The Beagle Editor,
Over the last four decades at least, there’s been much comment about what “likely” affects global warming may have on Sea Level Rises of the east coast of Australia. Sea level rises generally being wave run up on land as a result of significant Sea Storm Events. Discussions have been occurring about how to best reduce risk and financial obligations. This applies across the board and especially to Governments agencies involved, including the insurance industry, should major or significant damage to private and public assets occur in the event of Sea level Rises ( Sea Storm Events ) as a result of predicted Climate Change, which at the moment is opinion or hypothetically based. That’s the case because no one actually knows after all it’s a best guess thing based on best guess modelling to date.
The present attitudes of Government is to attempt to deny any liability of any damages caused to private assets in the event of Sea Storm wave run up events, scenarios should damage to private assets occur in low lying coastal areas where people have been allowed to build and develop property’s including operating businesses. All governments, local Councils as well, have allowed development of virtually all things particularly housing to occur in areas that have now been identified as potentially at risk.
The present land owners and occupiers didn’t just come along, develop and occupy the “at risk “ areas. They paid development fees, building fees, inspection fees and inflated rates due to their being considered premium to local Councils as well as higher property taxes to the State Government. Now though, Governments are developing strategy’s that allows them to wipe their hands of their involvement in allowing development in the at risk area occurring, putting the onus on individuals completely including financially when the Government supported development where sea flooding is likely to occur.
The Local Authority’s, Council and the State Government need to be developing financial plans to assist those who are potentially now affected by decisions of Government including Local Council’s so they can move if necessary in dignity. The dog eat dog solution isn’t the right way to deal with it.
Allan Brown
Catalina
