First data from seabed mapping targeting erosion hotspots from Esperance to Barrow Island now available

The first data from seabed mapping targeting erosion hotspots from Esperance to Barrow Island is now available for use in the State Government’s $33.5 million five-year plan to better manage and protect WA’s coastline. As part of the Coast Capture WA program, the Department of Transport contracted geo-data company Fugro to undertake the $4.5 million mapping project from Esperance to Barrow Island. High resolution nearshore water-depth data is being recorded at coastal erosion hotspots identified in a 2019 special report which listed 55 locations where coastal erosion was expected to be a risk to coastal values and assets. An additional 31 watch list locations for future investigation were also reported. Since March, aircraft equipped with aerial light detection and ranging sensors were used to capture topographic and bathymetric data of the foreshore and seabed, out to about 20m depth, at Bremer Bay, Albany, Peaceful Bay, Augusta and Gnarabup on the south coast. Coral Bay, Carnarvon, Monkey Mia and Denham in the Gascoyne have also been covered. The first data is now available to local coastal managers and will be used to help in designing appropriate measures to combat erosion issues at each location. Minister assisting the Minister for Transport David Michael said the work would provide a better understanding of coastal hazards and help coastal managers respond to threats. “The project will provide some key missing pieces to the existing bank of topographic and bathymetric data currently available for the State’s coastline and further build the dataset to ensure we implement the most appropriate response measures to erosion,” he said. “Significant additional funding has been allocated to manage the impacts of coastal erosion and protect WA’s coastline through CoastWA and data collection is a key element of the program along with boosted funding for planning and projects, additional technical expertise, community engagement and monitoring of hotspots.”