This vision is wide-ranging and inclusive. It is a vision that preserves the diversity of our coast, its flora and fauna, its natural beauty, and the diversity of activities you'll find there.
It
is a vision which invites all Victorians to become involved, to take pride
in our coast and to share in its stewardship.
Then what will our coast look like?
An imaginary journey could begin with the endless beaches stretching out from the State's far east, including fishing and tourist towns such as Mallacoota and Lakes Entrance, take in the peace and wildlife of the Gippsland Lakes, the awe-inspiring cliffs of Wilsons Promontory, the holiday hamlets of Phillip Island (and its penguins and seals and their attendant tourists), the seagrass and internationally significant bird habitats of Western Port, the heritage and maritime landscapes and sandy beaches around Port Phillip and Corio Bays that provide recreational opportunities for millions who live nearby, or the scale of the shipping terminals of Melbourne, Geelong, Westernport and Portland, and on through the surf beaches and maritime history of the west coast; along the truly great Great Ocean Road.
Coastal villages will retain their seaside and village characters, remote locations will be preserved so you feel you're the first soul who has trod them.
Rivers and estuaries will flow clean from where they rise to where they enter bays and oceans. Local native vegetation will be encouraged along our coast. National parks and reserves will provide a haven for the plants and animals and a place for people.
Our coast. For it will remain, almost all of it, the property of the people of Victoria.
Skilled and professional coastal managers and staff will continue to work to keep you safe and make sure you find the facilities you need where you need them.
Townships will no longer grow like topsy. They will be recognisably coastal in character and grow within planning frameworks which respect the environments within which they're built. Ecologically, culturally, aesthetically.
Much of the coast between townships will be preserved undeveloped while
metropolitan beaches will be more intensively utilised and will vary from
cosmopolitan through to quiet places to relax.
The quality of the tourism experience on the coast will increase. Choices for recreation will diversify while still allowing people to 'get away from it all'. The recognition, use and re-use of cultural heritage assets along the coastline will positively contribute to local communities and economics.
Safe access will
make it easier for more people to get to many places. Vehicle access will
be managed so that it does not detract from the environment that is the
attraction. One of Victoria's great economic drivers and advantages, our
ports, will continue to be developed. Our fishing industry will be sustainably
managed while a broadening of recreational boating choices, from private
pleasure boats to tourism craft will be encouraged. Increasingly people
will experience the coast from above and below the water.
Wind, wave and tidal power generation, commercial fishing and aquaculture will be encouraged to find environmentally sustainable, socially acceptable and economically viable ways of developing.
The vision is ambitious.
The potential is amazing.
'A
biologically rich and diverse coastal and marine environment for our use
and enjoyment today and for our children tomorrow'.
