Tasmanian Government press release: The Minister for Climate Change, Cassy O’Connor today sympathised with Clarence City Council residents who suffered the effects of coastal erosion and storm surge over the last few days, and outlined the positive steps the government is taking to address the issue of sea level rises.Ms O’Connor said that it was now well understood that the impacts of climate change would mean higher frequency extreme weather events leading to more severe coastal erosion and sea level inundation. “The Tasmanian Government is committed to working with local councils to support them to adapt to the effects of climate change,” Ms O’Connor said.
“Our Climate Adaptation Unit within the Tasmanian Climate Change Office is working closely with Tasmania’s 12 southern councils, including Clarence, as part of the Local Government Reform Fund, with the Australian Government providing $400,000 to oversee the Future Proofing pilot program to assist the councils to prepare the evidence base needed to make good, long term decisions about planning schemes and protection from coastal hazards.
“Another Tasmanian project to develop flexible coastal adaptation pathways for local communities will receive funding from the Australian Government’s Coastal Adaptation Decisions Pathways program.... “The Climate Adaptation Unit is also working with the Tasmanian Planning Commission to look at coastal vulnerability in drafting future policy statements, planning principles, benchmarks for coastal inundation, sea level rise, and storm surge...
Seven Mile Beach in Southeastern Tasmania, shot by Flying Freddy, Wikimedia Commons, nder the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
1 comment:
How long do the residents of Lauderdale have to wait for some positive action and announcement of a coastal protection plans from the Clarence City COuncil and the State Government? Having an intention to do something is different to doing it. The local government have been great at showing intention with sewer, infrastructure, parks, and most importantly erosion for the Rate Payers of Lauderdale but have do not appear to invest in the futures of this community. This community needs action not words and more "impact studies" "position statements" and spin doctoring. We need to think about what we are leaving for our future generations by showing some leadership. How do you eat an Elephant? one bit at a time. If the authorities had started to take some positve action 10 to 15 years ago most of the work would have been done. Jock Campbell stated last year that "If we alter the area here in any way there is a potential for our council and in fact any other council around Tasmania to be liable for potential damage that may occur as a flow on from that, if and it could ever be proved," (ABC news). I believe it is inaction that is more likely to end up in legal action. I thank Ms O'Connor for taking a positive step in opening up discussion to allow the community to have a say. I understand the week end events are a 1 in 20 year event however, the damage could have been lessened along Frederick Henry Bay had there been a containment wall.
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