Regional sector 1: Natural assets

Climate effectNatural assets – climate risk statementsIncrease in mean

Climate effect Natural assets – climate risk statements
Increase in mean and extreme temperature

An increase in mean and extreme temperature leading to:

  • Droughts and incidents of extreme temperature could lead to changes to decreased run-off and increased evaporation for waterways and aquifers, leading to changes to waterways, lakes and wetlands (e.g. algal bloom, reduced water yield and availability)
  • Degradation and damage to ecosystem functioning with wetlands, vegetation and natural assets (wetlands, lakes, estuaries, bushland, native vegetation, endangered and protected ecosystems/species, coastal habitats)
  • Degradation and damage to ecosystem functioning with loss of habitat and damage to ecosystem functioning - creating favourable conditions and habitats for pests and invasive species
  • Increased risk of algal blooms
  • Increase in soil salinity and eutrophication
  • Increase in risk of acid sulphate soil problems
  • Increase in the intensity and severity of bushfires and grass fires, which negatively impacts on native vegetation (fire so intense it kills seeds and prevents germination)
  • Increase in bushfire risk, leading to fire impacts on water quality and yields
  • Drought conditions, followed by heavy rainfall and flooding which is more severe
  • Increase in bushfire risk leading to fire impacts on biodiversity (fragmentation of habitat and destruction of refugia sites)
  • Increase in bushfire risk, leading to fire impacts and an increased risk of acid sulphate soils
  • Increase in bushfire risk, leading to increased demand and stress on water assets e.g. dams for fire control
Increase in the severity of precipitation events An increase in the severity of precipitation events could lead to:
  • Localised flooding resulting in inundation - damage and loss/damage of low lying natural assets
  • Localised flooding, resulting in inundation - damage to waterways and fish kills
  • Reduction in environmental flows and reduction in water yields and rainfall capture (reduced recharge of aquifers and water tanks etc.)
  • Reduction in environmental flows and the contamination of aquifers reduction in environmental flows and impacts on habitats and species
  • Reduction in environmental flows and loss of wetlands and associated species loss
  • Reduction in environmental flows and an increase in soil erosion, salinity and acid sulphate soils
  • Reduction in environmental flows and an increase in invasive species and increased diseases
  • Reduction in environmental flows and loss of native flora and fauna habitats reduction in environmental flows and impacts on water quality (reduced flows, drainage capacity, overflows)
Rising sea levels Rising sea levels and coastal inundation could lead to:
  • Increase in the erosion of the shore-zones, resulting in the loss of mangroves, salt marshes and other habitats, and reduce blue carbon capture
  • Increase in the erosion of the shore-zones and more salt spray and saline intrusion in the water table, resulting in pollution to waterways and water assets erosion of the shore-zone and more salt spray and saline intrusion, causing loss of biodiversity (loss of native vegetation and increase invasive species and diseases)
  • Erosion of the shore-zones and more salt spray and saline intrusion of the water table, resulting in damage to vegetation in affected areas and associated maintenance costs
  • Higher number of pest species (such as cockroaches and termites) and greater rain penetration and related decay, resulting in damage

Table 18: Climate risk statements - natural assets

Appendix 4 - Municipal risks by sector

Regional sector 2: Buildings

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