What do the latest Australian Government sea level rise projections mean for the Clarence Coast?

The latest Australian Government sea level rise projections contained in the November 2009 Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coasts report indicate that:

Between 40,800 and 62,400 residential buildings in New South Wales may be at risk of inundation from a sea-level rise of 1.1 metres and storm tide associated with a 1-in-100 year storm. The current value of the residential buildings at risk is between $12.4 billion and $18.7 billion.....

Inundation analysis is based on 1.1 metres of sea-level rise using medium resolution elevation data.
A storm tide allowance (1-in-100 year event) based on CSIRO modelling is included in the analysis for Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, although storm tide values for New South Wales are likely to be underestimates as they do not include a wave setup component.

What does this mean for the Clarence Coast in Northern NSW?

At first glance these projections indicate that the coastal and estuary zones may face:

(i) a loss of beach and foreshore along the length of Bundjalung National Park;

(ii) loss of all Yamba coastal beaches;

(iii) loss of most of Hickey and Dart islands as well as other smaller lower Clarence River islands;

(iv) the one road into and out of Yamba permanently breached by estuary waters at multiple points;

(v) loss of foreshore and part/all of some residential properties in the Crystal Waters-West Yamba area;

(vi) loss of foreshore and part of residential and agricultural properties on Palmers, Goodwood and Micalo islands;

(vii) loss of foreshore and part of residential properties in Iluka, Marandowie Drive permanently breached by estuary waters;

(viii) loss of beach and/or foreshore in parts of Yuraygir National Park;

(ix) loss of foreshore at Brooms Head, Sandon and Red Rock;

(x) loss of foreshore and residential property in Wooli; and

(xi) loss of some foreshore on both sides of the Clarence River up to Maclean and beyond to Brushgrove; and

(xii) possible inundation of part of the Pacific Highway passing through the Lower Clarence.

* Interactive seal level rise map here.

* Interactive map showing estimated altitudes here.

Don't be alarmed. It's just the CIA - hunting toads!

Conservation In Action (CIA) Landcare volunteers and NPWS staff will be out at night across the Clarence Valley in organised cane toad hunts this summer. In an effort to reduce the numbers of this introduced pest which decimates local frog and reptile populations where ever it establishes a permanent presence.

If you would like to join these volunteers:
Phone: 0411 020 394
Email: toads@cvcia.org.au or Sharon@cvcia.org.au
Website: www.cvia.org.au

Next volunteer training day/night event and hunt is Saturday 28 November 2009 (booking essential).

Contact Sharon or visit the website for details.

Why climate change science is the new Sisyphus

A NSW North Coast 'catastrophic climate change' denier in full cry when writing a letter to the editor last week.
How on earth can science counter such strongly-held belief that everyone is wrong except those who just know in their hearts that there is no such thing as man-made global warming?

NSW North Coast could lose in vicinity of 2,000 homes in latest climate change 'worst case' scenario

From the Australian Government report Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coasts released on 14 November 2009.

Number of residential building in NSW local government areas at risk of sea water inundation

Click images to enlarge

Tweed Heads inundation projections