CONFERENCE REPORT 22 May 2017 Mon Komo Hotel, Marine Parade. Redcliffe QLD Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 May 2017 Organised by: Australian Coastal Councils Association Inc.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR CONFERENCE HOSTS The Australian Coastal Councils Association Inc. acknowledges the interest and support of the Moreton Bay Regional Council and the Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism. Host Organisation and Major Sponsor Page 1 of 1 Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism (MBRIT) is the official destination management organisation for the Moreton Bay Region, the fastest growing economic region in Queensland. MBRIT encouraged all delegates to the Conference to explore and experience all the region has to offer during their stay. Host Council Moreton Bay Regional Council is the third-largest local government in Australia, with a population of 435,000 people. It is one of Australia s fastest-growing coastal communities. The council area features 170 km of coastline, stretching from the Redcliffe Peninsula in the south to Bribie Island in the north. In total, the council covers an area of more than 2,000 square kms, which includes pristine beaches, extensive rainforests and significant waterways, including Moreton Bay, Deception Bay, Hays Inlet and the Pumicestone Passage. 1
CONFERENCE SILVER SPONSOR: S USC is one of Australia s fastest growing universities. From humble beginnings as the Sunshine Coast region s first public university, over the past 20 years USC has grown to serve more than 14,000 students at six study locations from Brisbane to the Fraser Coast. In the most recent Excellence for Research in Australia assessment, USC was rated by the Australian Research Council as having 14 fields at or above world standard, including three fields well above world standard and the equal highest rating nationally in nursing, zoology, and environmental science and management. At just 20 years of age, USC is now ranked in Times Higher Education list of the top 501-600 universities in the world. USC is currently progressing toward the opening of a new flagship campus in Moreton Bay. Expected to open in 2020, the new campus will cater for up to 10,000 students and will offer a comprehensive range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs. DISPLAY STAND SPONSOR PML s long history with the local government sector started with producing notices many years ago. We understand the needs and priorities of councils. With a thorough knowledge of the billing processes and expertise in payment channel set up, we ve seen our local government clients continue to grow right across Australia. We also support the local government sector through regularly participating in staff development, training and conferences. 2
SUMMARY The 2017 Australian Coastal Councils Conference was convened by the Australian Coastal Councils Association at the Mon Komo Hotel, Marine Parade, Redcliffe QLD, from 3 to 5 May 2017. 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 2017 conference included the following: Professor Tim Smith - Director of the Sustainability Research Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast, who presented a keynote speech outlining the social, economic and environmental outlook for coastal Australia. Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar Lecturer at the College of Science and Engineering at James Cook University, reported on the findings of a study into the option of using private investor funds to finance adaptation works. Dr Graeme Clark of the Evolution and Environment Research Centre at the University of Sydney, who reported the findings of the chapter on Coasts in the latest State of Environment Report. Dr Daryl McPhee Head, Higher Degree Research at Bond University, who outlined the findings of recent studies into unprovoked shark bites and mitigation measures. Professor Nicole Gurran Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sydney, who presented the findings of a survey on how coastal councils are responding to the rapid increase of listings on short-term holiday rental platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz. Dr Elin Charles-Edwards School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, who presented a report on a study which is aimed at developing a new series of population estimates for Australian regions that will capture temporary population movement. Mr Andrew Howe and Ms Tricia Chester Senior demographers at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, who outlined how aggregated telecommunications data can be used to estimate fluctuations in temporary populations in coastal areas. A Welcome Reception for delegates was held on Wednesday 3 May at the Sutton s Beach Pavilion, 50 Marine Parade Redcliffe. The Conference Dinner was held on Thursday 4 May in the Caribbean Room of the Mon Komo Hotel. The dinner included presentation of the 2017 Australian Coastal Awards. A copy of the final program for the 2017 Australian Coastal Councils Conference is provided in the following pages, together with additional information on the presentations made at the event. 3
