Caring for our coastline

THE District Council of Grant has lodged a funding application under the South Australian Coast Protection Board’s 2025-2026 Coast Protection Grant Program seeking support to progress concept designs for critical coastal adaptation action at Pelican Point.

The application, submitted on July 30, was prepared with the assistance of expert coastal planning consultants FSC Range and builds on technical work already completed as part of Council’s broader Coastal Adaptation Strategy Project.

Mayor Kylie Boston said the Grant Program supports councils responding to coastal issues that have arisen due to environmental change or legacy development decisions.

“Our coastline is one of our region’s most valued assets and we know erosion and inundation challenges Pelican Point have long been known as a vulnerable spot with risks already being identified and mapped by the State Government,” Mayor Boston said.

“This grant application and broader Coastal Adaptation Strategy Project is about protecting our infrastructure and shared spaces that are vital to the wellbeing of our community.”

The Coastal Adaptation Strategy Project is a joint project with neighbouring coastal Council’s aimed to better understand coastal hazards and work with local communities to develop long-term strategies to reduce the risk of erosion and inundation.

The current draft Strategy presents coastal flood mapping for each of council’s seven coastal townships projecting possible impacts by the years 2050 and 2100.

The mapping details flooding scenarios during a major storm event with 1% chance of occurring in any given year, commonly referred to as a one-in-100-year event, and assuming no adaptation measures are actioned.

Chief Executive Officer Darryl Whicker explained the strategy’s mapping is a vital tool to assist Council in identifying the areas most at risk and appropriately plan offshore mitigation solutions.

“Pelican Point is widely recognised as an area of significant risk if no future adaptation action is taken,” Mr Whicker said.

“Council is taking proactive steps with this grant application aiming to address the localised threat and work collaboratively to commission a sustainable long-term strategy to address challenges at Pelican Point which includes targeted coastal protection works, formalised public access infrastructure and extensive revegetation and restoration of open spaces.”

Council’s submission proposes the development of a concept design for a coastal protection structure and revitalised public reserve.

This would offer significant community benefit protecting infrastructure such as local roads, open spaces, power supply and the Community Wastewater Management System, while also improving public access to the foreshore.

Community engagement has played a key role in shaping the project, with feedback from residents and stakeholders helping to identify issues and priorities.

This will continue throughout the project’s development, including the formation of a Community Reference Group.

If successful, the project is expected to proceed to concept design, with key deliverables to be completed by June next year.