Managing the NSW coastal zone: Restructuring governance for inclusive development

Abstract

In 2013 the New South Wales (NSW) Government (Australia) established the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority (the Authority) to improve community engagement in coastal zone management. The outcome has been the coordination of activities and efforts of state government departments to maximize the social, economic and environmental values of the Marine Estate. While much has been written in regard to Integrated Coastal (Zone) Management (IC(Z)M) planning, papers that discuss its actual implementation are far fewer. This paper discusses how, given the minimal guiding literature in this area, the processes of IC(Z)M planning and implementation are being approached in NSW and its success to date. It is not a discussion of research undertaken, but a review and analysis of IC(Z)M in action, contextualized by a number of development approaches and theories that may help explain its emerging success in integrating government agency planning and activities.