Coastcare Issues
Seachange and urban development
Did you know that…
- 85% of Australians live on the coast.
- In recent years there has been a huge geographical shift in Australia’s population towards regional coastal living. This Phenomenon is called ‘Seachange’.
Any coastal ecosystem is particularly sensitive to introduced change and is largely ill-equipped to cope with such unprecedented growth. Coastcare recognises the pressures on our coasts and are committed to addressing the threats to these fragile ecosystems.
One of the ironies of what is currently happening is the fact that city people are flooding into sleepy seaside towns seeking a more tranquil life and as a result they are often transforming coastal towns into busy places with traffic congestion and crowded beaches.
Some people want a better climate or more affordable housing while others are moving for employment reasons or seeking a more relaxed lifestyle. In the process, roads, water mains, apartment buildings, factories and piers all have to be built to accommodate the flood of people.
This upsets the bio-diversity of coastal regions. It degrades the land and water quality and interrupts the natural ecological processes.
What can I do to help?
Join a Coastcare group in your local to help reverse the effects of the sea change by protecting our beaches, harbours, bays and estuaries
Be aware of the impact you are having - no matter whether you live on the coast or just holiday there.