Judge Peter Biscoe ruled in November that Mr [Sartor] had failed to consider “whether climate change flood risk was relevant to this flood-constrained coastal plain project” when signing off on a planned development in the area. But Mr Sartor is appealing the decision. Planning Department director-general Sam Haddad said the appeal would help the Government develop a unified approach to coastal development.

“There has been limited information,” he said. “There isn’t the guidance we need for better planning.”

THE NSW Government has been accused of failing to take climate change seriously in the wake of a decision by Planning Minister Frank Sartor to approve a development on a flood plain.

While the federal Government has asked all councils in Australia to review their town plans against a detailed assessment of risks posed by rising sea levels, the NSW Government appears to be resisting the need to plan for climate change.

Mr Sartor has launched an appeal against a decision by the Land and Environment Court after it overturned his approval of a retirement village and residential development on a flood plain at Sandon Point on the NSW south coast.

Judge Peter Biscoe ruled in November that Mr Sartor had failed to consider “whether climate change flood risk was relevant to this flood-constrained coastal plain project” when signing off on a planned development in the area. But Mr Sartor is appealing the decision. Planning Department director-general Sam Haddad said the appeal would help the Government develop a unified approach to coastal development.

The case highlights the inconsistent approach and lack of information on the risks faced by coastal areas.

As reported in The Australian yesterday, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong is accelerating plans through the Council of Australian Governments for a framework under which all jurisdictions will have to examine their planning systems.

The federal Government is planning a national coastal vulnerability assessment to evaluate the risk to the environment and communities, as well as critical infrastructure in the coastal zone. It is also organising a national summit on the risk to coastal areas and will give local councils $2 million to help them identify and prioritise climate change risks and develop management plans.

The federal Government’s action was welcomed yesterday by local councils, which said they were bewildered by conflicting information on rising sea levels and the lack of hard statistics on the impact of climate change. Sydney Coastal Councils Group executive officer Geoff Withycombe said they had been seeking a consistent national approach for years without success.

“There has been limited information,” he said. “There isn’t the guidance we need for better planning.”