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Adapting to Sea Level Rise

NSW Sea Level Rise Policy Statement

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The NSW Sea Level Rise Policy Statement specifies sea level planning benchmarks for the NSW coastline. These benchmarks are an increase above 1990 mean sea levels of 40 centimetres by 2050 and 90 centimetres by 2100.
Download a copy of the Policy Statement

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NSW Coastal Planning Guideline: Adapting to Sea Level Rise
The Department of Planning has released the final NSW Coastal Planning Guideline : Adapting to Sea Level Rise following extensive consultation. The Guideline adopts the sea level rise planning benchmarks in the NSW Sea Level Rise Policy Statement. It is a forward-looking document which assists planning for future development proposals.
The Guideline outlines an approach to assist councils, State agencies, planners and development proponents when adressing sea level rise in land-use planning and development assessment.
It applies to all coastal areas of NSW, including the NSW Coastal Zone, as well as Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay. The term ‘coastal areas’ is used broadly to include the coastline, beaches, coastal lakes, estuaries, as well as the tidal reaches of coastal rivers. It also includes other low-lying land surrounding these areas that may be subject to coastal processes in the future as a consequence of sea level rise.
The Guideline adopts the following six coastal planning principles for sea level rise adaptation:

Assess and evaluate coastal risks taking into account the NSW sea level rise planning benchmarks.
Advise the public of coastal risks to ensure that informed land use planning and development decision-making can occur.
Avoid intensifying land use in coastal risk areas through appropriate strategic and land-use planning.
Consider options to reduce land use intensity in coastal risk areas where feasible.
Minimise the exposure to coastal risks from proposed development in coastal areas.
Implement appropriate management responses and adaptation strategies, with consideration for the environmental, social and economic impacts of each option.

Download a copy of the Guideline
A document containing frequently asked questions, and plain-english responses to these has also been prepared.
Download a copy of the FAQs.
Guidelines by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water
The Department of Planning's Guideline is complemented by two guides prepared by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water that assist councils to incorporate the sea level rise planning benchmarks in their coastal hazard and flood risk studies. These guides are:

Coastal Risk Management Guide: incorporating sea level rise benchmarks in coastal risk assessments
Flood Risk Management Guide: incorporating sea level rise benchmarks in flood risk assessments.

For further information on these guides, please visit the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water website.

DOCUMENTS ON ADAPTING TO SEA LEVEL RISE