Coastal Priorities for the Central Region

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.

The Framework has identified seven (7) priority areas for the Central Coastal Region:

Strategic Planning for Boating Facilities
Coastal Business Case (Investment and Coordination)
Natural Resource Management
Coastal Guidelines
Evaluation and Monitoring
Coastal Consents and Decision Making
Climate Change and Storm Surge Planning

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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.

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.

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.