2017 AUSTRALIAN COASTAL COUNCILS CONFERENCE MON KOMO HOTEL, REDCLIFFE, 3-5 May 2017 COMMUNIQUÉ Preamble Representatives of Australian coastal councils attending the Australian Coastal Councils Conference at Redcliffe, Queensland, from 3 to 5 May, 2017, considered the need for a coordinated national effort to deal more effectively with the coastal hazards facing coastal councils and their communities. They agreed to issue the following communiqué concerning this matter. Communiqué We call on the Australian Government to play a lead role in developing a coordinated national approach to dealing with coastal hazards including more frequent and severe extreme weather events, widespread coastal erosion, and the growing pressures of climate change. We note that the latest State of the Environment report, released in March 2017, indicates that coastal areas are at particular risk because of simultaneous pressures, including growing populations, widely variable visitor numbers, habitat loss, invasive species and the growing pressures of climate change. As the report points out: Australia is beginning to see the impact of the pressures of climate change on our coasts, and pressures are expected to grow substantially in coming decades. These will add stress to systems that are already stressed by a range of human activities 1. Further, we add our support to the following motion which was adopted at the 2016 National General Assembly of the Australian Local Government Association: That the National General Assembly call on the Australian Government to develop an Intergovernmental Agreement on the Coastal Zone in consultation with the state, territory and local governments as a means of defining the roles and responsibilities of each tier of government in relation to coastal zone management. Currently, the task of dealing with coastal hazards along Australia s vast coastline is left predominantly to coastal councils. This enormous task is beyond the capacity of local councils and the states and territories. The scale of the challenge requires a national approach, national leadership and national funding. We therefore call on the Australian Government to play a lead role in addressing these challenges in consultation with local government authorities, which are knowledgeable in relation to these matters and connected to their communities. Friday, 5 May 2017 1 1 Clark GF & Johnston EL (2017). Australia state of the environment 2016: coasts, independent report to the Australian Government Minister for Environment and Energy, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. 4
Winners of 2017 Australian Coastal Awards The winners of the 2017 Australian Coastal Awards were announced on Thursday 4 May at the Australian Coastal Councils Conference, held at Redcliffe in Queensland. Barry Sammels, Chair of the Australian Coastal Councils Association, said the Awards were established to acknowledge the achievement of individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution to the Australian coastal environment, settlements and sustainability. The Awards 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, he said. Barry Sammels said the standard of nominations for the 2017 Australian Coastal Awards was very high. Winners of the awards were: Clarence City Council (Tasmania) for Clarence City Council s Adaptation Pathway Sharing Lessons Learnt, which won the 2017 Australian Coastal Award for Annual Achievement; The Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (WA) for Coastal and Marine Program 2016, which won the 2017 Australian Coastal Award for Community Engagement; Moreton Bay Regional Council (Queensland) for Using Remote Piloted Aircraft for Seawall Condition Assessment, which won the 2017 Australian Coastal Award for Planning and Management; and The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility for CoastAdapt: Supporting Climate Change Adatation on the Australian Coast, which won the 2017 Australian Coastal Award for Coastal Research. Highly Commended Community Engagement Alexandrina Council (SA): Goolwa Beach Car Park & Surrounds Masterplan Highly Commended Climate Adaptation Whitsunday Regional Council (QLD): Climate Change Adaptation Program Australia has one of the longest coastlines in the world more than 36,000kms but it faces many challenges, Barry Sammels said. These include the impact of more frequent extreme weather events, widespread coastal erosion, the risks associated with a changing climate and loss of coastal environment due to rapid urbanisation. Fortunately, as a nation we have a large number of dedicated individuals and organisations who are committed to safeguarding the coast for future generations. The Australian Coastal Awards are intended to acknowledge their work, and to inspire others. 5
