WILLIAMSTOWN FORESHORE PLANNING

Parks Victoria in conjunction with Hobsons Bay City Council and other key government agencies is undertaking a number of planning studies on the Williamstown foreshore to assist in establishing a vision for the future protection, use and enjoyment of the waterfront including the land and water and their interface.

The studies being undertaken, which all deal with the waterfront from West Gate Bridge to Ann St , include:

• A Fairways Plan to ensure that the distances between existing water infrastructure are adequate to accommodate vessels of maximum design length;
• A Landscape and Visual Assessment which will provide a clear understanding of the landscape character of the foreshore and what values need to be protected and how this might be achieved;
• A Vessel Traffic Management Plan which will identify if the waterfront has reached capacity or when it might reach capacity, the implications of further waterfront developments, and future vessel traffic management strategies.

These three studies will assist with a subsequent review of the Williamstown Foreshore Strategic Plan (June 2000).

It is the intention that the review of the Foreshore Strategic plan will provide a vision for Council, Parks Victoria, sailing and yacht clubs, other foreshore tenants and the Williamstown community for the future protection, use and enjoyment of the Williamstown waterfront. Parks Victoria is currently in discussion with Hobsons Bay Council on the timing for this review.

Fairways Plan

A key stakeholder meeting was held on 5 July 2007 in Williamstown. A draft Plan was subsequently released for comment. The Plan is currently being finalised and will be uploaded to the website in due course.

Landscape and Visual Assessment

The draft Landscape Character papers have been released for public comment in February 2008. The Plan is currently being finalised based on the comments received and will be uploaded to the website in due course.

Landscape Character Papers

Character Area A: Stony Creek
Character Area B: Douglas Parade Riverside
Character Area C: Greenwich Bay and 'The Warmies'
Character Area D: The Strand Foreshore
Character Area E: Slipways and Sheds
Character Area F: Commonwealth Reserve and Gem Pier
Character Area G: Marine Industrial

Vessel Traffic Management Plan

This Plan commenced in November 2007. Key waterfront boat users have been interviewed by consultants. Vessel traffic movements and counts have been collected during the peak periods in early 2008. This information is being used to develop the computer based traffic model that will be used to analyse vessel traffic management options. A draft Plan will be available for public comment towards the end of the first half of 2008.