Coastal NSW-spread

NSW Coastal and marine management and adaptation

Coastal landscapes The New South Wales coast Our coastal landscapes in New South Wales are both dynamic and diverse, and support a wide range of environmental, social and economic values. Almost 85% of people living in New South Wales live within 50 km of the coastline.  Tourism, community health and connection to nature are underpinned by thriving coastal environments. Coastal zones are ever changing, driven by natural catchment and coastal processes, as well as anthropogenic pressures. Climate change, population growth, urbanisation, and recreation are placing increased pressure on our coastal landscapes and ecosystems. Built infrastructure in coastal areas may also be increasingly exposed to coastal hazards with a changing climate and sea level rise. Sustainable management of the coast involves balancing a diverse range of challenges and opportunities for the social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing, and pro-active planning to increase resilience and adapt to change.

Integrating science, engineering, economics, and communities The Alluvium Group offers an integrated team of  specialists with the skills and capacity to support the coastal and marine management  and adaptation planning across New South Wales. 

Delivery team

The Alluvium Group brings together three businesses to provide an integrated service in catchment to coast and marine science, engineering, policy, and strategy – encompassing  bio physical, economic and social elements.  Alluvium NCEconomics Mosaic Insights Alluvium provides an integrated catchment to Natural Capital Economics is a niche economic Mosaic insights is a strategic consultancy coastline perspective to inform strategic planning advisory business focused on waterway created to accelerate the transition to and engineering design. ecosystem assets and ecosystem services coastal the sustainable, resillient social landscapes assets and water management advice. of the future. Integrated catchment to coast hydrology Adaptation policy and strategy Vulnerability assessment Livability strategy and planning Coastal community engagement Economic and social impact assessment Green infrastructure strategy Coastal risk assessment Resilience assessment Human welfare integration frameworks Hydrodynamic modelling Cost benefit assessment Social research Engineering design Multi criteria analysis Natural liveability framework development Ecology and vegetation assessment Economics of disaster management Urban heat modelling and biophilic design www.alluvium.com.au www.nceconomics.com www.mosaicinsights.com.au Alluvium Consulting along with Natural Capital Economics (NCEconomics), Mosaic Insights and Alluvium International belong to the Alluvium Group of companies.

Key contacts Our key contacts are here to discuss how we can help you deliver coastal management and adaptation planning. Dr Marcello Sano Michael Rosenthal Jan Orton Coastal strategy Coastal planning Coastal social science Marcello brings  almost two decades of experience in Michael has experience in environmental science and Jan is a well-respected leader in sustainability and research, consultancy and training in coastal, marine and law and uses perspectives from these disciplines to solve natural resource management.  Jan has worked with catchment science and management. His experience complex coastal management issues. Michael enjoys communities, councillors, government, researchers spans across academia, government and consultancy in working on projects that facilitate strategic decision- and private interests to innovate around best practice NSW, interstate and internationally, bridging gaps between making and planning outcomes. He is skilled at working management of public and private lands across the engineering, policy, society and the  environment. He is in a team environment and communicating effectively Sydney basin, in important estuarine areas, and in the experienced in the implementation of the NSW Coastal using accessible language to convey complex information public domain. Jan’s strengths lie in using evidence Management Framework, and he has managed complex, associated with coastal management to influence outcomes and build strong strategic and projects involving multiple councils and stakeholders. policy platforms for change.  

Phil Duncan  Lisa Walpole Mark Wainwright Indigenous engagement Catchment hydrology integration Urban water integration Phil Duncan is a member of the Gomeroi Nation and Lisa is the NSW Regional Manager for Alluvium, with a Mark has a strong interest in protecting coastal has over 38 years’ experience working with Aboriginal technical background in environmental engineering and waterways from the impacts of urban development people and government to improve the lives of hydrology. Lisa has over 10 years’ experience exploring and other land use changes. He has over 20 year’s Aboriginal people. Phil leads our coastal engagement the impacts of land use change across catchments on professional consulting experience and has a good needs with indigenous communities. water quality and quantity entering receiving waters. appreciation of the impacts of catchment runoff on a range of coastal waterways. Jim Binney Adam Brook Phebe Bicknell Coastal economics Coastal engineering Coastal resilience Jim is a resource and environmental economic practitioner Adam has over 18 years’ coastal engineering experience Phebe has led and contributed to coastal and estuarine with over 25 years’ of postgraduate experience. Cost- throughout Australia and overseas. Adam’s skills allow studies throughout Australia, and is currently working benefit analysis, cost effectiveness analysis, and non- him to work through the full life cycle of projects from with numerous coastal councils in Queensland, Victoria market valuation are tools used in most of his projects planning and design through to gaining approvals, and New South Wales to develop plans and strategies to Jim has experience across a broad range of resource and then undertaking detailed design for construction, assist in medium to long-term coastal planning. environmental management issues and specific experience maintenance or repair and supervising and certifying in coastal economics and risk assessment work. the construction works.

