A doomsday report on the future of Australia's coast predicts up to 247,000 Australian homes are under direct threat of inundation because of climate change.
And 39,000 homes within 110m of soft shore lines are at risk from accelerated erosion because of rising sea levels.
A ''first pass'' national assessment by the Federal Government's Department of Climate Change has warned Australia's coastal cities face rising sea levels that could flood up to $63billion worth of housing.
Essential infrastructure including roads, airports, bridges and key export industries that rely on ports are also under threat.
The report predicts a plausible sea level rise of 1.1m by 2100 that could reshape the Australian coast.
Lake Macquarie in NSW, the Torres Strait Islands, the Gold Coast and Cairns in Queensland and the Western Australian boom town of Mandurah are some of the most at-risk areas.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
Email a friend