Environmental Impact Assessment for Surfer's Paradise in Queensland

This report focuses on the impacts of climate change for Surfer's Paradise in Queensland, discussing the coastal ecosystem, issues and impacts of climate change, current natural features and management strategies, advice to the government, and new strategies to protect beaches.

Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
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Executive summary:
Surfer paradise is faced with several changes die to climatic change and the area is becoming
prone to risk that can cause impactful incidents. The report focuses on the surfer’s paradise
located in Queensland. The paper discusses the coastal ecosystem and the problem faced by the
area. It discusses the issues and impacts of climate change. The repost involves current natural
features and management strategies adopted by government at present and advices that
government can use. Lastly, the report suggests some new strategies for the issue.

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Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Costal ecosystem.............................................................................................................................3
The issues and impacts of climate change.......................................................................................3
Current Natural features and management strategies......................................................................4
Advices to the government..............................................................................................................5
New strategies to protect beaches....................................................................................................5
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................6
References:......................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction:
Surfers Paradise is a suburb within the local government area of the city of gold coast
located in Queensland, Australia (The Gold Coast). According to Weston (2014) the gold coast
will lose its beaches due to sand movement. It is a significant danger for Australia’s tourism
industry and gaining national concern. The primary aim of the report is to focus on the impacts
of climate change for the surfer’s paradise. It examines the 50 years’ time frame, the report
presents advice that can be used in order to protect the nature and ecosystem.
Costal ecosystem
The surfer’s paradise is fronted to the east by the surfer’s paradise foreshore. It is
rejuvenated public space and a large source of income for the nation’s tourism industry (Allan
and Anton 2015). The foreshore was ready for the tourist in 2011 and it features contemporary
coastal streetscaping. The area includes existing trees and vegetation along with 95 pandanus
trees. People across the world travel to visit various public events such as surfer’s paradise
festival and the Australian sand sculpting championships (Raybould et al. 2015).
The issues and impacts of climate change
The tourist hot spot is faced with several changes in its natural state ranging from floods
or plagues of deadly jelly fish. People mostly coming to Australia are with plans that shapes
around Australia’s nature, beaches, coral reefs and many other water sports. Scientists have
found evidences that the northward flow of sand will make the beach disappear in coming
century. According to researchers the tropical storms would become common and this would to
more sand flow. The reason sand will get transported are due to north-east swells and less south
swells (Sunshine Coast Daily, 2016). It is certain that tourism is country’s one of the largest

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sector employing 50,000people (Waltham and Sheaves 2015). Therefore, it is an absolute
necessity that would raise the awareness and highlight the causes of change in climate. The sea
level of the oceans are expected rise, there are dead water animals and reefs are effected.
There are three main drivers of environment change, population, economic growth and
climate change. The rising sea levels have tremendous effect on environment. The surfer’s
paradise in the gold coast is under threat with coastal erosion is a huge issue in the regions (Day
and Dobbs 2013). There are lots of methods being implemented in order to control the
replenishing of sand however any guarantee is not assured for the betterment. There is risk of
inundation and storm surges for surfer’s paradise cannot move inland. The beaches are at high
risk for the global warming and might disappear in coming years under the seas. According to
report, climate change will make the coastline vulnerable to recession from the rising ocean.
With the rising sea levels there is a high risk of major flood occurrence on monthly basis. Two of
the major reasons causes of coastal environment are, 1. Atmosphere and 2. Inland water flows
and use. The atmosphere includes air quality, climate change and other variability. The inland
water flows and use includes seawater intrusion, coastal river and estuary pollution, impact of
water abstraction on flora and fauna and desalination.
Current Natural features and management strategies
The management of coastal waters has improved to a great extent and Australian
government has taken the matter with much acuteness. The past decades have been
implementation of high profile programs for the seas and health of the related areas. The
government consisting of experts have acted with reasons and logic, instead of panicking, the
sector has taken up serious measures to warn and monitor climate change. Since the city
experiences 11 million visitors every year, it needs to be careful reading the population as it may

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turn vulnerable (Vince 2013). It is well known that as sea level rises there is no chance it can
move landward due to the adjacent high rise development. The government has built barrier
much above the higher water line. The council has been spending a lot of money and it has
invested on the researches on the impacts. The government has been finding ways to identify the
threats to waterways from climate change. From last decades the council has been working
strongly in order to save the beaches (Act 2018).
Advices to the government
It is certain that the city is exposed by having way too many waterfronts, rivers and
canals. The beach is very popular and losing the beach would be a high economic damage.
Although the council is working from the last 10 years, doing a risk analysis the dangers are
comparatively higher than the prevention. The government needs to be more active regarding the
policies. Government has to invest on beach protection and also for the protection of the beach
infrastructure that would help brining change in long term. Government also needs to monitor
coastal erosion closely to prevent any potential risks. Usage of innovative technologies such as
aerial imagery and inbuilt tools will help achieving the goal to a great extent as t will help
calculate the best times to refill sand into the eroding coasts.
New strategies to protect beaches.
Since the surfer’s paradise is a tourist attraction it is highly responsible. The
responsibility will include the risk of dense tourist population and nation’s economy. Due to
major responsibility, the government should make strategies and policies (do Sul and Costa
2014). There is need of programs for the development of efficient research as well as community
engagement. The government should invest adequate time to monitoring, modelling, reporting,

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innovating methods to add sand into the beaches as nourishment project. Every year the rate of
population should be analyzed and taken care accordingly. Effective partnership with other
researchers round the world will be extra helpful.
Conclusion:
Urban settlements and over population are of major concern for people residing around
the surfer’s paradise. The area is faced with several changes die to climatic change and the area
is becoming prone to risk that can cause impactful incidents. Mentioned above, the causes are
mainly centuries of ignorance which cannot be undone in a short period of time. Therefore, as
discussed above the government needs to modify few of its policies and even implement new
ones. In the end it can be concluded that the whole issue should be solved by government along
with the locals and experts.

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References:
Act, 2018, Australian marine conversation society, Retrieved from:
https://www.marineconservation.org.au/
Allan, W. and Anton, M., 2015. Beach Management Principles & Practice.
Day, J.C. and Dobbs, K., 2013. Effective governance of a large and complex cross-jurisdictional
marine protected area: Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Marine Policy, 41, pp.14-24.
do Sul, J.A.I. and Costa, M.F., 2014. The present and future of microplastic pollution in the
marine environment. Environmental pollution, 185, pp.352-364.
Raybould, M., Anning, D., Fredline, L. and Ware, D., 2015. Strategies for minimising the
impacts of climate change on beach recreation and tourism values. CAUTHE 2015: Rising Tides
and Sea Changes: Adaptation and Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality, p.686.
Sunshine Coast Daily, 2016, Why Sunshine Coast beaches will lose their sand to NSW,
https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/why-sunshine-coast-beaches-will-lose-their-sand-
to/3084074/#/0
The Gold Coast, city of gold coast, retrieved from:
http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/default.html
Vince, J., 2013. Marine bioregional plans and implementation issues: Australia's oceans policy
process. Marine Policy, 38, pp.325-329.
Waltham, N.J. and Sheaves, M., 2015. Expanding coastal urban and industrial seascape in the
Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area: Critical need for coordinated planning and policy.
Marine Policy, 57, pp.78-84.

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WESTON, P, 2014, Gold Coast Bulletin, Climate change report shows the Gold Coast could lose
its beaches and face more frequent flooding. Retrieved from:
https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/climate-change-report-shows-the-gold-
coast-could-lose-its-beaches-and-face-more-frequent-flooding/news-story/
9e1237340bb342b4dfcf4a61e343945f