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
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, including the Heritage Act 1985. The Commonwealth
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 will
be increasingly important in guiding decision making regarding matters
of national and environmental significance.
*
Committees of Management include Municipal Councils, Department of Natural
Resources & Environment, Parks Victoria and locally appointed committees.
