1. Local Government and Ageing in different environments
Presentation to International Federation on Ageing Conference
Prague May 2012
Margaret Kay
Senior Policy Officer, Ageing and Disability
Dr Peter Phibbs, Dr Elizabeth O’Brien University of Western Sydney

2. Outline Climate and Local Government
Local Government and Ageing project
Older people on the move
Effects of extreme climates on older people & Council responses:
Sea level rises
Flash flood
Bush fire
Heat wave
Drought

3. 1. Local Government and Ageing project

4. Local Government and Ageing Project
Funded by Ageing, Disability and Home Care, NSW Government 2010
Partner with Local Government and Shires Associations NSW
11 rural councils
9 metropolitan councils

5. What NSW councils do NSW: 152 councils Council is:
Ranging in size from
5 km2 to 53,000 km2
Populations from
1,400 to 284,000
Council is:
Service provider
Planner, regulator
Manager of built and natural environment
Community advocate

6. Project aims social and economic contribution of older people
identify the magnitude of costs for Local Government of an ageing population
financial impact
range of council services affected
potential impacts on council’s revenue raising capacity

7. Findings Value of older people as community members
Councils are expected to provide:
Community transport
Footpaths, paths for mobility scooters
Bus shelters (weather protection)
Services nearby
Facilities for visiting populations

8. Climate, councils and ageing
Good climate =
Older people as travellers
Grey nomads need infrastructure
Retirement lifestyles - sea/tree change
Extreme climate =
Older People’s care in extremes
Engineering solutions compete with age friendliness

9. 2. Older people on the move

10. Climate for lifestyle and tourism – NSW north coast

11. Grey nomads

13. Casino RV village NSW

15. Sea and tree change LIFESTYLE CHOICES Sea change = move to coast
move to countryside

16. Pressures on councils Population ages Pressures on council services:
garbage collection
community transport
community care
cemeteries

17. 3. Effects of extreme climates on older people & council responses

18. My Country
..I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rains. I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea, Her beauty and her terror - The wide brown land for me! Dorothea Mackellar ( )

19. Challenge for councils
In NSW, councils deal with a range of events:
Sea level rises
Flash flood
Bush fire
Heat wave
Drought

20. Council responses Planning and building controls
Engineering and road works
Council facilities
Health support
Social support

21. Sea level rises

22. Rising sea level
85% Australians live near coast

23. 60,000 homes in NSW affected by 1.1 m sea level rise = $18.7 billion
(Climate Commission 2011)

24. Coastal erosion

25. Council response – coastal management policy
Sea walls, groynes, sand pumping
Planned retreat policies
Planning certificate notifications
Coastal management fee
Council may be liable for future damages

26. Sea level rise issues for older people
Right to protect individual property
Housing Security
Fees?
Insurance premiums
Modifications?
Caravan park dwellers

27. Flash flood

28. Flash flood Broken Hill
10 mm in 2 hours
Winds 70 km/hr
Hail
Lightning
Power cuts in 6,000
homes

29. Flash flood Broken Hill

30. Council response – levee bank

31. High kerbs

32. Flood issues for older people
Health
Mosquitoes
Water quality
Sewerage overflow
Mould – asthma
Pedestrian access difficult with high kerbs
Isolation
food services
care

33. Services- meals on wheels
Oats afloat?
Toast in a boat
Tea at sea?
Canterbury, NSW Meals On Wheels

34. Bushfire

35. Bushfire Increase in very high fire danger days 2002, 100+
homes destroyed
(Joint Select Committee on Bushfires 2002)

36. Dean Street in Long Gully, west of Bendigo Wikipedia
Ku-ring-gai Council

37. Council response – safer places
Rural Fire Service NSW
Ku-ring-gai Council

38. Bushfire issues for older people
Residential aged care – edges of towns
Isolation
Dangerous behaviours – gutters
Breathing difficulties

39. Heat wave

40. Council responses - plans
Warnings
Local government heatwave plan
Information on health risks and prevention
Safe public places that are air conditioned such as libraries, movie theatres, council buildings

41. Heat wave issues for older people
Power failure
Heat stroke
Affect on medications and life equipment
Dehydration – toilet stops
Living alone or homeless
Death

42. Lake Macquarie Council, NSW
Health Victoria

43. Stay cool
.com

44. Drought

45. Drought 1997 – 2009 2003 worst on record
CSIRO BOM 2008 Drought Exceptional circumstances
1997 – 2009
2003 worst
on record

46. Council response - water
Trucking in water in
some rural areas
Water saving rules
Emergency pipeline
Social supports for
isolated farmers
- outreach

47. Drought issues for older people
Rural population is ageing at a faster rate
Exhaustion
Selling farms processes complicated
Hospitalisations due to stress
Social isolation of aged farmers
Water restrictions
Water quality

48. Council and climate for older people
Respond to locals and tourists
Infrastructure
Information
Support and capacity building in climatic extremes
Report: