Conference Report. 19 March 2015

Transcription

1 Conference Report 19 March 2015 Conference held at RACV Resort, Trent Jones Drive Cape Schanck, Victoria from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 March 2015 Organised by:

2 Summary The 2015 Australian Coastal Councils Conference was convened by the National Sea Change Taskforce at the RACV Resort, Cape Schanck, on Victoria s Mornington Peninsula, from 11 to 13 March. It was attended by representatives of coastal councils from all states, in addition to members of the coastal research community and representatives of relevant government agencies. Highlights of the 2015 conference included the following: The Hon Lisa Neville MP, the Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, presented a keynote address on the newly- elected Victorian State Government s approach to coastal planning and management and the government s future coastal policy directions. Dr John Church, CSIRO Fellow with the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate, presented a keynote address on sea level rise and projections for the future. Dr Church was the coordinating lead author for the chapter on sea level rise in the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Mr Andrew Howe, Senior Demographer, Regional Population Unit, Australian Bureau of Statistics, presented a keynote address on demographic trends in coastal areas and case studies on selected individual coastal communities. Mr Andrew Coghlan, National Manager Emergency Services with Australian Red Cross, made a presentation on the Productivity Commission inquiry into Natural Disaster Funding. The report recommended a number of changes to current funding arrangements, including reducing the Commonwealth share of disaster recovery costs. Professor Barbara Norman, Head of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Canberra, presented the findings of a recent research report that found continuing urban growth and the projected impacts of climate change are likely to expose an increasing number of people in Australia s coastal areas to the risk of bushfire. Professor Norman also facilitated a workshop on the issue. Ms Kate Sullivan, Director of Planning and Development, presented a paper on an economic report commissioned by the Council, which identified that the surf industry is a key contributor to the local economy. Mr Gary Evershed, CEO of Augusta Margaret River Shire, in Western Australia, presented a paper on the redevelopment of the Margaret River Surfers Point foreshore into what has been described as the best ampitheatre for surfing in the world. The area had been devastated by fire in November A Welcome Reception for delegates was held on Wednesday 11 March at the RACV Resort Cape Schanck, and the Conference Dinner was held on Thursday 12 March at the Safety Beach Sailing Club. The dinner included presentation of the 2015 Australian Coastal Awards. A copy of the final program for the 2015 Australian Coastal Councils Conference is provided in the following pages, together with additional information on the presentations made at the event. 1

3 AUSTRALIAN COASTAL COUNCILS CONFERENCE RACV RESORT, CAPE SCHANCK March 2015 COMMUNIQUÉ Preamble Representatives of Australian coastal councils and other coastal stakeholders attending the final session of Australian Coastal Councils Conference at Cape Schanck, Victoria, on 13 March 2015, considered the current proposal to curtail the national Census in its existing form and agreed to issue the following communiqué in response to the proposal. Communiqué We call on the Australian Government to retain the National Census in its existing form to ensure that Australia s councils have access to detailed demographic data which is essential for the future planning and resourcing of their communities. The current national Census provides comprehensive information about where Australians live, their place of birth, the composition of their families and the sort of work they do, which is vital to the task of projecting future population growth and meeting the increase in demand for infrastructure and services. We are particularly concerned that the loss of small area data, which is currently collected in the Census, will significantly affect the capacity of regional councils to track the increase in demand for community services and facilities that is experienced in most coastal communities. This data is critical to ensuring that councils have access to an appropriate share of Financial Assistance Grants, which are adjusted on the basis of Census data, to take into account continuing population growth in Australia s coastal local government areas. We believe that the alternative method proposed to replace the Census with smaller sample surveys will be inadequate to collect accurate demographic data and to regularly update this data to enable future planning and resource allocation. The delegates attending the 2015 Australian Coastal Councils Conference call on the Australian Government, in the national interest, to retain the Census in its existing form to enable the Australian Bureau of Statistics to proceed with conducting the next scheduled Census in

