Celebrating 10 Years of Coastal Excellence
Victoria celebrated a decade of coastal achievements with the announcement of winners of the 10th annual Victorian Coastal Awards for Excellence.Hosted by the Victorian Coastal Council and Coast Action/Coastcare, the 2009 awards attracted 38 finalists across 11 different categories, including biodiversity conservation, integrated coastal and catchment management and coastal culture.
Following a welcome to country by Bunurong elder Carolyn Briggs, Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Gavin Jennings and VCC Chair Libby Mears presented the awards to winners. The hosts noted that the mix of entries received this year confirmed a growing community interest in protecting Victoria’s coast.
The Minister highlighted the significance of the coast to Victorians, noting that “The Victorian coastline is unique in the world, especially when you consider the magnificent Gippsland Lakes and Ninety Mile Beach complex, our Port Phillip and Westernport Bays, and the spectacularly rugged Shipwreck Coast along our western shores”
The award ceremony was held at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron in St Kilda. Finalists included a wide range of community groups, government agencies, individuals and organisations demonstrating outstanding commitment to the protection and improvement of our coast. Mr Duncan Malcolm, Chair of the Gippsland Coastal Board received the Outstanding Individual Achievement award in recognition of his outstanding leadership on coastal management in the state’s east.
2009 winners
The ‘Skink Link’ project.
This project aims to protect and link isolated populations of the threatened Swamp Skink Egernia coventyri.
The project has increased the biodiversity of flora and fauna within the Chinamans Creek Nature Reserve through various revegetation efforts.
The results so far have been outstanding with the population of Swamp Skinks increasing 3-fold since 2001.
BIA Victoria Marine Pest Project.
BIA have developed and implemented a community education project highlighting the risks that small boats pose to the marine environment in the spread of harmful marine species.
The project included presentations at fishing clubs, ramps, boat shows and working with fishing and boating shops. BIA have so far presented directly to over 2000 boaters.
Coastal Arts Discovery Trail.
The Coastal Arts Discovery Trail consists of several sites from Olivers Hill to Seaford to capture the stories, images and ideas that acknowledge and celebrate local culture. The Trail utilises Environmentally Sustainable Design features including off-set planting, minimal disturbance to the surrounding environment and it was designed to require minimal maintenance.
Post graduate award
Isla is undertaking a PhD titled “Seasonality, seduction and foul play: the hydroid fauna of Port Phillip Bay” through Melbourne University.
The project examines the relationship between hydroids and mussels in Port Phillip Bay.
Isla has recruitment plates on various piers around Port Phillip Bay which she checks every 6 weeks.
Geelong City Council, the Municipal Association of Victoria, Council on The Aging, David Lock Associates and the Communities of Indented Head, Portarlington and St Leonards
This project involved the production of a guide to increase pedestrian accessibility for all levels of mobility with a specific focus on older adults.
It incorporates Environmentally Sensitive Design principles, including a reduction in impermeable surfaces, and can be implemented in all City of Greater Geelong coastal environments.
Westernport Greenhouse Alliance
The People, Property and Places initiative takes the global phenomenon of climate change as it applies to localities around Westernport by quantifying the precise impacts of climate change and describing their consequences at the sub-regional level.
The program also involves various levels of communication to educate and engage the community.
Bellarine Catchment Network
The Bellarine Catchment Network focus on engaging the community in protecting and managing the catchment, coast and marine environment of the Bellarine Peninsula.
Activities include, Waterwatch monitoring, working with landholders to support sustainable agricultural practices and significant fencing works. The project has established 200Ha of native vegetation on the Bellarine Peninsula, created links between areas of remnant vegetation and raised community awareness and engagement in coastal, marine and catchment issues.
Frankston City Council and Robert Simeoni Pty Ltd Architects
The redevelopment of the Seaford Life Saving Club aimed to renew the beach and shorefront as a community zone.
The building integrates architectural and environmentally sustainable design features including raised floors to allow cool breezes, water tanks, building oriented to allow natural ventilation and the use of sustainably harvested timber.
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee are striving to achieve ‘a coast loved, protected and enjoyed by all’.
They care attempting to implement this through the preparation and implementation of an environment and land management plan for a section of the Great Ocean Road.
Outcomes so far include, threatened species conservation, waste reduction, increase community engagement and rehabilitation of degraded coastal environments through weed control and native vegetation protection.
Friends of Venus Bay
Created only four years ago, the Friends of Venus Bay have raised community awareness of environmental weeds, the plight of bandicoots and beach nesting birds and encouraged the retention and replanting of indigenous vegetation.
To increase community understanding of the value of indigenous vegetation, they created a demonstration indigenous garden to encourage landholders to plant indigenous vegetation on their private land.
Duncan is the inaugural chair of the Gippsland Coastal Board, and an inaugural Member of the Victorian Coastal Council.
Duncan has spent the last 12 years in a coastal role, but has spent many more in general Natural Resource Management.
He has established the Gippsland Coastal Board as a major vice in integrated planning and natural resource management for coastal land and marine issues in Gippsland and Victoria.
He has provided inspirational leadership and mentoring to Gippsland Coastal Board members and staff.
Duncan is involved with various NRM organisations, including Rural Water Corporation, East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, VEAC, Australian Landscape Trust and Watermark Inc.
Page last updated: 15/11/22