An Italian expert in sea-level rise fortifications has warned his work should not be used to directly support Australian coastal projects.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The University of Florence’s Professor of Physical Geography and Geomorphology, Enzo Pranzini, attended the Coastal Conference in Ulladulla this month.
His presentation on engineering solutions used in Europe to protect coastlines from rising seas heartened Eurobodalla Shire Council delegate councillor Liz Innes.
Cr Innes told the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner she hoped Prof Pranzini could be persuaded to address the council and said his work offered hope for engineering solutions, as opposed to “planned retreat” from low-lying areas.
Prof Pranzini contacted the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner after that article was published, welcoming discussion on “shore protection”.
However, he said Europeans had made many errors.
“We have nothing to teach you, but you can learn a lot from our mistakes,” he said.
“I’m not an expert on the dynamics of Australia’s coast … therefore I cannot give indications on long-term strategies to be adopted.”
Prof Pranzini said “seawalls and groins” in Europe had caused the disappearance of beaches, and sand was needed to restore them.
He said it might be possible to build defences and replenish sand by mining the continental shelf.
However he warned against such mining for commercial gain and that rigorous environmental studies and safeguards would be needed.
He said retreat remained “the most wise option”, but he was open to considering “technical solutions”.
Such projects, he warned, must be carefully considered and were expensive.
“Planned retreat is surely the best solution, wherever it’s possible, considering defence costs over the longer period,” he said.
Prof Pranzini said affected home owners could be compensated by tax breaks or land grants.
Asked what he would want from governments if he lived “on low-lying land on the South Coast of NSW”, Prof Pranzini said governments and private citizens must accept responsibility for sea-level rise planning.
“Firstly, I should ask them to admit the mistake of authorising me to build there,” Prof Pranzini said.
“But for recent edifications, constructors and owners are responsible too, since the problem (has been) well known from at least the 1980s.
“Private (citizens) cannot pretend public money (should be) spent to pay for their mistakes.
“Being aware of this, they must collaborate as much as possible to find a due solution, accepting some penalisation.
“Environmentally friendly solutions are available.”