Key Findings: East Coast Lows and the Newcastle-Central Coast Pasha Bulker Storm

This factsheet presents the key findings of a project conducted to understand adaptation lessons from the ‘Pasha Bulker’ storm, a series of five East Coast Lows (ECLs) that affected the coastal regions between Ilawarra and the Hunter (NSW) during June, 2007. Being described as one of the most significant meteorological events in Australia’s history, the storm resulted in widespread flooding and wind damage, coastal erosion, the grounding of the Pasha Bulker (a 40,000 tonne bulk carrier ship) on Nobbys Beach, Newcastle, and the loss of nine lives. This factsheet contains further information on the scale of the disaster, the characteristics that resulted in the damaging impacts of the event, the adaptation actions and vulnerability pre and post the event, the successes and failures of the event’s management, and lessons learnt. Among other topics, the factsheet highlights important issues regarding communication, emergency services, community awareness and preparedness for storms. This study is one of a suite of Historical Case Studies of Extreme Events conducted under Phase 1 of the NCCARF Synthesis and Integrative Research Program to examine present-day management of climate variability and the lessons that can be learnt for adaptation to future climate change. A companion report to this factsheet can be found here.