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
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
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
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
Australia’s coast bears the brunt of national airborne emissions, because the vast majority of people and large cities are on the coast.
2016
Terrestrial pollution occurs when solid or liquid waste is deposited on land or underground, and has the potential to contaminate soil and groundwater.
2016
Climate change is driving global and regional sea level rise, and more intense and frequent extreme sea levels.
2016
Pollution is a long-standing pressure on coastal rivers and estuaries, particularly in areas of urbanisation, industrialisation, mining and agriculture.
2016
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
Dr Graeme Clark
Professor Emma Johnston
