Climate Change Impacts on Road Infrastructure Systems and Services in South East Queensland: Implications for Infrastructure Planning and Management

Abstract

Infrastructure systems and services (ISS) has a crucial role in the functioning of cities and regions. Traditionally, infrastructure planning has been determined by growth imperatives - both population and economic driven. Climate change, however, posits a new challenge to the maintenance and rehabilitation of infrastructure systems and consequently infrastructure planning. Projected increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and sea level rise, could lead to the disruption of critical infrastructure services, including telecommunications, electrical power supplies, transportation and emergency services. The disruption of infrastructure services will debilitate the economic security, public health, safety of cities and regions, therefore it is important to identify ISS weaknesses and strengths in dealing with climate change impacts. This study aims to advance the understanding by investigating how ISS are currently planned and managed in South East Queensland (SEQ) - a high growth region that has been identified as a vulnerable hot spot by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007. With a focus on urban road infrastructure, SEQ's institutional and organisational capacity to maintain, repair and renew ISS is investigated in the face of climate change impacts, particularly flooding and sea level rise. This study also contributes insights into ISS management, planning and potential implications for allied sectors such as urban planning and emergency management.