PLANNING CASE STUDIES

Australia | International

Local Governments in Australia and internationally are planning for the impacts of climate change. The case studies below provide examples of climate change adaptation planning. Australia Cottesloe Council Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Project www.cottesloe.wa.gov.au/?p=942 Cottesloe faces the prospect of increased coastal erosion from climate change. The Town of Cottesloe commissioned a climate change vulnerability assessment in 2007 in order to prepare for the challenges climate change presents to managing and maintaining coastal resources and infrastructure. The Cottesloe Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Project established the potential risks to existing key coastal infrastructure under a range of future climate scenarios and the options available to treat the risks. The project combines international best practice with the Australian Government’s approach to climate change risk management as set out in the report, Climate Change and Risk Management: A Guide for Business and Government. In formulating an approach, a key consideration was the development of a set of methods and tools that could be readily used by coastal Local Governments throughout Australia. The project was funded by Emergency Management Australia. Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council Climate Change Adaptation Project www.emrc.org.au/environmental-pg-1178.asp The Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) is undertaking a climate change adaptation project with funding received from the Department of Climate Change Local Adaptation Pathways Program. Future Proofing Perth’s Eastern Region - Adapting to Climate Change project will identify the major risks climate change presents to the Region and develop a regional adaptation plan to address the risks. The project involves a consultation and information gathering process including a series of workshop with member Council staff to ensure the identification of relevant inputs into the risk assessment process. Sydney Coastal Councils Group Climate Change Adaptation Project ww.sydneycoastalcouncils.com.au/ Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) is comprised of 15 Local Governments located on the coast or adjacent to the Parramatta River. The Sydney Coastal Councils Group was established in 1989 to promote co-ordination between member Councils on environmental and natural resource management issues relating to the sustainable management of the urban coastal environment. The SCCG Systems Approach to Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Metropolises project has taken a systems approach to assessing local government vulnerability to climate change and the barriers and opportunities associated with adaptation at the Local Government scale. The project aims to demonstrate the merit of coordinated regional-scale responses to climate vulnerability through local government cooperation. The project is a collaboration between the SCCG, CSIRO’s Climate Adaptation Flagship and University of the Sunshine Coast. It is part of the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change National Climate Change Adaptation Program. Western Port Human Settlements Impacts and Adaptation Project www.wpga.org.au/ The Western Port Greenhouse Alliance (WPGA) is a regional partnership of five Western Port Councils to address climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Councils involved include Bass Coast, Frankston, Cardinia, Mornington Peninsula and Casey Councils, located in the region to the immediate south-east of the Melbourne metropolitan area. The Western Port Human Settlements Impacts and Adaptation Project (2006-2008) evolved from a WPGA initiated scoping study (2005-2006) that established the need for more regional information on potential climate change impacts as well as greater understanding of local decision-making processes in relation to climate change adaptation. The project focuses on the impacts of climate change on the built environment and communities, and local adaptation responses to impacts. The project aims to build Local Government knowledge and capacity to adapt to climate change as well as develop an approach to climate change assessment and adaptation that can be transferred to Local Governments in other Australian regions. Climate Change Impacts on Clarence Coastal Areas www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=807 Tasmania’s City of Clarence coastal areas are subject to flood, storm surges and erosion, which are expected to increase with climate change. The purpose of the Climate Change Impacts study is to provide an integrated assessment of climate change risks on coastal areas. The study assessed 17 localities within the City of Clarence that are potentially vulnerable to coastal hazards in the present day, and by 2050 and 2100. The project, furthermore, investigated adaptive management options to deal with coastal hazards. The template Coastal Risk Management Plan was developed as part of the Climate Change Impacts project to assist councils across Australia to understand their vulnerability to sea-level rise associated with global warming, and to prepare for the potential impacts of climate change. The project was undertaken by the Clarence Council in conjunction with the State Emergency Services and Australian Government Department of Climate Change. Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy Climate Change Adaptation Project ww.hccrems.com.au/climate_change/index.html The Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy (HCCREMS) is a collaborative initiative in sustainable development of fourteen Councils in the Hunter, Central and Lower North coast region of NSW. The Regional Climate Change Adaptation Project is a partnership between HCCREMS, Newcastle Innovation and the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment (University of Newcastle). The adaptation project aims to accurately identify climate change impacts at a regional scale and raise awareness and understanding in local governments, industry and community of how these impacts will shape their activities, adaptation planning processes and inform risk assessment. The project also aims to link regional community, industry and government to develop and implement adaptive strategies. Reports from the first two stages of the project are available at this address. Stage 1 of the project identifies regionally specific climate data to be used in further stages of the project. Stage 2 focuses on the identification of key climate change variables and impacts for the Hunter, Lower North Coast and Central Coast regions. The project aims to provide regional and sub regional climate change scenarios at a scale that can accurately inform local adaptation planning by community, industry and Councils. Ku-ring-gai Council Risk Assessment and Cost Benefit Model www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/www/html/... www.lgsa-plus.net.au/www/html.. Ku-ring-gai Council, in conjunction with community experts from a range of sectors, has carried out a comprehensive assessment of the risks posed by climate change to council and community. Physical climate data from the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology was employed in this task, showing that Ku-ring-gai may experience more frequent and severe storms and bushfires. Drawing on the results of the risk assessment, the Council, together with Macquarie University, is developing a conceptual risk analysis and cost benefit response model for climate change adaptation and mitigation that can be used by decision makers at the local level in the public sector. The model will assist decision makers to make informed choices in relation to mitigation and adaptation options. The Ku-ring-gai model builds on the risk assessment model devised by the former Australian Greenhouse Office released in 2006. Progress of this project is available at this address. Ku-ring-gai Council was awarded the NSW Government Department of Environment and Climate Change, Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation Award in 2007 for its work on this cost benefit model. Manly Council Ocean Beach Coastline Management Plan www.manly.nsw.gov.au/content.aspx... www.lgsa-plus.net.au/www/html/... Manly Council is developing a Coastline Management Plan and Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in consultation with the community, stakeholders and the Manly Coastline Committee. The Coastline Management Plan will provide a blueprint for the future management of the Manly Ocean Beach area, ensuring that the impact from coastal processes is incorporated into future development and planning. The EAP will manage the beach erosion and shoreline recession hazard in a manner that maintains or improves beach amenity and ensures an acceptable risk of damage to beach front assets. The EAP takes into account the potential for future climate change to affect the magnitude of coastline hazard through increased storm frequency and intensity. Ku-ring-gai Council Water Conservation Projects www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/www/html/522-water-... Ku-ring-gai Council is undertaking water conservation projects to reduce demand on Ku-ring-gai’s water supply and secure more sustainable sources of water. A storm water harvesting project will install 11 systems at local parks and gardens. Sewer mining at the Gordon Golf Course will use technology to treat waste water from sewage pipes underneath Gordon golf course. This waste water will then be stored in large tanks around the courses for irrigation. The project will provide around 98 per cent of the water needs of the Council-owned golf course. Port Adelaide-Enfield Council Flood Risk Study www.ipwea.org.au/Content/... The City of Port Adelaide has undertaken detailed seawater and stormwater flood risk assessments of low lying land in the LeFevre Peninsula and ponding basins in Gillman over the past five years. A TUFLOW 2D hydraulic model was developed to provide greater understanding of the tidal behaviour of the Port River and to model the impact of extreme tides on inland areas. The analysis has been employed to facilitate damage estimate calculations based on flood inundation depths, and to assess the effectiveness of flood protection works such as seawalls, flood levees and stormwater pump stations. Currently the Council is developing risk protection options, taking into account projected rises in global sea level and ongoing regional land subsidence. Planning restrictions for Port waterfront residential development, sea walls and tide barrier gates are among the options being considered. This study has been carried out with funding from the Federal Government’s Natural Disaster Mitigation Program and the South Australian Government. Byron Shire Council Climate Change Planning www.byron.nsw.gov.au/download.... In November 2008, the Byron Shire Council approved plans to take into account climate change scenarios in Council frameworks for risk management, public health, land use planning, development assessment, and environmental protection. All planning reports to Council must identify climate change assessment and impacts. Council further resolved to prepare a Climate Change Action Plan for Byron Shire Council that will include 100 year climate change flood planning scenarios. Cities for Climate Protection Australia - Council Profiles www.environment.gov.au/settlements... Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Australia participating councils make commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This website profiles Local Governments actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Back to top International The Beacon Scheme ww.beacons.idea.gov.uk/idk/... The United Kingdom’s Beacon Scheme was set up to develop and share best practice in service delivery across local government. These prestigious awards are given by government ministers based on recommendations made by an independent advisory panel. To date, six Local Governments have been awarded Beacon Authority status for tackling climate change. Councils awarded Beacon Authority are providing leadership and vision to local communities on mitigating greenhouse emissions and adapting to climate change impacts, raising awareness and helping change behaviours. The Beacon Scheme website offers overviews and case studies from