PART 3.1.1 Access Context Access steps – Ocean Grove I. Walton Many parts of the coast are very accessible with high quality facilities. Other areas can only support minimal or no access to maintain ecological integrity. Some areas may require seasonal closure to enable protection of threatened species. There are some access points which are inappropriate because they may not be maintained adequately; the level of allowable access may not match the capacity of that particular coastal environment; they may create further environmental or cultural site degradation; or they may be unsafe. The demand for access and a diverse range of recreational opportunities in coastal areas needs to be strategically managed. A key challenge for land managers is to provide appropriate access in a way that is safe, can be maintained in the long-term, and protects the ecological integrity and biodiversity of the surrounding environment. The limited amount of space and the diverse range of recreational activities that occur on the coast can also be a challenge for land managers, particularly when uses compete with one another. The range of potential risks on the coast is another significant challenge for land managers. Beach users, boat goers, sightseers, coastal managers and community groups and volunteers are all exposed to a range of risks on the coast. Ageing infrastructure, weather and beach conditions, natural processes such as erosion and geology such as unstable cliffs present risks to users. Under climate change scenarios, the frequency and scale of these risks will increase, impacting on infrastructure and the safety of beach users. Managing these risks to prevent and reduce emergency events is challenging, particularly when combined with increased visitation. A range of opportunities to experience the coast will continue to be offered to the community, including the young, aged and the physically disadvantaged. However, it is neither possible, nor desirable, to provide a uniformly high level of access to all parts of the coast, and therefore access and service levels must be determined in a strategic way. Policy 1. Strategically plan for and deliver sustainable and equitable recreation opportunities on the coast that respond to an identified demand. 2. Manage demand for coastal recreation, including Crown land access, to protect natural and cultural values and optimise visitor experiences. 3. Apply standards and agreed levels of service for a range of recreational uses across coastal, estuarine and marine environments. 4. Support the use of the coast by community-based clubs, such as lifesaving, angling, yachting and sailing clubs that provide safe and supervised water activities and manage access to and use of the coastal environment. 5. Ensure public safety considerations are addressed where public access to the coast is provided, readily available or encouraged. 6. Prohibit unauthorised off-road access to coastal Crown land by private vehicles. 7. Plan to have direct nodal access roads to coastal areas, and where possible and practical avoid running roads parallel to the coast. 8. Redesign, remove or relocate poorly used or poorly sited roads or car parks for environmental, aesthetic and safety reasons. Actions a Facilitate regional approaches to improve and rationalise access to and on the coast through the application of a coastal access decision-making tool (RCB, DSE, CoM, PV, LG). b Establish priority areas for all mobility access needs (RCB, CoM, PV, DSE). c Develop a level of service framework for the coast to facilitate the delivery of a consistent quality of service to coastal visitors, and to identify strategic priorities for investment in the type, scale and quality of services that coastal planners and managers should deliver (VCC, DSE, CoM, PV). d Implement programs to assist coastal planners and managers address risk from aging infrastructure, aquatic safety, access and emergency events (DSE, MSV, LSV, ESTA).

10 December 2008