2019-06-11 P&E Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Environment Strategy

Council has prepared an overarching Climate Change           3 ADAPT/ACCOMMODATE - Mitigate risks through
Response Policy and is also developing a Noosa Shire         careful design and location to reduce risks to an
Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The adaptation plan          acceptable level
will focus on risk identification and short, medium and
long term responses for coastal erosion, tidal inundation,   Successful adaptation is a shared responsibility that
human health, agriculture, business, built environment,      requires timely action by householders, asset owners,
emergency management and biodiversity.                       communities, business and government.

For coastal hazards, a hierarchy of coastal management       Examples include: enforcing minimum building heights
responses has been established for areas vulnerable to       for new buildings and extensions in flood hazard areas,
coastal erosion and tidal inundation:                        locating and designing infrastructure to be effective until
                                                             the end of its design life with climate change in mind, and
1 AVOID – Avoid further risk in the first instance           preserving and improving natural buffers to foreshore
                                                             areas to build resilience to coastal erosion.
Measures are implemented to ensure a ‘no worsening’ of
risks as a result of development, infrastructure works or
other decisions.                                             4 RETREAT – Reposition built structures away from
                                                             hazard areas where feasible
Through the planning scheme, future risks are avoided
by not allowing for the intensification of development in    In some instances it will not be possible to retain some
existing hazard areas.                                       structures in their current position, such as in areas
                                                             affected by storm tides, flooding or coastal erosion. For
                                                             example, the Peregian Beach Surf Club was relocated
2 PREPARE – Carryout proactive evacuation planning,          landward after an east coast low destroyed the former
disaster management and education                            building in the 1970s. Similarly, some Council-owned
                                                             assets in at-risk foreshore areas may need to be
Actions are carried out to improve disaster preparedness     relocated where this is feasible.
and information sharing to enhance community safety,
health and wellbeing (especially for vulnerable members
of the community).




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