South Gippsland Coastal Strategy
South Gippsland Shire Council
The ‘South Gippsland Coastal Strategy’ project is an example of Council - as custodian of approximately 300 kilometres of Victoria’s coastline and the towns and communities therein – proactively planning to minimise risk of future coastal hazards related to sea level rise, including coastal inundation and erosion.
The Judges consider this Project deserving of the award for the method by which updated flood mapping supported anecdotally by recent coastal flood and erosion events, seeks to minimise population intensification in its at risk coastal townships. The Strategy recommends removal of all coastal township greenfield areas from the South Gippsland Planning Scheme and restricting development to one dwelling per lot.
In the absence of State policy reform and updated statutory tools to manage coastal hazard risks, Council’s support for building social resilience of its coastal towns should be commended including the promotion of emergency safety amongst other initiatives. The collaborative approach to engagement with key stakeholder and the community hold it in good stead for success.