To protect Victoria’s marine and coastal environments now and into the future, we have established a new Marine and Coastal Act as part of a broader package of reforms.
On 1 August 2018 the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 came into effect.
The Marine and Coastal Act 2018 provides a simpler, more integrated and coordinated approach to planning and managing the marine and coastal environment:
- enabling protection of the coastline and the ability to address the long-term challenges of climate change, population growth and ageing coastal structures
- ensuring that partners work together to achieve the best outcomes for Victoria’s marine and coastal environment.
Key elements include:
- clear objectives and guiding principles
- simpler advisory arrangements (including the introduction of a new Marine and Coastal Council)
- integrated policy and strategy development
- creation of a Marine Spatial Planning framework
- delivery of the first ‘State of the Marine and Coastal Environment’ report
- stronger regional and strategic partnerships
- implementing more comprehensive Environmental Management Plans (including for Port Phillip Bay)
- improved local planning and management
- better coastal erosion management.
Victoria's Marine and Coastal Reforms Final Transition Plan (PDF, 7.9 MB), released 1 August 2018, complements the Marine and Coastal Act 2018. It identifies a program of policy reforms and on-the-ground actions, many already underway, to transition to the new system over the coming years.
The plan has been updated to reflect the new Act. It also includes recommendations made in the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office report, Protecting Victoria’s Coastal Assets, released in March 2018.
The transition plan lists 45 actions to be delivered between 2018 and 2022. Each action item includes:
- brief background/description
- lead partners
- likely delivery time frame
- scope of work
- measures of success.
A fact sheet (PDF, 334.7 KB) provides more information about the new Act. For any specific queries, please email marine.coastalact@delwp.vic.gov.au.
To be kept informed of future consultation opportunities, please go to Engage Victoria and register your interest.
Marine and Coastal Act consultation
The Marine and Coastal Act Consultation Paper (PDF, 4.1 MB) was developed with the guidance of an Expert Panel and released in 2016. It outlined objectives and a series of proposed improvements to Victoria's coastal and marine management system. Input and ideas from the community were sought during the consultation period, and a total of 115 submissions were received from a wide range of stakeholders.
The submissions are in the following documents:
- State Government or Agency (PDF, 3.8 MB)
- Peak Bodies (PDF, 3.4 MB)
- NGOs (PDF, 2.3 MB)
- Local Government (PDF, 6.4 MB)
- Committees of Management (PDF, 8.9 MB)
- Community or Interest Groups (PDF, 2.6 MB)
- Individual Submissions (PDF, 1.8 MB)
The feedback received has helped inform the development of the new Act and important changes to how we look after our marine and coastal environment.
A Consultation Summary (PDF, 448.8 KB) report was developed to provide an overview of the feedback received.
A proposed Transition Plan 'Strengthening Victoria's Marine and Coastal Management (PDF, 2.4 MB)' was then developed to accompany the introduction of the Marine and Coastal Bill 2017. The proposed plan was released in December 2017 and identified a program of complementary policy reforms and on ground actions to transition to the new system over the coming years.
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We acknowledge and respect Victorian Traditional Owners as the original custodians of Victoria’s land and waters, their unique ability to care for Country and deep spiritual connection to it. We honour Elders past and present whose knowledge and wisdom has ensured the continuation of culture and traditional practices.
We are committed to genuinely partner, and meaningfully engage, with Victoria's Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities to support the protection of Country, the maintenance of spiritual and cultural practices and their broader aspirations in teh 21st century and beyond.
This article is sourced from the DELWP website. https://www.coastsandmarine.vic.gov.au/marine-and-coastal-act