The Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith has appointed six new members to the Western Coast Regional Coastal Board to develop a coastal action plan for the region and provide advice on coastal development and use.

 

Mr Smith said the Western Coastal Board had an important role in planning and advising on coastal and marine environments extending from Breamlea near Torquay to the South Australian border.

 

Councillor Jill Parker has been appointed as the new chair of the board. Cr Parker is a councillor with Moyne Shire council, a representative on the National Sea Change Taskforce and chair of the Moyne Shire Conservation and Environment Committee.

 

New members include Raymond Page, Mark Edmonds, Matthew Gorman, Oliver Moles and Glenn Wallace. They will join Dr John Sherwood and Carole Reid who have been reappointed for another term.

 

Mr Smith said one of the board's main responsibilities will be to develop an overarching coastal action plan for the region to balance protection and enhancement of the coast with recreation, use and tourism.

 

"The Western Coastal Board also works closely with the Victorian Coastal Council which guides coastal planning for Victoria's 2,000 kilometres of coastline.

 

"Cr Parker will join the chairs of Victoria's two other coastal boards – Gippsland Lakes and Coast Regional Coastal Board and Central Coast Regional Coastal Board – as a member of the Victorian Coastal Council, helping to ensure the coast is well managed across the state.

 

Outgoing members of the Western Coastal Board include acting chairperson Susan Mudford, Alexina Chalmers, Denise Lovett, Andrew Mason, Alain Purnell, Dr Helen Scarborough and John Young; and the outgoing Department of Sustainability and Environment and Parks Victoria representatives, Craig Whiteford and Rodney Newnham.