4 2015 AUSTRALIAN COASTAL AWARDS The 2015 Australian Coastal Awards were announced on 12 March at the Australian Coastal Councils Conference, held at Cape Schanck, on Victoria s Mornington Peninsula. The Awards were established in 2014 to acknowledge the achievement of individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution to the Australian coastal environment, settlements and sustainability. They are intended to raise community awareness of the importance of the coastal zone and to encourage coastal planning and management practitioners to strive for excellence. Barry Sammels, Chair of the National Sea Change Taskforce, said the standard of nominations for the 2015 Australian Coastal Awards was particularly high. Many of the people who took part in the projects that received awards are not well known public figures, he said. They are community volunteers, council officers, researchers and others who are working on these projects behind the scenes, out of public sight. But the work they are doing is vital. WINNERS AUSTRALIAN COASTAL AWARDS Climate Adaptation The Award in this category is made to the Peron Naturaliste Partnership for its integrated and strategic approach to the management and implementation of coastal adaptation in the region from Cape Peron to Cape Naturaliste in the southwest of Western Australia. The partnership represents a collaboration between nine coastal councils in the region and in the view of the judges is an exemplar for how adaptation could be addressed in other Australian coastal regions. The judges noted the partnership was established for the specific purpose of addressing climate change adaptation and that it assists participating councils in implementing effective responses to climate risks including sea level rise, coastal erosion, inundation, fires, extreme heat and loss of biodiversity. Highly commended in the Climate Adaptation category were Eurobodalla Shire Council, Shoalhaven City Council and Whitehead & Associates Environmental Consultants for their entry South Coast Regional Sea Level Rise Policy and Planning Framework. This commendation acknowledges the initiative of the two councils and their environmental consultant in developing a flexible and adaptive policy response to sea level rise following a decision by the State Government to withdraw existing sea level rise policy in September The innovative approach adopted by the project partners to deal with the withdrawal of state government guidance on this issue was considered noteworthy by the judges and is being considered for adoption by several other NSW coastal councils. Community Engagement The Award in this category was jointly awarded to the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management for its Coastal Community Engagement Program and to Coastcare Victoria for its Coastcare Victoria Program. The judges noted that these two programs represent significant, on- going initiatives that are broad in scope and have involved engagement with communities at an extensive scale. The Griffith Centre operates two community engagement programs: the CoastEd program, now in its 14 th year, was developed to increase awareness among children, adults and community groups of the actions needed to protect the coastline of the Gold Coast. The 3

5 BeachCare program, which is now in its 10 th year, was developed to provide an opportunity for community volunteers to participate in caring for the region s prime asset the 42km stretch of beaches from Paradise Point to Rainbow Bay on the Gold Coast. The other joint award recipient is Coastcare Victoria for its Coastcare Victoria Program, which is now in its 21 st year. The program was initiated to provide support to volunteers and community groups involved in coastal management, protection and conservation activities. It was the first State government program set up to support coastal volunteers and was adopted nationally in There are currently some 20,000 people participating in the program who are supported by four Coastcare facilitators and a State coordinator. Highly commended in this category were the Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation and Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation for their entry Nyangumarta Warrarn Indigenous Protected Area Planning Eighty Mile Beach. In a process that commenced five years ago, the Aboriginal Corporations consulted extensively with the traditional owners of an area of land including 110 kms of coastline, stretching between Broome and Port Hedland in north- west Western Australia. This process has resulted in a plan to manage and protect the Eighty Mile Beach, which is recognised under the Ramsar Convention as one of the most important habitats for migratory birds in the Asian- Australasian flyway. The plan is aimed at addressing key threats, such as unregulated access to sites of cultural significance, and visitor impact on the landscape, plants and animals within the Nyangumarta country, including water bird and flatback turtle nesting sites. An important part of the project is to collect the Nyangumarta people s knowledge of the local environment so that the knowledge can be used to manage and care for the areas and be passed down to future generations. Planning and Management The Award in this category is made to Phillip Island Nature Parks for the entry Saving Summerland: A Peninsula For The Penguins. In the view of the judges this project, now in its 30 th year, has achieved its objective of saving the last remaining colony of penguins on the Phillip Island coastline. In the 1980s, penguins on the Summerland Peninsula were facing extinction as a result of development pressures, loss of habitat, predation by dogs and foxes and weed infestation. The project set out to address these issues through a combination of long- term monitoring, an extensive buy- back program of residential housing and allotments, conservation of an entire coastal landscape and effective predator control. Penguin population in the colony is now estimated at 32,000 adult birds, the Summerland Housing Estate has been relocated, the habitat has been restored, and there have been no recorded deaths caused by foxes for more than five years. Augusta Margaret River Shire, in Western Australia, was Highly Commended for its entry titled Surfers Point Redevelopment Project. This project represents a significant coastal infrastructure project in the South West region of Western Australia, which has produced what the Association of Surfing Professionals has called the best ampitheatre for surfing in the world. The Surfers Point Precinct Redevelopment was identified as a priority project in the Margaret River Growth Plan and Economic Development Plan. It was developed in conjunction with the organisers of a pro surfing event to increase capacity to stage major state, national and international surfing events, and to provide improved foreshore infrastructure and enhanced protection of natural habitats. The completion of the project is estimated to have contributed to a 33% increase in visitors from outside the region. 4

6 Research The Award in this category is made to the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management for its role in providing advice on the application of science to coastal management in Queensland. Since commencing operations in 1999, the Centre has produced 170 coastal research reports, 165 research partnerships, and 250 peer- reviewed publications. In particular, the judges have noted the significance of the QSurge hazard- forecasting tool, which was developed by the centre to enable emergency management officers to assess the storm tide risk hazard during a cyclone event. The challenge for councils in responding to cyclones is to make a decision as early as possible about whether a settlement needs to be evacuated. In the past this decision often had to be made before estimates of storm tide inundation became available. The QSurge tool utilizes high- performance computing technology to provide council disaster managers with storm tide inundation at a much earlier phase of the cyclone s track towards the coast. The tool is of state- wide relevance and has the potential to be of national and international significance. CSIRO was Highly Commended for its entry titled Australia- wide Marine Debris Project. This three- year study which was led by CSIRO in partnership with Earthwatch was the largest survey of marine debris ever undertaken. It has been highly successful in raising community awareness of the need for increased efforts to tackle the threat of marine debris to native wildlife and to marine, coastal and estuarine ecosystems. The survey involved sampling 35,000kms of coastline at 100km intervals. The results of the survey were combined with ocean modelling and wildlife distribution patterns to map the density and distribution of marine rubbish and identify major threats to native wildlife associated with debris. This innovative national partnership has involved the participation of thousands of citizen scientists, including students and their teachers. Annual Achievement - There were few nominations received in this category and in the view of the judges the nominations received did not fully address the criteria for the award. Accordingly the judges recommended that the award in this category not be made in It is anticipated that a more representative sample of projects will be nominated in this category in future years. 5

