victorian climate change adaptation plan

Victorian climate change

adaptation plan

VictoriAn climAtE chAnGE AdAPtAtion PlAncontents

PAGe

Introduction 2

Purpose 3

Scope of the plan 3

Next steps 3

1 Victoria’s climate future 6

1.1 What we can expect 6

1.2 Dealing with uncertainty in adaptation planning 6

1.3 Implications for the Victorian economy: risks and opportunities 6

2 Framework for adaptation planning 8

Decision-making principles and clarification of roles and responsibilities to guide future adaptation planning

2.1 Principles for adaptation planning 8

2.2 Roles and responsibilities 9

2.3 Integration of adaptation considerations in government decision-making 11

3 Key strategies to build Victoria’s climate resilience 12

Providing strategic direction for future action across the Victorian Government and through engaging with local government, business and the community

3.1 Managing risks to public assets and services 14

3.2 Managing risks to natural assets and natural resource-based industries 20

3.3 Building disaster resilience and integrated emergency management 26

3.4 Improving access to research and information for decision-making 29

3.5 Supporting private sector adaptation 34

3.6 Strengthening partnerships with local government and communities 38

4 Managing climate hazards 42

What the Victorian Government is doing to manage critical hazards

4.1 Bushfires 44

4.2 Heatwaves 46

4.3 Floods and storms 47

4.4 Sea level rise and coastal inundation 50

4.5 Drought 52

5 Building climate resilience in key sectors 54

What the Victorian Government is doing to manage risks in key sectors

5.1 Essential Infrastructure and built environment 54

5.2 Economy 57

5.3 Natural environment 59

5.4 People and the community 62

6 Regional snapshots 64

Adaptation action in Victoria's regions

Appendix 1 82

Glossary 90

Photo credits 91

endnotes 92

Acronyms 96

VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE

ADAPTATION PLAN

MINISTER’S FOREWORD

Victoria’s liveability is defined by the health and beauty of our natural environment, the quality of our infrastructure and the strength of our economy. Changes in our climate may put each of these assets under pressure if we don’t act to protect them.

The Victorian Government is leading the way, helping Victorians prepare for future climate challenges, ensuring that we manage risks and can adapt to change. A changing climate presents us with risks such as hotter days and sea level rise. Our natural world, our built environment, economy and public services may feel the effects of these changes in varied ways.

To better manage these risks, I am pleased to introduce the Victorian Government’s first Climate Change Adaptation Plan. This plan will help Victoria to minimise the costs of any potential risks, and to take advantage of any opportunities that could arise out of changes in our climate.

Managing risks and adapting to climate change is a responsibility shared by everyone – all levels of government and business, communities and individuals.

This first adaptation plan focuses on government preparedness. By providing clear direction on state government roles, priorities and actions, we create the right conditions for local government and business to follow with their own climate risk planning.

Key to this plan is integrating climate risk planning into policy settings and existing risk management strategies, across all portfolios and regions of the state.

The plan outlines actions being taken to manage risks and build climate resilience across essential public infrastructure and services. The plan also recognises that managing risks to Victoria’s natural assets and natural resource-based industries is vital for the wellbeing of our communities and the health of our economy.

Victoria is no stranger to natural disasters and the impacts of both flood and bushfire. Complementary to the White Paper on Victorian Emergency Management Reform, this plan recognises the need to keep our emergency systems integrated, responsive and resilient to the potential effects of a changing climate.

An important step in ensuring coordinated adaptation planning will be to build on partnerships with local governments and communities. This plan demonstrates that understanding where risks exist is central to prioritising the actions we must take and where joint effort is most needed.

As subsequent adaptation plans are delivered, our responses will evolve and build on the achievements of this first plan, to ensure Victoria’s continued liveability and prosperity.

The Hon Ryan Smith MP Minister for Environment and Climate Change

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INTRODUCTIONAdaptation is about increasing public and private resilience to climate risks through better decisions about managing our built and natural environment and taking advantage of opportunities.

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VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE

ADAPTATION PLAN

Purpose of the plan

This first Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Victoria focuses on government preparedness by ensuring that:

> appropriate risk management strategies are in place for public assets and services;

> enhanced disaster resilience strategies are being implemented; and

> government policies and programs encourage and facilitate climate resilience and adaptive capacity across the Victorian community.

The Victorian Government committed to preparing for a changing climate in its Response to the independent Review of the Climate Change Act 20101. In late 2012, it strengthened legislative provisions guiding the preparation of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

The plan provides the basis for building Victoria’s climate resilience and a clear framework for ongoing discussions and partnerships with local government and other stakeholders.

Scope of the plan

The plan represents a whole of Victorian Government commitment to adaptation. All 11 Victorian departments have been involved in its development.

Specifically, the plan addresses six key areas:

> Existing adaptation responses: demonstrates the broad scope of Victorian Government adaptation responses already underway.

> Roles and responsibilities: provides guidance on roles and responsibilities of government – in particular, state and local government – and the private sector, on the basis that climate risks are best managed by those closest to the risk.

> Key strategies and priorities: establishes key whole of Victorian Government strategies and strategic priorities to manage the major short and long term climate risks to public assets and services and to build community preparedness.

> Integrating climate risk management: reinforces the need to embed climate risk management across all portfolios of the Victorian Government and across all regions of the state.

> Partnerships: supports capacity-building in local government through a strengthened adaptation partnership.

> Regional focus: recognises the importance of place-based responses to managing climate risks and the need to develop regional partnerships and deliver effective action on the ground.

The plan does not deal with greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts as these are addressed primarily through the national carbon pricing mechanism. The Victorian Government accepts that under a national carbon price, state and territory governments need to focus on managing and adapting to climate risks and supporting their economies.

Next steps

This first adaptation plan sets out the framework for managing climate risks to critical Victorian Government assets and services. With each subsequent plan, and as more information becomes available, our adaptive capacity will be strengthened. Discussions will continue with stakeholders, the Commonwealth, local government and the Victorian community.

This plan will be evaluated with updates and progress reports made available on the climate change website:

www.climatechange.vic.gov.au

Evaluation findings will inform the next Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Plan due to be prepared in 2016.


Commitment to ongoing coordination across government

The plan establishes processes to coordinate adaptation policy across the Victorian Government through:

> Establishing a whole of government coordinating committee to:

– coordinate ongoing delivery and development of research and strategic priorities;

– facilitate information exchange within Government on agency responses to climate risks;

– report to Government on progress in ‘mainstreaming’ adaptation planning;

– identify emerging climate-related inter-agency and statewide risks and opportunities; and

– review progress and evaluate the effectiveness of existing adaptation responses and the requirement for modified or additional measures.

> Providing a forum of public sector asset managers to share best practice around climate related risk identification and management, and to facilitate information sharing and early identification of inter-agency and state-wide climate related risks.

> Developing a research and information network across Government to: strengthen engagement between research and policy making on whole of government priorities, and to develop coordinated approaches for providing information to Victorian councils and the Victorian community, to support their adaptation planning and risk management.

Key stakeholder partnerships

The Government will work with key stakeholders through:

> The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and other formal intergovernmental processes on adaptation responses to pursue opportunities for collaboration, for leveraging of Commonwealth Government programs and to avoid duplication of effort.

> Partnerships with the Victorian local government sector, with an enhanced focus on adaptation, through the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership.

> Continued discussions between the Victorian Government and the local government sector with a view to developing a memorandum of understanding with the sector outlining respective and shared adaptation roles and responsibilities.

> Engagement with the private sector to inform and support business in understanding and managing their climate risks.

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VICTORIAN ADAPTATION AND SUSTAINABIlITy PARTNERSHIP – SUPPORTING lOCAl ClIMATE RESIlIENCE

The Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership aims to strengthen cooperation between the Victorian Government and local government by:

> clarifying their respective roles and responsibilities;

> providing a forum for ongoing discussion between state and local government on climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability issues;

> identifying opportunities for partnerships, in particular for tackling issues that cannot be effectively addressed by either State or local government alone; and

> helping to ensure that local issues are considered in state policy making.

All 79 Victorian councils have joined the Partnership (formerly the Victorian local Sustainability Accord), together with the Municipal Association of Victoria, Victorian local Governance Association and local Government Professionals.

The Partnership funding program provides resources to councils (or groups of councils) for projects that reflect local needs and priorities. Round 5 of the program, announced in August 2011, allocated $5.67 million to 57 projects across three funding streams: regional grants, partnership grants and individual grants for resource-constrained councils.

The Partnership provides a strengthened platform for local government adaptation, using the model of the Accord. Accord projects now underway in Barwon South-West and in Southern loddon Mallee provide models for regional adaptation planning involving partnerships between local governments, communities and other regional bodies.

A ministerial advisory committee comprising of representatives from councils, peak bodies and the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Department of Planning and Community Development oversees the Partnership. It provides advice to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change and acts as a conduit between state and local government on climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability issues.


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VICTORIA’S ClIMATE FUTURE

1.1 What we can expect

The Victorian Government’s Report on Climate Change Science and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Victoria (March 2012)2 published existing information on projections for Victoria’s future climate.

The projected changes include:

> more days over 35°C and higher annual mean temperature

> reduced average rainfall and stream flows

> fewer and heavier rainfall days

> reduced snow cover

> possible sea-level rise and storm surges.

These projections suggest an increased risk of:

> bushfires

> heatwaves

> floods

> drought

> sea level rise and coastal impacts.3

The first Climate Change Adaptation Plan focuses on the implications of these risks, particularly for critical public assets and services provided and managed by the Victorian Government. Further details of the risks are provided in Appendix 1.

Climate-related risks will be experienced to different degrees across Victoria – but climate risk assessment and management are important for all parts of the state. Climate risk assessment and responses must consider immediate and obvious risks, such as bushfires, floods or heatwaves, and likely gradual and subtle changes, such as seasonal shifts and changes in average temperatures or coastal erosion.

Recent events (such as heatwaves, drought, bushfires and flooding) are consistent with scientific understanding of conditions that may be more likely in a warmer world, compared to natural variability. However, it is very difficult to identify the specific causes of individual extreme weather events.

1.2 dealing with uncertainty in adaptation planning

Making decisions in a context of uncertainty about the magnitude, timing and distribution of climate impacts is recognised as a key challenge for governments and the private sector in undertaking adaptation planning.4

The Victorian Government’s approach to managing climate risks is to be flexible to account for changes in Victoria’s communities, economy and environment and to carefully consider options, timely responses and appropriate evaluation and review mechanisms. Population, demographics and changes in the structure of the economy may have implications for adaptation planning.

Specific risk management tools being developed and implemented within Government to guide decision-making in relation to public assets and services, such as scenario planning and real options analysis, are detailed in Part 3.1.

1.3 implications for the Victorian economy: risks and opportunities

Understanding where risks exist can help inform future decisions about where and how to invest both from a public and private point of view to ensure the State’s continued prosperity. In particular, gradual changes in temperature potentially enable industries to transition and develop.

The plan is guided by economic reviews5 undertaken in Australia and overseas that indicate the benefits of early adaptation actions can outweigh the costs, particularly where there are existing climate-related risks.

Projected climate changes affecting essential services, industries, communities and ecosystems across Victoria are likely to have complex economic implications through direct impacts and the flow-on effect of disruption and change through the economy.


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For example, reduced primary productivity due to possible increases in the frequency and severity of drought could lower productivity in manufacturing and services sectors; community wellbeing may be impacted and demands for government services may increase. Extreme natural events, such as storms or bushfires, have immediate economic impacts on both the private and public sectors through loss or damage to property, infrastructure and natural systems. loss of life, injuries and health impacts (including mental health) may increase demand on services. In addition, disruption to transport and other infrastructure may reduce productivity and, over the longer term, may change financial arrangements due to large insurance losses.

The Department of Treasury and Finance has estimated that the Victorian Government has spent over $4 billion over the past 10 years on response and recovery to climate-related events such as bushfire, flood and drought.

Victorian research6 has estimated that by 2050 increases in bushfires under projected future climate change will cost the agriculture sector an additional $1.4 billion ($46.6 million per year by 2050) and the timber industry $2.8 billion ($93.4 million per year by 2050).7

New opportunities

Some climate changes could stimulate new opportunities for businesses and local communities. Sharing information is important to identify and exploit opportunities that may arise for various regions and sectors, in particular as a result of incremental changes to climate.

These opportunities may include:

> Growth of new crops due to a warmer climate with longer growing seasons. It has been estimated that average grain yields in the south west of Victoria could increase by 10-20 per cent until 2070,8 enabling farmers to diversify and expand grain production. Farmers experiencing reductions in long-term average rainfall may be able to switch to different enterprises or production systems.

> Increased habitat range and populations for some fish species. This may create opportunities to develop or reposition fisheries industries. Some current fisheries sectors and/or regions could flourish, such as Gippsland, as a result of expected future fisheries for pelagic species (e.g. yellow fin tuna and marlin).

> A developing carbon market, in particular the Commonwealth Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative, can provide incentives for landowners to integrate landscape management, including revegetation and native plantings, which can provide biodiversity corridors.

> The delivery of adaptation risk management services and products. This may create new market opportunities for businesses: for example, new products in the finance sector to manage climate risks where conventional insurance products fail to do so.9

> Innovation and flexibility in business and industry, such as development of climate resilient building products. Examples include the increased demand for synthetic turf sporting facilities to replace vulnerable grass surfaces and development of innovative building solutions, such as fire-resistant materials and products for green and ‘white’ roofs.

> Major adaptation works such as the modernisation of irrigation or transport infrastructure. These could boost regional economies and create high skill local jobs through increased demands for engineering, building and construction services.

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FRAMEWORK FOR ADAPTATION PlANNINGdecision making principles and roles and responsibilities to guide future adaptation planning

2.1 Principles

The plan has been prepared to be consistent with the Climate Change Act 2010 and the principles outlined below, which will guide its ongoing development and implementation.

informed decision-making

Informed decision-making requires research tailored to Victorian settings and needs; accessible information for government and private sector adaptation planning; and tools for dealing with uncertainty and optimising adaptation investment. The plan addresses Victoria’s research and information needs (3.4) and the issue of how to manage with uncertainty in making decisions for the future (1.2, 3.1 and 3.5).

integrated decision making across government

Integrated planning and decision making should aim to:

> mainstream adaptation responses into existing polices or programs (including existing risk management strategies);

> integrate across government, for example, coordination of research priorities across government, and coordinated planning at a regional level to deal with place-based risks and ensuring whole of government integration;

> develop adaptation actions with co-benefits, where future climate risk is mitigated and other social, economic or environmental benefits are also delivered. It is also important to ensure that adaptation responses do not undermine emissions abatement efforts; and

> avoid maladaptation, so that actions taken to avoid or reduce vulnerability to climate risks do not impact adversely on, or increase the vulnerability of other systems, sectors or social groups.10

risk management

Action should be timely and appropriate to the level of uncertainty and impact. Priority should be given to addressing high impact risks and identifying robust options that deliver benefits at least cost to the community under a range of future climate change scenarios. This involves careful evaluation of information and taking into account long and short term environmental, economic, health and other implications, with an emphasis on avoiding serious or irreversible damage. The Victorian Government’s Risk Management Framework – detailed in Part 3.1 – provides a consistent approach to decision-making.

complementarity with other levels of government

Duplication with Commonwealth responsibility and action is to be avoided, and the respective roles of the Victorian Government and local government must be clearly defined, based on the approach that responses should be delivered at the most effective level. Part 2.2 outlines the respective roles of the Commonwealth Government, the Victorian Government and local government.

Equity

Climate impacts will be different for different groups, communities and regions. Planning and decision-making should take into account that some Victorians may be more vulnerable to climate-related impacts and may require greater support. It is also important to balance the needs of future generations and ensure that decisions made today do not adversely impact future capacity to adapt to climate risks or take advantage of opportunities. The emphasis is on increasing the capacity of all to adapt, and preventing the inappropriate transfer of risk. This is discussed further in Parts 3.5 and 3.6.


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community engagement

Community engagement is important to inform government adaptation planning and design responses that meet the needs of Victorian communities. Effective engagement also helps the community understand potential climate risks and their responsibilities, and supports community capacity-building. Government has a critically important role in providing relevant information and guidance to facilitate risk management by individuals, communities and businesses. Government responses should also allow flexibility for individuals, businesses and communities, where practicable, and not undermine incentives for individuals and businesses to undertake private adaptation actions. These issues are discussed further in Parts 3.4, 3.5, and 3.6.

2.2 roles and responsibilities

In adapting to climate change, all levels of government, businesses and communities must manage climate risks in some way. As a consequence, it is critically important to allocate risk and clarify roles and responsibilities.

Governments should manage risks to public assets and services and make efficient investment decisions. Governments also provide information and help to build the ‘adaptive capacity’ of individuals, businesses and groups to manage climate risks.

The Victorian Government is committed to creating the right conditions and incentives for private parties to manage their climate risks, recognising that risk management is generally best undertaken by those who are directly affected, and who are in a position to manage the risks.

The Victorian Government has adopted a Statement of Common Understanding on the Roles and Responsibilities for Climate Change Adaptation in Australia,11 developed by all Australian governments and the Australian local Government Association. This provides

guidance on allocating management of climate change risks among the three levels of government – Commonwealth, state and local – as well as private parties. The statement was prepared through the Council of Australian Governments’ Select Council on Climate Change (SCCC) and adopted in November 2012. These roles and responsibilities are expected to evolve over time and need to be applied flexibly to take account of local needs and circumstances.

This plan builds on the framework of agreed roles and responsibilities and details its application in the Victorian context.

National adaptation priorities

All three levels of government are working on national adaptation priorities identified through the SCCC. These national priorities were identified on the basis of the potential scale of economic, social and environmental impacts; the likely timing of potential impacts; and the importance of early action to manage risks. The priorities are:

> water resources

> coasts

> infrastructure

> natural ecosystems

> agriculture

> emergency management

> vulnerable communities.

Work plans are being developed for these priority areas, addressing needs relevant to all states and territories and, where possible, providing a mechanism for mainstreaming climate risk management into existing inter-jurisdictional work. The first work plan for managing the impacts of climate change in the coastal zone was adopted by SCCC in November 2012.

This national adaptation work complements work already underway in Victoria. The national work plans allow for jurisdictional flexibility and recognise best-practice adaptation efforts being implemented by individual jurisdictions.

They do not replace the adaptation efforts being implemented by individual jurisdictions.


Responsibilities of different levels of government

The three levels of government – Commonwealth, state and local – have different responsibilities and differentiated, yet complementary, roles to play in preparing Australia for the impacts of climate change.

Partnerships between the Victorian Government and the Commonwealth, other states and local governments are important in areas such as:

> developing reliable information and analytical tools, particularly where this can be most efficiently produced at a national scale. For example, approaches to understanding costs and benefits of adaptation actions, methods for assessing vulnerability and risks;

> coordinating with other states where impacts cross state borders or affect national infrastructure and assets; and

> managing regional climate risks and engaging with regional communities.

commonwealth Government

The Commonwealth Government has stewardship of the national economy and is responsible for promoting Australia’s national interests more broadly. The Commonwealth contributes to improving adaptive capacity and build climate resilience by:

> Providing national science and information – including through the Australian Climate Change Science program and the National Framework for Climate Change Science.12

> Managing risks to commonwealth assets and programs – such as significant natural assets like Kakadu that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

> Providing guidance on national adaptation reform – including dealing with climate risks that have the long-term potential to undermine the national economy, national security or affect natural systems of national significance.

> Maintaining a strong, flexible economy and a well-targeted social safety net – ensuring resources are available to respond to climate change and can be deployed efficiently; and that price signals – such as through insurance markets – can drive efficient decision-making.

Victorian Government

The Victorian Government’s critical roles and responsibilities build on SCCC principles and are defined in terms of these key strategies:

> Managing risks to public assets and services managed by the Victorian Government – including embedding climate change considerations into risk management and business planning for assets and critical service delivery.

> Managing risks to Victoria’s natural assets and natural resource-based industries – including developing overarching policy settings and direction for addressing climate risks to biodiversity, soils, waterways and land, coastal and marine ecosystems.

> Building disaster resilience and integrated emergency management – including reviewing and reforming emergency management arrangements.

> Improving access to research and information for decision-making – by supporting coordinated research and information provision to assist all parties to adapt.

> supporting private sector adaptation – by developing policy settings that support appropriate risk allocation, remove barriers to effective adaptation and promote business innovation.

> Partnering with local government and communities – including providing a basis for ongoing engagement with Victorian councils and their communities.

Further detail on these key strategies including how they are being addressed via the strategic priorities is provided in Part 3.

local government

local government is responsible for delivering a broad range of services, administering a range of Commonwealth and Victorian legislation and managing a substantial number of assets, infrastructure and services.

The sector is responsible for:

> Managing risks and impacts to public assets owned and managed by local government and to local government service delivery – including managing risks to assets and infrastructure such as local roads and providing ongoing service.

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> supporting measures to build adaptive capacity and climate resilience in local communities – including delivering information about relevant climate risks.

> collaborating across councils and, with the Victorian Government, managing regional climate change risks.

> working in partnership with the community, locally based organisations and stakeholders to manage relevant climate risks.

> Implementing relevant legislation to promote adaptation (e.g. the Emergency Management Act 1986) – including, ensuring that through administering local planning schemes they appropriately incorporate climate change considerations and that decision-making is consistent with State Government adaptation approaches.

> contributing appropriate resources to prepare, prevent, respond and recover from detrimental climate impacts.

