The Standing Committee on Environment, Resources and Development has tabled its report into the Coast Protection Board and Coastal Legislation in Parliament.
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride chaired the committee which has made 11 recommendations for implementation by the State Government, the most important being that it commits to modernising and amending the Coast Protection Act during the next parliament.
The recommendations include retaining a coastal-focussed board and agency to lead future coastal management strategy for the state and a long-term strategic approach to working with councils to support the increasing challenges of managing coastal areas across all regions of SA.
“The committee was concerned to hear from regional councils, including those in my electorate of Mackillop that increasing and disproportionate amounts of their budget were required to be allocated to address coastal issues, with many councils struggling with the complexity of the challenges,” he said.
“The committee visited regional coastal areas in the South East, the Yorke Peninsula and the Eyre Peninsula and saw first-hand examples of dramatically degrading coastlines and inundation, expensive dredge programs, eroding sea-walls and risks to infrastructure.
“There is a clear demand from councils for increased resources and expertise including a focus on local data collection and analysis.
“A good example of what the committee would like to see more of is the partnership with Flinders University and Robe District Council, supported by the Coast Protection Board, to undertake longitudinal coastal studies in the region. The committee recommends that longer term models for collaborative research and data collection be facilitated through the amended legislation.
“The committee would like to see ongoing monitoring, review and publication of sea-level rise data, something local councils strongly supported.”
Mr McBride said the committee recommended funding for regional areas go beyond the annual grants programs currently being offered to a more long-term and strategic approach involving all levels of government and stakeholders.
“I would like to thank the mayors, the chief executives and staff of the 18 regional councils we visited during the inquiry for their passion and commitment to managing the coasts within their regions and for assisting the committee to better understand the complexity of the issues,” Mr McBride said.
