Managing Coastal Hazards in Huon Valley

Our coastline is one of the Huon Valley’s most valued assets. It’s where we live, work, play and connect with nature. Protecting it for current and future generations requires everyone—Council, State Government, property owners and the community—working together.

Council’s assets and community services are at risk too. We’re facing these challenges alongside you and are committed to finding solutions together.

The challenges we’re facing

Coastal hazards like erosion, inundation and sea level rise are natural processes that have always shaped our coastline. Climate change is now making them more frequent and severe.

Tasmania is projected to experience 0.2–0.3 m sea level rise by 2050 and 0.8–0.92 m by 2100. For Huon Valley, this means:

• More frequent coastal flooding
• Faster beach and dune erosion
• Permanent loss of some coastal land
• Increasing pressures on coastal infrastructure and property

These are challenges facing all coastal communities in Tasmania and around Australia. No single organisation can solve this alone—it requires coordinated action at all levels.

What Council is doing to help

We’re taking a strategic approach to manage these hazards. Here’s how:

Manage Council-owned assets strategically

• Monitoring coastal erosion and making evidence-based decisions about when and where to act
• Prioritising protection of high-value community assets like essential roads
• Planning for long-term adaptation, including possible infrastructure relocation
• Undertaking emergency works when public safety is at immediate risk

Provide coastal hazard information

• Publishing coastal hazard mapping and information on sea level rise projections
• Helping property owners understand their responsibilities and risks

Support within our planning framework

• Applying State Planning Provisions to control development in coastal hazard areas, including the Coastal Erosion Hazard Code and Coastal Inundation Hazard Code
• Requiring coastal hazard reports for developments in at-risk areas
• Working with State Government to improve coastal policy and planning

Coordinate emergency response

• Working with SES and emergency services during coastal hazard events
• Maintaining emergency management plans that address coastal hazards

The role of the Tasmanian Government

The Tasmanian Government is responsible for:

• Managing Crown land through NRE—where any coastal works require approval
• Setting statewide coastal policy and developing planning frameworks
• Coordinating information sharing across the state and between councils

Risks from natural coastal processes rest with property owners. Crown and Council have no legal obligations to protect private property from natural hazards.

How you can take action

If you own or occupy coastal property, here are practical steps you can take:

• Know your risk: Check your property’s coastal hazard mapping on LIST (thelist.tas.gov.au). Understanding your risk is the first step to planning ahead.
• Plan for the long-term: Sea level rise is happening now. Consider coastal risks when making property decisions, improvements or investments.
• Seek expert advice early: Before undertaking any coastal works, talk to qualified coastal engineers. Council planning staff can help guide you to appropriate experts.
• Work within the system: Any coastal protection works require Council planning approval and Crown land approval from NRE. This ensures works do not worsen erosion elsewhere or create other problems.
• Stay informed: Subscribe to emergency notifications. Follow Council updates on coastal hazards and adaptation planning.
• Get involved: Participate in community coastal planning processes. Your local knowledge and priorities matter!

Working together through constraints

Natural coastal processes cannot be stopped, and climate change is increasing their impacts. Council cannot protect every asset—resources are limited, and protection works are temporary, requiring ongoing maintenance. Decisions must be evidence-based because individual works can sometimes worsen erosion on neighbouring properties.

Successful adaptation requires working together: sharing information, coordinating actions and planning collaboratively. Council is committed to transparency, evidence-based decisions, strategic asset management and community participation.

Your input shapes our coastal future. If you have ideas, email hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au.