Tourism Planning Taskforce Report - Western Australian Planning ...

Chapter 5Term of Reference 2The unique circumstances of the Cable Beachtourism precinct, particularly its size, and itspotential to accommodate long-term tourismdemand and an element of integrated andseparate residential development were notedby the taskforce. The approach to planning ofthis precinct also was noted as potentiallyproviding an example of a valid response toregional circumstances, subject to theestablishment of specific limits to theresidential development to protect thestrategic tourism value and capacity of thearea. This could be developed through a localtourism planning strategy.In consideration of this component of the termof reference, the taskforce concluded that:• The benefits that arise from theestablishment of a more mixed communitywithin a development on tourist zoned landdo not outweigh the negative impact of thepotential conflict between residents andtourists on focused strategic sites.• The proposed advantages of theestablishment of a base population in atourism precinct, and the ability ofpermanent residents in a development toreduce the impact of the seasonality of thetourism industry are noted. These benefitsare considered to be applicable only in veryspecific circumstances, where the benefitoutweighs the displacement of potentialtourism expenditure and the potentialdemand for additional residential services.5.6 The use of land zonedfor tourism purposes inrespect to access toresidential services andprovision ofinfrastructureThe residential environment provided to apermanent resident in a tourism developmenton tourist zoned land is influenced by amenityissues, associated particularly with conflictwith tourists, and the ability to accessresidential services.The taskforce accepted that the level ofresidential amenity that could be achievedwas likely to be acceptable on urban-basedtourism sites in respect to access to urbanservices. Some non-urban and regionaltourism sites were recognised as unlikely toprovide an adequate level of access toresidential services, which could havelong-term consequences for the State andrelevant local governments in respect toinfrastructure provision.There are examples of townsites around theState that were established as seasonaltourism locations and subsequently havedeveloped to contain a residential population.While the first generation of such a populationmay accept a level of servicing below thatnormally expected in a residentialenvironment, the process inevitably results inrequests for the provision of infrastructure inwhat are at times highly inefficient locations toservice. As such, the implications of theapproval of a residential component on touristzoned sites in relatively isolated locations canbe significant economically, and have ongoingfinancial consequences for State and localgovernment. Given the location of suchsettlements is not necessarily planned takinginto account residential needs, it also canresult in inefficient patterns of servicing andpotential duplication of services at both levelsof government.There also are implications in respect to theprovision of residential services that can affectthe tourism quality of a site, through creatingan overall atmosphere in the development thatis more orientated to residential than tourismneeds. This is particularly important in regionalareas where the isolation, relative lack ofdevelopment and natural beauty arerecognised as providing the “point ofdifference” that will increase futureinternational and national tourism. Thetaskforce considered that protection of thischaracter would be difficult to achieve ifnon-urban tourism sites are developed forresidential purposes with associated urbaninfrastructure.5.7 ConclusionsThe conclusions of the taskforce take intoaccount the validity of proponents’justifications for the inclusion of residentialcomponents, as reviewed under term ofreference 1, and the implications of mixingTourism Planning Taskforce Report41