Project overview

The City of Kingston required a detailed understanding of current and future coastal hazards to support informed decision-making and long-term coastal adaptation planning. The assessment needed to reflect local conditions rather than relying solely on regional-scale datasets and account for the complex interactions between coastal processes, river systems and flood hazards.

Tonkin + Taylor undertook a comprehensive coastal hazard and risk assessment for the City of Kingston, completing the first four stages of Victoria’s Resilient Coast framework. The project assessed the impacts of climate change on Kingston’s 13 km coastline, which includes beaches, cliffs and engineered coastal structures. The assessment considered a range of coastal hazards and provided a robust evidence base to support future coastal planning and adaptation.

The work included:

  • Stage 1: Scoping and preparation.
  • Stage 2: Community values, vision and objectives.
  • Stage 3: Hazard assessments covering coastal erosion, coastal inundation and groundwater impacts.
  • Stage 4: Risk and vulnerability assessment.

Services

  • Comprehensive coastal hazard assessment.
  • Coastal erosion assessment.
  • Coastal inundation assessment.
  • Groundwater hazard assessment.
  • Risk and vulnerability assessment.
  • Community and stakeholder engagement throughout the project.
  • Technical collaboration with Aither to incorporate economic analysis into the assessment.

Client

  • City of Kingston

Year

  • 2023–2025

Other parties involved

  • Aither (economic analysis).

Delivering higher-value outcomes

The project delivered higher-value outcomes through:

  • More accurate local-scale hazard assessments (including improved storm bite distances, long term erosion trends, flood mitigation structures, and refined groundwater hazards).
  • Enhanced evidence to support climate adaptation and coastal management planning.
  • Consideration of the combined effects of coastal storm surge, rainfall, Mordialloc Creek and Patterson River flooding.
  • Integration of economic considerations into hazard and risk assessments.

Community + environmental impacts

A strong emphasis was placed on community engagement, involving council representatives, stakeholders and residents throughout the project. This collaborative approach ensured that community values, objectives and local knowledge informed the hazard and risk assessment process.

Explore More Projects

Transport Sector Project Development Facility – Solomon Islands

Transport Sector Project Development Facility – Solomon Islands

Pacific Regional Waste Programme National Audits – Pacific-wide

Pacific Regional Waste Programme National Audits – Pacific-wide

East Coast Road Slope Stabilisation + Feasibility Study – Samoa

East Coast Road Slope Stabilisation + Feasibility Study – Samoa

Integrated urban resilience sector project – Tonga

Integrated urban resilience sector project – Tonga

Aitutaki Climate Change Risk Assessment + Design

Aitutaki Climate Change Risk Assessment + Design

Affordable Coastal Protection for Pacific Island Nations

Affordable Coastal Protection for Pacific Island Nations

Manase Beach Replenishment + Coastal Protection, Savai’i, Samoa

Manase Beach Replenishment + Coastal Protection, Savai’i, Samoa

Republic of the Marshall Islands Urban Resilience Project – Component 2

Republic of the Marshall Islands Urban Resilience Project – Component 2

previous arrow
next arrow

How can we help?

Get in touch with a Tonkin + Taylor representative today. Our friendly and knowledgeable team make it easy to find the right solution to suit your specific needs.

Get In Touch