Protecting the Yarra River (Birrarung) Discussion Paper submission form
Your details
and visits to the Yarra River
To select a field, double click on the box and select ‘checked’.The following best describes me
þI am a permanent resident of Victoria I am a resident of another Australian state I am a visitor from overseas
Do you live within one kilometre or 10-15 minutes’ walk of the Yarra River?
Yes þ No
In the past 12 months, how often have you visited the Yarra River?
zero once 2-5 times
6-10 times 11-20 times 21-30 times
31-50 times 50-75 times 76-100 times
100-200 times þMore than 200 times
What aspect of the Yarra River and its environs would you most like to see protected?
In accordance with Clause 12.05-2 of the Victoria Planning Provisions, it is considered important to retain and enhance people’s enjoyment of the River and its environment by planning for the river and its environs as a recreation and tourism resource.
The Inner-city reach of the River Yarra plays a significant role in promoting Melbourne as a world-class tourism destination. The River Yarra is the stage showcasing Melbourne’s key tourism attractions including Crown Casino, Federation Square and Melbourne’s Sports and Entertainment Precinct.
It also plays a key role in providing multi-modal access to the city with helicopter facilities provided at Batman Park and North Wharf, and various ferry stops also provided along the River.
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a: 29 Northern Ave Moorabbin Airport VIC 3194 P.O. Box 228 Port Melbourne VIC 3207 e: [email protected]
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The centrally located helipad facilities are critical to enabling Victoria’s helicopter industry to service Melbourne’s government and business clients given its close proximity to the Central Business District and Southbank.
In addition, central-city helicopter access plays an important role in promoting Melbourne as a key destinationfor tourists visiting Victoria. In this regard, Microflite holds contracts with Crown Casino, cruise ship operators and other international tourism service providers conveying thousands of tourists from Melbourne city to Victoria’s leading tourism attractions including those in Regional Victoria each year.
Current packages offered by Microflite in collaboration with its alliance partners include food and wine experiences visiting Victoria’s leading restaurants in the Yarra Valley, Birregurra, Mornington Peninsula and Bellarine Peninsula. Microflite also offers packages visiting the Twelve Apostles, the Grampians, Healesville Sanctuary, and Phillip Island.
Sites on the River Yarra are particularly appropriate for the location of central city heliport facilities given the safe flight path. The entire length of the River acts as an ideal helicopter approach and departure path as it provides for clear and unobstructed flight profiles, over both populous and un-built up parts of Melbourne.
On the basis of maintaining multi-modal access to Melbourne’s city centre, and recognising the importance of the helicopter industry in supporting Melbourne’s tourism industry, it is considered that the final River Yarra Strategy should specifically provide for the protection and provision of permanent helicopter facilities on the inner-city reach of the River Yarra.
What aspect of the Yarra River and its environs would you most like to see improved?
Microflite would like to see a streamlined decision-making process supporting the transport and tourism functions of the River Yarra. For example, the existing helipad facilities along the River Yarra trigger the jurisdiction of Parks Victoria, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, DELWP, City of Melbourne, DEDJTR, and Melbourne Water. This complex administrative framework is a regulatory burden which continues to provide uncertainty for Microflite in terms of operating and expanding its business.
What would you like to see included in a vision for the Yarra River?
The Vision for the River Yarra should include recognition and protection of the role the inner-city reach of the River Yarra plays in providing multi-modal access to the central city, and promoting Melbourne as a key tourism destination.
What elements would you like to see covered in a Yarra River strategic plan?
Microflite supports the suggested Scheme Scope for the Yarra Strategic Plan detailed in Figure 13 (page 47) of the Discussion Paper. It is considered that the element “Create the Structure for Future investment and development” proposed for inclusion in the “Inner-city Yarra reach plan” should specifically include reference
to that structure supporting multi-modal access to the city via the River, and recognising the important role of the River Yarra in promoting Melbourne’s status as a world-class tourism destination.
What would you like to see included in legislation to protect the Yarra River?
The proposed Yarra (Birrarung) Protection Act should include in its legislative objectives:
To recognise the River Yarra’s role in promoting Melbourne’s status as a world-class tourism destination To recognise the River Yarra’s role in providing for multi-modal access to the city centre including protection of the River Yarra helicopter flight path
It is also considered that the Yarra Act should provide for the effective integration of decision-making processes in relation to proposals for facilities on the River Yarra to promote these objectives.
What do you think are the key criteria for the evaluation of the options for management arrangements of the Yarra River and its riverscape (as outlined in section 5.4 of the discussion paper)?
It is considered that the key criteria for evaluating options for managing the River Yarra should focus on reducing the current regulatory burden and delivering consistent policy and decision-making criteria.
What are your thoughts on the options for a new management model for the Yarra River and its environs?
It is considered critical that any new management model provides for streamlined integrated policy and decision making.
It is understood from the discussion paper that the proposed new management model for the River Yarra centres on the development of a River Yarra Strategic Plan, and specific legislation – Yarra (Birrarung) Protection Act.
In addition the discussion paper makes reference to the Transport Integration Act as an example of legislation to clarify roles and improve consistency in decision-making across the many agencies and portfolios involved in a particular decision.
As outlined above in our submission, Microflite supports an integrated tool in relation to decision-making affecting “development and use” of the River Yarra.
To date, integrated decision making for State significant development and uses along the River Yarra has been achieved through site-specific legislation – for example, the Melbourne Lands (Yarra River North Bank)
Act, and the Casino Control Act and associated regulations.
Going forward, it is suggested that rather than site-specific legislation, integration of decision-making for use and development decisions in relation to land within or directly adjacent to the River Yarra could be achieved by amendments to Clause 66 (Referral provisions) of the Planning Scheme. In addition, a new section could be added to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 similar to the existing provisions that regulate the use and/or development of coastal land where use and/or development on coastal land triggers the Coastal Management Act.
Are there other management options and models we should consider?
It is suggested that rather than requiring new legislation, integrated decision-making for use and development decisions in relation to land within or directly adjacent to the River Yarra can be achieved by amendments to Clause 66 (Referral provisions) of the Planning Scheme. In addition, a new section could be added to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 similar to the existing provisions that regulate the use of coastal land where use and/or development on coastal land triggers the Coastal Management Act.
Is there any information or issues you feel we have missed?
Whilst Microflite supports the Government’s intention to protect the Yarra River, it is considered that the current discussion paper is significantly focussed on protecting the environmental and cultural heritage roles of the River with minimal consideration given to the important role of the River Yarra in relation to the city’s tourism industry and economic success.
It is suggested that this omission could be addressed through the inclusion of an additional member on the Ministerial Advisory Committee with a economic and tourism focus.
Do you have any other suggestions or feedback for the Yarra MAC that has not been addressed in previous questions?
No.