Values and Challenges
A significant proportion of the Victorian population lives within the coastal zone. Built infrastructure associated with coastal dependent land uses has impacts on coastal landscape, environmental and sustainability values. Land suitable for uses with specific requirements along the coastal strip is scarce and competition intense between different activities and land uses, such as housing, tourism, agriculture, ports and other industrial and transport infrastructure.
While most of the immediate coastal strip is reserved in public ownership and largely managed for its natural and recreational values, the development of adjoining coastal communities has dramatically impacted upon the coast. The objective is to ensure that any future built form is sensitively located, ecologically sound and respects visually sensitive landscapes so that loss of habitat, loss of amenity and potential erosion is minimised. Urban development also presents challenges, in particular in terms of aesthetics, waste disposal and sewage treatment. There are numerous examples of inappropriate subdivisions along the Victorian coast where expensive remedial actions have been necessitated in recognition of the environment's inability to sustain such development.
Growth of existing coastal settlements presents additional challenges as their popularity increases and as the proportion of permanent residents rises with retirees and others seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle or 'seachange'. Similar pressures exist around Port Phillip Bay with demand for higher density development close to the water. Increasingly, the coast is important for informal recreation as residential densities in established areas continue to grow. At a regional level, significant urban growth planned for in eastern and western growth corridors will result in the need to plan for and manage increased use of nearby coastal locations, and provide improved access to areas best able to sustain increased use.
The development of
a strategic, regional approach to the sustainability of coastal urban
development, services, access and safety will be encouraged through initiatives
such as the Great Ocean Road Region Strategy or through regional coastal
action plans.
This Strategy provides guidance on where development is appropriate and
the principles which should be observed when developing that land (refer
to 'Principles for coastal planning and management'
). Detailed guidance on design is available in the 'Siting
and Design Guidelines for Structures on the Victorian Coast' and the
accompanying 'Landscape Setting Types
for the Victorian Coast' from the Victorian Coastal Council.
Infrastructure and buildings are required in coastal reserves to provide for visitor safety and amenity such as toilet blocks, life saving clubs, visitor centres, recreational infrastructure and maritime related industry. Commercial facilities also exist providing food and services. New structures in coastal reserves should be sensitively sited to minimise visual and ecological impact. Where appropriate, existing structures should be consolidated, redesigned, resited or landscaped where this minimises visual and ecological impacts. The rejuvenation of historic buildings also has the potential to accommodate new uses and contribute positively to the coastal environment and experience.
Objectives
5.1.
Integrate planning and approval processes in the coastal
and marine environment
5.2.
Provide direction for the location and scale of use and development
on the coast
5.3.
Improve design outcomes for buildings and structures in foreshore and
coastal areas
5.4.
Ensure sensitive sites are identified to protect against
inappropriate development and use
5.5.
Improve processes and consultation for major development
and events
5.6.
Protect, improve and utilise the historic buildings and features
along the coast
Objective / Actions
5.1 Integrate planning and approval processes in the coastal and marine environment
Coastal land -
public and private
Lead Agent: Department of Natural Resources and Environment in partnership
with Department of Infrastructure, Local Government.
| 5.1.1 | Opportunities will be actively sought to improve and better integrate the processes and objectives of the Coastal Management Act 1995 with the Planning and Environment Act 1987, with a view to eliminating duplications in development approvals. |
| 5.1.2 | Opportunities to implement agreed recommendations from the Coastal and Marine Planning Programs will be actively pursued. |
The marine environment
Lead Agent: Department of Infrastructure in partnership with Local Government,
Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
| 5.1.3 | Consistent coastal planning scheme boundaries in the marine environment will be pursued subject to consultation (notionally 600m from high water mark) to establish a planning framework for use and development in the near shore and marine environment. |
5.2. Provide direction for the location and scale of use
and development on the coast
Identifying coastal
settlements (activity nodes) and recreational nodes
Lead Agent: Regional Coastal Boards in partnership with Local Government,
Department of Infrastructure, Committees of Management, Parks Victoria.
