Coastal Hazard Draft Policy Approved for Exhibition

At tonight's development committee meeting, Council adopted a draft policy to deal with rising sea levels and coastal development. The plan was given a last minute name change removing the word hazard in an attempt to soften the blow.


Over the last 18 months or so Council has been conducting studies into areas of high risk which includes the Millionaires row at Mollymook beach, testing for vulnerability when it comes to sea level rise and climatic change. Consultants UmWelt have come back with a report that includes some hazard mapping with indicators for the years 2025,2050 and 2100. These line's were revised to reflect the adopted draft position of the NSW State Government which has a 40cm rise by 2050 and 90cm rise by 2100.

So what does it all mean.

Basically, the plan extinguishes building rights on land that is seaward of the 2025 line. This land is classified as HIGH RISK and when you look at it you can see why. It is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of storm surges. Dunes with a good vegetation mix could help in mitigating the impacts, and is one of the recommended actions within the report.

Anything land-ward of the 2025 line has some building opportunities but these have been reduced and had new controls put in place.

Like many places around the state (not just coastal) some properties are devaluing due to climate change.

As a farmer who has been dealing with drought over the last 7 years we have been working with the Department of Primary Industries and CSIRO on adapting our business to suit climate change.

Like drought, knowledge of rising sea levels is not something that has occurred overnight, but has been solidly in the public eye for the last 10 years. Councils now have a duty of care to produce adaptation plans for their regions.

I decided to research the changes in ownership along millionaires row and was surprised to find property changing hands for premium prices as little as 8 months ago in these high risk areas. This area has been attracting the million + price tag since 2004, the buyer beware alarm bells should surely be ringing in such low lying coastal areas.

It was around 2004 that a good friend of mine decided to sell her low lying lake front property at a reduced price because of her concerns about climate change.

Low lying areas are suffering world wide from rising sea levels, farmers in NSW have been living with reduced income and land devaluation because of climate change induced drought. Island Nations are feeling the impacts keenly.