17th NSW Coastal Conference 2008,4-7 November 2008, Wollongong,NSW

Program

The Conference Committee is committed to the development of a comprehensive program covering a number of current issues regarding coastal management. This year the conference will return to a three day program. The preliminary program is below:

Skip to date: Tuesday 4 Nov | Wednesday 5 Nov | Thursday 6 Nov | Friday 7 Nov

Tuesday 4th November 2008

4.00 - 6.00pm

Registration and poster set up

6.00 - 7.00pm

Welcome Reception & Poster Session

Pre-Function Lobby, Level 1, Novotel Northbeach

Sponsored by: Department of Lands

Day One - Wednesday 5th November, 2008

8.00am

Registration

Ballroom Gallery, Level 4, Novotel Northbeach
Trade exhibition open

Session 1 Plenary

9.00am

Welcome to Country

9.10am

Introduction & welcome from the Host Council

9.25am

Conference Opening
Mr Simon Smith 
Deputy Director General, Department of Environment and Climate Change

9.45-10.30am

Keynote Address
"Sea-level variability and rise: understanding the past, implications for the future"

Dr John Church
Research Scientist, Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research

10.30-11.00am

Morning Tea

Expand This SessionSession 2 Concurrent 11am - 12.40pm

 

Stream A:
Coastal Hazards

Stream B:
New Approaches

Stream C:
Planning for Change

Location:

Ballroom

Keira Room

Belmore Room

11.00am- 11.30am

Recent Sea Level Rise In New South Wales
Doug Lord

Using Surf Cameras to Predict Future Beach Visitation
Dave Anning

Didn’t You Want a Water Feature in Your Backyard? Impacts of Climate Change on Estuaries
Cameron Noakes

5 min.

Changeover

Changeover

Changeover

11.35am- 12.05pm

A Template for Modelling and Managing Sea Level Rise and Climate Change
James Carley

Improving Local Governments’ Capacity to Adapt to Coastal Climate Change at a Local and Regional Scale
Geoff Withycombe and Beth Beveridge

People, Property and Places: Impacts of Climate Change on Human Settlements in the Western Port Region: an Integrated Assessment
Greg Hunt

5 min.

Changeover

Changeover

Changeover

12.10pm-
12.40pm

Identifying Susceptible NSW Coasts to Wave Climate Change
Mark Hemer

An Innovative Programme to Enhance and Support Community-Based Coastal Weed Control on the NSW Far South Coast
Stuart Cameron

Innovations and Challenges in Coastal Mobility: The NSW Coastline Cycleway
Richard Griffiths

12.40pm

Lunch (Ballroom Foyer/Lobby area)

Expand This SessionSession 3 Field Trips 1.40pm - 5.00pm
1.40pm - Buses depart from hotel ground level. Afternoon tea included for each group.

The following Field Trips are included in the Registration Fee and will take place on Wednesday 5th November. Places are limited and will be allocated strictly in order of receipt of registration. Please indicate on your registration form which Field Trip you would like to attend.

 

Description

Host/Tour Guide

FT1

Lake Illawarra - Catchment to Coast

Kerryn Stephens, DECC

FT2

Ngaraba-aan Education Trail

Martine Fraser, CMA

FT3

Coastal Escarpment

Peter Tobin, WCC Andrew Leventhal, GHD

FT4

Port Kembla / Wollongong Innovations

Trevor Brown, Port Kembla Port

FT5

Environment Fund & Bush Restoration Projects

Tony Miskiewicz, WCC

1. Lake Illawarra - Catchment to Coast

The Lake Illawarra Authority (LIA) was established in 1988 with a charter to rehabilitate Lake Illawarra. The condition of the lake is a result of its geomorphology and extensive development in its catchment. Recently the construction of twin breakwaters, channel dredging and associated beach nourishment was completed. Work of this scale on a coastal lake in NSW is unprecedented in recent years. The aim of the works is to keep the entrance open for longer periods and increase tidal flushing. However, development in the lake’s catchment continues with major release areas planned for West Dapto. This field trip will be a journey from the catchment to the coast examining the major features impacting upon Lake Illawarra and inspecting some of the rehabilitation initiatives undertaken by the LIA.

