Seven Mile peninsula a strategic land use & development study for the seven mile peninsula REPORT 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY for the Department of Economic Development tract consultants pty ltd robert luxmoore pty ltd neil shephard and associates cpr communications north barker ecosystem services john miedecke and partners pty ltd aquenal pty ltd tardis enterprises ttm consulting June, Vision for Seven Mile Peninsula ‘A shared vision for Seven Mile Peninsula as a valued multiple use resource serving the communities of Seven Mile township, Clarence and beyond. Known for its physical beauty and diversity of activities, where recreation and productive resource uses can coexist with appropriate development that preserves the areas natural features and leads to, over time, environmental improvements.’ |2 a strategic land use & development study for the mile peninsula 1 Acknowledgements & Abbreviations The consultant team would like to thank the following organisations for their time and input into this Abbreviations study SMP = Seven Mile Peninsula ɹ Members of the public who made submissions MRT = Mineral Resources Tasmania Attendees of the public information day ɹ RPDC = Resource Planning and Development Commission ɹ Norske Skog EPBC = Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act ɹ Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd PWS = Parks and Wildlife Service ɹ Seven Mile Beach Community Group ɹ Seven Mile Beach Coastcare HIA = Hobart International Airport ɹ Tasmanian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (TALSC) Notes ɹ Birds Tasmania For clarity Seven Mile Beach, the township, is referred to throughout this report as Seven Mile Beach ɹ Orienteering Tasmania township. Seven Mile Beach, the beach, is referred to as Seven Mile Beach. Mineral Resources Tasmania ɹ The terms ‘subject site’, ‘Peninsula’ and ‘SMP’ are used interchangeably throughout the report and refer ɹ Sandbar to the study area as defi ned inChapter 3.1 of the full report. ɹ The Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council For further information please contact ɹ Marine and Safety Tasmania ɹ Clarence City Council Robert Luxmoore ɹ Parks & Wildlife Service 03 9416 3207 www.luxmoore.com.au ɹ Tasmanian Conservation Trust [email protected] ɹ Department of Tourism, Arts and the Environment ɹ Representatives from the horse racing (thoroughbred and harness) community Tract Consultants ɹ Chiefs of Staff of the Minister for Tourism, Member for Franklin (SMP electorate) Paula Wriedt, the 03 9429 6133 Minister for Health and Member for Franklin Lara Giddings and Minister for Planning. www.tract.net.au [email protected] ɹ Crown Land Services |3 a strategic land use & development study for the mile peninsula Introduction Seven Mile Peninsula, a unique sandy spit known for its physical beauty, varied uses and proximity to 1.2 Terms of Reference Hobart, faces many challenges as the 21st century moves towards its second decade and beyond. Comprehensive management has been hampered by the lack of an agreed overarching vision, which Terms of reference were provided by the Tasmanian Department of Economic Development, as part sets out a strategic plan that recommends land uses and supporting infrastructure to be used by of the tender process. These terms of reference were used by the study team as a basis for devising managers and the public as a framework for coordinated, complementary decision making. the methodology, undertaking investigations and fi nal reporting. The terms of reference are: This land use study seeks to fi ll that need, off ering a strategic vision for the Peninsula, based on ‘The Study should specifi cally address, but should not be limited to, the following: community and stakeholder consultation and supplemented by new primary research. a) Land use options, in light of its current status, b) Environmental values and impacts, particularly in relation to the Pitt Water Ramsar site, 1.1 Site and locality description c) Social values, including Aboriginal heritage values, and impacts, Seven Mile Peninsula is approximately 17 kilometres east-north-east of central Hobart. Located within Clarence City Council, the site is bordered to the north by Lower Pitt Water, and to the south d) Marine and coastal values and impacts, including potential vulnerability to climate change and sea- by Frederick Henry Bay. Pitt Water is fed by the Coal River which fl ows in from the hills to the west. level rise, These bays are linked by a narrow deep channel that separates the Peninsula from Lewisham and Dodges Ferry to the east. The study area, at approximately 970 hectares, is bounded to the west by e) Recreational values and impacts, the Hobart International Airport. f) Future long term access to sand