Coastal and Marine Management Plans

What is a Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP)?

A CMMP is a public document, prepared under the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 and approved by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. It establishes an agreement between the Victorian Government, the land manager and the community as to how an area of coastal Victoria will be managed.

It is a tool to assist Crown land managers and the community to care for special coastal and marine environments and manage demand and conflicting uses now and in the future.

A CMMP implements the long-term policy guidance in the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020 by translating them to on-ground actions.

Community input and participation in the development of a CMMP is essential. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) will assist managers to prepare CMMPs. It is important to contact your local DEECA office when preparing a CMMP.

Who prepares a CMMP?

A CMMP is prepared by a Crown land manager (public agency) appointed to manage the coast including Committees of Management, local government, Parks Victoria or the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.

Why a coastal land manager should prepare a Marine and Coastal Management Plan?

An approved CMMP has many benefits for both the coast manager and the local community and shows:

• How a coastal manager is caring for the environment.
• Through the implementation plan how the manager will be accountable for the delivery of or updates to the vision and actions in the CMMP.

• That the manager will engage with their communities to plan for adaptative management.

• How actions will be identified to protect assets at risk of climate change.

• How a manager will achieve their vision for the management of the coast.