Programs of the first phase of the Natural Heritage Trust:
Coastcare

Coastcare was a program of the first phase of the Natural Heritage Trust (1996-1997 to 2001-2002).

• Objectives
• Process
• Priorities
• Projects
• Publications
• Evaluation
• More Information

Objectives

• To engender in local communities, including local industries, a sense of stewardship for coastal and marine areas;
• To provide opportunities and resources for residents, volunteers, business and interest groups to participate in coastal management;
• To support community identification of natural and cultural heritage resources;
• To facilitate interaction between the community and bodies with responsibility for managing coastal areas.

Process

Coastcare had a separate guide and application process to other Natural Heritage Trust programs. A call for applications for funding from Coastcare usually happened in March or April each year. Applications closed in June or July each year. Applications were then assessed by State/Territory assessment panels (and regional assessment panels in Victoria only). State or Territory Ministers then made formal recommendations on projects to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. Announcements were usually made towards the end of the year and funding was usually provided to successful applicants early in the new year.

Priorities

Coastcare funding supported a wide range of community projects such as: dune revegetation; beach access and boardwalk construction; weed control; reef and marine species monitoring; coastal habitat protection and community education. Coastcare also funded:

• a national network of Coastcare Facilitators and Coordinators to help the community become involved in Coastcare;
• national community awareness, promotion and sponsorship of Coastcare; and
• remote or difficult Coastcare projects.

Since the inception of Coastcare in 1995, over 2,000 projects have been funded around Australia. The focus of Coastcare was to assist on-ground work such as:

• protecting or rehabilitating dunes, estuaries and wetlands;
• rehabilitating coastal and marine habitats;
• removing threats to coastal environments;
• monitoring beach conditions, and coastal flora and fauna;
• helping to develop and implement local management plans;
• education and training activities that raise community awareness, knowledge or skills on coastal and marine conservation issues.

Projects

Coastcare projects are listed by State or Territory.

New South Wales

• 2001-2002
• 2000-2001
• 1999-2000
• 1998-1999 (select the 'Appendices: Project List' link)
• 1997-1998 (select the 'Projects Approved in 1997-98' link)
• Case Study - Signage to Help Recreational Fishers Protect Fish Stocks
• Case Study - Saving our Beautiful Pelicans

Queensland

• 2001-2002
• 2000-2001
• 1999-2000
• 1998-1999 (select the 'Appendices: Project List' link)
• 1997-1998 (select the 'Projects Approved in 1997-98' link)
• Case Study - Local Diving Crew Protecting Fragile Reefs
• Case Study - Conservation of Beach Stone Curlews
• Townsville Coastcare Community Conference Article

South Australia

• 2001-2002
• 2000-2001
• 1999-2000
• 1998-1999 (select the 'Appendices: Project List' link)
• 1997-1998 (select the 'Projects Approved in 1997-98' link)
• Case Study - A Safer Home for Our Dolphins and Other Marine Life

Tasmania

• 2001-2002
• 2000-2001
• 1999-2000
• 1998-1999 (select the 'Appendices: Project List' link)
• 1997-1998 (select the 'Projects Approved in 1997-98' link)
• Case Study - Sea Kayakers to Protect Coastal Environment Under New Code
• Case Study - Shorebirds protected at Meredith Estuary
• Case Study - Fence shields Little Penguins

Victoria

• 2001-2002
• 2000-2001
• 1999-2000
• 1998-1999 (select the 'Appendices: Project List' link)
• 1997-1998 (select the 'Projects Approved in 1997-98' link)
• Case Study - Surfers Save Point Impossible
• Case Study - Fox control in Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park

Western Australia

• 2001-2002
• 2000-2001
• 1999-2000
• 1998-1999 (select the 'Appendices: Project List' link)
• 1997-1998 (select the 'Projects Approved in 1997-98' link)
• Case Study - Seabird Protection on Lancelin Island

Northern Territory

• 2001-2002
• 2000-2001
• 1999-2000
• 1998-1999 (select the 'Appendices: Project List' link)
• 1997-1998 (select the 'Projects Approved in 1997-98' link)

Publications

• 50 Ways to Care for Our Coast
• Coastcare - Helping Australians to care for their coast
• Beaches: a fragile home
• Coastcare: Communities in Action Case Studies
  • Afloat and Aware
  • Shorebirds and Seabirds
• Afloat and Aware Brochure and Poster
• Coastcare Week 2002 Factsheet
• Coastcare Community Conference - Townsville 1999
• Get Your Mind in the Gutter - 2001

Evaluation

A final evaluation of the overall achievements of the first phase of the Natural Heritage Trust will soon be conducted. Information about the final evaluation will be put on this web site when it becomes available.

Coastcare was included in the Mid Term Review of the Natural Heritage Trust: 1997-1999.

More Information

The extension of the Natural Heritage Trust will fund coastal and marine activities from all investment levels (national/state, regional and the Australian Government Envirofund).

• More information about the extension of the Trust ...

Information about Australian Government coastal and marine policy development and implementation is available from the Department of the Environment and Heritage Coasts and Oceans web site.

The National Oceans Office, established in December 1999, is the lead Commonwealth agency for implementing Australia's Oceans Policy, including regional marine planning. Visit the National Oceans Office's web site at http://www.oceans.gov.au/ for the latest Oceans Policy news.