Part 3.6 outlines the key adaptation issues for local government and the requirements for further work between the Victorian Government and local government to define the detail of respective roles and responsibilities.

Role of individuals and businesses

All Australian governments have agreed that businesses and individuals are generally best placed to manage risks to their private assets and activities.

Government policies can influence and support private sector adaptation, in particular by removing barriers to effective adaptation and providing access to information to support appropriate risk allocation and promote business innovation. The Victorian Government recognises that individuals, small business, industry and private investors have private incentives to respond to climate risks in the same way they respond to other risks that may affect their livelihoods.

Details of Government measures to support individuals and businesses in their efforts to manage risks from climate change impacts are outlined in Parts 3.4 and 3.5.

2.3 integration of adaptation considerations in government decision-making

Climate risk management and adaptation planning are being integrated into the mainstream planning and management decisions of all government agencies.

In particular, the Climate Change Act 2010 establishes a climate change decision-making framework with specific requirements for government decision-makers to have regard to climate change impacts. These provisions apply to specific decisions made under the following legislation: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, Coastal Management Act 1995, Environment Protection Act 1970, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and Water Act 1989.

This provides an important basis for ensuring robust decision-making, providing clear direction for decision makers about how to consider climate change impacts. As identified by the independent Climate Change Act Review (2011), the decision- making considerations also enhance the consistency and quality of decision-making and reduce uncertainty.13

These statutory requirements promote the integration of adaptation considerations into mainstream government decision-making and encourage business and community stakeholders to consider climate change. The Government has committed to considering the effectiveness and scope of these decision-making requirements at the scheduled review of the Climate Change Act in 2015.


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KEy STRATEGIES TO BUIlD VICTORIA’S ClIMATE RESIlIENCEProviding strategic direction for future action across the Victorian Government and through engaging with local government, business and the community

The Government’s overarching approach to adaptation is to strengthen coordination across government and to integrate and mainstream consideration of climate risks into existing government policies, asset management approaches and service planning.

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KeY stRAteGIes And PRIoRItIes /

These key strategies and priorities provide consistent and clear direction to adaptation planning across the Victorian Government:

3.1 managing risks to public assets and services managed by the Victorian Government

> the government’s strategic priority for risk management is the ongoing application of the risk management Framework across government to address climate risk.

> the government is developing a Strategy for critical infrastructure resilience. the first stage was to publish A Roadmap for Critical Infrastructure Resilience which proposes key changes to strengthen the Victorian arrangements for navigating disruption to the State’s key infrastructure.

> the government is continuing to plan for climate risks in health, including: embedding climate change considerations into risk management and business planning, engaging with funded agencies and facilitating the inclusion of climate risks into all municipal health and Wellbeing plans.

3.2 managing risks to natural assets and natural resource-based industries

> the government’s Environmental Partnerships document establishes priorities and provides strategic directions for action in relation to the natural environment. a key priority is continued work on coastal risk management.

3.3 Building disaster resilience and integrated emergency management

> the government’s White paper on Victorian Emergency Management Reform sets out a broad roadmap for change, and affirms the importance of supporting community resilience and building the capacity of the sector. it establishes governance structures to improve accountability and efficiency, and drive reforms.

3.4 improving access to research and information for decision making

> the government’s strategic priority for research and information is to continue to build a model that:

– supports coordinated, action-oriented research and facilitates the exchange of knowledge between researchers and policy makers across government; and

– increases the availability and accessibility of research and information to build Victoria’s climate resilience by facilitating local government, business and community risk management.

> the Victorian centre for climate change adaptation research provides a strong foundation for delivery of this priority.

3.5 Supporting private sector adaptation

> the government’s strategic priority is the further development of policy settings that support appropriate risk allocation and promote business innovation, including providing access to information to assist the private sector to manage its risks.

> as committed in the Environmental Partnerships document, the government is continuing to remove barriers to effective adaptation and clarify insurance arrangements for climate-related risks.

3.6 Strengthening partnerships with local government and communities

> the government’s strategic priority is the Victorian adaptation and Sustainability partnership – supporting local climate resilience.

> to provide a clear basis for ongoing engagement with Victorian local governments, the government will develop a memorandum of Understanding with the Victorian local government sector, outlining the respective and shared climate change adaptation roles and responsibilities, by the end of 2014.


3.1 managing risks to public assets and services

3.1.1 Integrating climate risk with whole-of-government risk management

The Victorian Government provides many essential services and manages a $170 billion portfolio of assets,14 including government-owned buildings and infrastructure.

All government agencies apply a common risk management standard as part of normal business processes. The Victorian Government Risk Management Framework brings together information on governance policies, accountabilities and roles and responsibilities for all those involved in risk management.15 This framework is also used to identify and manage climate-related risks to public assets and services.

FIGURE 1: Victorian Risk Management Framework – Victoria’s governance and risk management model

Responsible body / Accountable officer

> responsible for an entity’s development and implementation of adequate risk management, internal control and compliance frameworks;

> formally states that the entity’s financial report is in accordance with requirements of the FMA; and

> annually attest that the entity has in place appropriate policies and procedures to manage risk.

Portfolio Minister

Accountable to Parliament for their area of responsibility

PARlIAMent

outputs

External attestation of risk compliance

Annual internal certification process

Audited financial statements

Victorian Government Risk

Management Framework

(VGRMF)

Standing Directions and Instructions of the Minister

for Finance (the Directions)

Financial Management Compliance Framework

(FMCF)

Constitution Act 1975

Monitoring and review

VAGO

Periodically reviews

governance arrangements

aross VPS entities with

respect to risk management

processes

Guidance and support

DTF, DPC, VMIA, and

SSA

Produce guidance

and advice to assist entities develop and implement

good governance

and risk management policies and procedures

Financial Management Act 1994 (FMA) and Borrowing and Investments Powers Act 1987

Framework foundation

Public Administration Act 2004 (PAA)


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This framework can manage inter-agency and statewide risks that go beyond the management control of a single agency and where flow-on effects require intervention strategies across multiple agencies or across government. Statewide risks may be immediate or longer-term and they can include event risks (e.g. bushfire) and incremental risks (e.g. sea level rise).

3.1.2 Managing risks for critical infrastructure and essential services

loss or damage to Victoria’s critical transport, water supply, health, human services and education infrastructure due to extreme events, such as flood or bushfire, is a major risk for the Victorian Government. In addition to rebuilding, replacement and disruptions to service delivery there could be significant implications for the Victorian economy and community.

Since 2003, the Victorian Government has managed the risks to essential services and critical infrastructure through Part 6 of the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003 and the Victorian Framework for Critical Infrastructure Protection from Terrorism (April 2007). A Government-led review in 2011 showed that a broader focus than terrorism is necessary for critical infrastructure risk management. Events of the past decade highlight that natural hazards pose more immediate risk. As outlined in the Government’s White Paper on Victorian Emergency Management Reform, critical infrastructure arrangements are being revised to strengthen Victoria’s resilience to all possible hazards, not just terrorism. A new Strategy for Critical Infrastructure Resilience16 is being developed. The first stage of this was to publish A Roadmap for Critical Infrastructure Resilience which proposes key changes to strengthen the Victorian arrangements for navigating disruption to the State’s key infrastructure. The strengths of Victoria’s current arrangements will be retained and built-on in the roadmap and strategy. This way, the state will be better positioned to deal with future threats.

Government agencies working in health, human services, education, transport, energy and water sectors must consider both the direct climate risks and any compounding effects. Issues to be considered in the planning for a range of government services and assets include:

> what impact climate risks have on demand (e.g. emergency management services, health services) and the implications for service planning; and

> what changes may be required to the design or management of buildings and infrastructure (e.g. public housing, roads and bridges).

In addition, the Government ensures that public assets have an adequate level of insurance to minimise the State’s fiscal exposure to climate risks.

Critical infrastructure with a long life often involves major investment decisions and, in some cases, it is sited or designed to operate within particular climate conditions (e.g. water supply, bridges). In addition to climate, other factors to consider include population trends, patterns of urban development and economic structure. This requires decision-makers to actively engage with a range of change possibilities and consider a wide range of potential futures.

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The Government is exploring the use of analytical tools to support effective decision-making under uncertainty, including:

> Understanding climate change risks – for example, the transport sector is developing staff skills and understanding of climate change risks to ensure maintenance programs and new infrastructure construction projects are resilient to the future climate (See case study p. 19).

> scenario planning – allowing decision-makers to test how robust a particular policy or solution is in a plausible range of future climate change scenarios. Scenario planning is being widely used and is proving particularly beneficial for engaging stakeholders in dialogue about the future and improving understanding of adaptation needs and options. The Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research’s project on Scenario Planning for Climate Adaptation uncovered 33 projects where this scenario approach had been used effectively within a range of government departments. A practical, easy step guide has been developed for those seeking to improve organisational capacity to respond to rapidly changing and complex contingencies, risks and challenges.

> Real options analysis – provides a measure of decision-making flexibility through time. It can highlight the benefits of delay or staging decisions to limit the risk of stranded investments by keeping options open until the material source of uncertainty is resolved. This involves balancing the potential cost of an investment against the potential benefits forgone by delaying the investment. The Victorian Government is currently testing this methodology for application within government. The VCCCAR project “decision-taking in times of uncertainty” also provides important input (refer Part 3.4).

Key risk management priorities

Health and human services – Service providers experience increased demand during extreme events. These events can have compounding effects when, for example, essential services are disrupted and both patients and staff struggle to access health services. Further research is a priority to support planning for the long-term health impacts of climate change. High quality, locally relevant information is required across the full range of likely health impacts (including mental health issues) and many different vulnerable communities.

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VICTORIAN MANAGED INSURANCE AUTHORITy ROUNDTABlE ON CRITICAl INFRASTRUCTURE The Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) offers support and advice in strategic and operational risk management and insurance products for the public sector. Periodically, it runs stakeholder roundtables to offer an opportunity for eminent and senior professionals from both the private and public sectors to discuss and debate key risk issues.

In March 2012, VMIA hosted a Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Roundtable. Critical Infrastructure is physical facilities, supply chains, information technologies and communication networks which, if destroyed, degraded or rendered unavailable for an extended period, would significantly impact on the social or economic wellbeing of the nation or affect Australia’s ability to conduct national defence and ensure national security.

The expert forum brought together industry experts and senior decision-makers from both the public and private sector to facilitate robust discussion and the development of a shared understanding of critical infrastructure and essential services risk.

The forum also helped identify practical strategies for improving much needed cross-sectoral cooperation within a more holistic approach to managing risks to critical infrastructure. A complete report on the outcomes of this and other stakeholder forums can be found on the VMIA website: www.vmia.vic.gov.au/Risk-Management/Guides- and-publications/Risk-insights.aspx

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Adaptation responses need to account for factors such as population growth, the ageing population and rising levels of chronic disease which pose critical challenges for future management of health services. local government also has a responsibility to consider climate change as the sector plans health and community services. Better information can assist them become healthier, more resilient, communities.

educational facilities and services – Extreme bushfires, floods and severe storms destroying or damaging infrastructure has significant implications for delivery of education services. The disruption of access to educational services has potential impacts on the health and wellbeing of Victorian communities. Government asset planning and management takes account of climate risks related to extreme events, such as bushfire risk management, as well as ensuring that new investment incorporates building design principles to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts. For example, design for improved thermal performance, external shading and cross ventilation supports adaptation and helps to minimise building and infrastructure upkeep costs.

Public housing – The Government supports 83,000 households in publicly-funded housing across Victoria. Non-government funded agencies provide affordable long-term rental accommodation to around 8500 households, and the balance of accommodation is government owned and serviced. Most housing assets, built before five-star energy efficiency ratings were introduced, have low thermal performance, which exposes residents to temperature extremes, such as heatwaves. New housing assets provide significantly improved social and economic outcomes for residents and is better-suited to a changed climate in the medium-term. A range of asset management policies and guidelines, which includes environmentally sustainable design (ESD), and reduced exposure to extreme hazards, contribute to the portfolio’s overall adaptive capacity.

water – Through water corporations and catchment management authorities, Victoria has a major public investment in water infrastructure, including dams, weirs, channels, pipelines, pumps, control structures, drains and levees. local governments and private landholders also own assets including dams, levees, drains and irrigation infrastructure.

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PUBlIC HEAlTH AND WEllBEING PlANS AND ClIMATE CHANGE The Climate Change Act 2010 provides that decision-makers under specific legislation, including the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, must have regard to the potential impacts of climate change on all relevant decisions and actions. This means that the Department of Health and all local councils are required to have regard to climate change in Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans (MPHWP).

The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2011-15 identifies the need to consider weather and climate-related impacts on health. Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans must be prepared within 12 months after the general election of councils (which were held in October 2012). The Department of Health is preparing detailed guidelines to support local government consider climate change in their MPHWPs.

An example of action already underway is Benalla Council which has included a review of its MPHWP as part of developing its Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan.

www.benalla.vic.gov.au /Files/2012/Climate_Chanage_Adaptation_Action_Plan_Final_ 24092012.pdf


The Millennium Drought (1997 – 2009) demonstrated the need for a diverse portfolio of water supply options, including non-climate dependant sources, to ensure that Victoria is prepared for a range of future climate scenarios. Government investment decisions recognise the value of flexibility and adaptability for improving resilience to a changing climate and other uncertainties. Measures to ensure water sustainability can also have co-benefits, for example the Gippsland Sustainable Water Strategy helps to address risk to electricity generation in the latrobe Valley from a reduced water supply.

In 2012, the Government established the Office of living Victoria to drive reform by coordinating urban and water planning and announced a range of short and longer term actions as part of the Government Response to the Living Melbourne Living Victoria Implementation Plan.17 As part of the living Victoria program, Government has committed to the development of investment guidelines and decision-making tools that better reflect the value the community places on urban amenity and the environment. These tools increase the capacity to identify and quantify the potential value of innovative urban water services options that continue to support communities’ drinking water needs. In addition, they increase the resilience of the urban water system and support and maintain the liveability, sustainability and productivity of urban areas.

Government buildings – In addition to health facilities, public housing and schools, a range of other government buildings and associated infrastructure across Victoria is potentially exposed to a range of climate risks. Asset management strategies need to incorporate risk assessments and identify climate risk management options.

transport – During the 2009 heatwave, around one-quarter of all metropolitan Melbourne train services were cancelled due to a range of track and operational problems, including rail buckling. This caused long delays for passengers and total financial losses (due to power outages, transport disruptions and response costs) of around $800 million. The Government has responded by investing significantly in climate-proofing the transport system (see Case Study – Climate resilience in our transport system).

Victoria’s transport system provides vital connections between people and places of employment, education, recreation, leisure, health and emergency services. During inclement weather and extreme weather events, the road network is vital to enabling emergency services to reach and respond to people and places in need. Interruptions to activities at ports and on rail have significant flow-on implications across the state with operations compromised by delays in moving goods which impacts businesses and communities.

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ClIMATE RESIlIENCE IN OUR TRANSPORT SySTEM

Through its Transport Resilience and Climatic Extremes program (TRACE), the Department of Transport is proactively updating its risk management, staff training and infrastructure planning programs to address the risks posed by climate change.

To ensure transport infrastructure is designed, built and operated in a way that can withstand the climate conditions we are likely to be living in over the next 50 years, the Department of Transport is adapting in three key areas:

> Risk assessment: The Department of Transport is in the final stages of completing a climate change risk assessment of all existing transport assets. This includes possible adaptation measures such as replacing or retrofitting infrastructure, as well as maintenance and emergency responses.

> Staff training: New skills development package aims to give Department of Transport Staff and contractors an understanding of the key risks a changing climate poses to transport infrastructure and services and the tools that can be used to select possible adaptation measures such as cost-benefit analyses.

> Adaptation planning: This measure aims to help engineers and planners factor in necessary climate information in future projects, and involves applying decision-making tools that help them incorporate necessary adaptation measures.

energy – A secure and reliable supply of energy is critical to Victoria’s economy and to daily life for all Victorians. The Victorian Government will continue to review and reform energy regulatory frameworks to facilitate levels of energy supply security and reliability that are consistent with the preferences of consumers.

Interdependency between sectors is a critical area that needs greater attention. For example, the health and wellbeing sector and the transport sector are critically dependent on the energy sector to provide electricity to maintain continuity of services and respond to climate risk. A power outage on an extremely hot day can precipitate a large-scale emergency for hospitals and ambulance services and severely impact the transport system.

Specific details of responses already underway are provided in Part 5. A guide to climate risks for various sectors is provided in Appendix 1.

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Managing risks to public assets and services

the key strategy for risk management is ongoing application of the risk management Framework across government. this involves progressive incorporation of climate risk into departmental risk management and business planning practices.

the government is also developing a Strategy for critical infrastructure resilience. the first stage was to publish A Roadmap for Critical Infrastructure Resilience which proposes key changes to strengthen the Victorian arrangements for navigating disruption to the State’s key infrastructure.

the government is continuing to plan for climate risks in health, including embedding climate change considerations into risk management and business planning, engaging with funded agencies and facilitating the inclusion of climate risks into all municipal health and Wellbeing plans.

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3.2 managing risks to natural assets and natural resource-based industries

The vitality of Victoria’s economy and social wellbeing is interconnected with effective management of climate risks to the natural environment. Healthy soils, rivers and land, coastal and marine ecosystems support many of our successful industries such as agriculture and tourism. They provide Victorians with many health and wellbeing benefits through recreational activities in the natural environment.

The Victorian Government has committed to maintaining a resilient, healthy environment for a strong productive future through its Environmental Partnerships document. Environmental Partnerships is a pathway for action for government, communities and businesses in Victoria, including overarching policy settings and direction for addressing climate risks to the natural environment.

Two-thirds of Victoria (approximately 15 million hectares) is privately owned and therefore partnerships with Victoria’s farmers, private landowners and community organisations are critically important to managing many of our land, water and biodiversity assets. Many rural landholders are already providing environmental goods and services from their properties through sustainable land management practices and grassroots community action. Specific opportunities to contribute to effective management of climate risks to natural assets include:

> Voluntary programs, such as landcare, increase ecosystem resilience and contribute to sustainable landscapes.

> Opportunities for the private provision of environmental outcomes to assist in reducing environmental decline arising from climate risks. For example, EcoTender,18

a conservation tender, delivers incentives for landholders to manage and conserve native vegetation on their properties. This competitive tender approach could be leveraged to manage climate change risks.

A changing climate is likely to intensify some current challenges for public and private land managers, such as expanding the geographic range of invasive species and diseases; a changing climate may also introduce new challenges associated with managing shifting asset boundaries and assets located on the public/private interface and increase the pressure on some services and land-uses.

In most cases, adaptation responses will be progressively integrated into ongoing planning and risk management strategies within both the public and private sectors. Well-established experience in dealing with climate variability provides a good foundation for adaptation, however, the future rate of change may be higher than previous changes. There is a need for ongoing climate-related research and targeted response strategies to assist a small number of sectors with potentially high vulnerability to climate risks.

3.2.1 Natural assets

Key risk management priorities for the Government are:

Biodiversity – Threatened species and ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change, especially those with limited habitat ranges and capacity to migrate. Government understanding of how climate risks impact on biodiversity is informed by research undertaken by a variety of institutions including the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. The Victorian Government will investigate opportunities to support adaptive capacity and resilience through the Commonwealth’s Biodiversity Fund and the recently announced plans for a national network of wildlife corridors. The network is intended to help set priorities for conservation funding and strengthen resilience of native landscapes against climate change.

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BRINGING SPECIES BACK FROM THE BRINK

Small, isolated populations of species face increased risks of extinction as environmental conditions change under future climates.

Mount Buller’s isolated and endangered mountain pygmy-possums became particularly vulnerable because habitat fragmentation had weakened their genetic diversity to the point of extinction. By translocating breeding males from Mt Hotham, the genetic resilience of this population to face future changes was increased. Climate change (i.e reduced snow cover) is likely to introduce new challenges as a result of increased competition from other species.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment has partnered with independent scientists and the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research (CESAR) at the University of Melbourne to trial an innovative translocation and wild-breeding program to boost the genetic diversity of the mountain pygmy-possum population at Mount Buller.

Eighteen juvenile mountain pygmy-possums captured in January 2012 were hybrid animals, indicating the breeding program is working. The hybrids were also found to be larger and heavier than pure-breds, suggesting they are more robust and adaptable to a changing climate.

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coasts and marine – Victoria’s 2000 kilometre coastline comprises a diverse range of terrestrial and marine habitats including seagrass meadows, reefs, dunes and mangroves, supporting an array of native flora and fauna. These enrich Victorians as places of recreation and enhance Victoria’s economy through tourism, commercial fisheries and other local industries. Sea level rise, storm surges and coastal inundation, along with increased sea temperatures, may create risks for these natural assets and potential social and economic impacts.

waterways – Victoria has approximately 85,000 kilometres of streams, rivers and creeks which play an essential role in providing crucial services including water supply for towns, farms and businesses, helping to absorb floodwaters, protect against fires, and contribute to local economies through tourism. Waterways also support many diverse and complex ecosystems, including wetlands, which sustain native fish, plants and animals. Changes in rainfall levels and distribution and increased temperatures, including increased risks of drought and floods, create risks for Victoria’s waterways.

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PROVIDING ASSURANCE FOR FUTURE TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

Globally, communal nesting species are vulnerable to climate change (sea level rise, storm surges, warming oceans).

