400 properties at risk from sea rise

MORE than 400 commercial properties in Geelong and along the Surf Coast are at risk of sea-level inundation, according to the latest report forecasting the likely impact of climate change.

The Geoscience Australia report, which is due to be released in full later this week, predicts that between 347 and 417 commercial buildings are at risk across the region.

The coastal inundation would be the result of a 1.1m, climate change-induced sea-level rise by 2100 and combined with a major weather event, according to the report which was previewed in the Herald Sun yesterday.

Of the 1000 light industrial buildings statewide that are facing inundation, including warehouses and manufacturing assembly lines, one third of them, or up to 374 buildings, are in the Greater Geelong area.

Hundreds of kilometres of roads are also at risk of coastal flooding under the projected scenario, to be detailed in the full report later this week.

The leaking of the report comes as the Federal Government steps up its push for a carbon tax, which is aimed at forcing big polluting industries, like Geelong's Alcoa aluminium smelter, to pay for the emissions they produce.

Surf Coast Shire councillor Libby Mears, who is also the chair of the Victorian Coastal Council, said the preliminary data reinforced the need for clear information to help local councils plan for sea-level rise.

"We know what the science is and that's great. We know there's areas at risk but what we need to do now is plan for the medium to long term," she said.

The Geelong Manufacturing Council and the Committee for Geelong both declined to comment on the latest report, as they were awaiting details on the Federal Government's proposed carbon tax.

Point Lonsdale resident Peter Russell, whose property is one of more than 600 in the area at risk of inundation, said while they were not commercial properties, many of the vulnerable residential blocks were worth more than half a million dollars each.

The latest report is the fourth to forecast serious inundation across the region.

The Department of Climate Change released maps in December which showed the impact on the Bellarine Peninsula of the same 1.1m 2100 scenario.

That projection showed Point Lonsdale would be cut off by the rising waters and the region between Ocean Grove and Queenscliff would be nearly entirely submerged.

It also showed the eastern edge of Torquay and Breamlea would be hit by rising tides.