Gippsland Coastal Board v. South Gippsland Shire Council

Summary:

An Australian tribunal overturned a local council decision granting consent for residential developments in a coastal region. A regional coastal board, set up under the Victorian Coastal Management Act 1995, challenged the council decision, arguing that the proposed developments were inappropriate in light of projected sea level rises as a result of climate change. The tribunal applied the precautionary principle, finding that sea level rise and more extreme weather conditions resulting from climate change presented a reasonably foreseeable risk of inundation of the site, and determined that development consent should not be granted.

At Issue: Challenge to local council grant of residential development consent