Who
does what along the coast?
Many people and agencies have responsibility
for, or a keen interest in, coastal planning and management.
Only 4% of the
Victorian coastline is privately owned. The remaining 96% of coastal
land is held by the Victorian Minister for Environment and Conservation
on behalf of the Crown for all Victorians. One third of Victoria's coastal
Crown land is reserved as national park under the National Parks
Act 1975 and managed by Parks Victoria. The majority of the remaining
coastal Crown land is reserved under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act
1978 for a variety of public purposes - generally for the protection
of the coast. Management of these reserves is usually by a Committee
of Management, appointed by the Minister. A Committee of Management
can consist of local community representatives or may be an existing
agency such as a municipal council, Parks Victoria or the Department
of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE).
Small areas of
public land along the coast and most of the seabed remain unreserved
and are managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
The large number
of agencies with an interest in Victoria's coast is reflected in the
number of those whose planning impacts directly or indirectly upon the
coast and similarly those who regulate activity along the coast or in
the marine environment (refer to Figure 2). This Strategy encourages
continuous improvement in approaches to integrated coastal management.
Victoria's indigenous
communities also have a strong interest in planning and management for
coastal areas and in decisions affecting the use of coastal resources
and values. These interests may be realised through involvement in decision
making forums and through native title related negotiations such as
Indigenous Land Use Agreements.
The role of the
community is vital. Not only do they contribute significantly to coastal
planning and management through active involvement and participation
in local management activities, but also through the range of services
and facilities provided by a wide variety of groups (eg. life saving,
conservation, water access and safety, and education and training).
This Strategy seeks
to provide leadership and ensure coordination of activities affecting
the coast. Implementation of this Strategy will be achieved through
the responsibilities of agencies and groups, guided to a large extent
by existing statutory mechanisms.
For coastal and
marine areas there is always:
- an 'owner';
- planners
concerned with the future;
- a manager;
- agencies
who regulate use and behaviour; and
- a public
interest
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Key legislation guiding strategic and statutory planning for the Victorian
coast includes the Coastal Management Act 1995 and the Planning
and Environment Act 1987. There is a range of other legislation
that provides for the management of specific uses and spaces within
the coastal and marine environment.. The Commonwealth Environment Protection
and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 will be increasingly important
in guiding decision making regarding matters of national and environmental
significance.
Figure 2 Who does what along the coast?
*
Committees of Management include Municipal Councils, Department of Natural
Resources & Environment, Parks Victoria and locally appointed committees.
