The Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS) is a strategy to identify areas and assets on Redlands Coast that may be impacted by climate change, related coastal hazards (coastal erosion, sea-level rise, or storm tide inundation), in the future and to plan for cost-effective adaptation measures. 

With more than 335kms of coastline on Redlands Coast, Council has a responsibility to assess the vulnerabilities and risks posed by changes to the coastline, and determine the best way to manage public areas and assets. 

Coastal adaptation is the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects. There is a range of ways we can adapt to coastal hazards. Across each Redlands Coast locality, strategic adaptation responses include to:

• Monitor coastal hazard risk
• Mitigate coastal hazard risk
• Transition the land use

For each of these responses, there are adaptation actions that can be applied. These include:

• protecting and building the resilience of natural systems, such as foreshores,
• implementing land use planning controls and education programs,
• changes and upgrades to infrastructure, and
• implementing coastal engineering options.

Council began considering coastal adaptation in 2016 with the development of the Coastal Adaption Strategy (CAS): Part 1 – Current Hazards. Endorsed by Council in 2017, Part 1 looked only at erosion and its current impact on areas of Redlands Coast.

The Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS): Part 2 – Emerging Hazards, now under development, commenced in 2018. Part 2 looks to the future impact of erosion, as well as the impact of storm tide inundation and sea level rise on Redlands Coast.

At 29 May 2019, Council has completed Phases 1 and 2 of the Strategy with Phases 3 and 4 underway now. Phases 5-7 are expected to be delivered in FY 2019/2020, and Phase 8 will be completed in FY 2020/2021.

Phase 3 of the CHAS will specifically identify the areas of risk on Redlands Coast, in the latter part of 2019. Landowners can use mapping attached to the Redland City Plan (insert hyperlink) to help them identify specific risks associated with their own properties over an 80 year horizon.

As part of the 2016 Coastal Adaptation Strategy, the only area currently identified as being at a priority is Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island which is a declared Erosion Prone Area under the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995.

Council has completed a Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) which proposes a range of management options for current erosion at that site. https://yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au/amity-point-shoreline-erosion

This will be considered as part of the CHAS process.  The amount of land covered by coastal hazards can be quantified.

Redland City Council is one of more than 30 coastal Councils throughout the State that are also doing this planning. All are being part-funded by the state government’s QCoast₂₁₀₀ program through the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).  In conjunction with The Department of Environment and Science (DES), LGAQ has provided the QCoast₂₁₀₀ Minimum Standards and Guidelines, which provides a framework for considering and planning how to address future coastal hazards.

For information on QCoast₂₁₀₀ - http://www.qcoast2100.com.au/faqs

No, the funding is not to fund works, but to support Councils in delivering the Strategy. The LGAQ will check and analyse the reports produced by Councils to ensure they comply with the requirements of the QCoast₂₁₀₀ Minimum Standards and Guidelines.  Funding is then released to Councils. 

Council may receive funding of up to $500,000 to support the development of the eight phases of the Strategy. It does not cover the implementation of adaptation options.

Yes. State Government funding will help pay for development of the Strategy. Council will also contribute human and financial resources to oversee and coordinate this work. 

Redland City Council completed an assessment of existing erosion on Redlands Coast in 2016 and has published the Coastal Adaptation Strategy - Part 1 on the Council website. This document recommended management options for current erosion sites across Redlands Coast, and these areas are given consideration in budget prioritisation. 

After the Phase 5 - Risk Assessment, investigation of suitable adaptation options for each area will begin.  Council will work with the community and key stakeholders to find solutions that are appropriate to each area based on consideration of scale, cost, environmental and aesthetic impact, and community preferences.

The impact of climate on coastal hazards and coastal communities is an issue identified globally, with the United Nations providing guidance to countries on various issues including coastal adaptation. Each level of government considers this advice and prepares policies and guidelines to address the impact on Australian communities.

Click here for information on the Australian Government's focus on coastal hazards.

For tools and more information visit the CoastAdapt site. 

Or visit the state government's adaptation program

They are two separate strategies although they do respond to similar issues. 

A CHAS paints the bigger picture providing policy, planning tools, and preferred works methodology for the local government area (LGA). The CHAS is a medium to long‐term strategic plan (20-100 years) which considers emerging threats from erosion, sea level rise and storm tide inundation across the entire coastal zone within a Council’s jurisdiction. It may recommend planning pathways to avoid the threat (generally or specifically for an LGA) or indicate erosion protection works are an appropriate treatment solution in the future

The SEMP is undertaken at a localised level as the threat becomes imminent; to more carefully investigate the local conditions and fine tune the response. A SEMP is a short to medium‐term plan (up to 20 years), and considers active or imminent erosion threats within a discreet and specific coastal reach/precinct.  It may include details works designs and timelines.

