FEDERAL and state ministers have brushed aside calls for a future fund to pay for infrastructure in Lake Macquarie to defend against sea level rise.
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The Newcastle Herald asked federal and state ministers about a future fund but they evaded the question.
This followed Lake Macquarie councillors calling for a fund to defend Marks Point and Belmont South properties against the threat of rising sea levels.
Other low-lying areas in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle will require infrastructure to defend against sea level rise in future, based on scientific predictions.
Coastal Residents secretary Pat Aiken said both governments should be setting aside money now for a future fund.
Mr Aiken said the state government had forecast that it expected to reap billions in royalties from coal, a major cause of climate change.
‘‘The Baird government has been next to useless in planning for future catastrophic events,’’ Mr Aiken said.
‘‘If they’re saying we’re all going under, we need money to plan for that.’’
Mr Aiken said regional areas such as Newcastle and Lake Macquarie were being ignored but ‘‘you can guarantee that Sydney coastal areas will be protected’’.
The office of Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt did not directly answer a question about whether a future fund should be established.
‘‘The states and territories, together with local government, have the primary responsibility for managing land-use planning and infrastructure investment in Australia’s coastal zone,’’ Mr Hunt’s spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman said the federal government had committed $9 million over three years (2014 to 2017) to the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility at Griffith University.
‘‘This funding will deliver practical hands-on tools and information to help councils and communities make planning decisions that consider coastal climate risks such as sea level rise.’’
Mr Aiken said the research facility was ‘‘all wheel spinning’’. ‘‘There’s nothing concrete in it,’’ he said.
The Herald approached state Environment Minister Mark Speakman for comment but he said the Planning Department held responsibility for sea level rise.
When asked for comment, the office of Planning Minister Rob Stokes sent a statement from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
‘‘Lake Macquarie council has taken a sensible, balanced and collaborative approach to addressing this issue,’’ the statement said.
‘‘It is appropriate that councils are considering coastal processes, including sea level rise, at a local level within the framework established by the state government.’’
The statement said that decisions about ways to respond to the risk of rising sea levels were for ‘‘councils to make in consultation with their communities’’.