The Cockburn Sound Coastal Alliance (CSCA) is a partnership between the cities of Cockburn, Fremantle, Kwinana and Rockingham and Perth Region NRM with support from the Departments of Transport, Planning, Environment and Regulation and the Cockburn Sound Management Council (CSMC) and Department of Defence. The CSCA was formed in 2011 in recognition that coastal erosion and inundation are common problems across jurisdictional boundaries and an integrated and collaborative approach is advantageous to all.
The broad scope of the CSCA is to:
- Build and share knowledge relating to the vulnerability of the Owen Anchorage and Cockburn Sound (OACS) coastal zone to the effects of climate change, including sea level rise, erosion and inundation
- Develop strategies for its member organisations and their constituents to help them address climate change impacts in the OACS coastal zone, and
- Further these aims by entering into partnerships and agreements with other parties.
What is the CSCA project study area?
The project area incorporates the Owen Anchorage and Cockburn Sound (OACS) coast and extends for approximately 45Km from the South Groyne of Fremantle Harbour in the north to the Garden Island Causeway in the south, including the eastern side of Garden Island.
Why is this area important?
The OACS is under increasing pressure from urban and industrial development and activities associated with population growth. There are a number of areas along this stretch of coast that are susceptible to coastal inundation, including sections suffering episodic and long-term shoreline erosion. As well as this, understanding the potential impacts of climate change is paramount, given the projections of ongoing sea level rise and the increasing likelihood of extreme weather events.
What will the CSCA do to address these issues?
Through the staged approach, the CSCA will identify the potential impacts of coastal processes and climate change on the OACS coast and develop practical and effective measures in response to these in conjunction with the community.
The CSCA will provide the best available information to local authorities and communities on:
- Coastal processes,
- Hazards arising from coastal processes including climate change and sea level rise,
- Values at risk (social, economic, ecological and cultural); and
- Adaptation measures.
This staged approach will allow for the achievement of long-term preservation and management goals of the OACS coast.