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Panel | Relocation and retreat in practice: What's working, what's hard, what's next
As climate risks intensify across Australia, communities, governments, researchers, and practitioners are confronting complex decisions about adaptation, resilience, and, in some cases, relocation. Yet institutional silos, fragmented governance, and limited mechanisms for cross-sector learning continue to constrain effective, equitable, and community-centred responses.
The Community of Practice on Relocation, Retreat and Resilience in Australia (COPRRRA) was established to address this gap. COPRRRA is a national platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and applied learning, bringing together community leaders, government representatives, planners, researchers, NGOs, and policy actors.
In this session presented by COPRRRA, we examine how sustained cross-sector relationships, shared problem solving, and innovative learning can strengthen relocation and retreat planning and implementation.
Four lenses anchor the discussion. First, we highlight the work of Victoria's Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to develop State-wide policy guidance to support the managed transition of property and assets impacted by coastal hazards and sea level rise. Second, we examine proactive community engagement, showing how lived experience, local knowledge, and trust-building shape more dignified and durable responses through the experience of the relocation of Grantham. Third, we explore the role of government disaster recovery programs, such as the QLD Resilient Homes Fund, in addressing resilient housing measures, changes in land use, and buy backs and consider how such programs contribute to relocation. Fourth, we interrogate how “success” is measured in the context of relocation, proposing broader metrics that prioritise social, cultural, relational, and governance outcomes alongside economic and physical indicators.
Drawing on these practical examples and the insights of COPRRRA, we offer candid reflections on challenges and emerging policy and practice areas requiring prioritisation to enable proactive, dignified and locally led relocation in Australia.
The Community of Practice on Relocation, Retreat and Resilience in Australia (COPRRRA) was established to address this gap. COPRRRA is a national platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and applied learning, bringing together community leaders, government representatives, planners, researchers, NGOs, and policy actors.
In this session presented by COPRRRA, we examine how sustained cross-sector relationships, shared problem solving, and innovative learning can strengthen relocation and retreat planning and implementation.
Four lenses anchor the discussion. First, we highlight the work of Victoria's Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to develop State-wide policy guidance to support the managed transition of property and assets impacted by coastal hazards and sea level rise. Second, we examine proactive community engagement, showing how lived experience, local knowledge, and trust-building shape more dignified and durable responses through the experience of the relocation of Grantham. Third, we explore the role of government disaster recovery programs, such as the QLD Resilient Homes Fund, in addressing resilient housing measures, changes in land use, and buy backs and consider how such programs contribute to relocation. Fourth, we interrogate how “success” is measured in the context of relocation, proposing broader metrics that prioritise social, cultural, relational, and governance outcomes alongside economic and physical indicators.
Drawing on these practical examples and the insights of COPRRRA, we offer candid reflections on challenges and emerging policy and practice areas requiring prioritisation to enable proactive, dignified and locally led relocation in Australia.
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