Land surrender

When reconfiguring a lot in a coastal management district, the government may require coastal land to be surrendered to the State to ensure it is appropriately managed.

This requirement relates to land that is vulnerable to coastal erosion and is unsuitable for development.

Land surrender can only be required where a land owner proposes to subdivide land to create new lots, and all or part of the land is within a declared erosion prone area and a coastal management district (prescribed land).

Prescribed land is identified when a development application or a change application for reconfiguring a lot is made through the development assessment system administered by the State Assessment and Referral Agency under the Planning Act 2016.

Surrender of erosion prone land to the State achieves coastal management by:

• maintaining in perpetuity, coastal processes and the protective function of vegetation and landforms
• maintaining an undeveloped buffer zone of sufficient width to protect development further inland from erosion and inundation from sea level rise
• ensuring new development in the area is not threatened by erosion from coastal processes or inundation from sea level rise, therefore avoiding the need for costly property protection works
• avoiding the construction of coastal defensive works that may negatively impact on physical coastal processes and lead to the loss of beaches.

In most instances local government will become trustee of the reserve to ensure it is appropriately managed. These arrangements ensure that future development or use of the land is limited to minor works for passive recreation purposes, coastal resources are protected, and any necessary restoration or rehabilitation can be undertaken.

The Land surrender guideline (PDF, 483KB) provides information regarding the land surrender process and the minimum conditions for a land surrender requirement to be considered.