7 WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 CONFERENCE DAY ONE 09:00 WELCOME and INTRODUCTION Mayor Barry Sammels, Chair, National Sea Change Taskforce and Mayor of the City of Rockingham (WA) 09:05 WELCOME FROM VICTORIA'S MARINE TREASURES I sea, I care Ambassador program. Presenters Tiana Atkinson, Amy Stone and Charlotte Swayn 09:15 INTRODUCTION TO THE REGION An overview of the local region by Mayor Bev Colomb, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Michael Papageorgiou on behalf of Mayor Sandra Mayer, Frankston City Council 9:30 CASE STUDY: Regional Tourism Presenter Ms Tracey Cooper, Executive Chair, Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board 9:45 Port Phillip Regional Coastal Adaptation Plan Presenter - Mr Bernie Cotter, Executive Officer, Association of Bayside Municipalities 10:00 PANEL DISCUSSION: COASTAL ISSUES AND CHALLENGES Professor Bruce Thom AM, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Emeritus Professor, University of Sydney, Mr Jon Hickman, Chair, Victorian Coastal Council, and Mr Bernie Cotter, Executive Officer, Association of Bayside Municipalities 10:30 Morning tea 11:00 KEYNOTE ADDRESS AND DISCUSSION: SEA LEVEL RISE AND PROJECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE Presenter - Dr John Church, CSIRO Fellow with the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research 11:30 COASTAL RESEARCH FORUM AND DISCUSSION: The Scope of Liability for decision- making in coastal areas: how far do protections extend? Presenter - Dr Justine Bell, TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland 12:30 Lunch CONCURRENT SESSIONS Measuring the Social, Cultural and Economic Indicators for the First Gladstone Healthy Harbours Partnership Report Card Presenter - Dr Sean Pascoe, Team Leader Marine Resource Economics Team, CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere Research CONCURRENT SESSION ONE- Part 1: COASTAL ADAPTATION 13:30 Bowie Room, RACV Cape Schanck Resort Managing Coastal Assets and Erosion Management Presenter - Ms Jeska Dee, Team Leader Foreshore, Frankston City Council Estimating Future Coastal Inundation and Erosion Hazards Presenter Dr Andrew McCowan, Managing Director, Water Technology Pty Ltd 6

8 15:00 Afternoon tea Planning for our coastal communities in a changing climate: a pathways approach Presenter Mrs Ellen Witte, Associate Policy Advisory, SGS Economics & Planning Volunteer group leading community engagement projects towards coastal adaptation Presenter Ms Silvia De San Laureano Quiñones, Environment Project Officer, Moyne Shire Council CONCURRENT SESSION ONE Part 2 - PRACTICAL ACTION TO MANAGE COASTAL CLIMATE RISKS Workshop conducted by Dr Dave Rissik, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility 17:00 CONCURRENT SESSION ONE CONCLUDES Departs 13:30 CONCURRENT SESSION TWO Field Tour: Western Port Hosted by Allan Cowley, Manager Strategic Planning, Mornington Peninsula Shire this tour provided information on coastal issues at sites along the Western Port shoreline. 16:00 CONCURRENT SESSION TWO CONCLUDES CONCURRENT SESSION THREE Field Tour: Port Phillip Bay Departs 13:30 Hosted by Virginia Brook and Neil Daykin, Coastal Planners, Mornington Peninsula Shire this tour provided information on coastal issues at sites along the Port Phillip Bay shoreline. 16:45 CONCURRENT SESSION THREE CONCLUDES 18:45 20:30 WELCOME RECEPTION Function Room, RACV Cape Schanck Resort Hosted by Mornington Peninsula Shire and Frankston City Councils the Welcome Reception showcased of from the Mornington Peninsula Region and premium canapés 7

