Peter Lake, a grazier in the Clarence Valley of New South Wales, has lived with the risks of flooding since he moved to the area in 2007. His cattle farm, situated between Yamba and Grafton and bordering the Coldstream River, has faced five floods since 2009. During major flood events, only about 15 acres of his 130-acre property typically remain dry, but this number dropped to just a few acres during the 2022 flood. Lake explained that the combination of drought and frequent flooding has made it extremely difficult to grow fodder crops for his cattle. He emphasized the need for adapting land management practices to cope with increasingly severe weather patterns, and he warned that rising sea levels could further threaten the long-term viability of his property. A recent report from the Climate Council projects that coastal flooding in Australia could lead to economic losses of up to $855.1 billion by the end of the century. The report estimates that over 267,000 coastal properties and 2 million hectares of land will be affected by flooding by 2100 due to rising sea levels. Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia are expected to be the most impacted, with cities such as the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Melbourne facing the highest risks. The Gold Coast, Australia's most vulnerable urban area, is projected to suffer $84.4 billion in losses, while in Melbourne, the damage is likely to be concentrated in low-lying areas around Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River. The report is based on detailed mapping of coastal flooding scenarios by 2100, taking into account both rising sea levels and storm surges under the RCP4.5 climate model. This model assumes a global temperature increase of 2.7°C by 2100. The study was co-authored by Professor Tom Kompas of the University of Melbourne, whose findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports. Kompas noted that the projected economic losses—$274.3 billion in property damage and $580.7 billion in land use losses—were conservative estimates that excluded the impacts of coastal erosion or ice sheet melt. He warned that the damage to nearly 620,000 hectares of farmland could threaten food security in the future. Global sea levels have risen by over 22 centimeters since 1900, with human-induced climate change being the primary cause of this rise since 1970. Australia is expected to see an additional 14 centimeters of sea level rise by 2050, increasing the frequency of permanent flooding and tidal inundation. Kompas stressed the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming, but he also highlighted the need for immediate planning and adaptation. He emphasized that the report identifies key areas at risk and the assets that could be impacted. He added that avoiding construction on flood plains is a crucial first step in mitigating future risks.