House of Representatives Committees

| House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts

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Managing our coastal zone in a changing climate: the time to act is now

26 October 2009

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Preliminary Pages	(PDF 172KB)
Foreword Membership of the Committee Committee Secretariat Terms of reference List of recommendations

Chapter 1 Introduction	(PDF 193KB)
Key coastal issues Environmental impacts Governance arrangements Previous coastal inquiry reports Outcomes of previous coastal inquiries Changing climate and changed policy framework Integrated coastal zone management and the catchment-coast-marine continuum Support for a coastal zone inquiry International context Regional issues Other matters A note on the report structure

Chapter 2 Climate change and the coastal zone: the science and the impacts	(PDF 762KB)
Introduction Recent developments in climate change science Research findings since the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report Kyoto Protocol and future international climate change negotiations Reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and helping shape a global solution Climate change science and the coastal zone Rising sea levels, melting ice and increasing frequency of extreme sea level events Ocean acidification, higher ocean temperatures and changing ocean currents National climate change science policy and programs relevant to the coastal zone Department of Climate Change Conclusion Continued investment in research National coordination of research Improved communication of research outcomes

Chapter 3 Climate change and the coastal zone: adaptation strategies and practices to promote resilience	(PDF 906KB)
Introduction COAG National Climate Change Adaptation Framework Coastal adaptation in the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework National Coastal Vulnerability Assessment—the ‘first pass’ assessment Digital elevation modelling National shoreline mapping: the ‘Smartline’ project Assessing the vulnerability of coastal biodiversity Case studies Australian Government and coastal climate change adaptation programs in the coastal zone Climate Change Adaptation Skills for Professionals Program Local Adaptation Pathways Program National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility CSIRO—Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship Role of state and local government in climate change adaptation in the coastal zone Concluding remarks Other themes identified in the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework relevant to the coastal zone Health in coastal communities Coastal industry Coastal disaster and emergency management Coastal infrastructure Coastal Indigenous communities

Chapter 4 Key emerging issues: insurance, planning and legal matters relating to the coastal zone	(PDF 761KB)
Introduction Climate change and coastal insurance issues Gaps in insurance coverage for the coastal zone Insurance industry recommendations to government Conclusion Climate change and coastal planning issues State coastal planning policies State sea level rise planning benchmarks and risk management framework National building standards Local government coastal adaptation policies Conclusion Climate change and coastal legal issues Preventing future harm Improving the statutory framework Broader indemnification for local authorities? National consistency of information and mandatory risk information disclosure Recent cases relating to climate change impacts on the coast Existing coastal development and concerns of individual property holders Conclusion

Chapter 5 Sustainable coastal communities and environmental impacts on the coastal zone	(PDF 1378KB)
Introduction Current environmental governance arrangements Ecologically sustainable development and integrated coastal zone management Role of other stakeholders in environmental management of the coastal zone Coastal population growth and demographic change National environmental policy and programs relating to the coastal zone National Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management: Framework and Implementation Plan Caring for our Country program National Reserve System and the coastal zone Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the coastal zone State of the Environment reports Independent review of EPBC Act Coastal World Heritage areas Coastal Ramsar sites and other wetlands Migratory and resident shorebirds Environmental impacts on coastal and marine biodiversity Coastal development and population impacts on coastal and marine biodiversity Land and marine based sources of pollution Climate change impacts on coastal and marine biodiversity Natural Resource Management bodies Socioeconomic issues related to the coastal zone National Sea Change Taskforce National sustainability policies and programs relating to coastal communities Building sustainable coastal communities

Chapter 6 Governance arrangements and the coastal zone	(PDF 1235KB)
Introduction Existing coastal governance arrangements Issues regarding coastal governance arrangements Current Australian Government role in coastal zone management State and territory role in coastal zone management Victorian Coastal Strategy Local government role in coastal zone management Call for national leadership in coastal zone management Local government perspectives Stakeholder involvement and community skills, knowledge and engagement Communication and information sharing Other models for coastal zone management Dr Wescott: national coastal policy Professor Thom’s five-step model Australian Network of Environmental Defender’s Offices Regional planning A new model for coastal zone management Intergovernmental Agreement on the Coastal Zone

Appendix A: Inquiry process	(PDF 61KB)

Appendix B: List of submissions	(PDF 59KB)

Appendix C: List of witnesses	(PDF 101KB)

Appendix D: List of exhibits	(PDF 119KB)

Appendix E: List of abbreviations	(PDF 66KB)

Appendix F: State and territory coastal governance arrangements	(PDF 337KB)