The colony of little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) at Phillip Island, Victoria, is one of the biggest in the world and attracts almost 500,000 visitors a year, many of whom are from overseas. It is a significant asset to Victorian and regional tourism. As part of risk management efforts, DSE supported ecological and economic studies into the Phillip Island colony.

The research indicated that the penguin colony appeared robust to future changes to maintain sufficient numbers to support a healthy colony and continued tourism. The science allowed management to ameliorate impacts of some heightened threats such as fire and heat stress in the burrows. This success offers a good example of how effort put into reducing both climate and non-climate-related environmental threats can increase the species’ resilience and allow it to continue as a tourist and educational “icon” that gives a unique experience to current and future generations.

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tourism – Tourism industries are often highly dependent on the natural environment and weather conditions. The Government is responding to climate related challenges to tourism by supporting research into snow cover projections and coastal hazard mapping to assist in risk management for coastal dependent developments. The Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 2012 sets the framework for the development, promotion, management and use of the resorts to ensure that they continue to be vibrant, growing and sustainable places. It also considers climate variability, and adaptation measures to increase the resilience of the resorts.19

Work underway to identify and manage risks for these sectors is detailed in Part 5.

3.2.2 Primary industries

Primary production will be affected by a changing climate in different ways depending on seasonal factors, location and the types of primary production activity. Changing seasonal conditions may present opportunities for some primary producers to develop new practices and increase productivity in some locations for some activities.

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REAPING THE REWARDS OF ClIMATE ADAPTATION

As climate change leads to more frequent and severe flooding and drought, Victorian grain growers may find it difficult to predict which crop management decisions might bring them the best returns.

Birchip Cropping Group, in conjunction with CSIRO and the Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit, has created an online software package that helps grain growers forecast the yield of certain crops, manage the risks of climate variability and, in turn, maximise profits. The subscription-based software takes information on soil quality, historical climate data and other key factors to help growers:

> forecast yield;

> manage climate, soil and water risk;

> make informed decisions about fertiliser and irrigation;

> match inputs with the yield potential of their crop;

> assess the effect of changed sowing dates or varieties; and

> assess the possible effects of climate change.

As climate change leads to unpredictable weather patterns, yield Prophet gives grain growers the tools they need to make informed crop management decisions based on likely climate scenarios. This is not only important for the agricultural industry, but also the food security of our growing population.

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Fisheries may experience declining or changing distributions of where species occur, which require changes to activities or generate opportunities for deep water species for charter, recreational and commercial fisheries.

The forestry sector – including native forests and commercial plantations – is vulnerable to changes in temperature and rainfall which may result in increased bushfire risk and increased incidence of pests and disease. However there could also be opportunities as forests may become more productive with increased levels of CO2, noting that changes in rainfall patterns

can also impact productivity. In the context of integrated landscape management, there may be opportunities for tree plantings as carbon stores, to reduce the flow of water through a catchment and reduce the occurrence of flash flood events and for on-farm plantings to increase protection for livestock.

Responding to climate risks involves both government risk management for public assets and providing timely and accessible information to support businesses and individuals manage their own risks.

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GOUlBURN BROKEN CATCHMENT: BUIlDING RESIlIENCE IN THE FACE OF ClIMATE CHANGE

The Goulburn Broken Catchment spans over 2.4 million hectares and is home to 215,000 people who depend on natural resource-based industries for their livelihoods.

Dairy, fruit, livestock, vegetables, grapes and other nature-based industries contribute $15.9 billion to the regional economy, with nature-based and cultural heritage tourism and recreation contributing a further $2.29 billion.

Climate change poses risks to environmental health, livelihoods and, therefore, community wellbeing. It may increase the frequency and intensity of drought and floods, in turn posing a threat to wetland health and water availability. The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is taking action now to adapt to climate change and attempt to mitigate the negative consequences.

The CMA’s Catchment Strategy 2012-2018, takes a social-ecological systems approach to building resilience within the catchment. Their approach is multi-pronged. Having identified the risks that climate change poses to various social and ecological systems, the actions and priorities that they have identified are centred around adapting to climate variability risks, responding to and recovering from climatic events, and taking advantage of lower carbon-based energy opportunities.

The Goulburn Broken CMA acknowledges the impact that climate change may have on social and ecological systems, and are preparing a response now in order to create a more resilient community and environment into the future.

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Managing risks to natural assets and natural resource-based industries

the Government’s Environmental Partnerships documents provides the strategic directions for action on the natural environment and climate.

through Environmental Partnerships, the government is aiming to improve the environmental condition of Victoria’s waterways and achieve integrated, multiple outcomes for land, water and biodiversity. a key delivery mechanism is preparing regional catchment Strategies. central to thinking about the changing landscape in response to climate, Environmental Partnerships also emphasises the need to increase resilience and connectivity across the landscape by:

> partnering with Victorians to support community-driven initiatives to restore landscapes, increase connectivity and strategically link areas of remnant habitat and ecological value across all land tenures;

> better understanding biodiversity and landscape resilience through strategic investments in science; and

> developing a roadmap to more effectively and efficiently manage threatened species, including streamlining administration of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

a key priority is the continued work on coastal risk management.

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3.3 Building disaster resilience and integrated emergency management

Extreme weather events, including those associated with climate change, have the potential to cause significant social and economic disruption, environmental impacts and loss of life. Victorians have direct experience of these impacts through recent bushfires, droughts and floods. For example, the 2011 Victorian floods affected around one-third of Victoria20, damaging private properties and public assets, disrupting government service delivery and business activity and severely impacting local economies and local communities.

The implications for the Victorian Government alone are significant: the Department of Treasury and Finance has estimated that the Government has spent more than $4 billion in the past 10 years on response and recovery to climate-related events such as bushfire, flood and drought. Costs to local government, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, and to different industry sectors are also likely to be significant.

Victoria will continue to face natural and human-made disasters. Recent Victorian research21 has estimated that by 2050, increases in bushfires under projected future climate change will have cost the agriculture sector an additional $1.4 billion ($46.6 million per year) and the timber industry $2.8 billion ($93.4 million per year).

3.3.1 All hazards, all agencies approach

Victoria’s emergency management arrangements operate within a national context that incorporates the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience (NSDR). The strategy makes it clear that everyone must work together and that this will involve governments and emergency service organisations working with communities to build resilience.

The Victorian Government has undertaken a comprehensive review as a basis for reforming the State’s crisis and emergency management arrangements to create a more disaster resilient and safer Victoria. The Government’s Green Paper, Towards a more disaster resilient and safer Victoria, identified issues and challenges facing Victoria and sought community input on options for reform.

The Government’s reform proposals draw on the findings of the recent reports on the bushfires22 and floods,23 to develop an emergency management model that sees all agencies working together to respond effectively to all hazards and also to put in place appropriate recovery arrangements. The Government’s White Paper on Victorian Emergency Management Reform sets out a broad roadmap for emergency management reform. Its vision of a sustainable and efficient emergency management system that minimises the likelihood and consequences of disaster emergencies on the Victorian community is supported by three key principles:

> Community – emergency management founded on community participation, resilience and shared responsibility.

> Collaboration – efficient governance arrangements that clarify roles and responsibilities, embed cooperation across agencies, and ensure emergency management reform is coordinated across the sector.

> Capability – an all-hazards all-agencies approach built on networked arrangements, greater interoperability and a stronger emphasis on risk mitigation.

The White Paper identifies five strategic priorities and a suite of associated actions to deliver reform. Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) will be established as the new overarching body for Victoria’s emergency management sector. Although not a direct response to climate risk management, the reform contributes to building Victoria’s climate resilience by further improving emergency management arrangements.

Effective emergency management requires a whole-of-government approach to ensure continuity of service, protect government assets and personnel and protect the community and environment from risks. In particular, we need to ensure we have the right structures in place to support communities and individuals.


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3.3.2 Building community resilience and community safety

Resilient communities have a sustained ability to withstand and recover from adversity.24 Individuals, households, businesses and communities, as well as government, have responsibilities to plan for and manage risks. The Government is giving greater focus to strengthening community resilience and capacity to manage the changing risk and hazard environment. It recognises that building community resilience requires collective action. Individuals must determine how to help themselves and each other in ways that best suit their circumstances. Governments can help greatly in bringing communities together.

The White Paper on Victorian Emergency Management Reform outlines important measures for building community resilience and safety including community engagement, community-based planning, raising awareness and providing information. It also outlines associated actions in line with these measures. For example, publishing accessible, easily-understood information on priority hazards and risks in accordance with the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience.

In addition, government policy frameworks provide clarity on the allocation of risks to guide private investment and avoid government being the insurer of last resort for natural disasters. These measures are discussed further in Parts 3.4 and 3.5.

In a climate-related extreme event or other disaster, the Government has important roles to play in emergency response and in post-recovery arrangements, particularly in restoring public services and assets that support community wellbeing. In addition to the impacts of loss and damage to private and public infrastructure, social capital is likely to be impacted by the damage and disruption caused by extreme events, and by longer term shifts in economic activity and environmental quality. This may increase pressure and demand for community support services, creating challenges for community organisations as well as State and local government.

managing risks to community assets

Disaster resilience is also aimed at minimising the impacts on communities arising from the loss and damage of community assets such as sporting grounds, meeting places and recreation facilities. Responsibility for

community assets is complex. For example, they may represent an investment from different levels of government and the community, or may be located on government land and managed by councils and/or community organisations. In many instances, replacement costs for damaged community assets can be out of the reach of communities and not covered by insurance. This creates additional challenges for the Victorian community as a whole, and in particular for State and local government.

In addition to the cost impacts, the loss of these assets affects community identity and networks (including local, voluntary and business organisations) and can have flow-on effects for whole-of-community resilience. These assets are also important in times of crisis such as bushfire and flood as they are often used as a meeting place, temporary accommodation or shelter, and drop-off point for donations. In many instances, community assets are the central organising point for outreach services and distributing food and other donations.

Victoria’s unique cultural heritage of Aboriginal and historic sites, places, buildings and objects may also be increasingly disturbed and damaged due to climate-related risks such as bushfires, floods and coastal erosion. In some cases this could involve the loss of unique features of significance which cannot be replaced, leading to loss of important cultural and social capital as well as economic losses.

3.3.3 Working with vulnerable communities

The elderly, people suffering from chronic health conditions and people on lower incomes or socially disadvantaged are likely to be more vulnerable to some climate risks. They also may be less aware and prepared for an extreme weather event like a flood or heatwave.

In some cases, the impacts of climate change could worsen existing disadvantage.25 For example, people may be vulnerable because they live in poor-quality housing in higher- risk areas and less able to relocate in an emergency due to poor transport access. They also may have fewer financial resources to cope with extreme events, including a lack of comprehensive insurance cover, and reduced access to social support networks following natural disasters.26

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HEATWAVES AND VUlNERABlE COMMUNITIES

Heatwaves can affect some population groups more than others. The elderly are particularly susceptible. The government has developed a Heatwave Plan for Victoria and provided funding for local government across Victoria to develop heatwave plans.

Two crucial tools are the Heat Health Alert System and the Heat Health Information Surveillance System. The alert system allows organisations to make all necessary preparations to respond to heatwave conditions that may impact on human health, normal operations and essential services. This system is based on researched temperature thresholds above which human health is significantly impacted resulting in increased illness and mortality, especially in those aged 65 years or above. An alert is issued by the Department of Health when these threshold levels are exceeded. Thresholds vary across the state reflecting geographical temperature differences and acclimatisation of communities to local conditions.

The Information Surveillance System monitors the impacts of extreme heat on the Victorian population. It enables integration of temperature data, health service activity and mortality information. It is used for assessment of public health risk and informs emergency planning.

The Commonwealth Government has primary responsibility for the existing social welfare system. The Victorian Government has a role in working with the Commonwealth and local government to identify and implement priorities to improve adaptive capacity and strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable communities. In particular, the Government is working with delivery agencies to develop an integrated approach to managing climate risks in the human services sector, recognising that local councils play an important role through their Home and Community Care services. People and organisations working at the local level can often best identify the most vulnerable individuals or groups, particularly those who may need extra planning support, and relief and recovery assistance.

In the case of recovery from extreme events, targeted short-term community support and recovery measures are an important element of Victoria’s emergency management arrangements. The impact of extreme events on community resilience is also discussed in Part 3.3.


Building disaster resilience and integrated emergency management

the strategic priority for disaster resilience is reflected in the government’s White paper on Victorian Emergency Management Reform. the White paper sets out a broad roadmap for change. it affirms the importance of supporting the community to become more resilient and building the capability and the capacity of the sector. the paper also establishes governance structures to improve accountability and efficiency, and drive reforms.


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3.4 improving access to research and information for decision making

Research and information are essential for effective climate change adaptation. Individuals, businesses, government and community organisations require robust, reliable and accessible climate science and risk information to provide a better understanding of potential risks and to develop appropriate responses. In particular, the Government is committed to ensuring that research is responsive and action-oriented and facilitates knowledge-sharing between researchers, government, community and business stakeholders.

Coordination and collaboration on research efforts, across the three levels of government, with the research sector and within the Victorian Government, are important to:

> improve the consistency, quality and dissemination of research;

> ensure it meets end-use needs; and

> avoid duplication of effort.

National climate science, risks and adaptation research provides a foundation for developing a state-specific research agenda tailored to Victorian priorities and unique needs.

These include:

> the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), CSIRO and their jointly managed Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research;

> Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), including the Melbourne-based Bushfire CRC and the Future Farm Industries CRC;

> The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF); and

> Australian Research Council Discovery and linkage Projects.

These national institutions and initiatives provide an important framework and support for developing a state-specific research agenda tailored around the detailed, targeted consideration of priority risks and adaptation responses for Victoria.

It is important that Victoria continues to build a body of knowledge to support effective climate risk management for our regions, sectors and communities.

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VICTORIAN CENTRE FOR ClIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION RESEARCH (VCCCAR)

The Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research provides the Government with a new model for adaptation research.

VCCCAR supports a multi-disciplinary research program addressing climate adaptation priorities identified by the Victorian Government. This approach provides advice to deal with strategic gaps in adaptation knowledge and potential interactions or trade-offs between sectors, while building on and complementing the growing body of adaptation research.

VCCCAR links the Government with five partner Victorian universities and provides an important ongoing mechanism for collaborative multi-disciplinary research and knowledge transfer for decision makers in government, the community and the private sector. Cross-cutting VCCCAR investigations include:

> Governance models for adaptation and natural disaster risk management: legal, regulatory, institutional and financial assessment (reports April 2013);

> Implementing tools to increase adaptive capacity in the community and natural resource management sectors (reports August 2013); and

> Decision taking in times of uncertainty. Towards an efficient strategy to manage risk and uncertainty in climate change adaptation (mid 2013).


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3.4.1 Developing a climate research agenda for Victoria

The Victorian Government has two key requirements for climate research:

> ‘public good’ information on climate risk and responses to allow all Victorians to decide on the best way to build their climate resilience (much of this research is too costly for individual councils, businesses and communities to generate themselves); and

> informing government planning and decision-making on responsibilities for disaster resilience and risk management for service delivery and asset maintenance and planning.

The Government is shaping a research agenda responsive to Victoria’s needs and interests, including:

> Building regionally-specific climate change adaptation information, taking into account the interactions between land use and ecological and biophysical processes, and drawing on local knowledge to assist both government and private parties in assessing and managing climate risks.

> Increasing understanding of climate risks to specific sectors, in relation to vulnerabilities and risks as well as potential opportunities, and the interactions between sectors to avoid maladaptive responses.

> Facilitating private risk management by building the capacity of businesses and communities to better understand and manage potential climate risks and creating tools to support adaptation planning.

> supporting government responsibilities for disaster resilience and managing risks to public assets and service delivery. A key component of this is building capacity within Victorian Government agencies and local government to make effective investment decisions regarding public assets.

In particular, there is scope for more coordinated investment in research across government, collaborative work with a regional and place-based focus and strengthened links between research and decision making.

Coordinated regional approaches are increasingly important. These need to be developed in collaboration with local government regional groupings, and other relevant regional bodies such as catchment management authorities, coastal boards and other delegated land managers to avoid duplication or fragmented approaches and ensure integrated adaptation planning that best builds the climate resilience of Victoria’s regions.

Building on existing expertise and knowledge

The Victorian Government has a strong record of investing in research focused on key sectors vulnerable to climate change impacts. Research activity to date has been focused primarily on a range of specific sectoral priorities, for example: managing water supply and drainage systems, buildings, transport infrastructure (in particular, rail), health service delivery (including heatwave effects on the elderly) and natural environment assets (for example, biodiversity implications of impacts on a particular indicator species). Key projects underway are detailed in Part 5.

While government agencies continue to examine their sectoral research needs, there is also a need for cross-sectoral, collaborative investigations, particularly on developing regional scale information on potential impacts.

VCCCAR and other research providers can address cross-sectoral issues and strategic knowledge gaps relevant to Victoria, in particular the research priorities that emerge from the issues identified by this and successive Adaptation Plans.

In the 2012–13 Budget, the Victorian Government committed to an initiative aimed at managing future risks to water availability. The initiative will continue to develop short and long term strategies to ensure secure urban and rural water supplies and build upon research themes identified in the former South East Australia Climate Initiative (SEACI), but with a Victoria-specific focus.


3.4.2 Building capacity to access and use climate risk information in decision making

The Victorian Government has already made a significant initial investment in valuable climate change adaptation research and information. Capitalising on this investment by sharing the outputs of this work across government and with the private sector is an important part of developing adaptive capacity in Victoria. As detailed in Part 3.4, information plays a critical role in facilitating private sector adaptation.

The Victorian Government has supported the development of tools for adaptation planning. These draw on local knowledge and help to build capacity in the private and public sector, including local government, to assess impacts and make informed decisions:

> climate change Adaptation navigator tool (VcccAR): this web-based guidance tool, developed through VCCCAR, is designed to assist administrators and decision-makers in local government and other institutions to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It provides information on many aspects of the process of managing climate risks to their own organisation. The proof of concept tool is now freely accessible online: www.adaptation-navigator.org.au. This tool has the capacity for further development to provide increasing value into the future.

> local coastal Hazard Assessments provide information on erosion, flooding, sea level rise and storm surge (see case study below).

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PREPARING VICTORIA’S COAST FOR ClIMATE CHANGE

Victoria’s coastal areas are at risk from rising sea levels, storm surges and flooding, which exacerbate coastal hazards of inundation and erosion.

For Victoria’s coastal areas to successfully adapt to climate change, we need to better understand how these impacts affect coastal areas and build capacity to manage these potential impacts.

The Victorian Government has invested $13.7 million into the Future Coasts Program, which aims to help coastal communities prepare for the challenges of climate change.

In 2012, the Government issued better guidance and information, including detailed mapping of Victoria’s coastline, to help local and regional decision-makers manage risks associated with storm surge and possible sea level rise. This information is available on the climate change website:

www.climatechange.vic.gov.au

Another key part of the Future Coasts program is the local Coastal Hazards Assessments project. The four local Coastal Hazard Assessments in Port Fairy, Bellarine Peninsula/Corio Bay, Western Port and Gippsland lakes/90 Mile Beach are producing detailed data and information that key decision makers can use to:

> inform settlement and land use plans and other statutory tools

> help make decisions about infrastructure and assets such as roads and services

> identify and plan for hazards and potential changes to the coast over time

> support emergency management planning

> inform communities and help them prepare for the potential impacts of a changing climate by developing adaptation plans to assess risks and identify actions.

These measures complement updates to the planning system.

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The Government will use existing information channels, such as government websites with research linkages, and investigate new options to facilitate access to up-to-date and relevant research outcomes. In particular, the Government’s whole-of-government information and communications technology strategy provides an important context for


Improving access to research and information for decision making

the government’s strategic priority for research and information is to continue to build a research model that:

> supports coordinated, action-oriented research and facilitates the exchange of knowledge between researchers and policy makers across government; and

> increases the availability and accessibility of research and information to build Victoria’s climate resilience by facilitating local government, business and community risk management.

the Victorian centre for climate change adaptation research (Vcccar) provides a strong foundation for delivery of this priority.

Vcccar will continue to work towards ensuring that knowledge developed from the research is used most effectively by key decision makers in dealing with the impacts of climate change through:

> Vcccar executive conversations – within government to inform research priorities and policy development;

> an annual forum to showcase current research activity and test its veracity; and

> regional and issues-based think tanks and workshops to improve the understanding of climate impacts and to refine policy directions.

improving access to information to support adaptation. This strategy is now being developed. Its objectives are to manage data as an asset, share data and make government data open.27 It is intended to respond to changes in citizen expectations and behaviour and rapid advances in technology.28


3.5 Supporting private sector adaptation

As a regulator, policy maker and provider of information, government has a role implementing policies to enable businesses and individuals to consider climate impacts in their decision-making and better manage climate risks. While government policies can influence private sector activity, businesses, groups and individuals are generally best placed to manage risks to their private assets and activities. For businesses in particular, responding to their own needs and preferences means that they can best reflect the most business specific, locally appropriate and cost effective adaptation responses.

Well-functioning markets, effective regulations and delivery of ‘public good’ information (see 3.4.1) by government enables landholders, businesses and the community to be aware of their responsibility for managing risks and to take steps to understand the magnitude and nature of the specific risks to their assets and activities. Well-functioning markets can also provide opportunities for innovation in adaptation responses.

The Victorian Government is committed to:

> ensuring that critical regulatory settings, such as land use planning, building and environmental regulation, provide a foundation for private and public risk management while allowing business to manage its own climate risks and exercise its own choices;

> ensuring regulatory, market and institutional frameworks promote effective adaptation by private parties and do not undermine private incentives to adapt; and

> using market mechanisms where these are likely to be most effective to ensure appropriate risk allocation and management.