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Engagement & Exposure & Strategy, plan & communication risk assessment program development Engagement and communication underpins Exposure and risk assessment is a key part of Strategy, plan and program development every stage of coastal management and coastal planning. This involves spatial data is a collaborative process integrated with and adaptation, and is critical to project success. analysis and mapping, and exposure and informed by technical assessments. vulnerability assessments for a range of tangible We design and facilitate bespoke participatory and intangible assets. Tailored risk assessments We consider national, state and local policy processes to engage with stakeholders and normally form part of our deliverables. contexts, key values, threats and opportunities, communities use multiple formats and media. and key objectives for management. Technical Economics & Implementation & assessments decision support monitoring We deliver a range of technical assessments Economics and decision support tasks Implementation & monitoring involves including catchment and coastal processes are embedded through our work. working with our clients to develop prioritised assessment, hydrodynamic modelling implementation plans and onboarding and engineering design and implementation. This often includes undertaking options implementation with stakeholders. assessment, cost benefit analysis Most of our work also includes, storm tide, and economics resilience assessments. Key to this stage is development of a Monitoring, sea level rise hazard assessment, climate change Evaluation and Improvement framework within scenario assessment and social science an adaptive management approach. and ecology investigation.

Georges River CMP Alluvium recently worked alongside the Georges Riverkeeper to develop the Stage 1 Scoping Study for the Georges River CMP. This catchment to coast study provides information needed for ongoing and future management of one of the most urbanised waterways in Australia. Eight metropolitan councils representing a growing population of nearly 1.5 million people were engaged for this project.

Catchment to Coast Stakeholder engagement Knowledge gaps and forward plan This project presented a diversity of challenges Representatives from eight Councils, The Alluvium team reviewed contextual related to a multitude of management issues in State government agencies, and community groups information, management issues and risk, the study area. Alluvium’s longstanding expertise were brought together for a study area tour and and existing management arrangements allowing in catchment management as well as coastal hazard workshop at the Georges River 16 ft Sailing Club for knowledge gaps to be identified, and a forward adaptation was used to effectively integrate these which was used to familiarise stakeholders with plan for addressing these within the CMP framework disciplines. Alluvium’s Rapid Catchment Assessment the CMP process and facilitate discussion to be developed. Tool (RCAT) was used to understand subcatchment of management issues and risk. potential for contributing to water quality issues and opportunities.

Bellingen CMP North Creek CMP Alluvium developed a Scoping Study for the Bellingen Shire open coastline, North Creek has a history of management challenges related to drainage Bellinger and Kalang River estuary and Dalhousie Creek and Oyster Creek of coastal wetlands, catchment runoff/water quality, poor riparian condition, ICOLLs. The CMP aimed to improve ecological health of the estuary.  governance and community access to coastal areas.  The Shire has a history of management challenges related to streambank Alluvium developed a Scoping Study for the Coastal Management Program stability/erosion, catchment runoff/water quality, poor riparian condition, for North Creek system in the Richmond River estuary. The CMP aimed to governance and community access to coastal areas.  improve ecological health of the estuary.  Catchment modelling was used as tool to help assess areas within Catchment modelling was used as tool to help assess areas within  the catchment which may be contributing excessive sediment and nutrient the catchment which may be contributing excessive sediment and nutrient loads to the estuary.  loads to the estuary.  The project involved significant engagement with NSW state agencies, The project involved significant engagement with NSW state agencies, stakeholders and the broader community to understand the management stakeholders and the broader community to understand the management issues and develop priority actions to  be addressed as part of the CMP.   issues and develop priority actions to  be addressed as part of the CMP.  

