Caring for the Future Coast
of Sisters Beach

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Three projects working together for the future of Sisters Beach

Sisters Beach is a special place, and like many coastal communities, it is facing increasing challenges from coastal erosion, rising sea levels and a changing climate. To help protect what makes Sisters Beach unique, three connected projects are underway, aimed at strengthening the resilience of the Sisters Beach coastline and its community.

1. Active Management Protocols (Short to medium term)

This project focuses on what we can do now. It will provide practical guidance for managing sand movement, vegetation and beach access around the Sisters Creek mouth, helping us respond quickly to erosion events while protecting the natural environment and important community values.

2. Sisters Beach Foreshore Management Plan (Medium to long term)

Looking more broadly along the Sisters Beach foreshore, this strategic plan identifies priorities and actions to manage current and future coastal challenges, improve resilience, and guide coordinated decision-making by PWS and WWC and Wildlife Service. This includes actions to strengthen the important dune system—our natural buffer against increasing coastal hazards as sea levels rise.

3. Open Space Planning (Long term)

Looking further ahead, this project will develop a long-term vision for the Sisters Beach foreshore reserve. Using master planning informed by community values, it will explore future opportunities for public open space, recreation and community use, ensuring our coastal areas can continue to be enjoyed as the coastline changes over time.

Together, these projects set a clear direction for the future, helping us respond to today’s coastal changes while planning ahead to protect and care for our coastline for generations to come.

Community Values

Through past consultation, the community has shared what matters most. These values now guide Council’s decisions, ensuring management responses respect what the community loves about Sisters Beach while preparing for a changing coastline. Through the engagement processes led by Alluvium, the values identified were:

Coordinated Approach to Planning and Management

Council is taking a coordinated approach to protect the ecological, social, and cultural values of Sisters Beach:

Active Sand Management

Waratah-Wynyard Council has adopted an Active Sand & Vegetation Management and Access Control Plan for the mouth of Sisters Creek. This adaptive approach allows for the gradual retreat of the open space parkland area, balancing protection of community values with the realities of a changing coastline.
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Foreshore Management Plan

Parks and Wildlife Service (Tasmania) and Waratah-Wynyard Council have released a new Foreshore Management Plan, providing a strategic guide to protect and manage the Sisters Beach coastline while preserving its natural, ecological, cultural, and social values.

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Open Space Planning

This project is about shaping a future for the public parkland near the creek mouth which balances community use, recreation, and environmental protection. By working with the community through co-design, the project will plan for safe, sustainable, and adaptable public spaces that respond to coastal change and evolving community needs.

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Although each project has a distinct focus, they are all aligned around community values, environmental protection, and climate adaptation. Together, they provide a connected framework for protecting the foreshore, enhancing public spaces, and planning for a resilient and sustainable future.