The Beagle Editor, With just days to go for the closure of submissions to the Rural Lands Strategy Proposal it is of interest to see groups become concerned at the overlay maps Councils have. While the focus presently is on rural lands those interested might find that there is much in common with where rural lands overlap with coastal zones and areas adjacent to waterways. The NSW Coastal Zone and Council’s GIS Mapping
A prominent Australian coastal engineer is reported to have said:
“QUEENSLAND IS ACTIVELY DEFENDING ITS COASTAL COMMUNITIES FROM COASTAL HAZARDS WHILE NSW IS STILL SPENDING MILLIONS DRAWING RED LINES ON MAPS.”
Have a look at extract below from Council’s GIS mapping portal showing the one kilometre Coastal Zone (a restricted development area) overlayed with other coastal areas where development restrictions apply. Here are the “red lines” that are costing the NSW ratepayer and taxpayer millions of dollars. Red lines that serve little purpose other than to identify the coastal hazards we might experience if abnormal sea levels rise predictions occur, and inland and coastal storm events intensify by a considerable margin. The mapping is so convoluted with hypothetical predictions and unproven computer modelling that the insurance industry can no longer rely on council mapping to inform its members on flood and storm risk assessments.
The map, provided by “Euroleaks” editor Damien Rogers describes them as hard to find and difficult to use. Still, if your property in on the seaward side of the thin red line it is worth the effort to go into https://maps.esc.nsw.gov.au/public80/ to see if you are one of the 6,000 Eurobodalla property owners in “coastal vulnerability areas” who will be punished by the new Coastal Management Act.
If you live in the hills or on a rural property don’t get too comfortable. Damien has promised to share more of the overlays that now blanket most properties in the shire.
Ian Hitchcock
Eurobodalla Regional Coordinator
NSW Coastal Alliance
Note: Copyright of this map and the contents on this maps remains with Eurobodalla Shire Council. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of any such content may be reproduced, modified adapted or published in any way for any commercial purpose whatsoever. The maps above have been reproduced here at the request of community members for the purpose of news and as such are published under Fair Dealing. CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO VISIT COUNCIL'S GIS MAPPING SYSTEM AND, AFTER ACCEPTING TERMS OF USE, EXPLORE YOUR AREA OF INTEREST.
