Don't panic over sea risk to homes, says governmentt in Victoria

I wonder how reassuring this is. I wouldn't buy it. Brisbane Times (Australia): Victorians living on the coast should wait for detailed studies on rising sea levels, the state government says. Trying to avert panic over a recent Commonwealth report identifying areas under threat of inundation, Environment Minister Gavin Jennings said Victorian research would be more accurate.

The Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coasts report found up to 44,600 Victorian homes would be at risk from rising sea levels by the turn of the century. The findings are based on a sea level rise of up to 1.1 metres by 2100, and more extreme weather events. "We think that's a very broad brush approach, it's taking a 100 year horizon and it's actually taking a one in 100 year worst case scenario," Mr Jennings told reporters on Monday.

He said the state commissioned studies, set to be completed next year, would provide a more accurate picture of the impact of climate change on the Victorian coastline. "Our work, which is a very detailed, very thorough analysis, has a finer grain detail than what we've seen coming through the Commonwealth's research," Mr Jennings said.

"We need to have a close eye for what these impacts may be but let's not jump to the worst case scenario. Let's actually work through in a time sequence, in a detailed way ... if they're (Victorians) better informed then in fact they're more likely to account for this in a calm and rational and considered fashion." Mr Jennings said the Victorian studies involved aerial mapping at one metre intervals, whereas the Commonwealth research was every 20 metres….

A view across 5 Mile Beach in the northern part of Wilson's Prom. The photo is taken from near the top of the hill between the 5 Mile Beach camp and Johnny Souey Cove. Shot by Kauos, Wikimedia Commons, under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License