Coasts: Coastal survey report

Appendix A: Survey form facsimile

This survey will provide valuable information to alga on the capacity of coastal councils to manage their natural resource base. ALGA is interested in finding out the resource requirements of coastal councils to undertake natural resource management (NRM) activities, any constraints they are facing and council information needs to guide their decision making when dealing with a rising population and increased tourist pressures.

Natural resource management covers a wide variety of activities, from biodiversity and native vegetation conservation, to water supply and cycling, landcare activities, dune and estuary management, erosion control, waste management and planning controls.

The Australian Government is close to finalising its framework for a national cooperative approach to integrated coastal zone management. The information provided in this survey will assist alga in discussions with the Australian Government on the further development of the framework and to identify local government needs.

ALGA will also develop a series of case studies around australia to gather information on innovative management ideas and best practice.

If you have any questions on the survey, please call angela shepherd at alga on (02) 6122 9433.

If you choose to fill out this paper survey, please post it to:

Angela Shepherd
Australian Local Government Association
8 Geils Court
Deakin ACT 2600

Alternatively, you can complete this survey and drop it off at the ALGA booth at the General Assembly of Local Government. It is requested that surveys are received by 23 December 2004. Results will be available in early 2005.

Thank you.

Introduction

  • Name of your council:
  • State:

Please indicate who completed this survey:

  • Officer
  • Manager
  • Director
  • General Manager/CEO
  • Councillor

Optional contact details:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Email address

Are you interested in participating in this project as a Case Study council?

  • Yes
  • No

(These contact details will only be used if ALGA needs clarification on answers or if you are interested in providing further information as a case study council).

Section A: Awareness of current and emerging problems

1. Has your council experienced an increase in population in the last 5 years? If so, what would be the average annual growth rate?

  • Population has declined
  • No growth in population
  • 0-2% increase
  • 3-4% increase
  • 5-6% increase
  • 7-8% increase
  • 9-10% increase
  • > 10% increase

What is your base resident population?

2. Has your council experienced an increase in tourism pressure in the last 5 years?

  • Yes
  • No

What is your peak population at the height of the tourist season?

3. What have been the three biggest impacts on the environment resulting from rising population or tourism pressure? Please prioritise.

  • Pressure on water supply
  • Reduced water quality
  • Increased pollution of water ways
  • Erosion, runoff and sedimentation of waterways
  • Urban sprawl
  • Increased broadscale land clearing
  • Vegetation degradation
  • Loss of fauna
  • Increased pressure on threatened species habitat
  • Pressure on wetlands
  • Reduction in the amount green areas/urban parkland due to urban infill
  • Degradation of sand dunes and beaches
  • Problems associated with the disturbance of acid sulphate soils
  • Increased pressure from invasive species
  • Other (please specify)

Section B: Natural Resource Management (NRM) and planning activities undertaken by council

4. Are NRM issues incorporated into Councils Strategic Plan?

  • Yes
  • No
  • N/A

5. Does your Council's current long term plan (Local Environment Plan or strategy) adequately deal with the development pressures your local government area is facing?

  • Yes
  • No
  • N/A

6. If population or tourism has increased in your council area, has your council altered their planning or zoning activities in the last three years in response to the increased pressure for development?

  • Yes
  • No

If yes, how? Please tick more than one if relevant.

  • Changed the lot size in newly released areas
  • Rezoned areas for green space
  • Reduced green space such as urban parks and bushland managed by council
  • Required changes to water management in new residential areas
  • Implemented biodiversity measures
  • Limited the area available for development
  • Improved the use of science, processes and policy for assessing land suitability for development and restricting development on constrained land
  • Released more areas for development
  • Developed new Local Environmental Plans and Development Control Plans and other planning policies
  • Introduced an integrated water cycle policy
  • Other (please specify)

7. Does your council provide any incentives to property holders for environmental protection activities?

  • Yes
  • No

If yes, what are the incentives? Please tick more than one if appropriate.