There are three main areas of Government focus:

> facilitating place-based risk management, including through hazard identification management and land use planning;

> setting the right conditions for businesses to adapt, in particular, removing barriers to effective adaptation and providing access to information to support appropriate risk allocation and promote business innovation; and

> supporting the development of effective insurance markets for climate risk, including through work with the Commonwealth in inter-jurisdictional adaptation forums.

3.5.1 Facilitating place-based risk management

Vulnerability to climate risk is often place-specific. Particular regions, locations, sites and communities are likely to be affected differently by various climate risks such as bushfire, flood and sea level rise. This means that resource management and land use planning can provide an important foundation for risk management and adaptation across society and the economy. Appropriate land management and planning and building measures can ensure that there is consideration of risks to settlements and infrastructure from climate-related hazards and of protection for heritage and environmental values.

Victoria is adopting a more consistent and streamlined identification of natural hazards, such as bushfire, flooding and coastal inundation, to improve our resilience to extreme events. More comprehensive, accurate and accessible information is critical for improving our preparedness and for applying appropriate planning and building responses to minimise risk to life, property, the natural environment and community infrastructure. Resource management and planning authorities draw on expertise within catchment, flood and fire management agencies across government, to provide up-to-date guidance and mapping to support early consideration of climate risks to inform decisions over public land and private investments.

The aim is to integrate consideration of climate risk into existing policy and planning frameworks and into the development of national building standards. State-wide planning strategies and planning scheme provisions and building regulations all help ensure that land is developed for uses appropriate to the climate-related hazards likely to affect the location. Planning and building measures help ensure development is designed with reference to standards and specifications that match identified risks.


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The Government’s Vision for Victoria involves the development of a new Metropolitan Planning Strategy and Regional Growth Plans. The Metropolitan Planning Strategy places a strong emphasis on planning for Melbourne’s growth and change by strengthening the linkages between Melbourne and regional Victoria. Environmental resilience has been identified as a key strategic principle for the strategy. This will ensure that the planning for Melbourne’s future growth incorporates consideration of potential sea level rises and the consequences of potential for extreme weather events as part of the growth and development of the city.29 The Regional Growth Plans, being developed in partnership with local governments, guide future settlement growth, including identifying which areas of land can accommodate growth, along with considering climate-related hazards such as fire and flood.

Planning schemes already contain specific provisions (such as zones and overlays) aimed at avoiding or minimising exposure of sensitive land uses to climate-related hazards such as bushfire, flood, coastal inundation and erosion. These take into account the relative risk of different hazards. The Government’s approach is based on setting performance outcomes to enable innovation in how risks are managed and to support individual responsibility and informed choice as a basis for private risk management in most cases. This approach also applies clear, practical standards for hazard management, particularly where there is high risk of loss of life and property. Further details of land use planning and other risk management responses to key climate hazards are provided in Part 4.

new approaches to managing bushfire hazard

New requirements introduced following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires have strengthened risk assessment processes, requiring that planning decisions must prioritise the protection of human life. In areas at risk from bushfire, the planning system requires that the precautionary principle be applied to decision-making when assessing the risk to life, property and community infrastructure from bushfire.30

For example, the new Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) provisions ensure that development in areas subject to a significant bushfire hazard only occurs after full consideration of bushfire issues. If risk to life and property from bushfire cannot be reduced to an acceptable level, the development

must not proceed. The granting of planning permission does not equate to the Government becoming the insurer of last resort in the event of a bushfire. Residents moving to such developments must assess the risk for themselves and take action to manage these risks. Some actions are mandated under the BMO (e.g. land clearing); others are at the discretion of the resident (e.g. insurance).

In September 2011, the Victorian Government released the Victorian Bushfire Prone Areas (BPA) Map. This map is the trigger for associated regulations requiring residential buildings in bushfire prone areas to achieve minimum construction standards designed to protect buildings from the impacts of bushfires, particularly ember attack. This centralised mapping and designation of bushfire prone areas for planning and building controls was a recommendation of the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission.31 The Government will continue to implement integrated land management, planning and building system reforms arising from the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission.

land use planning and flood risks

The Victorian Floods Review (2011) also identified the need to look at the requirements for ensuring building greater resilience into how we manage infrastructure, plan and protect our settlements and design new developments in the context of flood risks. land use planning is also considered to be the most effective means of reducing future risks and damages from flooding. The principal statutory authorities responsible for land use planning on flood prone lands in Victoria are catchment management authorities, Melbourne Water and municipal councils.

improving certainty for coastal developments

There are important roles for both State and local government in relation to adaptation measures for the built environment through planning measures. The Victorian Government supports place-based risk management by providing information and guidance on coastal hazards. A range of research and information has been provided to assist local government decision-making, including Coastal Inundation Maps and Dataset for the whole of the Victorian coastline, and the Victorian Coastal Hazard Guide. Detailed local coastal hazard assessments at four priority sites across the state are being developed in partnership with local authorities, including councils.


These tools support better informed strategic and regional scale decision making in coastal areas.

In addition, to address the potential coastal impacts of climate change, planning authorities must plan for possible sea level rise of 0.8 metres by 2100, and allow for the combined effects of tides, storm surges, coastal processes and local conditions. To provide additional clarification and certainty in the application of this objective, the Government has recently updated the State Planning Policy Framework32 to take account of projected incremental sea level rise over different timeframes. In particular, it introduces a new sea level rise benchmark of 0.2 metres over current 1-in-100-year flood levels by 2040 which may be used for new urban infill developments in existing urban areas. For new developments outside existing town boundaries, a 0.8 metres sea level benchmark for 2100 applies.

The Victorian Government supports the development of coastal planning and climate change policies within Municipal Strategic Statements and local Planning Policies. It has established a Coastal Planning Program to help both regional and metropolitan local councils plan for possible sea level rise. The Government has invested $13.6 million into the Coastal Planning Program across Victoria. In the 2011–12 Budget, further support was provided for coastal communities as part of the $9.7 million program (over the next four years) to plan for Melbourne’s growth.

national building codes

In terms of the built environment, national standards for building and plumbing are established through the Australian Buildings Code Board (ABCB). The National Construction Code (NCC) contains performance-based requirements for buildings to be designed and built to resist various impacts, including a number that may be associated with climate change such as thermal effects, wind and ground movement caused by swelling or shrinkage of subsoil. This performance-based approach provides the building sector with considerable flexibility to respond to the effects of climate change and also provides scope for innovative building solutions that address climate change impacts.

3.5.2 Setting the right conditions for businesses to adapt

Businesses in Victoria are diverse and are likely to be affected by climate risks in different ways, depending on the type and location of climate impacts and the nature of goods and services they produce. For a minority of Victorian businesses – such as those in climate-sensitive and natural resource-based tourism and/or in hazard-prone locations – assessing climate risks and investigating management options may be a priority. For the vast majority of businesses, however, in the short to medium term climate risks are more likely to arise from the flow-on effects of extreme events.

Businesses generally have strong incentives to manage risks. Where climate risks have a direct impact on business assets and activities, and there is good accessible information, businesses are best placed to manage potential climate risks for current operations and to factor these into future planning. With respect to new, and to some extent uncertain, climate risks, the Victorian Government can play an important role in helping businesses understand these risks.

Business adaptation is driven mostly by private incentives, so the key role for government is to ensure that markets function well and provide appropriate price signals to effectively manage climate risks, in particular by:

> providing information on risks and facilitating stakeholder forums on risk management strategies, such as the VCCCAR forum in partnership with the Australian Centre for Financial Studies on effective management of climate risk; and

> ensuring that regulation and policies are well designed, allowing businesses to effectively manage their risk, including determining their priorities and least cost options and minimise the regulatory and institutional barriers that discourage efficient adaptation or create perverse incentives for individuals to mal-adapt.

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There is not a “one size fits all” approach to adaptation by the private sector. The extent and timing of adaptation measures are a function of many factors, including preferences for bearing risk, capacity to undertake adaptation measures, and local circumstances. The Government seeks to avoid policy settings that result in government being the insurer of last resort in the event of a natural disaster. By doing so, it decreases the incentive for people to invest in riskier projects than they would otherwise, with implications for human safety and assets.

3.5.3 Supporting the development of effective insurance markets for climate risks

Changes in the frequency, severity and distribution of extreme events may expose individuals and businesses to new risks, and affect their exposure to existing ones. Recent extreme events have resulted in unprecedented levels of insurance claims and exposed problems with under-insurance.

Insurance can facilitate effective adaptation in two ways. First, insurance enables the spreading of losses resulting from climate hazards across time, over large geographic areas and among different social and commercial communities. Second, insurance premiums are set based on risk which provides a price signal and incentive to adapt and drive changes in behaviour. For example, to lower their insurance premiums, property owners could take specific actions to reduce the risk of damage to their property.

An effective private insurance market is vital to managing climate risks in Victoria, in particular, to managing the cost impacts on individuals, the community and the government (and therefore all taxpayers) after an extreme event. While the take-up of insurance on private property is high,33 under-insurance by policy holders is often an issue. Despite the relatively high level of coverage, insurers carried only part of the cost of Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires. The balance was picked up by a combination of private donations, government funding and property owners themselves. lower take-up rates of insurance and under-insurance could be improved by appropriate policy and regulatory settings and, where appropriate, addressing affordability issues for vulnerable groups.

The Victorian Government has limited scope to intervene in insurance product markets as most of the relevant legislation and policy levers operate at the national level. However, the Government will seek to ensure that insurance can be an important tool for private parties to manage climate related risks, by:

> providing information so that communities can effectively manage their own risks;

> using regulatory and planning tools where it allows more effective functioning of markets, for example, planning controls on what can and cannot be developed in certain areas allow insurance markets to price risk more effectively in these areas;

> investigating the appropriateness and possible application of risk sharing approaches with the private sector; and

> working with the Commonwealth in appropriate inter-jurisdictional forums on issues requiring national action.

The Government also recognises there are opportunities for the finance sector to develop products that more effectively pool risk and account for uncertainty in the timing of events. Financial instruments are widely used to reveal information and manage risk and uncertainty in various parts of the economy. For example, electricity use is highly dependent on the weather, and weather derivatives are one of many financial tools used by electricity retailers to protect against the impact of abnormally high or low temperatures.34 Such instruments could be tailored to manage uncertainty within an adaptation context.35


Supporting private sector adaptation

the government’s key priority is to further develop policy settings that support appropriate risk allocation and promote business innovation, including providing access to information to assist the private sector to manage its risks.

as committed in Environmental Partnerships, the government is continuing to remove barriers to effective adaptation and clarify insurance arrangements for climate-related risks.


3.6 Strengthening partnerships with local government and communities

Victoria’s local governments have an important role to play in climate adaptation. Partnerships between the Victorian Government and the local government sector are a critically important mechanism for adaptation planning across Victoria. In particular, local government partnerships can provide an effective avenue for working with the Victorian community, both in providing information to encourage community adaptation and supporting the development of detailed local and regional scale adaptation planning.

3.6.1 Clarifying roles and responsibilities with local government

The Government will continue to work with the local government sector to further clarify adaptation responsibilities, recognising that councils have varied exposure to climate risks and also vary greatly in their capacity, including their resources, for effective adaptation. Several councils have already undertaken adaptation planning activities to manage risks to their assets and services. Indeed, some Victorian local governments are recognised as national leaders in this area.

This adaptation plan and other Victorian Government policies and planning frameworks help inform council consideration of climate risks at the local scale, and their incorporation into relevant local policies, codes and regulations – including planning and development regulations – and to build consistency between the levels of government.

drawing on local knowledge and experience

Regional and local scale adaptation strategies are best developed and implemented by those with local knowledge and with risk management responsibilities. local governments have an important role to play in ensuring local conditions are taken into account and local knowledge is considered. local governments work in close partnership with Regional Development Committees and have a unique perspective on integrated regional planning around climate risks. They have a crucial role in feeding back information to state government about the on-ground needs of local communities.

Through partnerships between the Victorian Government and local governments, several significant climate change adaptation programs such as the local Coastal Hazard Assessments are making a real difference in managing the risks of regional climate change impacts.

local government can also provide leadership to local communities, businesses, locally-based NGOs and other key stakeholders to contribute to local and regional efforts to manage risks and take advantage of opportunities associated with climate change. The Victorian Government is working closely with local government and their communities in areas of shared responsibility and interest to ensure the best outcomes for Victorians. It draws on local knowledge to protect cultural and Indigenous heritage.

Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership

The Government is renewing its commitment to its partnership with the local government sector through the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership – Supporting local climate resilience (formerly the Victorian local Sustainability Accord). Building on the successful partnership model established through the Accord program, the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership supports climate resilience and sustainability capacity and action in councils and their communities.

$5.67 million was allocated through the Accord in 2011 to local government with more than $1 million allocated to adaptation projects. In addition to providing grant seed funding, the Partnership is a mechanism for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

The overarching relationship between the Victorian Government and the Victorian local government sector is guided by the Victorian State Local Government Agreement. The Government started renegotiating this Agreement in 2012 to ensure it fulfils its purposes, has practical significance, and provides an overall framework for managing the future relationship between State and local governments. Key agreements and mechanisms involving local governments, such as the Partnership, will be administered in accordance with the working principles and structures of the renegotiated agreement. This will ensure that the Partnership, and other activities relevant to climate change adaptation, can be oriented toward practical actions and shared outcomes for both tiers of government.


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The Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership Ministerial Advisory Committee is an important mechanism for dialogue between State and local government. Representatives from the local government sector who sit on the committee can discuss policies and ideas and provide feedback and advice on behalf of councils to the Government.

The Government recognises that identifying and responding to climate risks can often be quite complex, particularly for slow and incremental impacts, and will work with local government through this forum and other channels to identify areas of focus for collaboration. The Government is continuing to support councils by providing advice, sharing information, fostering opportunities and supporting local governments to build their adaptation skills.

This support is aimed at enabling councils to build their adaptive capacity and ability to make effective investment decisions regarding public assets. It is also recognised that councils have a role in assisting local communities to build their capacity to make effective decisions. The Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership will be strengthened with an increased focus on supporting local councils across this range of adaptation activity.

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COUNCIl CONNECTIONS

Council Connections is a peer to peer learning program for local government practitioners who are undertaking work in the adaptation field.

The program workshops series was delivered in collaboration with Victoria’s urban greenhouse alliances, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and the Victorian Climate Change Centre for Adaptation Research (VCCCAR).

The program aims to assist those working on adaptation in local government, by connecting them with other adaptation practitioners, with stakeholders and also with researchers – to develop research/practice linkages.

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3.6.2 Working with regional communities

A key role for government is managing the distributional impacts for particular regions, communities and groups. This involves specific policy responses to address equity concerns. Consistent with the Productivity Commission’s draft report Barriers to effective climate change adaptation (2012), the Government must regard equity considerations but carefully avoid interventions that reduce incentives to manage risks.

The Victorian local Sustainability Accord has provided platforms for councils to come together and share information about climate risks and adaptation responses and supports local governments working with communities to build adaptive capacity. The work now underway in Barwon South-West (see case study) and in Southern loddon Mallee provides models for regional adaptation planning involving partnerships between local governments, communities and other regional bodies.

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ClIMATE RESIlIENT COMMUNITIES OF BARWON SOUTH-WEST

Through the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord, the Victorian Government has given $600,000 to 10 councils in the South West so they can work together on ways to help their local communities adapt to climate change.

This project is being delivered as a partnership between the councils and other local organisations, which have committed a further $270,000. This funding enables each council to assess the climate risks specific to their area, and come up with measures to minimise those risks. New opportunities presented by a changing climate are being considered.

This is the first time such a large group of local governments has worked together to address the risks of climate change in Victoria. This project provides a model for other governments, businesses and communities to take a collaborative approach to climate change adaptation.

“This is a very exciting project that will enable key government agencies across South West Victoria to work together to help build community resilience to extreme climate events.” Travis Riches, Environment Coordinator, Colac Otway Shire.

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The current process for developing Regional Growth Plans involves partnerships between the Victorian Government and local government to set out the broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria. An understanding of natural hazards and opportunities is fundamental to this work, which includes planning for existing and future settlements to be safer from bushfire, floods and sea level rise. Taking a 30-year vision, the plans are intended to be reviewed every 3–5 years, providing the opportunity to make adjustments as new information becomes available, including regionally-specific climate change data and modelling.

The recent experience of drought, floods and bushfires has underlined the risks for regional communities and local governments arising from climate-related events. The regional snapshots in Part 6 of this plan summarise critical issues for Victoria’s regions. It is recognised that regional adaptation planning needs to be a long-term commitment involving partnerships between State and local government and with regional communities.


Strengthening partnerships with local government and communities

the government’s strategic priority is the new Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership – supporting local climate resilience.

to provide a clear basis for ongoing engagement with Victorian local governments, the government will develop a memorandum of Understanding with the Victorian local government sector, outlining the respective and shared climate change adaptation roles and responsibilities, by the end of 2014.

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PARt 4 /

MANAGING ClIMATE HAZARDSWhat the Victorian Government is doing to manage critical hazards

This section details measures being implemented to deal with sudden extreme events – fire, heatwaves and flood and storm events – and risks arising from droughts and coastal inundation due to sea level rise and storm surge. The list is not exhaustive, but focuses on key initiatives. In many cases, these measures have not been developed in response to climate change but contribute to climate risk management.

The Government’s White Paper on Victorian Emergency Management Reform provides an important roadmap for reforming Victoria’s emergency management arrangements to better manage risks associated with extreme events, including climate hazards. It identifies a suite of associated actions to deliver reform, and builds upon several reforms implemented

since the 2009 bushfires and the 2010-11 and 2012 floods. It further improves Victoria’s emergency management arrangements and directly addresses, or provides the mechanism to respond to, the recommendations of the Victorian Floods Review. The reform contributes to building Victoria’s climate resilience by further improving emergency management arrangements.

The icons set out over page identify the key strategies and approaches being deployed by the Victorian Government in managing climate risks (as outlined in Part 3). They are used to characterise specific measures detailed in Parts 4, 5 and 6, demonstrating that a range of different strategies are required to address risks in various sectors or to respond to particular climate hazards.

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Developing and implementing policy frameworks to support climate resilience

Managing risks to public assets, essential infrastructure and service delivery





Strengthening partnerships

Key


Minimising risks to the built environment: New planning measures and building standards reinforce the way in which planning and building can reduce the impacts of bushfire on human life, property and community infrastructure. These reforms are responses to the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission to strengthen community resilience to bushfire through the planning and building systems and include:

> Adoption of the Bushfire Management Overlay. This provision ensures that new development in areas that may be affected by bushfire can only occur after bushfire issues have been considered. This ensures consideration of bushfire risks in the location and layout of subdivisions, and development of new buildings.

> New building construction standards ensure that new buildings in designated Bushfire Prone Areas are built to achieve minimum construction standards designed to protect buildings from the impacts of bushfires, particularly ember attack.

> ‘10/30’ and ‘10/50’ rules to allow property owners in non-metropolitan areas to clear native vegetation around their homes and, in high-risk areas, around fence lines to create a defendable area.

DPCD

‘scaled up’ planned burning program: reduces risk to human life, property and infrastructure, and maintains or improves the resilience of our natural ecosystems. The planned burning program is monitored and adapted via long-term data collection to achieve landscape level outcomes.

DSE

4.1 Bushfires

Decreased average rainfall and increasing temperature may result in an increase of very high fire danger days. Bushfires threaten human life, health, community wellbeing, essential infrastructure, industries, the economy and the environment. The Black Saturday fires of February 2009 resulted in the loss of 173 lives, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and burnt 430,000 hectares. Many communities are still suffering the after-effects of this devastation.

Fire is a natural part of Victoria’s environment and has been so for millions of years. On average, about 166 bushfires ignited by lightning occur each year in Victoria.

Many species have adaptations that allow them to survive fire. However, bushfires can place some vulnerable species and ecosystems at risk. Direct impacts include mortality of already threatened species. Indirect impacts include increased rates of predation, loss of hollows and logs and erosion of soils with consequences for stream habitats.

The Victorian Government is committed to reducing impact of major bushfires on human life, property, infrastructure, and ecosystems.

Victorian Government responses

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Undertaking research and developing and refining risk assessment tools to:

> Better understand the impacts of different fuel and fire management strategies. For example, the Victorian Government invested $6.45 million into the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre to conduct research into bushfire risk management, fire danger and severity rating, improving planned burning, and the use of fire to manage flora and fauna.

> Better understand adaptation needs, including impacts of climate change and demographic changes resulting in more people living in new and challenging environments.

> Inform bushfire management and minimise the impacts to individuals, properties, communities and the environment. This includes modelling technology to simulate bushfires and model potential impacts for consideration into fire planning.

DSE

Fire Services Comr.

DSE

Building partnerships and resilience:

> A Fire Services Reform Action Plan has been developed to build capacity and resilience in the community and the fire services and achieve genuine interoperability between the fire services.

> Working with businesses, local government and communities to build a shared understanding of risks, rights and responsibilities, properly prepare for emergencies and build resilience in the face of these events.

> The Integrated Fire Management Planning Framework brings together a broad range of agencies and organisations in Victoria to discuss, plan and prepare for fire in local communities. The Framework provides a consistent approach to planning at the State, regional and municipal levels to work toward reducing the impact of fire in Victoria as well as ensuring a joined-up, collaborative approach to planning.

DoJ and Fire Services Comr. with WoVG

DoJ and Fire Services Comr. with WoVG

Reforming the Fire services Property levy: From 1 July 2013, the Victorian Government will introduce a property based levy to fund the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFB) and the Country Fire Authority (CFA). The Fire Services Property levy will replace the existing insurance-based funding model as recommended by the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. It will provide a more equitable funding basis, ensuring that Victorian property owners pay a fair contribution to fire services and are not penalised for adequately insuring their property.

DTF


Heatwave Plan for Victoria: provides a coordinated and integrated response to heatwaves across state and local government, involving emergency management and the health and community service sectors. The Plan aims to:

– ensure heat health information and support is readily available to the community, at-risk groups and their carers;

– develop partnerships and collaborative arrangements to better respond to heatwaves;

– increase understanding of the health impacts of heatwaves on communities and their capacity to respond during heatwaves;

– manage public health emergencies during heatwaves more effectively; and

– develop long-term and sustainable behavioural change to minimise the impacts of heatwaves on health and wellbeing.

DoH

Heat Health Alert system: notifies of forecast heatwave conditions which are likely to impact on human health allows State and local governments, hospitals, and state-wide or major metropolitan health and community service providers to better prepare for heatwave events.

DoH

Research and capacity building:

> The Heatwave Planning Guide assists local government with heatwave planning at the community level and draws on experiences of 13 pilot projects and the 2009 heatwave, as well as international knowledge.

> Research projects develop a better understanding of heatwaves and other extreme events, and their impact on the community. For example:

– reducing harm to older persons from extreme heat;

– temperature thresholds for Melbourne and rural Victoria; and

– the urban hotspots project which explores information that defined population vulnerability based on a number of health, demographic and environmental factors known to influence population health during periods of extreme heat.

DoH

4.2 heatwaves

CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology projections for future climate indicate that the average number of days over 35°C in Melbourne may increase from nine days in 1990, to 11-13 days per year by 2030, and to 15-26 days by 2070.36

Increased incidence of heatwaves could impact on human health, essential infrastructure (such as energy infrastructure) and services (including public transport services).

The 2009 heatwave had well documented health impacts, contributing to an estimated 374 excess death37 over the period, as well as disrupting critical infrastructure in metropolitan Melbourne.

State government, local government and the community all have a role to play in protecting health and reducing harm from heatwaves.



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strengthening policy frameworks to support climate resilience:

> Measures being implemented through the Office of living Victoria contribute to supporting more liveable urban spaces (for example, greener spaces with improved urban amenity) through integrating water into the landscape. (see also 5.5).

> As Melbourne’s Growth Areas are developed, the precinct structure planning process will consider how to account for temperature extremes, particularly through the design of open space and other public space opportunities including use of integrated urban water management.

OlV

DPCD

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4.3 Floods and storms

Increased incidence of heavier rainfall events may create risks of riverine flooding, flash flooding and storm damage. In addition to risks to public safety and loss and damage to property and critical infrastructure, these events can have complex and wide-ranging disruption to local communities, economies and government service provision.

Riverine flooding is caused by continued rainfall and the cumulative impact of run-off on rivers and surrounding areas. Healthy ecosystems along waterways can help reduce risks of riverine flooding. It is also important to note that riverine flooding also has benefits in replenishing water storage dams, soil moisture and nutrients and wetland ecosystems. Flash flooding from intense rain events occurs most commonly in built-up areas and with impacts at a fast rate.

After the 1997–2009 drought, Victoria experienced its highest summer rainfall on record in 2010-2011. The major flooding episodes during this period resulted in approximately one-third of Victoria suffering flood or storm damage, with National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements extended to 76 (of 79) councils in Victoria.38

Victoria has also experienced significant economic impacts from recent storms. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, in 2011 it is estimated storms inflicted $1.1 billion in loss and damage on the state. In 2010, a single storm in March resulted in a loss and damage bill of $1.16 billion.

The Victorian Government has an important role in flood and storm risk management and works in partnership with local government, catchment management authorities, Melbourne and regional water utilities, and the Victorian State Emergency Service to mitigate and respond to risks and implement flood and storm warning systems. The Bureau of Meteorology plays a critical role in flood forecasting and warnings.

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AdAPtAtion PlAnVictorian Government responses

strengthening policy frameworks:

> Victorian Floods Review (led by Neil Comrie): In response to severe flood impacts on regional Victoria in 2010, the Government commissioned the Review of the 2010–11 Flood Warnings and Response to examine aspects of flood response and recovery, emergency warnings and evacuations. The review is guiding the government’s response and planning to better prepare and equip Victoria to deal with severe flooding events. The White Paper on Victorian Emergency Management Reform sets the overarching framework for emergency management reform and builds on reforms implemented since the 2010–11 and the 2012 floods. It further improves Victoria’s emergency management arrangements and directly addresses, or provides the mechanism to respond to, many of the recommendations of the Victorian Floods Review.

> Improving Flood Warning Systems Implementation Plan outlines how the Government will respond to those recommendations in the Victorian Floods Review that relate to flood warning systems and flood risk planning, including flood mapping and flood emergency plans.

> Government response to the ENRC Parliamentary Inquiry into flood mitigation infrastructure: this will set the strategic directions for dealing with flooding and help further understand the role of strategic planning in dealing with flood risk mitigation, for example, through levee management, land-use planning, waterway management, flood monitoring infrastructure, local knowledge and engagement. This includes clarifying roles and responsibilities for flood risk mitigation.

> Victorian Flood Management Strategy review, starting in 2013, provides the strategic framework through which flood risk to communities is assessed over time (through regional strategies) and consequently enable communities to respond to changes in flood risk as a consequence of climate change.

DPCD and DSE

DSE

DSE

DSE

ongoing planning for and management of flood and storm risks:

> Catchment management authorities are working with local government to improve the availability and accuracy of flood hazard mapping to support actions that minimise flooding impacts on regional towns and settlements. In support, the flood warning repair and improvement initiative is undertaking flood risk assessment and flood mapping for up to 25 communities. This will evaluate the flood warning requirements and need for mitigation measures and provide high quality mapping to support land-use planning, community education and emergency response.

> Regional growth plans are being developed to guide long-term planning for existing and future settlements to be safer from flood hazards.

> The Office of living Victoria’s reform agenda includes reducing the amount of stormwater runoff from urban areas, which can contribute to a reduction in the risk of localised nuisance flooding.

> The Metropolitan Planning Strategy is being framed to adopt environmental resilience as a fundamental principle and this incorporates consideration of flooding and other physical hazards as part of planning the city’s growth and development.

> The Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) continues to coordinate emergency preparation and response for floods and storms and prepare and warn communities with public safety advice and emergency plans.

> Managing flood risks to public land by focusing on areas facing the highest risks.

DPCD and DSE

OlV

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DPCD and DSE

SES

DSE


4.4 Sea level rise and coastal inundation

Possible sea level rise, in combination with coastal storm events and storm surge, increases the risk of coastal inundation and erosion. Coastal inundation can affect infrastructure such as roads, services and the natural environment. Coastal inundation risks are not uniform for all of Victoria’s coastline. In addition to current local patterns of erosion and tidal variation, local impacts of sea level rise may be influenced by factors including geology, the location of private and public buildings and infrastructure and other natural and built assets.

Rising sea levels and coastal erosion may also disturb acid sulfate soils and acidify waterways,

leading to corrosion of infrastructure, decline in water quality and impacts to ecosystems and fisheries. This creates implications for commercial fisheries, recreational fishing, tourism, regional productivity and cultural heritage sites along Victoria’s coastline.

The Victorian Government has a critical role to play in facilitating place-based risk management through land use planning, identification of natural hazards, and better information and guidance. In particular, it works in partnership with coastal decision-makers, including local government, to plan for and manage the risks associated with possible sea level rise.

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Research and information to assist decision making:

> New Victorian Coastal Inundation Maps and Dataset provide information for the whole of the state’s coastline on the potential for flooding from possible sea level rise and storm tides for four different time periods (2009, 2040, 2070 and 2100).

> The Victorian Coastal Hazard Guide supports better informed strategic and regional scale decision-making about managing the coast’s natural and built environments and assists local councils and communities to adapt to the risks of sea level rise through better strategic planning.

> Detailed local coastal hazard assessments at priority sites: Port Fairy, Bellarine Peninsula-Corio Bay, Western Port and Gippsland lakes-90 Mile Beach. These are being developed in partnership with local authorities, including councils. For further information, see the case study in Part 3.4.2.

DSE

DSE

DSE

Minimising risks to the built environment:

> The State Planning Policy Framework requires that planning authorities, including local government, plan for possible sea level rise of 0.8 metres by 2100. An increase of 0.2 metres over current 1-in-100-year flood levels by 2040 may be used for new development in close proximity to existing development (urban infill). For new development outside existing settlements, authorities should plan for not less than 0.8 metres by 2100.

> The state government issued new guidelines to support catchment management authorities responding to planning referrals in coastal areas.

> The Government’s Coastal Planning Program will focus on land use and planning scheme responses to risks identified through detailed local coastal hazard assessments. The Government has allocated $13.6 million into the Coastal Planning Program across Victoria. In the 2011–12 State Budget, further support was provided for coastal communities as part of the $9.7 million program (over the next four years) to plan for Melbourne’s growth.

DPCD and DSE

DSE

DPCD

Managing risks to coastal crown land: by focusing on areas facing the highest risks and clarifying the Government’s role in managing these risks.

DSE


4.5 drought

Reductions in rainfall combined with warmer temperatures are likely to increase the frequency of drought in Victoria over the coming years. Drought conditions lead to significant reductions in runoff, stream flows, water storage levels, and groundwater recharge. The flow-on effects are reduced water availability for domestic, agricultural, urban and industrial use, as well as important environmental flows. A lack of water to flush our water systems can result in reduced or more variable water quality from catchments to our coast. This can result in increased incidence of blue green algal blooms and water-borne diseases.

The 13 year drought from 1997 to 2009 offers a recent example of how severe drought can affect water supply. While Victoria’s water managers have a long history of dealing with climate variability, the unprecedented severity of the drought stress-tested the water entitlement, and water planning and management framework.

The drought resulted in many cities and towns across the state experiencing prolonged periods of severe water restrictions, impacting on gardens, open space and sporting fields, and reducing the liveability of many communities. The lowest flows on record were experienced across most of the State in 2006, as a result of the almost complete failure of winter rains. Additional contingency measures, such as water carting and groundwater bores, were required in some situations to ensure that essential water needs were met. In addition, the Victorian Government and water corporations invested in infrastructure and in water efficiency and conservation measures to augment supplies.

Given that the reductions in streamflows experienced during the drought were greater than high climate change projections for 2060 across most of the State, Victoria’s water managers are well placed to manage the potential impacts of a changing climate.


Managing water to benefit all Victorians:

> Investments by the Victorian Government and water corporations during the drought in infrastructure, water conservation and water efficiency measures will continue to assist in securing reliable supplies into the future.

> Adaptive management principles have been built into the water management and planning framework, and water trading arrangements have also been modified, to facilitate a flexible and timely response in the face of a variable and changing climate.

> New approaches are being used to manage environmental benefits including seasonal prioritisation of environmental water needs and structural works to deliver environmental water more efficiently.

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establishment of a new reform body:

> The Government established the Office of living Victoria (OlV) to drive urban water reform by coordinating urban and water planning. This work supports achievement of the vision and objectives for urban water, which includes increased resilience to an uncertain future. The functions of the OlV include:

– coordinating the development of integrated water cycle plans for Melbourne’s four main growth areas and inner Melbourne;

– improving the water performance of new buildings; and

– improving stormwater management standards.

These are important steps to ensure that future developments in Melbourne do not reduce the ability of Melbourne’s water supply systems to cope with future climate risks. These measures also assist in supporting more liveable urban spaces (for example, greener spaces with improved urban amenity) through integrating water into the landscape.

OlV

strengthening policy frameworks and strategies:

> The Government’s living Victoria program centres on a new integrated approach to managing urban water systems and making the most of all the water available in Melbourne and Victoria’s regional centres. By accessing all water resources available in Melbourne, the city will reduce its reliance on water from other parts of Victoria - from irrigation and regional communities. It also reduces pressure on river systems.

> Develop investment guidelines and decision-making tools that better reflect the value the community places on urban amenity and the environment to inform the planning and management of urban water services.

> Facilitate investment in wastewater reuse, guided by the release of sewer mining guidelines.

> The Western and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategies further improve the capacity of Victoria’s entitlement and planning frameworks to adapt to varying weather and climate.

OlV

DSE

DSE

DSE

Improving irrigation infrastructure:

> The Victorian Government, the Commonwealth and local irrigators, are investing a combined $2 billion in the Goulburn Murray Water (GMW) Connections Project to upgrade Northern Victoria’s ailing irrigation infrastructure. The modernisation will improve water delivery management and irrigation services, and recover much of the water now being lost through leaks, evaporation and system inefficiencies, assisting irrigation communities to remain viable and productive despite the challenges of drought and a changing climate.

DSE


PARt 5 /

BUIlDING ClIMATE RESIlIENCE IN KEy SECTORSWhat the Victorian Government is doing to manage risks

Detailed information about government responses for building climate resilience in key sectors is described in this section. Sectors have been clustered according to similarities in the services they provide to the community and how risks to these services may interact with each other.

Essential infrastructure and built environment

> Transport

> Energy

> Water

> Built environment

Economy

> Business and industry

> Agriculture, fisheries and forestry

Natural environment

> Biodiversity

> Coasts

> Waterways

People and community

> Health and human services

> Communities

> Culture

In some cases, there are important interactions between sectors, in particular flow on implications between them. For example, extreme weather events have direct impacts on energy systems and transport, disrupting access to workplaces and interrupting business operations. These events can also affect the demand for, and accessibility to, health and human services.

There are also significant non-climatic drivers of change in all sectors. Adaptation planning needs to be integrated with these other considerations relating to asset management, service planning and investment decisions.

5.1 Essential infrastructure and the built environment

A range of built infrastructure is required to deliver the services that are essential to Victoria’s liveability, productivity and economic prosperity. This includes:

> transport infrastructure or roads, rails and ports;

> energy infrastructure such as transmission and distribution infrastructure;

> water infrastructure such as stormwater drains and storage reservoirs; and

> educational facilities.

Infrastructure associated with health and human services is discussed in Part 5.4.

While most essential infrastructure is managed by the Victorian Government, some is privately owned and operated. In the case of private ownership, it is anticipated that individual businesses will plan for and manage potential climate risks. In the case of the privately owned and operated energy infrastructure, the Victorian Government works with energy industries to ensure the continued delivery of secure, safe, reliable and affordable energy supplies for all Victorians. The energy industry has a long history of responding and adapting to change, and individual enterprises have strong commercial incentives to manage the potential impacts of climate risk to their operations.

The Victorian Government is preparing a new Vision for Victoria to draw together many of these considerations into how we develop our regional areas and cities. These initiatives include integrating processes such as Regional Growth Plans and the Metropolitan Planning Strategy.


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Managing risks to all transport infrastructure:

> During extreme events – bushfire, heatwaves and floods – the Victorian Government and relevant agencies collaborate with councils and public transport operators to communicate advance warnings, activate appropriate contingency plans, and coordinate control agencies and coordination centres.

> The Victorian Government is modernising or replacing key transport infrastructure in response to the risk assessment work that is in its final stages of completion, and implementing measures to increase inspections and maintenance regimes of existing transport infrastructure and services.

> Additional maintenance inspections are undertaken in response to extended periods of hot weather.

> Procedures are in place to provide options for moving freight by alternative methods during bushfires. This process is managed by the operators, with assistance from the Department of Transport where required.

> The Transport Resilience and Climate Extremes (TRACE) skills development package equips Department of Transport employees and contractors with an understanding of key risks and vulnerabilities of extreme weather to transport infrastructure and services.

DoT

DoT

DoT

DoT

DoT

Managing risks to rail: For safety purposes, and to prevent damage to infrastructure, rail operators introduce temporary speed restrictions during heatwaves.

DoT

Managing risks to roads: Implement the VicRoads Sustainability and climate change strategy 2010–2015 to generate a work program that may include a range of responses to climate risks.

DoT

Managing risks to ports: Safety and Environment Management Plans are developed and maintained by all ports to address risks including risks associate with sea level rise.

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GY Powerline safety: Managing the investment of $750 million over

ten years in Government and consumer funding for upgrades to the electricity network, with the objective of reducing the risk of powerlines starting bushfires by two-thirds.

DPI






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rnew policy frameworks for urban water management:

> Support delivery of the Government’s vision and objectives for urban water, which includes increasing the resilience of the urban water system to an uncertain future to maintain the liveability, sustainability and productivity of Melbourne and Victoria’s regional centres.

> With an initial focus on Melbourne’s four growth areas and inner Melbourne, drive integrated water cycle management to increase use of alternative water sources and reduce the negative environmental impacts of stormwater on receiving waterways.

> Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions to apply current performance requirements for managing stormwater in new residential subdivisions more broadly to other types of urban development.

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Improving the resilience of private buildings:

> Implement revised national building and construction standards as these are developed/updated to reflect the latest information on physical hazards, energy efficiency and climate risks.

> Prepare a Regulatory Impact Statement for building controls to improve the water performance of new buildings.

> Undertake work on the effect of heatwaves on buildings and continue to investigate opportunities to tackle the urban heat island effect.

DPCD

OlV

DPCD and DSE

Improving the resilience of public assets:

> Flood and bushfire risk is considered as a key part of site selection for all new capital investments.

> In planning and developing new public assets and major asset renewal, sustainability performance is to be considered as part of preparating business cases, and incorporated into the benefit/cost appraisal. This includes consideration of resilience to climate change, energy performance and water efficiency.

Whole of Govt.

DTF with DBI

Managing risks to Victorian schools:

> A Bushfire Safety Checklist for Victorian Schools is being developed, which will include prompts to mitigate risks to school buildings.

> The School Bushfire Protection Project is assessing and managing works at schools identified as being at high bushfire risk, with a particular emphasis on providing place of last resort (‘shelter in place’). Building works and/or vegetation management have been undertaken to protect the identified shelter.

> A review of departmental procedures for responding to floods of Victorian schools has made recommendations to improve existing knowledge and processes, and on capital works that may lessen the risk of inundation. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is working with stakeholders to implement the recommendations.

> Improved building design principles and solutions emphasise the thermal performance of buildings, external shading and cross-ventilation to reduce vulnerability to a changing climate.

DEECD

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5.2 Economy

Victoria’s response to its climate risks involves Government:

> undertaking risk management for public assets and services;

> providing timely and accessible information and other policy frameworks; and

> facilitating private risk management.

Many Victorian Government adaptation responses contribute both directly and indirectly to climate risk management for business and industry.

The Government has introduced a range of measures aimed at reducing risk arising from bushfire, coastal inundation and floods, including hazard mapping, planning provisions and building controls. These measures enable businesses and industry to better manage their risks.

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Promote industry risk management by business: Work in partnership with the Commonwealth Government and industry associations to raise awareness of the tools and information that are available to business to undertake risk identification, assessment and management.

DBI and DSE

targeted guidance for business:

> Provide targeted guidance to businesses affected by extreme events to assist in recovery and in future planning for and response to crises. In particular, as part of the tourism industry plan, Tourism Victoria has developed Crisis Essentials. Crisis Management for tourism businesses.

> The Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan, and ongoing research activity on snow cover, address issues of variable snow falls impacting on alpine resort managers and businesses.

DBI

DSE

training for risk management:

> The education sector is providing skills training in a number of courses that can assist in managing risks of climate change and extreme events. For example, in response to bushfires, a new course was developed to address a skills shortage in the power distributor industry for above ground powerlines asset inspectors to reduce the risk of bushfires from power lines.

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Research and capacity-building:

> Provide a range of research, information and on the ground services to help farmers manage risks and identify opportunities associated with seasonal climate risk. This includes:

– research into agricultural systems in grains, horticulture, dairy and red meat production to adapt to an evolving climate and become more resilient to extreme events;

– research into the impact of extreme events on agricultural products, such as grapevines, fruit, and grain crops, and how these potential effects can be mitigated through management practices; and

– research to better understand the impact of bushfires and fuel reduction burns on smoke taint in Victoria’s $278 million grape and wine industry. The state government has invested $4 million in DPI to establish a Centre for Smoke Taint Expertise to develop management guidelines to reduce smoke taint in wine.

> Building capacity of farmers through participatory research on issues such as using irrigation water more efficiently, forage growth and selection under different climate conditions, improved animal trait selection and feed-conversion efficiency as well as aspects of on-farm business decision-making.

> The Victorian Government is working with the Commonwealth Government to develop measures that help farmers to prepare for and manage business risks, including drought.

> Implement key parts of the Timber Industry Action Plan to assist the timber industry to meet challenges including managing climate risks. The Plan sets priorities for current and future research including for climate variability and adaptation (including water and fire); and biosecurity (including emerging pest and disease risks).

> Coordinate the South East Australian Program for Fisheries and Aquaculture for the South East Australia’s marine waters, which are a hotspot for climate risk.

> Building the capacity of landholders to participate in carbon markets, in particular, undertaking research to help land managers and farmers receive the true value of their carbon offset activities and ensure the best available, local information is available to decision makers.

DPI

DPI

DPI

DPI

DPI

DSE

Biosecurity strategy for Victoria: implement the ‘landscape scale’ framework for invasive species management to identify, prioritise, monitor, evaluate and report on across public and private land, addressing increased risks arising from climate change.

