Central Coast PhD student Mark Ellis has put forward a vision for a national coastline reserve encompassing areas such as Wamberal where chronic beach erosion is present and sea level rise and recession rate will increase.
Ellis’ vision would see the reserve become a green fringe around Australia, increasing access to beaches and ensuring protection of coastal biodiversity.
Quoting Dr John Barlow from the University of Sussex, Ellis said: “You can’t just build a concrete wall around the entire country”.
He said a national coastline reserve would: address the problem of stranded assets; remove housing and infrastructure risk from increasing erosion and sea level rises; protect beaches from coastal squeeze; remove ongoing costs of sand re-nourishment required by wall construction and repair; increase open space for the public; and enable ongoing public beach use and intergenerational equity.
Ellis presented his vision to the Joint Coast to Coast and NSW Coastal Conference in Newcastle late last year.
His work includes studying the differences between Central Coast Council’s plans for a seawall at Wamberal and Byron Bay Council’s difficulties as it tries to implement a managed-retreat approach.
He has submitted his thoughts to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the planning system and the impacts of climate change on the environment and communities.
“The current state of the NSW planning system is failing the communities, people and environment of NSW as we continue into the trajectory of the climate crisis of warming and rising oceans, intense rain and flooding events and extreme fire danger,” Ellis said.
“The climate is changing but the planning system isn’t.
“In NSW houses are enabled to be built-in high-risk zones such as eroding beach fronts, flood plains and bushfire zones.
“Why? Because of private rights and the planning and court system enabling the rights.”
Ellis wants to see stronger statutory procedures to stop building in such areas.
“There is still no political will to look towards engaging adaptive retreat pathways for impacted beachfront residences,” he said.
He believes the planning system should be preparing for the implementation of relocation of high-risk beachfront legacy development to improve long-term resilience.
He said a national coastal reserve that adopts nature-based solutions as a coastal defence, legislated by state governments and implemented by local governments, is a pathway towards reducing the ongoing risks of coastal erosion and sea-level rise.
Ellis is undertaking PhD studies at Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, on climate change, coastal erosion and land-use planning.
“The mechanisms and operations of a national climate coastline reserve is a topic for further research,” he said.
Merilyn Vale
Well said Mark, I very much agree with this article.
Your proposal for a National Coastline Reserve is a forward-thinking approach that not only addresses the challenges of climate change but also emphasizes the importance of proactive, nature-based solutions. A National Coastline Reserve, as proposed by Mark Ellis, would protect coastal biodiversity, provide public access to beaches, and mitigate risks from erosion and sea-level rise. It offers a comprehensive and sustainable solution for communities facing climate-related challenges. I really hope this gains traction.
This is the most intelligent approach to climate change and environmental protection I have come across!! Well done Mark! Great initiative. You are clearly highly intelligent, I urge you to forge ahead and drive your solution. Be prepared for much push back. Our governments and systems are sometimes resistant to sensible solutions.
Such a coastal reserve is one logical conceptual solution. Such a buffer could be resumed or created by nourishment and stabilisation. In the long term nourishment is likely to be required to maintain it with sea level rise. It all comes down to funding. Australia needs inovative approaches plus adequate funding allocated to implement. Already places like Oceanside in California are moving from conventional approaches and looking outside the box with projects such as RE:BEACH