Tourism Planning Taskforce Report - Western Australian Planning ...

Chapter 8Taskforce recommendationsdetermination will be based on the outcome ofassessment of the site against all criteria.Notwithstanding this, a primary considerationin the process is consideration of thealternative site criteria as this reflects theability for any loss of tourism potential at alocation to be replaced with an alternativeopportunity of equal or higher tourism valueand certainty.Criteria for identification ofstrategic tourism sites andstrategic tourism locationsSustainability: The site shall provide fortourism development that is sustainable inrespect to its construction, operation andfunction, in its site-specific and wider impacts.This will require a site to be developablewithout compromising the sustainable use ofthe area’s natural and cultural resources, haveregard for existing social structures and bepart of the delivery of diversified and balancedtourism opportunities.Planning Context: A site or location may beidentified in a regional planning strategy or ina region plan as having high tourism potentialand value or may be part of a developmentarea recognised in the State planningframework as having high tourism value.General location criteriaAccessibility: The ease of access to the site orthe associated attraction generally should behigh, and appropriate to the nature of thefacility or attraction.Examples are Lake Argyle, Yallingup and theSwan Valley.Uniqueness: The site may contain or be in thevicinity of an attraction of landmark value, oritself be of landmark value. The more uniquethe attraction, the more it will provide tourismvalue.Examples are Lake Argyle, The Pinnacles,Purnululu National Park, Tree-Top Walk,Whale World, Miners Hall of Fame andBusselton Jetty.Setting: The site may have an aspect andoutlook that facilitate recreational tourismactivities and/or the creation of a tourismcharacter and ambience. This site appealshould be such that it demonstrates a highlevel of tourism demand or has an inherentpotential for such and is highly marketable.Examples are Cable Beach, Broome, BunkerBay, Karri Valley, Coral Bay and NornalupInlet.Tourism Activities and Amenities: The siteprovides, or has easy access to, supportingactivities and amenities such as tours, fishing,historic sites, walk trails, environmentalinterpretation, cafes, restaurant, shops and thelike.Examples are Scarborough beachfront, CoralBay, Central Perth and Bunbury waterfront.Alternative Sites: The site has an element ofscarcity in that it may be the only opportunity,or one of a limited number of opportunities, toachieve a significant tourism development inan area, at a particular place or as it maydemonstrate a particular function orcharacteristic.Examples are Dunsborough, MonkeyMia-Shark Bay, Leeuwin-Naturaliste coastline,Windy Harbour.Site-specific criteriaSuitability: The site is located within a land usecontext that will not overly limit the extent ofactivities of guests within the resort due toamenity impacts on adjoining residents orwhere the adjoining uses potentially willdetract from the tourism character of the site.Examples are Rottnest Island, Bunker Bayand Smiths Beach.Capability: The site has the capacity to bedeveloped for tourism purposes andaccommodate the associated services in amanner that does not detract from the naturalattributes of the site or result in environmentaldegradation.Examples are clearing for bushfire protection,sewerage installation, water supply andrubbish disposal.Size: The site should be of a size adequate toaccommodate a sustainable tourism facility ofthe appropriate type for the location, withconsideration of future expansion, and exhibitpotential for the necessary level of services tobe provided.Tourism Planning Taskforce Report69