WAMSI » Ningaloo » Facing the challenge of coastal management
Facing the challenge of coastal management
 with WA Marine Science Institution CEO Dr Steve Blake (left) and WA Marine Science Institution Board Chair Dr Peter Rogers.jpg)
Increased tourist numbers, growing populations in coastal towns, climate change and ‘grey nomads’ moving to warmer coastal regions are some of the challenges facing coastal Australia.
Professor Bruce Thom, President of the Australian Coastal Society and a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, told a Ningaloo research symposium that WA was now seeing high population growth along its coastlines, particularly in places such as Mandurah.
“There is a difficulty with community facilities, and the issue of climate change and inundations on high tides, something that will increase in amplitude,” he said.
“There are issues of water security, water biodiversity, water quality and other broader environmental systems… These are things which the nation needs to address.
“If we don’t start attending to these, what will happen?”
He predicted that biodiversity would decline and that the least advantaged would be affected by bad planning decisions such as housing developments around lakes or canals, while the building of ports, towns and sewerage structures along the coast had also caused problems.
“Sadly we have a legacy of institutional complexity into how the coast has been used for some time, and the impacts of degradation. Many decisions are ending up in the courts instead of being solved through government policies – another barrier to better management.
“We need to take a growing interest into how we can improve our management approaches,” Professor Thom said, adding scientists had to ensure their science advice informed state and federal governments, which had the power to manage Australia’s natural resources.
“We need to improve our treasured coastal assets and integrate science into management,” he said.
Professor Thom was the keynote speaker at Ningaloo into the future: integrating science into management looking at three years of research into Ningaloo Marine Park’s biodiveristy. The symposium was sponsored by the WA Marine Science Institution, the Department of Environment and Conservation, and CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship’s Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster.
He is pictured (centre) with WAMSI's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Steve Blake (left) and WAMSI Chair, Dr Peter Rogers.