Climate change on the Queensland coast
Climate change poses considerable risks to the Queensland coast through possible erosion and increased inundation and frequency of extreme weather events.
The sandy beaches that dominate the coastline are one of the most variable, unpredictable and fragile coastal systems and are likely to experience significant erosion due to cyclones, storm events and sea level rise.
In April 2011, the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence (QCCCE) released Queensland Coastal Processes and Climate Change which highlights the processes that shape our coastal regions and the potential impacts of climate change on coasts and coastal communities.
In response to growing community concern about the impacts on climate change on sea-level rise (SLR) the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) undertook a state-wide photographic survey of the king tides around the Queensland coast. The photographic survey, 2011 Queensland king tide photographic survey – a sign of things to come (PDF, 1.6M)*, presents a snapshot of these summer king tides. This report provides a selection of photographs which could be used as a point of reference to future king tide events.
The Australian Government Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and DERM have jointly funded a new initiative coordinated by the environment organisation Green Cross Australia called The 2012 Witness King Tides project.
The Witness King Tides community photographic project encourages all Queenslanders to photograph the 2012 summer king tide events, at their local beach, river, estuary or wetland, then upload their images to the Witness King Tides website, which will become a visual record of Queensland areas vulnerable to high tides.
The website also has information about the 2012 summer king tide events, outlines best spots along the Queensland coast to see the impact, and has tips for taking useful photos to upload.
This comprehensive online database will provide vital information for Queensland coastal communities to help plan for future sea level rises and manage the risks.
The Department is undertaking a number of other key projects to assist in understanding coastal impacts:
Improved Coastal Mapping
The project will provide stakeholders with easy to access, clear and accurate tools that show the effects of climate change on the Queensland coast. The outputs will primarily support improved planning, disaster preparedness and risk assessment and increase public understanding of the expected effects of climate change.
Gulf of Carpentaria Storm Tide and Inundation Study
The project aims to investigate and define the statistical probabilities of coastal inundation impacts caused by tropical cyclones within communities located along the Gulf of Carpentaria coastline. The results will provide storm surge water level statistics at 100 kilometre intervals along the Gulf of Carpentaria together with inundation mapping under both current and predicted future climate change scenarios. The project is due for completion by the end of 2011.
Inundation modelling guideline
The project will use the USA Federal Emergency Management Agency storm tide inundation mapping guideline to develop an Australian guideline. Additionally, the study will produce an inundation modelling guideline matrix which will recommend suitable inundation models to be used for each local government area along the Queensland coastline. The guideline and matrix will support the Coastal Hazards Guideline as part of the Queensland Coastal Management Plan and also the Emergency Management Queensland’s Evacuation Framework for Queensland Coastal Communities.
Torres Strait tide gauging
The low-lying islands of the Torres Strait are recognised as being highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change through storm tide inundation. However, there is a lack of tide gauges and reliable data. QCCCE has already established one tide gauge off Thursday Island and has offered to establish and operate four tide gauges in the Torres Strait under an agreement with the Commonwealth Government and the Torres Strait Regional Authority.
Storm Tide Inundation Monitoring Project (pilot).
This project deployed up to 10 water level recorders near the high water mark in coastal communities between Cairns and Townsville for the duration of the 2010–11 cyclone season (November–May). These recorders were designed to collect tropical cyclone storm surge inundation data which can be used to provide more accurate information for planning and disaster mitigation.
QCCCE also monitors the Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypassing Project and an extensive wave and tide monitoring data collection program across Queensland.
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Last updated 16 December 2011