Coasts

Population growth and urban development: Population growth

The coast has many qualities that make it attractive for living, including economic, social, recreational and cultural benefits. Human populations have been growing in Australian coastal areas since European colonisation, and this growth has not slowed since 2011.
2016
Relates to
Coasts
Pressures
Greater HobartGreater AdelaideGreater MelbourneGreater PerthGreater Sydney
Coasts

Population growth and urban development: Coastal development and land use

Coastal population growth exerts strong pressure on coastal land by increasing the need for both agriculture and housing, and land-use demands often come at the expense of natural habitats and native
2016
Relates to
Coasts
Pressures
Greater MelbourneGreater Perth
Coasts

Population growth and urban development: Tourism and recreation

The tourism industry is important for the Australian economy, comprising approximately 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014–15 (Productivity Commission 2015).
2016
Relates to
Coasts
Pressures
Great Barrier ReefMarine North West
Coasts

Energy and resource extraction and processing

Impacts of energy and resource extraction on the coast mostly result from the development, expansion and maintenance of ports for processing and export, and the infrastructure needed to extract diffuse energy sources such as coal-seam gas.
2016
Relates to
Coasts
Pressures
South CoastSouth East CoastSouth Australian GulfNorth East CoastTasmaniaGreater BrisbaneGreater Sydney
Coasts

Atmosphere

Australia’s coast bears the brunt of national airborne emissions, because the vast majority of people and large cities are on the coast.
2016
Relates to
Coasts
Pressures
Greater BrisbaneGreat Barrier ReefGreater SydneyIndian Ocean
Coasts

Coastal land

Terrestrial pollution occurs when solid or liquid waste is deposited on land or underground, and has the potential to contaminate soil and groundwater.
2016
Relates to
Coasts
Pressures
Great Barrier ReefAntarctica
Coasts

Land–water interface

Climate change is driving global and regional sea level rise, and more intense and frequent extreme sea levels.
2016
Relates to
Coasts
Pressures
South West CoastSouth Australian GulfGreater AdelaideGreat Barrier ReefGreater MelbourneGreater PerthGreater Sydney
Coasts

Coastal waters

Pollution is a long-standing pressure on coastal rivers and estuaries, particularly in areas of urbanisation, industrialisation, mining and agriculture.
2016
Relates to
Coasts
Pressures
South Australian GulfMurray DarlingNorth East CoastTasmaniaTimor SeaMarine South WestGreater DarwinGreater AdelaideGreat Barrier ReefGreater MelbourneMarine NorthMarine North WestMarine South EastGreater SydneyGulf of Carpentaria
Clark GF, Johnston EL (2016). Coasts: Topics. In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/theme/coasts/topics?framework=106, DOI 10.4226/94/58b659bdc758b