NSW Officials to Discuss Coastal Erosion

Coffs Harbor City Council has agreed to forward a Draft Coastal Hazard Planning Proposal to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for agreement for it to go on public exhibition in 2015.

The draft planning proposal follows the adoption in 2013 of a Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Coffs Harbor which addresses the potential risks to the coastline from coastal erosion and inundation up to the year 2100. The Plan incorporated forecast rise in sea level of 40cm above the 1990 mean sea level by 2050 and a rise of 90cm by 2100, which corresponds with the International Panel for Climate Change predictions.

The CZMP came up with 48 actions to address identified risks of erosion and inundation. These included beach and dune management, public assets management, environmental planning and further studies, monitoring and community education.

The actions also included updating Council’s Coastal Hazard Policy, revising planning controls within Council’s Development Control Plan 2013 and amending Council’s Section 149 Certificates to address development in the coastal zone.

“By revising and amending the existing planning controls we’ll ensure that relevant information is provided to property-owners and communities to ensure that future coastal development is more resilient to coastal hazards,” said Chris Chapman, Council’s Director City Planning.

“Under the proposed controls, we’ll require more information for any development proposed in a coastal hazard area. Such developments would have to demonstrate ways to deal with coastal hazards in design, layout and function. The aim is to cut the burden for future generations of protecting inappropriate development in areas subject to coastal hazards.”

The draft planning controls also look at properties and areas that are at most risk of inundation. Around 1,500 properties, commercial buildings, surf clubs and caravan parks are listed as being at risk at a range of timescales up to the year 2100.

After the public exhibition and revision of the draft planning controls, a final version of the documents will be adopted.

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Press Release