PROGRAM WEDNESDAY 3 MAY 2017 - CONFERENCE DAY ONE Caribbean Room, Mon Komo Hotel 08:00 Registration opens. Tea and coffee available. 09:00 WELCOME TO COUNTRY Dr Eve Fesl, senior Gubbi Gubbi Elder. WELCOME and INTRODUCTION TO THE REGION Mayor Allan Sutherland, Mayor, Moreton Bay Regional Council. 09:10 CONFERENCE OPENING Mayor Barry Sammels, Chair, Australian Coastal Councils Association Inc. and Mayor, City of Rockingham. 09:20 COASTADAPT UPDATE AND APPLICATION Presented by Dr David Rissik, Deputy Director, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility 10:30 Morning tea COASTAL PLANNING ON THE COFFS COAST Presented by Ms Sharon Smith, Section Leader Local Planning, Coffs Harbour City Council COLLABORATING FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN A COASTAL REGION Presented by Ms Pip Close, CEO, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association. 11:00 KEYNOTE SESSION: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR COASTAL REGIONS? Prof Tim Smith, Director of the Sustainability Research Centre at the University of Sunshine Coast, outlines the social, economic and environmental outlook for coastal Australia. 11:30 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: INVESTING IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION Findings of a report identifying options for financing adaptation works. Presented by Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar, James Cook University and Dr David Rissik, General Manager, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. 12:00 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: THE COUNTRY GAME Australian rules football legend Kevin Sheedy discusses the contribution that regional Australia makes to the life of the nation and to Australian Rules Football. 12:30 Lunch 12:45 CONCURRENT SESSION ONE - FIELD TOUR Beachmere to Bribie (all afternoon) Hosted by Moreton Bay Regional Council this bus tour will provide information on coastal issues at sites along the Moreton Bay shoreline, including: Beachmere Seawall. Lake Exchange. Pacific Harbour tour. Woorim Beach Nourishment Program 13:30 CONCURRENT SESSION TWO - Community engagement and adaptation planning case studies Goolwa Beach car park and surrounds Best practice community engagement in a coastal context. Mr Simon Grenfell, Acting General Manager Infrastructure and Assets, Alexandrina Council 6
Participatory envisaging for wise coastal environmental offsets. Ms Toni Cannard, Ecological Economist and Coastal Ecologist, CSIRO Five tips for engaging communities in coastal climate change planning. Dr Claudia Baldwin, Associate Professor, Regional and Urban Planning, University of the Sunshine Coast Clarence City Council s coastal adaptation pathway. Mr Phil Watson, NRM Planning Officer, Clarence City Council 13:30 CONCURRENT SESSION THREE - Building the business case for adaptation Workshop to assist delegates to prepare the initial draft of a business case for adaptation. Led by Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar, James Cook University and Dr David Rissik, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility 15:00 Afternoon tea 15.30 CONCURRENT SESSION FOUR - CoastAdapt application and outcomes Workshop on the application of the CoastAdapt online tool to support coastal decision makers. Led by Dr David Rissik, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility 17:00 CONFERENCE DAY ONE CONCLUDES 18:30 WELCOME RECEPTION - Dress: Smart casual Sutton s Beach Pavilion 50 Marine Parade, Redcliffe THURSDAY 4 MAY 2017 - CONFERENCE DAY TWO 08:00 Registration opens. Tea and coffee available. 09:00 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: AUSTRALIA STATE OF ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2016: COASTS - Presented by Dr Graeme Clark, Evolution and Environment Research Centre at the University of NSW, Co-author of the chapter on Coasts in the latest State of Environment Report released on 7 March 2017 09:30 KEYNOTE SESSION: WHAT CAUSES CLUSTERS OF UNPROVOKED SHARK BITES? Presenter Dr Daryl McPhee, Head, Higher Degree Research at Bond University, outlines the findings of recent studies into unprovoked shark bites and mitigation measures. 10:00 KEYNOTE ADDRESS: A COORDINATED APPROACH TO MANAGING COASTAL HAZARDS Keynote address and discussion with Dr Steven Miles MP, Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection 10:30 Morning tea 11:00 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ACCOMMODATION CHALLENGE How can Australia s coastal councils respond? Presented by Professor Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at The University of Sydney. 11:30 COASTAL RESEARCH FORUM AND DISCUSSION: Presentations and panel discussion on the latest Australian coastal research projects. 7
