The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Talk of buyouts after floods shows need to get serious about climate adaptation

  • Written by Tayanah O'Donnell, Honorary Associate Professor, Australian National University

Australians are reeling[1] from climate change impacts including more frequent and severe disasters[2] – floods, droughts, searing heat and fires. These complex disasters[3] are fuelling calls[4] for managed retreats and debates[5] about buying out[6] at-risk properties.

Buyouts involve governments paying compensation or compulsorily acquiring land to manage a retreat from high-risk areas. Moving people and assets permanently out of harm’s way is considered a final step in a long line of options for climate adaptation.

It had often been thought of as something for future generations to grapple with, but my global review[7] of the research literature shows a surge in studies of this issue in the past five years. Retreat is something we have to grapple with now.

Some parts of New South Wales have been flooded four times in 18 months[8]. Retreat and relocation from properties in high-risk areas must now be central[9] to climate adaptation. My research provides lessons for Australia from around the world in how to manage this difficult task.

History repeats

At the height of the Western Sydney floods in March 2021, I wrote about[10] the complexities of managed retreat. The same area has just had yet more catastrophic floods[11].

And in Lismore, NSW, which has repeatedly flooded[12] over the years, the record floods of 2022[13] have brought such questions[14] to a head.

Coastal areas are also at risk[15] from sea-level rise. Here, too, we are hearing calls[16] for retreat and buy-outs of vulnerable properties.

Managed retreat is far from simple. It requires us to assess complex, systemic risks[17]. However, we now face pressing questions about vulnerability[18], insurability[19] and rising insurance costs[20], and trade-offs[21] involving value judgments about what to protect, when and at what cost.

My recent review[22], published by the Royal Society, sought to understand trends and gaps in global research concerned with managed retreat (after a catastrophic event) and planned retreat (before such an event). The aim was to learn how prepared we are for delivering successful retreats from areas at risk. This has lessons for what Australia – and the rest of the world – should be doing.

What did the research find?

I examined published scientific literature in the decade to 2022 containing the keywords “managed retreat” and “planned retreat”.

In the past five years, 135 scientific papers containing these terms were published – a dramatic increase from seven papers in the five years prior. Common themes from these papers included:

  • the challenges of property rights and compensation

  • the need for governance and institutional mechanisms to enable an orderly and managed retreat

  • an increase in negative impacts on vulnerable communities as a result of relocations or retreats that were not orderly or well managed.

sign saying Access Closed on a fenced-off section of beach
Properties on large areas of the Australian coast are vulnerable to erosion and rising sea levels. Dean Lewins/AAP

Read more: It's time to come clean on Lismore's future. People and businesses have to relocate away from the floodplains[23]

In my review, co-ordination across different levels of government emerged as a key barrier to managed retreat. This was no surprise.

Nor was it a shock to find that people’s perceptions of risk are framed in financial terms. Many are reluctant to face falls in the value of at-risk property. This is understandable given the attachments we have to “home” even when the risks are high. As one person told me[24] about people building in dangerous places:

“[…] but this is the history of Australia, people building too close to the water. It’s ridiculous!”

A preoccupation with property values can lead to neglect of other losses[25] associated with managed retreat, such as loss of tourism, infrastructure and other state-owned assets.

Australia is not new to managed retreat. Grantham in Queensland is often held up as a successful example. Even so, people struggled with the enormity of the loss and the complexity of the process of retreat.

Relocated communities overseas, including Oakwood Beach in New York, have gone through similar struggles[26].

No papers examined retreat from areas of increasing fire risk[27], though researchers have identified[28] the need. Given recent catastrophic fires around the world, including Australia[29], the United States[30] and Europe[31], there’s a significant gap in the research on managed retreat.

All climate change impacts, including heat, fire and drought, may demand some type of retreat at some time and in a wide range of places.

Two women stand in the remains of a burnt-out home
Many homes are located in areas that are becoming impossible to defend against intense bushfires. Dean Lewins/AAP

Lessons from around the world

A recent analysis[32] examined three voluntary buyout programs in the United States. It found those programs could be improved by ensuring the policies supporting buyouts – including which aspects of government were responsible for what – minimised barriers to being assessed for compensation.

Programs also needed to be flexible enough to work in a range of circumstances or places.

Read more: 'Climigration': when communities must move because of climate change[33]

A focus on property owners can also lead to neglect of people who are renting[34] or who who do not have[35] a readymade place to relocate to. Australia’s crisis of housing affordability (and availability) crisis means this is a major concern.

Thoughtful and repeated community engagement is essential throughout the process of designing and implementing managed retreat to ensure community acceptance. A study[36] of seven Californian localities identified where managed retreat had been attempted but implementation had failed. Failure was largely due to two reasons:

  1. a failure of communication and inadequate community consultation

  2. “baggage” associated with the term managed retreat, especially in terms of what it means for property ownership.

