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No. 107

Aussie surf clubs under threat from climate change

A report for Surf Lifesaving Australia shows more than half of country's surf lifesaving clubs are being threatened by extreme tides and weather conditions.

The report used data from Geo-Sciences Australia and climate change modelling to assess which clubs will come under threat.

It has found that 63 per cent of surf clubs are in zones of potential instability, areas under threat from the impact of rising sea levels and changing weather conditions caused by climate change.

Surf Life Saving Australia's head of strategic development, Norm Farmer, says the report shows a great deal of work needs to done to protect clubs.

'When [you] put it on a map, look at it and start to quantify the level of activity that we have to do, the level of funding that we have to source to respond to these changes, that is the potential scary part," he said.

Across the country, a huge number of clubs are predicted to fall into the zones of potential instability. In Victoria, 84 per cent of clubs would be affected, while in South Australia and Tasmania, 89 per cent of clubs would be affected.

Mr Farmer says concern is growing among the surf lifesaving clubs about their future.

"We have some of our clubs now that are spending millions of dollars to relocate their buildings and to have coastal vulnerability assessments undertaken," he said.

"For example, Seaspray in Victoria, Moore Park on the north coast of Queensland, Currumbin Surf Club on the Gold Coast have all been extensively exposed and may need to rebuild or relocate."

Mr Farmer says there has been over 100 years investment in surf clubs and their buildings.

"There needs to be an ongoing level of funding to ensure that we can continue to provide the safety, the services that the people of Australia have become familiar with over the last 104 years," he said.