Bluff Point Coastal Adaptation Planning
The Bluff Point Coastal Adaptation Options Project is an investigate project looking a\t alternative long-term coastal adaptation pathway options for the Bluff Point coastline to manage coastal erosion hazards. The current long-term coastal adaptation pathway for Bluff Point is managed retreat.
In 2024, the City secured grant funding from the West Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) to undertake the project. The City partnered with coastal engineering experts M P Rogers and Associates, community engagement specialists 361 Degrees and economic specialists Ricardo, to investigate and assess alternative six adaptation option pathways. Concepts were prepared for the six adaptation pathways and assessed using:
- Multi-Criteria Analysis to shortlist two highest scoring options against four key evaluation criteria: technical feasibility, social impact, environmental impact and economic viability, using a structured scoring system.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis to compare the costs and benefits of the two shortlisted options scoring options to identify whether there is benefits to the options
- A Benefit Distribution Analysis on who would benefit and to what extent from the adaptation option.
The investigation has been completed and a report detailing the project investigations and findings is available here
Bluff Point Coastal Adaptation Options Component 1 & 2 Report
This report provides an assessment of the coastal adaptation options investigated during the planning process to date including:
- Coastal hazards
- Coastal processes
- Community engagement
- Adaptation options
- Multi criteria analysis of adaptation options
Read the Bluff Point Coastal Adaptation Options Assessment Summary Report (provides a summary of the Component 1 & 2 Report)
Stakeholder and Community Engagement
Extensive community engagement has been undertaken regarding the investigation into Coastal Adaptation Options for Bluff Point. To learn about coastal adaptation processes and the planning that was undertaken to date to shape the design and development of the coastal options you can:
Project Background
Coastal Processes Reports and Studies
Bluff Point Coastal Adaptation Options Report
The Bluff Point Coastal Adaptation Options Project assessed six long-term coastal adaptation option pathways. The options were assessed using:
- Multi-Criteria Analysis
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- A Benefit Distribution Analysis
The multicriteria analysis identified two coastal protection adaptation pathways for further investigation (option 1 seawall, option 2 groynes, headlands and seawall).
The cost-benefit analysis showed that there was some benefit to these two coastal protection adaptation pathways.
The benefit distribution analysis indicated that private property owners would receive approximately 65% of the benefit from a coastal protection adaptation pathway.
The Western Australian State Coastal Planning Policy and Guidelines (WAPC 2013; 2020) requires the beneficiary pays principal be considered for funding of coastal protection works. The beneficiary pays principal states that the costs of coastal protection works should be paid for by each beneficiary, proportional to the benefit received.
The costs for a coastal protection adaptation pathway at Bluff Point were estimated at between $35.2M to $39.8M. Recovering the proportional costs from private property owners is unlikely to be workable.
Read the full Bluff Point Coastal Adaptation Options Report here.
In concluding this investigative project:
- The current long-term CHRMAP coastal adaptation pathway for the Bluff Point will be maintained.
- The outcomes and recommendations from Bluff Point Coastal Adaptation Options Report will be considered when the reviews and updates its CHRMAP
This project is funded by the Western Australian Planning Commission through the Coastal Management Plan Assistance Program.
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