Benchmarking the future direction for coastal management in Australia

Abstract

Coastal management in Australia has been through a period of unprecedented change during the past 3 years. All six state governments have undergone major reforms of their coastal management programs during this time. These reforms have been promoted by numerous changes in the political complexion of state governments, periodic reviews as state systems have become stale, and outcomes of federal government inquiries. Greater involvement in coastal management has been demanded by interest groups and the community resulting from a range of coastal inquiries and some significant coastal issues, like sewage disposal and subdivisions. These changes are set to continue as Australian jurisdictions attempt to come to grips with recent changes due to the recognition of native title. The recent evolution of coastal zone management in Australia is described and analyzed, focusing on possible future directions of Australian coastal zone management at both state and national levels. Evaluating the success of these programs is stressed, especially given the recent overhaul of coastal management systems in Australia.