4 Victorian State Priorities
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), has developed a Victorian Marine and Coastal Policy which aims to achieve objectives of the Marine and Coastal Act, 2018. A marine and coastal strategy (2020) was developed as an action plan to achieve the Marine and Coastal Policy objectives, and The Marine and Coastal Knowledge Framework (MACKF) has been developed to provide standards for data collection, management, and analysis. All documents aim to inform decision making processes, for example coastal planning and climate change impact. These are present below. Have a look through the objectives of each and choose one to look at in further detail.
‘A Blue Body of Water Under Blue Sky‘ by bhupen singh used under a Pexels License
Marine and Coastal Act
The Marine and Coastal Act 2018 outlines specific objectives for the planning and management of the marine and coastal environment in Victoria. The Act’s objectives are to:
- protect and enhance the marine and coastal environment
- promote the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems, communities and assets to climate change
- respect natural processes in planning for and managing current and future risks to people and assets from coastal hazards and climate change
- acknowledge Traditional Owner groups’ knowledge, rights and aspirations for Land and Sea Country
- promote a diversity of experience in the marine and coastal environment
- promote the ecologically sustainable use and development of the marine and coastal environment and its resources in appropriate areas
- improve community, user group and industry stewardship and understanding of the marine and coastal environment
- engage with specified Aboriginal parties, the community, user groups and industry in marine and coastal planning, management and protection
- build scientific understanding of the marine and coastal environment
This text is from the “Marine and Coastal Policy” by © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2020 is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Marine and Coastal Policy
The Marine and Coastal Policy provides long-term guidance to achieve the Marine and Coastal Act 2018. It is designed to be used by decision makers in sustainable use, management and planning of the marine and coastal environment. It may be used by decision makers on issues such as climate change impacts, change in population, and coastal resilience.
‘Sea Cliff at Daytime’ by Jess Parkes used under a Pexels License
Activity: Marine and Coastal Policy objectives and intended outcomes
Flip the cards in the below activity to explore the policy’s objectives and intended outcomes:
Activity Text Version
Activity: Marine and Coastal Policy objectives and intended outcomes
This activity allows the exploration of the Marine and Coastal Policy objectives and intended outcomes. These are listed below:
Traditional Owners’ rights, aspirations and knowledge
Intended outcomes: Current and future generations of Traditional Owners care for and respect Country through self-determination.
Ecosystems and habitats
Intended outcomes: Victoria’s marine and coastal ecosystems are:
- Healthy, diverse, functioning, resilient and connected
- Valued in their own right
- Able to sustainably provide goods and services to Victorians now and in the future.
Natural features and landscapes
Intended outcomes: Natural features and landscapes (including seascapes) in the marine and coastal environment are protected and enhanced, while we recognise and respect naturally occurring marine and coastal processes that will also cause change.
Cultural values and heritage sites
Intended outcomes: Cultural values and heritage sites in the marine and coastal environment are protected for current and future generations.
Value of marine and coastal Crown land
Intended outcomes: The benefits of marine and coastal Crown land continue to be available to current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to enjoy similar benefits.
Managing coastal hazard risk
Intended outcomes: Coastal hazard risks and climate change impacts are understood and planned for. Communities, land managers and decision makers have the capability and capacity to respond to coastal hazards. The impacts of climate change on values of the marine and coastal environment are minimised. Adaptation is embedded as a core component of planning in the marine and coastal environment and is used to manage uncertainty and build resilience.
Emergency response and preparedness
Intended outcomes: Emergencies that impact on the marine and coastal environment are effectively planned for to prevent or minimise immediate and long-term consequences on human health and safety, property, the natural environment and local values, and to enable recovery and reduce future risk.
Coastal settlements
Intended outcomes: Coastal settlements are desirable places to live, work, visit and play. Non-urban breaks between coastal settlements are maintained to preserve the character of the coastline and coastal settlements. Growth of coastal settlements is ecologically, socially and economically sustainable.
Marine and coastal industries
Intended outcomes: Use of the marine and coastal environment by industry is ecologically, socially and economically sustainable.
Recreation and tourism
Intended outcomes: The marine and coastal environment hosts a diverse range of recreation and tourism experiences that are strategically planned and located to be safe and sustainable now and in the future.
