Erosion prone areas
The erosion prone area is the width of the coast that is considered to be vulnerable to coastal erosion and tidal inundation.
Calculation of the erosion prone area is based on:
- a short-term erosion component from extreme storm events
- a long-term erosion component where gradual erosion is occurring
- a shoreline recession component due to sea-level rise associated with climate change
- a dune scarp component, where slumping of the scarp face occurs following erosion.
The erosion prone areas and storm tide inundation risks include projected climate change impacts up to the year 2100.
The Coastal Hazards Guideline (PDF, 253K)* provides additional information on coastal erosion and assessment of erosion prone area widths. More information concerning management of erosion prone areas can be found on the shoreline erosion management planning page.
Erosion prone area mapping
Statutory erosion prone areas are declared under Part 4 section 70 of the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 (Coastal Act) by reference to an erosion prone area plan.
These plans are to be used for development assessment purposes, and to inform the preparation of planning instruments, such as planning schemes and regional plans under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.
Erosion prone areas have been declared for all coastal local government areas. The statutory plans detailing them are available and accessible using the following table.
| Local government area |
Plan number |
| Aurukun, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama Shires Local Government Area (PDF, 158K)* |
APK1A
|
Brisbane City Local Government Area (PDF, 501K)*
|
BRC1A
|
Bundaberg Region Local Government Area (PDF, 1.7M)*
|
BUR1A
|
Burdekin Shire Local Government Area (PDF, 1.4M)*
|
BUS1A
|
| Burketown, Doomadgee and Mornington Shires Local Government Area (PDF, 166K)* |
BDM1A
|
Cairns Region Local Government Area (PDF, 3.0M)*
|
CAR1A
|
| Carpentaria Shire Local Government Area (PDF, 107K)* |
CAS1A
|
| Cassowary Coast Region Local Government Area (PDF, 2.2M)* |
CCR1A
|
Cook Shire (Bloomfield River to Cape Bedford) (PDF, 1.1M)*
|
SC3397
|
| Cook Shire (Cape Bedford to Starcke River) (PDF, 817K)* |
SC3462
|
Cook Shire (Starke River to Cape Melville) (PDF, 905K)*
|
SC3463
|
Cook Shire (Cape Melville to North Kennedy River) (PDF, 920K)*
|
SC3464
|
Cook Shire (North Kennedy River to Colmer Point) (PDF, 3.5M)*
|
SC3465
|
Cook Shire (Colmer Point to Second Red Rocky Point) (PDF, 1.7M)*
|
SC3466
|
Cook Shire (Second Red Rocky Point to Bolt Head) (PDF, 804K)*
|
SC3467
|
Cook Shire (Bolt Head to Round Point) (PDF, 1.9M)*
|
SC3468
|
Cook Shire (Round Point to Ussher Point) (PDF, 1.9M)*
|
SC3469
|
Cook Shire & Town of Torres (Round Point to Ussher Point) (PDF, 2.4M)*
|
SC3470
|
Cook Shire & Town of Torres (Ussher Point to Paterson Point) (PDF, 715K)*
|
SC3471
|
| Cook Shire Key Map (PDF, 588K)* |
SC3472
|
| Fraser Coast Region Local Government Area (PDF, 2.2M)* |
FCR1A
|
Gladstone Region Local Government Area (PDF, 3.6M)*
|
GLR1A
|
| Gold Coast City *Local Government Area (PDF, 5.1M)* |
GCC1A
|
| Gympie Region Local Government Area (PDF, 532K)* |
GYR1A
|
Hinchinbrook Shire Local Government Area (PDF, 804K)*
|
HIS1A
|
| Hopevale Shire Local Government Area (PDF, 238K)* |
HOS1A
|
Ipswich City Council (PDF, 701K)*
|
IPC01
|
| Isaac Region Local Government Area (PDF, 1.1M)* |
ISR1A
|
| Lockhart River Shire Local Government Area (PDF, 353K)* |
LRS1A
|
Logan City Council (PDF, 737K)*
|
LOC01
|
Mackay Region (PDF, 3.8M)*
|
MAR1A
|
| Mapoon and Napranum Shires Local Government Areas and Weipa Town (PDF, 134K)* |
NMW1A
|
| Moreton Bay Regional Local Government Area (PDF, 1.0M)* |
MBR1A
|
| Palm Island Shire Local Government Area (PDF, 268K)* |
PIS1A
|
Redland City Local Government Area (PDF, 899K)*
|
REC1A
|
Rockhampton Region Local Government Area (PDF, 2.1M)*
|
ROR1A
|
| Sunshine Coast Region Local Government Area (PDF, 4.3M)* |
SCR1A
|
| Torres Shire and Northern Peninsula Region Local Government Area (PDF, 1.0M)* |
TSNP1A
|
| Torres Strait Islands Region Local Government Area (PDF, 250K)* |
TSI1A
|
Townsville City Local Government Area (PDF, 3.0M)*
|
TOC1A
|
Whitsunday Region Local Government Area (PDF, 3.7M)*
|
WHR1A
|
| Wujal Wujal Shire Local Government Area (PDF, 142K)* |
WWS1A
|
Yarrabah Shire Local Government Area (PDF, 483K)*
|
YAS1A
|
Coastal hazard area mapping
Coastal hazard areas maps display areas projected to be subject to coastal hazards by the year 2100. Coastal hazards consist of areas of permanent inundation due to erosion or sea-level rise, and areas of temporary inundation resulting from a defined storm event. The mapping products include erosion prone area maps as well as storm tide inundation area maps.
While the erosion prone area plans specify the linear inland extent of the erosion prone area from tidal waters, the coastal hazard area maps show what is potentially at risk in the future. These maps will be used to inform governments, businesses and the public about the geographic extent of hazard areas, and assist decision-making in elation to the protection of vulnerable coastal communities.
The area shown as the indicative erosion prone area to 2100 is indicative only; statutory erosion prone area plans are to be used when assessing development applications.
To access the coastal hazard area maps, please visit the Queensland Coastal Plan—Maps page. These maps are available to be viewed at property scale, or via the map sheets index.
For more information, refer to the Queensland Coastal Plan—Coastal Hazard Area Maps fact sheet. (PDF, file unavailable)*
* Requires Adobe Reader
