2016-10-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

NATURAL HAZARDS AND RESILIENCE
The SEQ Region is one of two climate change vulnerability     Looking Forward
hot spots in Australia. Being a low lying coastal area,
Noosa Shire has a high exposure and sensitivity to the        It is important that natural hazards are carefully and proactively planned for and managed to reduce




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impacts of climate change. Noosa’s climate has already        impacts and damage costs. There is a need to provide the best available hazard information that is
changed, with consistent trends that can be tracked over      accessible, relevant, clear and up to date and to improve understanding of existing and future climate




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the last 100 years. The area is currently experiencing        conditions to better plan for climate related risks. Improving community resilience to natural hazards
increases in temperature of 0.4-0.6oC every 10 years.         can occur through information and awareness, avoiding development in natural hazard areas or




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There is also increasing occurrence of longer drier           appropriate site selection and design to mitigate risks.
periods. Climate change is expected to increase the           Council has developed a Flood Management Plan to help manage flooding within Noosa Shire that




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frequency and severity of natural hazards including           includes measures for improving flood information and mapping, disaster management, community
major storm events, droughts, heatwaves, bushfires,           understanding of flood risk and land use planning.
flooding, storm surge and coastal erosion. Sea level rise




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                                                              Council’s landslide, acid sulphate soils, bushfire hazard mapping will be updated as part of the New
is projected to increase by 0.8m by 2100, relative to 1990,
                                                              Noosa Plan development.
exacerbating flooding and coastal erosion risks. Impacts
on biodiversity values are expected including vulnerable      As part of the development of the Noosa Shire Climate Change Adaptation Plan, Council will work with
flora and fauna, low lying coastal and dune ecosystems,       the community to deliver a well informed and responsive climate adaptation program based on best
riparian and wetland areas and rainforest ecosystems.         available data, including clear options for addressing and adapting to climate change risks over time.




32 The New Noosa Plan