Waves of opportunity against rising coastal risks for Australian cities
Australia’s iconic coastline is being redrawn before our eyes. From the wild storms that lashed the NSW Central Coast last week, stripping dunes and threatening homes to the issue facing Adelaide’s coast that is leading to significant algal bloom damage, and the pounding waves of Cyclone Alfred earlier this year impacting Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, cities on the eastern seaboard are facing escalating shoreline challenges.
What the science is telling us
In Australia, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has been flagging these dangers since its 2009 report, noting the exposure of over $226 billion in assets to coastal flooding and erosion. The message from modelling and science is unequivocal: Intensifying storms and sea-level rise will test the resilience of our coastal cities more frequently and severely.
Urban and planning pressures
Australia’s love affair with the coast brings its own challenges. High-value property development, poorly integrated coastal planning, and the hardening of foreshores with roads and sea walls all intensify vulnerability. When urban design ignores natural coastal dynamics, it can compound the risk and accelerate the very erosion it seeks to prevent.
Defending the shore: hard vs soft
There is a growing debate around coastal defence strategies. While hard infrastructure like sea walls, groynes and revetments can offer immediate protection, it often disrupts natural sediment flows and creates “down-drift” erosion. In contrast, nature-based solutions (NbS) such as dune restoration, wetland buffers, and mangrove rehabilitation are proving to be more adaptive, cost-effective, and ecologically sound.
ICLEI Oceania’s work with Global South cities demonstrates how place-based nature-based solutions (NbS) deliver multiple benefits. By sharing Indo-Pacific experiences such as Del Carmen’s Ramsar success and Fiji’s mangrove nurseries, Australian cities can learn from proven models. ICLEI is bridging these insights to guide coastal remediation in Queensland, blue economy ventures in South Australia, and resilience efforts in New South Wales.
A moment to share solutions
Across Australia, cities are confronting similar challenges yet solutions often remain siloed. ICLEI Oceania is committed to fostering a Frontline Coastal community of practice and alliance, bringing together local governments, scientists, planners, and traditional custodians from the Global North and South to exchange knowledge, tools, and scalable responses.
There is an opportunity to redefine coastal living for the 21st century, rooted in resilience, stewardship, and cooperation. Rising seas are inevitable, but there are waves of opportunity to build smarter, greener, and fairer coastal futures.
ICLEI Oceania continues to support cities in integrating climate adaptation and resilience into long-term planning. Learn more at www.icleioceania.org.