Case studies of coastal councils
Association of Bayside Municipalities, Victoria
Working together with neighbours to achieve results
Statistics
- Area of coastline: 260 kms
- Area: 1 950 square kilometres
- Population: Over 3 million
- Marine national parks: 13
- Marine sanctuaries: 11
Background
The Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM) has been active for over 30 years, having being founded in 1974. Ten councils with coastal frontage to Port Phillip Bay belong to AMB. They are Bayside, Frankston, Greater Geelong, Hobsons Bay, Kingston, Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip, Queenscliffe and Wyndham. The ABM is the voice of local government in relation to coastal zone management in Port Phillip Bay.
Member councils are represented on AMB by both a Councillor and a Technical Officer. Government agencies and other organisations have observer status on the ABM, including Central Coastal Board, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne Water, EPA Victoria, Parks Victoria, Marine Safety Victoria and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV). The Association is supported by a part-time Executive Officer, located at MAV.
The Association represents its members in political, community and media forums and represents the views of member councils through submissions to inquiries and policy development. AMB also initiates and manages a range of projects to enhance the capacity of the local government sector to better manage the coastal zone.
Each member contributes to the financing of the activities of the Association by paying an annual fee based on 50 per cent of budgeted cost shared evenly between members and 50 per cent distributed on the basis of population. After each council election, the ABM undertakes a series of Roadshows to brief new councillors and staff on the activities of the Association and for members to provide input into future directions.
The Technical Officers who sit on the ABM come from within council staff and meet regularly to look at technical issues. They provide advice to the general membership on technical issues, and exchange information and ideas with other members in the region.
What are the critical coastal zone management issues?
Coastal erosion is a significant issue around the Bay. It has been exacerbated as a result of man made changes to the coastal environment in the coastal zone, combined with occasional severe storms.
Planning and infrastructure provision is another issue of concern for coastal managers. It is important to have locally driven strategic planning to interpret the Victorian Coastal Strategy consistently across the Bay.
Stormwater must be effectively managed to maintain and improve water quality.
Why was the Association of Bayside Municipalities used as a case study?
The Association was used as a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of councils joining forces to manage their part of the coast line. Obviously, these councils all front onto the one Bay, ensuring there is ample common ground for councils to work with. Through the AMB, councils can identify, resolve and advise on management issues on a regional basis.
Matters can also be more easily progressed by forming a good working relationship with other interested organisations and agencies who have observer status. As such, all parties are aware of the issues and opportunities and can work together to find solutions. Councils within the Association work towards developing sustainable, integrated and consistent coastal policies at all levels of government.
Council initiatives to address the issues
Coastal erosion and asset protection
Coastal erosion can undermine foreshore buildings including public facilities and infrastructure such as roads and reserves, and private residences. Public safety can become a concern and biodiversity and habitat can be lost. Coastal erosion is a natural process around the Bay, which has been exacerbated in recent years due to changes made around the Bay combined with occasional severe storm occurrences. The problem was highlighted after severe storm events in late 2004 and early 2005. There are a number of engineering and renourishment solutions, however they are costly and need to be managed as part of wider integrated coastal management.
The state government undertook the Beaches at Risk Study in 2001. This report identified and prioritised the beaches around the Bay in need of various beach protection works. There has been limited implementation of the report in the year's following its release. However, the Association and its members were able to work with the State Government to find a solution, which culminated in an increased funding program announced as part of the 2005/2006 State Budget. A list of projects that will be funded as a result was not available at the time of writing.
Lessons learnt
The Beaches at Risk report highlighted the need to undertake, and adequately resource, beach renourishment and protection measures. In addition the ABM beach protection campaign highlighted the effectiveness of collaboration between councils. By working together and providing clear, consistent messages, as both an Association and individual councils, the ABM was able to raise the profile of the issue and help influence a positive outcome.
