At least 9 of the grounds used for cricket in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, together with grounds used by other sports, face serious threats from rising sea levels due to climate change.

Global warming is warming the oceans. Water expands as it warms. So, the seas are rising: around 200mm last century, and accelerating.

• Gwawley East, Gwawley West and Gwawley North grounds at Taren Point, all show as inundated on the OzCoasts map for impacts of 110 cm of sea level rise – not surprisingly when Google Earth has all three pitches at 2-3 metres above average sea level together with much of the surrounding area.

• The athletics track at Forshaw Field and the Port Hacking Rugby Field also show as inundated
• The bottom half of Kareela Golf Club shows as inundated on OzCoasts map for impacts of 110 cm sea level rise

• Lakewood City park, on the Woronora  river at Bonnett Bay, is just off the edge of  the OzCoasts maps for Sydney. But Google Earth has it at just 2 metres above average sea level, and the river is tidal at this point too. So … .
• Oyster Bay Oval is down at the edge of Oyster Bay and shows as inundated on the OzCoasts map for impacts of 110 cm of sea level rise – not surprisingly when Google Earth has it at just 2 metres above average sea level

• Scylla Bay Reserve oval in Como shows as inundated on the OzCoasts map for impacts of 110 cm of sea level rise.

• Both grounds at the Solander playing fields at Wooloware show some of their playing area inundated on the OzCoasts map for impacts of 110 cm sea level rise. Daniel Solander, of course, was an outstanding scientist, who saw the world and its oceans with the Royal Navy. Chances are he would have been in the 97% of scientists who are convinced we have to take urgent action to deal with human-induced climate change.

• Woolooware High School’s cricket pitch, along with the rest of the school grounds, shows as inundated on OzCoast’s map for impacts of 110 cm sea level rise.

Maybe this is why local member for the Federal seat of Cook, Scott Morrison, used to support action against climate change, through carbon pricing. In June 2009,  Scott Morrison said in Parliament:

There are a suite of tools we need to embrace to reduce emissions. I believe an emissions trading scheme, in one form or another, is one of those tools. Placing a price on carbon, as the Leader of the Opposition has said, is inevitable.

Back then, of course, Malcolm Turnbull was the Liberal Party leader he was talking about.

One more thing in Sutherland Shire: Here’s what 1.1 metre sea level rise looks like at Cronulla-Suutherland’s home ground  – right up to the edge of the stadium; good luck swimming from the carpark. How’s voting against climate action looking now, Scott Morrison?

Climate change: the time for games is over

 Authorised by David Mason, 47 Charles St Marrickville NSW