resources, Land immediately to the west of Pitt Water Road has been recently purchased from the Crown by HIA, g) Impacts of resource mining, and is excluded from the study area. Access is from two points, Surf Road in the south and Pitt Water Road via Tasman Highway in the north. As a result the major activities are concentrated at these entry h) Protection of the groundwater resources, points. The eastern point of the study area is the tip of the Peninsula, known as Sandy Point. Beyond Sandy Point, across the channel, are the towns of Lewisham and Dodges Ferry. The Seven Mile Beach i) Infrastructure constraints and opportunities, township is to the west of HIA, with a population of 1089 people (ABS, 2001). Residents of Seven Mile Beach township are common users of the Peninsula. j) Access implications, For an overview of the site’s main features please refer to Figure 1 – Site Analysis. k) Commercial development capability of the site(s), land use options and impacts on the values as identifi ed by the Study, l) Local area integration options, focusing on present and proposed land use and development issues, m) Economic evaluation of development options, n) Public benefi t of any recommendations, and o) Existing Australian, State and Local Government policies’. |4 Piner’s Hut a strategic land use & development study for the mile peninsula 23 MIDDAY Pitt Water Woodyoo Bluff Islandan Barren Tasman Highway Island To Hobart AFTERNOON RN MORNING Day Use Area 5 BBQ Facilities Children’s Play Equipment OvalOva Five Mile Beach 5 Piner’s Hut 23 5 5 Parks and Wildlife Equipment Base quipmentpmentnt Basese 2.55 2.5 24 2.5 LewishamLeww sham Pittwater Road P 2.5 2.5 22 Centre RoadRoa LewishamLe Scenic Drive wisham Scenic Drive ham Scenic Drive 2.5 MonmouthM uutuththh HobartHoob Pony 5 7.5 d Internationalernattio all & Riding ClubC b 5 15 10 15 5 7.5 Airportport 5 5 5 5 15 15 15 Whisperinger 5 15 cett Sands 5 15 21 25 orcett R 15 orcett 11 7.5 Stablesles 20 2.5 15 20 PittwaterPPi Road 5 1915 7.5 d Seven Mile Beach 5 2.5 20 10 15 10 Old F 2.5 18 15 16 5 15 15 10 17 15 9 20 10 10 15 7.5 P 5 8 15 15 P 10 1 P 10 2 3 5 7 Race Horse Training Area 14 Llanhernenhnhe 10 10 10 Day Use Area 4 - Car Parking with Beach Access 12 Golf Course 6 10 Coouursu 5 Day Use Area 3 - Parks and Wildlife Service 7.5 10 2.5 5 Office 7.5 4 20 10 10 10 15 Toilets and Change Facilities 10 Residences 10 10 10 7.5 25 10 10 5 10 5 55 10 5 30 135 10 Sandy 35 Point Surf Rd 2.5 30 Frederick Henry Bay 7.5 10 25 10 CarCa 10 d 20 lton 5 lton o 5 DodgesDodge hR 5 ach Rd Riv Ferry iv 5 B ere Rd n Be Rd lton Be R 7.5 lt Seven Mile Beach Car 26 LEGEND P PARKING SUBJECT SITE WATER BODY MAJOR ROAD HORSE TRAIL |5 RAMSAR WETLANDS AIRPORT NOISE CONTOURS ACCESS RD WATER COURSE CROWN LEASE Buffer Area Natural and Artificial MARINE LEASES PITTWATER NATURE RESERVE 9 PHOTO LOCATION VEHICULAR TRACK LOW TIDE MARK With view direction Shellfish Farming SCALE 1:12500 @ A1@ a strategic landFIGURE 1useu - SITE & ANALYSIS developmentd study for the mileTRACT peninsula CONSULTANTS - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS 0 125 250 3755 500 625 1250 SEVEN MILE PENINSULA, TASMANIA FEBRUARY 2007 306374 GA/AT PD P 01 1.3 Team 1.4 Report Structure The Tasmanian Government, through the Department of Economic Development, engaged Robert Three separate reports comprise the outputs of this study, as follows: Luxmoore, Tract Consultants and a team of specialist consultants to undertake a Strategic Land Use and Development Study for the Seven Mile Peninsula (SMP). ɹ Report 1 (this document) is the executive summary, which summarises the key fi ndings and recommendations of the study in a short condensed volume. The full consultant team, and their recognized areas of expertise, is as follows: ɹ Report 2, is the full report. The structure of the report is designed to allow reading of selected ɹ Robert Luxmoore – Project Management, Feasibility, chapters, although a full appreciation of the report can only be gained through a full reading. The principle aim of this study is to develop a contemporary strategic vision and framework ɹ Tract Consultants – Strategic Planning, Masterplanning, Recreation, Demographics, Landscape that will assist in future decision making, and in doing so, make recommendations for actions to Analysis, facilitate the realisation of the vision. It is necessary to set the basis for the study and describe in ɹ North Barker Ecosystem Services – Environmental, Terrestrial Flora and Fauna, detail the issues and values of the site. As such, the full report introduces the goals of the project as expressed through the terms of reference. Chapter 2 introduces the team and sets the basis ɹ John Miedecke and Partners Pty Ltd – Mining Engineering and Groundwater, for the following chapter.