12.00 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: KINGBOROUGH COUNCIL COMMUNITY RESILIENCE INITIATIVE Presented by Mr Donovan Burton, Principal, Climate Planning. 12:30 Lunch 12:45 CONCURRENT SESSION FIVE - FIELD TOUR (all afternoon) Sunshine Coast Development Hosted by Sunshine Coast Council this bus tour will provide information on local developments in the Sunshine Coast region including: Maroochydore Sun Central (New CBD) Sunshine Coast University Hospital Campus Development sites at Kawana, Caloundra South and Beerwah East, including proposed light rail. 13:30 CONCURRENT SESSION SIX Coastal Engineering Case Studies Woorim Beach shoreline erosion management. Mr David Meyer, Manager Engineering, Moreton Bay Regional Council. Beachmere Lake: Reviving the health of an urban tidal lake. Mr Allan Charteris, Coordinator Drainage, Waterways and Coastal Planning, Moreton Bay Regional Council. Using remote piloted aircraft for seawall condition assessment. Presenter Mr Shamim Yazdani, Senior Engineer Stormwater Planning, Moreton Bay Regional Council. Comparing coastal hazard vulnerability and risk identification approaches across Australia. Mr Andrew McCowan, Managing Director, Water Technology. 13:30 CONCURRENT SESSION SEVEN The short-term rental accommodation challenge Workshop on potential responses to the rapid growth in holiday rental listings on Airbnb, Stayz and similar platforms. Led by Prof Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at The University of Sydney 15:00 Afternoon tea 15:30 CONCURRENT SESSION EIGHT Walking Tour: Activating the Redcliffe Foreshore Moreton Bay Regional Council is finalising the Redcliffe Foreshore Master Plan and Activation Strategy. This work across the entire 14km Peninsula looks to strike the right balance between helping to support and grow our existing local businesses and creating new economic opportunities along the foreshore. Following a short presentation on this important work for Council, this walking tour will showcase some of the existing and highlight new opportunities for Council. Some of the tour highlights will include: Suttons Beach and Pavilion Redcliffe Lagoon Seaside Village upgrade Bees Gees Way 17:00 CONFERENCE DAY TWO CONCLUDES 19.00 GALA CONFERENCE DINNER including the presentation of the 2017 AUSTRALIAN COASTAL AWARDS Caribbean Room, Mon Komo Hotel, 99 Marine Parade, Redcliffe 8
FRIDAY 5 MAY 2017 - CONFERENCE DAY THREE 08:00 Registration opens. Tea and coffee available. 09:00 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO ESTIMATING TEMPORARY POPULATIONS IN AUSTRALIA Presented by Dr Elin Charles-Edwards, Lecturer in Human Geography at The University of Queensland. 09:30 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: ESTIMATING TEMPORARY POPULATIONS THE POWER OF AGGREGATED MOBILE DEVICE DATA Presented by Mr Andrew Howe, Demographer, and Ms Tricia Chester, Demographer, Australian Bureau of Statistics. 10.00 SESSION AND DISCUSSION: LOCATION INSIGHTS ON POPULATION MOVEMENTS FOR COUNCILS Presented by Mr Peter Hallowes and Mr Elliot Scali, specialists in measuring population movements through aggregated telecommunications data. 10:30 Morning tea 11:00 FINANCING PLANNED RETREAT: CAN LAND ACQUISITION BE MADE MORE AFFORDABLE? Presented by Mr John Watson, School of Law, University of South Australia ESTIMATING COASTAL AND MARINE NATURAL ASSET VALUES - Presented by Dr Sean Pascoe, team leader, CSIRO Marine Resource Economics team. AUSTRALIA S LOVE OF THE COAST ARE WE OVERDOING IT? Presented by Mr Oliver Moles, Director of Sustainable Development, Moyne Shire Council 12:00 FINAL SESSION AND 2017 CONFERENCE COMMUNIQUÉ Facilitated discussion to consider adoption of the 2017 Conference Communiqué 12:30 Lunch 13:30 CONFERENCE CONCLUDES 9
SUMMARY OF PRESENTATIONS CONFERENCE DAY ONE Wednesday, 3 May 2017 Welcome Barry Sammels, Chair Australian Coastal Councils Association It gives me great pleasure, on behalf of the Australian Coastal Councils Association, to welcome you to the Australian Coastal Councils Conference for 2017. This is an annual highlight of the year for the Association and its members and we are delighted that you have been able to join us. I have no doubt you will find the conference offers a wealth of information that is relevant to both you and to your organisation. One of the aims of this event is to provide an opportunity for the councils and other organisations attending to consider how to make sure that our coastal environment can be maintained for the benefit of current and future generations. As we know, the coastal zone is one of our most highly valued national assets, but it is under increasing pressure from