Climate change to affect Australian infrastructure: report

Melbourne, Nov 6 (PTI) Climate change will severely
affect all forms of infrastructure in Australia including
electricity, dams, roads and even footpaths, a new study has
revealed.

Experts from the Australian Academy of Technological
Sciences and Engineering have assessed the impact of global
warming on infrastructure in the country.

The study report, released Thursday, warned that
electricity would be hardest hit and more interruptions to
supply could be expected.

Drought would slash hydroelectric generation, while
hot temperatures would interfere with power plants and
increase the demand for electricity, the report said.

More frequent bushfires would interrupt supply, 'The
Australian' daily said quoting the report.

Water infrastructure would also suffer because of more
droughts across southern Australia and major investment in
water was needed to see these regions through extended
droughts, it advised.

However, while the south dries out, climate change
is expected to bring more floods and storms to the rest of
the country - and that poses risks for low-lying buildings
and roads in Australia, the report said.

The newer houses are better equipped to withstand the
effects of changing climate but older houses, especially near
the coast, were vulnerable to flooding and storms.

Even footpaths will be hit by climate change-
droughts, floods and hot temperatures can cut their lifespan,
it said.

The changing weather is likely to affect almost all
forms of infrastructure, the report found.

Roads will need to be resealed more often due to the
heat, airports in low-lying areas will be forced to close
more often, and the roads and railways which carry minerals
to port will be closed more frequently, the report warned.

The report concluded that climate change posed
"significant challenges" for Australia's infrastructure, and
consequently people.

"The consequences of the impact of climate change ...
may range from discomfort, inconvenience, economic loss caused
by interruption of services, property damage, threats to
heath, to injury and death," the report found.

The report recommended urgent national action to
ensure a better prepared infrastructure to survive the
adverse effects of changing climate.