Damon Mcknight
Climate change is affecting Australia's coastal housing in several ways. Rising sea levels, saline intrusion, and coastal erosion are likely to damage coastal housing and infrastructure. Climate change is also causing more frequent and severe flooding, which is exacerbated by more extreme weather events. These changes will impact housing and infrastructure close to the coast, with some properties becoming damaged or uninhabitable. In addition, sea-level rise threatens economically significant industries and infrastructure, including tourism, which will further impact coastal communities. Increasing temperatures will also affect people living in coastal areas, with excessive heat or heat waves being a particular concern.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate change impact on coastal housing in Australia | Rising sea levels, increased ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, changes to rainfall and runoff, more frequent and severe flooding, coastal erosion, salinization of soils, changes in biodiversity, damage to infrastructure, increased heatwaves, and economic impacts |
| Specific impacts on ecosystems | Loss of habitats, changes in plant and animal distribution, migration of species, and potential "coastal squeeze" affecting housing development |
| Economic consequences | Potential loss of tourism revenue, damage to economically significant industries (fishing, seafood), and increased costs for residential and commercial property replacement |
| Population trends | 85% of Australia's population lives in coastal regions, and the number of people seeking coastal living is expected to grow |
| Adaptation and mitigation | Computer modelling, citizen science apps, and government plans to protect vulnerable areas; challenges in insurance and property values in high-risk areas |
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What You'll Learn
Rising sea levels
Sea levels are expected to rise by up to 79 cm by 2100, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This will result in more frequent and severe flooding, especially when combined with extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and storms. Low-lying coastal areas, including houses and infrastructure along coasts, rivers, and estuaries, are most at risk. Coastal erosion will also be exacerbated by rising sea levels, leading to the loss of beaches and damage to coastal ecosystems.
The impact of rising sea levels on coastal housing is already being felt in some areas, such as Wamberal, where residents are agitating for a wall to be built to protect their homes and the coastline from erosion. However, there is a perception that the worst impacts will only be felt in 2100, and home buyers are not always considering the long-term risks when purchasing coastal properties. Financial institutions, however, are taking these risks into account, and the Reserve Bank of Australia has warned that property values in climate change hotspots could soon be affected.
The replacement cost of residential buildings at risk of flooding from a 1.1-metre sea-level rise is estimated to be up to $63 billion, with between 157,000 and 247,600 individual buildings potentially impacted. Coastal communities outside of capital cities may be more vulnerable to the effects of rising sea levels, as they generally have less adaptive capacity.
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More frequent flooding
Climate change is causing more frequent flooding in Australia, and this is having a significant effect on the country's coast in several ways. Rising sea levels, caused by the warming ocean temperatures, are increasing the risk of flooding in coastal areas. According to the IPCC report, global sea levels are predicted to rise by up to 79 cm by 2100, with the contribution of ice sheets potentially pushing this even higher. This is already locked in, according to a coastal engineer, and will result in more frequent and severe flooding.
The impact of rising sea levels is exacerbated by more extreme weather events, also caused by climate change. Storms and heavy rainfall are becoming more intense, and the combination of these factors will almost certainly result in more frequent coastal flooding. Low-lying coastal areas are most at risk, including houses and developments along coasts, rivers, and estuaries. Coastal communities outside of capital cities are generally less prepared for these impacts.
The Collaroy Beach Club in Sydney was damaged by a high tide and low-pressure system in 2016, and residents of Wamberal are concerned about the impact of rising sea levels on their homes and the beach. The Reserve Bank of Australia has warned that property values in climate change hotspots could soon be affected, and that long-term climate change risk is not currently reflected in property values.
The flow of freshwater into coastal habitats is important for sustaining life, but increased salinity due to rising sea levels and more frequent droughts can affect the viability of plant and animal communities. This will have a major impact on the environment and industries that rely on it, such as fishing.
The Australian government has developed CoastAdapt to help understand and manage the changing coast. The CoastSnap app, for example, uses citizen science to map changes in the shoreline by adding photos of the NSW coast to a database.
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Extreme weather events
Climate change is causing more frequent and severe extreme weather events in Australia, which are having a significant impact on the country's coastlines and coastal housing.
Rising sea levels, caused by the warming ocean temperatures, are a major concern for coastal areas. This rise in sea levels is exacerbated by more frequent and intense storms, leading to increased coastal flooding, higher wave run-up levels, and damage to housing and infrastructure. Low-lying coastal areas, including houses, developments, and infrastructure along coasts, rivers, and estuaries, are particularly vulnerable to these impacts.
