Seaway extension an option in climate threat

AN EXTENSION of the Southport Seaway will be considered as a solution to prevent waterfront Gold Coast suburbs from being submerged within a century.

Mayor Tom Tate is reviewing a climate change report commissioned by the Gold Coast City Council and Gold Coast Waterways Authority on solutions to protecting the coastline against the impact of climate change.

The plan is expected to go before council in early-2022 and will detail steps that can be taken to prevent widespread flooding issues.

Mr Tate said solutions were needed to ensure the city would not be devastated.

“We have to plan to protect the coastline, in particular Palm Beach,” he said.

“I want to look at the seaway and whether we can extended it further and have a curl at the end to protect from storms as sea levels will increase,” Mr Tate said.

“We need to look at town planning to see the flood areas and what is going to happen to them with an increase in ocean levels and high tides. I’ve just got to read through (the report) and it will then go to council.”

Mr Tate’s comments come after the release of the Coastal Risk Australia Map, which is based on findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report.

The maps show that lowlying riverfront property and waterfront suburbs will be underwater by 2100.

Heavily affected areas include Southport, Labrador, Biggera Waters, Runaway Bay, Paradise Point, The Spit, Currumbin Waters and Tweed Heads South.

Bond University environmental science expert Daryl McPhee told the Bulletin in September that global sea levels would increase by 0.84m by 2100.

Dr McPhee said low-lying areas and those around the Nerang River were most at risk of being inundated.

These include Clear Island Waters, Bundall and Coombabah.

“If you have a waterfront property, expect water to be in your loungeroom in the future – according to this mapping,” he said.

“It’s a long-term issue for the property market,” Dr McPhee said.

“There could be changes in lending patterns from banks for low-lying areas at risk of inundation during the life of a home loan.”

WE NEED TO LOOK AT TOWN PLANNING TO SEE THE FLOOD AREAS AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM WITH AN INCREASE IN OCEAN LEVELS AND HIGH TIDES. TOM TATE