Dear Mr Wilson, 

Comments On Proposed Amendment C25 to Bayside Planning Scheme re Roof Terraces and Such Structures 

Port Phillip Conservation Council Inc. (PPCC Inc.) is a federation of 15 conservation organizations around Port Phillip. Our comments on the above proposed Amendment appear below and on our Web site above. 

Long-standing Concerns: PPCC Inc. first successfully made submissions on the need to limit the intrusion of structures into the view line above the foreshore reserves and coastline of Port Phillip in the early 1980s. At that time, the then Minister for Planning, Hon. Evan Walker MLC, fortunately brought in planning controls to prevent high structures being built or extended within a defined distance of the coastline. 

In 1999, a General Meeting of PPCC Inc. resolved to adopt PPCC Inc. Policy Statement No. 2 "Planning Limits on Heights of Structures around Port Phillip", a copy of which is attached for your information. 

Basis for Concerns: The rationale for producing those statements and controls is well outlined in the supporting documents on the Bayside Council Web site. We agree in general with the positions in those documents. The main difference in emphasis between our viewpoint and that set out in the documents is that we would place primary stress on the importance of the viewlines from the foreshore reserves, and from the sea, remaining essentially views of coastal vegetation and landforms - with a minimum of distracting intrusions. 

Foreshore users also need protection against intense lights, laser and pulsating lights, and dominating sound. These nuisances, including fireworks, can originate from the top of high individual locked private properties at unsuitable times, and when enforcement officers are less readily available, and can be impractical to control when the need to do so is greatest. The character and quality of the large public area of land and water that Port Phillip represents has long been, and should be, highly regarded for its status as the major natural feature of the Melbourne area. It is a major passive recreation zone, with emphasis on the natural environment. Neglect to enforce the protection of that status, which has lent great distinction and value to the municipality of Bayside – and is even commemorated by the name that was popularly adopted for the municipality - would be a foolish dereliction of planning responsibilities. 

Added Significance for Beaumaris Cliff coast: The Beaumaris Cliff is a significant section of the Bayside coastline whose well treed coastal reserve provides a fine view not only from its own shoreline and from the sea beyond it, but also from the long, much-frequented coastline of Bayside’s adjoining municipality, Kingston. The Cliff, which is also listed on Australia’s Register of the National Estate, has already had its view from that coastline compromised by "roof terraces" and obtrusive large structures along that section of Beach Road. 

Area to which Amendment C25 would apply: PPCC Inc. commends Bayside Council for recognizing that the sites of rooftop appendages with significant deleterious visual impact on Port Phillip can extend some distance inland from the borders of the narrow coastal reserve. The need for controls some distance inland is recognized in our Policy Statement No. 2 above. 

Yours sincerely, 

Geoffrey Goode, President, Port Phillip Conservation Council Inc. 
 
 

cc. Hon. Mary Delahunty MLA, Hon. Christopher Strong MLC, Dr Hon. John Ross MLC, 
      Mr Murray Thompson MLA, Mr Geoffrey Leigh MLA, Bayside City Councillors, Kingston City Councillors.