Greens candidate for Coogee, Sue Doran, asks why the State Government’s new policy and guidelines on Sea Level Rise are not being factored in to development decisions for the foreshore at Coogee.
The policy indicates projected coastal erosion between now and 2100 of up to 45-90 metres (from a sea level rise of 45- 90cm) on open beaches with storm surges and other events possibly impacting further. A further guideline on sea walls is due to be published shortly.
The Government’s new template for Local Environment Plans also includes a number of mandatory considerations for development of foreshore land and states as the key objective:
5.5 (1)(a) to provide for the protection of the coastal environment of the State for the benefit of both present and future generations through promoting the principles of ecologically sustainable development,
Randwick Council has commenced a process for conducting flood risk assessment. For the foreshore area of Coogee this process is expected to be complete in 2012.
“The State Government is the sole consent authority for the determination of the development application for the Coogee Bay Hotel at the foreshore in Coogee. After Randwick Council’s refusal of the application, the State Government used its Part 3A legislation to bring this determination under its jurisdiction” Ms Doran said.
“Not at any stage in the embarrassingly messy Coogee Bay Hotel development application process has any member of the Government given heed to its own coastal protection policies”, Ms Doran said.
“Down here at Coogee Beach, the frequency of waves reaching the sea wall and the recent memories of cars floating along Alfreda Street, keep locals’ eyes open to the real world of sea level rise and its impacts on the Coogee foreshore” Ms Doran said.
“It would seem irresponsible for the Planning Minister to ignore his own government’s recent studies and policy on the effects of sea level rise when considering the Coogee Bay Hotel development application. Perhaps not only irresponsible, but dangerous in the long term, opening the potential for harm and for future liability,” Ms Doran said.
“To approve a large bulky over development at Coogee Bay Hotel in a coastal zone with a precarious climate change future would constitute yet another bad planning decision from this Labor government. Any approval so close to foreshore should wait until after the flood risk assessment process is complete in 2012.”
CONTACT: Sue Doran, Greens Candidate for Coogee