DPI with DSE

new policy frameworks: Reform the future management of wild harvest fisheries to deal with climate risks and other challenges.

DPI


AdAPtAtion PlAn

5.3 natural environment

The Victorian Government is responsible for ensuring public land and our marine environments are healthy, productive and resilient. At a statewide level, the Government is also responsible for river health and biodiversity, which go beyond the public land boundary.

The Government has important roles in relation to the natural environment: as a regulator, a policy maker, an investor, a governor of our institutions, an information provider, a planner of natural resources, a land and asset manager and a service provider.

Better outcomes can be achieved if Government works closely with industry, local decision-makers and communities, to understand what they need and value, to remove barriers to action and to foster a new sense of environmental citizenship.

Government must allow business to manage its own climate risks, exercise its own choices and fulfil its environmental obligations. It should allow communities to prioritise the issues and actions relevant to them to encourage community ownership of environmental outcomes. All Victorians - government, industry, community groups and individuals must understand the importance of actively participating in the care of our environment.

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Research into strategies for resilience: to better understand biodiversity and landscape resilience. In particular, use research and improved information to review and renew biodiversity policies to inform planning, regulatory and investment frameworks that increase the resilience of species and landscapes and avoid maladaptive and perverse outcomes.

DSE

decision-support tools to support the conservation of biodiversity and build the resilience of threatened species and ecosystems:

> Expand the use of NaturePrint analyses to enable integration of best statewide information about biodiversity values, threatening processes and ecosystem function and resilience at the landscape scale. This provides a consistent basis for identifying policy options and for operational decision-making.

> Implement a Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework to assist with tracking changes in the natural environment over time including the most likely causes and impacts of changing weather patterns and land use. This information can inform state government policy and programs.

DSE

DSE

support community-driven initiatives: partner with Victorians to restore landscapes, increase connectivity and strategically link areas of remnant habitat and ecological value across all land tenures.

DSE



Bio

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Biosecurity strategy for Victoria: implement the ‘landscape scale’ framework for invasive species management to identify, prioritise, monitor, evaluate and report on across public and private land, addressing increased risks arising from climate change (see 5.1 Economy).

DPI with DSE

Improved planning and investment, and use of emerging markets to deliver better biodiversity outcomes: maximise funding opportunities from planning and investment programs such as the Commonwealth Government Carbon Farming Initiative, Biodiversity Fund and Caring for Country, National Wildlife Corridors Plan and Regional Natural Resource Management Plans, to achieve integrated multiple outcomes for land, water and biodiversity.

DSE

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strategies and policies to protect Victoria’s coast:

> Victorian coastal strategy: ensures Victoria’s coastal and marine environments continue to be well managed for the future by planning for climate change and setting policy, including planning for sea level rise of not less than 0.8 metres by 2100, and allowing for the combined effects of tides, storm surges, coastal process and location conditions when assessing risks and impacts associated with climate change.

The strategy also directs decision-makers to apply the precautionary principle to planning and management decisions and that all plans prepared under the Coastal Management Act 1995 such as Coastal Action Plans and Coastal Management Plans (which are used to translate the strategy at a regional and local scale) consider the impacts of climate change. This is consistent with Part 3.5.1 Facilitating place-based risk management.

> Victorian strategy for coastal Acid sulfate soils: aims to protect the environment, humans and infrastructure from the harmful effects which can occur when acid sulfate soils are disturbed, including through possible sea level rise.

DSE with DPCD

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Research and decision-making tools:

> The Government has commissioned a Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) investigation of Victoria’s existing marine protected areas to provide assessment of:

– the performance of existing marine protected areas in relation to the natural environment; and

– any ongoing threats or challenges to the effective management of existing marine protected areas, particularly in relation to biodiversity and ecological outcomes. The final report is due in early 2014.

> The Victorian Government is working in partnership with Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority, on behalf of other coastal CMAs, to further understand the implications of future climate on Victoria’s marine environment. The final report can inform future policy and management programs relevant to ecologically sustainable use of Victoria’s marine environment.

> Continue to identify coastal values, including natural and built assets, and the potential impacts of climate change on these into the future. Develop a robust methodology to be used for regularly measuring community values to inform policy and planning decisions.

DSE

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Victorian waterway Management strategy: will adopt an integrated and adaptive management framework Victoria’s rivers, estuaries and wetlands which will incorporate the flexibility to address the potential impacts on waterways of drought, flood, fire and a changing climate. The draft Victorian Waterway Strategy was released for public comment in October 2012. The final strategy is scheduled for release in the first half of 2013.

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5.4 People and the community

Governance arrangements to support and deliver health and human services to Victorians are complex. They rely on close coordination between the Victorian Government, private sector, local governments, community sector organisations including non-government organisations, charities, community groups and the Commonwealth Government (through agencies such as Centrelink).

The Victorian Government has an important role in managing health services and infrastructure. Although the state government typically does not own community assets, it plays an important role, with local government, in providing grants and community development programs and in protecting cultural heritage. Both state and local government have a role in supporting community resilience.

Community organisations, volunteers and philanthropy also play an important role supporting a community’s ability to respond to change.

Clarifying roles and expectations for protection and, in the event of a disaster, restoration of physical assets is an important priority. In particular, there is a need for clarification and coordination between state, local council and community organisations, in relation to many community assets, that are owned, leased or managed by a Committee of Management (either council or community members), but located on state owned land.

The reinstatement of these facilities after a flood or bushfire, and their improvement to adapt to climate change, can only be undertaken with the cooperation of the landowner, in these cases, the Government.

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disaster resilience: Fire risk management and disaster resilience for health and human services via the provision of essential engineering solutions including back-up power supplies for critical health facilities.

DoH and DHS39

Public health planning:

> The Government has developed a comprehensive approach to dealing with heatwave risk, including the Heatwave Plan for Victoria, the Heatwave planning guide, the Heat Health Alert System, and heatwave communication resources.

> Under the Victorian Climate Change Act 2010, the Department of Health and local government are required to consider climate change risks when undertaking public health and wellbeing planning at state and local levels.

> Embed the consideration of climate change into departmental risk management and business planning practices.

> Manage climate change risks to public and disability housing assets and residents.

> Engage with funded agencies to develop an approach to climate change adaptation in the human services sector.

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targeted community capacity-building:

> $9.4 million Advancing Country Towns initiative will continue to support regional and rural communities experiencing the challenges of rapid change and complex disadvantage, including in response to climate risks.

> Community resilience programs also assist in capacity-building for climate risks, such as: volunteering, community renewal, neighbourhood houses and men’s sheds.

DPCD

DPCD and DHS

supporting resilient community assets:

> Community Facility Funding Program: for high quality, accessible community sport and recreation facilities across Victoria, with priority being given to communities in areas of need, that have experienced natural disasters, such as bushfires, flood and drought or communities experiencing strong population growth.

> A joint approach to protect and restore community assets: As many community assets are on state owned land with the built assets are owned/managed by a Committee of Management (CoM) action to protect community facilities and restore them after disasters often require a joint approach between the facility owner/operator, the local government and the State Government to avoid administrative barriers to timely action.

DPCD

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Protecting cultural heritage:

> Fire and flood management authorities are incorporating contingency plans to minimise damage to heritage values when undertaking works to manage emergency incidents. Improved forward planning processes minimise the impacts that post-event management activities (or preventive activities) can cause to heritage values in addition to the event itself.

> The Victorian Heritage Register and Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register will be used to provide local government, asset managers and the community information on places and sites of significance, and advice on suitable management regimes in relation to climate related hazards.

> Early identification and documentation of heritage values will be prioritised in order to establish priority places for protection.

> As flooding and erosion, may also present an opportunity arising from exposure of previously unknown sites, cross agency information exchange and community feedback is encouraged to ensure new values are recognised, registered and appropriately managed.

DSE and DPCD with AAV and HV

AAV and HV

AAV and HV

DPCD

Using Indigenous knowledge to manage climate risks: by drawing on the Koori community’s environmental intelligence with regards to avoiding fire and flood danger areas, as outlined in Mingu Gadhaba, ‘Beginning Together’ – Koori Inclusion Action Plan.

DoJ

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PARt 6 /

REGIONAl SNAPSHOTSAdaptation action in Victoria's regions

The regional snapshots illustrate the diversity of climate-related issues across Victoria’s regions and showcases state and local government action underway to build climate resilience.

Victoria’s six regions:

> Gippsland

> Grampians

> Barwon Southwest

> loddon Mallee

> Hume

> Greater Melbourne.

Barwon SouthWest

Grampians Hume

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A local approach, drawing upon local knowledge, should be taken when examining risks and opportunities at place. By highlighting examples of risks within each region, these snapshots provide a good starting point for discussion of climate- related risks and opportunities.

These snapshots are also informed by the broader examination of state-wide climate related hazards – bushfires, heatwaves, floods and storms, sea level rise and coastal inundation and drought, outlined in Part 4.

Although these risks apply to most regions, they can manifest differently in each region, depending on the interactions between geography, climate and demographics. Also playing a part in how these risks unfold are the varied regional economies and the ability of local communities and councils, in partnership with the Government, to manage risks and take advantage of opportunities where appropriate.

Many activities already underway across Victoria’s regions are helping to address regionally specific issues and risks, including measures that have not been driven by climate risks. This shows that we can help maximise economic growth and liveability in the regions by integrating climate risk management into existing projects and policies. It will also help to avoid duplicating our efforts to manage risk.

The Government plays an important role in supporting regional risk management by:

> managing the risks to regional services and assets;

> providing accessible and regionally-specific information and research; and

> developing partnerships with local governments and communities to produce local adaptation initiatives.

These roles and responsibilities are discussed in detail in Part 3.

The regional snapshots presented here set the scene for future climate change adaptation planning with a regionally specific focus. Regional adaptation planning is also informed by these state-wide government initiatives:

> Regional Growth Plans for each of Victoria’s regions. These plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria. Plans respond to the directions and priorities in the regional strategic plans that were prepared by local governments in 2010.

> Integrated Fire Management Planning, which has been established in all ‘at risk’ municipalities; and Regional Strategic Fire Management Plans, which have been developed for all regions to guide municipal planning.

> Regional catchment strategies, which play an important role in building the resilience of Victoria’s ecosystems. The regional catchment strategy guidelines identify the importance of considering climate risks to ensure land, water and biodiversity is effectively managed within catchment regions.

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Quick Facts

Population: 270,000 people in two main age groups: 5-19 and 35-69 year olds.40

Major economic drivers: Agriculture, construction, manufacturing, tourism, energy and resources (in particular timber and brown coal).

Major natural assets: Gippsland lakes, Wilsons Promontory, 700km of coastline.41 numerous Ramsar42 wetlands, snowfields, and Victoria’s largest forests.

Major regional centres: Bairnsdale, Sale, Traralgon, and Warragul.43

Major drivers of change in the region: Transition to low Carbon Economy.44

Recent natural disasters: Drought, bushfires in 2003, 2006-07 and 2009, widespread flooding in 2007 and 2011 and increasing coastal erosion and inundation.45

Gippsland region

Over 60 per cent of the Gippsland region is public land that is covered by the largest extent of native forests in Victoria. The commercially valuable hard and softwood forests, including plantations, may change in distribution or degrade due to altered climate conditions and increased frequency of bushfires. During the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, $600 million in forest timber was lost throughout Victoria, with 3000 hectares lost in Gippsland. Increased risk of bushfires can also have implications for residential and commercial property; public services and infrastructure including water, electricity and road infrastructure; and human health and wellbeing.

Gippsland supplies 60 per cent of Melbourne’s water needs from its catchments. Reduced average rainfall, more frequent and severe droughts and altered forest structure may reduce runoff into these catchments. Reduced water supplies can have impacts for residential as well as industry users such as electricity

generators in the latrobe Valley. More frequent bushfires and increased average temperatures may also have implications for water quality, as ash from bushfires can contaminate catchments, and warmer temperatures can contribute to blue green algal blooms, with implications for human health and regional tourism.

Important built assets and infrastructure as well as natural assets along the region’s expansive coastlines and estuarine environments may be at risk due to coastal storms, sea level rise, coastal erosion and inundation. This can result in losses of residential and commercial property, services (water, electricity, sewerage, gas), and damage to roads. Areas most vulnerable to inundation are the immediate foreshore and low-lying coastal areas. Inundation of coastal areas may also result in the loss of Indigenous cultural heritage sites, habitat of threatened flora and fauna, and recreation and tourism areas.

36

SaleWarragul

Lakes Entrance

Orbost

Traralgon

Leongatha

Omeo

Bairnsdale

Cowes

Noojee

Tidal River

MallacootaMt Wellington

Mt Baw Baw

Mt Delegate


AdAPtAtion PlAn

timber Industry Action Plan creates a whole of Victorian Government platform to assist the timber industry to meet future challenges including managing climate risks.

Gippsland Regional strategic Fire Management Plan and the Gippsland Regional Bushfire Planning Assessment aim to increase community safety and preparedness.

Gippsland sustainable water strategy (2011) identifies potential challenges for water management and opportunities to secure water resources for the next 50 years. It outlines policies and actions to ensure sustainable water supplies for towns, agriculture, industry, environmental and recreational use and other values.

Gippsland Regional Growth Plan provides a broad direction for regional land use and development as well as a high level planning framework for key regional centres.

Gippsland climate change Impacts and Adaptation Project, run by the Department of Primary Industries and the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with local councils.

Proposed lakes entrance Inundation and Adaptation Plan is a project lead by the East Gippsland Shire Council and supported by the Victorian Government. The project investigates a range of approaches and methodologies to develop a comprehensive adaptation plan, together with the community, for the township of lakes Entrance in Victoria.

Gippsland lakes and 90 Mile Beach local coastal Hazards Assessments supported by the Victorian Government’s $13.7 million Future Coasts Program. These assessments aim to help coastal communities prepare for the challenges of climate change. The project prepares locally relevant information and modelling of coastal hazards including erosion and sea level rise. The project is also able to take into account events where catchment flooding combines with coastal processes. The information and modelling can assist agencies with risk planning and asset management, statutory decisions as well as strategic and adaptation planning.

equitable local outcomes in Adaptation to sea-level Rise project, a University of Melbourne research study funded by the Australian Research Council and supported by DSE and other regional agencies. The project aims to develop an approach for identifying the social and equity outcomes of various strategies to adapt to rising sea levels.

what would a climate-adapted Australian settlement look like? This project is a collaboration between the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), Monash Sustainability Institute, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Bass Coast Shire Council, South Gippsland Shire Council and Monash University Gippsland. The task is to better understand what settlements would look like if adapted to climate change by 2030. The same research question is being investigated in a second project looking at the coastline between Wollongong, NSW and lakes Entrance, Victoria.

Programs addressing climate risks to the Gippsland region include:


Quick Facts

Population: 230,000 people with the state’s lowest population density.46

Age profile: Two main age groups 10-24 and 35-64 year olds.47

Major economic drivers: Agriculture, Tourism (Grampians and Ballarat), wind energy and construction.48

landscape type: A mix of dry land farming and eucalypt forests.

Major natural assets: Grampians National Park, little and Big Desert and the Wimmera River which provide areas of Indigenous cultural significance and habitat for native flora and fauna.

Major regional centres: Ballarat, Horsham.49

Recent natural disasters: After many years of severe drought, the 2011 floods heavily impacted the Grampians region, affecting roads and tourism for many months.

Grampians region

The increased risk of bushfire and associated increased demand on emergency management services are particularly relevant in the Grampians region. More than 30 townships in the area have been identified as high bushfire risk and require township protection plans.50 Bushfire incidents have the potential to exacerbate issues of access to health and wellbeing services, particularly for areas with low population density. An increase in the frequency or severity of emergency events such as bushfires may also impact on the region’s natural landscapes, including the Grampians and the Wimmera River, affecting tourism industries that rely on these.

Primary production (in particular cropping, livestock and horticulture) plays an important role in the region’s economy.51 Agriculturalists may experience a change in productivity due to reduced average rainfall and an increase in average and extreme temperatures. This could have implications for mental health and regional economies, potentially resulting in population shifts from smaller settlements.

Ballarat

Stawell

St Arnaud

Ararat

Horsham

Warracknabeal

Meredith

Hopetoun

Edenhope

Daylesford


AdAPtAtion PlAn

Grains Innovation Park, Horsham is a Department of Primary Industries Research facility that specialises in genetic crop improvements such as new genetic variation, improved adaptation, improved grain quality, disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerances. The Grains Innovation Park and the nearby DPI Plant Breeding Centre farm host national research collaborations such as the Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE) project. This project investigates the potential impacts of higher carbon dioxide levels on cereal and legume crops, insects and soil.

Building community Resilience and Adaptation to climate change through distributed Bioenergy, is a major pilot study across the Central Highlands and Wimmera Southern Mallee local government regions. Funded through the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership (formerly the Victorian local Sustainability Accord), the project will showcase commercial scale bioenergy production from woody biomass across an agricultural region.

central Highlands and wimmera southern Mallee Regional strategic Plans, funded by Regional Development Victoria, will be used to encourage partnerships, inform decision making and build resilience in the region.

wimmera-Mallee and Hamilton-Grampians pipelines now offer a reliable source of high quality water to farms, towns and businesses. Interconnection and expansion of the reticulated water grid is facilitating the movement of water to areas where it is needed most, enhancing water security and opening up new possibilities for water trading to achieve the highest value use of water.

wimmera southern Mallee and central Highlands Regional Growth Plans consider integrated issues in the region, and make decisions about land use and development.52

Grampians Regional strategic Fire Management Plan aims to increase community preparedness and safety.

Programs addressing climate risks to the Grampians region include:

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Quick Facts

Population: 402,000,53 of which 61% live in Geelong.

Age profile: Two main age groups 0-24 and 35-59 year olds.54

Major economic drivers: Agriculture is the dominant land use, and tourism is a major economic driver along the coast.

Major natural assets: The Great Ocean Road, Great Otway National Park, Ramsar listed wetlands of the Corangamite area, the surf coast and Southern Grampians.

Major regional centres: Home to Victoria’s largest provincial centre, Geelong55 and coastal communities including, Apollo Bay, Port Fairy, Portland, and Warrnambool.

Recent natural disasters: Beach and cliff erosion causing parts of the Great Ocean Road to be closed in January 2011. Fires have affected this region as recently as November 2012.

Barwon Southwest region

The Barwon Southwest is Australia’s largest dairy production region.56 As the climate changes, agricultural zones could shift. Some primary producers in the central part of the region (inland of Port Campbell) may experience an increase in productivity due to longer growing seasons and increased carbon dioxide concentrations.57 while others may experience a decline due to more frequent extreme events such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall. long term changes in rainfall patterns may also increase water competition between industry sectors. The knock-on effects can change the regional economy with implications for regional demographics, local businesses and regional towns and centres. Changes to land uses arising from a changing

climate may exacerbate competition between different agricultural land-uses and urban development pressures, particularly in the fertile and well watered areas surrounding Port Fairy and Warrnambool.

Important built assets and infrastructure such as the deep water port at Portland, and natural assets along the region’s expansive coastline may be at risk due to sea level rise, coastal erosion and inundation. Areas most vulnerable to inundation are generally beach fronts, low-lying wetlands and coastal reserve areas, including Portland, Port Fairy and Barwon Heads.58 Inundation of valuable natural coastal assets along the Great Ocean Road may have implications for recreation and tourism.

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Colac

Hamilton

Warrnambool

Camperdown GeelongPortland

MortlakeLara

Lorne

Balmoral

SkiptonDunkeld

Dartmoor

Apollo Bay


AdAPtAtion PlAn

‘climate Resilient communities of the Barwon south-west’, supported by the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership (formerly the Victorian local Sustainability Accord), involves 10 councils in the South West working together on ways to help their local communities adapt to climate change. A total of $600,000 in funding is enabling each council to assess the climate risks specific to their area, identify measures to minimise those risks and look at opportunities presented by a changing climate, and how to take advantage of them.

dPI Queenscliff shellfish Hatchery, a joint Fisheries Victoria and mussel industry project and part of the Victorian Government’s Future Farming Strategy and Victorian Aquaculture Strategy. In less than two years, the project has enabled farmers to secure a consistent baby mussel supply and extend the production. This project seeks to ensure the industry remains competitive as climate change continues to impact the ocean conditions which baby mussels are very sensitive to.

Barwon south west Regional strategic Plan 2012–2015, supported by Regional Development Australia and Regional Development Victoria, sets out to identify and address issues and opportunities common to the entire Barwon South West Region including climate related risks to the region.

Great south coast and Geelong Regional Alliance Regional Growth Plan provides a broad direction for regional land use and development as well as a high level planning framework for key regional centres.

small towns water Quality Fund will implement high quality water supply and efficient domestic wastewater management services in small towns and communities across Victoria.

Port Fairy local coastal Hazards Assessment, supported by the Victorian Government’s $13.7 million Future Coasts Program, aims to help coastal communities prepare for the challenges of climate change. The project prepares locally relevant information and modelling of coastal hazards, including erosion and sea level rise, and is also able to take into account events where catchment flooding combines with coastal processes. The information and modelling can assist agencies with risk planning and asset management, statutory decisions as well as strategic and adaptation planning.

Returning an additional eight megalitres per day back to Moorabool River from the Batesford Quarry west of Geelong, through a modified licensing agreement, ensures water previously discharged into the bay is returned to the river to help address an environmental shortfall.