9 THURSDAY 12 MARCH CONFERENCE DAY TWO 09:00 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: COASTAL POPULATIONS: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - Trends in coastal populations with input from the ABS and case studies Presenter Mr Andrew Howe, Senior Demographer, Regional Population Unit, Australian Bureau of Statistics 09:30 RESEARCH FORUM AND DISCUSSION: CLIMATE ADAPTATION Developing a Framework for Managing Coastal Climate Risk in Australia Presenter - Dr David Rissik, Deputy Director, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions of Climate Change Adaptation Presenter Prof Tim Smith, Director, Sustainability Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast 10:10 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: CLIMATE ADAPTATION CASE STUDY Coastal Adaptation A Cooperative Regional Approach Presenter - Ms Joanne Ludbrook, Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator, Peron Naturaliste Partnership 10:30 Morning tea 11:00 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: MANAGING AND FUNDING NATURAL DISASTERS IN COASTAL AUSTRALIA Presenter - Mr Andrew Coghlan, National Manager Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross 11:30 RESEARCH FORUM AND DISCUSSION: Presentations and panel discussion on research on coastal Australia Overview of national research programs relevant to coastal councils Presenter - Dr Andy Steven, Research Director, CSIRO Coastal, Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship Slipping through the net: the impact of incremental development on the built and natural environments of coastal towns Presenter Dr David Beynon, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University Planning and bushfire risk in a changing climate Presenter Prof Barbara Norman, University of Canberra 12:30 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING National Sea Change Taskforce 12:30 Lunch CONCURRENT SESSIONS 13:30 CONCURRENT SESSION FOUR Part One: COASTAL MANAGEMENT Development of Frankston Coastal Management Plan Presenter Ms Simone Bonella, Leisure Planner, Frankston City Council 8

10 15:00 Afternoon tea Check list for Environmental Governance of Coasts Presenter Dr Janette Shaw, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Beach System Ecoservices, Economic Value and Coastal Management Presenter - Dr Boyd Blackwell, Research Fellow, University of New England Coastal Planning Matters Presenter Ms Virginia Brook, Strategic Planner Coastal, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council 15:30 CONCURRENT SESSION FOUR Part 2 - PLANNING AND BUSHFIRE RISK IN A CHANGING CLIMATE WORKSHOP Conducted by Prof Barbara Norman, University of Canberra 17:00 CONCURRENT SESSION FOUR CONCLUDES Departs 13:15 CONCURRENT SESSION FIVE Field Tour: Frankston Hosted by Frankston City Council this tour will provide information on coastal issues at sites along the Frankston area shoreline. 17:00 Arrive RACV Cape Schanck Resort GALA CONFERENCE DINNER including the presentation of the 2015 AUSTRALIAN COASTAL AWARDS Safety Beach Sailing Club 9

11 FRIDAY 13 MARCH CONFERENCE DAY THREE 09:00 KEYNOTE ADDRESS AND DISCUSSION: VICTORIA S APPROACH TO COASTAL MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING The Hon Lisa Neville MP, Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water 09:25 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: HOW TO OBTAIN COASTAL POLICY STABILITY - TWENTY YEARS OF THE VICTORIAN COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACT 1995 Presenters - Dr Geoff Wescott, Associate Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, and Mr Jon Hickman, Chair, Victorian Coastal Council 10:10 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY Surf Coast Surfing Industry Report Presenter - Ms Kate Sullivan, Director of Planning and Environment, Surf Coast Shire Council 10:30 Morning tea 11:00 COASTAL ISSUES AND CHALLENGES Climate Change Adaptation Projects: A Local and International Perspective Presenter Mr Oliver Moles, Director Sustainable Development, Moyne Shire Council 12:30 Lunch Local government management challenges in protecting and preserving Indigenous cultural heritage values along the coast Presenter Mr Adam Magennis, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Coastal Caravan Parks and Economic Benefits of Climate Change Adaptation Presenter - Dr Boyd Blackwell, Research Fellow, University of New England The Phoenix Rises: Margaret River Surfers Point Case Study Mr Gary Evershed, Chief Executive Officer, Shire of Augusta Margaret River 13:30 FINAL SESSION AND DISCUSSION: COASTAL ISSUES EXCHANGE Q & A AND 2015 CONFERENCE COMMUNIQUÉ A forum for the exchange of relevant information between representatives of coastal councils, government agencies, coastal researchers and others. The session will also consider adoption of the 2015 Conference Communiqué 15:00 CONFERENCE CONCLUDES 10

12 2015 Australian Coastal Councils Conference CONFERENCE DAY ONE Wednesday, 11 March 2015 Welcome Barry Sammels, Chair National Sea Change Taskforce At the commencement of the conference, Barry Sammels acknowledged the Boonwurrung and Bunurong members of the Kulin Nation, who have traditional connections for the land on which the meeting was taking place. On behalf of the National Sea Change Taskforce he welcomed delegates to the Australian Coastal Councils Conference for 2015 and said it is an annual highlight of the year for the Taskforce and its members. He said over the course of the next three days delegates would be discussing some of the issues that are currently facing the coastal communities our councils represent, including: The latest sea level rise projections, which coastal councils will need to factor into their future coastal planning decisions; Proposed changes to the current arrangements for natural disaster funding, which have been recommended by the Productivity Commission; Identifying the priority issues that will form the basis of our future advocacy efforts; and Updates on the major developments affecting coastal planning and management that have occurred over the past year. He said one of the highlights of the event would be the announcement of the winners of the 2015 Australian Coastal Awards and that another highlight was a new session, called the coastal issues exchange. This is being introduced for two important reasons. Firstly he said it was designed to make the most of the opportunities for networking among coastal councils that the National Sea Change Taskforce provides as if you are facing a difficult challenge in your local government area, the chances were that other coastal councils are facing similar difficulties and that he Taskforce provides an opportunity to share ideas about these common problems and possibly find new, effective ways of dealing with them. The second reason, which is equally important, was that the session presents an opportunity to identify the current priority coastal issues. These issues then become the starting point for the process of developing an updated policy agenda, which will form the basis for the coastal advocacy campaign in the period leading up to the next election. Barry Sammels said this highlights one of the major differences between the Australian Coastal Councils Conference and other national conferences is that it sought to focus on achieving outcomes. He said as a result of previous conferences, for example: The Taskforce commissioned a study to explore new methodologies for gathering data on tourists and other non- residents in coastal areas; It commissioned legal advice to help member councils to better manage their legal risks in relation to climate change policy; and Also commissioned a research study to help guide coastal councils on how to retain the values and character of their local communities. 11