| 5.2.1 | Opportunities will be actively sought to improve and better integrate the processes and objectives of the Coastal Management Act 1995 with the Planning and Environment Act 1987, with a view to eliminating duplications in development approvals. |
| 5.2.2 | The essential character of coastal settlements, undisturbed areas between settlements and the developed populated coast will be protected through mechanisms such as the development of local guidelines and planning scheme overlays, for the siting and design of structures on the coast. |
| 5.2.3 | The planned growth of coastal towns will be managed through the establishment of township boundaries in planning schemes. This will ensure that growth in coastal areas is planned, coastal values protected (eg. environmental, scenic, cultural) and the needs of future generations respected. |
| 5.2.4 | Planning schemes will be the primary tool used to avoid proliferation of development outside existing settlements and in the vicinity of free standing major visitor centres or resorts, and inappropriate development within existing settlements. |
| 5.2.5 | Priority will be given to regional coordination through regional planning such as the Great Ocean Road Region Strategy. |
| 5.2.6 | Excluding the urban settlements around Port Phillip, appropriate areas for coastal developments will be confined to activity and recreation nodes within existing settlements defined with the community having regard to the criteria outlined in Figure 8. |
| 5.2.7 | Within the urban settlements around Port Phillip, appropriate areas for coastal developments will be confined to activity and recreational nodes in conformity with the policies for clustering of activity contained in the metropolitan strategy having regard to the criteria outlined in Figure 8. |
| 5.2.8 | Detailed management planning for coastal Crown land shall have regard to the indicative coastal land use identified in Figure 9. |
| 5.2.9 | Opportunities will be actively sought to restructure old and inappropriate subdivisions where identified conflicts with coastal vulnerability and environmental values can be reduced. |
Protecting
the scenic landscape
Lead Agent: Local Government in partnership with Regional Coastal Boards.
| 5.2.10 | The application of planning scheme overlays to manage development in visually sensitive and prominent areas as determined in the 'Landscape Setting Types for the Victorian Coast' will be encouraged. |
5.3. Improve design outcomes for buildings and structures in foreshore and coastal areas
Siting and design
guidelines for new buildings
Lead Agent: Victorian Coastal Council in partnership with Department of
Infrastructure, Local Government.
| 5.3.1 | Siting and design outcomes will be improved on the coast by applying local guidelines which will have regard to the 'Landscape Setting Types for the Victorian Coast' and 'Siting and Design Guidelines for Structures on the Victorian Coast'. |
| 5.3.2 | Seminars
on best practice in coastal siting and design and on integrating coastal
siting and design considerations and approvals will be held for practitioners, coastal planners and decision makers to provide relevant and consistent advice on coastal planning and approvals issues. |
| 5.3.3 | A program to promote sustainable and sensitive coastal architecture and design will be established to improve coastal design. Displays to promote local examples of excellence in design along the coast will be encouraged. |
Improving or relocating existing activities and infrastructure on coastal
Crown land
Lead Agent: Department of Natural Resources and Environment in partnership
with Parks Victoria, Committees of Management.
| 5.3.4 | Priorities for improvement, removal or relocation of infrastructure to less physically and visually sensitive inland sites should be determined on an ongoing basis as the opportunity arises and through management plans. |
Providing
direction for community use of foreshore facilities
Lead Agent: Victorian Coastal Council in partnership with Department of
Natural Resources and Environment, Parks Victoria.
| 5.3.5 | Guidelines for the commercial and community use of buildings and facilities on the foreshore will be developed to provide a consistent approach and to maximise the community's access and use of foreshore buildings. |
| 5.3.6 | Coastal Crown land leases should incorporate measures to widen community access to, and use of coastal and water based facilities and experiences. |
5.4. Ensure sensitive sites are identified to protect against inappropriate development and use
Lead Agent: Department
of Natural Resources and Environment in partnership with Parks Victoria,
Local Government.
| 5.4.1 | Information on sensitive sites (vegetation, fauna, cultural, geomorphological, coastal forms and processes, landscape units) will be identified and made available to coastal managers. |
| 5.4.2 | Access to, and use of, information on sensitive Aboriginal cultural sites and places will be subject to prior approval by relevant Aboriginal community groups. |
| 5.4.3 | Recipients of sensitive sites information will be assisted, or appropriately trained, in how to access and interpret the data for decision making. |
| 5.4.4 | Development of planning scheme overlays to address significant environmental issues will be encouraged. |
Acid
sulfate soils
Lead Agent: Department of Natural Resources and Environment in partnership
with Environment Protection Authority, Local Government.
| 5.4.5 | A
Victorian strategy for minimising potential adverse environmental
and economic impacts from coastal acid sulfate soils will be developed.
The strategy will consider: - a program of mapping; - use of environmental significance overlays and other planning mechanisms; - training and awareness raising; and - review of other regulations, including the acid sulphate soils industrial waste minimisation policy. |
5.5. Improve processes and consultation for major development and events
Lead Agent: Department
of Natural Resources
and Environment in partnership with Department of State and Regional Development,
Department of Infrastructure.
| 5.5.1 | For major projects that involve important investment, key infrastructure implications or may have potentially significant environmental impacts, an agency coordination group will be established to facilitate consideration of the requirements of legislation and Government policy and approvals processes. |
5.6. Protect, improve and utilise the historic buildings and features along the coast
Lead Agent: Department
of Natural Resources and Environment in partnership with Department of
Infrastructure.
| 5.6.1 | A priority is to identify historic buildings and places and ensure an appropriate level of statutory protection on both public and freehold land will be actively sought. |
| 5.6.2 | Reuse of historic buildings, features and sites will be encouraged to provide for their conservation wherever possible. |