a range of hazards more frequent and severe extreme weather events, widespread coastal erosion, projected sea level rise and other climate impacts. Our objective, as an association, is to make sure these hazards are dealt with effectively. But as the level of government with the lowest share of taxation revenue, local councils don t have the resources they need to adequately address all the challenges they are facing. How, for example, do councils find the enormous funds required to carry out the adaptation works needed to defend our communities from the hazards they are facing? We ll be hearing more about that in a session later this morning. There are other issues of vital concern for coastal communities that we will discussing: Later this morning, for instance, we ll have a look at what the future holds for Australia s coastal regions specifically, what are the social, economic and environmental challenges that our communities will be facing over the decades that lie ahead; And tomorrow, we ll hear why the latest assessment of the state of the Australia s environment reports that the environment in more populated coastal areas and urban growth areas is poor and deteriorating; Another issue we ll be looking at tomorrow is What effect does the rapid increase in listings on web-based holiday rental platforms, such as Airbnb and Stayz, have on coastal communities? 10
One important difference between this conference and most others, is that each year it has a focus on achieving outcomes.. As a result of conferences in previous years, for example: We commissioned a study to explore new methodologies for gathering data on tourists and other non-residents in coastal areas; We commissioned legal advice to help member councils to better manage their legal risks in relation to climate change policy; and We conducted a successful advocacy campaign to retain the national census in its existing form, when it was at risk of being scrapped and replaced by a series of sample surveys. Each one of these initiatives came about as a result of discussions that took place at our annual conference. And they clearly illustrate the benefits to be gained from collective action. At this point I would like to acknowledge the support we are receiving from the organisation who are making a substantial contribution to the staging of this event. I would like to specifically acknowledge: - Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism who are jointly hosting the event; I would also like to acknowledge our other major sponsor - the University of the Sunshine Coast. I would also like to acknowledge the support of Print Mail Logistics and the CSIRO. I welcome each and every one of you to this conference. Whether you re a representative of a coastal council, a coastal researcher, or a representative of the private sector, I invite you to share your ideas and experiences with one other as we work together to find sustainable solutions to the complex challenges facing our coastal communities. Thank you for joining us and I m confident you will find the time that you spend with us over the next few days will be of real value and benefit. CoastAdapt update and application Dr David Rissik, Deputy Director, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, provided an update on the development of the online tool CoastAdapt, which was developed by NCCARF to provide coastal councils and other coastal stakeholders with the skills, information and tools to support effective decisionmaking in relation to climate science and adaptation.dr Rissik said since being launched the tool has been widely used by planners, engineers, and elected representatives seeking information to help them address one of the biggest challenges facing Australia s coastal councils the risk associated with rising sea levels and more frequent and severe extreme weather events. 11
Coastal planning on the Coffs Coast Ms Sharon Smith, Section Leader Local Planning, Coffs Harbour City Council, presented a case study concerning a major challenge facing a growing number of coastal councils the problem of dealing with development proposals involving land identified as being at unacceptably high risk of flooding and inundation and significant environmental constraints. The case study provided an outline of how Coffs Harbour City Council had grappled for years with a number of residential zones created in the 1980s, where the landowners have had long-standing expectations that they would be allowed to develop their land to the full extent of the zone. Collaborating for Sustainable Tourism in a Coastal Region Ms Pip Close, CEO, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, presented a case study concerning the amalgamation of two tourism associations in the Margaret River region, located 250km south of Perth in Western Australia. Each Association operated