SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPES of SOUTH WEST VICTORIA Determining Landscape Significance
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CHAPTER 3: SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPES OF SOUTH WE3ST VICTORIA SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPES OF SOUTH WEST VICTORIA DETERMINING LANDSCAPE SIGNIFICANCE Landscapes are significant to different people for different LANDSCAPE VALUES Landscape significance is the designation reasons. These reasons may include their scenic beauty, of a particular landscape as special historic value, environmental qualities, or less tangible Five cultural landscape values are included in the or important arising from its cultural values associated with the place, such as memories or definition of ‘landscape significance’ and an assessment associations. The fact that landscape values are held both of these values has been used to determine the landscape values, including aesthetic by individuals and communities, and that many values significance of various landscapes throughout the study values (both visual and non-visual) exist in the subjective territory of human perceptions is area. historic, environmental, scientific, social what makes the assessment of landscape significance so or other values. challenging and often contentious. 1. Aesthetic Values For every landscape, a range of factors will combine Aesthetic value relates to the ‘sense of the beautiful’ and to create an overall illustration of its value. In some includes both visual and non-visual aspects of landscape, instances, a landscape with many identified values will be i.e. consideration of the landscape from the point of view considered to have a high level of significance that may of all human senses (sight, touch, sound, taste and smell). warrant a specific approach to its management. An indicator of aesthetic value may also include depiction of the landscape in artwork, photography, or another In this study, three sources of information have been used cultural art. to provide a holistic understanding of the landscapes of South Western Victoria, and to identify their values: Landscape Components ▪ Detailed field surveys undertaken by the study team In order to determine the overall aesthetic value of focussing mainly on the aesthetic values of the study landscape, three ‘landscape components’ have been area; assessed: review of secondary sources (existing information ▪ Landscape Features as opposed to new research), including historic, environmental, scientific, social and other A landscape feature is a topographic feature or information or research material; and, prominent landmark such as a headland, mountain ▪ community consultation, which has helped to range or volcanic cone that is visually dramatic and understand the number of different ways that local provides the landscape with its ‘wow’ factor. The people or visitors to the area appreciate and value prevalence or concentration of a particular landscape the landscapes. element or vegetation type e.g. River Red Gums, rocky outcrops, dry stone walls etc., may also be classified as a landscape feature. In relation to landscape features, the following criterion has been developed, which informs the determination and level of significance: The landscape is distinctive or inspirational for its landscape feature or features that attract the viewer 30 DPCD South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study | REGIONAL OVERVIEW REPORT and may evoke an emotional response. DETERMINING LANDSCAPE SIGNIFICANCE Edges or Contrasts 2. Historic Values 4. Social Values Edges or contrasts include the point of intersection Historic value encompasses the history of the landscape Social value encompasses those aspects of the landscape between two landscape elements e.g. the coastline both pre and post contact, and often underpins other that are associated with a community or cultural group, (the boundary between sea and land); the edge of cultural landscape values. It may be that the landscape and may cross over with historic value. A landscape a forest or a lake; the boundary between vegetation is associated with an important historical event, figure or may have social value as an important local landmark, types or different landform types; the intersection theme in history, and evidence of that historic value may or because it relates to the identity of a community, between a mountain range and a plain; or an incised or may not be visible. or it may have spiritual meaning to a particular group. valley etc. The existence of edges or contrasts in Determination of social value also includes consideration For the purposes of this study, no primary research was the landscape provides visual diversity, a quality of the landscape as a tourism destination. associated with scenic value. undertaken to determine historic value. Rather, it was concluded from existing documentation or secondary Secondary sources used to determine social value include In relation to edges or contrasts, the following sources such as the Aboriginal Affairs Victoria Register, Tourism Australia and Tourism Victoria information and criterion has been developed: the Victorian Heritage Register, the National Heritage publications, various heritage registers etc. The landscape is aesthetically compelling for its edges List, the existence of Heritage Overlays in local planning or contrasts that provide visual variety and interest. schemes, and other material such as historic photographs 5. Other Value and maps etc. The fifth category of cultural landscape values Composition encompasses any other value that is relevant to the The composition of a landscape is its make-up or 3. Environmental & Scientific Values significance of the landscape and may include economic constitution, including arrangements or patterns of Environmental and/or scientific value relates to value, for example. colour, textures, features etc. and the form, scale and the biological conditions or ‘natural’ attributes of Consideration of these values and their ‘weightings’ unity of these and other elements. the landscape, including flora and fauna habitats, has evolved somewhat from when the Great Ocean archaeological or geological attributes etc. In relation to composition, the following criterion has Road Region Landscape Assessment Study was been developed: Secondary sources used to determine environmental undertaken in 2003, and the Coastal Spaces Landscape The landscape has outstanding compositional and/or scientific value included the Ramsar Convention, Assessment Study in 2006. While the briefs for those qualities, the combination of which achieve a unified the existence of Environmental Significance Overlays in projects emphasised the consideration of visual values, whole, and provide the setting or subject of notable local planning schemes, the existence of National or State this study has adopted a more holistic approach to views. Parks, or Geoparks etc. landscape significance (by elevating the consideration of other cultural landscape values), while necessarily retaining an emphasis on the aesthetic. This emphasis on the aesthetic value of landscape is required because the starting point for the study is the visual characterisation of landscape (as required by the purpose and content of the Significant Landscape Overlay). In addition,recommendations are based on the protection and management of that character, and primary research and field surveys are centred on the collection of physical © 2013 characteristics and aesthetic value. Logo is at twice the size for the footer LEVELS OF SIGNIFICANCE AESTHETIC VALUE SIGNIFICANCE LEVELS OTHER CULTURAL LANDSCAPE VALUES RATING CONSIDERATIONS Levels of significance are attributed to each landscape Levels of significance are attributed to other cultural component, and an overall significance level in relation to landscape values i.e. historic, environmental and/or In order to determine a level of aesthetic significance aesthetic value is determined. The significance levels are: scientific, social and other values, based on the stated for each landscape component, and ultimately each level of significance in the secondary source, or based landscape, the following ‘rating considerations’ are ▪ Moderate = local significance on the source itself e.g. a landscape that forms part applied: High = regional significance ▪ of the Victorian Heritage Register is logically of State Exceptional= State significance or higher ▪ EXEMPLARY ▪ significance. The final determination of significance level for aesthetic How representative or illustrative is the landscape ▪ value is not a matter of adding up the number of For the purpose of this study, a landscape cannot be (and its features, edges or contrasts, and ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ ratings. Rather, if a landscape rates classified as significant for its historic, environmental composition)? Is it ‘the best’ of its type? Is it ‘high’ for example in one or more of the landscape and/or scientific, social or other values alone, as primary exemplary within the local, regional or state context? components, that level is the overall significance rating research has not been undertaken, and as such a ▪ ICONIC attributed to the aesthetic values of that landscape. (Just designation could not be justified at a panel hearing. In ▪ Is the landscape (and its features, edges or as the usual standard for listing a place on a heritage order for a landscape to be classified as significant, it contrasts, and composition) instantly recognisable? register, for instance, is that a place meets one or more must have aesthetic value. Is it symbolic for its visual qualities? Has it been criteria.) represented in art, photography, literature etc.? Is it iconic within the