3. Results

3.1 Coastal Management NSW

NSW coastal management adheres to the requirements established by the NSW Coastal Protection Act 1979, State Environment Planning Policy No. 71 - coastal protection (SEPP), and NSW Coastal policy (1997). Coastal design guidelines for NSW are another type of guidance that is employed (DP, 3003). Byron Shire voted in 2012 to commit to SLR planning and to modify the Climate Change Strategic Planning Policy 2009. The SLR included SLR standards of 0.4m and 0.9m rise in levels by 2050 and 2100(Fig. 7 and Fig. 8), respectively. A important strategy revised in the Coastal Zone Management Plan is the adoption of a risk-based approach to coastal management, which incorporates the uncertainties surrounding SLR and natural hazards and prioritises the adaptation of high-risk coastal zones (BMT WBM Pty Ltd 2013).

3.2 Past Policies for Byron Shire

Unstructured sea barriers were built by private owners with the support of the council in the 1970s, using ground fill and automobile wrecks, when tropical cyclone Pam caused coastal erosion, resulting in the loss of several dwellings Belongil. Following the cyclone, the Byron Shire Erosion Trust built coastal walls in 1975. The Byron Bay coast had been experiencing long-term sand erosion, with coastal protection activities being one of the principal reasons. Byron Shire council amended planning instruments in 1988, which indicated that coastal areas required to be either relocatable (planned retreat) or protected. This culminated in the adoption of planned retreat as a policy in 2004, which specified that any new developments or additions to existing ones in the coastal zone were subject to removal or relocation based on erosion and the distance approached from the coastal zone (Roche, et al. 2013).

The Byron Coastline Management Council discovered that the planned retreat framework was ineffective for urgent erosion risks or abrupt storm surges. The NSW government recognised the failure of long-term measures such as planned retreat in 2008, but was unable to deal with the immediate effects of SLR. As a result, a novel strategy was required (Gordon, Lord and Nielsen 2011 ; Roche, et al., 2013).

In 2008, a revised act specified that private owners might deploy Emergency Coastal Protection Works (ECPW). ECPW was made up of sand or cloth bags, but no rock or other debris. The issue was that the protection could only be put in place if directed by the Bureau of Meteorology and required approval from the local municipality. Furthermore, the building may only be put for a period of 12 months and extended only with approval. In 2011, the new liberal government suggested a variety of reforms to short-term policy, including making it easier for private owners to instal temporary works without further approval. Inform and educate the council about the effects of SLR and other factors. These strategies shifted from long-term planned retreat to short-term policies, but medium-term answers were disregarded (Roche, et al. 2013).

The labour government encouraged private owners to adopt ad hoc measures, but because private owners’ water fronts are shared with public amenities, it was only reasonable that the local government contribute to these protection works as well (Roche, et al. 2013).

3.3 Protection Strategies in Byron Shire

Following the planned retreat strategy and the ad hoc short-term protection policy, the council had the option of repairing and filling gaps in the existing structures established in the 1960s. This strategy will necessitate the replenishment of sand in areas where erosion has already occurred (Aparks 2015). Byron Bay is located in the centre of the coastal scenery. There is an existing coastal protection structure near the Byron Bay Surf Club that was built in the 1960s and 1970s, however it is dilapidated and in need of repair (Byron Shire Council 2022). A major Groyne guards the main beach, with two smaller ones in the north and south. The structure is composed of various sized rocks to defend the residences near the coast (Aparks 2015).

3.4 Effect of Proposed Protection Policies on the Surroundings

The rock wall that was constructed in 2015 (Fig. 9) failed in its first year due to high tides. And caused large amounts of sand erosion.

Cate Coorey from Byron Residents’ group stated that the:

“huge seas quickly stripped the sand that was covering the structure.”

“The rocks are exposed, the fabric that was holding it all together is in tatters and some of the rocks have been dislodged and are right down at the water’s edge,”

“We will lose the beach because sand in front of rock walls always, everywhere around the world, there are examples of it having disappeared.”

The rock wall is presently 100 metres long and will become part of the one-kilometer defensive construction envisaged by the council’s Cosatal zone management plan in the future (ABC North Coast 2016).

Wendy Tuckerman, Minister for Local Government, announced on June 6, 2022, that Byron Shire Council would receive $74,331 to finish its Coastal Management Plan (CMP). The CMP is a strategy designed to help the municipality manage Byron Bay, which is “one of the most popular and visited coastal locations.” (Wendy Tuckerman 2022).

This programme is the first step in assisting local governments in understanding the complicated coastal concerns and SLR. The program’s goals are to minimise the dangers of SLR, such as coastal erosion, and to restore wetlands and habitats (NSW Government 2022).

The council has the following objectives (December 2019) for the project that will be managed by Bluecoast consulting engineers (Bluecoast Consulting Engineers Pty Ltd., 2019).

1. To protect Byron Bay in an adequate manner against current and future coastal changes.

2. To reduce risks and take climate change into account (SLR)

3. To reduce the impact of the protection works on natural coastal processes.

4. Increase public safety

5. Improve the access to the coast and public amenities and recreational activities at Byron Bay.

4. Discussion

Coastal management should be based on anticipated future and immediate occurrences and difficulties (climate change, sea-level rise, and their expected impacts on the coastal zone). Understanding the aforementioned existing strategies reveals that Byron Shire Council did not anticipate the immediate threats that the impacts of SLR can pose, instead focusing on the longterm effects of SLR (Byron Shire Council 2021).