This hierarchy
of principles for coastal planning and management will provide a pathway
for decision making that leads to triple bottom line outcomes. Decisions
are made daily to manage the environmental, social and economic forces
impacting on the coastal environment. The following is a hierarchy of
principles to guide the decision making process. Decision makers' priorities
will be to:
1. provide for the protection of significant environmental
features;
2. ensure the sustainable use of natural coastal resources;
3. undertake integrated planning and provide direction
for the future; and
4. when the above principles have been met, facilitate suitable
development on the coast within existing modified and resilient
environments where the demand for services is evident and requires management.
1.
Protection of significant environmental features
is about the conservation of biological diversity, physical diversity
and ecological integrity, or the preservation and maintenance of essential
ecological processes and life support systems. Aboriginal and other sites
of cultural, historic or scientific value will also be protected.
- Coastal and marine features of ecological, geological, geomorphological, cultural, landscape, scientific and historical significance will be protected.
- Parts of the coast will remain largely inaccessible to protect and retain areas with a sense of remoteness and exploration.
- Aboriginal communities will be involved in the protection and management of Aboriginal sites and the use and development of their history and culture.
- Active involvement by the broader community in the conservation and rehabilitation of Victoria's natural and cultural coastal environment will be encouraged and assisted.
- Net gain in the quantity and quality of coastal indigenous vegetation and habitat will be encouraged.
- The comprehensive and representative system (CAR) for establishment of parks and reserves will be implemented to ensure protection of representation of Victoria's biodiversity.
- Public funds will generally not be used to protect or repair damage caused to coastal private land by erosion.
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2. Sustainable use of
natural coastal resources
is about ensuring intergenerational equity, that is, meeting the needs
of people today without compromising the needs of future generations.
- Future generations will be considered equally with current users.
- Coastal and marine environments are recognised as long term public assets which should not be compromised by inappropriate short term decisions or developments.
- Natural dynamic processes and systems which shape and maintain the coastline and its living resources must be respected and adverse activities avoided or minimised.
- Risk will be actively managed.
- The use and management of the coast will be designed to work with nature rather than against it, to minimise impacts which occur downstream or off-site, reducing long term community costs.
- Continuous improvement in processes, activities and discharges that have an adverse impact on coastal values shall be encouraged.
- Coastal catchment planning and management will take account of coastal values.
- Public understanding and appreciation of coastal values will be fostered and facilitated over time.
- The conservation and where possible, the use of historic features will be encouraged and facilitated.
- Market rent and appropriate rates and taxes will be levied for all commercial use of coastal Crown land to discourage its use as a cheap alternative to private land.
- Revenue generated from coastal Crown land will be directed to coastal management, protection and the development or maintenance of appropriate infrastructure as determined by the relevant coastal manager.
- User and polluter pays principles will be pursued to recover the cost of long term coastal use or damaging processes.
- Renewal and redevelopment will improve environmental, social and economic outcomes.
3.
Direction for the future
is about providing integrated coastal zone planning and management which
has regard to the environmental, social and economic implications of decisions
and takes a long, rather than short, term view when making those decisions.
- Coastal planning
and management will:
- be vertically and horizontally integrated across government's jurisdictional boundaries;
- set clear objectives;
- be strongly lead by a coastal agency (the Victorian Coastal Council);
- be based on ESD principles;
- employ research and education programs to inform decision making;
- have real involvement from the community; and
- be adequately resourced. - There will be a net gain in the quality and quantity of the public land estate along the coast through land swaps, donations and purchase.
- Community use of foreshore land, buildings and other assets will be managed to return the greatest public benefit while protecting heritage values where they may exist.
- Public access to coastal Crown land will be maintained, except where the interests of security, safety or protection of coastal resources predominate.
- Local management,
community involvement and voluntary participation will be increased
and encouraged as essential elements of coastal
and marine management, conservation and decision making. - Accountability for outcomes will be identified.
- Resources will be targeted to minimise duplication and waste.
- Plans (eg. coastal action plans, coastal management plans) consistent with the Victorian Coastal Strategy will continue to be developed and integrated with planning schemes at the local and regional level to provide detail and give attention to regional or local issues.
4.
Suitable development on the coast
is that which provides an environmental, social and/or economic benefit,
enhancing the community's value of the coast. It will generally be coastal
dependent or related to coastal dependent uses.
Suitable coastal development can range from small scale infrastructure, such as boardwalks and picnic tables, through to larger scale developments, such as major visitor centres, maritime related industry, ports, sustainable energy infrastructure and recreation and water access infrastructure.
- There are relatively pristine areas and important vistas along the coast where no development will be appropriate.
- Appropriate coastal
development is development that:
- enhances protection and rehabilitation of the natural environment and biodiversity;
- results in increased public benefit, having regard to environmental, social and economic implications;
- is sensitively sited and designed, having regard to the 'Siting and Design Guidelines for Structures on the Victorian Coast' and 'Landscape Setting Types for the Victorian Coast';
- minimises public risk;
- is set back from the coast as far as practicable in line with vulnerability assessments;
- facilitates multiple-use of sites and existing infrastructure, without resulting in over-use;
- facilitates improvements of sites or existing developments that have poor environmental or social performance; and
- is consistent with the requirements of coastal planning strategies and plans, and relevant planning schemes. - Where there are
threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full
scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures
to prevent environmental degradation (the precautionary principle -
National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development 1992).
