Improved roads and drainage, new building heights above projected flood levels and remediation of Pelican foreshore are features of a plan on exhibition for coastal areas in Lake Macquarie.
The Local Adaptation Plan for future flooding and coastal risks: Pelican, Blacksmiths, Swansea, Swansea Heads and Caves Beach was approved for exhibition by Lake Macquarie councillors on Monday night.
The plan was drafted through collaboration with local communities to help them plan for the worst and respond to flooding and sea level rise, with "trigger points" for when action is needed. Studies have identifed the suburbs as extremely vulnerable to the projected impacts of sea level rise.
The initiative outlines current and emerging flooding, inundation and coastal risks within the chosen area and includes a 10-year action plan with a mix of on-ground works, policy, planning, advocacy, engagement, research, monitoring and reporting initiatives.
Cheryl Daley-Danaher from the Local Adaptation Planning Group for Pelican, Blacksmiths, Swansea and Surrounds addressed the meeting, saying the plan would provide surety to the community that council is taking sea level rise seriously and ensure council and the community are prepared when action is required.
Councillor Adam Schultz said the plan wasn't a "set and forget" idea.
"There are certain targets that need to be renewed on a regular basis," he said.
"Also as I understand, it seeks to find a way in terms of reaching a sound outcome for residents in that we're trying to mitigate economic impacts but also acknowledge that we've got a very dynamic environment in that area."
Councillor Kevin Baker flagged potential issues the plan might cause for insurance premiums and asked that the Insurance Council of Australia be notified of the plan to provide feedback.
"We've previously seen with similar items insurance companies and the insurance industry potentially using something like this against homeowners seeking insurance and that having a significant financial impact," Cr Baker said.
Councillor Jason Pauling said he had problems with the plan as it stood.
"We've got the issue of cost, we've got the issue of infrastructure, we've got the issue of planning," he said.
"We've got flooding issues versus sea level rise versus potential unknown issues yet unidentified."
Cr Pauling said he didn't see the plan as a "silver bullet" to issues for low lying areas.
"It's far too early to be dishing out accolades in terms of how well we dealt with what's happened in that area because we haven't dealt with it yet," he said.
"I don't think we're there yet. I think there's a lot more work to be done."
But Cr Schultz countered that by saying what council staff and the community were trying to do was "deal with the unknowns".
"We don't know what the future holds but we've got a plan for that based on the information we have at the moment," he said.
