Australia has one of the longest coastlines in the world and this dynamic intersection between land and sea includes numerous critical ecosystems and infrastructures. Our coastal zone is also where many of us live, work and play. Climate and human development are changing our coastal system at an unprecedented rate and more data and information are needed for planning to avoid or mitigate changes and sustainably manage this precious resource.
To address challenges presented by coastal change, a cross-NCRIS collaboration, CoastRI, is being developed to provide a national-scale coastal observing and modelling capability for Australia, including establishing partnerships with First Nations people, to collect and deliver valuable coastal data.
Our objective is to gather comprehensive and integrated scientific data from diverse sources, enabling us to better understand, predict, and address the opportunities and imminent risks facing Australia’s coast for all peoples.
As an integrated and multidisciplinary initiative, CoastRI can address the cumulative threats facing coastal areas, and support national policies and programs such as:
- National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy
- Nature Positive Plan
- Reef 2050 Plan
- Threatened Species Strategy 2021-2031
- State of the Environment Report
- Supporting and understanding Indigenous Protected Areas
CoastRI will produce the data we need to help ensure the environment we want in the future.
Observational data will allow users to better understand coastal processes and potential for coastal changes that will affect species, habitats, industries, and communities.
This scalable program is designed to maximise delivery of coastal observations to create significant national opportunity and benefit. These data will provide critical inputs into coastal modelling, inform risk assessments and mitigation efforts, improve our understanding of patterns and trends in weather and climate and help inform industry operations, coastal infrastructure investments to provide benefits for our economy, communities, and environment.
CoastRI will be built on collaboration across a number of NCRIS capabilities including:
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and Elders of the land and sea on which we work and observe and recognise their unique connection to land and sea. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples past and present.