East Gippsland - Coastal and Marine Management Plan

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Project Description

Council is currently developing a Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP) for the coastal communities across East Gippsland. Led by Victorian Government legislation (the Marine and Coastal Act 2018) and policy (Marine and Coastal Policy, 2020), the plan will guide sustainable management of Council-managed coastal reserves.

The East Gippsland coast encompasses diverse environments from coastal wilderness and open sandy beaches to tranquil lakes, inlets and estuaries, including the iconic Gippsland Lakes. These coastal and marine areas are special for many different reasons. With a range of values and uses across the region, and limited coastal space, balancing these values and uses can be difficult. We need a coordinated and integrated approach to balance the many environmental, cultural, economic and social values of these areas, particularly with a changing climate and developing communities.

Council will ensure that partners including Traditional Owners, Parks Victoria and Coastal Management Authorities will work together to achieve the best outcomes for our marine and coastal environment.

Importantly, Council already has a number of Foreshore Management Plans guiding management of our coastal areas. However with new legislation and a significant amount of work completed, many of these plans are now outdated. Guided by community values, experiences, and State legislation, a new CMMP will:

  • Highlight what people love and what’s important to people about coastal and marine areas, including common themes across the Shire and community-specific values.
  • Improve understanding of the challenges and emerging concerns, in particular environmentally and culturally significant matters in relation to coastal and marine management in East Gippsland.
  • Set a consistent Shire-wide vision and approach for managing coastal and marine environments, in alignment with State policy.
  • Outline priority actions and projects, both across the Shire and for specific communities.
  • Streamline the many projects, agencies and groups working across the coastal and marine space.

We are at the early stages of developing the new Plan. This means we are building our understanding of what our community love about the coast, what they would change, and their ideas for the future. This includes looking at previous projects and plans to capture management to date and what communities have already told us.

How can I get involved?

We want the CMMP to reflect the interests of the community. This includes all those who use, care for, and rely upon our coastal and marine areas – our residents, businesses, visitors, workforce, rightsholders and other stakeholders. To help us make informed decisions, it's important to understand what the community loves about the coast, and where there might be concerns or challenges.

Whether you’re a resident, visitor or work in these areas, we want to hear:

  • what you love about the coast
  • what you would change
  • your ideas for the future.

Drop a pin on the map, tell us more about your local spot, or share your favourite memory of the coast.

Community Engagement

Get involved by the 11th of December 2023. This opportunity to advise Council on what you love (or not) will cease on this date. The Draft Report will be presented to the community for further feedback - we anticipate this will be February 2024 and be open for 8 weeks.

Whether you’re a full-time resident, occasional visitor, or work in the area, we want to hear what you love about the East Gippsland coast and how we can better manage these valued areas.

All documents that were presented to communities in Mallacoota, Bemm River and Marlo are under Documents.










Project Description

Council is currently developing a Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP) for the coastal communities across East Gippsland. Led by Victorian Government legislation (the Marine and Coastal Act 2018) and policy (Marine and Coastal Policy, 2020), the plan will guide sustainable management of Council-managed coastal reserves.

The East Gippsland coast encompasses diverse environments from coastal wilderness and open sandy beaches to tranquil lakes, inlets and estuaries, including the iconic Gippsland Lakes. These coastal and marine areas are special for many different reasons. With a range of values and uses across the region, and limited coastal space, balancing these values and uses can be difficult. We need a coordinated and integrated approach to balance the many environmental, cultural, economic and social values of these areas, particularly with a changing climate and developing communities.

Council will ensure that partners including Traditional Owners, Parks Victoria and Coastal Management Authorities will work together to achieve the best outcomes for our marine and coastal environment.

Importantly, Council already has a number of Foreshore Management Plans guiding management of our coastal areas. However with new legislation and a significant amount of work completed, many of these plans are now outdated. Guided by community values, experiences, and State legislation, a new CMMP will:

  • Highlight what people love and what’s important to people about coastal and marine areas, including common themes across the Shire and community-specific values.
  • Improve understanding of the challenges and emerging concerns, in particular environmentally and culturally significant matters in relation to coastal and marine management in East Gippsland.
  • Set a consistent Shire-wide vision and approach for managing coastal and marine environments, in alignment with State policy.
  • Outline priority actions and projects, both across the Shire and for specific communities.
  • Streamline the many projects, agencies and groups working across the coastal and marine space.

We are at the early stages of developing the new Plan. This means we are building our understanding of what our community love about the coast, what they would change, and their ideas for the future. This includes looking at previous projects and plans to capture management to date and what communities have already told us.

How can I get involved?

We want the CMMP to reflect the interests of the community. This includes all those who use, care for, and rely upon our coastal and marine areas – our residents, businesses, visitors, workforce, rightsholders and other stakeholders. To help us make informed decisions, it's important to understand what the community loves about the coast, and where there might be concerns or challenges.

Whether you’re a resident, visitor or work in these areas, we want to hear:

  • what you love about the coast
  • what you would change
  • your ideas for the future.

Drop a pin on the map, tell us more about your local spot, or share your favourite memory of the coast.

Community Engagement

Get involved by the 11th of December 2023. This opportunity to advise Council on what you love (or not) will cease on this date. The Draft Report will be presented to the community for further feedback - we anticipate this will be February 2024 and be open for 8 weeks.

Whether you’re a full-time resident, occasional visitor, or work in the area, we want to hear what you love about the East Gippsland coast and how we can better manage these valued areas.

All documents that were presented to communities in Mallacoota, Bemm River and Marlo are under Documents.










  • Project Update - 21 December 2023

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    Seven months of community engagement we listened and learnt

    Two engagement documents have been produced and are now available in the documents section. Alternatively, click on one of the links below -

    CMMP community engagement summary December 2023

    CMMP December project summary


    Further detail will be in the Draft Report.

  • Pop-up information session times

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    Come and meet with our staff and expert consultants to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas on your coastal environment.

    We are holding pop-up engagement sessions to assist in making informed decisions on the management of East Gippsland’s coastal and marine region.

    This is the first step in developing our Coastal and Marine Management Plan.

    You can meet with us at:

    Lake Tyers Monday 26 June, 3.00 – 4.30 pm at Skidale Reserve

    Metung Tuesday 27 June, 9.00 – 10.30 am at the Village Green

    Lakes Entrance Tuesday 27 June 2.30 – 4.00 pm at the foreshore next to the footbridge, and 6.30 – 8.00 pm at Mechanics Hall.

    Bairnsdale Wednesday 28 June 9.00 – 11.00 am Bairnsdale Library forecourt

    Paynesville Wednesday 28 June 2.30 – 4.00 pm at the Service Centre forecourt, and 6.30 – 8.00 pm at the Service Centre meeting room.


    Note: we will visit our eastern coastal communities of Bemm River, Marlo and Mallacoota later in the year.


    Your input at these pop-up sessions will help us build our understanding of what our community loves about the coast, what they would change, and their ideas for the future. This includes looking at previous projects and plans to capture management to date and what communities have already told us.

    Led by Victorian Government legislation and policy, our Coastal and Marine Management Plan will guide sustainable management of Council-managed coastal reserves.

    To download our project information sheet with session times, CLICK HERE

  • Project Launch

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    supporting image

    Council has commenced the development of a Coastal and Marine Management Plan for East Gippsland Shire. This project will focus on bringing together the marine and coastal values, challenges and opportunities across 10 coastal communities. The plan will help us to better manage these special places over the next 5-10 years.

    Get involved by dropping a pin on the interactive map, sharing your favourite memory, or telling us more about the East Gippsland coast.

Page last updated: 21 Dec 2023, 11:35 AM