Functional Guidelines Cultural and Aesthetic Guidelines Ecological Guidelines The primary purpose of the Siting and Design Guidelines is to define those issues which should be considered in the siting, design and construction of new structures and the improvement of existing structures in coastal areas. This document is not intended to be used as a manual for designing and siting in the coastal areas, rather the focus is to raise awareness of more sensitive design and development. It is intended that the guidelines will be used in conjunction with appropriate professional advice and information available from consultation with the relevant authorities. This document is divided into five sections which provide a comprehensive guide for those designing developments along Victoria's coastline: 1. Introduction 2. Guiding Principles for Coastal Development 3. Siting and Design Guidelines 4. The Approvals Process 5. Supplementary Information (such as checklist for planning and design, information required in permit applications, contracts, etc.). The related Landscape Setting Types document has evolved from an understanding of the current landscape qualities of the coastline and potential threats and opportunities for the use and development of this most sensitive and highly valued resource. The document describes thirty-four landscape setting types, beginning at Nelson on the west coast and running to the New South Wales border on the east coast. Within these landscape setting types special characteristics and considerations for protection and development are defined that need to be respected when contemplating siting and design matters. The Victorian Coastal Strategy sets out the principles for planning and development in coastal and marine areas. The Siting and Design Guidelines detailed in section 3 assist in applying the Victorian Coastal Strategy principles. They are presented in these categories, summarised as follows: page top Functional Guidelines These deal with utilitarian aspects of development and seek to ensure the efficient use of the limited resources of the coast. Where possible, developments and structures should be concentrated within a particular location and not spread out. Generally, structures should be located as far as practicable away from the shoreline. Development should be sited close to and accessible to existing supplies of water and electricity or gas, stormwater drains and sewers if required, where practicable. Alternative non-standard environmentally friendly utility techniques should be encouraged in suitable locations. All sewage should be discharged to adjacent sewers or provision made for disposal by an approved method. Developments should not place undue strains on vehicular traffic and parking provisions in the locality. Structures should not unnecessarily impede public access to and along the shoreline except where this is the intended primary role of the structure. Developments should provide planned and controlled pedestrian access to the shoreline. Alternative modes of transport such as bicycling and rollerblading should be given access to the foreshore whilst not conflicting with pedestrian flows. All materials and finishes should be durable in the coastal environment. Structures should be designed to minimise maintenance, particularly having regard to the harsh nature of coastal areas. Structures should be designed to satisfy the engineering constraints of the special wind and soil conditions of the coastal environment. Buildings should be sited and designed to ensure optimal thermal performance and to utilise natural light. Structures, such as bridges, drains and boardwalks, should be designed to be incorporated into the coastal landscape. Generally, bridges should be simple and functional in their design. Drains should be designed to meet engineering requirements and to ensure that Cultural and Aesthetic Guidelines are met. Boardwalk structures are predominantly intended to protect vegetation and micro-environments. Coastal structures need to recognise the natural processes and features with which they are interacting and be in keeping with the landscape setting. Foreshore disruption when locating pipeline and cable shore crossings should be minimised. New and redeveloped structures should respond to their context and be of an appropriate scale and form. page top Cultural and Aesthetic Guidelines These deal with cultural issues and the appearance of structures but include other facilities such as carparks and the way they relate physically and visually to their surroundings. The form of structures should maintain and enhance the coastal landscape character of the area as expressed in the dominant forms of the surrounding environment. The siting and design of development should maintain and enhance the coastal landscape character of the area as expressed in the dominant line or linear relationships found in the surrounding environment. The design of structures should maintain and enhance the coastal landscape character of the area as expressed in the dominant colours found in the surrounding environment. Structures on coastal public land should not impair existing views to the water and should enrich views to and from the Coast. Key views should be maintained and protected from inappropriate development that may reduce or impinge on the setting. In major new development on coastal public land, views of attractive natural features (such as dunes, the surf, coastal bluffs, outcroppings and estuaries) from the nearest public thoroughfare should be protected and public viewing areas provided. Development (including buildings, fences, paved areas, signs, landscaping) on coastal public land shall not be allowed to significantly block views of the shoreline from key public viewing points such as roads that terminate at the coast, roadside turnoffs, recreation areas and beaches. The design of structures, outdoor furniture, signs and utilities within a locality should be visually coordinated. If development occurs on major landscape features such as headlands and ridges, it should be visually screened. Signs should be clear and informative but generally unobtrusive. Utility services should be unobtrusive and, wherever possible, underground. Landscape design should maintain and enhance the coastal landscape character of the area as expressed by existing landforms, vegetation and materials. Landscape development (predominantly through vegetation and grading) should be utilised to visually integrate development with the site. Landscape development should be utilised to screen inappropriate existing structures. Landscape development should be utilised to direct views and maintain amenity. Heritage and Historic structures should be considered on their merits using the appropriate design and planning procedures such as those in the ICOMOS Burra Charter. page top Ecological Guidelines These deal with the impact of development on coastal ecosystems. Siting, design and construction of any structure should result in minimal change to the natural drainage patterns of the area. Siting, design and construction of any structure should result in minimal change to the quality of run-off water. Natural vegetation should be disturbed as little as possible. Natural vegetation should be encouraged and extensive planting of indigenous species should occur around developments in urban, suburban and rural areas. Siting, design and construction of any structure should result in minimal disruption to soils. Permanent structures should not be located on or adjacent to foredunes, unstable or mobile soils. Siting, design and construction of any structure should minimise changes to the natural patterns of movement and supply of marine sediments. All siting and design should be based on ecologically sustainable principles and recognise the significance of environmental processes such as greenhouse effect and ozone depletion. Protection and improvement of marine biological values is critical in coastal environments. Each guideline, where appropriate, is accompanied by sketches and/or photographs as well as some discussion of any special requirements which should be fulfilled to achieve the objectives of the guideline. The siting and design guidelines also include a checklist that applicants and authorities need to consider as a basic component to any actions that are contemplated along the coastline. The checklist identifies many issues such as development feasibility, site selection, site analysis, site planning, design of structures and site design. Also included in this document is a list of matters that the applicant should include in their proposal ranging from justification of the proposal, location plan, site features plan, conclusions of any analysis investigations and the specific of the proposal. Finally, to assist the applicant and anyone concerned with the coastal environment, a list of possible contacts and reference materials are provided.