Potential impact of rising sea level on land ownership and government planning

Lascalles, Alex (2009) Potential impact of rising sea level on land ownership and government planning. [USQ Project]

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Abstract

Climate change and consequent sea level rises over the next century will create major challenges for regulators determining land use. In excess of 150 million people
worldwide live within one metre of mean high water mark (MHWM). Many populated areas in Australia will face challenges associated with rising sea levels in
the next century.
This study seeks to model the potential impact of rising sea levels on two sample parcels of land in the Great Lakes and Lake Macquarie areas of New South Wales, based on anticipated changes to MHWM. It will also explore the consequences for land ownership where boundaries are defined by MHWM using the principles outlined in the Doctrine of Erosion and Accretion.
While there is a range of scientific opinion on the scope and speed of climate change, ranging from quite small to the catastrophic, this study has accepted the models
developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007) and regional variations for the east coast of Australia proposed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
Anticipated sea level rises will cause inundation of low-lying land in many areas of the world including Australia. There will be a landward migration of MHWM creating ownership issues for landowners and planning issues for government and regulatory bodies. Regulatory bodies will need to proceed cautiously with future land use to avoid legal liability for a foreseen event

Statistics for this ePrint Item

Item Type:	USQ Project
Refereed:	No
Item Status:	Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Surveying and Land Information (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited:	16 Jul 2010 04:36
Last Modified:	16 Jul 2010 06:18
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sea levels; land ownership; government planning; climate change
Fields of Research (2008):	09 Engineering > 0907 Environmental Engineering > 090702 Environmental Engineering Modelling 05 Environmental Sciences > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050204 Environmental Impact Assessment 09 Engineering > 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering > 091507 Risk Engineering (excl. Earthquake Engineering)
Fields of Research (2020):	40 ENGINEERING > 4011 Environmental engineering > 401199 Environmental engineering not elsewhere classified 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring 40 ENGINEERING > 4010 Engineering practice and education > 401005 Risk engineering
URI:	https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/8393

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