Greens put Bass Coast coastal communities on notice over rising sea levels

LOW-LYING coastal regions like the Bass Coast are sitting on the absolute frontline of climate change according to groundbreaking new research which has revealed a staggering financial crisis looming for local foreshores.

Bass Coast councillor and Victorian Greens candidate Mat Morgan has been quick to respond accusing the major political parties of "sleepwalking into economic ruin" by continuing to approve new fossil fuel export projects despite escalating climate costs.

Speaking on the climate crisis shifting from a theoretical model to a direct financial threat Mr Morgan said there was a stark disconnect between current environmental policies and real-world economic risks noting that the region was facing quantifiable threats to its infrastructure and real estate market.

"Your insurance company doesn’t care if you believe in climate change or not," Morgan said. "The sea level won’t retreat just because fossil fuel companies trade some dodgy offset credits. We’re staring down nearly a trillion dollars’ worth of damage, and someone has to wear it. I think it should be the polluters, not us."

Morgan described the most recent climate impact data as "terrifying," stating that it puts the long-predicted crisis clearly in black and white. He noted that local governments across Australia are already bearing the brunt of these changes, citing continuous emergency interventions in South Gippsland and the Bass Coast.

"Every time there is a storm surge, we are doing protective works down here at Inverloch," he said. "We've just seen $5 million worth of investment from the state government to put some sand in front of our surf club to protect some of that infrastructure."

Despite these efforts, Cr Morgan warned that some climate effects are now completely baked in, leading to severe localised economic downturns. “Some coastal houses have already become entirely uninsurable, causing local house prices to go backwards.”

Morgan also criticised higher levels of government for leaving local councils to navigate the crisis alone, stating there has been "absolutely no word of advice from state or federal government on what our community should do."

To fund the necessary protections, Mr Morgan called for an immediate overhaul of current funding structures through a "polluter pays" model. Morgan is advocating for a direct levy on fossil fuel profits, arguing that the multinational giants currently failing to pay their fair share of tax should be the ones forced to bankroll the protection measures for the damage they are actively inflicting on local communities.

The study published in the prestigious journal Nature Scientific Reports is wake-up call for local communities warning that rising sea levels and worsening storm surges could inflict $855 billion in economic losses nationwide by the end of the century.

Co-author of the University of Melbourne study Professor Tom Kompas stressed that Australia's geographical distribution amplified this danger. “Sea level rise may physically affect a large number of Australians who live near the coast, as the majority of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coastline,” Professor Kompas said.

“Powerful storm surges are riding on higher seas, putting coastal homes and infrastructure at greater risk," noted Professor Andrew Watkins co-author of the Climate Council’s Rising Seas Rising Bills report.

For regions like the Bass Coast where economies rely heavily on coastal tourism, agriculture, and beachfront property portfolios, the data has highlighted the urgent need for structural defences and heavily revised zoning laws.