East Gippsland Regional Study Final Report
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c EAST GIPPSLAND REGIONAL STUDY FINAL REPORT ,,.. ... 11 711. II • 3099 TOWN & COUNTRY [llSJ c; 456 GIP:V PLANNING BOARD ~ Draft • .. IM&m MPE LIBRARY MINISTRY FOR PONNINt!· • ~0 ENV!~1(Wiivi':-NT UBRARY 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 M0004104 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING BOARD .EAST GIPPSLAND REGIONAL STUDY FINAL REPORT . TOWARDS STRATEGIC PoLICIES AND PLANS FOR EAST GIPPSLAND DISCUSSION DRAFT . August 1978 711.3099 4580850 456 GIP:V East Gippsland regional Draft study : final report : towards strategic policies and plans for East Gippsland : discussion draft .... Table of Contents Chapter·· Page Introduction 1 1 · The Development of Strategic Planning 3 in East Gippsland 2 l'opulation, Economic Activity· 8 Basic Infrastructure 3 The Future of East Gippsland - Principal Strategic Planning Issues 20 4 Main Features of a Strategy Plan for East Gippsland 29 5 Recommended Policies and Progr8.mm.es. 35 6 Next Steps in Strategic Planning .in· East Gippsland 48 ·, .· ··.· PAGE Table 1 Average Annual Rates of Population GrO.wth in Victoria Non ... Metropolitan Regions, 1961 - 1976 9 . Table 2 Contribution of Natural Increase and Mi~ration to Population Change in East Gippsland.,·1961.:.·1966, 1966 - 1971 10 Table 3 · Workforce ·by Industry· by Sex in the· East Gippsland Region at ·30th June, 1961, 1966, 1971 12 Table 4 Mill Log Output in East Gippsland Region and Victoria 1~66 - 67 · to 1976 ·- 77 14 • . Table. 5. Number .o-f Establ:i..·shments and Employment i~ ~anufacturing by Indtistry Group, East Gippsland Region·I968 - 69 to 1974 - 75 15 Table 6 Alternative Estimates of Population iri East Gippsland 1981, 1986. 34 Table 6 Sunmia.ry of Recommended Planning Strategy for East Gippsland 45 ., Figure 1 Framework of Planning in Victoria 4 Figure 2 - Model.of the Regional Planning Process in East Gippsland 7 Figure 3 - Victorian Regions Population and Populat.ion Density - 30th June 1977 8 Figure 4 - J;opulation Change.in Municipalities of East Gip~sland 1961 ._ 1976 8 Figtire 5 Urban/Rural. Distribution of Pop1,llation in East Gippsland 1961 - 1976 8 Figure 6 Population of Small Towns in East Gippsiand, 1961. - 1976 10 ·.. ·, Figure 7 Sheep, ·lambs and Beef Cattle in East Gl.ppsla.rid, 1965 - 1976 11 Figure 8 Number of Completed Dwellings by Shire 1970 1977 15 Figure 9 Unemp~oyment in East Gippsland Jan 1972 April.1978 . 16 Figure 10 ·- Majo.r Features of Transport Network 17 Figure 11 - Mean Apnual Flows of Major Rivers in East Gippsland .· 17 Figure 12 - Ro.om Occupancy Rates in. Tourist Accommodation Establishments in Selected Regions of Victoria July 1976 - June 1977 23 Figure 13 - Areas of Reserved Forest, Cro'Wn Land and National Parks in East Gippsland 24 Figure 14 - Number of tots Created by Subdivision 197o' - 1977 in East Gippsl.and 25 ·Figure 15. - Conununi ty Service's in the East Gippsland Regi()n · 28 •' 1 INTRODUCTION. This Report is designed to provide the basis for the preparation of strategic -~ policies and plans for the future of East Gippsland. · l:t constitutes the Final Report on the East Gippsland Regional Study, undertaken over the past two years by the Town and Country Planning Board in conjunction with the East Gippsland Regional Planning Committee. The Report analyses the way in which trends at the national, state and regional level seem likely to affect East Gippsland in the period up to 1986 and assesses the implications of potential changes in the demographic, economic and social structure of the.Region for a range of Government policies and programmes affecting the Region. Although the Regional Study and this Final Report currently have no formal . role in the stat~tory planning process in East Gippsland, the Board believes that the policies.and programmes outlined in the Report provide a coherent basis for the in.tegrati~n and co-ordination of planning activity by State Governm.ent agencies and municipalities in the Regiori •. The adoption of the Report by Government. would also provide any future Regional Planning Authority • in East Gippsland with a sound policy framework within which it could prepare a. strategy plan for the Region. · 'rhe Final Report is divided into Gix Chapters, the scope of each of which is as follows:.:.. Chapter 1: Development of Strategic Planning inEast Gippsland Describes the evolution of the strategic planning process in East Gippsland, its relationship .to the State strategic planning framework and the contribution . which the regional study makes to the process. Chapter 2: Population, Economic Activity and Infrastructure Analyses the influence which demographic and economic ~hange and the· availability of basic infrastructure has on the pattern.of settlement, socio-economic activity and resolirce use in East Gippsland. Chapter 3: The Future of East Gippsland - Major Strategic Planning Issues Based on an analysis of possible changes in economic activity and resource use in East Gippsland in the next· ten years, Chapter 3 identifies the principal , issues in respect .Qf which strategic plans and policies will be required in the 2 ' Region in that time. \. Chapter 4: Main Features