Principles for coastal planning and management are outlined to guide the direction of this Strategy. These principles have been developed with the international, National and State context in mind and aim to ensure that management practices, development and use of the Victorian coast will be ecologically sustainable.
The concept of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) is becoming well embedded in Victorian policy for the management of ecological, social and economic resources. An understanding of, and framework for, ESD was established in the 1992 National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development which used the following definition:
Development that improves the total quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which
life depends.
In more simple terms:
ESD is development which aims to meet the needs of people today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Integral to the above
understanding of ESD is:
1. the need to consider the environmental, social and economic implications
of decisions in an integrated way (ie. triple bottom line); and
2. taking a long, rather than a short, term view when making those decisions.
What does ESD
mean for the Victorian coast?
By any environmental, social or economic measure, the Victorian coast
is a highly valued, finite resource. Planning and management agencies
are the custodians of the coast on behalf of all Victorians and have a
responsibility to recognise these values in decision making.
The Coastal Management
Act 1995 directs that the Victorian Coastal Strategy will provide
for the long term planning of the Victorian coast:
(a) to ensure the protection of significant environmental features of
the coast;
(b) to provide clear direction for the future use of the coast including
the marine environment;
(c) to identify suitable development areas and development opportunities
on the coast; and
(d) to ensure the sustainable use of natural coastal resources.
This Strategy uses the above to establish principles to guide the long term planning of the coast, consistent with the concepts of ecologically sustainable development and integrated coastal zone planning and management.
Figure
6: Ecologically sustainable development and the Victorian Coastal Strategy
principles
