, including Tokuremoar Reserve
- Middleton Beach
- Middleton Creek
- Ratalang to Basham Beach
- Port Elliot: Green Bay / Crockery Bay
- Port Elliot: Horseshoe Bay
- Boomer to Knights Beach.
Fact Sheets
- Murray Estuary Settlements (Mundoo and Goolwa Channels)
- Goolwa Beach
- Middleton
- Ratalang to Basham Beach
- Port Elliot
- Boomer to Knights Beach.
Disclaimer: Alexandrina Council does not warrant or make any representation regarding the use, or results of the use, of the information contained in the Coastal Adaptation Study reports and factsheets as regards to their correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. The Council expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility to any person using or relying on information contained in the reports and associated documents.
Council engaged in community consultation from 12 October to 27 November 2020. Three online community webinars and two invitation-only workshops were undertaken. You can access the outcomes and summary reports below:
- Coastal Adaptation Study Consultation Outcomes
- Invitation-only Murray Estuary workshop 1 summary report (held 20 October 2020)
- Invitation-only Murray Estuary workshop 2 summary report (held 27 October 2020 )
- Murray Estuary (Hindmarsh Island) webinar summary report (held 3 November 2020 )
- Goolwa/Middleton webinar summary report (held 12 November 2020 )
- Port Elliot/Boomer Beach webinar summary report (held 17 November 2020)
Coastal Adaptation Plan
The Coastal Adaptation Plan (2022) was prepared in response to Council’s Coastal Adaptation Study.
The Coastal Adaptation Plan provides a roadmap for Council, identifying priority works for the immediate, intermediate, and longer term. The plan will assist Council and affected stakeholders with ongoing assessment and implementation of adaptation options.
Community Coastal Flood Emergency Plan - Goolwa and Mundoo Channels
Council’s Coastal Adaptation Study (2021) and the Coastal Adaptation Plan (2022) identified that most of Alexandrina’s coastline is considered as low to medium risk for future erosion and/or flooding.
However, low-lying areas such as the dunes along Goolwa and Ratalang-Basham beaches, and the low-lying areas in the Murray Estuary Settlements (Mundoo and Goolwa Channels) are potentially at higher risk of flooding and/or erosion.
In response, Council prepared the Community Coastal Flood Emergency Plan (2024) and a fridge magnet to support the community in Goolwa Channel and the Mundoo Channel to understand the risk and impacts of coastal flooding and to be prepared.
We encourage residents, property owners and people who visit the settlements to read the Community Coastal Flood Emergency Plan and to complete the Household Emergency Management Plan template included in the Plan.
Coastal flooding event, Mundoo Channel Drive, 11 April 2023 (© Ben Wright)
Disclaimer: Alexandrina Council does not warrant or make any representation regarding the use, or results of the use, of the information contained in the Community Coastal Flood Emergency Plan - Goolwa and Mundoo Channels as regards to their correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. The Council expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility to any person using or relying on information contained in the plan.
Community consultation on the Community Coastal Flood Emergency Plan was undertaken from November 2023 to the end of April 2024.
A project reference group met on three occasions to share local advice, provide feedback, and review the deliverables of the draft plan. The group included representatives from the Goolwa Channel and Mundoo Channel settlements, the Alexandrina Climate Emergency and Environment Committee, Alexandrina Council staff and the State Emergency Service (South Coast Unit).
Preparing the Plan also involved three workshops attended by 60 members of the settlement communities and stakeholders.
To learn more about the consultation, workshops, and engagement activities, visit Council’s My Say Alexandrina website.