Carnarvon and Coral Bay Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan

Carnarvon and Coral Bay Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan

The Project

The Shire of Carnarvon engaged Land Insights to prepare a Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP) for Carnarvon and Coral Bay.

The study covered the coastline between Massey Bay and the Gascoyne River mouth at Carnarvon, together with the settlement of Coral Bay, approximately 220 kilometres to the north.

The purpose of the CHRMAP was to identify land, infrastructure, environmental assets and other areas potentially affected by coastal erosion and inundation, and develop a plan for managing these risks over the next 100 years.

The project was undertaken in accordance with State Planning Policy 2.6 – State Coastal Planning and the Western Australian Planning Commission’s CHRMAP Guidelines.

The resulting plan provides the Shire with guidance on coastal management, future land use planning, infrastructure investment and adaptation measures for areas that may become increasingly vulnerable to coastal hazards.

The Challenge

Although Carnarvon and Coral Bay are within the same local government area, they have quite different coastal environments and planning challenges.

Carnarvon is located at the mouth of the Gascoyne River, with extensive low-lying land, a dynamic river delta and existing development close to the coast. Much of the town is vulnerable to coastal inundation, including residential areas, roads, tourism facilities and important infrastructure.

The Babbage Island coastline presents additional challenges. The movement and potential breaching of the coastal sand spit can change exposure to erosion and inundation, affecting assets such as Pelican Point Road, the holiday resort and maritime facilities.

Coral Bay has a different set of issues. As a tourism settlement adjoining the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast, its beaches, dunes and marine environment are central to the local economy. The study needed to consider the long-term exposure of tourism accommodation, roads, beach access and foreshore facilities while recognising the importance of maintaining the natural coastal environment.

The project also involved assessing a wide range of adaptation options, from development controls and dune management to protective infrastructure and the possible relocation of assets.

These options needed to be considered against their environmental, social and economic impacts, as well as the Shire’s capacity to implement and fund them.

Community expectations were also different between the two locations. In Carnarvon, protecting existing development and infrastructure was a major consideration. At Coral Bay, maintaining the natural environment, beach access and tourism amenity carried particular importance.

What We Did

Land Insights managed the CHRMAP process, bringing together coastal hazard investigations, land use planning, asset risk assessment, economic evaluation and community consultation.

The work was completed through a series of technical assessments, including coastal hazard identification, vulnerability analysis, risk evaluation, adaptation planning and implementation.

We prepared detailed GIS mapping showing areas potentially affected by coastal erosion and inundation across the planning periods to 2125. This information was used to identify vulnerable assets and assess the likelihood and consequences of coastal hazards.

The study area was divided into nine coastal management units, seven at Carnarvon and two at Coral Bay, to allow different adaptation approaches to be considered according to local conditions.

We assessed potential responses using multi-criteria analysis and cost-benefit assessment, considering their effectiveness, environmental impacts, social implications, landscape effects, costs and future flexibility.

The assessment identified different approaches for the two communities.

At Carnarvon, recommendations included planning controls, emergency management, monitoring, improvements to existing coastal protection infrastructure and longer-term responses for vulnerable areas such as Babbage Island and South Carnarvon.

At Coral Bay, the preferred approach generally placed greater emphasis on maintaining dune systems, managing beach access and allowing for the gradual relocation of vulnerable infrastructure where necessary. Options were also considered for Robinson Street, nearby tourist accommodation and other low-lying areas.

The project included engagement with stakeholders and the community, with feedback used to inform the assessment of coastal values, risk tolerance and preferred adaptation options.

Land Insights also prepared the implementation framework, identifying recommended actions, priorities, indicative costs, responsibilities and monitoring requirements.

Importantly, the CHRMAP considered how its recommendations could be incorporated into the Shire’s statutory planning framework, including proposed amendments to the Local Planning Scheme, a Coastal Hazard Special Control Area and a supporting local planning policy.

The Outcome

The Shire of Carnarvon Council adopted the CHRMAP in October 2026, following public consultation and finalisation of the plan in September 2026.

The completed study provides the Shire with a detailed understanding of coastal hazard risks across Carnarvon and Coral Bay, together with a practical framework for managing those risks over time.

Rather than recommending a single approach to coastal protection, the plan identifies different adaptation pathways for each coastal management unit, recognising the differences in land use, coastal processes, infrastructure and community values.

It includes short-term actions such as monitoring, emergency management and further technical investigations, together with longer-term recommendations for infrastructure upgrades, changes to land use planning controls and the relocation or protection of vulnerable assets where appropriate.

The implementation plan also identifies indicative costs and potential funding sources, giving the Shire a basis for prioritising future expenditure and seeking external funding for coastal adaptation works.

A key part of the approach is ongoing monitoring, with changes in coastal conditions used to determine when further adaptation measures may be necessary.

The project provides the Shire with both the technical information and planning recommendations needed to make informed decisions about future development and coastal management across two of the Gascoyne’s most important coastal settlements.

Learn more about our Coastal Planning and Management Services and how Land Insights assists local governments with coastal hazard risk management, adaptation planning and implementation.