MEDIA RELEASE - Monday, 5 December 2011
A new alliance of NGOs and professionals with coastal expertise, the Tasmanian Coastal Alliance (TasCA), has questioned the Government's dedication to conducting a review of integrated coastal management in Tasmania. TasCA incorporates expertise from a range of interested parties, including the Australian Coastal Society, Environment Tasmania, Birds Tasmania and the Environmental Defenders Office.
Earlier this year, the Tasmanian Planning Commission released a damning rejection of a new draft State Coastal Policy 2008 and recommended that the State Coastal Policy be comprehensively reviewed, in line with the approaches adopted in other States. In May 2011, the Premier publicly stated that responding to the TPC's recommendation would be a government priority.
However, TasCA is concerned that recent correspondence from the Minister for Planning to the Australian Coastal Society indicates that the initiatives currently being pursued by Government fall well short of what is needed to achieve consistent, sustainable management of Tasmania's coastal resources. The group has released a discussion paper advocating a more integrated and enforceable model for coastal management, and says that its preferred approach can secure better coastal outcomes without significant expenditure.
"Tasmania's coastal values underpin the economic, social, and environmental health of our communities. The TPC's rejection of the draft State Coastal Policy highlighted the urgent need for a fresh way forward, and presented an opportunity for the government to take the lead on developing a comprehensive and ambitious approach to coastal planning and management." said Dr. Thomas Moore, Environment Tasmania's Coasts Campaigner.
Dr. Moore acknowledged community concerns regarding coastal inundation, particularly in light of coastal erosion events in July 2011, but stressed that the government take a broad approach to reforms.
"Obviously, we need a regulatory framework that adequately addresses risks associated with climate change. However it is critical that government action is not limited to those issues, and addresses all priority coastal planning and management challenges," he continued.
"It is fundamental that the Tasmanian Government maintains a commitment to urgently reviewing the State Coastal Policy. The government's public support for proposed coastal developments such as golf courses at Seven Mile Beach and Arm End is premature given that we still don't have clear policies for the assessment of such developments."
Jess Feehely, EDO Tasmania lawyer, agreed that any costs associated with a new approach were outweighed by the cost of continuing with the current outdated policies.
"The lack of clear, prescriptive guidance under the existing State Coastal Policy 1996 has meant that many coastal developments are subject to protracted legal actions which impose considerable costs on the community, developers and the State. Poor management also leads to loss of coastal resources, loss of investor confidence and damage to Tasmania's reputation. To avoid these continued losses, the Government needs to develop a new approach which can deliver sustainable coastal outcomes and provide greater certainty for everyone involved." she continued.
"The resources and capacity to deliver these objectives already exist within Government. All that is needed is a commitment to head in that direction", she concluded.
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For more information or comment:
Jess Feehely, Principal Lawyer, Environmental Defenders Office (Tas) Inc
E: Jess.Feehely@tas.edo.org.au, M: 0400803262
Dr. Thomas Moore, Senior Campaigner - Coasts, Environment Tasmania Inc
E: thomas.moore@et.org.au, M: 0488 334 733
Tasmanian Coastal Alliance (TasCA) Background:
TasCA is an alliance of NGOs and professionals with relevant expertise in coastal matters, established to provide a focus for the community and stakeholders following the TPC rejection of the draft State Coastal Policy (dSCP) 2008. Groups represented include The Australian Coastal Society, The Environmental Defenders Office, Environment Tasmania Inc., and Birds Tasmania.
Our vision is a well managed and sustainable coastal environment in which Tasmania’s diverse coastal values are protected, conserved, and restored, underpinning the economic, social, and environmental health of our communities, now and into the future. Our goal is to see this vision delivered via a clear, enforceable and evidence-based integrated coastal planning and management system.
Attachments:
Tasmanian Coastal Alliance (TasCA) discussion paper -“A New Approach to Coastal Management in Tasmania”