Our coastal zone is integral to our lives, serving as a residence, workplace, and recreational haven for many. Approximately 50% of our population resides within seven kilometres of the coast, emphasizing our strong reliance on these systems for our lifestyles, culture, and livelihoods.
Climate change is altering our coastline at unprecedented rates, with sea level rise, coastal erosion, inundation and weather changes compounding the habitat loss already experienced due to human activity. These changes also impact the built environment, natural resource systems, and Australia’s infrastructure planning.
These stressors highlight the need for a national, cohesive approach to monitor, understand, and predict coastal changes to inform planning and decision-making by state and federal governments, local councils, industry, emergency services, and more. The NCRIS coastal research infrastructure (CoastRI) is designed to play a significant role in filling this gap and creating a step change advance for how Australia understands and manages our coastal zone.
