The Association’s Committee of Management has announced that the 2019 Australian Coastal Councils Conference is to be hosted by Kiama Municipal Council on the NSW south coast from 6 to 8 March next year.

Chair Barry Sammels said the members of the Committee were excited at the prospect of holding the 2019 event at Kiama. “It will be the first time we have held our conference on the NSW south coast and I know it will be a very popular destination with delegates,” he said.

The Kiama region is positioned between the Illawarra escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, and has exceptional natural features, including outstanding local beaches, rainforests, rivers and waterfalls.

It also has the advantage of being located on the national transport corridor, with Sydney Airport 90-minutes away by car and Canberra, only a 2½ hour drive away. The area provides a broad range of coastal case studies, and another benefit is that most venues and accommodation options are located centrally, within walking distance from each other.

Registration for the event will open within the coming weeks and details of the conference venues and program will be announced shortly. The Association is currently calling for abstracts for papers for the event.

The conference organisers invite suggestions on potential topics and/or presenters for the event. For more information email: info@coastalcouncils.org.au

Call for papers now open – click here

Further details including the program will be added as they become available.

Delegates attending the 2018 Australian Coastal Councils Conference at Geelong, from 21 to 23 March, adopted a Communiqué calling on the Australian Government to support initiatives by councils to develop and implement coastal climate adaptation plans.

The delegates issued the Communiqué in response to climate change hazards which represent a clear and imminent threat to communities and regions throughout Australia. This issue affects all councils but has particular relevance for those in coastal areas which are responsible for the management of the nation’s 36,000 kms of coastline.

As pointed out in the Communiqué, local government is at the forefront of addressing these hazards and is well-positioned to coordinate adaptation initiatives but due to the vertical fiscal imbalance in the Australian federation, councils require additional support and resources in order to respond effectively to these risks.

Click here for Communiqué

The report and presentations from the 2018 Australian Coastal Councils Conference, held at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre from 21 to 23 March 2018, are now available at the following url –  https://coastalcouncilsconference.org.au/reports/

The report includes a copy of the final program for the event, together with the Conference Communiqué and links to the PowerPoint presentations.

Association Chair, Barry Sammels, said the feedback from delegates at the event had been very positive. “They particularly liked the venue, the choice of topics, and the keynote speakers,” he said. “They also commented very favourably on the field trips.”

The winners of the 2018 Australian Coastal Awards were announced at the Australian Coastal Councils Conference, held at the City of Greater Geelong, Victoria, on Thursday 22 March.

Barry Sammels, Chair of the Australian Coastal Councils Association, said the Awards were established to acknowledge the achievement of individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution to the Australian coastal environment, settlements and sustainability.

“The Awards are intended to raise community awareness of the importance of the coastal zone and to encourage coastal planning and management practitioners to strive for excellence,” he said.

Barry Sammels said the standard of nominations for the 2018 Australian Coastal Awards was particularly high.

Winners of the awards were:

• Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (VIC) for the nomination of the Natural Systems Team, which won the Australian Coastal Award for Community Engagement.
• The City of Greater Geelong (VIC) and the Borough of Queenscliffe (VIC) for the nomination of the ‘Our Coast’ program, which won the Australian Coastal Award for Climate Adaptation
• Glenelg Shire Council for the nomination of ‘Growing Beaches‘: Sand Harvesting Techniques, which was awarded a Commendation for Planning and Management.
• Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (VIC) for the nomination of the Rye Township Plan, which won the Australian Coastal Award for Planning and Management.

Barry Sammels said the judges had also decided to present a Special Award for Individual Achievement to Rosemary Birney OAM, President of the South Sea Foreshore Reserve Committee, at Somers.  “They further recommended that this additional category be added to the Coastal Awards in future years,” he said.

“Australia has one of the longest coastlines in the world – more than 36,000kms – but it faces many challenges,” Barry Sammels said. “These include coastal erosion, the impact of extreme weather, and loss of coastal environment due to rapid urbanisation.

