Program of community presentations

    Council has been running a series of “Let’s Talk” information sessions since 2018. The sessions have enabled greater transparency and awareness of our adaptation work within the community.

    Adaptation planning has been a collaboration with a range of consultants over the years. Through our “Let’s Talk” program, we’ve provided opportunities for the community to hear from these subject matter experts and learn more about their research findings.

    See the full program below, with a list of guest speakers and topics covered. Links to recorded sessions have been provided where available.


    December 2021

    Let’s Talk – Lake Macquarie Water Level Trends

    Presenters:

    Bronson McPherson and Galen Lewis from Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL).

    Two session were run on the day:

    1. Session for industry experts
    2. Session for broader community.


    Topics covered in industry session:

    • Current Lake Macquarie waterbody levels - and trends in mean sea level over time
    • Changes in tidal behaviour over time due to the entrance channel
    • Mean High Water (MHW) level in the Lake and annual changes over time.

    Watch the recorded presentation.(External link)

    Read the presentation slides.


    Topics covered in the community session:

    • Elements that influence lake water levels and how we measure these changes
    • How water levels in Lake Macquarie have changed over time.

    Watch the recorded presentation.(External link)

    Read the presentation slides.



    November 2020

    Let’s Talk - Understanding the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) for Local Adaptation Planning

    Presenters: 

    Nigel Rajaratnam and Joseph Caruana from the Centre for International Economics

    Topics covered:

    • The LAP options examined in the CBA
    • Methods and assumptions used in the analysis
    • Results and recommendations that will help inform the LAP being developed by the Council and the community

    Watch the recorded presentation

    Read the presentation slides

    Read the Cost Benefit Analysis Report - executive summary.

     


    May 2019

    Let’s Talk: Understanding the Probabilistic Hazard and Damages Assessment for Pelican, Blacksmiths and Swansea

    Presenter:

    Dr David Wainwright

    Director of Salients Consulting

    Council engaged Salients to undertake a probabilistic hazard and damages assessment to examine the current and future combined flooding and tidal inundation risks (and damages) for Pelican, Blacksmiths and Swansea.

    Topics covered:

    Dr Wainwright presented the findings from the study, which formed the basis of a cost benefit and distribution analysis undertaken in 2020.

    Read the presentation slides

    Read the Probabilistic Hazards Assessment Report.



    May 2019

    Let’s Talk: Community evacuation plans and safety during natural disasters with the SES

    Presenters:

    Local SES and Council representatives.

    Topics covered:

    • Forming effective community evacuation plans,
    • Proactive safety actions during natural disasters
    • The process to develop a Community Action Team for Swansea and surrounding areas.

    Read the SES presentation slides.



    October 2018

    Let's Talk: Planning for Future Flood Risks event at Swansea.

    Presenter: 

    Dr Dennys Angrove

    Dr Angove is an atmospheric chemist and in August 2014, he retired as a Principal Research Scientist from the CSIRO Energy Flagship where he studied the effect of fossil fuel emissions on the formation of smog and ozone in urban atmospheres.

    Topics covered:

    • The atmosphere and the natural greenhouse effect,
    • Global warming and trends in greenhouse gas concentrations
    • The enhancement of the greenhouse effect by anthropogenic emissions.

    Watch the recorded presentation.