Australian authorities veto a subdivision due to rising sea risk

ABC News (Australia): The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT ) has refused a subdivision at Waratah Bay in Gippsland because of the risk of sea-level rise. The South Gippsland Shire's Andrew McEwan says the decision is a landmark one for the region's planners, and will have many consequences. The Shire had recommended VCAT approve the Brown Street planning application.

Mr McEwan says the Shire will need significant assistance from the State and Federal governments to be able to address compensation in future cases. "We're certainly concerned, and we're engaged in conversations with the Government in terms of climate change and sealevel rise and its impact, but very clearly the studies need to be done on a comprehensive basis, across the whole Victorian coastline," he said. "And rural councils themselves, which are limited in resources, are not in a position to be able to finance these."….

The Gippsland Lakes in Victoria, Australia. Lakes Entrance is visible at the top right. Longford is just out of picture to the west. Shot from NASA