What is a Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP)?
A CMMP is a local scale strategic plan that is the primary tool for the management of marine and coastal Crown land.
A CMMP is a mechanism for land managers to implement an agreed vision for an area of marine and coastal Crown land. CMMPs are a way to prioritise and manage demand and conflicting uses now and in the future. They also translate objectives, aspirations and values for an area into on-ground action.
A CMMP’s priorities come from legislation and policy, as well as engagement with Traditional Owners, stakeholders and the local community.
A CMMP can cover multiple reserves with different land managers. CMMPs are approved by the Minister for Environment under the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 (the Act) and must be reviewed every 5 years after commencement.
A CMMP implements the long-term policy guidance in the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020 by translating this guidance to on-ground actions.
Who prepares a CMMP?
A CMMP is prepared by a land manager appointed to manage an area of marine and coastal Crown land. Land managers include Committees of Management, local government, Parks Victoria and the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.
Community input and participation in the development of a CMMP is essential. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) will assist land managers to prepare CMMPs. It is important to contact your local DEECA office when preparing a CMMP.
Why a coastal land manager should prepare a Marine and Coastal Management Plan?
All marine and coastal Crown land should have a CMMP to provide direction for the future local management of the land. The Marine and Coastal Act 2018 enables the Minister to specify that a CMMP must be made for a particular area of marine and coastal Crown land.
Developing a CMMP is an opportunity for land manager to engage with rights holders (including Traditional Owners), the community, agencies and other stakeholders. This engagement informs a shared understanding of values, knowledge and aspirations for the CMMP area. Using this understanding, land managers can prioritise management actions in line with the Policy.
An approved CMMP shows how a land manager will achieve the management vision for an area of marine and coastal Crown land, which:
- protects and enhances the environmental, social, cultural and economic values of the marine and coastal environment now and in the future
- balances competing uses of finite, unique and sensitive resources
- enhances the benefits of ecosystem goods and services provided by the marine and coastal environment
- ensures collaboration with other land managers and agencies to align objectives and outcomes.
Approved plans
Effective from 1 August 2023.
Coastal and Marine Management Plan guidelines
Coastal and Marine Management Plan guidelines (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Coastal and Marine Management Plan guidelines (DOCX, 935.5 KB)
Coastal and Marine Management Plan Guidelines (the guidelines) have been developed by DEECA to assist land managers in preparing CMMPs. The guidelines have been designed to support land managers to comply with the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 and the Marine and Coastal Policy with a step-by-step process for the development of CMMPs.
The guidelines include:
- an emphasis on working with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians.
- a focus on responding to climate change, population growth and ageing infrastructure
- consideration of the impacts of current and future use and development of the marine and coastal environment
- an emphasis on engagement
- a process for consultation and approvals, including with local government, DEECA, the Victorian Marine and Coastal Council and the Minister responsible for the Act.
The guidelines replace the 2017 Guidelines for Coastal Management Plans.
Coastal and Marine Management Plan Resource Kit
The Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP) Resource Kit provides a collection of templates that can be used to guide coastal Crown land managers (land managers) through the necessary steps of preparing a CMMP. These templates draw on the information provided in the CMMP Guidelines 2023 (Figure 1).
Land managers can determine how best to use the Resource Kit to support their planning process. It is not a mandatory requirement to use the Resource Kit when preparing a CMMP.
If a land manager chooses to use the templates, it is recommended that they are used in the following order:
- Scope and Scale template (DOCX, 845.9 KB): defines the management area
- Engagement Plan template (DOCX, 1.2 MB): to identify and engage all relevant rightsholders and stakeholders
- MERI Program Logic template (DOCX, 800.5 KB): defines what and how objectives, activities, and anticipated outcomes of the CMMP will be delivered
- Management Plan template (DOCX, 813.4 KB): in which insights gathered from the above templates are consolidated
- MERI Framework template (Excel, 480.3 KB): establishes robust monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement criteria
Figure 1: CMMP preparation stages and relevant Resource Kit template
Page last updated: 15/10/24