Council has unanimously endorsed a submission against the Draft Marine and Coastal Policy, proposed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

“This draft policy is probably the worst bit of work I’ve seen in the 11 years I’ve been on council,” councillor Maryanne Pelz said at council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday.

“That a policy like this should come before us, it’s a very difficult policy.

“It’s equivalent to the inundation overlay and the bushfire overlay in its restrictions to building and developing within our potential future coastal community.”

Cr Pelz said building within five kilometres of the coastal water line and any construction two kilometres into the water would not be permitted.

“People with great views of the ocean won’t be able to build on their land because of this policy.

“It’s a very, very difficult piece of work in its restrictions to building and development in or potential future community.”

Cr Dick Ellis moved the submission be endorsed saying the draft policy had serious planning implications.

“The strong wording of this submission is important,” Cr Ellis said.

“The policy impacts the whole of the Gippsland Lakes.”

Cr Pelz urged community members to “please feel obliged to write in a submission”.

EGSC acting general manager place and community, Aaron Hollow, endorsed the submission.

“Councillors, we believe this draft policy will fundamentally change the way of life for East Gippsland communities and will have a negative impact on recreational boating and tourism and we hope that DELWP can amend the policy appropriately and provide council a meaningful consultation process,” Mr Hollow said.

“One of the concerns is the lack of detail and it does not provide adequate recognition of the economic, social and community values associated with the use of coastal settlements.”

The submission reads in part:
The Draft Policy is considered to provide a metropolitan focused experience and in doing so fails to recognise the current regional operation and management of these spaces and places, proposed in an overarching Victorian Government Policy which will result in existing uses, structures, access arrangements and buildings that may in time not be permitted to remain. Many of the proposed Policies question fundamental principles relating to use and development of coastal Crown Land, as they exist today.

In a statement obtained from DELWP, a spokesperson said the development of the Marine and Coastal Policy was continuing and the department thanked the community for their input.

“We will consider all community feedback closely before finalizing the policy later this year,” the statement said.

“Following release of the final policy, a statewide Marine and Coastal Strategy will be developed in 2020. The strategy will outline the priority actions to achieve the outcomes and direction set by the policy.”

In background information it stated DELWP had “no active plans” to remove or relocate privately owned infrastructure, such as jetties, and this was not a recommendation under the Draft Marine and Coastal Policy.

Over time, if existing private assets are at risk from coastal hazards such as coastal erosion, and other coastal climate change impacts, particularly if their location and condition pose a risk to public safety or public assets, the option of relocating or removing those assets should be explored in the interests of community safety and public benefit.

This is a long-standing policy which is already entrenched in the current Victorian Coastal Strategy 2014.

DELWP has not sought the removal or relocation of any private jetties in the Gippsland area and this policy would only require these structures to be removed or relocated if coastal hazards such as shoreline erosion or public safety issues are a factor.

DELWP recognises the importance of recreational boating and maritime activity around Gippsland and this reflected in the 400-plus Private Jetty Licences DELWP administers across the region.