Today's news from Australia

Greens air coastal development fears

The New South Wales Greens says not enough is being done to ensure coastal development in the Illawarra accounts for the effects of rising sea levels caused by climate change.

A Victorian Court has overruled a council approval for six coastal homes on the grounds they could be threatened by storms and rising sea levels.

The recent decision comes after a similar NSW Land and Environment Court challenge to a housing development and retirement village at Sandon Point, north of Wollongong.

Greens' MP Lee Rhiannon says the State Government needs to be more prescriptive about coastal development and climate change.

"The impact of climate change needs to be taken into account at the start of the planning process, it can no longer be an afterthought," she said.

"That's quite clearly the direction that this decision is taking us."