Kingborough Council is committed to addressing the real threat posed by climate change to its community, ecosystems and operations.
The Climate Change Policy was first endorsed by Council in 2014 and continues to be adopted to guide us in the understanding of climate change impacts and adaptation options.
Climate Change Policy (PDF)
Council Climate Change Governance
The impacts of climate change have been embedded in the Kingborough Council risk framework since 2021. This provides a framework for identifying and responding to climate change and its effects in the physical, financial and strategic areas of the organisation
Kingborough is participating in the Climate Capability Program, delivered by the Local Government Association of Tasmania. Launched in 2023, the aim of the project is to support local government across Tasmania to adapt to climate change impacts and manage climate risks when making strategic decisions.
Studies and Programs
Council is focusing on key vulnerable community case study sites to target research into climate change risk evaluation and adaptation planning. We are also committed to a coastal hazards program to understand the vulnerability of our coastlines through erosion and inundation due to the impacts of sea level rise and storm surge.
Coastal Hazards Program
Risk Evaluation
Council has an ongoing program to build on our understanding and management of coastal risks and vulnerability, particularly the risk of coastal erosion and inundation due to sea level rise and storm surge.
In 2023, Council endorsed the Coastal Hazards Policy to create a consistent framework for managing risk in our coastal areas.
Snug
Council has developed modelling for the Snug township which is projected to be significantly impacted into the future by sea level rise and storm surge. These maps are used to inform development decisions and planning for adaptation options for public spaces and assets in the Snug coastal area.
Snug Foreshore Use and Community Priorities
Kingborough Council is planning for coastal change in Snug over the coming decades.
For over 15 years Council has been investigating and responding to coastal erosion and flooding on the Snug foreshore and understands coastal flooding, higher groundwater and more extreme storms are likely to accelerate erosion. To participate in the community consultation please head to the Council’s Snug engagement page.
December 2016: Snug super tide.
June 2025: Snug tidal event.
If you would like to receive further information about Coastal Change on Snug’s Foreshore please complete this form:
Snug Foreshore Enquiry Form
Kingston Beach
A significant body of work has been undertaken to identify the potential risk to the Kingston Beach community resulting from inundation (currently and into the future) due to catchment flooding, storm surge and sea level rise.
The modelling outputs produced are being used to inform investigations into possible adaptation options.
The Kingston Beach Flood Study “defines the flood behaviour under existing and future potential climate conditions in the Browns River catchment for a full range of design catchment flood, coastal flood and coincident flood events”. The Study and Flood Maps Series can be viewed below.
Adventure Bay
Council is currently building on existing inundation vulnerability data for the Adventure Bay township by undertaking modelling of coastal erosion potential, catchment flooding, groundwater mapping and sea level rise impact mapping.
The resultant mapping will be used to inform development decisions and planning for potential adaptation options.
Coningham Beach
This has been the site of significant coastal erosion in the past 10 years with Council, community and natural assets being put at risk. Temporary protection measures have been undertaken in the form of sandbagging to allow time to evaluate longer term adaptation options.
Regional Councils Climate Change Adaptation Project
During 2011 the 12 participating southern Tasmanian councils prepared pilot climate change adaptation plans as well as building capacity for ongoing climate change adaptation planning.
Climate Change Links
- Clarence City Council – Coastal Impacts
- Commonwealth Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
- Hobart City Council
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority
- Sustainable Living Tasmania
- Tasmanian Climate Change Office
- The Antarctic Climate & Ecoysystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC)
- National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility
- Clean Energy Finance Corporation
