Australia news live: flash flooding hits Queensland roads; $57bn of Victoria infrastructure threatened by climate hazards

Flood warning in place on Gold Coast. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast More than $57bn of public infrastructure across Victoria will be at risk from extreme weather by 2030, with bushfires, flooding and heat posing the greatest threat, according to new research by Infrastructure Victoria. The independent adviser assessed risks to $318bn in government-owned or regulated assets, finding that transport, energy and health assets were the most exposed to climate hazards. By 2070, the value at risk could increase to more than $71bn. Following a summer that saw bushfires, flooding and landslides hit many Victorian communities, we know extreme weather is a reality now. The government needs to update and fund its adaptation plans. Funding high-priority, cost-effective infrastructure adaptation actions can save millions in recovery costs and lost productivity. The policies at a high level need to start integrating both reducing emissions and adaptation, but also focusing on the key risks, whether that be heat, bushfire, coastal inundation. Continue reading...

Original source: Guardian