Global
sea levels have already risen by 20cm (between 1901 and 2018) and the
Australasia region, which includes New Zealand, has experienced even
higher rates than the global average. More coastal flooding is
expected as levels rise even further. The
latest predictions from the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report reveal
further increases are largely locked in, with a rise of about 15cm to
30cm [0.3m]
expected
by around 2050. [news.com.au,
21 September 2021]
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Coastal Risk Australia updated inundation mapping for Lower Clarence Valley at 0.3m rise above mean sea level
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Coastal Risk Australia updated inundation mapping for Lower Clarence Valley at 0.6m above mean sea level
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I find it immeasurably sad that the NSW Government and coastal local government councils continue to plan development based on pre-Climate Emergency conditions.
It's a though every climate change induced disaster and widespread adverse weather event that has occurred in the last 22 years - from the Millennial Drought to stronger East Coast Lows to constant coastal erosion eating away at foreshores to mega-bushfires to devastating record flooding to what appears to be a food shortage cycle developing - are still matters these two tiers of government can only deal with as compartmentalised abstracts when it comes to both short-term and long-term urban planning.
They still see low lying coastal areas with soft shore lines and city, town & village precincts slap in the middle of coastal floodplains already under stress, as capable of development far into the future - when in reality many may well be reduced in area or completely uninhabitable within the next 30 to 100 years.
Clarence
Valley Independent,
29 June 2022:
The
state government is calling for public submissions about changes to
Clarence Valley Council’s Business and Industrial Zones, which will
be called Employment Zones, under new Local Environment Planning
laws.
In
May 2021, The NSW Department of Environment and Planning DEP proposed
that existing Business and Industrial zones be replaced with five
Employment zones and three supporting zones under the Standard
Instrument Local Environment Plans SILEP Order, 2006.
Since
then, DEP planners have been working with Clarence Valley Council
planning staff to ensure its Local Environment Plan ‘is amended
consistent with the intent of the state government reforms, while
also ensuring the land-use planning outcomes are appropriate to the
Clarence Valley.’
When
the Independent searched what impact the changes would have on a
Yamba Street, Yamba address and a Prince Street, Grafton property, we
discovered the premises would switch from a Business 2 Local Centre
to an Employment 1 Local Centre.
Under
the planning changes, home business, home industries and home
occupations will be permitted without planning consent, adhering to
the Employment zone objective ‘to provide a range of retail,
business and community uses that serve the needs of people who live,
work or visit the area.’
The
new Employment zone also expands land use permissibility in both
Grafton and Yamba, with a wider variety of businesses and land uses
permitted than under previous laws, including serviced apartments,
hotel and motel accommodation, local distribution premises and
recreation areas…...
The
zones will also address current barriers within the planning system
that limit the ability of businesses to establish, expand or adapt.
The
new LEP zones are designed to better support councils in the delivery
of the strategic vision contained in their Local Strategic Planning
Statements and background studies.
The
spokesperson said the Employment zones will be in place within
individual LEPs by December 1, when the Business and Industrial zones
will be repealed.
Stakeholders
are invited to make submissions on the changes to the NSW DEP until
July 12.
To
investigate the changes under the new employment zones in your area
visit the NSW DEP Website
www.planning.nsw.gov.au/employment-zones-reform