Tide slowly rising

By Bridget Brady
Federal Parliament last month released a report produced over about 18 months, looking at the impact of climate change on coastal areas.
Executive officer of the South East Councils’ Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) Greg Hunt appeared before a committee at the inquiry to provide expert evidence and told the News coastal villages such as Tooradin, Blind Bight, Cannons Creek and Warneet were some of the areas that might be affected by the sea level rise.
The report found the community faced a sea level rise of up to 50 centimetres by 2070 and 80 centimetres by 2100, Mr Hunt said.
Planning changes may occur in Casey’s coastal villages as a result of the findings, Mr Hunt said.
“If there is building on the coast there will possibly be restrictions placed on the kinds of buildings and where they will be located,” he said.
“We won’t have houses right on the primary dunes.”
The threat of a sea level rise has already seen the relocation of a caravan park and surf life saving club in the Victorian coastal town of Seaspray, Mr Hunt said.
It was now important that members of the coastal village community learned about some of the issues their towns could face, he said.
“We need members of the community to start thinking about how this affects them … this is not just your problem or my problem, it’s everyone’s problem.”
Casey’s environment manager Nicola Ward said the council would host workshops this month to provide information to the community on SECCCA climate change research. The dates of the workshops will be announced soon.
“We encourage residents to come along and participate in one of the workshops to learn more about climate change and share their views and concerns on this significant environmental issue,” Ms Ward said.
The council already uses existing Land Subject Inundation Overlay (LSIO) as a guide to planning in the coastal areas and Ms Ward said the council is reviewing the recent parliamentary committee report.
“It is important to note that climate change is a complex environmental issue confronting all levels of government and the key to tackling the uncertainties is co-operation between all levels of government, and with the community,” Ms Ward said.