13 Barry said each one of these initiatives came about as a result of discussions that took place at the annual conference and also illustrate the benefits of taking collective action as the costs involved in commissioning this sort of specialist research work is sometimes beyond the capacity of individual councils but by pooling resources and sharing the costs, it is possible to commission this sort of work for the benefit of the individual councils taking part in the project and for the benefit of coastal councils generally. He acknowledged the support received from a number of organisations towards the organisation of this conference, and specifically acknowledged: Frankston City Council Mornington Peninsula Shire Council CSIRO Welcome from Victoria s Marine Treasures Guests were welcomed by representatives of the I sea I care ambassador program, which is a social marketing tool developed by the Dolphin Research Institute. The program is aimed at building a strong sense of stewardship of the southern coasts and waterways among school age children. The i sea, i care program is supported by organisations including Melbourne Water, six coastal councils, Catholic Education, the business community and more than 100 schools. Previous i sea i care ambassadors have now graduated and many of them are preparing to become the next generation of environmental managers. The three ambassadors involved in the presentation were Charlotte Swayn, Amy Stone and Tiana Atkinson. Introduction to the region Mayor Bev Colomb welcomed delegates to the region on behalf of Mornington Peninsula Shire and in particular to the beautiful and extensive coasts and beaches of the Peninsula. She acknowledged the Boon wurrung and Bunurong, members of the Kulin Nation, who have traditional connections for the land on which the meeting was being held and acknowledged her Councillor colleagues, conference organisers, and all delegates, to what promises to be a great and memorable conference experience. She said the importance of the coasts, for residents and visitors alike, cannot be underestimated in terms of their value in relation to: The natural environment Cultural heritage Recreational amenity and Their contribution to a unique sense of place Mayor Colomb said with 192 kms or 10% of Victoria s coastline, managing these values for their future protection is vital, given the projected growth in local and regional populations and the likely increase in demand for coastal recreation in coming decades. The Mornington Peninsula is often described as Melbourne s playground. The Peninsula is Victoria s most popular informal recreation area; it features magnificent landscapes, coasts and beaches that are of State significance and which attract 7 million visitors every year. She said the Peninsula is also a very popular holiday destination, attracting visitors from across the state, around the country and all over the world. Annually, tourism on the Peninsula contributes $1.6 Billion to the $11 Billion local economy and is a significant employer. In partnership, the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Frankston City Council and 12

14 Tourism Victoria formed the Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board to support and promote this important industry. The Regional Tourism Board last year developed the Regional Destination Management Plan (DMP) to help steer tourism in the region, and the next speaker, Tracey Cooper, would speak further on the plan shortly. The Shire s tourism attractions have been recognised both nationally, with winning entries in the 2014 Victorian Tourism Awards, and internationally, as an inclusion in the National Geographic s Top 20 must see places of 2015 on its esteemed annual Best of the World list. In addition, the Mornington Peninsula is a popular recreational boating destination and is home to the largest concentration of registered recreational boats in the State of Victoria. In the context of increasing visitors, regional resident populations and the increasing demand for recreational opportunities, there is a need to balance the likely increase in demand for facilities and coastal recreation opportunities with the important environmental and social/cultural values of the coast. Council s four year Strategic Plan, which expresses Council s vision, goals and priorities, had identified Enhancing the coastal experience as its Goal 5. Mayor Colomb said the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council recognised its coastal responsibilities in many ways, including: a commitment to a dedicated coastal planning function within the Shire (coastal planners); active contributions to the development of coastal policy through advocacy and liaison with State Government agencies; active participation in the Association of Bayside Municipalities; and the ongoing commitment to the maintenance of the coastline. She said with the increase in resident and visitor populations and demands on the coast, a number of critical issues are emerging which will require careful planning, management and resourcing. Included amongst these are: a clear, State- wide policy and planning framework to provide guidance for decision- makers; coastal protection and boating infrastructure renewal; and funding for the implementation of climate change adaptation works Mayor Colomb said she looked forward to sharing some interesting and energising discussions over the next few days and I hope you take the opportunity of your visit to the Peninsula, to enjoy some of our picturesque wine and food attractions, as well as enjoying our magnificent coasts. Michael Papageorgiou, of Frankston City Council, welcomed delegates on behalf of Mayor Sandra Mayer, of Frankston City, who was an apology for the event. He said Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula are coastal jewels of the region, and he hoped the delegates would thoroughly enjoy their stay. He said coastal environments are important to our communities for many reasons be they health, fitness, recreation, tourism, business or the sheer natural beauty they share with us. But our coastlines are constantly facing challenges, both man- made and from natural forces, so events like today are vitally important to share the latest knowledge. 13

