Australian Coastal Management and Climate Change

Management of Australian coastal region started in 20th century. It involved three major phases. The first phase was characterized with reactive approach, hence people became aware that protecting coastal region is inevitable.

SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLES
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Australian Coastal Management and Climate Change
Management of Australian coastal region started in 20th century. It involved three major
phases. The first phase was characterized with reactive approach, hence people became aware
that protecting coastal region is inevitable. The second phase was characterized with public
participation while the third phase was characterized with sustainable development. In 1900, the
government through environmental department focused on sustainable development and initiated
Coastcare program that involved the community. However, despite the efforts that the
government has put in place, the coastal region is still vulnerable if the report that was released
by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007 is anything to go by. The report
did not only raise concern to the Australian government, but also internationally. Hence, the
government worked around the clock to ensure that adaptation agenda has been put in place in
2010. Other than the government, states have also been struggling to protect coastal region. In
future, climate change will have a greater impact on how Australian coastal region will be
managed. Hence, national action is a prerequisite for effective management. Thus, establishment
of national coastal council will play some vital roles towards national coordination1.
State Coastal Planning Policy Guidelines
There are some guidelines that need to be put in place when applying policy measures.
First and foremost, there are general measures that provide guidance on how and when certain
activities will be carried out. For example, community involvement should be considered when
creating management plan. Besides, some of the principles and concepts related to sustainable
settlements such as maintaining equilibrium between economic and social factors should also be
considered. This has been provided by State Planning Policy No. 3. Moreover, coastal planning
1 Harvey, Clarke and Nursey. Australian Coastal, 356-367.

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should preserve water resources as stated in SPP2.9. Apart from settlement and water
management, other considerations include earthworks and visual landscape. In addition to policy
measures, there are also elements for managing risks such as context establishment, risk
identification, risk analysis, risk evaluation and monitor. However, risk management process is
very sensitive, hence it should only be done by an organization as well as qualified person.
Besides, Australian standard should also be considered to ensure that informed decision has been
made. Vulnerability assessment plays some vital roles in risk management. The following are
some of its elements; exposure and sensitivity. The process of managing coastal region requires
community engagement and public access among some other things. Furthermore, precautions
should be undertaken to ensure that environmental has not been destructed. Finally, up-to-date
information regarding planning is also vital2.
Bibliography
Harvey, Nick, Beverley Clarke and Melissa B. Nursey. Australian Coastal Management and
2 Western Australian Planning Commission, State Coastal.

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Climate Change. Institute of Australian Geographers, 2011.
Western Australian Planning Commission. State Coastal Planning Policy Guidelines (2013).