State and local governments in Western Australia will convene tomorrow for public hearings into climate change and the environmental impacts on Australia’s coastal zone.

The House of Representatives Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts Committee will be holding the public hearing in Perth as part of its inquiry.

The Committee will hear from the Western Australian Department of Planning and Infrastructure, the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) and the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council.

“The submission from the WA Department of Planning and Infrastructure notes that the ‘potential impacts of climate change on coastal communities are of particular importance to Western Australia because of the length of the WA coastline and the concentration of development in coastal towns and cities,’” Committee Chair Jennie George said.

“Early planning for the impacts of climate change, and appropriate adaptation strategies that reduce the vulnerability of natural ecosystems and infrastructure to these impacts, are likely to bring considerable cost advantages.

“The Committee is interested in discussing these issues with state and local government representatives in Perth," George said.

The inquiry is examining the environmental impacts of coastal population growth and the impact of climate change on coastal areas, including sea level rise.

The Committee is also looking at ways to encourage sustainable coastal communities, and at governance and institutional arrangements for Australia’s coastal zone.

Further details on the inquiry are available on the Committee’s website.