Rowes Bay to Pallarenda Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) Review

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ROUND 2 CONSULTATION NOW OPEN

Consultation period: Monday 12 October – Monday 9 November 2026

Council has now prepared a draft Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) and is seeking community feedback before the plan is finalised.

Community members are invited to review the draft plan and provide feedback via the online survey below on the proposed amendments during the consultation period.

Your feedback will help Council understand community priorities and inform the final version of the plan.

Community Information Session

Council will also host a community information session where residents can learn more about the draft SEMP, speak with Council representatives, and ask questions about the proposed amendments.

📍 National Servicemen’s Memorial Park, Belgian Gardens
📅 Saturday 31 October
🕙 10 to 11am

If you are unable to attend the session, you can still review the draft plan and provide feedback through the online survey during the consultation period.

Before Making a Submission

Please:

  1. Review the draft SEMP

  1. Identify the section of the plan you are commenting on

  1. Clearly explain your feedback, concerns or suggested changes

  1. Provide supporting information, facts or circumstances where possible.

A copy of the draft is available for download and review from the Documents section on the right-hand side of this page.

All submissions received during the consultation period will be reviewed and considered as part of the finalisation of the plan.

What Happens Next?

Following the consultation period, Council will:

  • Review all submissions received

  • Prepare a Consultation Outcomes Report

  • Publish the report on this page

  • Finalise the draft SEMP

  • Submit the plan to the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation for assessment against State criteria before being presented to Council for endorsement.

Following endorsement, the State will enter into an agreement with Council that formally endorses the plan, including the location, alignment and conceptual design of any proposed erosion control structures. The endorsed SEMP will then guide how the Rowes Bay to Pallarenda shoreline is managed over the next 20 years.

Stay Informed

Project updates, consultation outcomes and key documents will be published on this page throughout the review process.

For more information, contact Council on 13 48 10 or visit the Have Your Say Townsville project page regularly for updates.

PROJECT UPDATE OCTOBER 2026

Help Manage the Future of Our Coastline

Townsville City Council is inviting the community to review and provide feedback on the draft Rowes Bay to Pallarenda Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) 2026.

The SEMP helps guide how Council manages shoreline erosion and coastal change along the Rowes Bay to Pallarenda foreshore. It provides a long-term framework for protecting and managing this important coastal area while balancing environmental, community and infrastructure needs.

The current SEMP was adopted in 2010 and is now being updated to reflect the latest coastal data, environmental trends and community feedback. The updated plan will help guide shoreline management actions over the next 20 years.

About the Review

The Rowes Bay to Pallarenda coastline experiences ongoing coastal change and erosion, which are common challenges for many coastal communities.

Council has undertaken shoreline resilience and erosion management activities along this section of coastline for many years. Updating the SEMP will help ensure future management decisions are based on current information and community priorities.

As part of the review, Council is:

• Examining shoreline erosion and accretion trends from the past 15 years

• Reviewing coastal processes and climatic influences affecting the coastline

• Updating planning and legislative requirements

• Considering community values, interests and local knowledge

• Assessing the effectiveness of erosion management actions undertaken since 2010

• Reviewing opportunities and constraints for future shoreline management

• Assessing floodplain management and the interaction between the Town Common, Mundy Creek, Three Mile Creek and associated infrastructure.

Council has engaged Water Technology, a specialist water, coastal and environmental consultancy, to manage the review process.

What We Heard During Round 1 Consultation

Round 1 community consultation was completed in July 2025 and helped Council understand community values, concerns and priorities for the Rowes Bay to Pallarenda shoreline.

The consultation included:

• A 40-day consultation period

• An online survey

• A community drop-in session

• 135 submissions from residents, recreational users and environmental advocates.

Feedback received during Round 1 helped inform the development of the draft SEMP.

Submissions were received from residents, recreational users and environmental advocates across 34 suburbs, highlighting strong community interest in the future management of the Rowes Bay to Pallarenda shoreline.

The Round 1 Consultation Report is available to download from the Documents section to the right-hand side.

PROJECT UPDATE - JANUARY 2026

Community Information Session

Townsville City Council invited residents to Have Your Say on the Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) for Rowes Bay to Pallarenda in July 2025. The SEMP is designed to ensure the shoreline is managed in a way that keeps it healthy for the future.

Council now invites you to attend a community information session, led by the Project Team, to share what we heard during the SEMP Have Your Say consultation.

Learn how community feedback has helped shape the draft SEMP 2026 and find out what’s planned in the next stage of the project. Come along, get informed, and stay involved in shaping your community.

