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Calling All Coast Carers

For the first time in Victoria, a three-day forum is being held especially for marine and coastal community groups and volunteers.

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 7th April 2004 - Back to News

Victoria is proud to have one of the most publicly accessible coasts in the world with 96 per cent of it managed by various groups on behalf of the people of Victoria.

State Program Manager of the Coast Action/Coastcare program, Catherine Clancy, said that the forum presents an outstanding opportunity for those who care about the coast to exchange information, participate in field trips and engage with a variety of coastal and marine experts.

"We’re dedicated to making sure that the marine and coastal community groups have access to good quality training and fun networking opportunities that build their capacity for greater stewardship of the coast.

"The forum is open to anyone currently, or wanting to become, involved in caring for our coast.

"We’re very proud that this forum marks the 10-year anniversary of Coast Action/Coastcare activities," she said.

Ms Clancy said that Coast Action/Coastcare last year alone co-ordinated 20,000 volunteers on coastal rehabilitation projects across the state.

"This forum will help us to further build relationships with Committees of Management, local governments and other agencies and to encourage more volunteers to get involved with caring for the coast.

The Coast Action/Coastcare forum will be held from Friday 30th April until Sunday 2nd May at Queenscliff.

Topics covered will vary from coastal geomorphology and marine monitoring to funding sources and application hints.

There are 11 field trips ranging from guided tours of the Barwon Bluff Rehabilitation project to exploring Swan Bay by canoe and a boat trip out to the magnificent bird breeding colonies at Mud Islands. The Minister for Environment will be opening the forum and providing comment on the future direction of the management of Victoria’s marine and coastal environments.

REGIONAL COAST ACTION/COASTCARE FACILITATORS

For further comment on the Coast Action/Coastcare 10-year forum, the following facilitators may be contacted:

• Jill McDonough: East Gippsland: (NSW border – Gippsland Lakes):
  Ph: 5152 0439
  
  
• Bruce Atkin: West Gippsland: (Loch Sport – Inverloch):
  Ph: 5183 9116
  
  
• Denis Cox: Port Phillip East: (Corinella -Wonthaggi, and Mt Eliza–Crib Pt):
  Ph: 9296 4532
  
  
• Alex Edwards: Port Phillip East: (Pt Cook - Frankston, and Hastings-Grantville):
  Ph: 9296 4525
  
  
• Dianne Moore: Port Phillip East: (Geelong):
  Ph: 5226 4669
  
  
• Tracey Pennington: (Anglesea ):
  Ph 52633715

• John Amor: Far south west: (Warrnambool):
  Ph 55619955
  
  

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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