The SEMP and CHAS are similar in that both:

•  Consider environmental values, social values, financial/ cost implications and legislation

•  consider influences of future climate change

•  evaluate, identify and recommend viable management options, and

•  both are overseen by the RCC Coastal Adaptation Steering Committee

Two SEMPs are currently under development for Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island and Coochiemudlo Island, and arose from the findings of the Coastal Adaptation Strategy: Part 1 – Current Erosion in 2016

The following links will get you started:

·  Visit Council’s Planning, building and development page 

·  Or look over the state government's Tidal works and prescribed tidal works page, or

·  Pick up some information and tips on coastal adaptation at the CoastAdapt site 

The CHAS is identifying all assets, whether public or private, which may be impacted by coastal hazards of erosion, storm tide inundation and sea level rise. As part of the CHAS process, Council will engage with private landholders and provide educational material and opportunities to assist them in making decisions for their own private property.

Adaptation options developed by Council will, however, only be for public assets.

Private landowners would need to carry out and fund their own adaption option, subject to the normal Development Approval process.

Property buyers have a responsibility to fully understand the conditions of the land they are buying. RCC City Plan provides overlays showing areas impacted.

Council also has an electronic mapping system for the Redlands Coast area, called Red-e-map, which displays these overlays.

What are the likely adaptation options? Adaptation options fall into five broad categories: 

Visit the Insurance Council of Australia site for information.

The coastline is influenced by coastal hazards which include coastal erosion, sea level rise and storm tide inundation.  As part of completing the CHAS, we will be identifying areas exposed to current and future coastal hazards, including the identification of assets potentially impacted.  The work is being undertaken in accordance with the QCoast₂₁₀₀ Minimum Standards and Guidelines.

A storm tide is a type of flooding caused by cyclones and severe storms, resulting in the inundation of low lying coastal areas.

Climate change refers to the changes to the present day climate associated with the effects of global warming. Climate change is projected to have a significant impact on the coastal zone especially through sea-level rise and intensification of cyclones. 

Pre-eminent information about the impact of climate change is provided in the Fifth Assessment Report of the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Council's has published a response to our changing climate

Hazard overlays show that a property is constrained by a risk that may affect the safety of people, property and infrastructure. The following hazard overlays are used in the Redland City Plan:

State legislation, through the State Planning Policy 2017, requires Councils to take appropriate account of the potential impacts of natural hazards in order to make effective land use planning and development decisions. Storm tide mapping is produced to assist in this process.

The Flood and Storm Tide Hazard Overlay (FSTHO) forms part of the Redland City Plan. It is used in conjunction with the associated Flood and Storm Tide Hazard Overlay Code to assess and decide certain development applications. For example, the FSTHO is used to establish the habitable floor levels of new residential development proposed in a Storm Tide Inundation Area.

The 2070 map is for information purposes only. Its primary function is to convey the area predicted to be inundated during a 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) storm tide event in the year 2070. It assists the community to understand how the risks associated with storm tide are likely to change over time, as the predicted impacts of climate change unfold (e.g. when the sea level rises).

Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP): means the probability, expressed as a percentage, of an event exceeding a particular level or magnitude in any 1 year (Source: Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995)

https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/info/20292/redland_city_plan/914/redland_city_plan

The Flood and Storm Tide Hazard Overlay contains statutory storm tide hazard mapping that is used to inform land use planning and development decisions. It was produced in accordance with State Planning Policy requirements.

The 2070 Storm Tide Hazard Map is a non-statutory map that was produced at the request of the community. It assists the community in understanding how the impacts of storm tide are likely to change over time, as the predicted impacts of climate change unfold. It is based on a 50 year planning horizon, which approximately corresponds with the design life of a dwelling house constructed today. 

Sea Level Rise is accounted for in the storm tide component of the overlay. 

The State Planning Policy requires local government to account for the projected impacts of climate change by the year 2100 in its statutory storm tide mapping, based on:

·  A sea level rise (SLR) factor of 0.8 metres; and

·  An increase in the maximum cyclone intensity by 10%.

The Queensland Government’s coastal hazard planning uses a projected sea level rise figure for our area for the year 2100 of 0.8m (or 800mm).This is based on information provided by the CSIRO’s  Climate Change in Australia project. Future climate scenario modelling used to forecast sea level rises for this project is based on a greenhouse gas emissions scenario called ‘RCP 8.5’.

This is what is expected to happen if there is minimal action taken worldwide to reduce global greenhouse emissions between now and the year 2100. It is often referred to as the ‘business as usual’ emissions scenario.

The Queensland Government has declared erosion prone areas along the coast, published maps and set regional storm tide inundation levels to indicate the hazard. Coastal hazard area maps help guide land-use planning and development decisions.

Redland City Council is in the process of further refining these maps, in consultation with the state Department of Environment and Science (DES) to recognise areas already protected from erosion. These include areas protected by natural means (i.e. hard, rocky outcrops) and man-made measures (i.e. revetment walls).