“Fortunately, Australia has a number of dedicated people and organisations who are passionate about safeguarding the coast for future generations. The Australian Coastal Awards are aimed at acknowledging their efforts.”

Winners – 2018 Australian Coastal Awards

Award for Community Engagement

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (VIC) – Natural Systems Team

The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s Natural Systems Team has worked in partnership with the Friends Group Network on the peninsula for more than 20 years. The Team currently has 61 Friends Groups registered, with 21 of the groups working on the peninsula’s iconic coastal reserves. The judges noted that the Team had systematically undertaken an engagement program in working with and coordinating multiple friends groups, encouraging volunteerism, providing extensive training in education and skills sets for volunteers, developing quality induction practices, and engaging with members of the indigenous community

Award for Climate Adaptation

City of Greater Geelong and Borough of Queenscliffe – ‘Our Coast’ program

The ‘Our Coast’ program, established by a partnership between the City of Greater Geelong and the Borough of Queenscliffe, focuses on 190km of shoreline around the Bellarine Peninsula, including Point Wilson, Swan Bay and Breamlea. It involved three stages – a coastal mapping project; coastal climate change assessment; and coastal adaptation pathways. In the view of the judges the nomination had considerable merit and represents a good example of a climate adaptation program which is based on the 2014 Victorian Coastal Strategy.

Commendation for Planning and Management

Glenelg Shire Council (VIC) – ‘Growing Beaches’: Sand Harvesting Techniques

The Glenelg Shire Council developed a Master Plan to improve the beach amenity at Nun’s Beach, near Portland Harbour. The works involved were completed in 2011 and the 2018 nomination was submitted based on proof that the innovative design concepts have been shown to work in the long term. A shade structure was constructed on the beach which was designed to harvest sand on the beach and to assist with dune reinstatement. In the view of the judges the innovative design involved in the project was deserving of recognition.

Award for Planning and Management

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council – Rye Township Plan

In the view of the judges this project successfully addressed urban encroachment and the impact of peak visitor demand along a widely-used stretch of coastline on Port Phillip Bay. It removes a series of barriers that have developed over decades between the coastline and the town, which had resulted in the township of Rye losing its connection with the coast. The judges considered it was a good example of how a coastal council could recapture the appeal of a destination coastal township which had been eroded by development.

Special Award for Individual Achievement

Rosemary Birney OAM, President of South Sea Forshore Reserve Committee

Eurobodalla Shire Council (NSW) – Reconciliation in the Grasslands project.

Rosemary Birney initiated the coordination and implementation of multi-agency programs for the restoration of the Somers Foreshore, which involved collaboration between Parks Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, the Green Army, Somers Residents Association and local Friends Groups. She successfully secured grants involving significant funding for habitat restoration programs and has been an active participant in providing a considerable number of ‘in kind’ voluntary hours on the programs.

Registration is now open for the 2018 Australian Coastal Councils Conference, to be held at Geelong, Victoria, from 21 to 23 March 2018.

The conference is a great opportunity for coastal decision-makers to share information on the latest developments in coastal planning and management from around Australia.

Plus, there will be a special pre-conference forum focusing on effective planning responses to the rapid growth in online holiday rental platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz.

Register for this popular event today and take advantage of the Early Bird discount.

Visit the conference website here

A detailed study of a major storm and its impact on the Australian coast has identified a climate change hazard not previously recognised – as storm patterns change, coastal areas once thought to be safe are likely to be severely affected.

The study of the severe storm event which hit the east coast of Australia in June last year was conducted by a research team led by engineers at the University of NSW. The findings of the study were published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Scientific Reports.

The researchers used a combination of drones, floating sensor buoys, LiDAR sensors, fixed cameras on buildings, quad bikes and jet skis to document the ‘before’ and ‘after’ condition of a 200km stretch of coastline north of Sydney. It was the largest and most detailed pre-storm and post-storm coastline analysis ever carried out.

