Llausas_A_Planning and landscape in Peri-Urban Victoria: setting environmental objectives to assess the current state

Beyond the Edge Australia's First Peri-Urban Conference

Amanda LoCascio Melissa Neave

Albert Llausàs Ruth Beilin

Michael Buxton

Claire Collie Francisco Gelves

Planning and landscape in peri-urban Victoria: setting environmental

objectives to assess the current state

La Trobe University, Bundoora Campus October 1, 2013

Planning and landscape in peri-urban Victoria: setting environmental objectives to assess the current state

Background


Background

WIP: Housing capacity and demand, demographic trends, migration, journey to work, etc.


Topics of interest

Topography Land use Development pressure

Area and condition index of native vegetation


A changing landscape

38 endangered Ecological Vegetation Classes loss > 90% in some LGA’s





Soils and Primary Production Landscapes



To critically analyse how current policy and planning from different sectors and at a variety of scales relate to natural resource management in the study area


Aim

Improvements in planning

Water quality and quantity

Landscape character

Biodiversity conservation

Sustainable agriculture

Land use

“What are the trends? Where is the region going in terms of its landscape? Are key assets effectively protected by land use planning? What is the vision for the study area in 2040? Is current planning delivering this vision? Where is it succeeding? Where is it not? What is the vision of residents? Is it different to the one from planners? What needs to be changed?”

OBJECTIVES-LED STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL

ASSESSMENT


Current planning

What are the environmental objectives that are made explicit?

How are the environmental objectives implemented?


Current planning – Explicit objectives

Often not explicitly discussed

Common: per Section 4(1) of the Planning & Environment Act 1987:

-to provide for the fair, orderly, economic and sustainable use and development of land; -to provide for the protection of natural and man-made resources and the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity

Focus on native vegetation protection

Increase productive capacity of the industry

Encourage ecologically sustainable farming practices

Supply fresh water to urban, rural and environmental users

Limiting polluted releases

Hardly mentioned beyond local heritage protection


Current planning – Implementation







Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO)



Approved native vegetation clearings Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO)

Approved land subdivisions Significant Landscape Overlay (SLO)



Distribution of very good condition native vegetation in planning zones



Distribution of high potential for biodiversity in planning zones



Spearman’s rho = -.829 (Sig. = 0.021)

Alignment with institutional vision

Future expectations

Motivation for living in the area

Landscape preference

Landscape perception


Community consultation

Online survey

138 responses

Statistics (Descriptive + PCA)



Online survey



Online survey



Online survey



40 face-to-face (0.5–2 hours) semistructured interviews:

Interviews

Transcription Coding Software-assisted Qualitative Data

Analysis

24 residents

9 Landcare groups

3 Local councils

2 Farming organizations

2 Environmental organizations

Analysis:



- Quality of the environment is a key factor for most residents

- High level of satisfaction but concerns about:

Landscape character (linked to loss of wildlife and agricultural decline) Water quantity Intensive agriculture (but support for other farming options)

- Future:

Population growth and development Decrease of industrial agriculture No environmental improvement

- Strong support to further protect landscape character and natural resources.

Government seen as passive High level of satisfaction among councils with what is being done


Conclusions

- Planning works (with omissions)

Major improvements:

Define and identify natural resource assets

Coordination

Rural land use capability studies and strategies

- Demand for protection of natural resources

- Landscape character

- Wildlife decline

- Agricultural model

Not addressed comprehensively in current planning

Only remnants of high quality native vegetation are effectively protected

Planning stuck in old paradigm

- Need to update (& upgrade) planning Reformed Rural Zones

Beyond the Edge Australia's First Peri-Urban Conference

Landscape Sociology Group Department of Resource Management and Geography Melbourne School of Land and Environment The University of Melbourne, Building 379, Room 1.57 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton 3053 (VIC, Australia)

Thank you

La Trobe University, Bundoora Campus October 1, 2013

Albert Llausàs ([email protected])

http://www.periurbanfutures.com/index.php/natural-resources


Llausas_A_Planning and landscape in Peri-Urban Victoria: setting environmental objectives to assess the current state

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