Coastal zone management in Australia

Abstract

Abstract The coastal management approaches developed by Australian states are a function of the issues of concern, technical understanding of problems, and the political philosophy when the agencies were established. Victoria has based its efforts on coordination between agencies and planning of public lands; Queensland on technical understanding of beach processes; South Australia on comprehensive planning and state‐local collaboration; and New South Wales on planning controls. The federal government has not accepted an overall role in coastal management although it does intervene with states on a variety of issues. A Federal Coastal Management Council has been proposed to disseminate information and encourage collaboration between states, and this proposal is still under investigation.