An assessment of the integration of coastal hazard risk into local government strategic and adaptation planning in South Australia: Volume 2: Key stakeholder perspectives

This study enhances understanding of the adaptive capacity of coastal councils in South Australia. In this context adaptive capacity refers to councils’ ability to anticipate change, initiate action by adjusting/responding to potential damage, and to take advantage of opportunities in relation to coastal climate change. Flinders University CASPR researchers visited all 34 South Australian coastal councils between March and September 2021 conducting interviews with key stakeholders engaged in decision-making for the coast. Altogether, 85 semi-structured interviews were completed with council employees and elected members. Interviews were conducted face-to-face and followed a semi-structured schedule of 24 questions. Qualitative data was sorted and anlaysed by theme assisted by the computer software NVivo. The final report included key findings across 5 themes and produced a suite of nuanced recommendations for how councils should prepare for and respond to climate-induce coastal hazards. Recommendations were also produced for the Local Government Association of SA, and the state government around supporting councils do this work.