2. Ngaraba-aan Education Trail

Ngaraba-aan is a local Aboriginal word meaning past, present and future. Along the Illawarra foreshore a cultural trail that links Aboriginal and European sites of cultural, heritage and environmental significance is being built to ensure they don’t disappear. The development of the Ngaraba-aan Education Trail is a unique partnership between three aboriginal community groups, the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and Wollongong City Council. The coastal trail will be a 9km “educational walking trail” that links existing attractions such as Coomaditchie Lagoon, Hill 60 Scenic Lookout, and existing established walking tracks. Significant coastal revegetation and restoration activities and weed control works are also being undertaken. The field trip will take in key sites of the coastal trail, examining the major features of the trail and revegetation works, finishing off with a showcase of aboriginal artworks.

3. Coastal Escarpment

The Illawarra coastline near Wollongong provides a magnificent vista. However, nature provides many challenges for regulators within the coastal environment. Whilst the spectacular coastal cliff lines and steep slopes provide attractions for visitors and residents alike, including the spectacular SeaCliff Bridge that will be visited as part of this tour. The clifflines also pose challenges for regulators in the management of judicious, low risk development. Landslides have been problematic from first European settlement. Due to the combination of a relatively wet coastal climate and escarpment geology, the Wollongong area is prone to periodic landslides in their various forms. As consent authority, Wollongong City Council is in the forefront of addressing landslide issues. A Development Control Plan is in place specifically for geotechnical aspects of hillside development; and Wollongong City has sponsored landslide research at the University of Wollongong over the last 12 years to keep at the leading edge of the management of its landslide risk. A Landslide Action Plan is incorporated in the Wollongong Disaster Plan (Wollongong City was both State and National winner of the EMA Safer Community Awards 1998-9 in the category of Post Disaster - Local Government organisational stream).

4. Port Kembla / Wollongong Innovations

Port Kembla has traditionally provided a focal point for trade and industry in the Illawarra. Businesses located within and adjacent to the port are working with community groups, governments and each other to take large steps towards sustainability. This tour will demonstrate how industrial precincts with associated infrastructure can generate a rich web of sustainable interactions. Tour highlights include a working prototype wave-energy generator, re-use of tertiary treated effluent for steelmaking and coal handling, restoration of remnant coastal saltmarsh and an adjacent landfill site, constructed breeding habitat for endangered green and golden bell frogs and historical features commemorating the indigenous, maritime and military heritage of the Port Kembla area.

5. Environment Fund & Bush Restoration Projects

Over the past five years, Wollongong City Council has established a $1 million per year Environment Fund to undertake a variety of environmental works across the city. The Environment Fund has been used to leverage matching funds from a variety of agencies including Department Environment and Climate Change, Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, NSW Environment Trust and NHT Envirofund. The Environment Fund and grants has been used for a variety of environmental programs including undertaking restoration of degraded riparian and bushland habitats at about 80 sites, installation of stormwater quality improvement devices to improve water quality and installation of an automatic water quality monitoring device. This tour will involve visiting a range of riparian and bushland sites showing the restoration works that are being undertaken ,as well as inspecting capital projects to monitor and improve water quality.

5.00pm

Buses return to venue. Close of Day One

5.30pm - 9.30pm

Barbie on the Beach
Venue: North Wollongong Surf Lifesaving Club

Day Two - Thursday 6th November, 2008

8.00am

Registration (for 1 Day delegates)

Session 4 Plenary, Chair:

9.00am

Welcome to Day 2

9.05 - 9.15am

Presentation Bids for 2009 Host Councils

9.15 - 10.00am

Keynote Address
Mr Chris Smyth
Marine Campaign Coordinator, Australian Conservation Foundation

10.00 - 10.30am

Morning Tea
'Clean Beach Challenge Illawarra Awards'

Expand This SessionSession 5 Concurrent 10.30am - 12.45pm

 

Stream A:
Lessons Learnt (good and bad!)

