REC145-3238

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government:
- ensure that the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Coastal Zone forms the basis for a National Coastal Zone Policy and Strategy, which should set out the principles, objectives and actions that must be undertaken to address the challenges of integrated coastal zone management for Australia
- establish a broad based National Catchment-Coast-Marine Management program to provide funding for initiatives relating to:
* sustainable coastal communities
* climate change and biodiversity
* implementation of projects to progress integrated coastal zone management
- establish a National Coastal Zone Management Unit within the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to support the implementation of these national initiatives
- develop a Coastal Sustainability Charter based on the Victorian Government model