FAQs

The City is responsible for preparing Coastal Management Programs for its estuaries and coastline. This is a requirement under NSW Government Legislation. The City has two Certified CMPs (Bonville Pine Creek and Woolgoolga Regions Estuaries CMPs) and currently has three others in various stages of preparation, for; Arrawarra Creek, Pipe Clay Lake and Corindi River Estuaries (recently adopted by Council); Central Coffs Estuaries (this CMP); and the Coffs Harbour Open Coast. 

To develop CMPs the City is required to bring together all relevant stakeholders and the community, to develop long-term strategies for the management of the coast and estuaries to improve and maintain their environmental, social, cultural and recreational values and manage the current and emerging issues. 

Coastal Management Programs (CMPs) are developed by local Councils in consultation with the local community and other key government and non-government stakeholders. Their primary purpose of CMPs is to set out the long-term strategy for the coordinated management of land within the coastal zone to meet local needs and values.

The development of Coastal Management Programs involves five stages (see below) and the draft Coastal Management Program for the Central Coffs Estuaries is currently at Stage 4 in the development process. It is ready for public exhibition to seek final feedback from community and other stakeholders. 

The CMP is a whole of government document. It is not just a Program for Council. Numerous government and community stakeholders were involved in developing the final draft management actions making up the draft CMP. The draft CMP outlines the actions to be implemented, including the responsibilities of Council and other agencies, and anticipated timing and cost.

Management actions were developed and prioritised through a risk assessment process focusing on issues and threats to the estuaries identified through scientific studies and community consultation. The risk assessment process came up with a long list of potential actions which were grouped and combined where appropriate and assessed for their feasibility, producing a final list of draft management actions.

A total of 17 draft actions have been developed in the CMP. Five actions are applicable across the whole CMP area, three actions are specific to Boambee/Newports Creek, six actions are specific to Coffs Creek and three actions are specific to Moonee Creek.

The CMP is a whole of government program therefore a number of different organisations and land managers have roles in leading or supporting actions. These include the City, NSW Crown Lands, Reflections Holiday Parks, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Feedback received from the community and stakeholders is an important part of the preparation of the Coastal Management Program. Following the exhibition period, we will review all submissions received and prepare a final version of the CMP. The CMP will then be reported to Council for adoption together with submissions received.