Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
and towns (COAG 2002; 2004; WHO 2009; Abel et al., 2011; Measham et
al
.
,
2011). In conjunction with building standards, public education, emergency
management plans and hazard reduction initiatives, planning can ensure that
new communities minimize exposure to climate change impacts and guide
redevelopment and urban in-fill to reduce where possible the exposure of existing
communities and infrastructure.
Not surprisingly, the incorporation of climate change impacts into land use
planning frameworks is a very recent phenomenon. As the following discussion
shows, there is also a wide variation in the extent and rigour of climate change
adaptation planning for different risks - for coastal hazards, new planning
measures are likely to cover the impacts associated with four degrees of warming,
whereas bushfire planning deals poorly the exacerbation of risk from climate
change. Projected increases in extreme heat events receive virtually no attention
in planning frameworks for urban Australia.
Coastal hazards
The impacts of sea level rise on coastal communities continue to dominate
adaptation planning activity (Parliament of Australia, 2009; Government
of Australia, 2010). Management is split across land use planning, coastal
management, climate change and emergency management sectors, as well as
between local, state and Commonwealth government (Harvey and Woodroffe,
2008; Norman 2009).
Despite the governance challenges that this regulatory fragmentation creates,
all Australian states have planning laws relating to coastal hazards generally. In
the past five years, most have introduced new provisions that enhance, elucidate
or partially replace existing provisions with measures aimed specifically at
hazards exacerbated by climate change and sea level rise, although recently some
states have begun to weaken or dismantle these measures. Most jurisdictions
have now adopted a planning benchmark for sea level rise (SLR) that guides
building heights and set-backs from erosion and inundation lines, and require
decision-makers to consider the effects of king tides and storm surge on higher
sea levels in calculating such set-backs. Areas calculated to be at high risk are
typically reflected in strategic planning instruments such as overlays or hazard
management plans and generally permit only very limited forms of development,
such as re-locatable or temporary dwellings and infrastructure.
The actual SLR benchmark differs across the country, ranging from 1.0m
above 1990 levels by 2100 in South Australia (State of SA, 1992), to 0.9m in
Western Australia (State of WA, 2010), to 0.8m in Northern Territory, Tasmania
sea level rise planning benchmark of 0.9 has recently been repealed, leaving
individual local councils with the ultimate discretion over what approach to
take (State of NSW, 2010; State of NSW, 2012). The asset life of proposed
developments is relevant in assessing the sea level rise benchmark that must
be followed. Some frameworks recognize that certain types of development
