Executive Summary
Page 5
Atmosphere & Climate Change
The quality of ambient air throughout the North West region has been an
ongoing concern for decades. Local ‘hot-spots’ exist where community
concerns over industry and transport-related air emissions continue.
Climate change, caused by the accumulation of ‘greenhouse’ gas emissions in
the atmosphere, has numerous potential impacts on society, natural
ecosystems and urban environments in a range of ways, including the risk of
increased floods, increased temperatures, and overall changes in seasonal
weather patterns.
The Atmosphere chapter discusses the following environmental priorities:
•
Improved performance of industry and effective control by planning and
regulatory authorities to manage issues associated with the ongoing
expansion of industrial development in the City and likely increase in
cumulative pollutant emissions.
•
The need to manage significant industrial-residential interface issues
evident, including the areas of the Lefevre Peninsula, Birkenhead,
Wingfield and Kilburn.
•
Dust exposure in the lower Lefevre Peninsula area due to the development
along the Port Adelaide River - a population particularly sensitive to the
effects of exposure to dust due to the area’s pre-existing lower respiratory
and circulatory health status than the Adelaide average,
•
Impacts from increases in heavy vehicle traffic and increased freight rail
volumes on the Lefevre Peninsula and Gillman.
•
Sensitive land uses, including residential and child care centres/schools,
located on or adjacent to arterial roads with significant heavy vehicle traffic.
•
Development of strategies with assistance from State Government to
support reduction in traffic volumes within the Port Adelaide Centre along
St. Vincent & Commercial Street.
•
The need for air emissions modelling to become a part of urban
development assessment processes, particularly for transport networks
and potentially odorous or air polluting industries.
•
Improved co-ordination between State Government and local government
regarding management of air pollution complaints and responses.
•
Investigation of the local impacts, vulnerabilities and opportunities of
climate change in relation to natural resources, community (social and
health), industry and business, built environment and service provision
•
The preparation of a Climate Change Adaptation Plan in conjunction with
neighbouring Councils, to provide a regional approach to mitigating
climate change impacts on the region’s communities, assets, and natural
environment.
