4.3 Coastal Crown land buildings and infrastructure Context A range of buildings and infrastructure are located on coastal Crown land which provide for access and enjoyment of the coastal experience and for public safety. These can include toilet and shower blocks, lifesaving clubs, marine rescue services, visitor centres, networks of pathways, barbeques, piers, jetties and facilities to support recreational boating and fishing. There are some commercial facilities providing food and services located on coastal Crown land, and in some areas, particularly in urban coastal areas they have become prevalent. These buildings and infrastructure give people access to the coast and should provide for safety, shelter, and recreation, as well as industry needs. A key challenge for coastal planners and managers is the need to upgrade ageing coastal infrastructure. There is limited funding to maintain these assets and their condition varies significantly. In the future, we will need to abandon, co-locate and relocate some of these assets to generate economies of scale and to avoid risks and impacts from climate change. Lorne Pier EDAW Australia The growing metropolitan and coastal population has long enjoyed the foreshore and waters with its accessible coastline, swimming beaches, parks, trails and piers, recreational fishing, boating, promenading and cycling. The range of traditional foreshore and coastal activities has also diversified with new sporting and recreational trends. But a growing gap between demand and supply of contemporary facilities is compromising both the potential growth of activities and the ability to facilitate safe access, sustainable and enjoyable recreational experiences. Simply trying to meet demand would place unsustainable demands on the coast. Any new buildings and infrastructure on coastal Crown land should be sensitively sited and designed to minimise visual and ecological impact. Where appropriate, existing buildings and infrastructure should be consolidated, redesigned, re-sited or landscaped to minimise visual and ecological impacts. The rejuvenation of heritage places has the potential to accommodate new uses and contribute positively to the coastal environment and experience. Buildings on coastal Crown land are generally situated in highly desirable, highly valued beachfront positions, but in many cases do not demonstrate the excellence in design that their privileged location deserves. This may be due to the age of the building, poor original design or a general lack of maintenance. As these building s occupy an important public space, it is critical that buildings on the coast are of the highest standard of design form, function and role, and that the use of the building is maximised throughout the year, for a broad range of public use. Some club buildings can restrict access and prevent other uses. Clubs too must recognise their privileged locations and ensure they meet their net community and public benefit obligations by working with local user groups and committees of management. Policy 1. Ensure provision of buildings and infrastructure on coastal Crown land is coastal dependant, sustainable, accessible, equitable and meets community needs for coastal and water-based experiences. 2. Apply the criteria for use and development on coastal Crown land when considering investment or development on coastal Crown land. 3. Ensure clear lease agreements are in place and direct revenue from coastal Crown land, coastal waters or the seabed to coastal management and to protecting, developing and maintaining the environment and infrastructure in accordance with approved management plans. 4. Support investment in activity nodes and key recreation nodes with significant community benefit outcomes, and where a genuine need is identified through a strategic assessment consistent with this strategy. 5. Relocate non-coastal-dependent uses away from coastal Crown land, when the opportunity arises. Actions a. Develop a register of all public assets, buildings and spaces on coastal Crown land (DSE, PV, CoM). b. Develop a long-term approach for planning and managing buildings and infrastructure that may be affected by climate change risks and impacts to assist public infrastructure managers adapt to climate change (DSE, PV, CoM). c. Develop a comprehensive asset investment strategy having regard to their purpose, design and future use, rather than simply maintenance and renewal. This may include decommissioning redundant assets (DSE, PV, CoM). d. Explore innovative funding opportunities and sources for funding coastal infrastructure (DSE, PV, CoM). e. Fund the ongoing maintenance of piers and jetties, seawalls, groynes and other coastal protection infrastructure to an agreed standard and in accordance with strategic priorities (DSE, PV, CoM). f. Develop a bathing box and boatshed policy and management guideline to provide clear direction to the licensees of bathing box and boatsheds, planners, land managers and decision-makers responsible for Crown land foreshores containing bathing boxes and boatsheds (DSE) ' Frankston foreshore VCC Seaford Lifesaving Club and jetty VCC

10 December 2008