East Gippsland Shire Council has received advice that our Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP) has been formally supported with Ministerial Approval - making East Gippsland one of only a small number of Victorian Councils to reach this status.
The approved advice commended the extensive community engagement behind the plan, recognising it as a shire-wide strategic framework shaped by three years of conversations with residents, Traditional Owners and coastal communities from Paynesville to Mallacoota.
Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said the CMMP reflects just how much East Gippsland's waterways mean to the people who live alongside them.
"Our coastline and waterways are among East Gippsland's most treasured assets - environmentally, culturally and socially. This plan represents years of genuine conversation with our communities, Traditional Owners and agency partners about how we care for these places, and it gives us a clear, considered framework to keep sustaining them for generations to come."
Significant public consultation included pop-up sessions in coastal towns, an interactive online map, webinars, and written submissions. A Project Reference Group including Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Department of Transport and Planning, East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, East Gippsland Water, Gippsland Ports, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, and Parks Victoria assisted in ensuring the final plan reflects the full breadth of coastal life in East Gippsland.
The CMMP has been developed in line with the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 and Marine and Coastal Policy 2020, and reflects the unique environmental, cultural and community values of East Gippsland's coastline, from wild beaches and tranquil estuaries to the iconic Gippsland Lakes. It updates several outdated Foreshore Management Plans across the shire, and includes:
- A shire-wide vision shaped by community and stakeholder aspirations
- Coastal values, challenges and opportunities, shire-wide and for each of the 10 coastal communities
- Objectives aligned with State legislation
- Priority actions for the next five to 10 years
- A pathway to implement and monitor progress, with ongoing community and stakeholder engagement
The CMMP is a tool to assist Crown land managers and communities to care for coastal and marine environments, ensuring these areas are enjoyed sustainably by both communities and visitors, now and for future generations.
