The Greens will seek to send legislation that will grant property owners the right to build, without development approval, temporary sea walls on beaches as protection against rising sea levels to a Parliamentary Inquiry this week.
“If this Bill goes ahead it will begin the fortification of our coastlines, with rock walls encroaching on to our most treasured beaches in the not-too-distant future,” said NSW Greens MLC Ian Cohen.
“The implications of this legislation as well as the issues it’s trying to address are enormous and it mustn’t be rushed through the Parliament. Minister Sartor hasn’t even released guidelines with the Bill.
“The Greens will be seeking to send the Coastal Protection and Other Legislation Bill to a Parliamentary Committee so that the full impacts of climate change and coastal inundation on NSW coastal communities and coastal ecosystems can be investigated. Recommendations can then also be made as to the best whole-of-government response.
“A broader investigation into rising sea levels is urgently needed. The State Government is clearly failing to grasp the severity a changing climate is already having on our coastline.
“Sea level rise and coastal inundation is occurring right now from Kingscliff in Northern NSW to the South Coast of NSW. Our office is being contacted by people who are literally watching the beaches in front of their properties disappear.
“Planning for rising sea levels is one of the toughest things any government anywhere will have to do.
“We need a whole-of-government approach, not one that pits neighbour against neighbour and beachfront dwellers against the rest of the community. Yet Minister Sartor’s preference is to rush a band aid solution through the Parliament by the end of the week.
“The State Government is simply delaying the inevitable – that is implementing a policy of stage, planned retreat for communities affected by rising sea levels.
“The short-term vision of this current State Government is on show once again. This legislation should be called the ‘Coastal Private Property Protection’ Bill due to its prioritisation of private property protection over public beaches,” said Mr Cohen.
Further Information: Cate Faehrmann 02 9230 3305 or 0412 207 043
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