The islanders have been given some stark choices and will soon have tough decisions to make.
The remote islands have been promised $24 million from state and federal governments to rebuild damaged, hand-made seawalls, but the Queensland government has diverted funds from other basic infrastructure projects in the Torres Strait.
"That is the amount we have put forward for essential infrastructure. Now the community must make a decision on what is the right infrastructure," said Minister Crisafulli. "Sea walls are a pretty good project considering it will protect essential infrastructure".
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Official predictions for sea-level rises in Australia are up to 1.1 meters by the end of the century.
"It's a hot topic and an absolute priority for the region," Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayor Fred Gela told SBS. "We've been lobbying state and federal governments about this concern to protect our communities, our people and our livelihoods".
