4. Views Analysis 4.1 Viewing the Lower Yarra River Corridor The way in which people Introduction Views Analysis General Terms This chapter provides an analysis of key views within the View: A sight or prospect of some landscape or scene. experience and enjoy the Many of the views within the corridor are dynamic, i.e. they Lower Yarra River corridor, as another way of understanding are not from a specific view point but are experienced while Yarra River and its environs is the value of the river corridor and how people experience this Panorama: An unobstructed view or prospect over a wide moving along the river’s edge by car, bike or foot, or along the environment. area, often in many directions. intrinsically linked to how they waterway itself. The Lower Yarra River and its open space corridor are Vista: A view or prospect, especially one that is framed and view it. The visual connection There are also a number of designated or promoted viewing experienced from a variety of different locations including seen through a narrow avenue or passage. locations within the Lower Yarra River corridor, such as the of the viewer with the river - from: observation point at Dights Falls. These view points have been the water, the river banks and • the river itself; identified as important in this study as they: surrounding environment - • the network of trails within the corridor (e.g. bike and • are accessible by the public; pedestrian paths); informs their values and, further • are located on public land; • key public use areas (e.g. picnic grounds and BBQ areas); • are in more heavily used or trafficked areas; to that, their opinions about how • broader open space areas within the river valley (e.g. sports • provide a view or views that are potentially exemplary, fields and parklands); those values should be protected iconic or scarce within the Lower Yarra River corridor and managed. • river crossings (e.g. road and pedestrian bridges); context. • roads within or adjacent to the river corridor; The following elements have been considered and assessed • topographic high points around the river corridor; and as part of the views analysis: • outside the corridor - distant elevated views from surrounding areas where the river provides a ‘green-treed’ • location and accessibility; backdrop. • visual description, including its structure or composition and aesthetic qualities; Views are sensitive to changes within the natural and built environment of a landscape such as the Yarra River corridor. • significance of the view; It is important to note that the clearest view of the riverside • threats to the valued qualities of the view; and is often experienced from the opposite bank. This presents • implications for planning controls, in relation to protection a particular challenge when considering planning controls of the view itself and/or development considerations that as municipal boundaries generally occur at the centre of the may be more widely applied to the river corridor. river corridor. This Study presents the opportunity to apply an holistic approach across the municipalities within the study area to consider the impact that development is having on the river corridor. 34 Lower Yarra River Corridor Study Recommendations Report November 2016 BANYULE CITY COUNCIL DAREBIN CITY COUNCIL Musca Street Reserve NORTH BALWYN Hays Paddock BOROONDARA CITY DONCASTER ROAD COUNCIL T E T E R FAIRFIELD E T E S BELMORE ROAD R H G T I H S BALWYN S S Yarra Bend E Park C D ALEXANDRA PARADE D N A A I O O R R R P D D N N A A Y Y O O W W R R L HNSTON STREET COTHAM ROAD L E JO E A ABBOTSFORD Studley Park KEW A K K B B R AD R U PARK RO U B Y B STUDLE YARRA CITY COUNCIL vICTORIA STREET BOROONDARA CITY COUNCIL BRIDGE ROAD RICHMOND HAWTHORN MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL Burnley Park Kevin Bartlett BURNLEY Reserve CREMORNE Herring Island TOORAK LOWER YARRA RIVER CORRIDOR STUDY Como Park KEY VIEWING LOCATIONS SOUTH YARRA T E E R T S E L D STONNINGTON CITY COUNCIL D O H 35 35 Main Yarra Trail LEGEND Vehicular Bridges Local Government Boundaries 2 Pedestrian Bridges Yarra River kms Key Views Open Space Lower Yarra River Corridor Study Recommendations Report November 2016 4.2 Dynamic Views Location and Accessibility Significance The Main Yarra Trail and Capital City Trail provide a shared The range of landscapes and environments accessed along pedestrian and bicycle access along the river corridor through the river trails offer an exemplary viewing experience, of high the study area. Other local trail networks connect to the Main regional significance. It is rare for a river in a metropolitan Yarra Trail, and these trails provide many different opportunities context to be almost entirely accessible by way of shared trails to view the river and experience the landscape of the wider through linked open spaces, within a corridor setting that has, river corridor. They are heavily used and a major resource for the most, retained a naturalistic character. for