Climate Change
Local Climate Change Impacts
The NSW Government commissioned the CSIRO to prepare climate change reports for regional NSW, including one for the North Coast Region.
These documents can be viewed at  www.environment.nsw.gov.au/climatechange/nswreports.htm.
Reducing Local Emissions
Since 2003 Tweed Shire Council has used the Local Action Plan for Greenhouse Gas Reduction to monitor and reduce emissions from its own operations while providing education and support for community emission reduction. Examples of these greenhouse gas abatement initiatives can be found to the left under ‘Council Operations’ and ‘Community Initiatives’.
Climate Change Adaptation
Preparing Australia for the unavoidable impacts of climate change is imperative. Australia’s climate is clearly changing and increasing temperatures, sea level rise, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent and intense extreme climatic events are likely. Many Australian sectors and systems are highly vulnerable to climate change, including the functions and responsibilities of Australian local governments.
Source: Climate Change Adaptation Actions for Local Government, Australian Government Department of Climate Change, 2009
Actions for Councils
The Australian Government has prepared a report to support local government responses to climate change adaptation.
This report is available at www.climatechange.gov.au/publications/local-govt/local-government.aspx
Coastline Management
In the 20th century, the global average sea level rose by 17 cm and sea levels are projected to continue to rise. There is strong national and international evidence supporting a projected rise of up to 40 cm by 2050, and 90 cm by 2100, for the NSW coastline.
Coastal land has been subject to natural coastal hazards for thousands of years, including coastal erosion and coastal flooding. Projected sea level rises will increase these hazards, and NSW needs to plan now for these long-term impacts to minimise social and economic disruption.
To support sea level rise adaptation, the NSW Government has prepared a Draft Sea Level Rise Policy Statement. This sets out the Government's approach to sea level rise, the risks to property owners from coastal processes and assistance that Government provides to councils to reduce the risks of coastal hazards.
The draft Policy Statement includes sea level planning benchmarks which have been developed to support consistent consideration of sea level rise in land-use planning and coastal investment decision-making. The adopted benchmarks are for a rise relative to 1990 mean sea levels of 40 cm by 2050 and 90 cm by 2100. These benchmarks represent the Government's guidance on sea level rise projections for use in decision-making and are not regulatory standards.
Source: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/climateChange/sealevel.htm
For up-to-date information on Tweed Shire Council’s response to Coastline Hazard Management and the NSW Government’s Draft Sea Level Rise Policy Statement contact the Natural Resource Management Unit on 02 6670 2400.
Floodplain Management
Since 1987 a sea level of 2.65m AHD has been used for Flood Modelling in Tweed Shire. This level is around 0.4m higher than the seal level adopted by adjoining Councils.
Although the 0.4m was adopted for reasons other than climate change (overestimation of storm surge etc compared to later work), it now gives Tweed flood modelling a built in allowance for sea level rise due to climate change.
In October 2008, the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) issued a guideline for incorporating climate change variables into flood studies. The guideline recommends the following variables be modelled in flood studies to examine the impacts of climate change.
For sea level rise:
- 0.18m (Low Level Ocean Impacts)
- 0.55m (Mid Range Ocean Impacts)
- 0.91m (High Level Ocean Impacts)
For increased rainfall intensity:
- 10% in peak rainfall and storm volume
- 20% in peak rainfall and storm volume
- 30% in peak rainfall and storm volume
The modelling analyses is to inform the Floodplain Risk Management Study process, by identifying areas that are susceptible to increased flood levels and risk due to climate change.
The Floodplain Risk Management Study is then to formulate responses to this increased risk which could include:
- Revised flood planning (floor heights, fill heights) levels, building additional Floodways and levees or
- Accepting increased frequency of inundation, loss of residential freeboard and increased flood damages
Council resolved in 2008 to:
- Incorporate climate change variables into the revision of the 2005 Tweed Valley Flood Study
- Incorporate the results of this modelling into the Tweed Valley Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan
- Address climate change variables in the Coastal Creeks Flood Study
For up-to-date information on floodplain management in response to climate change impacts and DECC guidelines contact Council’s Engineering and Operations Division on 02 6670 2400.
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