The Back Beach Foreshore Management Plan is expected to be finalised in late 2027 and will be undertaken in stages. A timeline is included on the project webpage, with more detail about each stage.

As there are many inputs and some assessment timeframes from external parties, the timeline should be considered approximate only.

As part of the development of the plan, we will be undertaking consultation with Wardandi People to seek input into the plan and understand the local cultural significance of the area.

The City of Bunbury has commenced short term work as a response to significant storm damage along the Back Beach to maintain public safety. There are currently 17 beach access paths undergoing works by various City teams. These don’t reflect long-term decisions to close off public access to the beaches. 

Notwithstanding, the Back Beach Foreshore Management Plan will consider the number of beach access paths and the potential impacts over time of management of these paths as the coastline changes. Part of the engagement with the community will include discussion about potential permanent closure of some paths to make sure the City is being financially responsible and placing the safety of the community first.

The Back Beach Foreshore Management Plan will provide recommendations on path closure if it is considered appropriate.

The City of Bunbury has prepared several Back Beach Tourism Structure Plans: General Structure Plan; Central Precinct North; Central Precinct South; and Northern & Southern Precincts.

A Structure Plan guides how an area will be planned and developed in the future, including how land can be used and what can be built. The Structure Plans apply to land east of Ocean Drive. Structure Plans are typically reviewed approximately every 10 years; future reviews should consider recent coastal hazard planning.

The Back Beach Foreshore Management Plan applies to the coastline between the Casuarina Drive carpark and the Mindalong Beach carpark, in the area west of Ocean drive. This area falls outside of the Back Beach Tourism Structure Plans.

The purpose of a CHRMAP is to provide long-term strategic guidance for coordinated, integrated and sustainable decision making for areas projected to experience coastal hazards. A CHRMAP makes recommendations for land use planning, management of and adaptation to these coastal hazard risks.

For the Back Beach, this includes avoiding locating assets in areas that will be vulnerable to coastal hazards, undertaking an audit of existing protection structures (such as the seawalls), monitoring coastal hazards, and undertaking detailed investigations into the feasibility of protection measures (such as seawalls, groynes or sand nourishment).

CHRMAPs consider projections over a 100-year timeframe. This means that some of the measures that are considered are a long way into the future, which is why the mapping in the CHRMAP shows a series of different ‘lines’. These lines reflect potential shoreline movement at approximate timeframes in the future (labelled 2020 – present day, 2035, 2050 and 2120). The lines closest to the coast indicate changes we anticipate in much shorter timeframes than 100 years – with the 2035 projection being within the next 10 years.

The FMP for the Back Beach is a recommendation of the CHRMAP. It will help the City develop short term strategies and management approaches to ensure safe and continued enjoyment of the coastline. These strategies and management approaches will be prepared to take into account the longer-term considerations of the CHRMAP.

The foreshore area of the Back Beach contains valuable assets such as the Surf Life Saving Club, places to eat and drink, Aboriginal heritage sites, roads and residential properties, playgrounds, bbq and picnic facilities, seating, shelters, public toilets and beach stairs, and places to swim, walk and enjoy the view.

As identified in the CHRMAP some of these assets are at risk of erosion and inundation – impacts we are seeing already. The Back Beach FMP will address these impacts and propose ways to mitigate impacts where possible and enhance valued assets along this area of coastline.

The study area includes the coastline between the Casuarina Drive carpark in the north and the Mindalong Beach carpark in the south.

A Foreshore Management Plan (FMP) is a plan that provides recommendations and specific actions for managing a foreshore, in this case a coastline. The plan proposes ways to protect, modify or relocate existing assets, and suggests new assets to enhance parts of the coast and protect its value to the community. The plan considers short term actions that the City will take to best manage the coastline.

The Back Beach FMP will take into account the impacts of coastal erosion and inundation (coastal flooding) highlighted in the 2024 City of Bunbury CHRMAP.

When creating an FMP, it is essential that the community who live, work and play in the area can be part of it. This project includes two stages of community consultation.

The first stage of consultation provides the community and stakeholders the opportunity to share their values and ideas to inform the development of the draft Foreshore Management Plan. Feedback can be shared between 12 November and 24 December 2026 both online and in-person. More information is available in the Community Consultation section of the project webpage.

During the second stage of consultation, the community will also have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the draft FMP when it is publicly advertised before being finalised and presented to the City of Bunbury Council for endorsement. This consultation is anticipated to occur in Mid 2027.

Community input for the Back Beach FMP is essential to ensure it meets the needs and aspirations of the people who live and work in Bunbury.

We are seeking your feedback to identify the following elements that can influence the new plan:

• Community values: What is important to you about the Back Beach that we need to know about? Where are the important locations, where are there ongoing issues, or what suggestions do you have?
• Community priorities: What are the assets and activities you value most, and what actions would you prefer to preserve them?

The Back Beach FMP will propose actions and projects that help preserve and protect natural and other assets, such as coastal planting, playground and picnic facilities and buildings. Some of the actions may include restricting or reducing access to certain areas along the Back Beach, or reducing some of the activities allowed in an area, so that the coastline has greater natural protections.

Having your say throughout the project process will give us a better understanding of what’s important to you at the Back Beach and the impact of some of these decisions.