Evidence given by Karl Sullivan of the Insurance Council of Australia to the House of Representatives Inquiry into Climate change and environmental impacts on coastal communities in June 2009 confirms that coastal residents are on their own when in comes to property damage from coastal erosion, land slippage, sea water inundation and storm surges and, in the future insurance premiums may be higher or insurance unavailable if there are no or insufficient climate change impact mitigation measures built into coastal residential properties.
This position has been well-known for some years now and yet the NSW Government and local councils continue to give rezoning, concept and development consents for urban growth in vulnerable coastal areas.
It is past time that all tiers of government stopped merely talking about climate change impacts and passed legislation which severely limits coastal development within at least a half kilometre of the coast.
1 comment:
I agree. Lots of buildings nearly went into the ocean at Narrabeen and Collaroy as long ago as 1974 but since then plenty of new homes have been built in the threatened area. When I left in 1993 they were faffing around talking about building seawalls or having the state government buy everything. Nothing has happened since. Too hard.
Of course as soon as they do something useful, the value of coastal properties will collapse and cause an enormous political backlash, not to mention a drop in rate income for local government.
They will therefore always find excuses to put it off for a while ... and another while ... and another little while.
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