NEWSLETTER July 2016 EDITORIAL: Coastal policies of major parties inadequate By Barry Sammels Chair, Australian Coastal Councils Association and Mayor, City of Rockingham With the result of the 2016 Federal election yet to be finalised it is worth reflecting on the policy initiatives in relation to coastal managing and climate change that the major parties took to the election as part of their policy platform. In the lead-up to the election the Australian Coastal Councils Association approached each of the major parties seeking their commitment to developing a coordinated national approach to coastal management. Specifically, we asked them to support the coastal policy initiatives outlined in the communiqué adopted by delegates at the 2016 Australian Coastal Councils Conference, held at Rockingham WA in May. The communiqué proposed that the Australian Government, in cooperation with state, territory and local governments, develop an Intergovernmental Agreement on the Coastal Zone and that the Agreement forms the basis of a National Coastal Zone Policy and Strategy. While the two major parties - the Coalition and the ALP - indicated their broad coastal policy agendas, only the Greens directly expressed their support for the policy initiatives raised by the Australian Coastal Councils Association. Senator Larissa Waters, Deputy Leader of the Greens, and spokesperson on climate change, environment and biodiversity, advised that the proposals in the communiqué would have the Australian Greens full support. The Liberal-National Party Coalition highlighted the Government s investment of $9 million in the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, and the $23.9 million it is providing for the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub under the National Environmental Science Program. The Coalition also listed the funding it provides to the states and local government through the National Partnership Agreement on Natural Disaster Resilience. Meanwhile, the Australian Labor Party indicated its support for a national cooperative approach to the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Framework and Implementation Plan, and to the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience. The ALP also advised that if elected it would consider introducing specific grant funding for community coastal programmes. (Further details of these initiatives can be found on page 2 of this newsletter). These commitments are welcome, but the Australian Coastal Councils Association believes they are inadequate given the scale and complexity of the challenges facing coastal councils. In our view there is an urgent need for a coordinated national effort to tackle coastal erosion and the measures required to prepare for more frequent extreme weather events and climate change impacts. The NSW Government recently called for a national approach, national funding and national leadership on coastal management (See story page 4). We strongly endorse this approach, which we believe would be supported by other State governments. As far as the Australian Coastal Councils Association is concerned there is an urgent need for national funding to help coastal councils and landowners deal with coastal hazards including coastal erosion and projected climate change impacts.
The major parties key coastal policy initiatives Liberal-National Coalition NCCARF Investment - The Coalition Government has invested $9 million in the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) to support coastal communities attempting to deal with climate impacts. NCCARF has developed a web-based tool, called CoastAdapt, which is designed to help coastal councils manage the risks associated with sea level rise and other climate impacts. Environmental Science Funding - The Coalition has provided $23.9 million for an Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub under the National Environmental Science Program. The initiative is aimed at improving understanding of coastal and climate processes. It will provide coastal planners, developers and decision makers with information needed to minimise current and future risks. Natural Disaster Resilience - The Coalition allocates $26 million annually to the states and local government through the National Partnership Agreement on Natural Disaster Resilience to invest in disaster resilience projects. The projects are prioritised by the states in accordance with state-wide natural disaster risk assessments. States are responsible for providing funds to match the Commonwealth funding. Australian Labor Party National Cooperative Approach - Labor supports a national cooperative approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management Framework and Implementation Plan. Labor indicates that in government, it would carefully consider the outcomes of the Plan to date and consider what further steps are needed to improve integrated coastal zone management. Coastal hazards Labor would continue to implement the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience which identifies priority areas to build disaster resilience in Australian communities. Mitigation is vital in preventing loss of life and damage to property caused by natural disasters. Labor would work with the States and Territories to ensure national, state and local disaster plans, strategies and