2020-08-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   11 AUGUST 2020




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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                          11 AUGUST 2020

             and safety, food production, water security, economic stability. It has emphasises that we can only accept
             solutions that set Australia and Noosa on a trajectory of zero emissions.
             The 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report recognised that to limit global
             warming to 1.5°C requires urgent action by 2030, and that global net CO2ze emissions must decline by
             about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach zero by 2050.
             Climate projections for Noosa Shire show that if current global annual greenhouse gas emissions trends
             continue, within 30 years the average length of the longest continuous heatwave for a given year will
             increase to almost 140 days in length. By the year 2070, relative to the present day, this figure will have
             increased to a point where the longest heatwave goes on for almost a month.
             Based on these projections, we can expect increased risk to people, property, infrastructure and natural
             environments from sea level rise, coastal erosion, stormtide inundation, flooding, bushfires, extreme
             weather, high temperatures, and changes in seasonal rainfall and temperature averages.
             Of particular concern is the high proportion of dwellings unlikely to withstand extreme winds associated
             with tropical cyclone conditions, for which projections show the natural range will expand southward to
             include Noosa Shire, concurrent with an increased intensity in storms.

             Regional climate projections published by the IPCC in 2013 show that based on current trends the north-
             east coast of Australia can expect an increase of approximately 0.8m in mean sea level by the year 2100.
             Noosa Shire Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan (CHAP) project reveals that a significant amount of public
             and private assets are exposed under this scenario, including:
                  e   approximately 2,000 private lots during a major stormtide event
                  e   upto 120 dwellings lots during a major coastal erosion event
                  e   up to 52km of stormwater network exposed to saltwater backflow during highest astronomical tide
                      conditions.

             A number of climate change risks have been identified to Council, the community, economy and local
             biodiversity. These risks take the form of:
                  e   increased financial costs associated with operation, maintenance, replacement or relocation of
                      infrastructure and built environment assets owned by Council
                  e   conflict stemming from real or perceived legal liability
                  e   impaired economic conditions for various sectors across the shire, including tourism
                  e   physical damage to privately-owned assets
                  e   disruption of ecosystem function and local flora and fauna lifecycles
                  e   adverse health effect (physical and mental) for individuals.

             For these reasons, it is imperative that Noosa Council in close partnership with the community, takes
             immediate and proactive steps to:
             e    reduce emissions and improve resource efficiencies
             e — identify and implement appropriate actions for addressing the likely consequences of climate change
                  across various sectors
             e    increase community resilience and capacity to adapt to climate change risks.

             COVID 19 has temporarily delivered unusual environmental benefits including cleaner air, lower COze
             emissions and respite for wildlife. The big opportunity from this is how we can best capitalise on this
             momentum and continue to showcase Noosa (and its brand) as an exemplar for sustainability, emissions
             reduction, environmental protection and positive climate action.

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