15 Frankston City s coastline stretches about 13km along the eastern shore of Port Phillip, around 40kms south- east of Melbourne. Life Saving Victoria has listed Frankston as the state s most visited beach the past two years. The easy access via freeway, foreshore facilities, award winning visitor information centre and picturesque location draw people from around Melbourne. Michael Papageorgiou said that level of traffic creates its fair share of issues, and requires a proactive response from Council He said the City s approach to cleaning the beach and removing litter from beach and foreshore areas, along with foreshore rangers partnerships with local community groups, has helped Frankston win Victorian Clean Beach Award in 2012 and be a finalist in Michael Papageorgiou said the City recognised the need to constantly improve our approach, and this is in the form of a Coastal Management Plan, which is currently being developed. The key focuses of this plan would be how to maximise usage of the beach by visitors and locals, and maximise its potential for economic growth, while maintaining resilient natural systems and its natural beauty. An important part of that will be developing infrastructure that enhances the attractiveness of the area, encourages usage of the foreshore, but protects vulnerable areas He said another important aspect is understanding how we can protect potentially vulnerable areas from both man- made and natural threats and developing a coordinated, consistent plan across multiple Council departments and government agencies that delivers the required results. He said there were many other challenges which delegates would be familiar with, such as: the best way to provide infrastructure for recreational boating without adversely impacting on the coastline providing modern facilities for the local Coast Guard to conduct search and rescue responding to storm damage and fluctuating sand migration and responding to the resulting beach and dune erosion that can damage both the functionality and health of our foreshore Michael Papageorgiou said the City s beach is its most precious and valuable asset, and this would no doubt be the case for many delegates. CASE STUDY: Regional Tourism Delegates heard that tourism is one of Australia s most important industry sectors and represents a key segment of the Australian economy, contributing more than $35 billion a year to our Gross Domestic Product. It makes a particularly important contribution to regional Australia, with 46 cents in every tourism dollar spent outside the capital cities, and Coastal regions for many years have been focused on capturing their fair share of these tourism dollars. Ms Tracey Cooper, the Executive Chair of the Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board, presented a paper to delegates on current visitor numbers to the region and the Board s marketing and product strategies. Port Phillip Regional Coastal Adaptation Plan Mr Bernie Cotter, the Executive Officer of the Association of Bayside Municipalities, which represents the coastal councils that border on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, provided an 14

16 outline of a new study which the Association has commissioned in partnership with State Government agencies and other relevant stakeholders. The study is focused on the sort of changes Port Phillip is likely to experience over the course of the next 40 to 50 years, in the potential impacts of population growth, climate change, economic development and demand for recreational use during the period leading up to the year PANEL DISCUSSION: Coastal Issues and Challenges Alan Stokes, of the National Sea Change Taskforce, introduced the session which he said would provide an assessment of current coastal challenges from a panel of experts and from delegates representing coastal councils. The first speaker on the panel was Professor Bruce Thom AM, a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and Emeritus Professor at the University of Sydney. Panel members to follow were Mr. Jon Hickman, the Chair of the Victorian Coastal Council, and Mr. Bernie Cotter, Executive Officer of the Association of Bayside Municipalities. KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Sea Level Rise and Projections for the Future Delegates heard that one issue all coastal councils have been attempting to deal with over recent years is the prospect of sea level rise associated with projected climate change impacts. It is a hot topic that has generated much public debate and considerable time, energy and funding on the part of all levels of government. It has been a particularly difficult issue for the local government sector to come to grips with. Dr John Church is an Oceanographer and a CSIRO Fellow with the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research and was the coordinating lead author for the chapter on sea level rise in the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He has published widely across a broad range of topics in oceanography. At the release of the 5 th IPCC report he said sea level is going to rise more than projected in the previous 4th Assessment Report, with 98cms now projected to be the top of the range of scenarios of sea level rise by 2100 and the bottom of the range now projected to be more than 40cms. Dr Church s address outlined the implications of the latest IPPC findings and the revised projections of sea level over the years to come. (The PPT presentation by Dr. Church is available elsewhere on this web site). The Scope of liability for decision- making in coastal areas: how far to protections extend? Coastal councils around Australia come under considerable pressure from developers and state governments to allow residential developments in areas that are considered to be prime coastal locations. As the responsible authority, however, the council is required to take a risk management approach to these planning decisions in order to make sure that people and their property are not placed at risk from the climate change impacts that scientists warn are inevitable. Dr Justine Bell, a lecturer in the TC Beirne School of Law at the University of Queensland, presented a paper assessing how far existing legislative limitations of liability will go to protect councils making decisions in relation to development applications in what may be considered hazardous areas. Dr Bell recently published a book on the topic, titled Climate Change and Coastal Development Law in Australia. 15