Buildings, structures and access
Intended outcomes: Buildings and structures in the marine and coastal environment exhibit excellence in siting and design that is sympathetic to the landscape context and minimises impacts on the environment. Buildings and structures on marine and coastal Crown land have a functional need to be near or in the water and provide significant public benefit. Communities access marine and coastal Crown land in ways that minimise risk to public safety and protect environmental and cultural values.
Stewardship and collaborative management
Intended outcomes: Traditional Owners, marine and coastal managers, community groups and user groups:
- Are actively engaged and empowered to care for, protect and improve the health of the marine and coastal environment
- Collaborate, as stewards, to take care of and deliver integrated and coordinated planning and management of the marine and coastal environment
- Have the knowledge, skills and capacity to manage current and future challenges.
Improved knowledge and understanding of the marine and coastal environment is used to inform evidence-based decision making and evaluate the effectiveness of those decisions.
Funding for sustainable management of marine and coastal Crown land
Intended outcomes: Planning and management of marine and coastal Crown land is strategically funded and resourced to effectively manage current and future challenges.
End Activity Text Version
Text from this activity is from the “Marine and Coastal Policy” by © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2020 is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Marine Spatial Planning Framework
Purpose of the Marine Spatial Planning Framework
The Marine and Coastal Act 2018 requires the development of a statewide Marine Spatial Planning Framework (MSP Framework) that provides a process for achieving integrated and coordinated planning and management of the marine environment.
The MSP Framework has three primary functions:
- To support integration and coordination of planning and management across marine sectors, the land-sea interface and jurisdictional boundaries
- To support Traditional Owners, marine sectors, marine users and the community participate in marine planning and management
- To provide a process for:
- Determining where and when marine spatial planning is required
- Initiating, approving and undertaking marine spatial planning, including producing and implementing marine plans.
A range of existing legislation, policies and plans provide direction for planning, management an decision making in the marine environment (see Appendix 2 in the Policy for further information). The MSP Framework does not replace, remove or duplicate their requirements; rather, it provides guidance and a process to support an integrated and coordinated approach to planning and management across sectors.
In addition, the MSP Framework is intended to complement other aspects of the Marine and Coastal Policy detailed in this document. When the MSP Framework is applied, the Planning and Decision Pathway and policies for planning and management of the marine and coastal environment set out in preceding chapters must also be considered.
Intended outcomes
Marine ecosystems are healthy, resilient and functional, retaining their intrinsic value while also providing ecosystem goods and services.
Ecologically sustainable and equitable use of the marine environment provides social, cultural and economic benefits, and minimises negative impacts on values.
Marine planning and management is:
- Integrated and coordinated
- Inclusive, collaborative and transparent
- Proactive, future oriented and adaptive
- Evidence-based, utilising scientific, social, cultural and economic knowledge and information.
This text is from the “Marine and Coastal Policy” by © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2020 is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Marine and Coastal Strategy
The Marine and Coastal Strategy was developed in 2020 to provide a detailed actions to achieve the Marine and Coastal Policy’s directions on the ground. It provides an implementation and evaluation plan. The six actions from the Marine and Coastal Strategy are outlined below.
Actions from the Marine and Coastal Strategy
Click on each action below to learn more.
Action 1: Traditional Owners determine how their rights and obligations are embedded into planning and management of the marine and coastal environment
Action 1
This action aims for the full integration of Traditional Owner values, uses and practices in the rehabilitation and ongoing management of Country. This will enable the continuance of Traditional Owner cultures, knowledge, and practices to heal our coastal and marine environment for current and future generations. The cultural and human rights of Traditional Owners must be respected. This action and all others in the Strategy aim to support Traditional Owners to determine how their rights and obligations are embedded in planning and management.
Action 2: Improve the condition and ecological connectivity of habitats and respect and care for our marine and coastal areas
Action 2
The purpose of this action is to improve marine and coastal ecosystem condition and connections that are critical their function and health. It will empower Victorians to connect with and care for our marine and coastal areas. Action 2 acknowledges the intrinsic value of our marine and coastal environment, and how the health of these areas is the basis for our personal and economic wellbeing, and for safeguarding and protecting traditional culture.
Action 3: Adapt to climate change
Action 3
This action builds the foundations for long-term climate adaptation in Victoria’s marine and coastal environment. It focuses on delivering key Policy outcomes, such as: increasing our understanding of coastal hazard risks and climate change impacts; strengthening our capability and capacity to respond to coastal hazards and climate change; and embedding adaptation as a core component of planning in the marine and coastal environment.
