Places Distinctive Areas & Landscapes: A question of value

What is landscape assessment?

Landscape assessment is a field of expertise, typically undertaken within Australia by Registered Landscape Architects, which seeks to identify, describe and analyse landscapes in order to inform the preparation of strategies and policies for their ongoing management. Within Victoria, these strategies and policies are typically prepared for or by Local or State Government and are reflected within Planning Schemes through State and Local Planning Policy and implemented via planning controls, most typically Significant Landscape and Environmental Significance Overlays.

Visual impact assessment – whilst intrinsically related to landscape assessment – differs as a field of expertise in that it is a reactionary process which seeks to analyse and assess the impact of specific development proposals upon the inherent values or significance of the landscape within which they are proposed to be located.

Both landscape assessment and visual impact assessment require an understanding of landscape character and landscape value (or significance).

What is the difference between landscape character and landscape value?

Landscape character – like neighbourhood character – is a descriptive construct. Identifying and describing landscape character types involves the description of homogenous patterns of characteristics such as landform, vegetation, water form and land use as well as individual features which make an area identifiable. Landscape Architects are trained to understand and appreciate landscape as a composition of definable elements, based on their own expertise, and through reference to recognised ‘best practice’ guidelines.

There is currently no national level guideline document for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) in Australia. Landscape Architects in Australia have instead relied on guidance offered by other international Landscape Architecture Institutes and Government bodies. Many assessments undertaken in Victoria have referenced Guidance for Landscape and Visual

Steve Schutt Director, Hansen Partnership

Impact Assessment (GLVIA) (2013) prepared by the British Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.

Landscape value (or significance) is a qualitative construct. Values or preferences refer to the value placed on a landscape or landscape feature by the community, based primarily on its perceived visual quality. The manner by which community values are elicited typically involves engagement with those communities along with reference to pre-determined ‘visual landscape preference indicators’, which are typically developed by Landscape Architects using community preference research to identify criteria that are relevant to community evaluation of landscapes.

The Victorian context

The seminal work on landscape character assessment within Victoria is Landscape Character Types of Victoria, with Frames of Reference for Scenic Quality Assessment, written by Leonard, M. and Hammond, R and published in 1984 by the Forests Commission of Victoria. Following that, a number of key State Government publications were prepared in the early 2000’s:

• Great Ocean Road Region Landscape Assessment Study (GORRLAS) in 2003, and

• Coastal Spaces Landscape Assessment Study (CSLAS) in 2006. Both include an assessment of ‘landscape character’ and an assessment of ‘landscape significance’ based on varied criteria. The GORRLAS assessed landscape significance based on landscape features, landscape edges, scarcity, and visitation. The CSLAS built on this methodology to include an appreciation of views.

The Planning and Environment Amendment (Distinctive Areas and Landscapes) Act 2018 enables better management of the periurban areas around metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria’s regional cities. According to the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP), it strengthens the process for protecting social, environmental and economic values in these key areas.

The legislation enables a distinctive area and landscape to be declared by Government, based on criteria outlined in the Act. A declared area requires Government to prepare a Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) in partnership with Traditional Owners, local councils and communities to provide long-term certainty about how the area’s state significant values will be safeguarded, while providing certainty for managed growth.

Within this context, DELWP has determined that the methodology for determining landscape value has evolved since 2003 and 2006, and a more rigorous approach to determining landscape value is required, particularly in relation to ensuring that planning controls for the protection and management of landscapes are justifiable, defendable and evidence based.

Macedon Ranges was the first area declared under the legislation in 2019, and DELWP is now proceeding with work in three other locations:

• The eastern section of Surf Coast Shire;

• The Bellarine Peninsula (comprising parts of the City of Greater Geelong and the Borough of Queenscliff), and

• Bass Coast Shire.

Planning & Environment Division

COVID-19 Digital Response Program Phase 2

Since July 2020, the Planning and Environment Division (PED) is managing all new applications as digital case files. This means VCAT has been able to continue to progress matters in PED through audio visual platforms in a COVID safe environment. I am pleased to announce some further enhancements to our digital processes.

New web multi-step online forms

The following improvements and additions have been made to our online forms in PED:

• New web multi-step format for an enhanced user experience

• Ability to save draft online forms

• New integrated payment functionality for application fees and statement of grounds fees

Addition of five new online forms:

• Practice Note 9 Form A - Notice of an Amendment of an Application

• Practice Note 9 Form B - Statement of Service

• Statement of Grounds by a Respondent (Enforcement)

• Statement of Grounds by an Affected Person (Enforcement)

• Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit

Bookmark our new online forms so that we can process your applications faster and more efficiently - Planning List Online Forms

What are the implications of DAL for landowners?

The primary implication of the DAL Program for owners of peri-urban and non-urban land is the imposition of additional planning controls, some of which have the potential to change or limit the range of future use and development opportunities for that land.

Community and landowner engagement are proceeding on the basis of publicly available Discussion Papers in each of the three locations, with late-2020 targeted for the finalisation of Statements of Planning Policy for each. Opportunities for engagement are available via the project website; https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/distinctiveareas-and-landscapes e: sschutt@hansenpartnership.com.auDistinctive Areas and Landscapes Program (DAL)

Land owners within Surf Coast Shire, the Bellarine Peninsula and Bass Coast Shire – and the legal and planning professionals who advise them on planning and development issues – should ensure they take adequate steps to prepare for the arrival of the DALs, including advice from Registered Landscape Architects on the potential significance of the landscapes within which their land sits. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, and – with respect to land management and future development opportunities – having a clear, evidence-based understanding of landscape value could likely have a direct benefit in the protection of future land value.

Steve Schutt is a Director of Hansen Partnership and Registered Landscape Architect with over 25 years professional experience.

New Notice of Decision online form for Responsible Authorities

• Responsible authorities are strongly encouraged to use our new Notice of Decision Online Form

• An automatic email will now be sent to the Responsible Authority when an objector application (section 82) has been filed

• The new process will assist both VCAT and responsible authorities manage this important process

Naming conventions

• A list of naming conventions for use when corresponding to VCAT and parties has been prepared

• The naming conventions will automatically map certain correspondence to our case files

• Utilise our standardised naming conventions when sending correspondence and documentation to increase response times. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list

• Refer to the naming conventions on our website

New format Parties List

• The new format Parties List makes it easier to identify the parties and representatives in a proceeding. The new Excel format also assists in managing service of multiple party proceedings

The Division will provide updates about any further changes to our processes as we continue to build on our digital capability. Check the latest news and updates on the VCAT website and LinkedIn