17 CONCURRENT SESSION ONE- Part 1: COASTAL ADAPTATION Managing Coastal Assets and Erosion Management Ms. Jeska Dee, the Foreshore Team Leader with Frankston City Council, presented a paper outlining adaptation measures adopted by local councils to coastal erosion and the threat of climate change impacts. She began with a case study, which is relatively close at hand. Jeska told delegates that the Foreshore Reserves at Frankston and Seaford are 11km long and support the largest, contiguous stretch of coastal vegetation within metropolitan Melbourne. Most of the Reserve is considered to be of regional significance while a small portion is considered to be of state significance. She said the Seaford Foreshore is a prime asset attracting many visitors to the area, but this stretch of beach has recently been seriously affected by extreme coastal erosion, which resulted in the collapse of dunes and damage to the Seaford Lifesaving Club emergency access ramp. Meanwhile, the Frankston foreshore experienced extreme storm surges and high tides causing erosion around Frankston Waterfront which led in turn to the partial collapse of the Frankston Pier. Estimating Future Coastal Inundation and Erosion Hazards Dr Andrew McCowan, Managing Director, Water Technology Pty Ltd presented a paper outlining the extent to which coastal hazards are already evident in coastal areas and how sensitive are these hazards are to future sea level rise. The paper was based on a multi- disciplinary study of three key locations along the Victorian coastline the Gippsland Lakes and Ninety Mile Beach, Western Port and Phillip Island. These study areas were considered because they are considered to be at particular risk associated with the effects of climate change. Planning for our coastal communities in a changing climate: a pathways approach Mrs Ellen Witte, Associate Policy Advisory, SGS Economics & Planning, presented a paper concerning adaptation measures and when they can be considered successful. Is it when all potentially vulnerable properties are protected from coastal risk or is it when the beaches and natural values are maintained? Ellen Witte outlined the pathways approach the firm had developed based on work SGS has undertaken for 12 local councils in Tasmania and Western Australia. The methodology is aimed at achieving an integrated, whole- of- community approach to planning in coastal communities. Volunteer group leading community engagement projects towards coastal adaptation Ms Silvia De San Laureano Quiñones, Environment Project Officer, Moyne Shire Council, presented a paper on the important role volunteer groups play in coastal care and management around Australia. She said the scope of volunteer group activities is continuing to expand. At Port Fairy, a small coastal town on the south west coast of Victoria, for example, a community group called the Port Fairy Coastal Group has been working with the local Moyne Shire Council to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion on an old municipal tip and night soil site. The volunteers involved have made a major contribution to managing the issue. CONCURRENT SESSION ONE Part 2 - PRACTICAL ACTION TO MANAGE COASTAL CLIMATE RISKS Workshop conducted by Dr Dave Rissik, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. 16

18 THURSDAY 12 MARCH CONFERENCE DAY TWO PLENARY SESSION: Coastal Populations: Planning for the Future Mr Andrew Howe is Senior Demographer with the Regional Population Unit of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. He delivered an address outlining changes that are currently occurring in our coastal populations. He told delegates that coastal settlements not only have consistently high rates of growth - frequently higher than the national average - they are also at the forefront of the ageing of the national population. RESEARCH FORUM AND DISCUSSION: Climate Adaptation Developing a Framework for Managing Coastal Climate Risk in Australia Delegates heard there is an ever- increasing volume of advice, research studies and tools becoming available to help planners and decision- makers to better manage the risks associated with climate change. Little of this information, however, is integrated or delivered in a way that can be readily used by councils, particularly those with limited resources. Dr Dave Rissik, Deputy Director, of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), said it is for that reason that NCCARF is currently developing a framework for understanding coastal climate risk in particular the risks associated with sea level rise and storm surge. The framework is being designed to help coastal decisions makers take practical actions to prepare for and to manage those climate risks. Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions of Climate Change Adaptation Professor Timothy Smith, Director, Sustainability Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast presented a paper on a new Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions Research Network, which commenced operations in January this year. He said it represents a consortium of five universities and the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, and is led by the University of the Sunshine Coast. It is one of four adaptation research networks which are part of a new phase of activities initiated by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. Professor Smith said the network will be structured into themes that address the specific concerns of industry, government, indigenous communities and NGOs. CLIMATE ADAPTATION CASE STUDY: Coastal Adaptation A Cooperative Regional Approach Ms Joanne Ludbrook is the Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator with the Peron Naturaliste Partnership in Western Australia. She said the Peron Naturaliste Partnership is a collaboration involving nine coastal councils along the southwest coast of Western Australia, from Cape Peron to Cape Naturaliste. It was established in recognition of the potential vulnerability of the coastline to climate risks that prompted the councils to come together to establish the partnership, four years ago, in Joanne Ludbrook said the objective of the partnership is to provide a regional mechanism to help facilitate effective and timely adaptation responses to climate risks. Here to tell us more is Joanne Ludbrook, the coordinator of the Peron Naturaliste Partnership. SESSION AND DISCUSSION: Managing and Funding Natural Disasters in Coastal Australia Mr Andrew Coghlan is National Manager, Emergency Services, with Australian Red Cross, which is one of the organisations participating in the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities. Other participants include the Insurance Australian Group, Westpac, Optus Australia, Munich Re and Investa Property Group. Andrew Coghlan s paper outlined how the Business Roundtable had conducted extensive research and made comprehensive submissions in relation to a Productivity Commission inquiry into Natural Disaster Funding. 17