Action 4: Support sustainable use and development of the marine and coastal environment
Action 4
This action ensures that one use doesn’t unfairly impact the marine and coastal environment or other users and uses, now and in the future. This action will
provide long-term strategic planning and capacity building to keep use and development in Victoria’s marine and coastal environment sustainable.
Action 5 – Implement the Marine Spatial Planning Framework
Action 5
The Policy includes an MSP Framework that provides guidance and a process for integrated and coordinated planning, management and decision making by marine sectors. The MSP Framework consists of two parts: Part A provides guidance and policies for marine planning and management; Part B outlines Victoria’s approach to marine spatial planning.
Action 6: Identify resource needs for sustainable marine and coastal management
Action 6
The actions proposed in this Strategy require funding and resourcing. This action aims to understand where funding and resources are generated and invested and use this information to guide long-term investment plans and explore new funding options.
This text is from the “Marine and Coastal Strategy” by © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2022 is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Victoria’s Marine and Coastal Knowledge Framework & Strategic Directions 2020-22
The Marine and Coastal Knowledge Framework (MACKF) also serves as a decision support system for Victoria’s Marine and Coastal Policy (2020) and Marine Spatial Planning Framework (Victorian State Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 2020). The Framework details the essential elements and steps necessary for achieving integrated and coordinated planning and management of Victoria’s marine environment. It provides an overarching structure to guide planning, management and decision making by marine sectors.
The (MACKF) includes standards for data collection, management, and analysis to inform decision making.
This text is from the “Marine and Coastal Framework” by © State of Victoria (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action) is licensed under CC BY 4.0
The MACKF has 3 core themes:
- Drivers: the legal and policy setting which is guided by international scientific and management principles.
- Outputs: the Knowledge Management System which pulls on scientific and socioeconomic data from research programs and data modelling.
- Applications: the components that apply the data and information products to support management and planning decisions and their evaluation.
Image Text Version
Figure 2: The architectural blueprint of the Marine and Coastal Knowledge Framework.
A complex diagram grouping ‘drivers’, ‘outputs’, ‘applications’, and ‘users’ related to the Marine and Coastal Knowledge Framework. Each group contains further information detailed below:
Drivers
Policy and guidelines:
- UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Marine and Coastal Policy 2020
- Biodiversity 2037
- Climate Change Adaption Plan
- KDS Environmental Management Strategy 2016
Principles:
- Ecosystem-based Management
- Coastal Management
- Evidence-Based Decision Making
Partnerships
- Universities
- Other Government Agencies
- Proposed Marine and Coastal Hub
Best available information
- Centralised Data Management System
- Data Pooling
- Science
Outputs
Modelling and Spatial Analytics
- Identify Trends
- Quantify Relationships
- Make Predications
- Location Prioritisation
Monitoring and Research Programs
- Activities – Output Data Standards
- Victorian Coastal Monitoring Program
- Citizen Science, Cultural and Social
Standardised Metrics, Protocols and Methods
- Data: Biotope Classification, Altas and Bibliography
- Ecosystem Modelling: Values, Threats, Sensitivity, Management Effectiveness
- Indicators
Data Curation
- Victorian Spatial Data Library
- Raster data platform
- Amazon Web Services
- Data Models and Databases
Information Technology
- Mapping Portal (CoastKit and Litterwatch)
- Data Visualisations
Applications
Management
- Biodiversity Response Planning
- Port Philip Bay Fund
- Marine Environment Targeted Actions
- Restoration Activities
Planning
- Coastal Hazard Assessments
- Environmental Impact Assessments
- Marine Spatial Planning
Evaluation
- Port Phillip Bay EMP (MERI, which is the Environmental Management Plan Monitoring, Enironment, Reporting and Improvement Strategy)
- Biodiversity 2037 MERF (which is the Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework)
- Address Knowledge Gaps
Reporting
- State of the Marine and Coastal Environment Report
- Inform Management
Users
- Fishing Authorities
- Land and Coastal Managers
- Policymakers
- Scientists
- Local Councils and Government Authorities
- Energy and Transport Sector
- Community
End Image Text Version
This image is from the “Marine and Coastal Framework” by © State of Victoria (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action) is licensed under CC BY 4.0
References
Victorian State Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. (2020). Marine and Coastal Policy. https://www.marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/marine-coastal-management/marine-and-coastal-policy
