Project Objectives:

In response to the Victorian Government’s Marine and Coastal Act 2018 and the Marine and Coastal Policy 2020, we have drafted the Bayside Coastal and Marine Management Plan (CMMP). The CMMP is in accordance with Victorian Government legislation, policies and guidance material, and will replace the Bayside Coastal Management Plan (2014).

Coastal land management is complex, and Bayside’s foreshore incorporates Crown land and Council-owned land, with multiple agencies involved, and lease and management agreements in place.

The CMMP will strategically prioritise competing demands and guide actions for sustainable management and use of Bayside’s coastal and marine environment. The CMMP will provide direction on roles and responsibilities, and aims to balance social, cultural, environmental and economic values.

The engagement program seeks to present the draft CMMP to key stakeholders and the community for feedback, communicate draft outcomes of the CMMP and the process that has informed its development, and refine management objectives for the CMMP in line with stakeholder and community expectations.

Community and stakeholder feedback will be used to help inform the final CMMP.

Project impacts

The coastal and marine environment is a focal point for the Bayside community. It plays a significant role in the experience of residents and visitors and provides important recreational and commercial opportunities.

Evidence based knowledge anticipates significant sea level rise, tidal and storm surges, greater rainfall and temperature variation. Maintaining a vibrant and healthy coastal environment has a significant impact on Bayside’s future.

The CMMP considers the various uses, needs, interests and values placed on Bayside’s coastal and marine environment. The plan considers the changing global climate, the constant change in the natural state of coastlines, increasing population growth; and the management, coordination and resourcing required to meet the challenges of future demands.

The CMMP will direct planning and management of coastal and marine based facilities, infrastructure and activities, the retention of coastal character, management of coastal environmental processes; stakeholder, community and commercial partnerships, and the health and wellbeing connection with Bayside’s marine and coastal environment.

What information do we need from the community?

The 4-week community engagement program will gather feedback through an online survey, face-to-face feedback sessions, and stakeholder meetings.

The consultation is seeking to present the draft CMMP and seek feedback to understand:

• Community sentiment for the draft CMMP, in consideration of the Victorian Government’s legislative constraints.
• Gaps, or oversights in the draft plan.
• Priorities for delivery of actions.

Community feedback on the draft plan will help to finalise the draft before it is presented to Council for endorsement.

What can the community influence?

• Vision
• Identifying CMMP priorities and issues.
• The CMMP actions – locality specific
  • Priorities
  • Any actions missed
• Other issues/opportunities you would like considered

What can’t the community influence?

• The development of the plan.
• The term of relevancy attributed to the plan.
• The dates, timelines and milestones involved in the development, service delivery and implementation of the plan.
• Council’s budgetary process and strategy financial allocations (this is subject to separate community engagement on the annual budget).
• Alignment to any legislative, anti-discriminatory, ethical, and culturally sensitive requirements/guidelines

Stakeholders and community

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

Impact: What level of change the stakeholder / community segment may experience as a result of the project / matter

Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated

Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum

Selected tools and techniques

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.

Key tools for communicating the project

• Project page on Have Your Say engagement platform
• Direct email to relevant Have Your Say members
• Direct email to community members/groups that have an interest in the foreshore, open space, environment, wellbeing, and council strategy development
• Direct email to Bayside Advisory Groups engaged in Phase 1
• Direct email to BLCAC (Note: we will have an in-person meeting with BLCAC after engagement closed and feedback received and reviewed to discuss any changes proposed to the CMMP that might impact BLCAC)
• Direct email to other agency stakeholders to notify the plan is out for engagement (e.g. MW, BBV, VFA, EPA, LSV, VPA, VicRoads, …)
• Signage along Bayside’s foreshore
• This Week in Bayside (Council e-newsletter)
• Council website (news story)
• Social media
• In the Loop

Key methods for gathering feedback

• DEECA meeting (prior to engagement, draft sent for info noting going to engagement and full review post engagement)
• Parks Victoria meeting (prior to engagement, draft sent for info)
• Online survey
• Suburb map comments
• Online Fund It (project priority rating)
• Face-to-face engagement sessions:
  • Kids Day Out, Sunday 30 March, Thomas Street Reserve Hampton,10am to 3pm
  • Easter Eggstravaganza Sunday 6 April, Basterfield Park Hampton East, 10am to 3pm
• Two stakeholder webinars aligned with Phase 1 engagement (group 1 LSC/YC etc., group 2 enviro groups)
• Emails inviting participation in engagement to:
  • BLCAC
  • Bayside Advisory Groups
  • Other agency stakeholders (e.g. MW, BBV, VFA, EPA, LSV, VPA, VicRoads, …)
• Email, post, or phone submissions
• Opportunity for key stakeholders to book a meeting with Project Managers to discuss the project
• Printed materials, as required.

Project timelines

Decision-making process

We will engage the community in a 4-week campaign to gather feedback on the draft CMMP. Feedback will help to inform amendments to the draft before being presented to Council for adoption and subsequent submission for Ministerial signoff.

It is expected that Council will consider the CMMP at the June 2025 meeting.

Meeting agendas are published one week prior to scheduled meetings. Interested community members can make a submission or request to speak at a meeting in relation to this project.

Please select the +Subscribe button at the top of the page to receive updates about this project, including when it will be considered by Council and any further opportunities to participate in this project.

More information

Berdine Roelofse

Coastal Planning and Projects Officer

03 9599 4823

cmmp@bayside.vic.gov.au