The study team found that over a period of three days the coastline shifted inland an average of 20m along the entire length of coast as the wave action eroded an estimated 11.5 million cubic metres of sand from the local beaches.

“The amount of erosion was astounding,” Dr Mitchell Harley, who led the study, told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It was akin to the amount of sand shifted by Hurricane Sandy which lashed the east coast of the United States in 2012.”

What the researchers found was that the June 2016 east coast low was only moderately intense, equivalent to a 1-in-5 year event however, it hit from a highly unusual direction – the East. They observed that it is the damaging power of wave energy – and the disruption of long-established storm patterns due to climate change – that present a new danger to coastal areas.

“If you have waterfront property or infrastructure that has previously been sheltered from the impacts of extreme waves, this is worrying news” said Mitchell Harley. “What this study confirms is that simply by changing direction, storms can be many times more devastating, and that’s what we’re facing in many locations as the climate continues to change.”

Professor Ian Turner, director of the Water Research Laboratory at the University of NSW, and a co-author of the study, said sea level rise was no longer the only factor at play when preparing for the impact of climate change on waterfront areas.

“Shifts in storm patterns and wave direction will also have major consequences because they distort and amplify the natural variability of coastal patterns,” he said. “And that’s what’s really worrying: the damage we saw from a moderately intense storm last year is a harbinger of what’s to come.”

“We need to be prepared,” Ian Turner commented. “Not just for the fact that what we consider as ‘king tides’ will be the norm within decades, but that the storms that strike the coast will come from unexpected directions, damaging coastal areas and infrastructure once thought safe from storm damage.”

The full study report is available here

As a result of concerns expressed by some coastal councils about the effects of rapid growth in listings on platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz the Association conducted a survey into the impact of short-term holiday rental services on coastal communities.

The survey was developed in association with Professor Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sydney. Professor Gurran is co-author of a study into the effectiveness of local planning controls in relation to properties listed on online platforms such as Airbnb.

The questionnaire was designed to survey coastal councils about experiences with Airbnb and similar services in their local area and to identify responses that have already been developed. The survey was conducted in March and April 2017 and the results formed the basis for a keynote speech and workshop session presented by Professor Nicole Gurran at the 2017 Australian Coastal Councils Conference, which was held at Redcliffe in Queensland on 4 May.

In the report summary, Professor Nicole Gurran indicates the need for further research to identify potential responses to the issues identified in the findings in terms of councils’ planning frameworks, rating regimes, licensing, and complaints mechanisms.

Professor Gurran points out that coastal councils need different tools and strategies to address different sets of concerns around the amenity, tourism, infrastructure, cost burdens, and potential housing market impacts which are affecting local areas in different ways. She says there is likely to be much benefit in sharing knowledge and practices between councils across coastal Australia and in adapting emerging international responses for the local context.

The Australian Coastal Councils Association Inc is proposing to conduct more detailed research into this matter in conjunction with Professor Gurran. It is proposed to conduct the study on a collaborative basis with councils that wish to participate.

Click here for the survey results

The 2017 Australian Coastal Councils Conference was held at Redcliffe, Queensland, from Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 May 2017.

The event was held at the Mon Komo Hotel, Redcliffe, Queensland and was jointly hosted by Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism.

Read or download the conference report here:

2017 Australian Coastal Councils Report

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

WEDNESDAY 3 MAY

Coastal Issues – Case Studies

CoastAdapt Update and Application

Dr David Rissik, Deputy Director, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility

Coastal Planning on the Coffs Coast

Ms Sharon Smith, Section Leader Local Planning, Coffs Harbour City Council

Collaborating for Sustainable Tourism in a Coastal Region

Ms Pip Close, CEO, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association

Keynote Session

What Does the Future Hold for Coastal Regions?

