COASTAL MANAGEMENT FORUM
The Coastal Management Forum held in Brisbane on 28 and 29 July provided insights into the key issues facing Australia’s coastal decision-makers, planners and managers, including an update on the latest demographic data and advances in knowledge of the potential impact of climate change on coastal communities. The Forum was organised by the National Sea Change Taskforce with major input from the Australian Department of Climate Change, CSIRO, GHD and the Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning.
FORUM REPORT
The report of proceedings of the Coastal Management Forum – Click here
PRESENTATIONS
Responding to Coastal Growth
Alan Stokes, National Sea Change Taskforce, outlined the key issues facing Australia’s coastal councils and communities and provided an update on how these challenges are being addressed – Click here
Planning for Population Change
Coastal areas and their communities are at the forefront of population change in Australia. Not only have these areas had consistently higher rates of growth than the national average. They are also at the forefront of other demographic changes, such as the ageing of the Australian population.
Andrew Howe, Senior Demographer, Aust. Bureau of Statistics – Click here
Lindsay Enright, Executive Director, QLD Dept. of Infrastructure and Planning – Click here
Marcus Mulholland, Group Manager Planning, GHD – Click here
Climate Change – Current State of Knowledge
Dr Andrew Ash, Director, CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship, provides an update on the current state of scientific knowledge about climate change and its impact on the Australian coastline – Click here
Planning for Climate Change
Coastal towns have always been vulnerable to extreme weather events. Rapid urban expansion due to growing populations and tourism in new and existing coastal settlements means that major storms and floods now affect many more people and pose an increased threat to coastal infrastructure and industries.
Assoc Prof Nicole Gurran, The University of Sydney– Click here
Robert Preston, QLD Dept of Infrastructure and Planning – Click here
Stella Whittaker, Principal Sustainability and Climate Change Adviser, GHD – Click here
Assoc Prof Tim Smith, University of the Sunshine Coast – Click here
Queensland’s Coastal Environment
The natural landscapes, habitat and biodiversity of the coastal zone are among the major attractions that continue to draw new residents to the coast. But paradoxically, the strong appeal of the coastal environment represents a threat to the sustainability of the coastal zone.
John Lane, QLD Environmental Protection Agency – Click here
Mike Berwick, Chair, Terrain NRM
Dr Bill de la Mare, CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship
The Coastal Infrastructure Challenge
In many coastal areas, infrastructure such as roads, water supply, sewerage, stormwater, bridges and energy services are stretched to the limit following a prolonged period of population growth. This situation is compounded by the lack of capacity to finance these shortfalls through existing sources, such as grants, rates and developer contributions.
Ross Fryar, Business Manager, Water & Environment, GHD – Click here
Anne Moffat, QLD Department of Infrastructure and Planning – Click here
Greg Stuart, Queensland Coastal Councils Group – Click here
