Coastal Risk Management in Member Councils

Introduction

Risk management is a tool used to make decisions about the probability of an event and its resultant consequences. It aims to provide a structured way of identifying and analyzing potential risks, and devising and implementing appropriate responses while providing an opportunity to enhance current practice and support. It is defined by Australian Standard 4360 (2004) as “the culture, processes and structures that are directed towards realising potential opportunities whilst managing adverse effects”. It involves a multifaceted process that is best carried out in a multidisciplinary team ensuring a systematic application to the tasks of identifying, analysing, assessing, treating and monitoring all forms of risk.

Management of coastal and estuarine risk is subjective as there are different reasons and values that influence the cost benefit ratio of protecting the coastal zone such as:

• the loss of property,
• the value of a beach,
• the cost of protective works whether it be construction or renourishment, or
• the value of the coastal zone by user groups e.g. surfers, land owner and tourism industry.

Risk management for the SCCG Member Councils is of prime importance as the management of risks has a wide distribution. Focus is required for the integration of not only natural processes such as coastal erosion, cliff stability and flooding but now must also incorporate issues such as public safety.

Aim and Objectives

The purpose of consultation process and the resultant report is to provide a status and recommendations report on risk management practice for Councils in Sydney coastal areas including beaches, estuaries, lakes and nearshore marine waters (suggested 3 nautical miles offshore).

The objectives of identifying risk management in all coastal areas are to establish:

• what is risk management for each relevant coastal, estuary and/or waterway zone
• what are the common risks faced by the Member Councils
• what are the common practices of risk management
• what are the gaps in coastal risk management practice

The purpose of the report is to provide Councils with:

• details of member council feedback for the issue of Coastal Risk Management facing Sydney’s coastal Councils
• collate a status and recommendations report as part of the process to identify the issues facing SCCG Councils by recognising:
• common coastal risk issues and management activities identified for Member Councils
• recommendations for managing risk in the coastal zone

Outcomes / Outputs

The report gives the necessary information to provide an overview of the current status and activities of coastal risk management in Member Councils including recommendations for future priorities. It also provides a unique a preliminary benchmark of the current practice in coastal risk management for SCCG Member Councils.

For a hard copy of the Report, or for more information please contact the SCCG. 

Status and Recommendations Report - Risk Management for Sydney Coastal Councils, 2005