Have your say on council's climate change policy
The Manly to Barrenjoey peninsula is particularly vulnerable to impacts associated with climate change which are likely to increase in future years according to the NSW State Disaster Mitigation Plan.
The council states it has delivered numerous initiatives to reduce the contribution to, and the impacts of, climate change and has now drafted a new Climate Change Policy that will guide how it manages climate change risks and continues to reduce emissions. The council is now seeking feedback from the community on its draft Policy.
The risks include increasingly severe and complex impacts associated with coastal hazards and flooding, and more frequent extreme weather, bush fires, high winds, heatwaves and drought.
Mayor Sue Heins said the council is committed to doing its part to reduce emissions, but importantly also focusing on building community resilience to these impacts.
“Such impacts can go beyond these physical hazards, creating challenges and driving changes across the community, natural environment and economy,” Mayor Heins said.
“Recent bush fire, storm and flooding events have directly impacted the local community, through property damage and increased clean-up, repair and insurance costs, as well as causing stress, fatigue and uncertainty.
“We want to ensure that we’re not just reducing emissions, but importantly we’re adapting to projected climate change and building community resilience.
“This requires preparedness for both council and the community and we welcome feedback from our community on the draft policy” Mayor Heins said.
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Palm Beach stormwater drain opposite Wilshire Park creek, July 6, 2024, filled with plastic bag encased sandbags
Snapperman Beach seawall in March 2022 with plastic filled sandbags now deep into the beach itself - was damaged in storm of March 2021 - was finally repaired in February through March 2023
The council's Climate Change draft Policy has the following 13 Principles:
1. Ensure that Council’s Integrated Planning and Reporting framework incorporates suitable measures to reduce the contribution to, and the impacts of climate change across its assets, functions, services and reporting.
2. Adopt a proactive and adaptive approach to managing the impact of climate change, informed by the best available science and guidance, and adjusted regularly for changes in data, technology, and policy.
3. Maintain up to date greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for Council and the community that are monitored, reviewed, and publicly reported against.
4. Ensure consistency with state, national, and international legislation, guidelines, benchmarks and targets, as appropriate.
5. Prioritise the management of risk to people, property, and the environment from the impacts of climate change in accordance with Council’s obligations and its Enterprise Risk Management Framework.
6. Mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from Council activities as far as possible. Council may offset the remaining emissions to meet its adopted targets.
7. Incorporate the range of climate projections aligned to emission scenarios SSP2 and SSP3 when managing Council assets and services and when developing studies, management plans and in land use planning. When making decisions, use SSP2 for short-term scenarios and SSP3 for longer-term scenarios.
8. Work with the community and key stakeholders to reduce emissions, address climate risks and enhance resilience across the Northern Beaches.
9. Ensure Council decisions consider the impacts of climate change for current and future generations.
10. Identify and manage climate change impacts and obligations through Council’s systems and frameworks. This includes project management, enterprise risk management, procurement, business and financial planning, as well as strategic and land use planning frameworks.
11. Reduce current and future risks to the community and the environment by locating new development out of high-risk hazard areas (particularly those expected to be at greater risk from climate change), and/or incorporating appropriate measures to reduce the risk to an appropriate level in accordance with relevant guidelines and statutory controls (including utilising appropriate land zoning).
12. Consider the options of protection, accommodation, avoidance, nature-based adaptations and relocation where climate change poses a significant risk to existing development and land uses.
13. Advocate for, and where possible implement, better building and construction standards, delivery of multi-agency projects, waste minimisation and management, zero emissions transport, sustainable finance and equitable community support to reduce the causes, risks and impacts of climate change.
Policy's Scope and application
This Policy applies to officials of the Northern Beaches Council and will be implemented across Council’s assets, functions and services.
Policy's Definitions for Adaptation responses
• Nature-based: Nature based solutions such as protecting and augmenting dunes, revegetating foreshore buffers or undertaking rehabilitation of natural coastal habitats such as mangrove, saltmarsh and salt-tolerant transitional vegetation.
• Accommodation: Design new structure and/or altering existing structure to reduce vulnerability to impacts. Example: raising the floor height of a flood-prone building.
• Avoidance: Minimising intensification of existing exposure and preventing new development in areas subject to current or future risks. Example: prohibiting new development in areas subject to bush fire risk.
• Protection: Implementing temporary or permanent works that provide a barrier between a structure and a hazard. Example: hard protection such as seawalls or levees or soft protection (often referred to as ecosystem-based adaptations) such as dunes, sand nourishment or planting of bush fire resistant vegetation.
• Relocation: Removal or relocation of existing exposed structure or asset out of an at-risk area.
Policy Document's definitions
Carbon offset A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that is used to compensate for emissions that occur elsewhere. A carbon offset credit is a transferrable instrument certified by governments or independent certification bodies to represent an emission reduction of one metric tonne of CO2-e. The purchaser of an offset credit can ‘retire’ it to claim the reduction towards their own emission reduction goals.
