NSW Government's Sea Level Rise Policy Statement
The NSW Government has finalised the Policy Statement on Sea Level Rise
following extensive consultation.
Download a copy of the Policy Statement 
.
The Policy Statement specifies sea level planning benchmarks for the NSW coastline. These benchmarks are an increase above 1990 mean sea levels of 40 centimetres by 2050 and 90 centimetres by 2100.
Draft NSW Coastal Planning Guideline: Adapting to Sea Level Rise
The Department of Planning has released the Draft NSW coastal planning
guideline: adapting to sea level rise for public consultation.
The draft Guideline is on exhibition until 11 December 2009. A Departmental fact sheet has been published to summarise the guideline.
The draft Guideline adopts the NSW sea level rise planning benchmarks in the NSW Sea Level Rise Policy Statement.
The draft Guideline outlines a proposed approach to assist councils, State agencies, planners and development proponents when adresssing sea level rise in land-use planning and development assessment.
It applies to all coastal areas of NSW, including the NSW Coastal Zone, as well as Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay. The term ‘coastal areas’ is used broadly to include the coastline, beaches, coastal lakes, estuaries, as well as the tidal reaches of coastal rivers. It also includes other low-lying land surrounding these areas that may be subject to coastal processes in the future as a consequence of sea level rise.
The draft Guideline proposes to adopt the following six coastal planning principles for sea level rise adaptation:
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Assess and evaluate coastal risks taking into account the NSW sea level rise planning benchmarks
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Advise the public of coastal risks to ensure that informed land use planning and development decision-making can occur
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Avoid intensifying land use in coastal risk areas through appropriate strategic and land-use planning
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Consider options to reduce land use intensity in coastal risk areas where feasible
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Minimise the exposure to coastal risks from proposed development in coastal areas
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Implement appropriate management responses and adaptation strategies, with consideration for the environmental, social and economic impacts of each option.
How to make a submission
Throughout the draft Guideline, specific consultation questions are put forward to obtain feedback on certain aspects of the document. Submissions may be:
- emailed to innovation@planning.nsw.gov.au
- faxed to 02 9228 6311
- mailed to the Director, Policy, Planning Systems and Reform, NSW Department of Planning, GPO Box 39, Sydney, NSW 2001.
For further information on the draft Guideline please contact the Department's Information Centre on tel 1300 305 695.
Guidelines by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water
The Department of Planning's draft Guideline should be read in conjunction with two draft guides prepared by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water to assist councils in preparing coastal hazard and flood studies to incorporate the sea level rise planning benchmarks. These guides are:
- Draft Coastal Risk Management Guide: Incorporating the sea level rise benchmarks in coastal hazard assessments
- Draft Flood Risk Management Guide: Incorporating the sea level rise benchmarks in flood risk assessments.
For further information on these guides, please visit the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water website.