two visitor centres, and they each received funding from their respective local municipality. They had operated in this way for 50 years, but there were serious concerns about the sustainability of the competitive model that had been established. An extensive review of the local tourism business operations was conducted, which led to a recommendation to create a single local tourism organisation - which was proposed to be largely independent of local government funding. What does the Future hold for Coastal Regions? Professor Tim Smith, Director of the Sustainability Research Centre at the University of Sunshine Coast, outlined the social, economic and environmental outlook for coastal Australia, which highlighted the challenges faced by coastal councils and their communities. These challenges include the prospect of rising sea levels, more frequent and severe extreme weather events, and other climate risks. Inevitably, these pose a threat to many of the things that are of vital importance to people their health, their homes, their jobs and the well being of their communities. The University of the Sunshine Coast was a major sponsor of the conference. Investing in Climate Change Adaptation Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar, Lecturer at the College of Science and Engineering at James Cook University, presented the findings of a study identifying options for financing adaptation works. The study had been conducted in conjunction with Dr David Rissik, Deputy Director of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. It dealt with one of the major challenges facing coastal councils, the challenge of sourcing the funding required to carry out adaptation works in preparation for projected sea level rise and other climate impacts. The costs can be substantial, and in the absence of adequate funding from state and federal governments, councils are searching for other viable options. The researchers identified that private sector investors are keen to invest in climate adaptation projects, but that there are a range of barriers currently preventing this type of financing. The research project was based on extensive interviews with representatives of institutional investors, bankers, insurers, consultants, advisors, legal experts and all levels of government. 12
The Country Game Mr Kevin Sheedy, the former Australian Rules Football player and coach, presented a speech concerning the Country Game, a feature match which he initiated between Essendon and Geelong to acknowledge the valuable contribution of people from regional Australia to Australian Rules Football and to the life of the nation. The 2017 Country Game was scheduled to be played at the MCG on Saturday, 13 May CONCURRENT SESSION ONE Beachmere to Bribie Field Tour This field tour was hosted by Moreton Bay Regional Council and provided commentary on coastal issues at sites along the Moreton Bay shoreline, including: Beachmere Seawall. Lake Exchange. Pacific Harbour tour. Woorim Beach Nourishment Program CONCURRENT SESSION TWO Community engagement and adaptation planning case studies Goolwa Beach car park and surrounds Best practice community engagement in a coastal context. Mr Simon Grenfell, Acting General Manager Infrastructure and Assets, Alexandrina Council Participatory envisaging for wise coastal environmental offsets. Ms Toni Cannard, Ecological Economist and Coastal Ecologist, CSIRO Five tips for engaging communities in coastal climate change planning. Dr Claudia Baldwin, Associate Professor, Regional and Urban Planning, University of the Sunshine Coast Clarence City Council s coastal adaptation pathway. Mr Phil Watson, NRM Planning Officer, Clarence City Council CONCURRENT SESSION THREE Building the business case for adaptation Workshop to assist delegates to prepare the initial draft of a business case for adaptation. Led by Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar, James Cook University and Dr David Rissik, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility CONCURRENT SESSION FOUR CoastAdapt application and outcomes Workshop on the application of the CoastAdapt online tool to support coastal decision makers. Led by Dr David Rissik, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility 13