of a Strategy Plan for East Gippsland Discusses the role and scope of a future strategy plan for East Gippsland an9- outlines the major goals to be pursued in suc_h a plan, having regard to the wider state planning framework and the major pl~ing issues confronting the Region. Chapter 5: · · Recommended Policies and Programmes . Recommends the major policies and programmes required in individual spheres of activity to realise the suggested strategic planning goals for East Gippsland. Chapter 6: Next Steps in Strategic Plarining in Eas:t Gippsland Outlines the follow-up action re.quired to. develop, refine and implement the policies and .strategies for East Gippsland recommended in the Report • .. ------------------------------·------~----- ---- 3 CHAPTER 1 THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIC PLANNING IN EAST GIPPSLA.ND 1.1 NATURE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING Most Government agencies and Municipal Councils are engaged in some fonn of planning. A water trust, for example, anticipating growth in de~nd for water as a result of the forecast. establishment of new industry'in its area, may decide to construct· a new water storage facility to meet the needs of that industry; the·Country Roads Board or a.Municipal council may similarly plan for the upgrading of a Stat~ Highway or rural road on the basis of.expected growth of traffic;· the Education Department, anticipating the growth of school age popcl~tion in an area, plans to construct new schools to meet the ·needs of the children who will be resident there. Strategic planning differs from pla.nriing for individual services, in that (a) The principal. aim of strategic planning is.to facilitate the effective co-ordination and integration of the activities and decisions of planning agencies, with a view to ensuring that they are. consistent with each other; (b) Strategic planning thus :focusses on the overall :framework within which individual agencies make planning decisions, and on the ~mpact which activities and decisions in particular sectors (e.g. transport or recreatiort) may have on other sectors; . (c) A.particular .concern of strategic planning is the determination' of priorities for action and resource allocation between the individual sectors of activity. At the regional level, strategic planning differs from planning under taken by murticipaiities, in that it focusses on those changes whose . I . ' nature and/or size is such that their effects extend beyond the boundaries of one municipality and are thus of regional significance. Planning for these. changes requires co..;.operative action by local councils (often in conjunction with one or more State Government authorities). L 2 LEGISLATIVE / ADMINISTRATIVE BASIS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING Amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act· in 1968 provided for the development of a three tiered approach to planning in Victoria. Strategic Planning at the State level was to be effected through the preparation of Statements of Planning Policy, and through a State Planning Council 4 (comprising the permanent heads of the 12 Government agencies having a major involvement in land and resource use planning) whose function it was to integrate the planning activities of individual agencies to ensure a consistent and co-ordinated approach. At the regional level, the 1968 Act provided for the establishment of Regional.Planning Authorities for the purj>ose of facilitating co-operative action by municipalities on regional planning problems. The :.iystem e!Jta.bli:.ihed by the 19fJIJ Act hao been further refined in recent years, in response to a variety of social, political and administrative factors. Firstly, in recognition of the relationship between.planning decisions in all sectors of Government activity, the State Planning Council was replaced in 1975 by the State Co-ordination Council which comprises the permanent heads of State Government Departments and agencies. Secondly, the Minister for Planning, Mr G P Hayes, MP has indicated that he intends to introduce into Parliament legislation designed to clarify the respective roles of regional planning authorities and municipalities in the planning process. This.legislation is to be based on the Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Authority Act.1976 which charges. the.Authority with co-ordinating the activities of municipalities and State.Government agencies in its Region to enstire that all works and undertakings of thos.e Authorities and other developments of regional significance are integrated into and consiste~t with a strategic plan for the Region. It thus emphasises the ~trategic co~ordinating fUnction of planning at the regional level, as distinct from the local planning powers e.xercised by municipalities. Moreover, in the past ten years, most State Government agencies have adopted or, extended the use of a regional approach.to the planning and provision of their services (e.g. in the fields Qf induatrial development, social welfare, health and tourism). Further~ in response to community demands ·for increased involvement in the planning of programmes, consul tative arrangements have been developed in a variety of sectors (e.g.