Borough releases final Coastal and Marine Management Plan

THE Borough of Queenscliffe has created a final version of its Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP), and has opened it for public comment.

The document, which has been in development since 2021, will set the strategic direction for marine and coastal Crown land managed by the borough, and has been designed to align with the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 and associated policy.

According to the CMMP, its vision for the next 15 years is “Within Wadawurrung Country, our resilient marine and coastal environment, with its rich living heritage and culture is valued by all. Working alongside Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and our coastal communities, we collaborate to protect and care for this special place now and in the future.”

There are five goals for the next 15 years:

Acknowledge and respect Wadawurrung Traditional Owners connections to Country and enable them to exercise their rights and interests in Caring for Country, in the spirit of koling wada ngal (Let’s walk together)

Protect and enhance the marine and coastal environment

Respect natural processes and strengthen resilience to climate change

Ensure use and development is ecologically, socially, culturally and economically sustainable, and

Promote stewardship, knowledge, and collaboration.

There are also 13 objectives to be carried out over the next five years, each aligning to one of the five goals:

Support Wadawarrung to embed their rights and aspirations in the planning and management of Coastal Country

Increase community awareness of Wadawurrung Country and Culture

Increase the protection of Wadawurrung Cultural sites

Empower Wadawurrung to walk Country and expand knowledge of Cultural values

Protect the natural dune system and enhance the natural values of the CMMP area

Improve knowledge of the marine and coastal environment

Reduce the impacts of stormwater outfalls on the marine and coastal environment

Ensure coastal hazard risks and impacts from climate change are understood and planned for

Provide safe access to marine and coastal Crown land

Improve the planning and management of open space and built assets located on marine and coastal Crown land

Ensure commercial arrangements balance the protection of environmental, social and cultural values with equitable access and revenue generation

Increase participation in volunteer an education activities, and

Improve collaboration and collaboration with WTOAC, government agencies and community groups.

In its introduction, the borough notes it has been 17 years since the development of the previous management plan for the borough’s marine and coastal Crown land.

“While many of the management issues facing the coast remain similar, much has changed in terms of legislation and policy and our understanding of

global issues such as climate change.

“Despite this, there remains further work to do to develop a sound evidence base for management and improve collaboration with other land managers and community organisations.

“As such, much of the work in this plan is foundational, aimed at establishing an inclusive and transparent approach to management and improving Council’s knowledge base and planning systems.”

Comments about the CMMP can be sent before July 5 via email [email protected] or by mail to Borough of Queenscliffe, 50 Learmonth Street (PO Box 93), Queenscliff.

There will also be a community drop-in session held at the Hub, 49-55 Hesse Street, Queenscliff on June 23 between 10am and 2pm.

For more information on the CMMP, including an issues paper and consultation reports, head to queenscliffe.vic.gov.au