2.4 Education, awareness and stewardship Context Victorians have a strong connection to the coast and are increasingly choosing to live or spend time near the coast to enhance their lifestyle and sense of wellbeing. This strong connection to the coast means that we must ensure the ongoing protection and management of our coastal assets. Research has demonstrated that the health and wellbeing of Victoria's coastal environment is enhanced if the community is aware of, understands, and appreciates coastal ecosystems and coastal cultural heritage. Education is central to understanding Victoria's coastal environment. Coastal education occurs in a variety of places - within the school curriculum, through specialised marine science programs, and over summer along the coastline through volunteer and community group activities. A more informed community is more likely to be involved in decision-making processes and conservation projects. Volunteers and community groups are integral to coastal management by participating in conservation projects and amenity works, management planning, habitat monitoring, and the delivery of education programs. Many members of coastal communities volunteer on Committees of Management which are directly responsible for planning, managing, improving, maintaining and controlling sections of the coast under the Crown Land Reserves Act 1978. Along with other delegated coastal managers such as local government and Parks Victoria, they are crucial in promoting broader engagement and participation in coastal planning, management, and decision-making. This helps to shape the character of coastal settlements and promote a sense of community ownership of the coast. They also act as a conduit for the broader community informing them of coastal issues and involving them in decision-making processes. Under current arrangements, Committee of Management volunteers as well as other coastal environmental volunteers receive support from various government agency networks, such as the CoastAction/Coastcare facilitator network. Approaches to coastal planning and management are inconsistent along the coast and depend on resources, skill levels of decision-makers and competing management priorities. Although different approaches can complement the local needs of a community, a core range of skills and expertise, as well as an understanding of the broader planning and management context are required to effectively manage the coast.   ‘The Connies’ handing out collector cards and educating children about Australian Fur Seals at a festival the conies Coast Action/Coastcare ‘Summer by the Sea’ activity program – Barwon Heads R. Pilgrim   Policy 1. Build community understanding, awareness and appreciation of coastal values and issues, in particular the impacts of climate change. 2. Ensure ongoing and meaningful community engagement and active involvement in planning, management, and decision-making. 3. Encourage and support community monitoring programs. 4. Ensure coastal, estuarine and marine planners and managers receive adequate training, resources, and guidance to make informed decisions. Actions a Continue monitoring community attitudes to Victorian coastal and marine environments through longitudinal social research to ensure a clear understanding of community perceptions to coastal conservation and management (VCC). b Convene a marine and coastal education taskforce to coordinate statewide education activities and priorities and develop a marine and coastal education strategy with key education providers (VCC). c Actively seek opportunities for community involvement in coastal education, management, monitoring and planning, through community networks, with particular emphasis on those groups that are under-represented, such as young people and people of diverse cultural backgrounds (DSE, CoM, PV, DPI). Lornecare volunteer R. Pilgrim d Deliver training to planners and managers for effective decision-making, particularly in relation to (DSE/DPCD): implementing state coastal policy in management plans and planning chemes through effective local planning polices and provisions understanding the implications of climate change as it applies to particular parts of the coast assessing coastal vulnerability and appropriate adaptation responses informing the local community of coastal vulnerabilities and the risks and impacts of climate change, such as inundation, erosion, bushfire risk along the coast and loss of biodiversity emergency and risk management community engagement and participation governance and project management cultural heritage coastal acid sulfate soils

10 December 2008