East coast low storms and the Pasha Bulker storm - lessons learned five years on

This paper summarises a projected recently completed for the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) as part of a series of historical case studies, which were aimed at increasing our understanding of adaptive capacity to extreme events in Australia. Some additional independent work carried out subsequent to this report on tree injury risk is also presented. The 'extreme event' studied here is the Newcastle/Central Coast Pasha Bulker Storm of June 2007, where the Newcastle and Central Coast regions of New South Wales experienced severe weather and subsequent flooding, along with various secondary impacts. The 'Pasha Bulker Storm', as it has become known, was one of the most significant meteorological events in Australia's history, with large economic losses and social disruption due to the loss of critical infrastructure. Approximately 300,000 people were without mains electricity for four days (some for up to a month), the coal export chain halted for two weeks and communications were interrupted for days. This paper provides background information on the meteorology of East Coast Lows, the impact of the 'Pasha Bulker' storm and a discussion of the 'lessons learned' from the event and subsequent adaptation strategies employed. The paper also provides important reflections on the event, at both regional and national level, and from this recommendations and conclusions on adaptation actions arising from similar storm events. Lessons for all levels of government, semi-government and community groups are discussed, including preparedness before the event, actions during the event, and recovery processes post-event