Programs addressing climate risks to the Barwon Southwest region include:


Quick Facts

Population: 285,000.59

Age profile: highly concentrated in the two main age groups of 0-19 and 35-64 year olds.60

Major economic drivers: Agriculture (viticulture, horticulture, crops, cattle, wool production), and related food processing.61

landscape type: Semi-arid, agriculture is the dominant land use.

Major natural assets: Murray River, Murray-Sunset and Hattah-Kulkyne National Parks and the Big Desert Wilderness Area.

Major regional centres: Bendigo, Echuca, Mildura, Swan Hill.62

Recent natural disasters: Severe impacts of the millennium drought were followed by extensive flooding in 2011–12.

loddon mallee region

Many of the impacts from the 2010-2011 floods are still being felt in the loddon Mallee Region in centres such as Kerang, Bridgewater, Carisbrook, Rochester and Charlton. Both riverine and flash flooding can cause damage to homes, critical infrastructure (including roads and sewerage infrastructure), disrupt access to services and disrupt the delivery of goods. Emergency events, such as floods can drain resources, and have long term impacts on local councils, citizens and volunteer groups. As with any region that faces these emergency events, other risks include community safety, economic risks to agri-business, and impacts on water quality and waste water and sewage management.

Agriculture is a key driver of loddon Mallee’s economy. Reduced average rainfall and stream flow may reduce the reliability of water supplies for irrigated and non-irrigated enterprises – and for communities, noting that some communities in the region require water to be freighted in during summer months. Changes in average temperatures may change the mix of industries that succeed in the region whilst providing new opportunities for some. New agricultural priorities and changes in the regional economy may result in population adjustments and changes to the social and community fabric.

Bendigo

Swan Hill

Echuca

Ouyen

Mildura

Castlemaine

Kerang

Macedon

39


AdAPtAtion PlAn

the white Paper on Victorian Emergency Management Reform directly addresses, or provides the mechanism to respond to, many of the recommendations of the Victorian Floods Review. The Improving Flood Warning Systems Implementation Plan outlines how the Government will respond to those recommendations in the Victorian Floods Review that relate to flood warning systems and flood risk planning, including flood mapping and flood emergency plans.

environment and natural Resources committee (enRc) inquiry into flood mitigation, including mitigation and levy management in the North Central region. The ENRC findings highlight, amongst other areas for consideration, that many of water corporation owned dams are not designed to provide a significant level of flood mitigation and the complexity of ownership of, and maintenance responsibilities for many of Victoria’s levees.

Goulburn Murray water (GMw) connections Project will improve water delivery management and irrigation services, and recover much of the water now being lost through leaks, evaporation and system inefficiencies, assisting irrigation communities adapt to the challenges of drought and a changing climate (refer section 4.5).

loddon Mallee north and loddon Mallee south Regional Growth Plans provide an opportunity to develop a regional policy outlook to ensure there is adequate supply of zoned land for rural and residential land and to explore ways in which agricultural land is protected.

creating a climate Resilient southern loddon Mallee project, supported by the Victorian Government’s Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership (formerly the Victorian local Sustainability Accord), is a research and planning project for councils in the Southern loddon Mallee to better prepare their communities for climate change and climate variability. It also develops Environment Strategies for individual councils.

Heatwave Preparedness work has been undertaken in the Macedon Ranges to test how prepared communities are for heatwaves. This work is being carried out in conjunction with the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, local government, Victoria Police and the CFA.

centre for expertise in smoke taint Research, launched in May 2012, is a national collaboration that aims to find solutions for the wine industry and fire and land managers. It is home to a comprehensive research and development program that significantly improves the wine industry’s knowledge of how smoke impacts wine. The development of guidelines based on risk assessment for industry and land managers would help reduce the impact of smoke on grape and wine production.

Improved Flood Intelligence for Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton will be the aim of a new $250,000 project that prepares flood maps and investigate the feasibility of a range of potential flood mitigation options. The Victorian Coalition Government will provide $190,000 for the project via the Government’s Flood Warning Network Repair and Improvement Fund, whilst the remaining funding will be provided by the Australian Government’s Natural Disaster Resilience Fund and the Mount Alexander Shire Council.

Programs addressing climate risks to the loddon mallee region include:


cAse stUdY /

SMART ACTION lEADS TO FINE WINE

Climate change is predicted to lead to colder nights and hotter days in the Victorian high country. These temperature variations could change the aroma of the wines produced. This means the current approach to growing in some regions may not produce the same grape and wine quality.

Working with consultant Dr. Erika Winter, wine growers from nine participating wineries in the Macedon Ranges Vignerons Association measured hourly the temperature of their grapes to see how temperature affects grape and wine quality.

The program funded by landcare Australia’s Woolworths Sustainable Farming Grants allowed them to develop new guidelines for growing high quality cool-climate Chardonnay. These guidelines are now available for others to use and have been shared nationally and internationally.

The ability to produce high quality wine in changed climatic conditions contributes to the success of grape growing businesses in Victoria.

This is also a great example of how Victorian industry:

> can take practical, affordable action in response to climate change

> work together to solve problems

> share knowledge with others facing similar challenges around the world

> include adaptation to climate change as a core part of business planning.

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AdAPtAtion PlAn

Quick Facts

Population: A rapidly growing population of 320,000.63

Age profile: Highly concentrated in two main age groups of 0-19 and 35-64 year olds.64

Major economic drivers: Primary production, water production and alpine tourism.65

Major natural assets: Goulburn River, Victorian Alps, Murray River, Barmah wetlands, Winton wetlands.

Major regional centres: Benalla, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Wodonga.66

Recent natural disasters: Southern areas of the region includes many of the townships affected during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires including Marysville, Narbethong, Strath Creek, Flowerdale and Kinglake. Townships along the King, Kiewa and Ovens rivers were impacted by the 2010/2011 floods.

hume region

The Hume region’s unique alpine areas are particularly vulnerable to impacts arising from increases in average temperatures, drier average conditions and changes to seasonal timing and length. Victoria’s alpine flora and fauna are adapted to the highest elevations, and have limited ability to move as climate conditions change. Increased frequency of very high fire danger days and invasion of pests and weeds may have a significant impact on natural ecosystems, with implications for summer tourism in the alpine and foothill country. Reductions in average snow cover and the number of snow days may affect winter tourism and the management of natural and built alpine assets on public land which are essential to the region’s economy. Climatic changes in the alpine region could support

the diversification of tourist activities by providing an extended summer season for cyclists seeking mountain terrain challenges and altitude training.

Primary producers in the Goulburn Valley area produce goods valued at around $1.6 billion a year (in particular beef, lamb, wool, cropping and horticulture). As the climate changes, leading to changes in average temperatures and rainfall, seasonal patterns, increased extreme weather events and potential reductions in the reliability of irrigation water, the areas for cropping and intensive agriculture (e.g. orchards) may shift. This can influence production costs and Victorian farmers’ access to key overseas markets due to reduced reliability of supply.

Bright

Mansfield

Alexandra

Seymour

Corryong

Yarrawonga

Benalla

WangarattaShepparton

Wodonga

Mt Bogong

Mt Hotham

Mt Buller

Lake Mountain


International tundra experiment, a scientific network of experiments focusing on the impacts of a changing climate on selected plant species of alpine vegetation, which is supported by the Department of Sustainability and Environment. Currently, research teams at more than two dozen sites across the world carry out experiments that allow them to compare plants and their biological responses to climate conditions. One of these sites is located in the Bogong High Plains within the Hume Region.

Alpine Resorts strategic Plan 2012 is considering climate risks as part of its framework for the development, promotion, management and use of Victoria’s six alpine resorts. Amongst other responses, alpine resorts have invested in snow-making to provide more stability in winter visitation in the face of variable natural snow cover and further considering options for selectively developing ‘green season’ visitation.

Hume strategy for sustainable communities 2010–2020, is the first integrated strategic plan for the Hume Region. Key directions under the Environment theme, include anticipating and adapting to a changing climate to ensure natural resources are protected and enhanced for current and future generations.

Hume Regional strategic Plan, funded by Regional Development Victoria, is a 10 year strategic plan, including four sub-regional plans. The plan will be used to encourage partnerships, inform decision-making and build resilience in the region. The plan highlights that one of the most challenging issues facing the region is climate change and that failure to deal with climate change has social, economic and environmental impacts on the region. It has highlighted 4 key themes to address this including:

– Anticipating and adapting to the effects of climate change;

– Managing our water resources sustainably;

– Protecting native habitat and biodiversity; and

– Harnessing renewable energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pursuing innovative waste management approaches.

Hume Regional Growth Plan provides a broad direction for regional land use and development as well as a high level planning framework for key regional centres.

ongoing improvements to water planning and management arrangements, including those developed under the Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy, seek to secure the water future for urban, industrial, agricultural and environmental water users for the next 50 years. These actions include improving water-sharing arrangements in the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, modernising irrigation infrastructure and on farm initiatives and developing guidelines for reasonable domestic and stock use so that scarce water supplies are used more sustainably.

Goulburn Murray water (GMw) connections Project will improve water delivery management and irrigation services, and recover much of the water now being lost through leaks, evaporation and system inefficiencies, assisting irrigation communities adapt to the challenges of drought and a changing climate (refer section 4.5).

Programs addressing climate risks to the hume region include:


AdAPtAtion PlAn

climate change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Action Planning in the Benalla Rural city, supported by the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership (formerly the Victorian local Sustainability Accord). The project is undertaking a comprehensive risk assessment of the potential and likely impacts on the Benalla Rural City environment, community and economy arising from predicted future climate changes. This allows Council to identify, prioritise and promote actions, for itself and the broader community, to reduce their vulnerability to these impacts or to capitalise on opportunities created by changes in climate.

Goulbourn Broken local Government climate change Adaptation Plan, funded by the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership (formerly the Victorian local Sustainability Accord), was developed with broad input from local government organisations across the region. The plan describes how the Goulburn Broken Greenhouse Alliance and its member councils can respond to the challenges of climate change across the Goulburn Broken region. It outlines four priorities for councils focus:

– developing heatwave strategies where they haven’t already;

– reviewing business continuity plans to ensure they address the risks associated with fire, flood, storm and heatwave events;

– establishing priorities for public assets to be maintained during periods of reduced water availability and high heat; and

– for those in the Murray-Darling Basin, seeking funding from the Strengthening Basin Communities program to investigate alternative water sources for pools and lakes.

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Quick Facts

Population: Home to over 4,140,000 people, or 75% of Victoria’s population.67

Major public assets: 30 public hospitals in the Melbourne metropolitan region,68 Port of Melbourne, worlds largest tram network69 and significant public transport infrastructure.

Greater melbourne region

With a dense and growing population, climate risks present particular challenges to the Greater Melbourne region. The diversity and extent of businesses, the natural and agricultural assets; and the many essential services that support a growing population are all considerable factors in adaptation planning.

Possible increased average temperatures, sea level rise and coastal inundation, extreme events such as bushfires and heavy rainfall causing flash flooding may put additional pressure on assets, services, the community, the economy and biodiversity.

Heatwaves combined with the Urban Heat Island effect in heavily built up areas can also increase the incidence of heat related illness. During the 2009 January heatwave, there were 374 excess deaths in Melbourne, and the combined costs of the heatwave due to power outages, transport disruptions and responses was estimated at $800 million.70 Urban trees and vegetation play a key role providing habitats and biodiversity but are also essential in managing risks from heatwaves. As possible climate change impacts begin to manifest, urban native vegetation is becoming increasingly valuable.

Much of Victoria’s public transport infrastructure is located within the Greater Melbourne region, underpinning Melbourne’s economic activity and providing access to essential community services. Heatwaves and very hot days can increase risks to parts of the transport network such as fixed track rail infrastructure.

The Greater Melbourne region has a history of significant fire events, with high numbers of people living in close proximity to forests. Predictive fire behaviour models indicate that 35 per cent of the overall state’s risk for loss of house from major bushfires is in the Greater Melbourne Region. Climate change may increase the frequency of severe fire weather days.

Heavy rainfall events in the metropolitan area may place pressure on water supply and sewerage infrastructure, and the management of stormwater and wastewater in built up areas. This in turn can result in damage arising from flash flooding and also have ramifications for public health.

The Greater Melbourne region also contains a high density of significant Aboriginal places. Many of these are found along the coast and waterways and may be vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal inundation.

Werribee

Frankston

Whittlesea

Lilydale

Dandenong

Melton

Melbourne

Healesville

Sunbury

Rosebud

Warburton

Lang LangPortsea


AdAPtAtion PlAn

The Victorian Government’s A cleaner Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay – A Plan of Action better coordinates efforts to protect and clean up the yarra River and Port Phillip Bay. The plan acknowledges that extreme weather events are one of the key drivers to degraded water quality and amenity of the yarra and Bay. In response, the plan outlines new actions that complements decades of investment and action on waterway health by Melbourne Water and other agencies.

Heatwave Plan for Victoria, released by the Department of Health in 2011, aims to protect human health and reduce harm from heatwaves. The plan is particularly important for the Greater Melbourne region where a high population density creates additional pressures on health services (refer section 4.2).

The Government’s new office of living Victoria drives measures to increase resilience, including: facilitating the development of Integrated Water Cycle Plans for inner Melbourne and its four main growth areas; and improving stormwater management standards.

The state government has commenced development of a new Melbourne Metropolitan Planning strategy, which will provide policy direction for future planning and public and private investment decisions.

Future coasts Program has released coastal inundation data, maps and a Coastal Hazard Guide enabling local decision makers and communities to better manage risks from sea level rise and storm flooding.

western Port local coastal Hazards Assessment, supported by the Victorian Government’s $13.7 million Future Coasts Program, aims to help coastal communities prepare for the challenges of climate change. The project prepares locally relevant information and modelling of coastal hazards including erosion and sea level rise. It can take into account events where catchment flooding combines with coastal processes. The information and modelling can assist agencies with risk planning and asset management, statutory decisions as well as strategic and adaptation planning.

The Government has initiated a number of programs to manage fire risk. These include across-agency fire planning initiatives such as Integrated Fire Management Planning and key initiatives such the office of the Fire services commissioner dandenong Ranges landscape Initiative which looks to bring communities and government agencies together to address fire risk.

Through the transport Resilience and climatic extremes program (tRAce), the Department of Transport is proactively updating its risk management, staff training and infrastructure planning programs to address the risks posed by climate change.

Programs addressing climate risks to the Greater melbourne region include:

42


The Victorian Government and local governments in conjunction with the University of Melbourne are investing in projects to grow green roofs and walls in response to climate change, helping to cool buildings, reduce energy use and make Melbourne more liveable. This includes:

> Green Infrastructure Adaptation centre, a world-class green roofs demonstration, training and research facility at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus.

> Growing Green Guide for Melbourne, to be developed by four inner city councils to provide clear guidelines for building green roofs and walls.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment supported the Port Phillip cultural Heritage project to assess the potential impacts of climate change on aboriginal places along the Port Phillip coast. The study examine these issues in four key areas: area one is between Point lonsdale and the Werribee River; area two is the volcanic plains between the east bank of the Werribee River and Williamstown; area three is between Port Melbourne and Point Nepean; and area four is the Mud Islands.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment has implemented a number of biodiversity monitoring and decision-making projects, including: the Hawk eye monitoring project, which investigates the ecological impacts of planned burning; and the naturePrint project, which integrates existing biodiversity asset information to better inform management actions and identify priority areas for protection.

The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority is working with local landowners and councils and the Department of Sustainability and Environment on a number of large biolinks projects within the region (including living links in the east and Grow west in the west), creating strategic linkages between conservation reserves and fragmented patches of native vegetation and improving the conditions of local waterways.

43


AdAPtAtion PlAn

cAse stUdY /

ADAPTING TO ClIMATE CHANGE IS BUSINESS AS USUAl

Australian wholesale grocery distributor Metcash Limited is a company that sees climate change as a critical risk to its business and has made adaptation an integral part of its risk management program.

The effects of climate change, such as more frequent and severe floods, storms, heatwaves and bushfires, pose a direct threat to many of Metcash’s 100-plus worksites across the country.

Metcash has integrated a climate change risk management plan into its existing risk management program. Among other measures, this has involved:

> mapping the predicted effects of climate change across Australia, and determining their proximity to Metcash’s worksites

> developing adaptation plans for each site based on those likely risks e.g. flooding or heatwaves

> joining the national Early Warning Network so site managers receive email, text and phone warnings of impending severe weather, and can act accordingly

> building all assets to Australian cyclone standards.

“Don’t push climate risk under the rug – it is a real business issue that should be considered within the context of business risk. The integration of climate change adaptation into the risk management processes at Metcash is why it has been so successful. This is the new business-as usual.”

louise Rhodes, Metcash

44


APPendIX 1 /

RISKS FOR VICTORIAthe following provides a guide to risks to various sectors within the Victorian Government. it is a starting point for detailed sectoral and region-specific risk assessment and management to build Victoria’s climate resilience.

45

tr

An

SP

or

t

The increased incidence of heatwaves, more frequent extreme weather events, and possible sea level rise may lead to increased risks to Victoria’s transport infrastructure.

Rail and public transport

> Increased risk of track buckling (for rail and tram), disruptions to services, vehicle overheating, reduced passenger comfort, reduced brake and steering capacity and increased maintenance, repair and asset replacement needs.

> Increased incidence of bushfires may increase the risk of damage to rail assets e.g. track, sleepers, trains, culverts and signalling, electricity and communications assets.

Roads

> More frequent extreme weather events may increase the risk of disruptions to traffic, increase maintenance and repair costs and replacement of pavements and structures (bridges and culverts).

Ports

> Increased risk of damage or inundation of port infrastructure, siltation of shipping channels and delays in operations.

> Increased risk of damage to port infrastructure, especially pavements which soften around ports, resulting in disruptions to operations and access.

Essential infrastructure and built environment


AdAPtAtion PlAn

En

Er

GY

electricity transmission and distribution systems

> Climate risks such as increased temperatures, extreme heat and more frequent and intense bushfires may damage electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, increase costs, including maintenance, repair and replacement costs and pose risks to public safety. Interruptions to transmission and distribution systems have flow-on impacts on other elements of the energy industry.

> Bushfire risks associated with powerlines generate public liability issues for businesses, in addition to public safety impacts and asset loss and damage to the community.

> Increased temperatures may lead to declining efficiency of the electricity generation and transmission system, with potential implications for supply security and reliability.

electricity generation plant

> Reduced water availability may have an impact on Victoria’s brown coal generation plant, which is critically dependant on secure water supplies.

> Flooding may have an impact on, or potentially disrupt, open cut mining operations.

WA

tE

r

Possible reductions in water availability and water quality

> Climate risks include reduced water availability for irrigation, urban and industrial use, and for environmental flows due to reductions in average rainfall and streamflow and increased incidence and extent of drought. Reduced water availability can impact negatively on urban liveability outcomes through, for example, impacts on sporting and recreational grounds, parks and gardens and street trees.

> Climate risk may also lead to reduced, or more variable, water quality in catchments and environmental waterways, including incidences of blue green algal blooms, water-borne diseases and ash contamination from more frequent extreme events such as bushfires, floods and droughts. This can have implications for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses as well as for natural systems.

Impacts on sewerage and drainage systems

> Inundation due to sea level rise and storm surge also poses a risk to urban drainage and sewerage systems.

> Infrastructure, increases in rainfall density and flash flooding could result in stormwater, drainage and sewer infrastructure systems being unable to cope leading to damage costs, and increased risk of environmental spills. For example, during the 2007 floods some sections of the lakes Entrance township experienced raw sewerage ‘backflow’ through the sewer pipe network.

> Untreated sewerage entering floodwaters poses health and environmental risks to the community.

Infrastructure management and planning

> Climate risks may involve damage to infrastructure (e.g. as a result of floods) and reduced return on investments due to reduced rainfall and changes in the distribution of rainfall and stream-flow.


Go

VE

rn

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> Extreme bushfire or flood incidents may result in loss and damage to infrastructure and have significant implications for the delivery of education services. In it also imposes a cost on the community of infrastructure repair and replacement.

> Damage to infrastructure may also result in adverse health and well-being impacts due to the disruption of education services.

> If the improved building design principles are unable to be satisfied, the sector will limit its resilience to changing conditions.

Built or cultural assets

> Damaged built or cultural assets (such as visitor facilities including camping grounds, roads, bridges) could lead to increased replacement and maintenance costs and impact on access and use.

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Planning

State-wide planning policies are central to providing appropriate, up to date guidance on climate risks, to support decisions on public and private investment and planning for future growth. Climate risks relevant to planning for future growth include:

> the impacts of extreme weather events and changes in rainfall and temperatures, particularly on public safety, water supply and stormwater management, infrastructure and open space.

> Increased bushfire risk and pressures for rural residential uses.

> Rising sea levels and coastal impacts.

> Increased risk of flooding.

Built environment

Climate change is likely to have wide-ranging and significant impacts on residential and commercial buildings including plumbing infrastructure in Victoria.

Climate risks relevant to building requirements in the future for new and existing buildings include:

> Increased bushfire risk, particularly in the eastern region of Victoria.

> Inundation due to sea level rise and storm surge which threatens all buildings on low-lying or erodible coasts.

> The predicted increase in storm activity (including extreme rainfall, wind and lightning events). Buildings close to the coast are considered to be particularly at risk when storm surges are combined with sea level rise.

> Degradation of materials, structures and foundations of buildings and facilities may accelerate, mainly due to:

– increased ground movement, changes in groundwater affecting the chemical structure of foundations and fatigue of structures from extreme storm events.

