Volunteer Community Planning Group discusses scope of the Local Adaptation Plan
Over the course of several meetings, the Volunteer Community Planning Group discussed how the hazards to be addressed by the Local Adaptation Plan may be experienced in Pelican and Blacksmiths as well as the geographic reach of these hazards.
A draft scoping map (shown below) has been prepared to inform the preparation of the Local Adaptation Plan. This map may evolve over time as the group progresses.
This high level map shows generally the areas relevant to the Local Adaptation Plan:
- developed land (housing, roads, shops, etc.)
- public recreational land, such as the Pelican foreshore
- private recreational land, such as the former Pelican Bowling Club
- land considered to be part of the beach and dunes system
- other environmental land, such as bush, wetlands, hind dune vegetation near Awabakal Ave
- the Swansea Channel, the northern Swansea Channel revetment (Blacksmiths "training wall" and breakwater), the "Shallows", sand islands and "dropover"
- land covered by the Marks Point and Belmont South Local Adaptation Plan
A key observation of the group was that many issues relevant to Pelican and Blacksmiths are also relevant to Swansea. However it was also recognised that preparing an adaptation for all three areas at the same time would be challenging given the highly collaborative planning process with the community. Lessons learned in preparing the Pelican and Blacksmiths Local Adaptation Plan are expected to be considered when preparing a plan for Swansea. Likewise, lessons from the now adopted Marks Point and Belmont South Local Adaptation Plan are being considered for the Pelican and Blacksmiths Plan.
The group also observed that "Pelican and Blacksmiths exist within a complex interaction
of marine and terrestrial processes that extend beyond the boundaries of the
suburbs. This geographical area is also under the care and control of various
levels of government as well as private landowners. The coastal zone as
described in the Coastal Management Act 2016 includes coastal wetland and
littoral rainforest area, coastal environment area, coastal use area and
coastal vulnerability area."
To help think through these layers of ownership and governance, the group acknowledged the need to consider "spheres of control and influence" to help determine the types of actions and responsibilities to include in the Plan. For example, certain decisions can be made by Council and private landowners. These are within our "sphere of control".
However, we know that other stakeholders, such as State Government agencies and service providers, are responsible for a lot of public land, infrastructure such as the Pacific Highway, water and sewerage, telecommunications and certain foreshore and Channel protection structures, as well as works programs such as dredging the Channel for navigation and asset maintenance of the Swansea bridge, for example.
The Local Adaptation Plan can include recommended actions for these stakeholders, but as these are ultimately outside our control, these fall within our "sphere of influence". In other words, landowners and Council can advocate what they see to be the best way forward. For the Plan to be successful, it needs to recognise that some actions within our control may rely on the decisions and actions of others that we can only influence.
Click map to enlarge
