The Resilient Hills & Coasts is a collaborative, cross-sector partnership between councils, Landscape Boards, Regional Development Australia and the South Australian Government, working to strengthen the resilience of our communities, economies and natural and built environments to a changing climate.
The partnership developed the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island region of South Australia, and is now implementing the plan.
Resilient Hills and Coasts is one of eleven Regional Climate Partnerships across South Australia.
The revised Terms of Reference were adopted in April 2022.
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Achievements
The Resilient Hills & Coasts has generated significant momentum, knowledge and practical on-ground action by working together. Our achievements include
- Coastal hazard mapping and adaptation initiatives with Kangaroo Island and Alexandrina Councils
- Increased regional capabilities and uptake of water sensitive urban design and urban greening
- The Where We Build What We Build project, providing evidence on the climate resilience of our region’s housing stock and the economic benefits of building or retrofitting to a climate ready standard
- Climate Risk Governance Assessments by five Councils, to assess and embed climate risk management throughout Council business
- Leading the low carbon transition, including by joining the Cities Power Partnership, installing solar generation, transitioning to LEDs and electric vehicle fleets, and exploring options for a Community Energy Program.
Action Plan 2020 to 2025
In 2020, we evaluated our progress against the Adaptation Plan and refocused our efforts to where we can make the most impact. Our current priorities for action are:
- Climate-ready development: Leverage our leadership and networks to encourage residential and infrastructure development that avoids natural hazards, is built to maximise resilience, and is energy efficient and water sensitive.
- Climate risk reduction: Support partners and communities to map, understand, plan for and adapt to climate risks, especially those arising from coastal, bushfire and urban heat hazards
- Resilient agriculture: Build on and spread regional best practice in enabling agriculture that is regenerative, water smart, resilient to a variable climate, and supports carbon farming as part of a zero emissions pathway.
Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan
The Resilient Hills & Coasts Climate Change Adaptation Plan was developed by regional partners with significant input from community, business, government, industry and academia over a two-year period. It was launched in December 2016.
The Adaptation Plan reflects community values and identifies priority actions to reduce the vulnerability of those values to climate risks.
Thank you to everyone who contributed time and expertise to develop this plan. It is an important step in our region’s response to climate change. Read more on the links below.
- Resilient Hills & Coasts Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan
- 2-page snapshot of the Plan, describing the regional priorities
- Mayors’ foreword.
Regional Sector Agreement
The creation of voluntary sector agreements is encouraged under South Australia's climate change legislation . Under these agreements, parties commit to working together to tackle climate change.
In June 2017, Resilient Hills & Coasts partners signed a Regional Sector Agreement , agreeing to keep working together to implement the Adaptation Plan. That agreement expired on 30 June 2020, and in 2021 a new Regional Sector Agreement was signed.
Annual Progress Report
The Regional Sector Agreement requires the Committee to provide an annual progress report to all signatories. Highlights of the Annual Progress Report for 2021-22 include:
- Recipients of a $100,000 Preparing Australian Communities grant for the Bushfire & Biodiversity project to better understand the latest knowledge and best practice, and map next steps for the region to build balanced bushfire and biodiversity resilience (2022);
- Undertaking two Climate Smart Farming Forums (2021 – 2022);
- Securing funding to reinstate a RH&C Coordinator in December 2021; and
- Input into South Australian Coastal Councils (SACCA) proposed governance and funding model.
If you would like more information about Resilient Hills & Coasts, please get in touch with Jen St Jack, Coordinator of the RH&C, on 0438 899 514 or email hello@resilienthillscoasts.com.
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