SSSMeg believes that the Draft Queensland Coastal Plan is a significant improvement in the planning process for development and conservation of our coastal resources.

Key issues identified in SSSMeg's submission is the lack of focus on maritime management and ecology in the Draft State Policy Coastal Management and a lack of integration between the coastal management policy and regional plans such as the Great Sandy Region Management Plan, as well as the Draft State Policy Coastal Protection. Integration of planning will assist in closing the loop on development activities and ongoing management, monitoring and measurement (post development phase) in ecologically sensitive environments.

SSSMeg's major focus in relation to the Draft State Policy Coastal Protection was on full and detailed mapping of areas of high ecological significance and the extension of specified area plans to all areas declared as maritime development areas. Again these plans need to be integrated into regional management plans as well as the planning schemes.

Only through a holistic approach to development and management of our valuable ecological resources will we achieve sustainable outcomes that benefit the community while conserving our environment.

The full SSSMeg Draft Queensland Coastal Plan Submission is available for download here.