The report and presentations from the 2016 Australian Coastal Conference held at Rockingham WA from 4 to 6 May 2016 are now available.

The 2016 Australian Coastal Councils Conference, held at Rockingham (WA) from 4 to 6 May 2016 was convened by the Australian Coastal Councils Association to provide a focus on the challenges facing the nation’s coastal communities. The Conference was held at the Gary Holland Community Centre, 19 Kent St Rockingham.

Read or download the conference report here:

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Wednesday 4 May

Coastal Issues – Case Studies

Introduction to the City of Rockingham

Andrew Hammond, CEO, City of Rockingham WA

Economic Development Case Study – City of Fremantle Strategy

Dr Brad Pettitt, Mayor, City of Fremantle WA

Coastal Hazard and Sea Level Rise – The Clock is Ticking

Oliver Moles, Director, Moyne Shire Council VIC

Augusta Boat Harbour

Dr Johan Louw, Director, Shire of Augusta Margaret River WA

Keynote Address

Coastal Populations – New Approaches to Regional Data

Lisa Conolly, Director: Regional, Family and Community Statistics, Australian Bureau of Statistics

Coastal Research Forum

Marine Projections for NRM Regions of Australia

Dr Kathleen McInnes, Coastal Dynamics Program

NCEDA, Desalination, Coastal Intakes and Outfalls

Professor Wendell Ela, National Centre of Excellence in Desalination, Murdoch University

Retreat, Existing Coastal Settlements and the Effects of Climate Change

John Watson, School of Law, University of South Australia

Coastal Management Case Studies

Towards Best Practice Council-based Coastal Planning

Phil Watson, NRM Planner, Clarence City Council TAS

Reconciliation in the Grasslands: Themeda Grass Headland EEC

Cr Danielle Brice, Eurobodalla Shire Council NSW

Coastal Adaptation in the Peron Naturaliste Region of WA: A five Year Journey

Joanne Ludbrook, Coordinator, Peron Naturaliste Partnership WA

Finance Options for Coastal Adaptation

Financing Coastal Adaptation

Ashley Robb, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute

Problems and prospects of moving the Climate Adaptation Finance Agenda Forward

Dan Ware, Griffith Centre of Coastal Management

Thursday 5 May

Keynote Address

Water Management in the Coastal Zone

A/Prof James Pittock, Fenner School of Environment & Society, ANU

Coastal Research Forum

Introducing a Climate Risk Management Tool for Coastal Australia

Dr David Rissik, Deputy Director, NCCARF

Integrating coastal catchment research with community engagement

Dr Mat Vanderklift, Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO

Economic Development Strategies in Coastal Regions

Quest Apartments Rockingham – Case Study

Tim Cross, National Sales Operations Manager, Quest Apartment Hotels

Mid west camping nodes

Nicole Nelson, Manager Tourism & Library Services, Shire of Irwin WA

Coastal Research Forum

Coastal dolphin research in Western Australia

Dr Alexander M Brown, Cetacean Research Unit, Murdoch University

Community impacts and attitudes towards a State Marine Park at Jurien Bay, WA

Asha McNeill, Earth & Environment & Oceans Institute, University of WA

Coastal Erosion Session

Sea level rise and implications for coastal management

Dr Andrew McCowan, Managing Director, Water Technology Pty Ltd

Accurate framework for assessing the effect of mitigation schemes for coastal erosion

Dr Kasper Kaergaard, Senior Engineer, DHI Australia

Planning for long-term coastal erosion and inundation in Western Australia

Ashley Robb, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute

Sunshine Coast regional sand sourcing study

Greg Fisk, BMT WBM Pty Ltd (Water and Environment)

Coastal Policy Workshop

Alan Stokes, Australian Coastal Councils Association

Friday 6 May

Keynote Address

Bay Plan 2070 for Port Phillip Bay

Michael Nolan, Chair – UN Global Compact Cities Programme

Coastal Planning

A review of planning approaches for coastal climate change

Professor Barbara Norman, Professor of Urban & Regional Planning, Australian National University

