The City of Greater Geelong has released the draft Southeast Bellarine Coast (4W-Collendina) Coastal and Marine Management Plan for community feedback.
The development of the draft management plan was informed by extensive community engagement with community, landholder, tourism and land manager stakeholders, as well as the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. It has been drafted in consultation with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
The project incorporates the dune system, woodlands and wetlands along the southern coast of the Bellarine, which is one of the most important conservation areas in the region, including the Buckley Park Foreshore Reserve.
The area has extensive and significant cultural heritage and historical sites, and plays a vital role as a dune system in the protection of coastal and climate change impacts.
The vision for the draft management plan is to prioritise the recognition, protection and enhancement of the Bellarine Southeast Coast of coastal and marine ecosystems, whilst fostering cultural connection and community stewardship.
To achieve the vision, there are five key objectives:
Acknowledge Traditional Owners’ rights, aspirations and knowledge
Protect and enhance the marine and coastal environment
Respect natural processes and strengthen resilience to climate change
Use and develop sustainably
Promote stewardship and collaborative management
City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Councillor Peter Murrihy, said the plan was about setting a long-term vision and ensuring management of affected areas maintained a best-practice approach.
“The Southeast Bellarine Coast (4W-Collendina) Coastal and Marine Management Plan sets the vision, priority actions and outcomes we aim to achieve in this area over the next ten years,” Cr Murrihy said.
“This draft plan focuses on collaborative management of the landscape, as well as objectives for best-practice action.”
Bellarine Ward Councillor Trent Sullivan encouraged residents to share their views via the Council’s Your Say page.
“The Bellarine Peninsula Southern Coast is recognised as an area of State significance,” Cr Sullivan said.
“It is important that we continue to do what we can to meet the needs of this unique, remote, and environmentally and culturally significant coastal environment.
“We must consider the requirements of tourists and our growing population, whose enjoyment of this coastline needs to be balanced against the obligation to protect the area for the benefit of future generations.”
The draft plan will be open for feedback on the council’s Have Your Say page.
