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Central
Coast Region
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The
Central Coastal Region of Victoria comprises the major embayments
of Port Phillip and Western Port and the open coast fronting
Bass Strait approximately between Inverloch in the east
and Breamlea in the west.
The
Region contains many significant environmental values including
landscapes, terrestrial and marine ecosystems and species
of flora and fauna.
See
map of the area.
•
Overview
of the Central Coast Region
•
Coastal
Priorities
•
Central
Coast Issues
•
Central Coast Projects
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Shelly
Beach Portsea: Courtesy of Susannah Maley |
Overview
of the Central Coast Region
The Central Coastal Region was defined under the terms of the
Coastal Management Act 1995 by the Minster for Conservation and
Land Management in May 1996.
Melbourne
- Victoria's capital city and major transport and commercial centre
- has significant influence on the coast as does the regional
centre of Geelong and the growth which is occurring along the
Mornington Peninsula and in the Werribee, Phillip Island and Hastings
to Flinders areas. At present 80% of Victoria's population of
3.2 million reside within 50 kilometres of the coastline. The
continued spread and increase in population that is expected to
reach 3.7 million by 2010, will substantially add to the existing
pressures imposed on the coastline and bays.
The region
has a diversity of natural and modified landscapes, heritage sites
and ecosystems - many that are recognized nationally and internationally.
The region also contains natural and built tourism attractions
and destinations of national significance.
The marine
environment is relatively unpolluted. However there is ongoing
concern at the level of nutrient, sediments and other pollutants
arising from activities within the catchments. Exotic pests within
the bay areas also provide a contemporary challenge.
There is
increasing pressure from the Victorian community for greater access
to the marine and coastal areas in the region for recreational,
commercial and social activities. Pressures from domestic and
international tourism are also expected to increase.
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Coastal
Priorities
Coastal
Priorities for the Central Region: A Framework for Implementing
the Victorian Coastal Strategy is a strategic document which
provides guidance for coastal stakeholders and attempts
to integrate a range of current initiatives in the coastal
and marine environment.
The
Central Coastal Board has developed the framework to accelerate
the implementation of the Victorian Coastal Strategy in
the Central Region, and to clarify the regional context
and priorities. It includes a qualitative analysis of threats,
risks and barriers facing the 6 theme areas of the Victorian
Coastal Strategy. It will be a 'living' document - it will
evolve as evaluation at the process and outcome levels takes
place on an annual basis. It will complement the role of
the Victorian Coastal Strategy, Coastal Action Plans and
Local Planning Schemes.
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The Framework
has identified seven (7) priority areas for the Central Coastal
Region:
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Strategic
Planning for Boating Facilities
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Coastal
Business Case (Investment and Coordination)
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Natural
Resource Management
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Coastal
Guidelines
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Evaluation
and Monitoring
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Coastal
Consents and Decision Making
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Climate
Change and Storm Surge Planning
The Framework
is the culmination of over two years of collaboration and research
and has been prepared by the Central Coastal Board within its
regional coordination role with input from key partners and stakeholders.
Read more
about the development of Coastal Priorities below or download
the document from the following links:
·
Full
Document (596 kb)
· Executive
Summary (64 kb)
· Introduction
and Framework Objectives (53 kb)
· Background
and Context (217 kb)
· Overview
of Regional Issues related the themes in the VCS (35 kb)
· Priority
Areas and Actions (56 kb)
· Implementation
Tools & Evaluation and Monitoring (31 kb)
· Conclusion
(34 kb)
· Reports/Strategies
referred to in the Framework (54 kb)
· Appendices
(88 kb)
· Acronyms
(30 kb)
The need
for a strategic approach
The region's coastal and marine environments contain many
and varied natural resources and a significant range of human
uses depend on these resources. These uses range from low level
recreation to heavy, marine based, industry and shipping. Impacts
from these uses are significant and the coastal and marine environment
are under serious threat from catchment inputs, pest plants and
animals (marine and terrestrial), overuse by visitors and residents,
industrial impacts and many others.
Many complex
strategies exist to guide the future of the region, all of which
attempt to address ecologically sustainable development to some
extent, but which are often disconnected or run parallel to each
other. Using the Victorian Coastal Strategy as the starting point,
this framework identifies these strategies and activities, analyses
qualitatively the issues, and provides an assessment of where
future coastal and marine action should be directed across the
region and across the variety of agencies and coastal and marine
managers.
Our partners
The Framework has been developed with key input from partner
agencies including:
· Melbourne Water,
· Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management
Authority,
· Environment Protection Authority,
· Department of Sustainability and Environment,
· Department of Primary Industries,
· Parks Victoria,
· Association of Bayside Municipalities, and
· representatives from local councils adjacent to
Western Port.
Developing
the Framework
The Framework was developed in two stages.
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The
Board commissioned the Norman
Review in 2002 to place existing strategic planning
across the coast and marine environment in a logical framework
to aid implementation of the VCS. This Review outlined the
context for coastal management in the region, identified
key issues, and recommended to the Board future actions
and directions. Download the Board's
response to its recommendations here.
The
second stage was the development of the Framework which:
· responds to the key recommendations in the
Norman Review;
· provides a tool for setting priorities for
action in the region based around the themes and objectives
of the VCS; and
· enables ongoing assessment and monitoring
of progress of the implementation of the VCS in the Central
region.
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The Priority
Areas only address actions identified as first priority in the
analysis, and the actions and tasks flowing from them are intended
to form the priorities for the next 12-18 months for strategic
coastal planning and management activities in the Central Region.
Making
it Happen
The Board notes that several actions identified are already
built into the forward planning mechanisms of the lead agencies.
However, many actions recommended are new initiatives, and not
provided for in existing arrangements. Support for these will
be pursued by agencies, with the CCB, through a range of opportunities.
Member agencies on the steering committee have expressed a willingness
to progress the recommendations in this way.
The Priority
Areas will be pursued through a cooperative project approach with
responsible agencies and stakeholders.
Progress
The Board is currently working on two Priority Areas:
· Strategic Planning for Boating Facilities, involving
development of a Boating Coastal Action Plan with assistance from
all stakeholders, and
· The Coastal Business Case (Investment and Coordination),
which will involve engagement with relevant State and Local government
agencies.
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Projects
• Boat Sewage
Pump-out Systems and Hoppers
• Boating Coastal Action Plan
• Corio
Bay Coastal Action Plan
• Mt
Eliza to Point Nepean Coastal Action Plan
• Waterfront
Geelong Coastal Action Plan
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Issues
• About the Bays Newsletter
• Boat
Sewage
• Port
Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan - Interim Review
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Proposed
Port Phillip Bay Channel Deepening
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Western
Port Research Coordination: Stage 1
The Board
is also involved in a range of other initiatives around the Region
including:
· Geelong Waterfront Boating Needs Assessment (City
of Greater Geelong)
· South-West Port Phillip Boat Launching Review
(Parks Victoria)
· Port Phillip Heads Channel Deepening Technical
Reference Group
· Southern Catchments Forum
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