Research projects

Socio-cultural context of coastal science and policy

Leaders: Prof Nick Harvey and Dr Beverley Clarke

This project is part of a CSIRO Flagship Cluster project between CSIRO and 7 universities examining science uptake in the coastal zone.  The Adelaide/Flinders based research theme investigates the informal and formal connections between community, industry and government in relation to knowledge formation and its use in decision-making, and identifies barriers to adaptive coastal management.  The project is also investigating the role and influence of coastal champions in science uptake in the coastal policy.  The program is working with governments, industry and regional development agencies to undertake innovative research projects and expand research training in this field.  Progress on two projects under this program; 1) Linkages between social networks and coastal decision-making systems and 2) Influence of coastal champions on science uptake in coastal policy can be found in the Centre’s annual report.

Climate change vulnerability – identification of threatened coastal habitat based on CAPS of the Adelaide Mt Lofty NRM region

Leader: Dr Beverley Clarke

This project is based on two Coastal Action Plans prepared by Brian Caton in conjunction with DENR. The current study is working to apply the findings from Clarke and Simpson's Stage I research,a gap analysis of vulnerable coastal habitat in the AMLR region [Clarke B. and Simpson, N (2010). Climate change vulnerability - identification of threatened coastal habitat in the AMLR based on existing coastal action plans (CAPS), Adelaide, 200pps. On behalf of the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board]. The intent of Stage II is to work with coastal stakeholders in the Adelaide Mt Lofty Ranges NRM region to share best practice management techniques and strategically plan to protect habit vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise.

Adapting to change: building social-ecological resilience in the coastal zone

Leader: Dr Melissa Nursey-Bray

This project will drive research that aims to build links between the social and natural domains to enhance social ecological resilience.  The importance and operation in practice of knowledge systems, how people perceive risk in coastal contexts, how different cultures within the coast may affect/influence wider resilience, and whether adaptive/social learning may play a role in the creation of coastal policy will be considered in this context. Coastal communities are facing the need to adapt to change, yet doing so at local levels is a core challenge. As such, research under this theme will also examine the role ‘on ground’ initiatives play in building the adaptive capacity and resilience of coastal communities.  Progress on three projects under this project theme: (1) Coastal Zone management and social learning, South Australia, (2) Climate Change and Fisheries, and (3) Coastal Tourism and Resilience can be found in the Centre’s annual report

Communities, communities of practice and coastal governance

Leader: Dr Melissa Nursey-Bray

Coasts are contested spaces which require ongoing management, especially in the context of emerging problems such as climate change and population pressure. Governance of the coastal space is therefore an essential part of how to frame responses to environmental issues and threats. This project investigates the ways in which communities may contribute to, influence and be affected by coastal governance structures. The three specific projects being undertaken under this project theme include: (1) work on gender, social inclusion and climate change, (2) work on communities of practice and coastal governance, specifically in the fisheries and ports space and (3) a project on Indigenous and marine/coastal governance (which also includes the incorporation of the outputs of a collaboration with Sabine Jessen of Simon Fraser University, Canada - a recipient of an Endeavour Fellowship).

Environmental change in coastal lakes

Leader: Dr John Tibby

This project is focused on inferring the past water quality of coastal lakes. This information is used to understand how these lakes have responded to climate change and human impact. Current research focuses particularly on the extent to which the lakes of the lower River Murray were naturally saline, the natural frequency of storm surges on the New South Wales coast and detailing the effects of water management on coastal wetlands in the Lower Burdekin catchment, Queensland.

The history of North Stradbroke Island's wetlands: defining natural climate variability in south-east Queensland and improving ecosystem management

Leader: Dr John Tibby

This project is focused on defining natural climate variability in south-east Queensland, answering the specific question of whether the recent drought was within the bounds of natural variability. The project has shown that North Stradbroke Island’s largest coastal wetland is a relatively young landscape feature (Mettham et al in press) but is highly vulnerable to future climate change.

Evolution of the South Australian coast

Leaders: Prof Bob Bourman, Prof Nick Harvey and Prof Colin Murray-Wallace

This project provides a detailed geomorphological and geological analysis of the evolution of the South Australian Coast.  In large part it draws on previous research including that of the theme leaders to bring together a better understanding of the evolution of the coastal landscape in South Australia.  This will involve aspects of geology, geomorphology, coastal ecology and also human influences on the South Australian coast.  Results will be published in a single volume as a refereed book through the University of Adelaide Press.

Coastal architecture of North Queensland deltas

Leader: Dr Rachel Nanson

This project is part of a larger research collaboration called the WAVE Consortium which aims to better characterise mixed-influence (wave, tidal and fluvial processes) coastal depositional environments and to analyse the potential impact of heterogeneities (shales and cemented zones) on reservoir connectivity and compartmentalization and how it can best be predicted and mitigated in the subsurface. Wave-influenced shallow marine systems are generally regarded to form good quality, highly continuous petroleum reservoirs. However, tidal and fluvial processes acting in these depositional environments can introduce significant levels of heterogeneity which can lead to uncertainties in predicting the distribution and the lateral continuity of reservoir facies.