CoastAdapt is an information delivery and decision support tool, helping coastal managers in Australia adapt to climate change and sea-level rise. More than 80 per cent of Australians live within the coastal zone. Geoscience Australia reports that about 700,000 residences are within three kilometres of the shoreline and on land less than five metres above mean sea-level.

There are good reasons for our attraction to the coast, beyond the historic ones relating to reliance on ships for transport. People pay a premium to holiday or live in a house that has a ‘blue view’. Many think of the coast as an ideal holiday destination, and coastal resorts are far more common and visited more often than inland resorts.

The University of Exeter in England has begun a project called ‘Blue Gym’ to study how natural water environments can be used to promote human health and well-being. People who lived closer to the coast generally thought of themselves as having better mental and physical health than those who lived further away. But the effect was greatest for those in lower socio economic groups.

People who live near the beach tend to go outdoors more often: significantly more often than people who live close to bushland or another natural space. Regular walks along the beach, even in winter, provide a chance to de-stress, making life feel better overall.

The research looked at the quality of the environment, and whether there was any correlation with health. This part of the research is less conclusive, but early indications are that, yes, there is. People are more likely to feel like they benefit from beach visits when the beach appears clean and healthy, and where there are wide open stretches of sand.

So protecting our coastline has benefits beyond preserving our houses, infrastructure and sensitive ecosystems from climate change and weather extremes: we are protecting a resource that benefits our mental and physical health.

Further information

Do you see this beach effect when managing your public spaces?
What are the implications for the health of your community as our beaches continue to diminish?