Richmond River Governance Lake Illawarra Alluvium was engaged to develop a governance framework for the future DPIE is leading a water quality initiative to improve the management of urban management of the Richmond River. The project was jointly funded by NSW and rural diffuse source water pollution across NSW.  The risk-based framework Office of Environment and Heritage’s Coastal and Estuaries Grants Program (RBF) is a protocol that Councils and environmental regulators can apply to and the local governments of Ballina Shire, Lismore City, Richmond Valley, help reduce the impacts of land use activities on coastal waterways across NSW.  Byron Shire, Kyogle and Rous County Council. Alluvium has applied the RBF at coastal locations across NSW including A key focus throughout the project was to engage in a collaborative manner Lake Illawarra.  The Lake Illawarra catchment and receiving waterways are with stakeholders currently involved in the management of the Richmond River under increasing pressure from ongoing development associated with and its catchment.  This included indigenous groups, industry associations, large urban release areas.  The environmental pressures include increased Landcare groups, local and state government and other relevant groups.  stormwater runoff volumes and changes to catchment runoff quality.   Six detailed models were developed and analysed using a qualitative This study explored over 25 stormwater management scenarios including framework. These models were then further analysed by the project team using measures distributed at lot, street, precinct and sub-catchment scales.  a quantitative multi-criteria assessment, supported by stakeholder input.  The study compared the cost effectiveness of providing treatment at these From this a final recommendation was made to government. scales to assist with identifying preferred management approaches. Options for managing stormwater runoff volumes to minimise changes to waterway erosion potential were also explored.   An important element of this project was the involvement of the project participants in shared decision making.

QCoast2100 Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategies The QCoast2100 program supports coastal local effects of climate change over the medium to long assessments that incorporate increasing sea-levels government communities in their progression  term; propose adaptation measures to mitigate these and changing climate, robust economic assessment, from identifying coastal hazards and climate impacts; and establish an implementation program and flexible and adaptable management change risks through to the decision-making and for the mitigation measures. A CHAS is the product and engineering options, to help increase the implementation phases. of a series of studies that seek to:  resilience of their coastal areas. Alluvium is the leading provider of the Coastal Hazard Identify coastal hazard areas Our work in Queensland takes us from highly Adaptation Strategy (CHAS) work being delivered urbanised environments with key pressures around under the QCoast2100 program in Queensland.  Understand vulnerabilities and risks to a range private and public built assets to regional and of assets and values rural areas with a much greater emphasis on Our work has set a new standard in leading practice indigenous engagement. coastal hazard assessments for the CHAS process. Engage with the community to understand their We have been working with local government to preferred approach to adaptation progress the understanding of future impacts on assets and local economy from climate change Determine the costs, priorities and timeframes and sea level rise, defining adaptation engages for their implementation actions, and working with stakeholders and the broader community in the process. This process provides each LGA with a long-term strategy that proactively plans for the future management of The coastal hazard adaptation strategy is a process their coastal areas. The development of the strategy designed to assess the risk from the projected has a strong focus on understanding the needs of stakeholders and communities. It integrates technical

Alluvium Delivers Coastal Hazard Adaption Strategies across Queensland

Shoreline erosion Midge Point SEMP Gladstone SEMP management plans Area of the Mackay coast severely impacted Considered the beaches of Agnes Water and by tropical cyclones. Erosion management actions 1770 resulting in dune protection and stewardship included construction of a buried geobag seawall. program along with foreshore transition planning. Shoreline Erosion Management Plans, or SEMPs, Moreton Island SEMP Round Head SEMP are a tool used by local governments to establish a management strategy for adapting and Moreton Island is one of the largest sand islands The Round Head SEMP is the first in Queensland led responding to current and future coastal erosion in the world and has a highly dynamic coastline by the Traditional Owners of the land. hazards. They facilitate the sustainable development effected by complex coastal processes. This SEMP and management of coastal land that considers helped the communities on the west coast of environmental, social, and economic values as well Moreton plan for and manage erosion. as the natural coastal processes acting on the foreshore. They are informed by detailed coastal process studies, targeted community consultation, and multi-criteria and cost-benefit options analysis. Alluvium have lead the development of multiple SEMPs, each with its own unique context, challenges and opportunities for management.

