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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). A current rates, we could lose 3m 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
Seaspray SLSC 2007 – sand bags and branches used to defend the club after a storm. In 2016 new clubrooms were built further inland.
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)
  • Climate Action Motions for your AGM
  • Electric ATV on patrol?
  • When will we have an electric IRB or jetski?
  • Line in the sand: No future for fossil fuel sponsors in surf lifesaving
  • Socials: Contact and collaborate with us

Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 3 days ago

If you’re in and around Cott, get along to understand how climate change will affect the local coastline. Swanbourne Nedlands Surf Life Saving Club North

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Sustain.Surf

Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 5 days ago

ZeroJet any chance you can squeeze one of your jet systems into a Surf Life Saving spec Inflatable Rescue Boat? Perhaps Thundercat Inflatable would need

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Sustain.Surf

1 month 4 weeks ago

Nice work Marko!

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Sustain.Surf

2 months 2 weeks ago

New committees are being voted in to clubs across Aus. Those directors need to consider climate change risks in their management of the clubs. aicd.companydirectors.com.au/advocacy/governance-leadership-centre/external-environment/climate-change-and-directors-duties

Climate Change and Directors Duties

A new legal opinion argues that directors should turn their minds to climate change risks as part of their duty of care.

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Sustain.Surf

2 months 2 weeks ago

It's AGM season in many surf clubs. A time to get involved. One way to give your board a mandate to act on climate change

Climate Action Motions for your AGM - Sustain Surf

Get your surf club to declare climate change as a threat to its members and infrastructure through an AGM motion. Drive action.

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Sustain.Surf

2 months 4 weeks ago

Time to get some electric ATVs on patrols. There are options but Surf Life Saving Australia needs to see if they stand up to testing

Electric ATV on patrol? - Sustain Surf

Electrification of mobility is a essential step in reduction of carbon emissions and will have benefits for surf life saving members and beachgoers. Electric vehicles have much fewer moving parts and less maintenance requirements. An electric ATV will simply be plugged in to a 10 amp power point ove...

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Sustain.Surf

4 months 1 day ago

Over 10 years since Surf Life Saving Australia published a report outlining the risks to surf club infrastructure from climate change. A great report but

Surf clubs under threat from climate change

A report for Surf Lifesaving Australia shows more than half of country's surf lifesaving clubs are being threatened by extreme tides and weather conditions.

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Sustain.Surf

4 months 1 week ago

Long time IRB motor supplier Mercury are teasing their new electric outboard. Hot swappable batteries IN the outboard. Wonder if we'll need a reconfigured Thundercat

Mercury Avator Electric Outboard Concept: Inspired Innovation

The Mercury Avator electric outboard concept represents our next step forward in marine innovation, as Mercury progresses toward the formal release of electr...

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Sustain.Surf

4 months 2 weeks ago

This content isn't available right now

This gives some insights into why doing outside physical activity, like surf patrol or beach competition, is dangerous in extreme heat, something becoming more common

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Sustain.Surf

4 months 3 weeks ago

E Class Outboards are making electric outboards and prototyping batteries which could be suitable for an inflatable rescue boat. Once they are ready for testing,

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