Stream B:
Community Involvement

Stream C:
Statewide Monitoring, Evaluating & Reporting

Location:

Ballroom

Keira Room

Belmore Room

10.30am- 11.00am

From Talking to Doing - the Darawakh/Frogalla Rehabilitation Project Model
Gerard Tuckerman

Managing Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Values - An Adaptive and Consultative Approach
Scott Lenton

Monitoring Estuary Health for State of Catchment Reports
Tony Roper

5 min.

Changeover

Changeover

Changeover

11.05am- 11.35pm

Kiama Coastal Walking Track
Peter Stuckey

Clams in Lake Macquarie: Community Empowerment on the Coast
Kym Bilham & Margo Smith

Monitoring Fish to Assess the Condition of Estuaries in NSW
Bruce Pease

5 min.

Changeover

Changeover

Changeover

11.40am-
12.10pm

Giving Little Terns Their Best Chance of Survival
Frances Bray

SRCMA's Multi-partnerhips and Holistic Approach to Managing Coastal Catchments
Jillian Keating

Testing and Implementing MER Water Indicators
Peter Scanes

5 min.

Changeover

Changeover

Changeover

12.15pm-
12.45pm

Beyond the Bruun Rule: Historical Vs. Modeled Response to Sea-Level Rise on Wave Dominated Beaches
Martyn Hazelwood

Improving Estuary Health to Facilitate Traditional Harvesting of Wild Resources
Michelle Fletcher

Indicators and Targets for Estuarine Ecosystem Protection-Kevin 08
Brendan Haine

12.45pm - 1.45pm

Lunch and Poster Session

Expand This SessionSession 6 Concurrent 1.45pm - 3.25pm

 

Stream A:
Planning for Change

Stream B:
Coastal Hazards
 

Stream C:
Coastal Habitats / Ecosystems

Location:

Ballroom

Keira Room

Belmore Room

1.45pm - 2.15pm

Beyond 0.91 Metres:  Lake Macquarie’s Response to Sea Level Rise Preparedness and Planning
Neale Farmer

Assessing the Utility of Geomorphic Sensitivity Mapping on the Illawarra Coast
Pamela Abuodha

Assessing Likelihoods of Marine Pest Introductions In Sydney Estuaries: A Transport Vector Approach
Tim Glasby

5 min.

Changeover

Changeover

Changeover

2.20pm -
2.50pm

Coastal Councils Planning for Climate Change
Craig Morrison

A Fresh Approach to Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Hazards
Verity Rollason

Seabed Mapping and Monitoring of Rocky Reef Biota
Bob Creese

5 min.

Changeover

Changeover

Changeover

2.55pm -
3.25pm

Managing Coastal Hazards - a History of Coastal Erosion and the Planned Retreat Strategy Within Byron Shire
Ben Fitzgibbon

NSW Tidal Anomaly Analysis - A Tidal Epoch Review
Ben Modra

Management Guidelines for Improving the Environmental Value of Seawalls and Seawall-Lined Estuary Foreshores
Danny Wiecek

3.25pm - 3.55pm

Afternoon Tea

Session 7 Workshops / Discussion Groups

3.55pm - 5.00pm

Workshops / Discussion Groups
Key topics include:

  • Coastal climate change
  • NRM - Federal, State, Regional and Local
  • Planning reform
  • ICZM information - data needs and access

Bring your ideas for discussion in each of the categories above. Workshop groups will encourage recommendations / motions to be taken to the full conference group on the final day where debate and voting will take place.

