Information sessions to update the community on sea level rise

Information sessions to update the community on sea level riseposted 7 Apr 2010  by Sharon Beder
Planning for sea level rise is underway with all levels of Government recently extending the scope of studies and policies that underpin adaptation strategies. 

Eurobodalla Shire Council has commenced this process following the recent release of draft policy statements by the NSW State Government.

“Planning for sea level rise is a task that each coastal Council must undertake, but the release of policy statements from the State Government will ensure every council in NSW is on the same path,” said Council’s Director for Development and Natural Resources, Lindsay Usher.

Mr Usher says sea level rise and coastal hazards are a big issue at the moment and Council has been receiving an increased number of inquiries relating to how individual lots of land will be impacted. A number of these inquiries, he believes, have followed the media publicity on the Climate Change Risks to Australia’s Coast publication by the Federal Government and the recent Court cases centred on north coast properties threatened by coastal erosion.

“Reports have focused on properties immediately under threat, but we need to start considering how our coastal landscape will look in 50 and 100 years time and start planning now,” Mr Usher said. “This may sound like a distant planning horizon, but most of our towns and main streets were surveyed more than 100 years ago and it is not unreasonable to expect that our towns will want to survive beyond the next century.”

Council is responding to community interest in sea level rise with information sessions at our coastal towns throughout the last week of February. “The information sessions will update the community on the latest policy response from the State Government and outline how this will impact local communities,” Mr Usher said.

He said people in the community are very concerned with how sea level rise will affect their properties, so Council has taken the initiative of keeping the community informed of the latest directives and advice through the information sessions.

Members of the community are invited to attend one of the following sessions:

• Mon 22 February, 6.30 – 7.30pm              Hanging Rock (AFL/Rugby Clubhouse) February 22
• Tues 23 February, 6.30 – 7.30pm              Broulee Surf Club
• Wed 24 February, 6.30 – 7.30pm              Tuross Head Progress Association Hall
• Thurs 25 February, 6.30 – 7.30pm            Narooma Golf Club

If you would like more information, please contact Norm Lenehan, Coastal and Flood Management Planner, on 02 4474 1374.