Abstract
Coastal zones are dynamic areas where the physical complexity of the interactions between the marine and terrestrial environments is often matched by equally complex management regimes. Australia epitomizes this complexity with its three tiers of government, and a multitude of different agencies, with overlapping and sometimes competing responsibilities for coastal zone management. Multiple reports within Australia and internationally have highlighted the need for better coordination and integration between levels of government to achieve sustainable coastal zone management outcomes. A strategic management model based on a decentralized learning process is used as the basis for assessing the formal and de facto arrangements for integrated and coordinated coastal zone management between two levels of government within Australia. The outcomes of this study are relevant to any nation confronting the issues of multi-tier governmental management of complex ecosystems.