Each year, communities in the Torres Strait are severely affected by inundation from king tides and cyclonic weather.  Flooding of homes, schools, roads and other major infrastructure are a common occurrence in low lying islands of Boigu and Saibai, and the central coral cay islands of Iama, Warraber, Masig and Poruma.

In June 2012, the Gillard Government pledged a total of $12 million for the construction and repair of seawalls and related sand nourishment works for the worst affected islands. This funding was matched by the Queensland Government earlier this year through the Major Infrastructure Program.  Communities in the Torres Strait are grateful that both federal and state governments have responded to their decade-long quest for securing funding to protect the region’s coastlines.

While $3.2 million has been signed off between the Torres Strait Regional Authority and Torres Strait Islands Regional Council for the preliminary design and planning stage of the Torres Strait Coastal Protection Works (Seawalls) Project so far, this is far short of the $26 million needed.

With the cyclone season just around the corner, we need the Australian Government to honour and deliver its commitment for the construction and repair of seawalls in the Torres Strait.

If you live in Australia, please support your fellow Australians in the Torres Strait by signing the petition and letting your friends and family know about this very important and urgent issue.

If you live elsewhere, your support is valuable too! Thanks for signing the petition and helping us spread the message across the world!