Coastal and green landscapes in South-West Asian cities face increasing development pressure, fragmented governance, and climate-related risks. Municipal planning systems in Iran and the UAE, as representative examples, often lack integrated statutory–strategic tools to address flooding, erosion, heat, and ecological degradation. Victoria (Australia) offers a contrasting model in which strategic policies and statutory tools operate through a unified, transparent planning framework. The study conducts a comparative analysis of planning systems in Iran, the UAE, and three small Victorian coastal cities—Warrnambool, Port Campbell, and Lorne. Selection criteria included (1) presence of sensitive coastal environments, (2) visible development pressure, (3) documented land-use conflicts, and (4) accessibility of statutory planning data. Data comprised field visits of Victorian cities conducted in 2023–2024, review of 10 statutory maps/overlay schedules, analysis of three municipal planning schemes, and thematic coding of planning tools relating to environmental management. Findings indicate substantial governance fragmentation in Iran and the UAE, where municipal authorities lack statutory mechanisms to implement higher-level strategies such as Shoreline Management Plans. In contrast, Victorian municipalities operationalise overlays, zones, Development Contribution Plans (DCP), and Public Open Space Contributions (POSC) to integrate hazard management, landscape protection, and environmental values into everyday permit decisions. The Victorian Planning Provisions (VPP) demonstrate how integrated statutory–strategic systems improve transparency, inter-agency coordination, and environmental resilience. Lessons for Iran and the UAE include adopting map-based statutory tools, incorporating hazard overlays, strengthening local authority powers, and embedding interdisciplinary environmental data into municipal decisions. Future research should evaluate long-term ecological outcomes and consider governance constraints limiting transferability.