The coastlines of the Lower Eyre Peninsula are cherished by both locals and visitors, celebrated for their stunning views, pristine natural environment, and abundant recreational opportunities. However, like many coastal areas, the townships of North Shields, Tulka, and Farm Beach face vulnerabilities from natural hazards such as coastal erosion and flooding.  These risks are expected to increase over coming decades due to climate change and sea level rise.

To address these risks, Lower Eyre Council is taking a proactive approach and engaged Water Technology and Rhelm to develop a Coastal Adaptation Strategy for the coastal settlements of North Shields and Tulka and Emergency Management Plans for the townships of Tulka and Farm Beach.

This work included data collection, inundation and coastal flooding assessments, erosion assessments, risk assessments, identification and evaluation of potential adaptation responses and community and stakeholder consultation.

The Coastal Adaptation Strategy was developed in line with the South Australian Local Government Coastal Adaptation Guidelines, following a six-stage process – and included:

• Detailed coastal hazard analysis accounting for complex local geology.
• A risk assessment of both built and natural assets under current and future climate scenarios.
• Option identification and evaluation to determine practical, cost-effective, and community supported adaptation actions.
• A robust community and stakeholder engagement program, including the design and facilitation of targeted community workshops to capture local knowledge and priorities.

The Coastal Adaptation Strategy provides Lower Eyre Council with a robust, evidence-based framework to manage coastal hazard risks while aligning with state policy and community aspirations. It enables proactive, cost-effective investment in resilience measures and ensures that adaptation actions are technically sound, feasible, and widely supported.

The Emergency Management Plans for Tulka and Farm Beach include:

• A description of the towns, access routes and the topography of the area
• A discussion of the nature of the coastal flooding and coastal erosion risks
• A summary of the available forecasts and early warning systems
• A discussion of areas that would require evacuation and identification of evacuation routes and appropriate locations for flood evacuation centres
• Identification of roles and responsibilities for emergency management
• Communication protocols and a flood emergency contact list
• An emergency action plan