VEAC Assessment of Victoria's Coastal Reserves

The purpose of the assessment was to:

    a)  review the number and types (reservation status) of coastal reserves in Victoria;

    b)  identify reserves with high environmental, cultural heritage, social and economic values and identify values at risk from the impacts of climate change;

    c)  identify current and emerging uses of the coastal reserves; and 

    d)  compile an inventory, including spatial distribution, of values and uses of the coastal reserves.

A fact sheet providing an overview of the investigation and timelines is available under Additional Resources.

As a first step, the Council is required to publish a definition of coastal reserves to be used in the assessment, including a diagrammatic representation and map of Victoria's coastal reserves.  As part of its assessment, VEAC will produce a draft report and seek public comment on it.  The Council must report on the completed assessment by 6 December 2019.

The assessment and associated inventory will assist the Victorian Government's future planning and decision-making for Victoria's coasts.

Victoria's coastal reserves do not include any Crown land described as a park or marine sanctuary in schedules to the National Parks Act 1975, or the unreserved Crown land that makes up the seabed of Victoria's coastal waters.