Implementation and coordination Southern Jewel Anemones – Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary Friends of Beware Reef The planning and management of Victoria's coastal, estuarine and marine environment is the responsibility of many parties, from the government acting for and on behalf of the people of Victoria, to government agencies with legislated responsibilities to protect, conduct or control activity, to appointed managers with defined responsibilities, to the Victorian community either as businesses, organised groups or as individuals. The Coastal Management Act 1995 is the key legislative basis for the Victorian Coastal Strategy. The Act: a) establishes the Victorian Coastal Council b) establishes the three Regional Coastal Boards (Western, Central and Gippsland) c) provides for the coordinated strategic planning and management of the Victorian coast d) provides for the preparation and implementation of Coastal Action Plans and management plans for coastal Crown land including the sea-bed e)provides a coordinated approach to approvals for the use and development of coastal Crown land including the sea-bed through Coastal Management Act consents. The Victorian Coastal Council has the task of working to define a vision for Victoria's coast and providing clear direction on how that vision is to be realised. This strategy is the primary document for coastal, estuarine and marine management in Victoria. Its purpose is to direct all planning and management that affects the Victorian coast. The Act requires that all land managers must take all reasonable steps to give effect to this strategy. The Victorian Coastal Council's role is to coordinate the implementation of the Victorian Coastal Strategy and Coastal Action Plans, and must report annually to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on the implementation of this strategy. The Regional Coastal Boards have responsibility for development of Coastal Action Plans within their respective regions. Coastal Action Plans are the primary tool for the planning and management of significant coastal, estuarine and marine areas or issues. Coastal Action Plans are endorsed by the Minister and published in the Government Gazette. Coastal Action Plans must identify strategic directions and objectives for use and development in the region, and must provide for detailed planning of the region or part thereof. Many other pieces of Victorian legislation also have a significant function in ensuring the effective planning and management of the Victorian coastal and marine environment. The agencies responsible for giving effect to this legislation are represented as both lead and partner bodies in implementing this strategy. Their responsibilities and strategic efforts contribute to the sound planning and management of the coast within the framework provided by this strategy. They include: · Department of Sustainability and Environment - sustainable management of public land, water resources, climate change, bushfires, forests and ecosystems · Department of Primary Industries - sustainable development of primary industries including fisheries, agriculture, forests, petroleum, minerals and energy · Department of Planning and Community Development - land use planning and environmental assessment · Parks Victoria - management of National Parks, reserves, public land and marine areas, and recreational infrastructure · Environment Protection Authority - prevents and controls pollution on land, in the water and air · Department of Transport - provides a government policy role in relation to the general development of commercial ports and associated freight networks Local government is the critical third tier of government, which is closest to the community and environment, and is a key coastal planner and manager (when delegated under the Crown Land Reserves Act 1978) in Victoria. In its planning capacity, which is provided for by the Planning and Environment Act 1987, local government has the responsibility for applying the State Planning Policy Framework, and developing its own Local Planning Policy Framework, for the municipal area it has responsibilities for and in consultation with the communities it represents. Through these tools, local government drives planning and decision-making that affects the Victorian coast, particularly as it applies to the private realm. Committees of Management on the Victorian coast are an established delegated management arrangement that are provided for and appointed by the provisions of the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978. They include Parks Victoria, local government, port authorities, and skills-based appointed committees with important community representation. The Victorian Coastal Strategy, in concert with Coastal Action Plans and/or management plans is the primary tools these committees will use for effective decision-making. Catchment Management Authorities have primary responsibility for catchment planning in Victoria. This authority is provided for by the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. The principle of integrated coastal zone management applied in this strategy relies on good catchment management. The understanding and role of Catchment Management Authorities in achieving catchment health is vital to a healthy marine and coastal environment. Through the development of Regional Catchment Strategies and Regional Catchment Investment Plans, Catchment Management Authorities have key responsibilities to deliver on marine and coastal protection. Peak bodies, non-government organisations, interest groups and universities are also key players in informing coastal and marine planning and management in Victoria. These groups provide good representation of community attitude, have knowledge to share, and contribute to direction-setting and decision-making. Encouraging these groups to develop and build the best information base they can and encouraging planners and managers to consult and involve these groups is an important process to be supported in Victoria's approach to the management of its coast. Community groups and volunteers are vital contributors to coastal management in Victoria. Their passion, dedication, and community and environmental spirit help deliver many improvements to the coastal environment that government would have difficulty fulfilling. Many of these groups are supported by various government agency networks such as the Department of