Coastal development in the next 100 years

A free public lecture in Cairns this Wednesday (16 April) will examine coastal development in Queensland and look at how coastal properties are likely to fare over for the next hundred years.

Jon Nott, Professor of Geoscience at James Cook University in Cairns, will discuss recent research that highlights changes in tropical cyclone patterns across northern Australia over the past 40 to 100 years.

JCU researchers have confirmed that tropical cyclone activity in both Western Australia and Queensland is at its lowest activity for many centuries.

The downside is that the findings are in close agreement with several recent studies that predict that climate change will bring a reduction in the number of tropical cyclones, but an increase in their intensity.

In a free public lecture at Salt House on Wednesday, Professor Nott will discuss cyclones, river floods and landslides.

He will suggest what planning is needed to enable us to continue to enjoy our coastal lifestyle while reducing our risk from natural disasters.

The lecture will begin at 6.30pm on Wednesday 16 April at Salt House, 6/2 Pier Point Road.

For more information: Kiara.cantamessa1@jcu.edu.au

Issued April 14, 2014