Barwon South West

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Barwon South West Regional Adaptation Snapshot Barwon South West The Barwon South West region extends from the tip of Queenscliff Heads on Port Phillip Bay to the border of South Australia. About half the population lives in Geelong and other regional centres include Warrnambool, Colac What are the regional and Portland. adaptation snapshots? In 2017 the Victorian Government committed another $9.3 million over three years to support regional solutions through the Supporting our Regions to Adapt program. To ensure this funding addresses the most critical needs, officers from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) examined State of adaptation in Barwon regional impacts of climate change and existing adaptation projects and strategies. Officers South West 2018 spoke to community members, businesses, Over the last year, DELWP Community and Partnership Officers researchers and government bodies in each organised a stocktake of climate adaptation projects underway region and assessed priorities for communities in the Barwon South West region. We conducted a survey or held based on the impacts they’re facing as well as in-depth discussions with a total of 67 stakeholders to identify their needs and values. community views and ask people what is already happening and In early 2018, DELWP completed climate what else could be done to adapt to climate change in the region. change gap analyses in six regions across There are over 40 adaptation projects in Barwon South West. the state. This report presents a high-level Among them, there’s a big focus on the natural environment— summary of the analysis in Barwon South West. in one major initiative, the catchment management authorities It provides a snapshot of impacts, actions, gaps are collaboratively mapping the vulnerability of natural assets. and priorities in the region. Other projects include municipal adaptation plans, climate literacy sessions by Agriculture Victoria, and health organisations partnering on a climate resilience program. Climate change impacts are already being Eight out of ten people surveyed have a high understanding felt in Victoria—and successful adaptation of climate change but fewer are aware about climate change requires solutions that are identified, owned adaptation. There remains confusion between adaptation and and driven locally. mitigation—reducing carbon emissions. Around half of the stakeholders said farmers are the most vulnerable to climate Within Victoria, communities, industry and change, which reflects the importance of agriculture to the region. local government are already leading the way. What we heard - regional priorities Project spotlight: During the consultation, people identified many projects that Climate Resilient could help the region adapt to climate change. Some of the Communities priorities include: » improving levels of climate change understanding and the capacity Climate Resilient Communities of organisations and sectors to respond to impacts of the Barwon South West » improving understanding of climate change risks to assets, brings together all nine particularly in forestry, fisheries, energy, tourism, ports and rail municipalities of the region, in » translating risk assessments into actionable, localised plans addition to Golden Plains Shire for managing risks and vulnerabilities identified at regional and partner agencies, to begin or sectoral scales to understand and respond » identifying regional leaders in adaptation planning, to future climatic changes. to better build shared capacity, avoid duplication of effort The project has established and streamline investment a collaborative forum for managing shared impacts. » identifying champions among credible industry bodies and similar groups to disseminate information on climate change impacts In phase one, the project » researching potential opportunities presented by climate change; identified key vulnerabilities for example, in tourism and primary industries and high priority research to increase the understanding » coordinating tourism operators to work closely with emergency of resilience to climate risks. management organisations to plan for disasters and long-term In phase two, all councils climate impacts developed an adaptation » updating and expanding the South West Climate Change Portal to plan based on their key include all sectors and to support collaboration across sectors vulnerabilities. Through the process, councils have opted to embed climate change into their decision-making Project spotlight: Port Fairy Local processes and build further Coastal Hazard Assessment staff capability to manage risks. Also as a part of phase two, the partners established The Port Fairy Local Coastal Hazard Assessment drew upon regional adaptation priorities, collaboration between Moyne Shire and a coastal monitoring group based on an analysis of the of local citizens. The group members provided information on beach strengths and weaknesses erosion. They also translated the complex outputs of the hazard across councils. assessment into a series of interpretive posters that were used in a survey on values and priorities, which received over 800 responses. East Beach has been receding at 0.1 to 0.3 metres per year over the past 150 years. Although East Beach has a long rock wall built for coastal defence, approximately 30 buildings are vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise, coastal erosion and increased storm events. Should the East Beach retaining wall fail, Climate Change the number of buildings at risk increases to 120. If sea level rises by 0.8 metres by 2080 and the revetment fails, Adaptation in Victoria 200 buildings in the East Beach area would be vulnerable. To find out more about Moyne Shire has released a Port Fairy Coastal Climate Change adaptation plan discussion paper to continue adaptation in Victoria the conversation. Victoria’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2017-2020 2 Trends across Barwon South West Values and perceptions Key demographic statistics We held discussions with a total of 67 stakeholders, including government and industry bodies, community groups and 400,000 health care providers and The approximate Aboriginal organisations. number of people in the region Eight out of ten people reported a good Shrinking understanding of climate Population in change, but they believe the traditional broader community has a agricultural areas more limited understanding SOUTHERN GRAMPIANS about the issue. Respondents weren’t as aware about climate change adaptation, Hamilton however, and there remains GREATER confusion between adaptation GEELONG GLENELG CORANGAMITE and mitigation, which is the MOYNE Geelong reduction of carbon emissions. Camperdown SURF QUEENSCLIFFE Half the people surveyed Portland WARRNAMBOOL COAST believe their organisation or Colac Torquay Port Fairy Warrnambool broader sector isn’t currently COLAC- Aireys Inlet capable of responding OTWAY Lorne adequately to climate impacts. Port Campbell Apollo Bay They cited many barriers, including a lack of human resources and information, restrictive or outdated 1/4 legislation, the absence of Of Australia’s 50% dairy production strategic leadership within Torquay’s population sectors, and the gap between has grown by adaptation needs and funding. 50% since 2006 Half the people said farmers are the most vulnerable to climate change—a proportion that recognises Barwon South West has been getting the significance of agriculture warmer and drier to the region. People were In the future we can expect also concerned about the Temperatures Harsher More frequent vulnerability of the elderly. to continue fire weather/ and more to increase longer fire intense year round seasons downpours Less rainfall in More hot days Rising autumn, winter and warm spells sea level and spring and fewer frosts 3 Climate change sector impacts in Barwon South West BUILT HEALTH AND PRIMARY ENVIRONMENT HUMAN SERVICES PRODUCTION » Increasing sea level and » Increasing heatwaves, fire weather » Decreasing rainfall storm surges and solar radiation » Increasing temperature, » Increasing fire weather and » Ageing population and areas hot days and fire weather heatwaves of social disadvantage » Lack of diversity in production— » Wind farms concentrated » Population growth concentrated dairy industry accounts for half along the power transmission line in a few key locations the region’s exports vulnerable to storm damage » Coastal areas experience » Farm land and infrastructure AND RISK FACTORS RISK AND population influx in summer exposed to fire and flood KEY CLIMATE IMPACTS IMPACTS CLIMATE KEY » Erosion and infrastructure damage » More stress on health and » Changed fodder or pasture along the coastline emergency services, especially production pattern » Increased infrastructure during extreme events » Changed distribution of pests maintenance costs » More heat-related deaths, and diseases » Increased disruption to services and particularly among the elderly » Heat stress on livestock and crops export sector and disadvantaged » Reduced water security IMPACTS POTENTIAL POTENTIAL » Mental health effects » Increased threat to tourism » Declining log yield due to infrastructure » Risks to tourists unfamiliar bushfires and reduced rainfall with conditions NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TRANSPORT WATER » Decreasing rainfall » Increasing flooding » Increasing temperature and » Increasing sea level and ocean » Increasing fire weather evaporation rates acidification » Great Ocean Road vulnerable » Decreasing rainfall and » Increasing fire weather
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