Year 10 Geography Work. 29/07/15

Geographical Issue……………Coastal Management. Read the text below and then answer these questions.

Name your favourite place along the beach.

Why is it so special?

How can humans detract from its natural beauty?

Write 5 dot points to summarise the introduction on coastal management.

Define the coastal zone.

List the variety of environments in this zone.

What does sustainable development hope to achieve along our coasts?

List some of our world heritage sites that are in the coastal zone.

In what forms is aboriginal history retained along the coast?

Copy the following crossection into your notes. 9.1 Coastal management: a geographical issue Nine out of ten Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coast. By the year 2030, it is estimated that 21 million people are likely to live near the coast. As well as being the favourite place to live, the coast is the most popular destination for tourists and visitors of all ages. Industry is also drawn to coastal areas because of access to transport. Nearly 50 per cent of Australia's gross domestic product is produced in coastal urban areas. All of the activities impact on coastal environments and ecosystems as well as on the quality of life we experience as residents or visitors. It is clear that Australia's coasts need to be managed. GEOfacts  All urban centres in Australia with populations of more than 500 000 are located on the coastal fringe of the continent.  Between 1974 and 1989, one-third of the coastal vegetation along the south-east coast of Queensland was removed.  Around Perth, 70 per cent of the original wetlands have been cleared. The coastal zone The coastal zone includes the coastal hinterland and the inner continental shelf as well as everything in between, such as beaches and estuaries. The coast is the interface where the ocean meets the land. Within Australia's coastal zone there are many different environments, including mountain ranges, flood plains, rivers and lakes, rainforests, wetlands, mangrove areas, estuaries, beaches, coral reefs, seagrass beds and the continental shelf. All these environments must be managed in a sustainable manner to enable future generations to enjoy Australia's natural beauty. Sustainable development and management means that our use of coastal resources must meet the needs of the present population without endangering the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The coast is the interface where the ocean meets the land. This aerial photograph shows the coastline between the Nullarbor Plain and the Great Australian Bight. The majority of Australia's World Heritage sites are located in the coastal zone. For example, the Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe Island, Fraser Island and Shark Bay are part of Australia's cultural and natural heritage. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage sites are found within the coastal zone. The identification and preservation of middens, art sites, fish traps, stone and ochre quarries, burial and religious sites must be considered when developing management plans. Coastal environments have not always been managed sustainably. In the past, decision makers had limited knowledge about the fragile nature of many coastal ecosystems and they had different perspectives about the use of coastal areas. Their aim was to develop coastal areas for short-term economic gains. This was based on the belief that nature's resources were limitless. Building high-rise apartments and tourist resorts on sand dunes seemed a good idea — until they fell into the sea when cyclones eroded the shoreline. The Great Barrier Reef was placed on the World Heritage List in 1981.

SAMPLE STUDY Coastal erosion leads to action From 1967 to 1974, erosion events along the east coast were so severe that they changed ideas about coastal management. Communities and governments wanted to know more about coastal processes to help them manage the problems. Information was gathered from new systems such as wave-rider buoys (which measure wave height and period), time-lapse photography, storm surge recordings and sediment analysis. This information was used to plan and manage programs such as beach nourishment. There was also a growing awareness that coastal management must consider the perspectives of different communities, interest groups and individuals to ensure social justice and equity. The New South Wales Coast Government Policy stated: ‘The government [must] ensure the responsible and productive management of the 1100-kilometre strip of land along the New South Wales coast. The efficient management of this land has been plagued by a history of haphazard development and the absence of a clear conservation strategy. This is not acceptable.’

Bilgola 1974

Bilgola Beach 2008. Homes worth millions of dollars have been rebuilt on the fore dune. Pittwater Council continually adds sand to the beach after storms. 1. Homes rebuilt on fore dune since 1974 2. Coastal development 3. Headlands eroding 4. Increased width of beach — erodes easily after storms. Over time, people have realised that coastal management requires an understanding of the processes that affect coastal environments. To manage the coast sustainably we need to understand:  the coastal environment and the effect of physical processes  the effect of human activities within the coastal zone  the different perspectives of coastal users  how to achieve a balance between conservation and development  how decisions are made about the ways in which coasts will be used  how to evaluate the success of individuals, groups and the levels of governments in managing coastal issues.