Beacon Authorities. A ‘tackling climate change’ matrix sets out the strengths of each Beacon Authority climate change strategy, providing a short-cut to identifying which climate change strategy may assist you. The Scheme is administered by the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA). City of London Adaptation Strategy www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation... The City of London is the first Council in the UK to develop a comprehensive strategy for adapting to the impacts of climate change. Adopted in 2007, Rising to the Challenge - The City of London Corporation’s Climate Adaptation Strategy was developed using standard risk management tools in consultation with key stakeholders and service providers. The strategy devolves responsibility for implementation to individual departments and puts a monitoring system in place for delivery. The document assesses the major climate change risks facing the City and addresses these risks under the following headings; flood risks, water resources, heat risks and pollution, and ground conditions. The strategy recommends a range of ‘no regrets’, ‘low regrets’, ‘win-win’ and ‘flexible’ options for adaptation. The strategy is an excellent example of good practice and the City of London Corporation has been awarded Beacon Status. East Riding of Yorkshire Council Coastline ‘Rollback’ www.eastriding.gov.uk/cps/... The East Riding of Yorkshire, U.K. and its neighbours are particularly at risk from climate change due to an eroding coastline. East Riding of Yorkshire Council is implementing a coastal ‘rollback’ strategy to manage high rates of coastal erosion as part of its Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan. ‘Roll back’ is a term used to describe the relocation of property and infrastructure further inland from the eroding coast. The Council considers hard-engineered coastal defences economically and environmentally unsustainable for protecting all development in the coastal zone. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council website provides information on its Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan as well as rollback programs for the caravan industry and residential and agricultural dwellings at risk from coastal erosion. With the need to have a sustainable approach to maintaining the viability of the caravan industry on this fast eroding coastline, the concept of "rollback" was developed by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council in partnership with the Environment Agency and caravan park owners. Partners such as the Local Planning Authority have looked at the implications of re-locating the parks, and developed guidelines, standards and policies within which any moves can be made. The rollback strategy for the caravan industry has, to date, been highly successful. Whilst moving inland, the viability of the caravan industry is being maintained, sustaining communities dependent on caravan tourism. The quality of tourism facilities and the local environment has improved. Hampshire County Council Climate Change Commission of Enquiry http://www3.hants.gov.uk/climatechange/... Communities of Hampshire County, U.K., are vulnerable to extreme weather events, flash flooding and coastal erosion, all of which will be exacerbated by rising sea levels and storms associated with climate change. In 2007, the Hampshire County Council set up a Climate Change Commission of Enquiry to prioritise actions to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Evidence was considered from a wide range of sources and international good practice. In response to the Commission, the Hampshire County Council placed climate change considerations central to its decision making processes, policy development and operational activities. The 2007 Commission is documented in a brochure which can be downloaded from this address. Information on the progress of the Commission is also available. City of Keene Climate Adaptation Plan www.ci.keene.nh.us/sustainability The City of Keene is one of the first cities in the U.S. to actively and comprehensively address the potential impacts associated with climate change. The City of Keene’s 2007 climate action plan, Adapting to Climate Change: Planning a Climate Resilient Community, realises the third milestone in ICLEI’s Five Milestones CRC Process. The City of Keene, representing a small population of around 25,000, has produced a detailed action plan that sets out climate vulnerabilities and priority areas for action in order to increase community climate resilience. The action plan was developed by a committee including Local Government officials and staff, community members, and university and health field representatives. In developing the action plan, a democratic process was employed to determine the top five climate vulnerabilities within the natural, built and social environments and to formulate adaptation goals to increase community climate resilience to these vulnerabilities. The committee identified measurable targets to achieve each adaptation goal. The Climate Adaptation Action Plan will aid Keene’s progress in enhancing its resilience to the impacts associated with climate change as well as with its overall climate change planning efforts. 2007 King County Climate Plan http://your.kingcounty.gov/exec/news... King County, Washington, produced a climate plan in 2007 that systematically incorporates climate change mitigation and adaptation into agency activities, plans, policies and major investments. High priority is placed on the County’s most urgent adaptation needs and major planning and investment decisions. The plan is intended to be evaluated and revised over time as information, priorities and resources change in order to enhance King County’s responses to climate change. The King County Climate Plan provides a comprehensive overview of the potential impacts of climate change to the Pacific Northwest region and identifies strategic areas of focus to address these impacts. For each strategic area of focus, goals and corresponding actions are set out. The departments responsible for implementing the actions are identified. Back to top

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