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.