A study of predicted coastal erosion and inundation on the Coffs Harbour coastline due to extreme weather events and sea level rise has been published as the first step in developing a strategy to tackle any possible risk areas.

 

The Coffs Harbour Coastal Processes and Hazard Definition Study is the starting point to develop a Coastal Zone Management Plan that will help protect the Coffs Harbour coastline.

 

All coastal councils in NSW must prepare Coastal Zone Management Plans at the request of the State Government.

 

The Study was prepared by BMT WBM Pty Ltd consultants and uses the NSW Government's scientific guidelines and forecast sea level rise. The NSW Government predicts a sea level rise of 40cm above the mean average sea level recorded in 1990 by the year 2050 and 90cm by the year 2100.

 

An extreme sea level rise of 1.4 metres in the year 2100 was also assessed during the Study as a worst case scenario.

 

The coastal 'processes' assessed in the document are the ways that waves, winds, storms and currents interact to shape the coastline. The Study considers projected changes to these coastal processes - in particular, sea level rise, wave height and direction and elevated water levels. Coastal 'hazards' are the damaging effects of these coastal processes on the coastline. These hazards include beach erosion, shoreline recession, waterway entrance instability, sand drift, coastal inundation, slope and cliff instability and stormwater erosion.

 

The Coffs Harbour Coastal Processes and Hazard Definition Study looks at the risk of coastal erosion or coastal inundation hazards at three different timescales during extreme weather events. These are 'Immediate', by the year '2050' and by the year '2100'. At each timeframe, the maps show the extent of coastal erosion or coastal inundation that is 'almost certain', 'unlikely' and rare'. The coastal inundation zones shown in the maps are not permanent water levels, but illustrate forecast inundation during a storm event, with or without sea level rise.

 

All potentially affected property-owners have been sent letters detailing and explaining the Coffs Harbour Coastal Processes and Hazard Definition Study. Each letter includes relevant maps, a Fact Sheet and an invitation to a series of Community Information sessions.

 

The NSW Government's guidelines for preparing a Coastal Zone Management Plan include three stages.

 

Council is at the first stage - the completion and publication of the Coffs Harbour Coastal Processes and Hazard Definition Study.

 

The second stage involves a series of workshops and information sessions, carried out by BMT WBM Pty Ltd, to consider all potential coastal management options and to determine the preferred options. These will involve the community, Council and State agencies.

 

The third stage involves incorporation of the preferred options into a Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan, which will then be exhibited for public consultation.

 

Stages Two and Three are due to begin in June 2011 and are expected to take 12 months.

 

It is anticipated that the Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan will be ready for public exhibition in early 2012. Following that public exhibition, any further feedback will be addressed and the final Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan will then be submitted to Council for adoption and implementation.

 

View the full Coffs Harbour Coastal Processes and Hazard Definition Study