Planning and infrastructure provision
The Port Phillip Bay Coastal and Marine Planning Program (CMPP) was funded through the NHT and aimed to strengthen the local planning framework for municipalities around the Bay. The report highlighted the need for consistent, locally driven strategic planning across the Bay.
The first stage of the project evaluated the integration of state and regional coastal and marine planning while the second stage of the project aimed at improving this integration through seven key projects. The reports of the projects are available on-line.
Projects included the development of a model for coastal and marine planning schemes, a foreshore masterplan model, the development of social and economic criteria for assessing beach renourishment projects and a stormwater implementation project.
The reports allowed the Association to advise the state government on issues affecting local government's ability to effectively manage the coastal environment around the Bay. The reports highlighted the need for a regional plan. Other recommendations to come out of the work included:
- improved integration between state government agencies and their decision making and activities undertaken,
- state government funding for research, environmental data management and development and delivery of training packages for local government.
- improved partnerships between state and local government in the approval processes,
- a recurrent funding source for asset management with clearly defined criteria for assessing priority projects.
A number of integrated plans have been, or are being, developed across the region. These include Melbourne 2030, Coastal Actions Plans, Coastal Spaces and the Great Ocean Road Strategy. Other report recommendations have been, and are continuing to be implemented, for example Clean Stormwater: a planning framework, which is discussed further below.
Lessons learnt
The project highlighted the need for a common approach to coastal management. It demonstrated the benefits of thinking about coastal management in a regional context, and across council boundaries. It also highlighted the effectiveness of developing relationships with State agencies, to tap into existing expertise and pool resources where appropriate.
Stormwater management
With financial assistance from the Australian and State Governments, the Association has been able to undertake a 
Clean Stormwater project (PDF 4.4 MB). This project built on work identified through the CMPP studies. Clean Stormwater was completed in 2004 and was developed as a means of improving the environmental sustainability of new urban developments and redevelopments through improved stormwater management. The project found that effective stormwater treatment can be achieved in virtually all forms of urban development, from high density inner urban development, through medium density single lot redevelopments, to larger greenfield developments.
The report provides practical, easy to use tools which can be used by councils to assess stormwater performance of each development and also details water sensitive urban design principles - which not only reduce water use, but also work towards improving the water quality of Port Phillip Bay.
A number of metropolitan councils are now working with Melbourne Water on a pilot project to implement the Framework. The pilot will help to refine and evaluate the administrative, financial and technical practicalities of implementation. In addition, the MAV, through the Clearwater program, is working with Melbourne Water to deliver education and training for local government and industry professionals on planing tools for stormwater management.
Lessons learnt
Implementation of the Clean Stormwater project has only commenced in the past year. The report provides council planning departments with a variety of tools which assist in developing consistent planning scheme amendments and in assessing stormwater performance. This in turn will make it easier for developers to work between councils - for example, each council is working towards the same performance targets. The project has created a great deal of interest from councils around the state.
Bayside City Council has taken the lead on the project having developed and exhibited a planning scheme amendment. This is currently with the Minister for Planning. In addition the work of the ABM is feeding into a number of State Government initiatives looking at improving stormwater performance and management and the overall sustainability of the built environment.
Summary
The Association of Bayside Municipalities is successful as it has the total support of member councils and has formed successful partnerships with state agencies and other key organisations. Being housed within MAV rather than within an individual council has provided continuity to the organisation and has provided the drive and commitment required to achieve real outcomes. The only negative of the arrangement is a result of the Association not being incorporated. As such, AMB is unable to apply for grant funding. However this is overcome by putting grant applications through MAV or member councils.
A large membership to the Association is possible as travelling times are relatively small around Port Phillip Bay. In many other areas, distance may be too great for so many councils to enter into similar arrangements. Information exchange by councils and organisations within the Association is invaluable and councils are able to pool their resources to obtain expert advice useful to all members.
Contact
- Naree Atkinson
- Executive Officer
- Association of Bayside Municipalities
- Tel: 03 9667 5514
- natkinson@mav.asn.au
