Coast retreat option

Kim Waters
A survey is asking the region’s coastal residents whether they would give up their homes in a “planned retreat” from rising seas.
The CSIRO said its national survey would gauge support for a Federal Government plan to deal with climate change in coastal areas.
The survey would be part of a study investigating the impact of sea level rises on “current and potential home owners”.
CSIRO sustainable ecosystems spokesperson Nick Abel said the national survey would investigate the option of a “planned retreat” from parts of the coast.
Mr Abel said the CSIRO believed a one-metre sea level rise was “plausible”.
A one-metre rise would affect various low-lying coastal areas on the peninsula, particularly during storms, Mr Abel said.
“We’ve got good, scientific evidence that sea levels are rising and will keep on rising no matter what we do.”
“The survey will ask residents if they feel that property ownership is a fundamental right and whether that right should be relinquished depending on various circumstances.”
Mr Abel said the survey sought opinions on who should bear the cost of rising seas.
“We’ve also asked who owners think should be responsible for covering damage or complete loss of their properties.”
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros backed the survey but said educating the public on climate change was difficult.
“I think there would be a lot of opposition to a planned retreat if the sea wasn’t lapping at resident’s doorsteps,” Ms Lindros said.
Portarlington’s Monica Hayes, whose home is on land close to sea level, was concerned about the concept of a planned retreat.
“For most people, their major asset or investment is their home. You would certainly want fair market compensation for having to relocate and that’s going to be an enormous challenge for the authorities,” Ms Hayes said.
She believed rising seas were already impacting on Portarlington’s The Esplanade.
Last year the Independent revealed that Borough of Queenscliffe had adopted its planning process maps showing rising seas would inundate or threaten hundreds of properties in the municipality.
The borough planned to seek advice on whether it should approve building applications in areas deemed at risk of flooding.
The borough later cooled on the plan amid community opposition.