Environment and Land Management Plan
About this page
The Environment and Land Management Plan was endorsed by the Committee in November 2006.
Below is a brief summary of the Plan. You can also download the plan.
Good coastal management requires adequate resources, skilled managers and an integrated approach. But it also requires a detailed understanding of the coast’s special values and good planning to develop clear actions and priorities.
GORCC has considerable skills and resources to help it manage reserves from Torquay to Lorne, but has recognised the need to base its management decisions on a more detailed understanding of the natural, cultural, landscape and recreational values along the coast. To achieve this, a project team with a wide range of experience was commissioned to investigate coastal values and threats, review issues and opportunities, and develop actions to ensure protection of key values while still continuing to provide for compatible recreation.
The project focussed on four individual reserves managed by GORCC – centred on Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Lorne - but also considered adjacent coastal land managed by Surf Coast Shire and Parks Victoria.
The project team worked closely with GORCC, other organisations and the community during the project, reviewed existing studies and plans and undertook extensive field work. These investigations identified significant natural values, important Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritage sites and highly valued landscapes.
Invasive weeds were found to be by far the greatest threat to natural values. Unless effective management action is taken against these weeds in the next decade or so, many biodiversity values will be lost.
“Invasion of indigenous vegetation and fauna habitats by environmental weeds is the overwhelming environmental management issue in the study area and the region generally. This issue dwarfs all other biodiversity management issues combined and this will remain the case, whatever global climate changes occur.”
Other important threats identified include unregulated recreational access in sensitive areas, pest animals, loss of indigenous vegetation, and visual intrusions from development and infrastructure.
Consultation for this plan, and related projects in Surf Coast Shire, found a high level of community interest in the coast and very strong support for its protection and enhancement. A network of active ‘Friends’ and other volunteer groups have also made a major contribution to coastal management, through weed removal, rehabilitation and other projects.
As a result of investigations of coastal values and community views, a vision for the coast was prepared, a series of management principles and goals developed, important management actions and priorities determined and an implementation program developed.
The five goals are:
§ Goal 1: Protect and conserve natural values
§ Goal 2: Protect and conserve cultural values
§ Goal 3: Ensure recreation and development minimises impacts on landscape and associated natural values
§ Goal 4: Ensure coordinated and sustainable management of public land
§ Goal 5: Increase community involvement and appreciation
Important actions included:
§ Undertaking a major ongoing program to control or eradicate major weeds at nominated sites along the coast, in conjunction with the community and other coastal management agencies.
§ Continuing to minimise recreation impacts by defining and regulating vehicle, foot and bicycle access through good design, fencing, signs and education.
§ Providing ongoing protection of cultural heritage sites and interpreting coastal heritage
§ Developing showcase sites to demonstrate high quality coastal management and protection and promoting these sites to increase community awareness and involvement.
§ Undertaking community education programs to increase understanding of coastal values leading to actions to reduce human impacts on environmental and landscape values.
§ Reviewing management activities and developing sustainable practices in all GORCC activities.
§ Monitoring progress at implementing this plan and reporting regularly to local communities on progress.
The plan stresses the need and opportunity to work closely with other coastal managers to share knowledge and skills and to initiate joint projects to tackle issues such as weeds and pest animals, and recreational impacts.
The plan also recognises the need to engage the community, including Indigenous groups, more fully, manage land and recreational facilities more sustainably, and respond to future impacts from pressures ranging from residential development to global warming.
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