Scientists, researchers, engineers and academics have started preparing for the eventuality that sea levels along the West Australian coast could rise as much as one metre over the next 90 years.

The Indian Ocean sea level could rise by a metre / Image - Courtesy istockphoto

A rise of such magnitude would have huge implications for most of WA’s coast-hugging population and infrastructure including cities, towns, suburbs and ports.

“There’s a range of predictions, but I think some people are saying there’s a possibility of one metre by 2100,” says Charlie Thorn, director of the Australian Sustainable Development Institute at Curtin University of Technology.

“Some areas seem to have faster rates of rise in the long-term data that’s been collected, and some a little bit less.

“But you have to start to work off some sort of numbers. I suppose we’ve said one metre is probably at least a starting point for that. Now that may or may not be proven in the longer term to be correct, but we’ll see.”

New Zealand scientists have recently predicted a one-metre sea level rise within a century and some estimates have gone as high as a two-metre rise in ocean levels by 2100.

To look at how WA might be affected, the Australian Sustainable Development Institute is staging the City to Cape 2100 Sea-level Rise forum to be held on Thursday 22 July 2010.

The all-day seminar will focus on the likely effects of sea-level rise on WA’s south-west coast, from Perth to Cape Naturaliste.

“We picked the city to cape region because that’s where most of the coastal development and habitation are, and because there are a number of low-lying areas along that zone where we want to get a better handle on what the risks are,” says Mr Thorn.

“Around the world, hundreds of millions of people live within five kilometres of the sea, so it’s not just a West Australian issue, it’s a global issue.”

The one-day seminar will feature latest estimates of sea level rise, the science of sea level rise along the WA coast and possible engineering solutions with regards to protecting and adapting our coast.

The seminar will also look at the planning issues involved and the social costs of sea level rise in terms of people losing their favourite beaches as the coast retreats.

“If you have an increase in sea level rise with an increasing intensity of storm surge, the combination of the two is what puts more pressure on coastal erosion and coastal structures,” Mr Thorn says.

“I think it’s getting a handle on those two things. It’s not just that the oceans are going to rise a bit, it’s about the big events that come on top of that.

“That has implications for ports - it has implications for any structure on the coastal zone.”

The City to Cape seminar is organised by the Australian Sustainable Development Institute, the Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering, and Engineers Australia. It is open to the public and will be at the Elizabeth Jolley Lecture Theatre at Curtin University.

(For more information/bookings, contact Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne at the Australian Sustainable Development Institute on 9266 1792 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Comments (1)

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written by Tonya Campbell (primary school teacher), July 20, 2010

Do you have estimates as to how far the sea will come inland with a rise of 1m - 2m? Do you have any maps or can you direct me to websites showing predicted maps of where the water will end up in relations to where it is now?
Many thanks.
Are there other such seminars being held in the near future, as i missed this one recently held at Curtin Uni.
Thanks Tonya Campbell