Climate Change Fund for NSW coasts also needs change in planning culture - 5 November 2008

Greens MP Ian Cohen is welcoming the NSW Government’s $18 million Climate Change fund for local councils as a step towards restitution for proliferation of poor coastal planning overseen by the Government.

“The unveiling of research work last week by the Premier showed sea level rises by 2050 will have significant impact on coastal communities,” says Mr Cohen

“There should be no doubt that the Costa-style climate change denialism and failure to integrate ecologically sustainable development into planning decisions will have dire economic implications for coastal communities.”

“I don’t understand why it has taken the Government departments and local councils so many years to acknowledge the threat of shoreline recession and the need for coastal buffer zones.”

“It is good to see this Government is finally recognising the important role that local councils play when dealing with climate change, but the developers and government departments also need to undertake some serious reflection on what appropriate development is in a world of coastal erosion and climate change.”

Mr Cohen is currently attending the 17th NSW Coastal Conference in Wollongong and is not surprised at the prognosis of various scientists, experts and coastal engineers for coastal councils.

“Whilst the $18 million fund will go a long way for coastal councils, in particular, to combat disastrous climate change, this decision does not undo the poor planning decisions of this Government in the past.”

“For eighty percent of the New South Wales population that reside within 3 km of the coastline the $18 million needs to be accompanied by a change in planning and development culture.”