DOUGLAS Shire Council continues to be a coastal community leader on climate change after being successful in its funding application as part of $12 million QCoast2100fund.

The State Government initiative helps locals councils prepare for the impacts of climate change with Townsville City Council, Livingstone Shire Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Noosa Shire Council and Whitsunday Regional Council also part of the program.

Douglas Shire was granted $53,977 to focus on inundation mapping of the coastal settlements of Wangetti, Oak Beach to Pebbly Beach, Mowbray to Newell Beach - including Port Douglas - Rocky Point to Wonga Beach, Cape Kimberley, Thornton Beach and Cape Tribulation.

“The Councils will now either commence or improve their Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy for their area based on an assessment of the specific local conditions and challenges which they need to meet,” Environment Minister Steven Miles said.

“I encourage all other eligible councils to get on board and follow the lead in taking action on climate change.

"Coastal communities are already at risk from sea erosion and storm tide inundation and these will become a greater threat with rising sea levels from climate change.”

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) is administering the QCoast2100program and helping eligible councils with proposals and preparation of their potential projects.

LGAQ President Mark Jamieson said the QCoast2100 program is designed to be accessible to coastal local governments irrespective of their current level of planning, capability and resourcing.

“More than half of Queensland’s 77 councils will be exposed to coastal hazards in the future,” he said.

“It’s vital that local governments work together to assess risks and identify practical solutions that will help coastal communities prepare for serious issues such as storm tide flooding, coastal erosion and sea level rise.

"In the past decade, natural disasters have caused billions of dollars in damage to local government assets alone."

Miles said the Queensland Government was committed to ensuring communities were protected from coastal hazards.

“The project will progress and refine the existing CHAS while aiming to have greater engagement with stakeholders and the community.”