Information Session Details

When: Saturday 31 January 2026

Time: 10 – 11am

Where: National Servicemen’s Memorial Park, 1/59 Heatleys Parade, Belgian Gardens

ROUND 1 CONSULTATION - MONDAY 9 JUNE TO FRIDAY 18 JULY 2025

Townsville City Council Reviews Rowes Bay and Pallarenda SEMP - Get Involved!

Townsville City Council is reviewing its Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) for Rowes Bay to Pallarenda. The SEMP is designed to make sure the shoreline is managed in a way that keeps it healthy for the future.

More than just a plan, the SEMP aims to actively engage the community in future planning, investigating erosion causes, evaluating management options, and prioritising sustainable, cost-effective strategies for implementation over the next two decades.

Background

Rowes Bay, an iconic part of the study area, has long faced ongoing erosion challenges. The previous SEMP, established in 2010, now requires updating to address:

  • Erosion trends over the past 15 years
  • Evolving coastal and climatic processes influencing erosion
  • Revised planning and legislative guidelines
  • Input from stakeholders and the community
  • Evaluating of the success of past erosion management actions.

Led by Water Technology, a firm with considerable expertise in Townsville, the review of the SEMP seeks to ensure the foreshore's sustainable use and management for the next 20 years. Together, we can develop effective environmental management strategies that address both current and future challenges.

Share Your Feedback

Council is committed to engaging with the community and invites you to share your ideas, feedback, and suggestions regarding the SEMP. Your input is invaluable in shaping the plan.

How to Participate

On-Site Drop-in Session - Join the SEMP project team for a face-to-face discussion. Bring your ideas and help us shape a collective vision for Rowes Bay to Pallarenda.

Online Survey - Share your thoughts through a quick online survey (located below) - it's simple, takes just a few minutes:

  • Consultation Period: Monday 9 June - Friday 18 July 2025

At the end of the consultation, we'll report back on community feedback and incorporate your ideas into the finalised 20-year Shoreline Erosion Management Plan.

ROUND 2 CONSULTATION NOW OPEN

Consultation period: Monday 12 October – Monday 9 November 2026

Council has now prepared a draft Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) and is seeking community feedback before the plan is finalised.

Community members are invited to review the draft plan and provide feedback via the online survey below on the proposed amendments during the consultation period.

Your feedback will help Council understand community priorities and inform the final version of the plan.

Community Information Session

Council will also host a community information session where residents can learn more about the draft SEMP, speak with Council representatives, and ask questions about the proposed amendments.

📍 National Servicemen’s Memorial Park, Belgian Gardens
📅 Saturday 31 October
🕙 10 to 11am

If you are unable to attend the session, you can still review the draft plan and provide feedback through the online survey during the consultation period.

Before Making a Submission

Please:

  1. Review the draft SEMP

  1. Identify the section of the plan you are commenting on

  1. Clearly explain your feedback, concerns or suggested changes

  1. Provide supporting information, facts or circumstances where possible.

A copy of the draft is available for download and review from the Documents section on the right-hand side of this page.

All submissions received during the consultation period will be reviewed and considered as part of the finalisation of the plan.

What Happens Next?

Following the consultation period, Council will:

  • Review all submissions received

  • Prepare a Consultation Outcomes Report

  • Publish the report on this page

  • Finalise the draft SEMP

  • Submit the plan to the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation for assessment against State criteria before being presented to Council for endorsement.

Following endorsement, the State will enter into an agreement with Council that formally endorses the plan, including the location, alignment and conceptual design of any proposed erosion control structures. The endorsed SEMP will then guide how the Rowes Bay to Pallarenda shoreline is managed over the next 20 years.

Stay Informed

Project updates, consultation outcomes and key documents will be published on this page throughout the review process.

For more information, contact Council on 13 48 10 or visit the Have Your Say Townsville project page regularly for updates.

PROJECT UPDATE OCTOBER 2026

Help Manage the Future of Our Coastline

Townsville City Council is inviting the community to review and provide feedback on the draft Rowes Bay to Pallarenda Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) 2026.

The SEMP helps guide how Council manages shoreline erosion and coastal change along the Rowes Bay to Pallarenda foreshore. It provides a long-term framework for protecting and managing this important coastal area while balancing environmental, community and infrastructure needs.

The current SEMP was adopted in 2010 and is now being updated to reflect the latest coastal data, environmental trends and community feedback. The updated plan will help guide shoreline management actions over the next 20 years.

About the Review

The Rowes Bay to Pallarenda coastline experiences ongoing coastal change and erosion, which are common challenges for many coastal communities.

Council has undertaken shoreline resilience and erosion management activities along this section of coastline for many years. Updating the SEMP will help ensure future management decisions are based on current information and community priorities.

