❓ A parliamentary question addresses concerns about new coastal setback provisions in WA, questioning their rigidity, comparison to other jurisdictions, and consultation with local councils. The Minister's response defends the measures as best practice and consistent with other states.
AnsweredQoN 761Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
COASTAL SETBACK PROVISIONS
(1) Is the minister aware that his new coastal setback provisions introduced to take account of climate change have been assessed by industry stakeholders as being too rigid and unnecessarily prescriptive? (2) How do the new WA measures compare with those in other Australian and overseas jurisdictions in terms of implementing best practice solutions? (3) What consultation was held with local councils affected by coastal setback policies before the new measures were announced? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
(1) Is the minister aware that his new coastal setback provisions introduced to take account of climate change have been assessed by industry stakeholders as being too rigid and unnecessarily prescriptive? (2) How do the new WA measures compare with those in other Australian and overseas jurisdictions in terms of implementing best practice solutions? (3) What consultation was held with local councils affected by coastal setback policies before the new measures were announced? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(2) How do the new WA measures compare with those in other Australian and overseas jurisdictions in terms of implementing best practice solutions? (3) What consultation was held with local councils affected by coastal setback policies before the new measures were announced? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(3) What consultation was held with local councils affected by coastal setback policies before the new measures were announced? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(2) How do the new WA measures compare with those in other Australian and overseas jurisdictions in terms of implementing best practice solutions? (3) What consultation was held with local councils affected by coastal setback policies before the new measures were announced? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(3) What consultation was held with local councils affected by coastal setback policies before the new measures were announced? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(1) The adopted increase in vertical sea level rise from 0.38 metres to 0.9 metres for the next 100 years for calculating setbacks from the coast in WA is in keeping with best practice for coastal zone management. It is part of the calculation for setbacks that provides for coastal processes. Each development is assessed on its merits. (2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(2) The new WA measures are consistent with other states’ sea level rise figures of between 0.8 and 0.9 metres. (3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
(3) A comprehensive review of existing work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre on sea level rise was undertaken by the state’s senior coastal engineer in the Department of Transport. This information resulted in a technical paper entitled “Sea Level Change in Western Australia: Application to Coastal Planning”, which was independently peer reviewed by John Hunter of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Ivan Haig of the University of WA. Throughout the review, departmental officers have been involved in presentations and discussions with a number of local governments on setback issues.
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