– increased temperature and solar radiation causing increased expansion and materials degradation of concrete joints, steel, asphalt, protective cladding, coatings, sealants, timber and masonry.

– increases in humidity in the coastal zone affecting the rate of corrosion and material degradation of buildings in these zones.

> There may be a need to review the reliance on historical climate data (e.g. rainfall patterns and intensity) used for Regulatory Impact Statements for proposed regulatory changes in the National Construction Code to ensure this data is keeping pace with current and projected trends.


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Risks to business are highly variable:

> The potential vulnerability of businesses varies considerably and is influenced by factors including location and the nature of the goods and services produced. A case-by-case approach needs to be taken by businesses in identifying, assessing and managing risks.

extreme events impact on businesses:

> Extreme events can have direct and immediate implications for businesses, including damage and destruction to assets and disruption to the value chain.

> In cases where operations or access to staff and customers are interrupted, it may impact business cash flow and profit and additional costs in relation to insurance.

> Even when not directly impacted by extreme events, businesses can be affected by the flow-on effects of interruptions to markets, suppliers, utility services and other infrastructure.

Possible impacts of incremental changes in the climate, with particular implications for natural resource-based tourism:

> Reduced quality and duration of snow cover in Victoria’s alpine areas may affect tourism businesses based on the ski industry.

> Sea-level rise and coastal erosion may cause loss or damage to business assets.

> The impacts of climate change on Victoria’s natural assets, including coasts, may have impacts on some tourism related businesses.

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Agriculture

The following changes may be experienced due to increased temperate, reduced average rainfall and streamflow and elevated CO2 levels:

> In short-medium term elevated levels of atmospheric CO2 may promote faster growth.

> Some regions may experience declining productivity or changes in the distribution of where species can be grown viably.

> Increased extreme events may impact productivity and increase production costs as farmers implement protective measures.

> Increased production volatility in some sectors and regions may impact or reduce access to key overseas markets due to reduced supply.

> Increasing incidences of pest and disease may impact agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and affect Victorian primary producers’ access to key overseas markets and reduce their competitive advantage.

> Increased biosecurity threats also place pressures on services delivered by Biosecurity Victoria.

> Drought may impact agriculture productivity and result in a reduction in agricultural output. Drought generally decreases farm incomes and can increase costs for primary producers. A direct decline in agricultural activity that arises from drought can have flow on effects to other businesses through reduced spending on goods and services, which in turn may lead to businesses changing work hours and reducing staff.

> Primary producers may also be affected by the flow-on impacts of climate extremes to energy supply systems and transport infrastructure.

Fisheries

> Marine ecosystems and habitats are at risk from possible increased water temperatures, changes in ocean current and changed ocean chemistry. This, in turn, may have implications for the fisheries industry and recreational fishing. In particular, the forecast warming effect on Victorian coastal waters could impact upon some of Victoria’s key commercial (cold-water) species, and marine fisheries may be affected by long-term shifts in ocean currents.

> Inland fisheries may be affected by extreme events impacting on the aquatic environment.

Forestry

> Both native forests and commercial plantations may be vulnerable to increased bushfire risk.

> The sector is also vulnerable to changes in temperature and rainfall, as well as increased incidence of pests and disease.


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YTemperature and rainfall are key factors affecting the distribution of plants and animals. These have diverse implications with habitats expanding, contracting or changing in response to the changing climate.

Possible increases in temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns may:

> Threaten species and ecosystems, especially those with unique habitat and limited capacity to migrate. This is demonstrated in Victoria’s alpine areas where species are not readily able to migrate up the slope and adapt to the changes in temperature, frost period, snow cover and depth. Additional pressure may be placed on already endangered species in these areas such as the Baw Baw Frog, leadbeaters Possum and Mountain Pygmy-possum.

> Change the timing of seasonal events, such as arrival of birds and butterflies, flowering of plants, impacting on the viability of certain species.

> Exacerbate existing pressures facing habitat and populations that currently persist in fragmented landscapes and depleted condition.

> Expand existing risk presented by pests, invasive species and diseases or make Victoria vulnerable to further infestations. In addition, extreme weather events such floods, droughts and fires are likely to result in increased weed coverage at the expense of native vegetation. Weeds alone cost the Victorian economy over $900 million each year.

Increased frequency and severity of unplanned fire events and or floods may:

> Result in changes to ecosystems, especially where they have not recovered from a similar event in the past. For example, frequent severe fires could shrink the abundance and distribution of wetter forests such as Mountain Ash, which in turn affects water production. They also present a threat to native species including those located in Victoria’s heathland environments, such as Ground Parrots, Rufous and Eastern Bristlebirds and the Heath Mouse.

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Possible sea level rise and increasing storm tides, leading to risk of coastal inundation and erosion resulting in:

> loss or alteration of vulnerable coastal environments such as sandy coasts and shores, mudflats, coastal cliffs, dune systems, mangroves, salt-marsh and estuarine flora and wetlands - particularly in low lying areas or where bounded by other land uses.

> Saltwater intrusions into freshwater ecosystems and salinisation of groundwater aquifers impacting on dependent ecosystems and dependent communities, agriculture and other industries that rely upon them.

> Disturbance of acid sulfate soils and the acidification of waterways leading to corrosion of infrastructure, decline in water quality, ecosystems and fisheries, with consequences for commercial fishery and tourism, and regional productivity.

> Erosion may also lead to loss of coastal land, including cultural landscapes, assets, and infrastructure (piers, groynes and roads) and key tourism assets.

Increases in water temperature, changes in ocean currents and changed ocean chemistry: may cause physical changes to marine ecosystems and habitats, their productivity and species composition.

Possible increases in storm events: may lead to catchment and waterway pollutants entering the bay and posing a threat to marine biodiversity, along with the recreational use of the bays.

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Increased demand for health services:

> In the short term, there are likely to be intense surges in health services demand arising from extreme events, such as bushfires and floods, and involving: injuries and fatalities, respiratory related illness, water-borne diseases and increased incidence of mental illness from trauma.

> There may be cumulative increases in health services demand arising from potential changes, for example possible increases vector-borne diseases such as Murray Valley Encephalitis and Ross River Virus.

> Possible increases in health risk factors are likely to disproportionately affect already vulnerable populations. There may be increased pressures on services for the aged, the chronically ill and those experiencing economic hardship or social disadvantage. For example, heatwaves worsen health issues amongst the elderly who have a higher risk of suffering heat stress and heat related morbidity.

> Extreme events may affect regional service delivery, both through damage to health and wellbeing infrastructure and through impacts on energy systems and transport, disrupting access to services or workplaces and interrupting business operations.

damage and loss of infrastructure

> Increased risk of extreme weather events may cause loss or damage to government-funded infrastructure such as hospitals, healthcare facilities and public housing.

> The health, wellbeing and human services sector has significant assets across Victoria. 23 per cent of public health care facilities are within areas classified as ‘high’ to ‘extreme’ in the Victorian Fire Risk Register and 3 per cent of public health care facilities are in areas subject to 1:100 year inundation.

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> Extreme events may create risks for public housing dwellings. For example, public housing can sometimes be located in areas ‘high’ to ‘extreme’ in the Victorian Fire Risk Register and in areas subject to 1:100 year inundation.

> Storm activity could increase the cost of public housing maintenance.

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damage and loss of community infrastructure

> loss of physical infrastructure may decrease community connectedness, a critical factor that enables communities to adapt.

loss of social capital

> Social capital is likely to be impacted by the damage and disruption caused by extreme events, and by longer term shifts in economic activity and environmental quality.

> State and local government and community organisations may face increasing pressure and demand for community support services as a result of challenges created by climate risks.

damage and loss to cultural capital

> Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural heritage sites and places may be increasingly disturbed and damaged due to fire events, floods, storm surges, sea-level rise and other extreme events.

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> While government has acted to enhance emergency services coordination, extreme events may at times exceed capacity and in particular, create pressures on both government volunteer-based services such as the SES and CFA and non-government volunteer-based support services.

Increasing community, government and whole of economy costs of recovery

> Government at all levels is involved in the provision of short and longer term recovery support for individuals and communities. For example, provision of food, accommodation and financial assistance. The State Government has a key responsibility for managing public health risks and re-establishing the delivery of core services following an emergency.

non-climatic drivers that exacerbate risks from extreme events

> Key non-climatic drivers that may exacerbate risk for emergency management include: the existence of vulnerable communities due to rural disadvantage; and demographic changes resulting in more people living in new and challenging environments.

disaster resilience and Emergency response


Adaptive capacity

Adaptive capacity is the ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.

Co-benefits

Addressing a risk in one area may help deliver government outcomes in another area of the economy. In some cases it can be more effective to procure these outcomes jointly. Prioritisation of response options should be based on broader benefits, not just on the cost of addressing a specific climate risk.

Maladaptation

Maladaptation refers to adaptation action taken to avoid or reduce vulnerability to climate change that impacts adversely on, or increases the vulnerability of other systems, sectors or social groups. Maladaptive responses include those that:

> conflict with greenhouse gas emission reduction actions e.g. adaptive measures such as air conditioners in response to heatwaves can increase greenhouse emissions

> undermine the incentives that individuals have to undertake private adaptation actions

> increase risks in another areas as a result of addressing a risk in an unrelated area

> impose higher costs than alternative responses that deliver the same outcomes

> create path dependencies for large infrastructure developments that constrain the flexibility to respond to unforseen climatic conditions.

Precautionary principle

Where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. In the application of the precautionary principle, public and private decisions should be guided by:

(i) careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment; and

(ii) an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options.71

‘Public good’ information

Information can be considered a public good when the same piece of information can be used by more than one person and it is difficult to exclude others from using the information. This results in private markets under providing information that society values. As such there is a role for government to provide an adequate level of public good information.

GlossARY


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Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Plan

Front Cover 1 Photo by M. Chew

Front Cover 2 © State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries

Front Cover 3 Photo by R. Blackburn

4, 5, 8, 20, 32, 46 © State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries

2, 9, 21, 24, 30, 47 © State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment

18, 26, 27 © CFA

17, 36, 42, 43 © Parks Victoria

12, 14 © Tourism Victoria

29 © Vic Roads

23 © Municipal Association of Victoria

19 © Southern Grampians Shire

44 © Metcash Trading ltd

1, 6, 10, 31, 33 Photo by A. Pouliot

11 Photo by C. Dingle

28 Photo by C. Norwood

15 Photo By C. Scholz

40 Photo by E.Winter

34 Photo by J. Smith

22 Photo by K. Stepnell

3 Photo by K. Woo Kim

7, 45 Photo by M. Chew

39 Photo by M. Dunn

38 Photo by M. Watson

41 Photo by P. Dunphy

37 Photo by R. Blackburn

25 Photo by R. Dawkins

16 Photo by R. Mason

13, 35 Photo By T. Arch

PHoto cRedIts


endnotes

1 Victorian Government, 2012, Victorian Government Response to the Climate Change Act Review March 2012, <http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

2 The full report is available at www.climatechange.vic.gov.au

3 Further detailed in the Victorian Coastal Inundation Dataset, released June 2012, http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/adapting-to-climate-change/future-coasts/ victorian-coastalinundation-dataset.

4 Productivity Commission, 2012, Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation, Draft Report, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, p. 45.

5 Garnaut, R, 2011, Garnaut Climate Change Review, Update, <http://www.garnautreview.org.au/update-2011/garnaut-review-2011/introduction.html> Cambridge University Press, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra and Stern, 2006, Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change, http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTINDONESIA/Resources/226271-1170911056314/3428109-1174614780539/SternReviewEng.pdf>, UK Treasury and Productivity Commission, 2012, Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation, Draft Report, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

6 Handmer, J, 2012, Framing multi-level and multi-actor adaptation responses in the Victorian Context, Work Parcel 3: Economic analysis of current and future climate impacts, (in preparation), Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research & RMIT University, Melbourne.

7 Based on a current damage cost estimate of approximately $92 million per annum for the agricultural industry and approximately $185 million per annum for the timber industry, which includes a business disruption multiplier. Figures presented here are the estimated additional damage cost (due to increased fire weather) over and above the no-climate change scenario, which accounts for increased industry exposure at the rate of long term growth (2.4% per annum for both industries). The model assumes no change in the current level of adaptation to bushfires. These figures are based on a ‘high’ climate change scenario and a discount rate of 5%.

8 Department of Primary Industries, 2011, Climate change impacts and adaptation responses for South West Victoria’s primary industries, A DPI VCCAP Discussion Paper, <http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/climate_vccap_climate-change-impactsand-adaptation-responses> Victorian Government, Melbourne.

9 Garnaut, R, 2011, Garnaut Climate Change Review, Update, <http://www.garnautreview.org.au/update-2011/garnaut-review-2011/introduction.html> Cambridge University Press, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, Chapter 8.

10 Adapted from Barnett and O’Neill, 2010, Maladaptation, Global Environmental Change 20 (2010) 211–213. <http://www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/rmg/geography/papers/ barnett16.pdf>

11 Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, 2012, Roles and Responsibilities for Climate Change Adaptation in Australia <http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/initiatives/sccc/meetings/20121116/roles.aspx> Australian Government, Canberra.

12 Australian Climate Change Science Program see <http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/initiatives/accsp.aspx> and National Framework for Climate Change Science see <http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/publications/science/cc-science- framework.aspx>.

13 Findings of the independent Review of the Climate Change Act, December 2011, Williams, L, Department of Premier and Cabinet, 2012, Review of the Climate Change Act 2010 December 2011, <http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au>, Victorian Government, Melbourne, p18-21.

14 Victorian Auditor General, 2012, Public Asset Valuation, <http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/audits_in_progress/audits_details.aspx>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.


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15 Department of Treasury and Finance, 2011, Victorian Government Risk Management Framework, <www.dtf.vic.gov.au/CA25713E0002EF43/WebObj/VicGovRiskManagementFrameworkApril2011/$File/VicGovRiskManagementFrameworkApril2011.pdf> Victorian Government, Melbourne.

16 Department of Premier and Cabinet, 2012, A Roadmap for Victorian Critical Infrastructure Resilience < http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/index.php/featured/a-roadmap-for-victorian-critical-infrastructure-resilience > Victorian Government, Melbourne.

17 Victorian Government, 2012, The Living Melbourne, Living Victoria Implementation Plan Government Response, <http://www.water.vic.gov.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0009/137538/ Government-Response.pdf>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

18 Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2012, EcoTender webpage, <http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/conservation-and-environment/biodiversity/rural-landscapes/ecotender> Victorian Government, Melbourne.

19 Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council, 2012, Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 2012 <http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/recreation-and-tourism/alpine-resorts/alpine-resorts-2020-strategy> Victorian Government, Melbourne.

20 Comrie, N, 2011, Review of the 2010–11 Flood Warnings & Response Interim Report <http://www.floodsreview.vic.gov.au/images/stories/documents/Review_of_the_2010_11_Flood_Warnings_and_Reponse_INTERIM_REPORT.pdf> Victorian Government, Melbourne.

21 Handmer, J, 2012, Framing multi-level and multi-actor adaptation responses in the Victorian Context, Work Parcel 3: Economic analysis of current and future climate impacts, (in preparation), Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research & RMIT University, Melbourne.

22 Teague, B, Mcleod, R, Pascoe, S, 2010, 2009 Bushfire Royal Commission Final Report, Parliament of Victoria, Melbourne.

23 Comrie, N, 2011, Review of the 2010–11 Flood Warnings & Response Interim Report <http://www.floodsreview.vic.gov.au/images/stories/documents/Review_of_the_2010_11_Flood_Warnings_and_Reponse_INTERIM_REPORT.pdf> Victorian Government, Melbourne.

24 Chandra, A et al., 2011, Building Community Resilience to Disasters: A Way Forward to Enhance National Health Security, Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, p.i.

25 Productivity Commission, 2012, Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation, Draft Report, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, p 17.

26 Stern, 2006, Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change, < http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm >, UK Treasury, p.131.

27 Victorian Government Data Directory, 2012, DataVic Access Policy, <www.data.vic.gov.au>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

28 Victorian Government, 2012, ICT Strategy <www.vic.gov.au/ictstrategy/>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

29 Department of Planning and Community Development, 2012, Let’s Talk about Melbourne Discussion Paper, Victorian Government, Melbourne, p. 40.

30 Department of Planning and Community Development, 2012, State Planning Policy Framework, Cl.13.05.1.

31 Teague, B, Mcleod, R, Pascoe, S, 2010, 2009 Bushfire Royal Commission Final Report, Parliament of Victoria, Melbourne.

32 Department of Planning and Community Development, 2012, State Planning Policy Framework, cl.13.01.1.


33 More than 90 per cent of Australian home owners are estimated to have insurance.

34 Nemes, V, la Nauze, A, and O’Neill, J, 2011, Contracts for environmental outcomes: the use of financial contracts in environmental markets, AARES Conference Paper, p.12.

35 Garnaut, R, 2011 Garnaut Climate Change Review, Update, Chapter 8 Adapting Efficiently, <http://www.garnautreview.org.au/update-2011/garnaut-review-2011/introduction.html> Cambridge University Press, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, p.7.

36 Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2012, Report on Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Victoria, Victorian Government, Melbourne, p. 23.

37 Department of Human Services, 2009, January 2009 Heatwave in Victoria: an Assessment of Health Impacts, Victorian Government, Melbourne, p. iv.

38 Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2012, Report on Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Victoria, Victorian Government, Melbourne, p. 20,21.

39 DHS is responsible for community support and recovery in Victoria’s emergency management arrangements. DHS works with DoH in delivering its responsibilities for the following areas in Victoria’s emergency management operations: pre-hospital mass casualty management at incident sites by medical and ambulance services including the deployment of hospital teams; hospital emergency response to a surge in demand for services; and public health emergency response, including incident control functions for biological and radiological incidents, and food and water contamination.

40 Department of Business and Innovation, 2012, Employment and Business Snapshot, Gippsland Statistical Region, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

41 Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Victoria, 2012, Many Publics: Participation, Inventiveness and Change, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

42 The 1971 Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

43 Regional Development Victoria, 2012, Gippsland Region, <http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/victorianregions/gippsland> Victorian Government, Melbourne.

44 Ibid

45 Ibid

46 Department of Business and Innovation, 2012, Employment and Business Snapshot, Central Highlands Wimmera Statistical Region, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

47 Ibid

48 Ibid

49 Regional Development Victoria, 2012, Grampians Region, <http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/victorianregions/grampians>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

50 Fire services commissioner, 2012, <http://www.voicefm.com.au/fire-services-commissionerlaunches-important-grampians-region-fire-planning-community-consultationprogram/3854/>

51 Department of Primary Industries, 2012, Central Highlands, <http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/investment-trade/region-overviews/central-highlands>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

52 Department of Planning and Community Development, 2012 Regional Growth Plans <http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/plansandpolicies/ruralandregionalplanning/regionalgrowthplans>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

53 Department of Business and Innovation, 2012, Employment and Business Snapshot, Barwon-Western District Statistical Region, Victorian Government, Melbourne.


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54 Ibid

55 Regional Development Victoria, 2012, Barwon Southwest, <http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/victorian-regions/barwon-south-west> Victorian Government, Melbourne.

56 Ibid

57 Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre, Australian Grains Free Air CO₂ Enrichment program, <http://www.piccc.org.au/AGFACE> The University of Melbourne and the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.

58 Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2012, Victorian Coastal hazard Guide, <http://www.vcc.vic.gov.au/assets/media/files/Victorian-Coastal-Hazard-Guide.pdf> Victorian Government, Melbourne.

59 Department of Business and Innovation, 2012, Employment and Business Snapshot, loddon-Mallee Statistical Region, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

60 Ibid

61 Regional Development Victoria, 2012, loddon-Mallee <http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/victorianregions/loddon-mallee>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

62 Ibid

63 Department of Business and Innovation, 2012, Employment and Business Snapshot, Goulburn-Ovens-Murray Statistical Region, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

64 Ibid

65 Regional Development Victoria, 2012, Hume Region, <http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/victorian-regions/hume>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

66 Ibid

67 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011, Regional Population Growth, Australia 2011<http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/latestproducts/3218.0Main%20Features62011?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2011&num=&view=>, Australian Government, Canberra.

68 Department of Health, 2006, Melbourne public hospitals and Metropolitan Health Services <http://www.health.vic.gov.au/maps/metro_hs.htm>, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

69 Department of Transport, 2012, Tram Accessibility Consultation Report, Victorian Government, Melbourne.

70 Chhetri, P., A. Hashemi, F. Basic, A. Manzoni and G. Jayatilleke, 2012, Bushfire, Heat Wave and Flooding - Case Studies from Australia. Report from the International Panel of the Weather project funded by the European Commission’s 7th framework programme, Melbourne.

71 Australian Government, 1992, Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment, <http://www.environment.gov.au/about/esd/publications/igae/index.html> Cl 3.5.1, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.


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Country Fire Authority

Catchment Management Authority

Council of Australian Governments

Committees of Management

Cooperative Research Centres

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Department of Business and Innovation

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Department of Human Services

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Department of Premier and Cabinet

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Department of Sustainability and Environment

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Emergency Management Victoria

Environment and Natural Resources Committee

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Financial Management Act

Financial Management Compliance Framework

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Heritage Victoria

Member of Parliament

Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans

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Victorian Environmental Assessment Council

Victorian Government Risk Management Framework

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Authorised and published by the Victorian Government 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne Print managed by Finsbury Green March 2013

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victorian climate change adaptation plan

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