program funding reflect this. Funding for community coastal programs Labor says a Shorten Labor Government would provide certainty of direct Federal Government support to local government. If elected, Labor would consider whether specific community coastal programs require funding and support and if a specific grant funding round is required. The Australian Greens Coordinated National Approach to Coastal Management Senator Larissa Waters, the Greens spokesperson on climate change, environment and biodiversity, says the Greens support the proposals in the 2016 Australian Coastal Councils Conference Communiqué. The Communiqué calls for the Australian Government to play a national leadership role in relation to coastal management by developing an Intergovernmental Agreement on the Coastal Zone and that the Agreement forms the basis of a National Coastal Zone Policy and Strategy. Living with Global Warming initiative The Greens have announced a Living with Global Warming initiative, which includes a proposal to fund natural disaster preparedness, continued funding for the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, and funding to support state and local governments to plan for sea level rise. 2
ALGA National General Assembly calls for Intergovernmental Agreement on Coastal Zone Coastal councils attending the ALGA National General Assembly in Canberra from 19 to 22 June submitted a motion calling on delegates to support a proposal to establish an Intergovernmental Agreement on the Coastal Zone. The motion was submitted by Bega Valley Shire Council (NSW), Eurobodalla Shire Council (NSW) and East Gippsland Shire Council (VIC), and supported by Shoalhaven City Council (NSW). It was passed unanimously. The motion as adopted by delegates reads as follows: That the National General Assembly call on the Australian Government to develop an Intergovernmental Agreement on the Coastal Zone in consultation with 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. Michael Britten, Mayor of Bega Valley Shire Council and a NSW representative on the Australian Coastal Councils Association Committee of Management, said the objective of the motion is to promote a collaborative national approach to coastal zone management. The coast is one of Australia s most highly valued and productive social, economic and environmental assets, but there is a lack of consistency between the current approaches to coastal policy and management adopted by the Australian, State, Territory and local governments, he said. An effective partnership between the three tiers of government, which clarifies their roles and responsibilities in relation to coastal zone management, is required to ensure coastal Australia can achieve a sustainable and prosperous future by withstanding the projected impacts of climate change. He said the motion was consistent with the National General Assembly theme Partners in an Innovative and Prosperous Australia. It is also consistent with ALGA s key priorities for local government in 2016-17, in particular the priority calling for support for councils to work with local businesses to implement local and regional climate change plans. Motions that are agreed to at the National General Assembly become Resolutions. These Resolutions are then considered by the ALGA Board when setting national local government policy and when the Board is making representations to the Federal Government at Ministerial Councils, during meetings and in ALGA publications. The publication Climate change risks to Australia's coast: a first pass national assessment, released in 2009 by the former Department of Climate Change, projected that approximately 247,000 existing residential properties in coastal areas, valued at up to $63 billion, are at risk of inundation resulting from a sea level rise of 1.1m. This is in addition to assets such as roads, schools, hospitals, power stations and commercial properties. Michael Britten said as matters currently stand, coastal councils are at the forefront of responding to these risks but are ill-equipped to respond appropriately to the challenges involved. The vertical fiscal imbalance in the Australian federation means that councils lack the funding required for effective adaptation measures. They also lack appropriate policy guidance in many jurisdictions, he said. 3
NSW Planning Minister Calls for National Funding to Deal with Coastal Erosion The NSW Planning Minister, Rob Stokes, has called for national funding to help coastal councils and landowners deal with the impact of coastal erosion. Speaking after the recent severe storm which caused extensive damage to beachside properties at Collaroy, on Sydney s northern beaches, Mr Stokes told The Australian the fate of tens of millions of dollars of homes hangs in the balance. The NSW Government has recently committed $83 million to assist with management of the state s coastline, including funding for mitigation of future coastal risks and hazards, but has now called for the federal government to be involved. Speaking in Parliament in support of a new coastal management bill for NSW, he called for a national approach, national funding and national leadership on coastal management. While it is important that States provide for integrated coastal zone management, as we do in this bill, we recognise that the challenges faced by coastal