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The coastline is
one of Victoria's greatest natural assets. Paradoxically, it is also
a most fragile resource that is in high demand for a large range of
uses. The management challenge for such a popular yet vulnerable landscape
is to adopt policies that will encourage compatible development and
will enable maximum protection and enhancement of its natural qualities.
These siting and design guidelines have been formulated to assist in
achieving better quality developments in the coastal environment.
The intention of
these guidelines is to increase our awareness of this landscape
and to improve design standards and excellence for the whole of the
coastline.
The document is
also intended to be used by the widest cross section of the population
including Regional Coastal Boards, Committees of Management, Authorities,
local Councils, citizens, developers and anyone with an interest in
our wonderful coast.
The guidelines
are not intended to duplicate information or planning requirements detailed
elsewhere. For example, engineering standards for structures are covered
in detail in other documents and the relevant standards must be satisfied
for a planning permit to be granted. As such, there is no need for this
topic to be covered by the guidelines.
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1.1 The Victorian
Coast - A Special Landscape Resource
The whole of
the Victorian coastline is of outstanding scenic value and displays
great beauty and variety. It is an environment which offers great diversity:
from remote and wild places on the outer coast to the protected beaches
in urban areas in the top part of Port Phillip Bay.
Both natural
and cultural elements contribute to the distinct visual quality of the
coastal landscape.
1.2
The Challenge
There
is increasing pressure for more development on the coast including the
spread of settlements and demand for improved recreation and tourist
facilities. It is estimated that there are about 92 million individual
visits to the coast with each person visiting an average of 20 times
per year.
It is estimated
that 80% of Victoria's population live along the coast and in addition
to supporting commercial and industrial infrastructure, the coast is
one of our leading recreation and tourism destinations and is of immense
importance to our economy and social fabric. Victorians visit the coast
to escape from the pressure of every day life, to enjoy the scenery
and the freedom of the great open space.
Victorians highly
value the spectacular coastal scenery and spend vast amounts of time
enjoying the landscape by driving, walking, fishing, sailing, surfing,
riding and playing on its sandy beaches and want to see it protected
and enhanced.
Visitors to coastal
areas contribute approximately $930 million to the State's economy,
with nature-based tourism on Port Phillip Bay worth $40 million/year
alone.
The ongoing pressure
to accommodate many different uses, residential, commercial, industrial
and recreational within this environmentally and visually sensitive
area has resulted in the degradation of various parts of the coast.
More specifically, the major problems which now exist are:
- Unattractive and shabby buildings resulting from poor quality design
and lack of maintenance.
- Buildings visually incompatible with their natural or built surroundings.
- Loss or spoiling of views to the water by buildings, signs and utilities
such as electricity poles.
- Outdoor furniture (lights, seats, bins etc) poorly designed and
sited in relation to the dominant materials, colours and form of the
locality.
- Poorly designed and landscaped camping grounds out of harmony with
the local landscape.
- Destruction of natural landscapes by the removal of native vegetation
resulting from poorly located structures.
- The siting of roads, carparks, buildings and other development on
unstable shorelines requiring protection from coastal erosion by sea
walls etc which may lead to reduced size of adjacent beaches.
- Soil erosion caused by the removal of vegetation, increased runoff
concentration of stormwater and increased foot traffic in unstable
soil areas.
- Pollution of beaches and bay waters by sewage and stormwater.
- The failure in some areas to relate the activities and the natural
characteristics of the foreshore to the adjoining hinterland, especially
with respect to pedestrian access, roads and parking areas.
- Loss of valuable coastal recreation land to uses such as car parks,
organised sports facilities (football, cricket, tennis, bowls etc)
or clubhouses, which are not dependent on or essential to the coastal
area.
- Incompatible uses abutting coastal areas. The challenge is to ensure
that development which occurs on the coast complements the surrounding
landscape and results in excellence in design and improved facilities
and environment.
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