There is an increasing recognition that immediate action is needed to adapt to irreversible impacts of climate change to coastal areas. By identifying political and administrative constraints inherent within the existing NSW coastal policy landscape, the readiness and feasibility of implementing adaptation policies in NSW may be gauged. This paper provides an evaluation of current policies and guidelines affecting coastal and flood-prone regions in NSW.
As illustrated, coastal and flood-prone areas in NSW are subject to complex cross-jurisdictional planning and management processes. This means that governments and policy-makers are facing a significant challenge in accommodating climate change adaptation within the existing legislative framework. Uncertainties regarding both the nature and extent of climate change impacts, as well as the range and applicability of adaptation strategies available, weaken the position of planners and decision-makers in choosing optimum strategies.
Policies to date have assumed that the frontline management of future impacts of climate change will remain within the domain of local government and private property owners. Recognition of weaknesses in the capabilities of local governments to respond to the magnitude of climate change impacts has prompted the federal government to assume an enhanced role in future climate change planning. Though an overarching framework has the potential to accommodate integrated decision-making processes based on multiple criteria (economic, environmental, social and legal), it is vital to ensure that it does not simply create a new layer of coastal policy confusion. Appropriate integration of planning methodologies and implementation of uncertainty based management measures will be discussed for varying local and regional scales.