Coastal Zone Management in NSW

The NSW Government's Coastline Management Manual was released in 1990 to assist councils in understanding coastal hazards and managing the coastline so that balanced, sustainable and merit-based decisions could be achieved. The manual is currently being revised, but the stages in preparing a Coastal Zone Management Plan are currently as follows:-

1. Establish a Coastal Zone Management Committee.
2. Identify issues and review existing data.
3. Undertake a Coastal Zone Study, which is a targeted investigation of specific aspects of the coastal zone environment.
4. Conduct a Coastal Zone Management Study to develop management objectives and consider all feasible management options whilst also assessing social, economic, aesthetic, recreational and ecological issues associated with land uses of the area.
5. Prepare a Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan.
6. Review the Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan through public exhibition and consultation.
7. Council adoption of the Coastal Zone Management Plan including an implementation strategy.
8. Submit the Plan to the Minster for Climate Change and the Environment for approval in accordance in Part 4A of the Coastal Protection Act of 1979.
9. Implement the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan.
10. Periodically review the Coastal Zone Management Plan.

Stage 1 of the coastal management process has been completed by Wollongong City Council and the current study, which will be completed by mid-2010, will address Stages 2 and 3 of the process to inform the future management phases.