19 He said the inquiry was established by the Commonwealth Government to report on a broad range of issues including - the effectiveness and sustainability of current arrangements for funding natural disasters, risk management measures available to asset owners and the interaction between Commonwealth natural disaster funding arrangements and relevant Commonwealth/State financial arrangements. A draft report by the Commission released in September caused concern among councils and State Governments with recommendations to reduce the Commonwealth share of disaster recovery costs from 75% to 50%, and to increase the allocation of funding for pre- disaster mitigation measures and increasing the threshold for small disaster criterion payments from $240,000 to $2 million. Each of the recommendations would have a substantial impact on the local government sector and on state and territory governments. RESEARCH FORUM AND DISCUSSION: Presentations and panel discussion Overview of national research programs relevant to coastal councils Dr Andy Steven is Research Director, CSIRO Coastal, Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship, presented a paper outlining the urban coastal environments whitepaper of the National Marine Science Plan, which sets out the ten priority science challenges and strategic research needed to enhance the on- going management of coastal ecosystems. He told delegates that Australia s urban coastal environments provide economic, cultural and social wealth, as well as being the location for much of the nation s residential, commercial, industrial and transport infrastructure. Our coasts also provide for many of our recreational, aesthetic and cultural needs as well as playing a critical role in primary production, nutrient cycling and water filtration. Dr Steven said one of the major challenges for policy makers and coastal managers is balancing these competing uses and their cumulative impacts. Slipping through the net: the impact of incremental development on the built and natural environments of coastal towns Dr David Beynon, of the School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, presented a paper on a case study which examined the impact of incremental change to the built and natural environment of a coastal community. Dr Beynon discussed the sort of impact this incremental development tends to have on the environments of coastal towns. He said residents in coastal areas are aware, and often concerned, at the impact of sudden and dramatic change in their communities, such as a major new large development, which is radically different in scale and style to existing, neighbouring structures. But he pointed out that change is not always associated with single large developments. Often it occurs as a result of a more gradual, incremental process, which sometimes takes place, unnoticed, over several years. Planning and bushfire risk in a changing climate Prof Barbara Norman, Foundation Chair of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Canberra, outlined the findings of a report titled Planning and Bushfire Risk in a Changing Climate. She told delegates that many coastal areas around Australia are particularly susceptible to the risk of bushfires, and as the recent report by a research team at the University of Canberra had found, continuing urban growth and the projected impacts of climate change are likely to expose even more people in these areas to the risk of bushfire. 18

20 The report noted that the connection between urban and regional planning and bushfire risk management has been highlighted in sixteen major bushfire inquiries in Australia conducted since Despite this, there has been only relatively minor research into the contribution of planning to minimise risk and the connection between planning and emergency management in relation to bushfires. CONCURRENT SESSION FOUR Part One: COASTAL MANAGEMENT Development of Frankston Coastal Management Plan Ms Simone Bonella, Leisure Planner, Frankston City Council, presented a paper outlining the development of Frankston City Council s first Coastal Management Plan. She said key issues affecting management of the Frankston Foreshore include how to address competing and conflicting demands for use; maximising appeal to visitors while maintaining resilient natural systems; connecting Frankston s commercial and transport hub with the waterfront; and resourcing new infrastructure and ongoing maintenance to ensure community and visitor expectations are met. Check list for Environmental Governance of Coasts Dr Janette Shaw is an associate with the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania. She presented a paper proposing a checklist for environmental governance of coasts which can be used as a guide to assess progress in coastal environmental management. She said the Australian Government s State of the Environment report, released in 2011, recognised that our coasts, as well as being some of our most iconic natural areas, are some of Australia s most heavily settled areas. She said the report went on to note that a business as usual approach to continuing environmental degradation in coastal regions is likely to lead to undesirable outcomes. Beach System Ecoservices, Economic Value and Coastal Management Dr Boyd Blackwell, is a Research Fellow at the University of New England. He told delegates that the economic values of the beach have so far not been adequately assessed. In his view, beaches are becoming increasingly subject to a coastal squeeze between urban development on the one hand and rising sea levels on the other. In a recent paper prepared in conjunction with researchers at the Australian Museum and the University of the Sunshine Coast he found that ecological economics need to play a mainstream role in developing coastal zone policy. Coastal Planning Matters Ms Virginia Brook is Strategic Planner, Coastal with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. She told delegates that managing cultural, recreational economic and other values on the coast is vital. She said there was increasing demand being placed on the coastal areas by visitor, regional and resident populations. She presented examples of local coastal planning initiatives and the importance of strategic partnerships to illustrate the point that coastal planning matters, and said that integrated coastal management and planning is vital to addressing the complexities of the dynamic coastal environment. CONCURRENT SESSION FOUR Part 2 - PLANNING AND BUSHFIRE RISK IN A CHANGING CLIMATE Workshop conducted by Prof Barbara Norman, University of Canberra 19