A MORUYA-based coastal hazards professor has called on the Eurobodalla to adopt precautions recommended in the recent sea-level rise report.
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The University of Sydney’s Professor Andrew Short lives in Moruya and is a member of Eurobodalla Shire Council’s coastal management advisory committee.
He directs his university’s coastal studies unit and conducts research into Australia’s beach and barrier systems.
He is also a member of the NSW Coastal Panel and is the national coordinator of the Australian Beach Safety and Management Program, in co-operation with Surf Life Saving Australia.
Professor Short has supported the recommendations of the independent consultants who were commissioned jointly by the Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven councils to provide sea-level rise planning benchmarks.
The Whitehead & Associates and Coastal Environment report said coastal councils should plan for a 260mm rise in sea levels by 2050, under the highest of four risk assessments.
They said the councils should expect a rise of 980mm by 2100 if the world’s nations failed to adequately curb carbon emissions.
Prof Short has written to Eurobodalla general manager Dr Catherine Dale supporting the report.
He said his support was based on his “active involvement in research into the coastal impacts of climate change, including its impacts on sea-level, wave climates and tide range”.
He endorsed the view that “local councils cannot ignore future sea-level rise”.
He supported the finding of “a continuing upward trend in mean sea-level of the past 20 years, with a (straight line) trend of between 3.3 and 4.5mm per year”.
He also endorsed the principle that “the future adverse consequences of adopting a sea-level rise projection that is too low are more severe than through adopting a projection that is too high”.
Prof Short urged the council to accept the report’s recommendation to establish coastal hazard planning areas.
Under that scheme, areas would be defined by whether they were likely to be at risk within the next 15 years or in the longer term.
Prof Short said the council should plan for the highest level of risk contained in the report.
“By adopting the above coastal planning hazard areas, together with RCP 8.5 (highest) sea-level projections, council will be acting in a responsible way to the present and projected hazards,” he said.
“It will enable council and resident to plan for the future in a way that both recognises the present and projected hazards, as well as not unnecessarily quarantining areas of potential development.”