Coastal Climate Change Impact Assessment

Spatial Vision was contracted by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to undertake an assessment of the likely impacts of anticipated climate change on the Victorian coastline.  This assessment considered impacts for assets found on, or near to, the coast. This project built on earlier risk assessment work carried out by DELWP in relation to identified priority assets, and the CoastAdapt risk assessment approach.

The assessment of the Victorian coastline involved an extensive, state-wide, spatially-based analysis of coastal assets with each impact component considered over three separate stages.  These were the:

• Coastal Erosion Vulnerability Rating
• Coastal Inundation Impact Rating
• Application of ratings to coastal assets

Spatial Vision’s report included the currently available coastal biophysical data, assets and research findings. This is the first time such an assessment approach has been applied Victorian-wide.

The outputs of this work included a spatial representation of the Victorian coastal assets at risk from climate change.  Areas of higher potential impact from coastal erosion vulnerability and inundation were highlighted.

These results will be used by DELWP to support planning and implementation of adaptation and mitigation activities, establishing targeted monitoring programs and identifying regions to undertake more detailed and focused local coastal hazard assessments.

If you have a pressing environmental, economic or resource issue, or would like to know more about the Coastal Climate Change Impact Assessment project or other projects we have undertaken at Spatial Vision, we would love to hear from you.