CHAPTER 15 • Australian Integrated Coastal Management: A Case Study of the Great Barrier Reef
281
It is notable that the HORSCEC report on Australian coastal management commented in 1980 on the need for the development and promulgation of "national policies and objectives for the conservation and preservation of the Australian coastline" in
consultation with the states (House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Conservation 1980). Thirteen years later the RAC Inquiry recommended
a National Coastal Action Plan with adoption by the Council of Australian Governments
of a set of common objectives (Commonwealth of Australia 1993a). Similarly both the
HORSCEC and the RAC reports comment on the lack of integration of coastal management at different government levels. Although very little national integration had
been done over the thirteen year period between these two reports, there have been
significant advances made since the RAC Inquiry, as shown in the proceedings of the
1996 Australian Coastal Management Conference (Harvey 1996). However, the management of the Great Barrier Reef is a good example of integrated management, based
on legislation which predates all of these reports.
This chapter outlines the integrated nature of coastal management for the Great
Barrier Reef which began with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act of 1975. However, it is first important to consider some of the more recent Commonwealth coastal
initiatives and policy directions which provide a context for the current national perspective on integrated coastal management and sustainable resource use.
15.2
Australia's National Coastal Zone Inquiry, 1993
In 1993 a major national coastal zone inquiry was completed after numerous previous
coastal inquiries. This inquiry was significant for two reasons. First, the timing of the
inquiry was important in that it came when there was a need for greater national cooperation in the early '90S across a number of environmental areas. Second, a key underpinning of the inquiry was the concept of ESD which, as noted above, was being
developed into a national strategy while the coastal inquiry was being conducted.
The coastal inquiry conducted by the RAC (Commonwealth of Australia 1993a) was
completed in 1993 and is accompanied by a number of separate reports. The final report is split into nineteen chapters covering aspects such as the resources, values and
uses of the coastal zone; a national approach; a national coastal action program; institutional arrangements; the role of community and industry; the role of indigenous
people; ways of improving management at the local and regional level; approval systems and impact assessment; economic and financial instruments; funding and implementation. In addition one of the three commissioners disagreed so significantly with
the other two, that the final report had a special dissenting view section of over one
hundred pages in length.
A number of recommendations came out of the report including:
• National Approach;
• Coastal Resource Management Act;
• National Coastal Action Program;
• National Coastal Management Agency;
• National Coastal Consultative Council;
• Coastcare Program.
281
It is notable that the HORSCEC report on Australian coastal management commented in 1980 on the need for the development and promulgation of "national policies and objectives for the conservation and preservation of the Australian coastline" in
consultation with the states (House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Conservation 1980). Thirteen years later the RAC Inquiry recommended
a National Coastal Action Plan with adoption by the Council of Australian Governments
of a set of common objectives (Commonwealth of Australia 1993a). Similarly both the
HORSCEC and the RAC reports comment on the lack of integration of coastal management at different government levels. Although very little national integration had
been done over the thirteen year period between these two reports, there have been
significant advances made since the RAC Inquiry, as shown in the proceedings of the
1996 Australian Coastal Management Conference (Harvey 1996). However, the management of the Great Barrier Reef is a good example of integrated management, based
on legislation which predates all of these reports.
This chapter outlines the integrated nature of coastal management for the Great
Barrier Reef which began with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act of 1975. However, it is first important to consider some of the more recent Commonwealth coastal
initiatives and policy directions which provide a context for the current national perspective on integrated coastal management and sustainable resource use.
15.2
Australia's National Coastal Zone Inquiry, 1993
In 1993 a major national coastal zone inquiry was completed after numerous previous
coastal inquiries. This inquiry was significant for two reasons. First, the timing of the
inquiry was important in that it came when there was a need for greater national cooperation in the early '90S across a number of environmental areas. Second, a key underpinning of the inquiry was the concept of ESD which, as noted above, was being
developed into a national strategy while the coastal inquiry was being conducted.
The coastal inquiry conducted by the RAC (Commonwealth of Australia 1993a) was
completed in 1993 and is accompanied by a number of separate reports. The final report is split into nineteen chapters covering aspects such as the resources, values and
uses of the coastal zone; a national approach; a national coastal action program; institutional arrangements; the role of community and industry; the role of indigenous
people; ways of improving management at the local and regional level; approval systems and impact assessment; economic and financial instruments; funding and implementation. In addition one of the three commissioners disagreed so significantly with
the other two, that the final report had a special dissenting view section of over one
hundred pages in length.
A number of recommendations came out of the report including:
• National Approach;
• Coastal Resource Management Act;
• National Coastal Action Program;
• National Coastal Management Agency;
• National Coastal Consultative Council;
• Coastcare Program.