Renewable Energy

Community scale battery storage unit trial at Alkimos

Gus Riggs, Senior Policy Adviser, Synergy

Coastal Policy

2016 Campaign for the coast

Barry Sammels – Mayor, City of Rockingham, and Chair, Australian Coastal Councils Association

2016 Conference Coastal Policy and Communiqué

Facilitated discussion to consider a proposed coastal policy platform and the Conference Communiqué

For inquiries call Tel: 03 9399 8558 Mob: 0418 254 132

or email: info@coastalcouncils.org.au

News

Australian Bureau of Statistics announces new population survey

by admin

September 13, 2015

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is planning a new Australian Population Survey with the capacity for continuous updates on regional population statistics. Data collected in the survey will be used to supplement data collected in the Census.

The survey will provide a mechanism for more effectively using Census and administrative data to provide ongoing and dynamic information on regions across Australia – including where people live at different times of the year and their characteristics.

News

Climate Change Poses Increased Risk to Coastal Cities – UK Study

by admin

August 1, 2015

A study conducted by researchers at University College London has found that population growth in coastal areas can lead to major increases in exposure to extreme weather events.

Professor Georgina Mace, who led the study, said governments around the world had failed to grasp the risk that rapidly growing populations in coastal cities face the prospect of rising sea levels and more frequent and severe extreme weather events related to climate change.

Australian Coastal Councils Association, National Sea Change Taskforce, News

Government Announces Census to be Retained

by admin

May 8, 2015

The Federal Government has confirmed the 2016 national Census will go ahead as planned and that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will receive an additional $250 million in the budget for an urgent computer upgrade.

The announcement follows reports that the Census was going to be scrapped in its existing form and replaced with a smaller sample survey.

News

Illegal Sand Mining Threatens the World’s Natural Sand Beaches

by admin

May 8, 2015

While the general public is largely unaware of the extent of Illegal sand mining the issue represents a growing global problem, according to Christian Hellwig, a political risk analyst with Global Risk Insights.

Writing in the journal International Policy Digest he warns that an estimated 75% to 90% of the world’s natural sand beaches are at risk of disappearing as a result of illegal mining, which has already caused severe supply shortages and the loss of numerous beaches around the world.

News

Coastal areas continue to experience strong growth

by admin

April 2, 2015

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on 31 March show that in the year ended June 2014 the settlements with the highest growth rates outside the capital cities were along the coast, in particular in Queensland and Western Australia.

Australian Coastal Councils Association, National Sea Change Taskforce, News

Conference Delegates Call on Government to Retain Census

by admin

March 16, 2015

Delegates at the Australian Coastal Councils Conference at Cape Schanck adopted a Communiqué calling on the Australian Government “to retain the National Census in its existing form to ensure Australia’s councils have access to detailed demographic data which is essential for the future planning and resourcing of their communities.” The Communiqué was issued in response to a proposal to scrap the Census in its existing form and replace it with a smaller sample survey.

National Sea Change Taskforce

More coastal seats now marginal – Taskforce Chair

by admin

October 5, 2014

The Chair of the National Sea Change Taskforce, Barry Sammels, told members at the 2014 Annual General Meeting that continuing population growth along the coast means there are an increasing number of coastal electorates categorized as being ‘marginal’. The AGM was held at Parliament House Canberra on 3 September.

National Sea Change Taskforce, News

Taskforce Chair Discusses Coastal Issues with Environment Minister

by admin

August 6, 2014

The Chair of the National Sea Change Taskforce, Barry Sammels, has met with Environment Minister Greg Hunt and discussed a number of current coastal issues, including the proposal to add questions on the ownership and use of second residences to the next Census, in 2016.

“The additional questions are proposed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in response to research conducted for the Taskforce by the University of Adelaide,” Barry Sammels said. “This found the permanent populations in coastal areas are consistently understated because of when the Census is conducted – mid-week in winter.