Australia’s Coastal Monitoring Capability will be boosted through new investment into CoastRI. By investing $58 million in a nationwide network of coastal observation and modelling infrastructure, the Government is building a clearer picture of how our coastlines are changing – producing data that is tailored to Australia’s unique environment and critical for long-term planning.
Supporting this nationally significant capability strengthens Australia’s ability to respond to coastal change with confidence. CoastRI will provide essential information to protect homes, businesses, infrastructure and shipping routes, while also identifying the best locations for offshore renewable energy and sustainable fishing operations.
“Australia’s future will be heavily impacted by how well we understand and manage our changing coastlines. Investing in CoastRI, launches a nationally coordinated network of sensors and drones that deliver real-time, Australia-specific data to support better decisions for communities, industry and the environment. The scale and complexity of coastal change means this capability must be shared across the country. Making CoastRI accessible to researchers and decision-makers nationwide through NCRIS ensures Australia can plan ahead and strengthen resilience along our coastlines”
Julian Hill, Assistant Minister for International Education
This capability will help communities, industries and governments plan ahead. By predicting how coastlines will evolve, CoastRI will enable targeted action to safeguard agriculture and fisheries, guide future housing development, and protect our unique natural environment – building resilience for Australia’s coastal future.
“NCRIS support for CoastRI will create a much-needed advance in Australia’s ability to monitor and manage our coastal zone. A consortium of 13 NCRIS partners will work to deliver a multi-disciplinary, national-scale approach to understanding complex coastal issues. This program is a first of its kind and I look forward to seeing how we can leverage the capacity of NCRIS to deliver more for Australia,”
Dr Michelle Heupel, IMOS Executive Director, spokesperson for CoastRI
IMOS is currently working to get the contracts and paperwork finalised with NCRIS to secure the funds. The NCRIS Directors will have an initial meeting in Canberra on 1 July to to confirm the implementation pathway and agree on the next steps. This is expected to include a series of expert workshops to identify priority locations and co-design the approach for delivery of this nationally significant capability.