The City of Onkaparinga has secured a $1.2 million Australian Government grant to help protect Christies Beach’s cliffs from erosion and sea-level rise.
The funding – through the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund – will help repair a 380-metre section of sea wall on the northern side of Witton Bluff, adjacent the Esplanade south of Beach Road.
The sea wall was constructed almost 50 years ago as part of an agreed strategy between the council and state government to protect the cliffs’ structural integrity and the public (e.g. roads) and private (homes) infrastructure above.
City of Onkaparinga Director Operations Kirk Richardson said upgrading the ageing structure – by increasing its height, width, steepness and rock size – will ensure the cliff can withstand wave erosion and sea-level rise impacts for many years to come.
“We’ve been on the front foot with climate adaptation and sea-level rise impacts for a long time, and we know the cliffs at Witton Bluff north would be threatened without adequate protection,” he said.
“It’s really pleasing we’ll now be able to carry out this important environmental sustainability work, but even more pleasing we can do it alongside the construction of the Witton Bluff Base Trail, significantly reducing construction costs and impacts on the community.”
The council has committed $600,000 towards the sea wall repair project and secured a further $355,000 through the state government’s Coast Protection Board (CPB), with an application for additional CPB funding underway.
The sea wall repair will begin towards the end of this year – once the Witton Bluff Base Trail boardwalk works are finished – and it’s expected to be completed by mid-2025.
Once the sea wall repair has been completed, works to complete the final part of the trail – an upgrade of the existing path above the sea wall – will commence.
Visit the council’s Your Say page for updates on each stage of the project.