Since their release in November 2023, the Coastal Crown Land Guidelines have been making a real difference in how we care for our coastal environment.
Developed through the NSW Government’s Marine Estate Management Strategy, the Guidelines are helping to ensure that decisions about Crown land are consistent, transparent and in line with state legislation.
Crown land is property held by the NSW Government for the benefit of the public, such as parks, reserves, and roads, as well as the seabed out to 3 nautical miles.
The Crown Lands and Public Spaces issues licenses and leases for activities including boat ramps, marinas, restaurants, surf life-saving clubs, and holiday parks through the NSW Government’s Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure.
The Crown Lands Coastal Unit has already worked with more than twenty coastal councils to put the Coastal Crown Land Guidelines into action, and the results are starting to show.
One great example is the Coastal Unit’s collaboration with the Reflections Holiday Park at Byron Bay and Byron Shire Council.
The Holiday Park leases land behind a beach front sand dune at Clarkes Beach. The dune sits on Crown land and is the home of the iconic Beach Byron Bay Cafe. Unfortunately, the dune was at risk of collapse following storm events in 2020.
The future of both the Cafe and the Holiday Park were in jeopardy if urgent action was not taken. Aboriginal middens in the dune were also in need of protection.
Using the new Coastal Crown Land Guidelines, the holiday park, the council and the Coastal Unit, worked together on a complex dune restoration strategy.
“In line with what were then draft guidelines, foreshore protection was adopted to mimic nature as closely as possible,” explained Danny Bucher, the Coastal Unit’s Marine Estate Project Officer.
“A line of geotextile bags was placed at the base of the dune. Now more than 4 years later, they are buried beneath the sand. The bags are designed to stay in place for 5 years until a vegetated dune is re-established.”
“Meanwhile the Cafe will be relocated about 20 to 30 metres behind the erosion hazard line, taking into account modelled sea-level rise over the term of the lease.”
“The Coastal Crown Land Guidelines also deal with problems that arise when neighbouring landholders need to undertake works that could affect Crown land assets. These activities must be carefully managed to protect the coastal environment.”
The Coastal Crown Land Guidelines make it easier for councils, landholders and communities to understand how works on or near Crown land, should be planned, approved and carried out, especially in sensitive coastal areas.
The Coastal Crown Land Guidelines were developed by Crown Lands with funding from the NSW Government’s Marine Estate Management Strategy 2018-2028 (MEMS) under the Healthy Coastal Habitats Initiative.
The Guidelines are already helping to identify hazards like beach erosion and coastal flooding and assess risks before leases or licenses are issued or renewed. They also support consistent management across NSW on complex issues such as coastal protection works and non-commercial dredging.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re a coastal land manager, council or community member interested in how Crown land is managed, you can download the Coastal Crown Land Guidelines from the Crown Lands website.
The Crown Lands Coastal Unit is your go-to team for support and advice on managing coastal Crown land:
