Skip to content
Menu
Sustain Surf
  • Resources
  • Club Checklist
  • Health impacts
  • Coastal impacts
  • Contact Us
Sustain Surf

Coastal impacts of climate change

Rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events will challenge surf life saving club infrastructure and present new hazards to the beach environment.

For every 1cm of sea level rise, we expect 1 metre of sandy beach erosion (The Bruun Rule). At current rates, we could lose 3m-4m of sandy beach per decade, with the rate escalating. 2015 Australian data suggests we should plan for 0.3-0.8m sea level rise by 2090, that corresponds to 30-80 metres of beach erosion. Most surf clubs are built on sand dunes and at risk of damage by erosion. US authorities recommend coastal infrastructure factor in a 2-2.5m sea level rise by 2100 (thats 200m of sandy beach erosion). A paper in Nature Climate Change has estimated that half of the worlds sandy beaches are at risk of disappearing by 2100.

A 2011 SLSA supported study found 63% of clubrooms are situated in an ‘instable’ location and are at risk of erosion.

Elrick, C., Dalton, L. and Kay, R.C. 2011. Impact of Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change on Surf Life Saving Services: A Road Map for Adaptive Action, report prepared for Surf Life Saving Australia

Local councils in WA are required to generate Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plans (CHRMAP). This includes decisions on what land to defend and what land to abandon to the sea. Residential properties and main roads are shown at risk by erosion between 2065-2115 in the map below from the City of Joondalup. All surf clubs in WA should ensure they are consulted in CHRMAP planning.

City of Joondalup – Coastal Infrastructure Adaptation Plan

Implications for surf clubs

  1. Club rooms and patrol towers are at risk of damage, land may be lost. May need to seek land further inland.
  2. Loss of sandy beaches may lead to more hazardous beaches as rock is exposed, or temporary sea walls are washed away.
  3. Loss of sandy beaches may preclude beach-activities such as flags, sprints. Perhaps these will have to be held at a local oval.
  4. Sea walls will be installed in some places, at great expense, which will remove the usual beach interface and create new challenges for safely entering and exiting the ocean. Sea walls are already being installed at some WA beaches
  5. More hazardous surf: Global wave power is increasing 2.3% per year, since 1994 in line with sea surface temperature.
  6. Loss of reefs: this will alter surf breaks and reduce storm protection afforded by reefs. At 2˚C warming 99% of coral reef will be extinct.
Inverloch Surf Lifesaving club President Warren Cook, pictured here with his daughter Jasmine. When the surf lifesaving club was built 10 years ago, it had no view of the sea but now the water is 30 metres from the door.
Inverloch SLSC has lost 2 patrol towers to beach erosion
Currumbin Beach SLSC during storm event (December, 2007) Photo Credit Jennifer Marohasy
and Currumbin again in 2020, 2022. Sources: Daily Mail, ABC

Stockton SLSC (NSW) 2020. Source: Newcastle Herald

Seaspray SLSC 2007 – sand bags and branches used to defend the club after a storm. In 2016 new clubrooms were built further inland.

Denmark SLSC (WA) in 2021. Source: ABC

A collapsed concrete structure has fallen down a steep sand dune in front of the Wye River Surf Club.
Wye River SLSC (Vic) suffered $150,000 in damage in 2021 (Source: ABC article)

Kingscliff SLSC, NSW (Source – State of Environment Australia)

See also – Byron Bay 2020

Further reading

Climate Change Risks to Australia’s Coast (2009) Department of Climate Change

Elrick, C., Dalton, L. and Kay, R.C. 2011. Impact of Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change on Surf Life Saving Services: A Road Map for Adaptive Action, report prepared for Surf Life Saving Australia

Australia State of Environment (2021) – Coasts, Climate Change

  • When will we have an electric IRB or jetski?
  • Line in the sand: No future for fossil fuel sponsors in surf lifesaving
  • Climate Action Motions for your AGM & Director Duties
  • Electric ATV on patrol?
  • Socials: Contact and collaborate with us

Sustain.Surf

2 months 3 weeks ago

Climate change’s ocean heating will also kill off reefs if we get above 2 degrees which it looks like we certainly will. #StopDrillingStartPaying

View on Facebook
Share
Sustain.Surf

Sustain.Surf is at Times Square Claremont.

3 months 2 weeks ago

Smoking ads should be banned.... I mean, fossil fuel ads - especially since FFs kill more people than tobacco these days. Time for a Fossil

3
View on Facebook
Share

Sustain.Surf

5 months 2 weeks ago

Great to see the media and community engaging about the discussion of how fossil fuel sponsorship is just like tobacco sponsorship (and the Ashes are

View on Facebook
Share

Sustain.Surf

6 months 3 days ago

9 November 2024

Great to see Surf Life Saving Australia exploring electric propulsion for IRBs. Will make it much nicer (and less stinky) for swimmers near PWC. Optimal

3
View on Facebook
Share

Sustain.Surf

6 months 2 weeks ago

Surf Life Saving WA still using children to advertise fossil fuels. How will they justify this to our nippers when they are adults? Thanks to

Nippers deal secured with Woodside Energy

Woodside Energy has renewed its sponsorship of the Surf Life Saving WA’s Nippers Program. Upper House Greens candidate Sophie McNeill spoke to 6PR Radio’s Perth Live presenter Oliver Peterson and said Woodside were “big bullies” and she wasn’t surprised the state’s biggest oil and gas co...

2
View on Facebook
Share
Sustain.Surf

Sustain.Surf

7 months 6 days ago

Great to be at Gage Roads Freo for Surfers for Climate showing of the short film Belinda and to hear from the water woman herself!

View on Facebook
Share

Sustain.Surf

7 months 1 week ago

Photos from Surfers for Climate's post

1
View on Facebook
Share

Sustain.Surf

7 months 2 weeks ago

SFC are showing their film at Gage Roads Freo Wednesday next week 9/10/24. Great people, great venue, hopefully great film. Details below . Join our

BELINDA - Film Screening & Community Event at Gage Roads Freo | Humanitix

Get tickets on Humanitix - BELINDA - Film Screening & Community Event at Gage Roads Freo hosted by Surfers for Climate. Gage Roads Freo Brewery, Peter Hughes Dr, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia. Wednesday 9th October 2024. Find event information.

View on Facebook
Share

Sustain.Surf

7 months 2 weeks ago

Great set of resources from Surfers for Climate on how to surf a low emissions life.

Wipe Out Your Emissions

Surfers For Climate Org

View on Facebook
Share

Sustain.Surf

8 months 1 week ago

Did you know air pollution from burning fossil fuels causes 8 millions deaths per year? Help ban fossil fuel advertising in Australia by signing the

With your help, we'll stop the promotion of greenhouse gas pollution.

This report consolidates key evidence demonstrating the direct effects of fossil fuels on our physical and mental well-being. We urge you to consider the findings presented here and join us in advocating for the urgent phasing out of fossil fuels and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. And please....

1
View on Facebook
Share



-+-

©2025 Sustain Surf | WordPress Theme: EcoCoded