Prof Tim Smith, Director of the Sustainability Research Centre at the University of Sunshine Coast

Session and Discussion

Investing in Climate Change Adaptation

Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar, James Cook University

Session and Discussion

The Country Game

Australian rules football legend Kevin Sheedy

Community engagement case studies

Goolwa Beach car park & surrounds – Best practice community engagement in a coastal context

Mr Simon Grenfell, Acting General Manager Infrastructure and Assets, Alexandrina Council

Participatory envisaging for wise coastal environmental offsets.

Ms Toni Cannard, Ecological Economist and Coastal Ecologist, CSIRO

Five tips for engaging communities in coastal climate change planning.

Dr Claudia Baldwin, Regional and Urban Planning, University of the Sunshine Coast

Clarence City Council’s coastal adaptation pathway.

Mr Phil Watson, NRM Planning Officer, Clarence City Council

Financing Options for Coastal Adaptation

Building the business case for adaptation

Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar, James Cook University and Dr David Rissik, NCCARF

CoastAdapt application and outcomes

Dr David Rissik, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility

THURSDAY 4 MAY

Session and Discussion

Australia State of Environment Report 2016: Coasts

Dr Graeme Clark, Co-author of the chapter on Coasts in the State of Environment Report

Keynote Session

What Causes Clusters of Unprovoked Shark Bites?

Dr Daryl McPhee, Head, Higher Degree Research at Bond University

Keynote Address

A Coordinated Approach to Managing Coastal Hazards

Mr John Lane, Qld Department of Environment and Heritage Protection  

Session and Discussion

The Short-term Rental Accommodation Challenge

Professor Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at The University of Sydney

Airbnb – The Douglas Shire Experience

Mayor Julia Leu, Douglas Shire Council Queensland

Session and Discussion:

Hero to Zero: The Climate Change Adaptation Planning Journey for Two Australia CoastalCouncils

Mr Donovan Burton, Principal, Climate Planning

Coastal Engineering Case Studies

Woorim Beach shoreline erosion management

Mr David Meyer, Manager Engineering, Moreton Bay Regional Council

Beachmere Lake: Reviving the health of an urban tidal lake.

Mr Allan Charteris, Coordinator Drainage, Waterways and Coastal Planning, Moreton Bay Regional Council

Using remote piloted aircraft for seawall condition assessment.

Mr Shamim Yazdani, Senior Engineer – Stormwater Planning, Moreton Bay Regional Council

Comparing coastal hazard vulnerability and risk identification approaches across Australia.

Mr Andrew McCowan, Managing Director, Water Technology

Workshop – The Short-term Rental Accommodation Challenge

Professor Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at The University of Sydney

Walking Tour

Activating the Redcliffe Foreshore

Ms Jo-Ann Baynham, Senior Strategic Planner, Moreton Bay Regional Council

FRIDAY 5 MAY

Session and Discussion

Towards an Integrated Approach to Estimating Temporary Populations in Australia

Dr Elin Charles-Edwards, Lecturer in Human Geography at The University of Queensland

Session and Discussion

Estimating Temporary Populations – The Power of Aggregated Mobile Device Data

Mr Andrew Howe and Ms Tricia Chester – Demographers, Australian Bureau of Statistics

Session and Discussion

Location Insights on Population Movements for Councils

Mr Peter Hallowes and Mr Elliot Scali – TBA

Coastal Case Studies

Financing Planned Retreat – Can Land Acquisition be Made More Affordable?

Mr John Watson, School of Law, University of South Australia

Estimating Coastal and Marine Natural Asset Values

Dr Sean Pascoe, team leader, CSIRO Marine Resource Economics team

Australia’s Love of the Coast – Are We Overdoing It?

Mr Oliver Moles, Director of Sustainable Development, Moyne Shire Council

2017 Conference Communiqué

Mr Alan Stokes, Executive Director, Australian Coastal Councils Association Inc