East Gippsland Shire Council’s Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP) has formally received Ministerial Approval, making East Gippsland one of only a small number of Victorian municipalities to achieve the benchmark status.
The ministerial advice commended the extensive community consultation behind the plan, recognising it as a shire-wide strategic framework shaped by three years of engagement with residents, Traditional Owners and coastal communities from Paynesville to Mallacoota.
East Gippsland Shire mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said the approved CMMP reflects the deep connection local residents have with their marine environments.
“Our coastline and waterways are among East Gippsland’s most treasured assets — environmentally, culturally, and socially,” Cr Ashworth said.
“This plan represents years of genuine conversation with our communities, Traditional Owners, and agency partners about how we care for these places, and it gives us a clear, considered framework to keep sustaining them for generations to come.”
The consultation process included town pop-up sessions, an interactive online mapping portal, webinars and public submissions.
A dedicated Project Reference Group — comprising representatives from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Department of Transport and Planning, East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, East Gippsland Water, Gippsland Ports, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation and Parks Victoria — helped guide the final document.
Developed in accordance with the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 and Marine and Coastal Policy 2020, the CMMP replaces several outdated foreshore management plans across the municipality.
It establishes strategic priorities across East Gippsland’s coastline, from wild ocean beaches to the Gippsland Lakes, incorporating:
– A shire-wide vision shaped by community and stakeholder aspirations
– Detailed local value, challenge, and opportunity assessments for 10 distinct coastal communities
– Core environmental and management objectives aligned with state legislation
– Priority actions mapped across a five- to 10-year implementation timeline
– A structured framework for ongoing progress monitoring and community consultation
The completed CMMP will serve as an operational tool for Crown land managers, agencies and community groups to guide the sustainable use and protection of East Gippsland’s marine assets.