CONFERENCE DAY TWO Thursday, 4 May 2016 Australia State of Environment Report 2016: Coasts Dr Graeme Clark, of the Evolution and Environment Research Centre at the University of NSW, presented the findings of the chapter on Coasts in the latest State of Environment Report. Dr Clark is co-author of the chapter. The latest assessment of the nation s environmental condition, released in March this year, reports that while our built, marine and Antarctic environments are generally in good condition, the state of the environment in more populated coastal areas and urban growth areas is poor and deteriorating. The report points out: Australia is bginning to see the impact of the pressures of climate change on our coasts, and pressures are expected to grow substantially in coming decades. These will add stress to systems that are already stressed by a range of human activities. What Causes Clusters of Unprovoked Shark Bites? Dr Daryl McPhee, Head, Higher Degree Research at Bond University, outlined the findings of recent studies into unprovoked shark bites and mitigation measures. A recently-released study into unprovoked shark bites sheds new light on these incidents, which indicates the trend of shark bites occurring in clusters is not completely random. The study, by Dr Blake Chapman and Dr Daryl McPhee at Bond University, finds there is no single cause for an increased number of shark bites, but that a number of factors are involved, some of them more relevant at specific locations than others. According to the 2016 Annual Report of the Australian Shark Attack File, which is kept at Toronga Zoo in Sydney, there were 26 unprovoked encounters between a human and a shark in 2016 2 of them resulting in fatalities and 16 resulting in injury. This number of unprovoked shark bites puts Australia among six global hot-spots for such encounters, the others being the US, South Africa, Brazil, Reunion Island and the Bahamas. A Coordinated Approach to Managing Coastal Hazards Mr John Lane, Director - Environment Planning, Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, provided an outline of the Queensland Government s $12 million fund to help councils undertake adaptation strategies to reduce vulnerability to coastal hazards, including accelerated coastal erosion and an increase in the areas affected by storm surge. The Short-term Rental Accommodation Challenge Professor Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at The University of Sydney, presented the findings of a survey of coastal councils on how they are responding to the rapid growth in the number of local premises listed on internet platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz. The questionnaire was developed by the Australian Coastal Councils Association in association with Professor Gurran, who is co-author of a study into the effectiveness of local planning controls in relation to properties listed on online holiday rental platforms. Some councils responding to the survey reported complaints from traditional holiday rental operators, such as hotels and bed and breakfast premises, that the properties listed through the online 14
platforms are not subject to the same level of regulation and inspections as traditional holiday accommodation venues. Growth in Short-term Holiday Rental Listings in Far North Queensland Mayor Julia Leu, of Douglas Shire Council, presented an outline of how the rapid growth in listings on Airbnb and similar platforms is affecting her community in Far North Queensland. Zero to Hero: The Climate Change Adaptation Planning Journey for Two Australian Coastal Councils Mr Donovan Burton, Principal of the consulting firm Climate Planning, made a presentation concerning the work being undertaken by the Whitsunday Regional Council in Queensland and Kingborough Council, in Tasmania to develop local climate adaptation strategies. The two councils have also decided to collaborate in the development of a Climate Change Innovation Lab. Donovan Burton said the lessons learnt from the projects were clear: developing and implementing a climate adaptation strategy required leadership and innovation. Working in collaboration with other local councils, for example through a Memorandum of Understanding, would greatly assist. The Whitsunday and Kingborough projects had received funding support through their respective state governments. Successful development of climate adaptation strategies also required community support: members of the local community need and want to be active participants in the projects. CONCURRENT SESSION FIVE Sunshine Coast Development Field Tour This field tour was hosted by Sunshine Coast Council and provided information on local developments in the Sunshine Coast region including: Maroochydore Sun Central (New CBD) Sunshine Coast University Hospital Campus Development sites at Kawana, Caloundra South and Beerwah East, including proposed light rail. CONCURRENT SESSION SIX Coastal Engineering Case Studies Woorim Beach shoreline erosion management. Mr David Meyer, Manager Engineering, Moreton Bay Regional Council. Beachmere Lake: Reviving the health of an urban tidal lake. Mr Allan Charteris, Coordinator Drainage, Waterways and Coastal Planning, Moreton Bay Regional Council. Using remote piloted aircraft for seawall condition assessment. Presenter Mr Shamim Yazdani, Senior Engineer Stormwater Planning, Moreton Bay Regional Council. Comparing coastal hazard vulnerability and risk identification approaches across Australia. Mr Andrew McCowan, Managing Director, Water Technology. 15
