NSW Coastal Conference 2022

Wategos-Beach

The NSW Coastal Conference has grown to become one of the most successful coastal industry events held in Australia. The conference brings together:

  • government
  • private sector
  • academia
  • community groups
  • the interested public.

The 29th NSW Coastal Conference co-hosted by Byron Shire and Tweed Shire Councils was held at Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff from 31 May – 2 June 2022. The three day event’s theme was ‘Living with Uncertainty’ and brought together over 270 delegates from a diverse range of fields, including:

  • coastal, estuarine and marine management
  • science and research
  • education
  • planning, policy and law.

The next NSW Coastal Conference will be the 30th conference and will be combined with the Australian Coastal Society ‘Coast to Coast’ Conference. The date of this combined event is not yet known, however it will be hosted by Newcastle City Council.

Highlights

The conference opened with a welcome to country by local indigenous representatives, speeches from respective shire mayors and the Minister for Local Government, Wendy Tuckerman MP.

Keynote speakers focused on

  • coastal risk and the property market;
  • legal mechanisms such as a rolling easement approach for addressing climate change and the protection of shorelines as they migrate in-land; and
  • the scaling up of Blue Carbon restoration and rehabilitation projects and financial incentives.

A local Northern Rivers school student, Sabyah White, made an address titled ‘Biophilia’, which gave great hope that a future generation exists who will strive to protect our wonderful natural environments.

Two local community Dune Care groups were recognised for their incredible contribution to ecological sustainable management of the Byron Shire coastal zone.

You can view the full program on the Coastal Conference website.