Identifying and overcoming barriers to marine and coastal habitat restoration and nature-based solutions in Australia – Legislative permitting processes for restoration

Overview

Interest and investment in coastal and marine restoration is growing rapidly around Australia. In practice, restoration projects are also already being implemented in many of Australia’s coastal states and territories. We have identified legal and policy barriers to these activities but, in each of the case study jurisdictions in this report, policymakers and project proponents have nevertheless found pathways through those barriers and complexity. With that in mind, the core purpose of this report is to examine and articulate the legal context for these projects and demonstrate that, while restoration is usually possible, there are important opportunities to reform laws and policies to provide more explicit and streamlined pathways for project approval. We highlight opportunities for reform that will help to ensure that coastal and marine restoration projects occur more efficiently, more effectively and in ways that are more consistent with (a) the urgent need to reverse the degradation of coastal and marine environments, (b) support for emerging markets for restoration outcomes, and (c) widespread government, community and industry support for coastal and marine restoration.