Roles

Many people and agencies have responsibility for, or a keen interest in, coastal planning and management in Victoria. See the Management Agencies and Groups listing under the following categories:
Management and Planning Agencies and Groups
· Local Community Committees of Management
· Regional
· State
· National

Only 4% of the Victorian coastline is privately owned. The remaining 96% of coastal land is held by the Victorian Minister for Environment 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 Sustainability and Environment (DSE).

Small areas of public land along the coast and most of the seabed remain unreserved and are managed by the DSE.

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.

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) (insert links to these - where possible).

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.
See Victorian Coastal Strategy graphic for details

See also:
Strategic Coastal Planning Overview - Coastal Action Plan context

Land Use Planning in Victoria - A Councillor's Guide (March 2006) (Municipal Association of Victoria)

Strategic Coastal Planning in Victoria (Set of maps)

Regional

• Western Coastal Board

• Central Coastal Board

• Gippsland Coastal Board

• Community

• Foreshore Committees of Management

• Local Port Managers

• Port of Portland

• Regional Indigenous Communities

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State

• Aboriginal Affairs Victoria

• Department of Infrastructure

• Department of Sustainability and Environment

• Department of Primary Industries (Fishing and Aquaculture)

• Department of Primary Industries (Minerals and Petroleum)

• Environment Protection Authority

• Fisheries Co-Management Council

• Heritage Victoria

• Marine Safety Victoria

• Office of the Environmental Monitor

• Parks Victoria

• Tourism Victoria

• Victorian Catchment Management Council

• Victorian Coastal Council

• Victorian Environmental Assessment Council

• Victorian Regional Channels Authority

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National

• Australian Fisheries Management Authority

• Australian Heritage Council

• Bureau of Rural Sciences

• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

• Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

• Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism

• National Oceans Office

• Natural Heritage Trust

• Primary Industries Ministerial Council/Natural resource Management Ministerial Council - NRM
Advisory Committee - Marine and Coastal Committee

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