Coastal management cannot exclude climate scientists

I agree with Mr Pat Aiken that there should be more community meetings to discuss the Coastal Management Plan.

To accept a sea level rise of 0.74m in 2100 is the same as asking any bank manager to predict term deposit rates for that same year.

My recommendation is as follows.

Stage 1: Climate scientists replace bureaucrats to discuss ramifications and latest climate change research with the public.

Stage 2: Bureaucrats and politicians discuss stage 1 with the public.

Stage 3: The government prepares draft plan for public exhibition.

Stage 4: Community rejects draft plan due to lack of detail, resources, funding, action, transparency and accountability.

Stage 5: Government resolves to sell its $87 million Coastal Management Plan over five years to protect vulnerable areas including revetments, beach nourishment and the building of groynes.]

Repeat stage 1.

As many reputable scientists have observed, climate change was happening in 1985.

Procrastination is still the government strategy, while coal reserves remain.

The question of coastal management cannot be answered without accepting input from climate scientists.

Letter, 21 Nov 2016

Norman Harris, Umina