2014-06-17 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                     17 JUNE 2014


5                         COASTAL HAZARD MAPPING
DOCUMENT IN FOR MATI ON




Author                           Senior Strategic Planner, Rebecca Britton
                                 Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                            Planning Instruments/Coastal Management

Attachments                      Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Senior Strategic Planner to the Planning & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 17 June 2014 regarding the State Government’s coastal hazards
mapping and Local Government Association of Queensland’s legal advice on coastal hazards
and Council liability issues.



REPORT
Council is legally obliged to consider coastal hazards, such as erosion, storm tide inundation and
flooding when preparing planning schemes, assessing development applications, carrying out
council infrastructure works, asset management and emergency management during disasters.
Coastal hazards may pose significant threats to public and private assets including houses,
businesses, roads and other infrastructure. Under the State Government’s new State Planning
Policy (SPP), planning and development decision-making is to employ risk management
approaches that take into account these coastal hazards and projected impacts of climate on
development in coastal areas. It is expected that existing coastal hazards will be worsened in the
future by projected sea level rise and increased wind intensity.

The SPP is supported by mapping that shows erosion prone areas adjacent to tidal waters,
medium and high risk storm tide inundation areas and areas identified as being at risk of flood.
The mapping is indicative and is intended as a trigger for more detailed investigations.

The SPP no longer mandates that local governments use climate projections of 0.8 metres sea
level rise and 10% wind intensity increases by 2100 in their consideration of coastal hazards. The
State Government has also amended the storm tide mapping and erosion prone area mapping
so that it no longer reflects future sea level rises or increases in wind intensity. This means that
local government can choose the most appropriate climate projections for their local area.

On the surface these changes appear to add flexibility for local government and remove
regulation over parcels of land previously affected by the mapping. However, it also removes a
level of certainty, consistency and policy support previously afforded through the State. There is
a general disappointment across local governments in south east Queensland over the changes.
For something so critical to future planning and development, a state wide approach is warranted
and needed to provide local government with the statutory support to deal with this very complex
issue.




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