OCEAN ACCESS BOAT RAMP, BASTION POINT, MALLACOOTA, ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS STATEMENT EAST GIPPSLAND PLANNING SCHEME, PERMIT APPLICATION 162/2007/P PANEL REPORT OCTOBER 2008 OCEAN ACCESS BOAT RAMP, BASTION POINT, MALLACOOTA, ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS STATEMENT EAST GIPPSLAND PLANNING SCHEME, PERMIT APPLICATION 162/2007/P PANEL REPORT Nick Wimbush, Chair Robin Saunders, Member Barry La Fontaine, Member OCTOBER 2008 Contents 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...........................................................................................1 2. BACKGROUND...........................................................................................................5 2.1 The subject site and surrounds....................................................................................5 2.2 What is proposed...........................................................................................................6 2.2.1 Option 1...............................................................................................................7 2.2.2 Option 2...............................................................................................................7 2.2.3 Option 3...............................................................................................................8 2.2.4 Option 3a.............................................................................................................9 2.2.5 Option 3b.............................................................................................................9 2.2.6 Option LS1........................................................................................................10 2.3 Options taken forward for detailed assessment by the Panel...............................10 2.3.1 The Options to be removed ...............................................................................10 2.3.2 Additional option..............................................................................................11 2.3.3 Summary ...........................................................................................................11 2.4 Main approvals required............................................................................................11 2.4.1 Coastal Management Act 1995 .........................................................................11 2.4.2 Planning and Environment Act 1987 ................................................................11 2.4.3 Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006...........................................................................12 2.5 Panel approach to assessment of effects ..................................................................12 3. POLICY FRAMEWORK............................................................................................15 3.1 Coastal policy...............................................................................................................15 3.1.1 Victorian Coastal Strategy ................................................................................15 3.1.2 Gippsland Boating Coastal Action Plan............................................................19 3.1.3 Integrated Coastal Planning for Gippsland .......................................................21 3.1.4 Other coastal policy documents ........................................................................22 3.1.5 Overall conclusions on coastal policy...............................................................23 3.2 East Gippsland Planning Scheme .............................................................................25 3.3 Other policy documents .............................................................................................26 4. EFFICIENT, SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE ...............................................................27 4.1 The issues......................................................................................................................27 4.1.1 Efficiency ..........................................................................................................27 4.1.2 Safety.................................................................................................................28 4.2 Background ..................................................................................................................28 4.3 Submissions..................................................................................................................31 4.3.1 Approach and shoreline access .........................................................................31 4.3.2 Ramp operations................................................................................................32 4.3.3 Waterway impacts.............................................................................................35 4.3.4 Miscellaneous Safety Hazards ..........................................................................41 4.4 Discussion.....................................................................................................................42 4.4.1 The Panel’s approach to assessing risk .............................................................42 4.4.2 Approach and shoreline access .........................................................................42 4.4.3 Ramp operations................................................................................................43 4.4.4 Waterway impacts.............................................................................................45 4.4.5 Miscellaneous Safety Hazards ..........................................................................48 4.5 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................49 OCEAN ACCESS BOAT RAMP, BASTION POINT, MALLACOOTA PANEL REPORT - OCTOBER 2008 5. COASTAL PROCESSES ...........................................................................................51 5.1 The issues......................................................................................................................51 5.2 Background ..................................................................................................................51 5.2.1 Sediment movement in the general area ...........................................................51 5.2.2 Boat ramp siltation ............................................................................................53 5.2.3 Surfing and waves.............................................................................................54 5.2.4 The coastal road ................................................................................................54 5.2.5 Climate change..................................................................................................55 5.3 Submissions and evidence .........................................................................................55 5.4 Discussion.....................................................................................................................57 5.4.1 Sediment movement in the general area ...........................................................57 5.4.2 Boat ramp siltation ............................................................................................57 5.4.3 Surfing...............................................................................................................58 5.4.4 Climate change..................................................................................................58 5.5 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................59 6. MARINE ECOLOGY .................................................................................................61 6.1 The issues......................................................................................................................61 6.2 Background ..................................................................................................................61 6.3 Submissions and evidence .........................................................................................62 6.4 Discussion.....................................................................................................................63 6.5 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................63 7. CHARACTER AND AMENITY ..............................................................................65 7.1 The issues......................................................................................................................65 7.2 What is social impact? ................................................................................................66 7.3 A vision for Mallacoota ..............................................................................................67 7.4 Consultation.................................................................................................................70 7.4.1 The community ballot .......................................................................................70 7.4.2 The openness of the EES process......................................................................73 7.4.3 The separate meetings at Mallacoota ................................................................74 7.4.4 Confusion about the EGSC’s preferred option..................................................76 7.4.5 Conclusion.........................................................................................................77