Coastal issues focus of state-wide conference

Friday, 27 September 2013

The environmental, social and economic impacts of South Australia's coastal areas will be the focus of a new conference being held next week - the first of its kind in 15 years.

The 2013 South Australian State Coastal Conference, being held at North Haven from 30 September-1 October, has been organised by the University of Adelaide's Centre for Coastal Research and the Australian Coastal Society.

"There is a huge amount of work being conducted in research, policy and management of coastal areas, but a conference of this kind addressing the broad range of issues has not been held in South Australia since the 1990s," says the chair of the conference, Professor Nick Harvey, Director of the University's Centre for Coastal Research and President of the Australian Coastal Society.

"We're hopeful this will be the start of an even stronger connection between all key groups - academics, government, business and non-government, and community organisations - that will help us to address the breadth and depth of coastal issues in our State.

"Our coast is critical to South Australia in so many ways - for industry, tourism, the environment, and society in general. It's important that coastal experts are able to share knowledge and use that to help shape the future," Professor Harvey says.

Around 130 delegates from South Australia and interstate will attend the conference, which covers issues such as: pollution, pests and weeds, coastal and marine wildlife, monitoring the environment, changes in coastlines over time, coastal action plans, marina management, challenges for local government, and how to communicate the latest science to the community.

Keynote speakers are:

• Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg, City of Onkaparinga - opening address;
  
• Professor Chris Daniels, Chair of the Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Board and Professor of Urban Ecology, UniSA - Positive Coastal Collaboration;
  
• Associate Professor Geoff Wescott, Vice-President, Australian Coastal Society and Associate Professor of Environment, Deakin University - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

The Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Board is the major sponsor of the conference.

For more information about the conference and to see a full program of speakers, go to: http://sacc2013.keito.com.au

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