Climate Change Adaptation
Council’s Corporate Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2018-2023 aims to improve the capability of the Council to manage 4 key risks associated with climate change, being:
- Rainfall & Flooding
- Sea Level Rise & Storm Tide
- Heat
- Bushfire
The development of the Plan was based upon council-specific, climate projection data provided by the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC) ‘Climate Futures for Tasmania’ program. Devonport’s climate profile can be viewed here [1].
Climate Change Projections By 2100 in Devonport
- Rainfall is expected to trend towards heavier events interspersed by longer dry periods
- Rainfall on the wettest day of the year to increase by about 20%.
- Rainfall volume in 200-year average recurrence interval (ARI) event will increase by up to 35 %
- River flows will be reduced slightly: Forth River (central estimate -7%) Mersey River -7%. Don River little change 1% (from Local Climate Profile Hobart – Climate Futures Tasmania)
Risks and Adaptation Actions
Risk | Risk level | Adaptation Action |
Stormwater system becoming under capacity in areas as a result of more intense, short duration rain events, leading to an increased requirement for upgrade or replacement | Extreme | Adequately resource the Action Plan accompanying the revised Stormwater Strategy – in particular, flood modelling of priority areas |
Continue preventative practices prior to and during extreme events e.g. clearing gutters and drains | ||
Increased rainfall / severe weather events leading to increased damage to infrastructure and roads resulting in increased maintenance and clean-up costs | High | Increase resources towards monitoring and maintenance activities |
Riparian vegetated buffers to waterways are insufficient to reduce velocity of overland flow during more intense, short duration rain events resulting in erosion of waterways and sedimentation downstream | High | Provide information to relevant sections of the community on the function of the catchments and buffers to waterways with the aim of retaining or revegetating riparian zones |
Maintain and where required revegetate riparian zones on Council owned and managed land | ||
Increase in rainfall / flooding / high wind and other severe weather events leading to increased deterioration of roads, bridges, coastal and park infrastructure (e.g. trees, pontoons) resulting in heightened public safety concerns | Extreme | Assess tree damage after high wind & rain events |
Climate Change Projections By 2100 in Devonport
- Sea level is predicted globally to increase by 0.82 m by 2100
- Inundation along the coastline is expected to increase
- The current 100-year storm tide event (0.9 to 1.2 m above average sea level) may become a 50-year event by 2030, and a 2 to 6-year event by 2090
Further information on sea level rise impacts including maps can be viewed on the CoastAdapt website [2].
Risks and Adaptation Actions
Risk | Risk level | Adaptation Action |
Extreme storm tide events resulting in foreshore erosion and inundation impacting on council owned and managed reserves, parks and facilities resulting in increased costs to the council | High | Advocate to the Cradle Coast Authority (CCA) for a coastal vulnerability study of council assets across the region or state- wide |
Sea level rise and increased coastal inundation during storm tide events resulting in areas becoming unsuitable for development or certain land-uses requiring rezoning through the Council’s planning system and preparing for potential litigation issues for the Council | High | Abide with relevant codes of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme |
Increased coastal inundation during storm tide events resulting in inundation of Council owned and managed reserves resulting in environmental degradation and loss of coastal values | Moderate | Assess risks, prioritise works and implement dune / foreshore restoration programmes as required |
Climate Change Projections By 2100 in Devonport
- Average annual temperatures are projected to increase by 2.6°C – 3.3°C.
- The number of days > 25°C is expected to increase to more than 25 days per year.
- The temperature of very hot days to increase by up to 4°C in some locations.
- Warm spells (days in a row where temperatures are in their top 5%) will last up to 19 days longer.
- Extended heat waves and more extreme temperatures are likely to enhance the occurrence and intensity of bushfires.
Risks and Adaptation Actions
Risk | Risk level | Adaptation Action |
Increase in vector-borne illness which will have an adverse effect on public health leading to increased pressure on the public health system and potential spread of disease | Moderate | Comply with and support the direction provided by Tasmanian Government Public Health Services |
Increased temperatures leading to increased risk of sunburn and heat stress for users of council’s public open space resulting in potential public liability claims and public complaints | Moderate | Ensure sufficient shade – natural or built – is available or planned for when developing new facilities in public open space |
Climate Change Projections By 2100 in Devonport
- An increase in projected bushfire likelihood and intensity across Tasmania
Risks and Adaptation Actions
Risk | Risk level | Adaptation Action |
Increased likelihood and severity of bushfire across the Council’s municipal area severely impacting on private property and businesses leading to increased costs | High | Alignment of bushfire management plans for council owned land to ensure appropriate and coordinated fire mitigation practices |
Increased temperatures resulting in an increased bushfire risk leading to public safety concerns | Extreme | Improve emergency management & community disaster preparedness and response |
Altered fire regimes leading to a change in ecosystem function and reducing resilience of native flora/fauna/communities, particularly threatened species | Moderate | Implement prescribed burning regimes dictated by appropriate bushfire management plans, when resources are available |
Progress on each adaptation actions are reported at general Council meetings every year. Progress as of 30 June 2023 can be found here [3].
Council also undertake initiatives to mitigate the impacts of climate change principally through energy efficiency measures as outlined in the Environment Strategy 2019-2024 [4].