Current Activities

Decision support for adaptation

This project will assist councils plan and implement adaptation approaches in coastal areas vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Importantly it seeks to promote a more consistent and transparent approach to adaptation planning in the context of land use planning and asset management.

Specific outputs of this project will include:

• An integrated Decision Support System (DSS) (inclusive of economic, social and environmental metrics) to support assessment and planning for both existing and new land use development and infrastructure in vulnerable coastal areas.
• User Guides to assist practitioners apply the DSS and other project outputs to the identification, assesment and implementation of adaptation measures.
• Regional performance and design criteria/principles and regional model conditions of consent for development and infrastructure located in vulnerable coastal areas.
• A regional monitoring program to track progress toward identified trigger points to inform the timing of implementation of identified adaptation pathways.
• Piloting application of the DSS.
• Developing and piloting training to build organisational capacity in applying project outputs.

Project partners include the region’s seven coastal councils (Greater Taree, Great Lakes, Port Stephens, Newcastle, Lake Macqarie, Wyong and Gosford) and NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (Department of Premier and Cabinet). Funding for the project is provided through the Commonwealth Government’s Coastal Adaptation Pathways Initiative.