Coastcare Site Action Plans Provide Direction
Detailed Site Action Plans are being developed with all of the Manning Coastcare groups as discuss and plan future works.
Capacity to Deliver - LP039-011
The issue
Most of our Manning Coastcare groups have been working on their sites for many years at this point, in some cases decades. While incredible progress has been made, and great improvements brought to our local environment, it was noted by our Committee that much of the work getting done recently has been ad hoc without strong focus or direction. Also, it was easy for issues to slip through the cracks or get forgotten in discussions with local Council (the tenure holder or manager of all our sites), and for site histories to be lost with volunteer and staff turnover.
The solution
It was determined by our Manning Coastcare Committee that the development of formal and standardised Site Action Plans (SAPs) would provide many benefits. The process of developing them would provide an opportunity to revisit site histories, collate lists of the most important native and invasive species, break the sites down into Management Units requiring different management approaches, and consider actions to undertake in the future. These plans are being developed in a collaboration between the site group, the Manning Coastcare local coordinator, one of our Committee members with experience in the conservation field, and input from a Council staff member.
The impact
To date, one SAP has been completed, three are nearing completion and another is in development. These are intended to be living documents, designed to be revisited, revised and updated regularly. They will be a great resource to share with new site volunteers, new committee members, new Council staff members and potentially a new Local Coordinator. One big benefit is also in our regular (6 monthly) meetings with a Environmental Officer from Council, the SAPs will provide structure to discussions and prompts regarding particular actions previously discussed and agreed upon.
Key facts
- Even when sites have been worked in successfully for years, a formal action planning process can greatly benefit groups.