communities are real, Mr Stokes said. It is important that each State reflects carefully on its coastal management legislative and policy frameworks and on the need for national consistency in approaches around coastal planning. The Northern Beaches Council, where most of the recent storm damage occurred in Sydney, is likely to make application for funds from the $83 million coastal package announced by the Minister to build a sea wall at Collaroy. At this stage there are no clear guidelines on how the costs of adaptation works are to be split between councils and coastal property owners. It is likely, however, that the property owners will be required to contribute a major share of the costs involved in defending their homes. NSW Government sources told The Australian that public money would be used only where coastal protection measures benefit public assets, such as roads, schools and hospitals. The Queensland state government also recently announced a $12 million fund to help councils in coastal areas safeguard their communities from the impacts of climate change. State Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said the science is clear that a sea level rise of 0.8 metres is expected by 2100 and that cyclone intensity is likely to increase and possibly track further south more often. Barry Sammels, Chair of the Australian Coastal Councils Association, said it was encouraging to see the NSW and Queensland state governments provide practical support to coastal communities which need to implement works to minimise the impact of coastal hazards. He said these initiatives should be at least matched by the Federal Government because the task of managing and caring for the nation s 36,000kms of coastline is too big for the States and local government to address without additional support from the Federal Government. The three levels of government need to work together to ensure the sustainability of Australia s unique coastal assets, he said. 4
IN BRIEF NCCARF launches on-line Ask an Expert forum on climate adaptation The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) is launching a service to enable coastal planners, engineers and decision-makers to put questions relating to coastal adaptation to a panel of relevant experts. The panel is being established to support the new NCCARF web-based tool, called CoastAdapt, which is designed to help coastal councils manage risks associated with sea level rise and other climate impacts. During the design phase for the web tool users told NCCARF they would welcome the opportunity to network with peers to exchange adaptation knowledge, news and experiences. Delegates at the Climate Adaptation 2016 conference, being held in Adelaide from 5 to 7 July, will have the opportunity to navigate the CoastAdapt site and experience what it has to offer. More information is available at CoastExchange. Research shows seagrass reduces impact of coastal erosion Research conducted by students at the University of Western Australia has found that dense seagrass can reduce the height of waves by 10-20%, thereby reducing the impact of coastal erosion. Earlier this year a group of 65 students from the Oceans Institute at the university investigated the effect of surviving patches of Posidonia croiacea seagrass on wave height at Middleton Beach, Albany, in the state s south-west. The seagrass, which has long, thick, leathery leaves, is widespread along the West Australian coast, particularly in areas with strong wave action. The students calculated the average wave height in areas of dense and patchy seagrass and compared it to the wave height in areas that had no vegetation. They observed that the seagrass blades absorbed some of the energy from the moving water, which in turn reduced the wave impact on the beach. They also observed that patches of seagrass create a shoal-like effect, which traps sand and sediment at the floor of the ocean. This makes the water shallower and as a result the waves break further out from the shoreline, reducing the impact of coastal erosion during storms. NSW Government approves plan to manage coastal erosion at Lennox Head NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has approved a Coastal Zone Management Plan to manage coastal erosion at Lennox Head on the state s north coast. Erosion at Lennox Head has been recognised as a major issue, and the NSW Government is determined to ensure this is managed and the community and environment are protected, he said. The plan includes upgrading the Lennox Head seawall to protect a nearby road and other public facilities. It also includes investigations into beach nourishment and ongoing monitoring at the site. Ballina Shire Mayor, David Wright, told The Echo the plan had taken quite a while to develop, and now it was approved would be used to attract grants from the state government. The council could not possibly afford to do these works, but we have applied to the Office of Environment and Heritage for funding, he said. The go-ahead for the plan follows a recent decision by the NSW Government to commit $83.6 million to management of the NSW coastline, including funding for the mitigation of future coastal risks and hazards. ASSOCIATION CONTACT DETAILS TEL 03 9399 8558 ADDRESS PO Box 550, Williamstown VIC 3016 EMAIL info@coastalcouncils.org.au WEB www.coastalcouncils.org.au 5