Climate Change - Sea Level Rise
The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report has projected that sea level is set to rise by 18-59 cm by 2100, with a possible additional contribution from ice sheets of 10 to 20 cm. In relation to the foreshore, how do you think that government agencies should respond?
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gran22 Comment 1 23 Feb 2008, 2:06 PM
What a lot of nonsence. You should be concentrating on sorting out the problems we have now not worrying about myths and fairytales
4progress Comment 1.1 24 Feb 2008, 3:11 PM
Couldn't agree more with Gran22. The amount of money being wasted on this futile exercise is apalling. King Canute got his shoes wet. Al Gore is just as stupid.
Baydreamer Comment 1.2 27 Feb 2008, 8:09 AM
Must be horrible ... all that gritty stuff that gets stuck in ones ears, nose and mouth ... when ones head is stuck in the sand!
tonyod203 Comment 1.3 1 Apr 2008, 3:34 PM
Myths and Fairy tales? Is this denial - yes it is. Spend a little time researching glaciers and polar cap melting. No matter what is the reason it is happening. Council should be applauded for having some foresight - it may even be a little late but never too late.
blakey Comment 2 24 Feb 2008, 10:26 AM
This is a critical issue. Planning controls must reflect this change and we must stop developing foreshore areas so we can leave room for the shorelne as it shifts
KYH190 Comment 3 26 Feb 2008, 7:04 PM
It shouldn't respond at all. 2100!!! It's just past 2000. Our great grand children can think about responding if indeed there proves to be any need.
David Comment 3.1 3 Mar 2008, 9:08 PM
And indeed the earth is still flat, wake up and smell the roses if this generation doesnt act NOW our inheritance to our great children will be set in stone, have a look at what has happened in greenland in the past 15 years, Oh but thats right we cant see Greenland therefore it shouldnt worry us
balad60 Comment 3.2 5 Mar 2008, 3:17 PM
The past and current sea level rate of rise is well documented by extensive research and even if the forward projections are half right it is a serious issue.
Council needs a clear policy on this. Yes lets protect the environment as it is crucial to our childrens future but also lets protect landowners in low lying areas.
Come on Council, take this matter seriously.
balad60 Comment 4 3 Mar 2008, 5:58 PM
It is well documented in Australia and elsewhere that the sea level has risen by at least 150mm in the last 100 years and that the rate of rise has increased over the last 20 years to 3 mm per year. We residents on the foreshore are already losing our land with erosion.
Will council allow residents to protect their land and assets.
Will council stop residents protecting their land and assets.
Council needs to form a policy and tell residents/voters because this is going to be a very big issue prior to the next council election.
Global Warming Comment 4.1 27 Mar 2008, 12:30 PM
In South Australia a local Council has already refused waterfront land to be developed into housing and this decision was supported upon appeal. This will reduce some future expenditure on resources to save people's homes. The research is there and some councils obviously are taking action. It costs little to undertake such preventative action and harms nobody. There is sufficient scientific evidence to support such action. The Federal Government is already supporting the future issue of special visas to citizens of Pacific Islands because the rising sea is making their islands unhabitable. Council planning must be undertaken to reduce the physical damage and financial cost to all.
In South Australia a local Council has already refused waterfront land to be developed into housing and this decision was supported upon appeal. This will reduce some future expenditure on resources to save people's homes. The research is there and some councils obviously are taking action. It costs
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balad60 Comment 5 5 Mar 2008, 3:27 PM
Its a lot more complicated than that but yes, the sea level is rising now and even if man made influences stop today it will be centuries before the sea level stabilises due to ongoing sea water thermal expansion.
This matter is so important that government agencies should stop churning our cheap desk-top studies like the Port Stephens Foreshore Management Plan and get down to some serious and detailed study which will allow long term management solutions to be implemented which are based on accurate data.
And remember we are trying to protect landowners as well as the current environment here. We are not trying to reconstruct pre white settlement environment. This is bigger than the Council.
Its a lot more complicated than that but yes, the sea level is rising now and even if man made influences stop today it will be centuries before the sea level stabilises due to ongoing sea water thermal expansion.This matter is so important that government agencies should stop churning our cheap desk-top
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margw Comment 5.1 23 Mar 2008, 11:35 AM
Let's not have any further delays in getting a Foreshore Management Plan in place - at least for the next 10 years. It seems to have taken Council 10 years to get this far already with it and each time improvements or suggestions are put forward the Council pops up with the excuse that the Foreshore Management Plan has to be taken into account. There is far too much procrastination from Council.
I agree we need to consider the impact of global warming and, yes, it could come much quicker than anyone of us realise. For now though, let's please move on with the plan and get something..... anything..... started. I'd like to see out my last years with some much needed improvements and planning on our foreshore.
Let's not have any further delays in getting a Foreshore Management Plan in place - at least for the next 10 years. It seems to have taken Council 10 years to get this far already with it and each time improvements or suggestions are put forward the Council pops up with the excuse that the Foreshore
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Nigel Waters Comment 6 11 Mar 2008, 4:46 PM
This is a critical issue for Pt Stephens - not only for owners and occupiers of land and assets threatened by higher seal levels but for the whole community who will pick up the compensation tab if we irresponsibly allow further development in potentially affected areas.
atriplex Comment 7 20 Mar 2008, 11:47 AM
A bit like insurance... Do nothing and hope all the scientists and gloom and doom merchants are wrong or spend some money and cover some of the potential risks.
As for people on the foreshore that may lose land and houses etc to sea level rise, estuaries and foreshores are dynamic.. they move, some faster than others. Buying anywhere near water or on floodplains is a risk, so should not the old saying "buyer beware" ring some bells.