Case Study:
“Coastal
Management in
Australia.”
Student Name:
Class:
1
CASE STUDY OF A CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHICAL
ISSUE.
2. COASTAL MANAGEMENT
Background to the problem:
Australia has 60,000 kilometres of coastline with over 10,000 separate beaches.
Approximately 80% of Australia’s population live in cities and towns that are in
close proximity to the coast. Over 50% of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product is
produced in coastal areas. Human activities, as well as natural causes, impact
enormously on our coastal environments.
Go to: http://www.planetware.com/i/map/AUS/australia-distribution-of-populationmap.jpg
Copy and paste this Image into the space below.
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1. Briefly describe this distribution of Australia’s population.
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2. List 3 problems this would cause to Australia’s coastline.
The majority of Australia’s World Heritage sites are located in our coastal
zone. These cultural and natural heritage sites include:
 The Great Barrier Reef
 Lord Howe Island
 Fraser Island
 Shark Island
“Fraser Island.”
Go to: http://www.tourfraserisland.com.au/un_np.php
read the web page and respond to the questions below:
1. Outline why Fraser Island is a World Heritage Site.
Fraser Island is a World hertiage Site because it is the biggest sand Island in the
world.
2. When did Fraser Island become a World Heritage Site?
in 1922
3. What did UNESCO see as being the biggest threat to Fraser Island’s
fragile environment?
Visitor numbers growing whom are travelling and exploring on the island.
4. Copy and paste an appropriate THREE Images of Fraser Island that
represents the unique and fragile environment into the space below.
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Problems
with our
Coastal
Zone:
Natural Problems
Man Made Problems
* Coastal Erosion
* Coastal Storms
* King Tides and Cyclones
* Mining
* Water Pollution
* Building too close to the coast
To maintain our coastal environments we have to manage them in a sustainable
manner. “Our use of coastal resources must meet the needs of the present
population without endangering the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.”
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Natural Problem: Environmental Effects of Tropical Cyclone Larry (2006).
Go to:
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/sotr/latest_updates/en
vironmental_effects_of_tropical_cyclone_larry_-_prcis
read the “Summary” on the web page and respond to the following questions in
the space below:
Nature of the problem (causes):
1. Copy and paste the path of Cyclone Larry.
When did
Tropical
Cyclone
Larry
cross the
Queenslan
d coast?
2. Tro
pica
l
Cycl
th
one Larry crossed Queensland coast in the morning 20 of March 2006.
3. Which town was the closest to the Tropical Cyclone?
Babinda and Skillwood
4. What Category was the Cyclone? The cyclone was category 3.
5.
6. How damaging were the winds?
7. The winds were 240/290km/ hr. All the townships were damaged severely,
all electricity stopped and the rail and road disrupted for many days.
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8. Where were the winds most destructive? In the City of Darwin
Impacts (problems):
9. What environmental problems did Tropical Cyclone Larry create for the
coral reefs? IT caused damage to the soft coral.
10. Copy and paste the
photograph of dislodged and
broken coral.
11. What environmental damage was evident to the flora and fauna on
Russell Island?
12. Copy and paste THREE appropriate Images of Cyclone Larry.
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Responses (solutions):
13. What solution, if any, is there to the environmental damage caused by
Tropical Cyclones such as Larry in 2006. To have materials of buildings
to be made of stable material.
Man Made Problems: Water Pollution of Sydney’s Beaches.
Go to: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/beach/waterpollution.htm
read the web page and respond to the following questions:
Nature of the problem (causes):
1. What problems are caused to Sydney’s Beaches by:
a. Stormwater: Storm-water causes all contaminated materials, if this water
is not treated it enters the lakes and sewage systems.
b. Sewerage overflow: The sewerage is about 22,000km. It can overflow
when there is heavy rainfall. It can cause pollution and contamination
which can cause health rsiks.
c. People’s usage of the beach: Littering, fishing, swimming, picnic.
d. Google, copy and paste THREE appropriate Images of “stormwater and
sewage overflow on Sydney’s beaches” into the space below.
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Impacts (problems):


2. How would these examples of water pollution on Sydney’s beaches affect
people’s use of the beach?
They cause irritation to the skin, eyes or any contact with potential direct
areas that bacteria could enter the body.
pollute the water making the fish and sea life contaminated with diseases.
Responses (solutions):
3. How do Sewerage Treatment Works help to resolve the problem? It
filters all the rubbish out of the water which can cleanse it and help to
keep it clean.
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