The Theory and Practice of Coastal Area Planning: linking strategic planning to local communities

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The Theory and Practice of Coastal Area
Planning linking strategic planning to local
communities

• Associate Professor Geoff Wescott
• Associate Head
• School of Ecology and Environment
• Deakin University
• Melbourne, Australia
• wescott_at_deakin.edu.au

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Approach

• Relationship between Integrated Coastal
  Management (ICM) and Coastal Area Planning
• Case Study - illustrating practical application
  of ICM to coastal planning incorporating
  balancing the needs of local communities and
  strategic coastal planning

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Principles of Integrated Coastal Management
(ICM, Sorenson,1997)

• horizontal integration ie.land,sea,catchment
  agency
• vertical integration ie. between national,
  state, local governments
• planning and management linked across land sea
• integration of sciences,social science,education
  and research

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Case Study Coastal Area Planning in the State
of Victoria, Australia Some Background
Information

• South facing coastline of approx. 2000 kilometres
• Melbourne is Australias largest container port
• 85 of approx. 4 million Victorians live near the
  coast
• Two thirds of the coast in National or State
  Parks
• 70 million visits to the coast a year

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Who does what along the coast?
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Case StudyState of Victoria, AustraliaInstitut
ional arrangements under the Coastal Management
Act 1995

• A.Structural arrangements
• B.Major Agencies
• C.Major published documents
• D.Processes

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International, National State Context

• International
• ?
• National
• ?
• State
• ?
• Regional
• ?
• Local

ICZM ? Commonwealth Coastal Policy
1995 ? Victorian Coastal Strategy ? Coastal
Action Plans ? Planning Schemes
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Case StudyState of Victoria, AustraliaA.Instit
utional arrangements Objectives of the Coastal
Management Act 1995

• a) to plan and manage resources on a sustainable
  basis.
• b) to protect and maintain areas of
  environmental significance.
• c) to facilitate development
• d) to maintain and improve water quality
• e) to improve public awareness and understanding
  of the coast and to involve the public in
  planning and management.

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B. Major Agencies

• Lead statewide agency Victorian Coastal
  Council
• Three regional agencies Regional Coastal
  Boards (east,central,west)

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C.Major DocumentVictorian Coastal Strategy
Four major sections

• SUSTAIN
• PROTECT
• DEVELOP
• DIRECT

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Victorian Coastal StrategyHierarchy of Guiding
Principles

• Over-riding Ecologically Sustainable Development
  principles,by
• 1.Protection of significant features
• 2.Sustainable Use of coastal resources
• 3.Providing Direction for the future
• 4.Sustainable Development (when 1-3 met)

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ESD and VCS principles
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Integrated Coastal Zone Management
NHT 2
National / International Context

• Planning Schemes
• Zones
• Overlays

Regional Catchment strategies
VCS

• Biodiversity Strategy
• Ecological footprint
• Action statements

Guidelines

• Fisheries Management Plans
• Sustainability indicators

• Key Action
• Accountability

• Regional Initiatives
• G.O.R Strategy
• Boating
• CAPs

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D.

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Possible Lessons to take away B.Agencies

• State lead agency supported by regional (local)
  agencies two tiers of agencies to
  ensure higher bodies stay in touch with varying
  local communities
• All with strong (majority)community
  representations

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Possible Lessons to take away C.Documents

• Ensure that you possess a comprehensive and
  integrated Coastal Strategy (National / State)
• Link National/State Strategy to Local Plans with
  a linking plan (eg. Coastal Action Plan)
• Make published documents easy to follow and easy
  to use eg. Use the Sustain/Direct/Devel
  op/Protect approach

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Possible Lessons to take away D.Processes

• Ensure strong community input / public
  participation at all levels and in production of
  all documents and decision making
  Coastal Strategy preparation, Coastal Action
  Plan preparation, Management Plans, Planning
  Schemes, development applications/permits.

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Possible Lessons to take away Processes

• Ensure strong community input through direct
  representation on key agencies
  National / State
  (sub-national) / Regional and Local

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Conclusion

• We can all learn from each others experience
• ICM is a very useful concept .. provided it
  is seen as a starting point (a template) to be
  adapted and refined for individual nations and
  states particular social, ecological,political
  and economic circumstances

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Internet Addresses




Key Marine and Coastal Information


Australian Ocean and Coastal National
Policy http//www.oceans.gov.au http//www.ea.go
v.au Victorian Coastal Information http//www.v
cc.vic.gov.au
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Victorian Coastal Policy references




About the new System


Wescott.G. 1998. Reforming Coastal Management to
Improve Community Participation and Integration
in Victoria, Australia. Coastal Management 26
3-15.
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Victorian Coastal Zone Management



A Brief history

VCZM

• 1879 reservation
• Committees of Management (COMs)
• 1966 Port Phillip Authority (PPA)
• Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)
• 1978 Coastal Management Coordination
• Committee
• Crown Lands (Reserves) Act 1978
• the great divide