The combination of rising sea levels and storm surges is causing accelerated coastal erosion, threatening the stability of coastal housing and infrastructure. Coastal ecosystems, such as estuaries, lagoons, wetlands, and coral reefs, are also at risk of significant damage, with potential consequences for the biodiversity and primary production in these areas.
In addition to flooding and erosion, extreme weather events are also causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts, affecting water security in both urban and agricultural sectors. The changing rainfall patterns are influencing sediment delivery to the coast, further impacting coastal erosion.
The impacts of these extreme weather events are already being felt in some Australian coastal communities, such as Wamberal, and the risk of coastal inundation is expected to increase over time. According to experts, about one in twenty properties are currently at high risk of flooding and coastal inundation, and this could rise to one in ten properties over the course of the century. The replacement value of residential buildings at risk of flooding due to a 1.1-metre sea level rise is estimated to be up to $63 billion.
The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events driven by climate change pose significant challenges to coastal housing in Australia, threatening infrastructure, ecosystems, and the livelihoods of those living in these vulnerable areas.
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Erosion and ecosystem damage
Climate change is causing rising sea levels, increased ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and more frequent and intense rainfall and storms. These factors are causing severe damage to Australia's coastal ecosystems, and the effects are likely to worsen over time.
Rising sea levels are causing more frequent and severe flooding, particularly in low-lying coastal areas. This flooding can lead to coastal erosion, as well as shifting sand and beaches and changing the water quality of estuaries, lagoons, and coastal lakes. Estuaries and associated wetlands, coral reefs, tidal flat communities, salt marshes, and beaches are among the most vulnerable ecosystems. The combination of rising sea levels and storm surges can result in accelerated erosion and an increased risk of inundation, posing a significant threat to coastal housing and infrastructure.
The changing climate is also influencing the distribution of plants and animals in coastal areas. Increased salinity in estuarine and coastal habitats can affect the viability of existing plant and animal communities. Some species may migrate inland or towards the poles, but this natural adaptation response may be constrained by human infrastructure in some areas, a phenomenon known as "coastal squeeze". Warmer ocean temperatures can also directly harm ecosystems, such as coral reefs.
The impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems have far-reaching consequences. Damage to these ecosystems can disrupt the food web and impact industries such as fishing and tourism, which rely on healthy coastal environments. Furthermore, coastal communities, particularly those outside capital cities, may be more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and may face challenges in adapting to these changes.
In summary, climate change is causing significant erosion and ecosystem damage along Australia's coasts. The rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, and increasing temperatures are leading to flooding, erosion, and alterations in plant and animal distributions. These impacts are expected to intensify, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation and mitigation measures to protect Australia's unique coastal environments and the communities that depend on them.
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Impact on housing and infrastructure
Climate change is expected to have a significant impact on housing and infrastructure in Australian coastal areas. Rising sea levels, increased storm surges, and more frequent and intense rainfall will result in accelerated coastal erosion, higher wave run-up levels, and more frequent and severe flooding. This will damage and potentially render uninhabitable residential buildings and critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, ports, and roads. The estimated replacement cost of residential buildings at risk of flooding with a 1.1-metre sea level rise is up to $63 billion.
Coastal communities outside of capital cities are generally more vulnerable to climate change impacts due to their limited adaptive capacity. For example, the coastal town of Wamberal is already experiencing the impacts of climate change, with residents advocating for the construction of a wall to protect their homes and the coastline from erosion.
The combination of rising sea levels and storm surges will exacerbate the risk of coastal inundation, which is already a significant concern in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. With a projected sea-level rise of up to 79 centimetres by 2100, the frequency of inundation events that previously occurred once every 100 years could increase significantly, occurring as often as once a year in some locations.
Additionally, the health and wellbeing of flora and fauna will be impacted by excessive heat and temperature changes, leading to changes in the composition of biodiversity. This will particularly affect coastal ecosystems, with potential losses of habitats and changes in the distribution of plants and animals.
The impacts of climate change on coastal housing and infrastructure in Australia are expected to be widespread and costly, affecting not only residential areas but also critical infrastructure and industries such as tourism, fishing, and seafood.
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Frequently asked questions
Climate change is causing rising sea levels, warming ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, changes to rainfall and runoff, and more extreme weather events. These changes will affect coastal landforms and ecosystems, including oceans, beaches, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers. Coastal housing in Australia will be impacted by increased flooding and erosion, with some properties becoming damaged or uninhabitable.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has warned that property values in climate change hotspots could soon decrease, leaving banks vulnerable in the case of default. Around 3.5% of dwellings in Australia already fall under the international definition of "high-risk", and this risk is not currently reflected in property values.
Some residents are advocating for the building of walls to protect coastlines from erosion. However, experts predict that without major works to protect them, some properties may become uninsurable.