As noted[37] in other parts of the world, successful managed retreat has several elements:

  • barriers to implementation must first be identified and understood

  • those managing the process must learn from historical events – for example, how government and community worked together in Grantham

  • policy approaches must be consistent across states or countries, to ensure compensation is distributed fairly.

Australia urgently needs a climate adaptation agenda to minimise harm and maximise opportunities as we learn to live with climate change.

As politically perilous[38] as policies of managed retreat may be, climate impacts demand that we start work now on actively and sensibly resolving the risks we face.

Read more: 'Patently ridiculous': state government failures have exacerbated Sydney's flood disaster[39]

References

  1. ^ reeling (www.ipcc.ch)
  2. ^ more frequent and severe disasters (soe.dcceew.gov.au)
  3. ^ complex disasters (books.google.com.au)
  4. ^ calls (www.mortgagebusiness.com.au)
  5. ^ debates (www.theguardian.com)
  6. ^ buying out (www.hawkesburygazette.com.au)
  7. ^ my global review (royalsocietypublishing.org)
  8. ^ four times in 18 months (theconversation.com)
  9. ^ must now be central (www.msn.com)
  10. ^ I wrote about (theconversation.com)
  11. ^ more catastrophic floods (theconversation.com)
  12. ^ repeatedly flooded (theconversation.com)
  13. ^ record floods of 2022 (www.smh.com.au)
  14. ^ such questions (www.lismorecitynews.com.au)
  15. ^ Coastal areas are also at risk (theconversation.com)
  16. ^ we are hearing calls (www.abc.net.au)
  17. ^ complex, systemic risks (www.sciencedirect.com)
  18. ^ vulnerability (theconversation.com)
  19. ^ insurability (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ rising insurance costs (www.theage.com.au)
  21. ^ trade-offs (theconversation.com)
  22. ^ review (royalsocietypublishing.org)
  23. ^ It's time to come clean on Lismore's future. People and businesses have to relocate away from the floodplains (theconversation.com)
  24. ^ told me (rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  25. ^ neglect of other losses (www.um.edu.mt)
  26. ^ similar struggles (climateadaptationplatform.com)
  27. ^ increasing fire risk (theconversation.com)
  28. ^ researchers have identified (www.tandfonline.com)
  29. ^ Australia (theconversation.com)
  30. ^ United States (theconversation.com)
  31. ^ Europe (theconversation.com)
  32. ^ recent analysis (pubag.nal.usda.gov)
  33. ^ 'Climigration': when communities must move because of climate change (theconversation.com)
  34. ^ renting (link.springer.com)
  35. ^ who do not have (link.springer.com)
  36. ^ A study (setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  37. ^ As noted (www.sciencedirect.com)
  38. ^ politically perilous (www.pnas.org)
  39. ^ 'Patently ridiculous': state government failures have exacerbated Sydney's flood disaster (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/building-too-close-to-the-water-its-ridiculous-talk-of-buyouts-after-floods-shows-need-to-get-serious-about-climate-adaptation-186999

Times Magazine

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an online presence that reflects your brand, engages your audience, and drives results. For local businesses in the Blue Mountains, a well-designed website a...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beauty On Saturday, September 6th, history will be made as the International Polo Tour (IPT), a sports leader headquartered here in South Florida...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data analytics processes. The sheer volume and complexity of data can be overwhelming, often leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Enter the innovative da...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right choice keeps your team productive, your data safe, and your budget predictable. The wrong choice shows up as slow tickets, surprise bills, and risky sh...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in the Sutherland Shire who may not have the financial means to pay for private legal assistance, legal aid ensures that everyone has access to representa...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is essential. Each artistic medium, whether watercolor, oil, or digital, has distinct qualities that can bring out the spirit of your furry friend in dif...

The Times Features

How much money do you need to be happy? Here’s what the research says

Over the next decade, Elon Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire[1]. The Tesla board recently proposed a US$1 trillion (A$1.5 trillion) compensation plan, if Musk ca...

NSW has a new fashion sector strategy – but a sustainable industry needs a federally legislated response

The New South Wales government recently announced the launch of the NSW Fashion Sector Strategy, 2025–28[1]. The strategy, developed in partnership with the Australian Fashion ...

From Garden to Gift: Why Roses Make the Perfect Present

Think back to the last time you gave or received flowers. Chances are, roses were part of the bunch, or maybe they were the whole bunch.   Roses tend to leave an impression. Even ...

Do I have insomnia? 5 reasons why you might not

Even a single night of sleep trouble can feel distressing and lonely. You toss and turn, stare at the ceiling, and wonder how you’ll cope tomorrow. No wonder many people star...

Wedding Photography Trends You Need to Know (Before You Regret Your Album)

Your wedding album should be a timeless keepsake, not something you cringe at years later. Trends may come and go, but choosing the right wedding photography approach ensures your ...

Can you say no to your doctor using an AI scribe?

Doctors’ offices were once private. But increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) scribes (also known as digital scribes) are listening in. These tools can record and trans...