Melbourne Faces Rising Sea Levels and Inundation Threat, Reveals Victorian Government Study, Australia

More than 4.7 sq km of inner-Melbourne and parts of Port Phillip Bay in Australia could face the threat of flooding from rising sea levels and storm tides caused by climate change in the coming decades, according to a new long-term modelling study released by the Victorian government. The Port Phillip Bay coastal hazard assessment, which was released on Thursday, indicates that areas such as Docklands and Southbank in the Melbourne city council area could be at risk of inundation in the event of a 1.1-metre sea level rise during a one-in-100-chance storm-tide event. The study also suggests that a quarter of the Port Phillip council area, which includes St Kilda, Albert Park, and South Melbourne, could face a similar fate. The report highlights that risks of inundation would further increase during extreme rainfall events if sea levels were to rise by 1.4 metres by 2100. The study, commissioned by the state government, outlines the coastal hazards that communities along Port Phillip Bay face, and provides modelling, analysis, and maps to identify areas at risk. It indicates that 1.3 million Victorians living in coastal areas could be affected. However, Victoria’s environment minister, Steve Dimopoulos, urges the public not to panic, emphasizing that the report provides a long-term outlook for the next 80 years and that mitigation efforts are being taken. Dimopoulos states that the government has already funded the development of mitigation strategies by councils around the bay and has invested $140bn in coastal mitigation strategies, such as sea walls, since 2014. The hazard assessment evaluates the impact of sea level rise, inundation, erosion, and rising groundwater levels on communities around Port Phillip Bay. It identifies flood-prone areas, such as Point Lonsdale, Queenscliff, Swan Bay, Portarlington, Werribee, Altona, Southbank, Port Melbourne, Elwood, Mordialloc, Patterson Lakes, and Martha Cove, as being particularly vulnerable. The release of the report is expected to trigger discussions on potential planning changes and the implementation of measures to counteract the effects of rising sea levels. The study conducted by multiple agencies, including the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), affirms that sea level rises are the primary hazard faced by coastal communities worldwide. It concludes that higher sea-level rises would lead to the reduced effectiveness of protective infrastructure such as sea walls and marinas due to stronger tides, bigger waves, and changes in groundwater levels. Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, anticipates that the state will need to consider the most suitable locations for new housing due to climate change-driven flooding and extreme weather events.