1. Nature Based Method Coastal Hazard Adaptation Options - Site Selection in Western Port, Victoria.
- Author
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Rubinstein, Taylor S., Machado, Daniel A., Sharma, Raj, Monkiewicz, Samuel J., and Morris, Rebecca L.
- Subjects
HAZARDS ,CLIMATE change ,COASTAL development ,METEOROLOGY ,COASTAL engineering - Abstract
Nature-based methods (NBMs) for coastal adaptation to climate change look at restoring or creating resilient coastal ecosystems to protect shorelines from increasing coastal erosion and inundation. Coastal managers are giving NBMs increased consideration as they deal with the oft-competing priorities of protecting coastal assets, maintaining coastal amenity and ecological values. The latest Victorian Marine and Coastal Policy (VMACP) outlines a strategic hierarchy of prioritized coastal adaption actions to manage coastal hazards, with NBMs ranked as the third most desirable (of 6) options. Two key challenges for NBM implementation include: a lack of effective examples that has led to generally poor awareness in coastal communities and land managers, and, understanding about where and when NBM can be used as not all coastal areas are feasible or suitable for specific NBMs (as with any coastal adaptation options). Western Port Bay in Victoria has been identified as a feasible and relatively low risk area for NBM implementation due to its low-moderate wave climate and the natural occurrence of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and saltmarshes. In this study we developed an innovative methodology based on MoSCoW (Must-have, Should-have, Could-have, and Would-have) and multi-criteria analysis (MCA) principles to assess the feasibility and site selection for NBM implementation. Applying this methodology and supported by field observations along the east coastline of Western Port Bay, 9 types of NBMs were shortlisted, and 17 locations were initially identified. Constrained by 'must-have' criteria, 12 locations were deemed feasible and assessed for likelihood of success against 'couldhave' criteria; 9 feasible locations deemed a high likelihood of NBM implementation success. Feasible locations were ranked according to a collaboratively determined set of 'could-have' criteria, with the top 4 ranked locations recommended for further detailed NBM investigation. The developed methodology offers a robust, flexible, and scalable approach for first-pass feasibility assessment and site selection for NBM implementation to manage coastal hazards, which could be applied elsewhere to increase the visibility of NBMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023