  • Rate rebates
  • Conservation management agreements
  • Voluntary conservation covenants
  • Planning concessions are offered (where development is allowed in one area of a block if another area with a more significant ecosystem is protected)
  • Financial grants eg for fencing
  • Rainwater tank incentives
  • Provision of technical expertise to property holders wishing to conserve areas
  • Other (please specify)

8. Does your council have an environmental/biodiversity or other environment plan such as an Estuary Management Plan?

  • Yes
  • No

Is it being implemented?

  • Yes
  • No

9. Do you have an invasive species strategy?

  • Yes
  • No

Is it being implemented?

  • Yes
  • No

Section C: What are your council's resource needs to achieve integrated coastal management?

10. Do you have enough resources to manage NRM?

  • Yes
  • No

If no, please prioritise;

  • Lack of funding
  • Lack of staff generally
  • Lack of appropriately trained staff
  • Lack of scientific information
  • Unsure what scientific information is out there for us to use
  • Other (please specify)

11. Is your council experiencing difficulties in managing rising population or tourist pressures? If yes, what are the main barriers?

  • Yes
  • No

If yes please select from the list and prioritise your choices;

  • Lack of money
  • Shortage of planners (strategic planners or development assessment planners)
  • Shortage of "implementers"
  • Shortage of other appropriately trained staff
  • Turnover of staff
  • Shortage of areas set aside for development
  • Increased demand for improved water supply and quality
  • Lack of policies in place to adequately control development impacts
  • Lack of resources to enforce regulations
  • The minimal nature of penalties
  • Lack of support from Executive or Councillors
  • Inappropriate expectations of landholders and lack of awareness of the planning issues
  • The profit motive - land values and speculation to develop urban and rural land
  • Lack of interest by majority of community
  • Rural Fire Service asset protection zone clearing requirements
  • Increased pressure on resources and infrastructure during tourist season
  • Increased demand from the community for better transport infrastructure
  • Social problems associated with youth issues
  • Other (please specify)

12. Does your council receive grants from other governments to achieve NRM outcomes, such as from the NHT?

  • Yes
  • No

If yes, please list the sources

13. Does your council currently use any scientific indicators in the management of the coastal zone, for instance water quality standards, biodiversity indicators, acid sulphate soil measurements etc.? If so, what ones?

  • Yes
  • No

Please list

14. What training needs does your council - including staff, managers, project officers, planners, field workers, and Councillors themselves - have in relation to coastal zone management?

Please list

15. Do you have a dedicated environment or coastal officer(s)? This can include officers employed to undertake specific NRM projects or incentive programs.

  • Yes
  • No

If yes, please list their job titles and how they are funded.

Section D: Council involvement in regional NRM activities

16. Do you work with other councils in your area on NRM issues?

  • Yes
  • No

17. Are you aware of what NRM group/catchment management authority/board your council is in?

  • Yes
  • No

18. Do you know if your local activities (strategic plans plus on-ground activities) and those of the regional group are compatible?

  • Don't know what the regional activities are
  • Local and regional activities are compatible
  • Local and regional activities are NOT compatible
  • Don't know

19. Do you work with your NRM group/ CMA/Catchment Management Board on environmental/ NRM issues and activities?

  • Yes
  • No

If yes, how?

  • Project implementation
  • On-ground works
  • steering groups
  • strategic planning
  • meetings/workshops
  • ?Other (please specify)

If not, why not?

  • A lack of capacity
  • Don't see it as worthwhile
  • Too time consuming
  • Can't see any on ground action
  • There is not enough funding to do anything

20. Do you think that the regional plans and strategies adequately address the coastal zone management issues in your region?

  • Yes
  • No

If not, why not?

Thank you for taking the time to fill in this survey. It will provide invaluable information in policy formulation and implementation.

Contact

Rosemary James
Environment/NRM Policy
Australian Local Government Association
Phone: 02 6122 9433   
Email: rosemary.james@alga.asn.au

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Page last updated: 6 July 2005