4 May 2019:Coastal councils have welcomed an announcement by Labor leader Bill Shorten to create a $62 million fund to help limit coastal impacts resulting from climate change.
The announcement includes a plan to bring together local and state governments to create a national framework for building coastal resilience. It also includes a proposal to restore funding of $3 million a year to the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.
The bulk of the funding would be allocated to setting up a $50 million coastal rehabilitation fund to help communities and local governments to undertake projects that restore beaches and adjacent coastal environments.
Barry Sammels, Chair of the Australian Coastal Councils Association, said the announcement is welcome news to councils in coastal areas all around Australia.
“Coastal councils have been calling for a coordinated national response to deal with coastal hazards including widespread coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and more severe extreme weather events,” he said.
“The scale of dealing effectively with these hazards along Australia’s vast coastline is beyond the capacity of local governments. It requires a national approach involving all three levels of government, national leadership and national funding.
“What the ALP has announced today is a much-needed step in that direction and we call on the Coalition to match this commitment.”
