Sapphire Coast News

NSW government announces major investment in east coast climate research.

The NSW Government will invest $750,000 into research to look at changing weather patterns along the east coast and how they may affect the population and infrastructure along the NSW and South-East Queensland coastline.

NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Frank Sartor said the NSW Government would invest the money over the next three years and would bring together top researchers from the State's research institutions, Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO and the NSW Government, as part of the Eastern Seaboard Climate Change Initiative.

Mr Sartor said that decision-makers and researchers would be meeting in Sydney over the next few days to finalise the details of the groundbreaking research program for the next three years.

"The east coast of Australia is home to almost 9 million Australians and billions of dollars of public and private infrastructure and we need to be clear on the threats climate change could pose to this region," Mr Sartor said

"While big storms can top up our dams they can also cause a lot of damage to property and can be life threatening.

"There is still so much we don't know about weather systems along the coast and a lack of understanding of these systems and the effect of climate change on them represents a significant exposure for the east coast of Australia," he said.

Mr Sartor said the eastern seaboard has been identified as an area of needing additional research into weather systems with extreme weather already being experienced and this research will help fill a critical knowledge gap.

"Quite simply the research will help us understand these weather systems, how they may impact on coastal populations and how they may be affected by climate change," Mr Sartor said.

"A storm along the east coast in June 2007 was responsible for the evacuation of 6000 homes and the stranding of the Pasha Bulka coal carrier on a Newcastle beach.

"The storm cost the community an estimated 1.4 billion dollars and resulted in the loss of life.

"The NSW Government is determined to lead research in this area and by bringing together decision-makers and researchers we can make sure that our future coastal planning is based on the best possible information," he said.

Mr Sartor said all tiers of government are working in partnership on important climate change initiatives