Climate change Change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Throughout this policy, the term refers to changes to the climate attributable to human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions or land use changes.
Climate risk Refers to potential negative or positive impacts of natural hazards and climate under the influence of rising global greenhouse gas emissions.
Emissions Greenhouse gases released from human activities that contribute to the greenhouse effect, global warming and climate change.
Hazard A potential natural or human-induced physical event, trend or disturbance with negative consequences.
NARCliM The NSW Government provides high-quality regional climate projections and information for public use through the NSW and Australian Regional Climate Modelling (NARCliM) project. Resilience The capacity of individuals, communities, businesses, and systems to survive, adapt and thrive in response to chronic stresses and acute shocks.
SSPs Shared Socioeconomic Pathways are a range of scenarios for climate change that consider different levels of greenhouse gas emissions, population, economics, social factors, and other key concepts. They help assess potential climate futures and their impacts.
SSP2 and SSP3
The SSP2 scenario assumes that global trends continue without major shifts. Some countries make good progress, while others struggle. Environmental degradation continues, but resource and energy use become more efficient.
SSP3 scenario assumes countries prioritise security and economic independence, leading to slow technological progress and high challenges for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Targets Includes Council’s targets, aspirations, commitments, benchmarks, and actions as outlined in all Council policies, strategies, and action plans.
The draft Climate Change Policy has been prepared to update and replace the current policies and guide the integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation action across the council’s assets, functions and services.
The policy is on exhibition from Friday 23 May to 22 June. For more information and to have your say visit the council's Climate Change Policy - draft; consolidating existing former council policies webpage
The council is inserting the phrase from Chapter 6 of the State Government's - 'Chapter 6, Part 2 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (the Housing SEPP); ''Where there is any inconsistency between the controls in this DCP and the Housing SEPP, the Housing SEPP prevails.''
Stage 1 started on 1 July 2024, permitting dual occupancies and semi-detached dwellings in all R2 low density residential zones.
Stage 2 started on 28 February 2025, allowing townhouses, terraces and small apartment buildings (up to 9.5 metres high) in R1 and R2 zones within 800 metres of nine identified town centres on the peninsula. It also permits apartment buildings up to 6 storeys (22-24 metres) in R3 medium density residential zones within 400 metres of these centres, and up to 4 storeys (17.5 metres) within 400-800 metres.
The 9 identified town centres on the peninsula are:
- Balgowlah
- Brookvale
- Dee Why
- Forestville
- Forest Way
- Frenchs Forest
- Manly
- Manly Vale
- Mona Vale
See last week's report: Pittwater MP slams the Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy for turning on the tap for developers
The council states it is also making proposed changes to existing development control plans (DCPs) to protect the local character, amenity, heritage and streetscapes and safeguard the valued tree canopy.
The proposed changes are a response to the NSW Government’s change to planning laws, known as the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms, which have recently allowed greater building heights and density surrounding town centres and train stations and the introduction of dual occupancy development in all R2 zoned land in the LGA.
Currently, separate DCPs for the former Manly, Warringah and Pittwater Councils provide detailed guidance for development including building setbacks, trees and landscaping areas, heritage protection and car parking requirements.
The council states they do not include controls that adequately address development types now permitted under the new reforms.
The council states their proposed DCP amendments aim to promote best practice and create greater consistency, so that the same rules apply to these developments as to other similar developments in the NBC LGA area.
The council states the Northern Beaches Council is one of the first councils to consider DCP amendments in response to the State Government reforms.
Mayor Sue Heins said the council’s power had been reduced in relation to applications submitted under the new State Government rules.
“The new one-size-fits-all approach to planning has implications for our area, increasing heights and density up to 6-storeys in and around 9 town centres, without corresponding development controls that protect the character we value,” Mayor Heins said.
“While council has been stripped of the power to refuse applications that comply with the new rules, we can amend our Development Control Plans to ensure any new townhouse, apartment or terrace style development is at least subject to the same controls as others like them outside the new town centre zones.
“Controls like how much space is allocated to landscaping and trees, the streetscape appearance, parking requirements, electric vehicle charging, ventilation and natural sunlight and consideration of privacy, separation and views.
“We are also moving to protect our local heritage, especially in the Manly Conservation Area, strengthening protection and consideration of the unique historic character of the area in the development controls.
“All the changes being proposed to the DCPs can have a real impact on the lifestyle of those living in the town centres and to the look and feel of our much-loved neighbourhoods. I encourage the community to have their say.”
The proposed changes to the DCPs will be on exhibition from Friday 23 May to Sunday 22 June.
For more information and to provide feedback visit council's Proposed Amendments to Development Control Plans (DCPs) For Low and Mid-Rise Housing webpage
