Lake Macquarie City Council will undertake a comprehensive re-examination of its coastal flooding and sea level rise policies after a coalition of Liberal and Independent councillors forced a major review.
Political Shift Sparks Policy Review
In a dramatic council meeting at Windale Hub, West Ward Liberal councillor Jason Pauling successfully introduced an amendment demanding an ab initio review of the council's Flooding, Sea Level Rise and Tidal Inundation Policy. The motion passed 7-6, with support from fellow Liberal councillors Jack Antcliff and Matt Schultz, plus Independents Anthony Swinsburg, Kate Warner, Michael Hannah and deputy mayor Colin Grigg.
Labor councillors Madeline Bishop, Christine Buckley, Brian Adamthwaite, Stacey Radcliffe, Keara Conroy and mayor Adam Shultz opposed the amendment, despite Cr Shultz later expressing support for a deeper analysis.
Growing Property Risk Demands Action
The push for review comes as newly revealed data shows the number of Lake Macquarie properties potentially affected by flooding or inundation has jumped from 5,000-7,000 in 2013 to approximately 12,000 in 2025. This represents nearly 13% of the city's 93,000 residences.
"This is a really big deal," Cr Pauling declared. "This is too big a deal to just wave it through to the keeper." He emphasized that with 12,000 properties now identified as at risk, the policy required thorough re-examination rather than simply being rolled over.
Environmental Changes Accelerate Concerns
Council's manager of environmental systems, Brendan Callander, revealed that tidal variation in Lake Macquarie has increased by 100% since 1990, attributing this to more ocean water entering through the Swansea Channel. He confirmed that dredging of the channel had no effect on this tidal variation.
Lake Macquarie remains one of NSW's most vulnerable local government areas to global sea level rise, particularly affecting low-lying areas and the Swansea Channel region. The council has maintained policies responding to NSW government sea level rise benchmarks of 0.4 metres by 2050 and 0.9 metres by 2100 since 2008.
While the comprehensive review proceeds, the existing Flooding, Sea Level Rise and Tidal Inundation Policy will remain in effect. Council staff had previously spent twelve months reviewing the policy before councillors demanded this more fundamental re-examination.
In other business, councillors unanimously endorsed the Local Strategic Planning Statement 2025-2045, outlining a 20-year vision for land use as the city prepares for forecast population growth of 38,000 by 2046. The Youth Strategy 2025-2029 was also adopted, aiming to support the needs of Lake Macquarie's 34,000 young residents aged 12-24.