CONCURRENT SESSION SEVEN The short-term rental accommodation challenge Workshop on potential responses to the rapid growth in holiday rental listings on Airbnb, Stayz and similar platforms. Led by Prof Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at The University of Sydney CONCURRENT SESSION EIGHT Activating the Redcliffe Foreshore This guided walking tour was conducted by Moreton Bay Regional Council to showcase the highlights of the Redcliffe Foreshore Master Plan and Activation Strategy. This work, across the entire 14km Peninsula, seeks to strike the right balance between helping to support and grow existing local businesses and creating new economic opportunities along the foreshore. Some of the tour highlights will include: Suttons Beach and Pavilion Redcliffe Lagoon Seaside Village upgrade Bees Gees Way 19:00 - Gala Conference Dinner - Caribbean Room, Mon Komo Hotel, Redcliffe 16
CONFERENCE DAY THREE Friday, 5 May 2017 Towards an Integrated Approach to Estimating Temporary Populations in Australia Dr Elin Charles-Edwards, Lecturer in Human Geography at The University of Queensland, provided an outline of a study being undertaken at the University of Queensland, which is funded through an Australian Research Council linkage grant. The study is aimed at developing a new series of population estimates for Australian regions that will capture temporary population movement, and will complement existing estimates of resident populations. The study is of particular relevance to coastal councils, which experience significant population fluctuations at times such as the Christmas/ New Year holiday break and Easter, compared to the power number of people who are present in the community during winter. Estimating Temporary Populations The Power of Aggregated Mobile Device Data Mr Andrew Howe and Ms Tricia Chester, Senior Demographers with the Australian Bureau of Statistics made a joint presentation on some innovative work currently being conducted by officers at the Australian Bureau of Statistics to collect data on the number of people in specific localities at given points in time. The lack of temporary population estimates represents a significant data gap because of the lack of suitable and reliable data sources. Tricia and Andrew have been working together on regional populations in the ABS for many years and have developed expertise in estimating population change for all of Australia's regions. They are examining new and improved ways of developing meaningful and more relevant population data using mobile device data. Location Insights on Population Movements for Councils Mr Peter Hallowes and Mr Elliot Scali, specialists in measuring population movements through aggregated telecommunications data, made a presentation outlining how the collection of aggregated telecommunications data can be employed to drive models of population movements in specific locations. Can Land Acquisition be Made More Affordable? Mr John Watson, a PhD Candidate in the School of Law at the University of South Australia, made a presentation considering options for dealing with some major issues facing coastal councils, beginning with the question of how a council can finance the acquisition of land required required in the event of implementing a policy of planned retreat in response to rising sea levels and other climate impacts. Estimating Coastal and Marine Natural Asset Values Dr Sean Pascoe, team leader, CSIRO Marine Resource Economics team, presented the findings of a joint study by a research team at CSIRO with officers from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. The study used two different valuation techniques, one of which involved a survey of 1,400 NSW coastal residents, to develop a method for valuing assets involved in coastal planning, which are difficult to value using traditional methods. 17
Australia s Love of the Coast Are We Overdoing It? Mr Oliver Moles, Director of Sustainable Development at Moyne Shire Council in Victoria, made a presentation in which he suggested that as a community we should take a moment to reflect on our association with the coast and give it a health check. His presentation provided examples of how our attraction to the coast is causing a number of adverse impacts, including rapid population and housing growth, continuing increase in the number of tourists, and the impacts of growth on native flora and fauna. 2017 Conference communiqué Alan Stokes, of the Association, presented a draft Conference communiqué for delegates to consider. A copy of the draft communiqué, calling on the Australian Government to retain the national Census in its existing form, was endorsed unanimously by delegates. (The communiqué can be found at page 4 of this report). 18