Jacobs Well Boating Infrastructure – Coastal engineering and Trial Bay Coast & Foreshore Gold Coast Waterways Authority geotechnical assessments – Waratah Protection Strategy – NSW NPWS Wynyard Council, Tasmaniat Alluvium provided support to GCWA in drafting Alluvium is working with NPWS to develop a long the design and construct contract for boating Alluvium has led coastal engineering and term strategy for managing and protecting the infrastructure including boat ramp, jetty, floating geotechnical assessments at five locations foreshore of the highly popular Trial Bay Gaol walkway and pontoon. We also led the development throughout northwest Tasmania and provided Campground and surrounding shoreline. of project specifications, reference design, a detailed feasibility report outlining erosion This work has involved undertaking a coastal 3D visualisations, cost estimate and assessment mitigation works and potential land reclamation, processes and hazards assessment, multiple of preferred options. Further advice was provided concert design, and costing. workshops with community and technical reference regarding approvals and tender documents. groups, and development of an implementation program for recommended options.

Coastal economics

NCEconomics, in partnership with Alluvium, have provided economic analysis Multi Criteria Analysis: used to assess multiple options across a range of Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategies. of decision factors that may have different and inconsistent assessment measures, including non-monetary valuation. We often use MCA to develop This work involved undertaking high-level assessments to approximate shortlisted options that are subsequently assessed using CBA. the potential economic damage and loss due to coastal hazards. Cost Effective Analysis: Used to compare options when benefits can not be A cost benefit analysis approach and tailored case studies were used to assess robustly estimated in monetary terms. Allows costs to be compared to the costs and benefits of addressing coastal hazards. Findings from a quantifiable impact of a given intervention such as $/ m3 of coastal the economic assessments are used to inform decisions around erosion prevented. potential adaptation options. Sensitivity analysis: Used to understand how changes in key The assessments focus on built assets (e.g. residential, commercial buildings), assumptions can alter the results of a CBA. Used to understand variability agricultural uses (e.g. grazing) and natural assets (e.g. ecologically significant and uncertainty. We typically use Monte Carlo simulations to perform wetlands). The case studies also consider aspects such as loss of access, sensitivity analysis. tourism, business losses, ecosystem services, and cultural values. This analysis plays an important part in helping councils to prioritise investment in coastal resilience. We use a wide range of tools to deliver economic assessments of coastal areas and assets including: Market valuation: Used to estimate the monetary value of environmental and social impacts that are traded in markets (e.g. damage to aquaculture infrastructure) associated with a given project / intervention in a way that allows impacts to be included in cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Non Market Valuation: Used to estimate the monetary value of environmental or social impacts (e.g. damage to coastal wetlands) that are not traded in markets associated with a given project / intervention in a way that allows impacts to be included in cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Cost Benefit Analysis: Used to evaluate alternative options in a transparent and robust way. We are known for our ability to incorporate environmental and social costs and benefits within our analyses, which are frequently used to support business cases for new initiatives.



Engagement Effective engagement is absolutely core to the way we approach coastal strategy and planning work. We use highly trained communication experts in our project team and our dedication, manner and commitment to effective community engagement is what differentiates us with in the industry. We often use open houses and pop ups in high traffic retail areas and combine that with special briefings for the community. We develop community reference groups and we work very hard to advance meaningful communication with Councillors.



Materials The communications materials we produce are eye catching and focused on positive messaging. They often include a combination of website development, coastal story timelines, facts sheets and media releases. We work hard on our visual products.

NSW Coastal enquires Sydney Lisa Walpole 0414 096 545 02 7201 8414 Regional Manager Newcastle 02 7201 8414 Byron Bay 0401 048 241 Brisbane 07 3257 1628 Melbourne 03 9421 2532 Canberra 02 6249 7475 Townsville 07 3257 1628 New Dehli +91 98119 30902 alluvium.com.au nceconomics.com mosaicinsights.com.au