Sustainability and Environment Coast Action/Coastcare facilitator network. The Victorian Coastal Council, under its authority outlined in the Coastal Management Act 1995, will work to a whole-of-government approach to the planning and management of the coastal environment. The council will exercise this responsibility by co-ordinating: · the establishment of priorities, standard setting and target development · reporting on effective coastal management and identification of gaps · development and support of business cases that deliver on key coastal priorities · advocacy for improvements to program areas and research · pursuing funding for the implementation of this strategy through avenues such as the Land and Biodiversity White Paper due for release in 2009 and the Climate of Opportunity White Paper which will also be released in mid- 2009. · facilitation of effective partnerships and improved relationships between government, business, industry, representative groups and the community · development of funding principles for appropriate investment into the coastal environment. Actions a Establish a co-ordinating committee with interdepartmental and Victorian Coastal Council representation to provide for a whole-of-government approach to the Victorian Coastal Strategy. The role of the committee will be to actively contribute to the development of the Victorian Coastal Strategy Implementation Plan (DSE, VCC). b Within six months of the release of this strategy, the committee will develop an implementation plan as a priority action. The implementation plan will include (DSE, VCC): action priorities set in consultation with lead and partner agents commitment to actions assigned to lead and partner agents, with timelines defined and clear lines of accountability targets and/or key performance indicators for each action, with a focus on priority actions gap identification concerning resources, skills base and capacity to deliver improvements to program areas by strategic realignment identification of research needs identification of business cases to support decision-making on further investment and funding models defined monitoring approach to evaluate the effectiveness of the Victorian Coastal Strategy development of a reporting program over the life of the strategy. c Report on the progress of the implementation of the actions in this strategy with a mid-term review by 2011 (VCC). d Review the Victorian Coastal Strategy by 2013 (VCC).   There are many federal and state Acts and regulations, and ongoing local, regional and state-wide policies, strategies and programs that have outcomes which are critical for the health of our coast. The Victorian Coastal Council supports the implementation of these initiatives and will actively monitor their progress. These include, but are not limited to: Jan Juc VCC Acts: Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 Coastal Management Act 1995 Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 Environment Protection Act 1970 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Land Act 1958 Marine Act 1988 Planning and Environment Act 1987 Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1986 Port Services Act 1995 Victorian Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 Regulations: Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2007 Environment Protection (Ships' Ballast Water) Regulations 2006 Fisheries Regulations 1998 Marine Regulations 1999 National Parks (Park) Regulations 2003 Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Regulations 2002 Port Services (Local Ports) Regulations 2004 Policy and strategies: Australia's Oceans Policy (Australian Government, 1998) Coastal Spaces Initiative (DSE and VCC, 2006) Commercial port land-use strategies (port authorities) Draft Strategy for Coastal Acid Sulfate Soils (DSE, 2008) Great Ocean Road Regional Strategy (DSE, 2004) Growing Victoria Together (DPC, 2005) Melbourne 2030: Planning for sustainable growth, (DSE, 2005) and Planning for all of Melbourne, The Victorian Government response to the Melbourne 2030 Audit (2008) Melbourne 2030: planning for sustainable growth National Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management - Framework and Implementation Plan (DEH, 2006) Our Environment, Our Future: Sustainability Action Statement (DSE, 2006) Regional Catchment Strategies (CMA) State Environment Protection Policies (EPA) Victoria's Biodiversity Strategy (NRE (now DSE), 1997) Victoria's Native Vegetation Management - A Framework for Action (DSE, 2002) Victoria's Nature-Based Tourism Strategy 2008-2012 (TV, PV and DSE, 2008). Victoria's System of Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries - Management Strategy 2003-2010 (PV) Victorian Abalone Aquaculture Translocation Protocol (DPI, 2007) Victorian Aquaculture Strategy (DPI, 2008) Victorian Greenhouse Strategy (DNRE (now DSE), 2002) Victorian Heritage Strategy (DPCD, 2006) Victoria Planning Provisions, including the State Planning Policy Framework and the Local Planning Policy Framework Victorian Ports Strategic Framework (DOI, 2004) Victorian River Health Strategy (DSE, 2002) and Regional River Health Strategies (CMA) Plans: Coastal Action Plans under the Coastal Management Act 1995 (RCB) Management Plans under the Coastal Management Act 1995 (CoM), Fisheries Act 1995 (DPI), and the National Parks Act 1975 (PV). Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan Port safety and environmental management plans (commercial and local port authorities) Stormwater management plans (LG) Structure plans/township plans/urban design frameworks (LG) Guidelines: Best practice environmental management: guidelines for dredging (EPA) Committee of Management Responsibilities and Good Practice Guidelines (DSE, 2003) Minimal Impact Guidelines - Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries (PV) Siting and Design Guidelines for Structures on the Victorian Coast (VCC, 1998) Programs: Beach Monitoring Program (EPA) Better Bays and Waterways Program (EPA and Melbourne Water) Community engagement and participation programs such as Coast Action/Coastcare (DSE), the Friends network (PV), Fishcare (DPI), Sea Search, Reefwatch, and Estuary Watch. Future Coasts - preparing Victoria's coast for climate change (DSE) Indigenous Partnerships Framework 2007-2010 (DSE, 2007) In addition, Australia is party to many international treaties which influence the use and management of coastal, estuarine and marine environments.

10 December 2008