Purpose of the Victorian Coastal Strategy

The Victorian Coastal Strategy 2008 provides a comprehensive integrated management framework for the coast of Victoria. It is established under the Coastal Management Act 1995. The Act directs the Victorian Coastal Strategy to provide for long-term planning of the Victorian coast for the next 100 years and beyond.

Great Ocean Road from Teddy's Lookout

The purpose of the strategy is to provide:

1. a vision for the planning, management and use of coastal, estuarine and marine environments
2. the government's policy commitment for coastal, estuarine and marine environments
3. a framework for the development and implementation of other specific strategies and plans such as Coastal Action Plans, management plans and planning schemes
4. a guide for exercising discretion by decision-makers, where appropriate.

Structure

A hierarchy of principles sets the foundation of the strategy. The hierarchy of principles provides the basis for a series of policies and actions to guide planning, management and decision-making on coastal private and Crown land, as well as in coastal catchments, estuarine and marine waters.

The policies and actions apply to the next five years and focus on significant issues including climate change, population and growth and marine ecological integrity.

Figure 2 illustrates the structure and components of the Victorian Coastal Strategy.

Figure 2: Structure and Components of the Victorian Coastal Strategy

Scope

This strategy applies to all Victorian coastal waters (i.e. the sea and seabed to the state limit - three nautical miles or 5.5 kilometres off shore) and all private and coastal Crown land directly influenced by the sea or directly influencing the coastline. Those influences range from visual to drainage impacts, as illustrated in Figure 3.

This strategy is a policy document intended for use by coastal, estuarine and marine planners, and managers. As the government's framework for the long-term stewardship of the Victorian coast, the application of this strategy relies on effective partnerships between stakeholders.

This strategy gives direction for planning and managing the impacts of activities on and in the:

• marine environment - includes the nearshore marine environment, the seabed and waters out to the state limit or 5.5 kilometres.
• foreshore - or coastal Crown land 200 metres from the high water mark
• coastal hinterland - on private and Crown land directly influenced by the sea or directly influencing the coastline and land within critical views of the foreshore and nearshore environment
• catchments - feeding rivers and drainage systems and including estuaries

The strategy addresses all activities or processes that may impact on coastal and marine areas. References to 'the coast' include the coast, estuarine and marine environment.

Underpinning the strategy

This is the third Victorian Coastal Strategy. It has a vision and hierarchy of principles similar to the two previous strategies published in 1997 and 2002. This strategy highlights three significant issues: climate change, population and growth and marine ecological integrity. It presents polices and actions for the next five years to address these issues and other existing, emerging and future coastal issues.

The vision and core principles used in previous strategies - that the conservation of the coast is central to our economic and social needs - are as important to this strategy as they have been in the past.

Review, research and consultation

The development of this strategy has been informed by:
1. a comprehensive review of relevant documentation, in particular the Victorian coastal strategies published in 1997 and 2002
2. significant social and economic research, which is conducted every five years
3. substantial community and stakeholder feedback to the draft Victorian Coastal Strategy 2007, obtained through varied consultation methods.

Detailed analysis and review of all of this information was undertaken and underpins and supports this strategy.

Ecologically sustainable development

Also underpinning this strategy is the Victorian Coastal Council's commitment to ecologically sustainable development which is influenced through integrated coastal zone management, ecosystem-based management and adaptive management.

The key concepts are:

• Ecologically sustainable development (ESD) which incorporates caring for the environment, economic performance and social responsibility, often called the triple bottom line.
• Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) which integrates coastal planning and management across the land and sea and the private and Crown land interfaces, refer Figure 3. It also integrates the activities of:
  - various government agencies, industry, non-government organisations and communities along the coastal zone (horizontal integration)
  - Commonwealth, state and local government and the community (vertical integration).
  The Australian Government's framework for a national cooperative approach to integrated coastal zone management (2006) outlines national priorities and sets the scene for an agreed approach on ICZM in each state.
• Ecosystem-based management (EBM) which protects and manages the environment, recognising that humans and human needs are an integral part of the system.
• Adaptive management which learns from the current management activities to inform and improve the next phase of management. It is systematic and means continuously improving our planning and management approaches.

Context

This strategy complements and relies on other related existing government policy about planning and managing land use and development on and near the coast, for example:

• Coastal spaces, 2006
• Great Ocean Road regional strategy, 2004
• Regional Catchment Strategies for the five adjacent coastal catchments
• National cooperative approach to integrated coastal zone management, 2006
• Melbourne 2030: Planning for sustainable growth, 2005
• Planning for all of Melbourne, The Victorian Government response to the Melbourne 2030 Audit, 2008
• Victorian river health strategy, 2002
• Growing Victoria together: a vision for Victoria to 2010 and beyond
• Our environment our future, 2006
• Victorian biodiversity strategy
• Victoria's nature-based tourism strategy 2008-2012
• Victoria's Heritage: Strengthening our communities, 2006
• State Environment Protection Policies (SEPPs).

This strategy will be most effective where it is referred to and implemented in regional and local plans, including:

• Coastal Action Plans and management plans which identify strategic directions and objectives to facilitate recreational use and tourism, and provide for the protection and enhancement of significant features of the region's coast. These plans are prepared under the Coastal Management Act 1995
• planning schemes which set out state and local policies and provisions for the use, development and protection of land. Planning schemes are prepared by the local council or the Minister for Planning under the Planning and Environment Act 1987
  
• Regional Catchment Strategies which outline the natural assets of the region, how they are interrelated, and what needs to be done to manage and use natural assets in a sustainable way. These strategies are prepared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.