As part of the review, Council is:

• Examining shoreline erosion and accretion trends from the past 15 years

• Reviewing coastal processes and climatic influences affecting the coastline

• Updating planning and legislative requirements

• Considering community values, interests and local knowledge

• Assessing the effectiveness of erosion management actions undertaken since 2010

• Reviewing opportunities and constraints for future shoreline management

• Assessing floodplain management and the interaction between the Town Common, Mundy Creek, Three Mile Creek and associated infrastructure.

Council has engaged Water Technology, a specialist water, coastal and environmental consultancy, to manage the review process.

What We Heard During Round 1 Consultation

Round 1 community consultation was completed in July 2025 and helped Council understand community values, concerns and priorities for the Rowes Bay to Pallarenda shoreline.

The consultation included:

• A 40-day consultation period

• An online survey

• A community drop-in session

• 135 submissions from residents, recreational users and environmental advocates.

Feedback received during Round 1 helped inform the development of the draft SEMP.

Submissions were received from residents, recreational users and environmental advocates across 34 suburbs, highlighting strong community interest in the future management of the Rowes Bay to Pallarenda shoreline.

The Round 1 Consultation Report is available to download from the Documents section to the right-hand side.

PROJECT UPDATE - JANUARY 2026

Community Information Session

Townsville City Council invited residents to Have Your Say on the Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) for Rowes Bay to Pallarenda in July 2025. The SEMP is designed to ensure the shoreline is managed in a way that keeps it healthy for the future.

Council now invites you to attend a community information session, led by the Project Team, to share what we heard during the SEMP Have Your Say consultation.

Learn how community feedback has helped shape the draft SEMP 2026 and find out what’s planned in the next stage of the project. Come along, get informed, and stay involved in shaping your community.

Information Session Details

When: Saturday 31 January 2026

Time: 10 – 11am

Where: National Servicemen’s Memorial Park, 1/59 Heatleys Parade, Belgian Gardens

ROUND 1 CONSULTATION - MONDAY 9 JUNE TO FRIDAY 18 JULY 2025

Townsville City Council Reviews Rowes Bay and Pallarenda SEMP - Get Involved!

Townsville City Council is reviewing its Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) for Rowes Bay to Pallarenda. The SEMP is designed to make sure the shoreline is managed in a way that keeps it healthy for the future.

More than just a plan, the SEMP aims to actively engage the community in future planning, investigating erosion causes, evaluating management options, and prioritising sustainable, cost-effective strategies for implementation over the next two decades.

Background

Rowes Bay, an iconic part of the study area, has long faced ongoing erosion challenges. The previous SEMP, established in 2010, now requires updating to address:

  • Erosion trends over the past 15 years
  • Evolving coastal and climatic processes influencing erosion
  • Revised planning and legislative guidelines
  • Input from stakeholders and the community
  • Evaluating of the success of past erosion management actions.

Led by Water Technology, a firm with considerable expertise in Townsville, the review of the SEMP seeks to ensure the foreshore's sustainable use and management for the next 20 years. Together, we can develop effective environmental management strategies that address both current and future challenges.

Share Your Feedback

Council is committed to engaging with the community and invites you to share your ideas, feedback, and suggestions regarding the SEMP. Your input is invaluable in shaping the plan.

How to Participate

On-Site Drop-in Session - Join the SEMP project team for a face-to-face discussion. Bring your ideas and help us shape a collective vision for Rowes Bay to Pallarenda.

Online Survey - Share your thoughts through a quick online survey (located below) - it's simple, takes just a few minutes:

  • Consultation Period: Monday 9 June - Friday 18 July 2025

At the end of the consultation, we'll report back on community feedback and incorporate your ideas into the finalised 20-year Shoreline Erosion Management Plan.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Round 1 Consultation Closed

    Share Round 1 Consultation Closed on Facebook Share Round 1 Consultation Closed on X (formerly Twitter) Share Round 1 Consultation Closed on Linkedin Email Round 1 Consultation Closed link

  • Round 2 Consultation Open

    Have your say on the draft Rowes Bay to Pallarenda Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) 2026.

    The draft plan proposes how Council will manage shoreline erosion and coastal change along the foreshore over the next 20 years. Review the plan and complete the survey to share your feedback.

    All feedback received will be considered before the plan is finalised.

    Take Survey
    Share Round 2 Consultation Open on Facebook Share Round 2 Consultation Open on X (formerly Twitter) Share Round 2 Consultation Open on Linkedin Email Round 2 Consultation Open link
Page last updated: 20 Oct 2026, 11:30 AM