5.00pm

Close of Day 2

6.45pm

Courtesy bus transfer from select motels to dinner venue.

7pm for 7.30pm

Conference Dinner
City Beach Function Centre

Sponsored by: GHD

Day Three - Friday 7th November, 2008

8.30am

Registration (for 1 Day delegates)

Expand This SessionSession 8 Concurrent 9am – 10.40am

 

Stream A:
Coastal Habitats / Ecosystems

Stream B:
Coastal Hazards

Stream C:
New Approaches or Innovations

Location:

Ballroom

Keira Room

Belmore Room

9.00am - 9.30am

Groundwater Influences Upon Vegetative Structure in a Coastal Wetland Environment
Deanne Hickey

Acid Sulfate Soils Investigation in the Lower Hunter River Estuary
Simon Walsh

Taking a Systems Approach to Estuary Management
Barry Newell

5 min.

Changeover

Changeover

Changeover

9.35am - 10.055am

Sandy Beach Ecosystems: Vulnerability, Resilience and Management
Alan Jones

Coastal Public Risk & Safety Mapping
Adam Weir

Innovative Projects in the Marine Zone - Engaging the Commercial Fishing Industry in Regional NRM
Rebecca Keech

5 min.

Changeover

Changeover

Changeover

10.10am -
10.40am

The Torn Blue Fringe: Creating a World Class Marine Sanctuaries Network for NSW
Nicky Hammond

Lake Illawarra Entrance Studies - Flooding and Potential Climate Change Issues
Philip Treloar

Marine Science in Action: Taking the “On-Ground” Principle Underwater In NSW
Brian Hughes

10.40am-11.10am

Morning Tea

Session 9 Plenary, Chair:

11.10am-11.55am

Keynote Address
"Marine bloomin' algae- an exposé"
Dr Alan Millar
Principal Research Scientist, Plant Sciences Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney

11.15am - 12noon

Announcement for 2009 host council; poster prize winners announced.

12noon - 12.45pm

Report back from Day 2 Workshops with summary of motions for discussion / voting
Facilitator

12.45pm-12.50pm

Summary and wrap up of conference

12.50pm - 2.00pm

Lunch (Ballroom Foyer/Lobby area)

2.00pm

Close of conference

Social Program

An exciting social program has been planned for all conference delegates, this year including an additional social function.

Welcome Reception - Tuesday 4th November 2008

Sponsored by Dept of Lands

Venue: Ballroom Gallery, Level 1, Novotel Northbeach
Time: 6pm - 7pm
Dress: Smart Casual

An invitation is extended to all delegates to attend the Welcome Reception to be held at the Novotel Northbeach Hotel. Enjoy a casual drink, catch up with old friends and view some of the poster presentations as we welcome you to this year’s conference in Wollongong.

Additional Tickets: $30

Barbie on the Beach - Wednesday 5th November 2008

Venue: North Wollongong Surf Life Saving Club
Time: 5.30pm - 9.30pm
Dress: Casual

Join us for a scrumptious Barbie on the Beach whilst enjoying the beautiful surrounds of Wollongong. Take this extra networking opportunity and relax following an afternoon field trip to various locations around Wollongong.

Additional Tickets: $30

Conference Dinner - Thursday 6th November 2008

Sponsored by GHD

Venue: City Beach Function Centre
Time: 7pm - 10pm
Dress: Smart Casual

A memorable highlight of the Conference is the Dinner. Enjoy a more formal evening in a stunning venue. Great food, entertainment and even some Award Presentations. We look forward to seeing you there. Return coach transfers will be available from selected accommodation properties. Please check at the Registration Desk on-site for pick-up and drop-off points and times.

Additional Tickets: $90

Note: All functions are included with the Full Conference registration, except for the Student/Community Full Registration which only includes the Welcome Reception and Barbie on the Beach.

Functions for additional guests can be accommodated, but must be pre-booked and paid. Same day dinner bookings cannot be accommodated.