metropolitan Melbourne for both recreation and active transport. Threats The river is also experienced by boat; the depth of the Lower Yarra allows for a variety of boating activity including canoeing, Given the proximity of developable land to the river corridor kayaking or rowing as well as small and medium sized motor in many locations, buildings or structures could potentially boats, all of which are popular ways to experience the river. be visible from the river. Design and development must be managed to maintain the different landscapes and There are many places to experience the river by car. This environments of the river. In particular, the protection of includes the Yarra Boulevard as it winds its way through remnant vegetation, planting of new indigenous species and Burnley and Kew, the Monash Freeway, Alexandra Avenue management of weeds is of high priority. in South Yarra and a number of vehicle bridge crossings. The railway corridor at Cremorne, Heyington and Hawthorn railway bridges also allow elevated views of the river corridor. Planning Implications On the whole, for all sections of the river, buildings, structures Description and fencing must be scaled, sited and designed to respect this sensitive environment and maintain the dominance of Experiencing the journey of the river’s course, the landscape vegetation along the river corridor. gradually transitions from its suburban setting into a more urban setting (if travelling downstream towards the city). The topography rises up from the expansive river flats and floodplains around Bulleen, through to the elevated areas of Kew, Hawthorn and Toorak, where the river banks form a distinct vegetated edge and backdrop to the corridor. Cyclist on the Main Yarra Trail in Abbottsford The Main Yarra Trail and Capital City Trail provides an immense variety of spatial experiences along the river’s course. The trail moves through floodplains, parklands and conservation precincts, and past institutional buildings and industrial areas. At times the river can only be seen through a screen of vegetation, or the trail is diverted away from the river; other times the trail follows the river banks directly. Bridge crossings open up panoramic views of the river corridor in both directions. The Yarra River corridor can also be viewed from the waterway itself with a variety of motorised and non-motorised boating activities being popular within the Lower Yarra. The Yarra Boulevard Herring Island boat launch Canoeing on the Yarra River 36 Lower Yarra River Corridor Study Recommendations Report November 2016 4.3 Road and Rail Bridge Crossings Location and Accessibility Significance There are eleven road bridge crossings of the Lower Yarra: The road bridges offer the opportunity to view the river from an elevated point. The momentary immersion in the • Hoddle Bridge at Punt Road naturalistic landscape of the river corridor is a distinctive • Church Street Bridge contrast with the surrounding activity of the broader urban • Macrobertson Bridge at St Georges Road environment. • Gardiners Creek Bridge at the Monash Freeway • Wallen Road Bridge Threats • Hawthorn Bridge at Bridge Road & Burwood Road Given the proximity of developable land up to the river’s edge • Victoria Bridge at Victoria Street & Barkers Road in many locations, buildings or structures could potentially be • Johnston Street Bridge visible from the bridge crossings despite the heavy screen of • Eastern Freeway Bridge in Kew riverside vegetation in these locations. • Chandler Highway Bridge • Burke Road Bridge. Planning Implications These crossing points provide views of the wider river corridor Buildings, structures and fencing must be scaled, sited and setting within its suburban environment and, if travelling by designed to respect this sensitive environment and maintain car, a glimpse of the river itself. The road bridge views are also the dominance of vegetation along the river corridor. experienced by pedestrians as key crossing points between In some cases, performance standards, such as building the parklands and trails on either side of the river. heights, setbacks or site coverage controls may be required to The railway bridges at Cremorne, Hawthorn and Heyington manage the impact of development within high priority areas also allow elevated views of the river. adjacent to the river corridor. Description From these elevated points, longer-range views of the river within its busy urban setting are available, offering a different perspective to the one provided by the trails at the river’s edge. The views extend into the distance as river winds along its The Yarra River viewed from above on the Johnston Street Bridge course in both directions. The views encompass the waterway corridor, riverside parklands and trails, and the rooftops and tree canopy across the adjoining neighbourhoods. The elevated vantage point of the road bridges offers views of the river valley and its heavily vegetated corridor within its busy suburban settings.