Williamstown Foreshore Strategic Plan 2010 - Parks Victoria

LandscapingThis Precinct contains the largest concentration of open spacewithin the study area, comprising both formal and informalrecreational spaces. Hobsons Bay City Council has a numberof plans and projects that seek to incrementally improve thelandscaping, access and amenities of this area, such as thePublic Toilet Strategy, Playground Strategy and the HobsonsBay Signage and Furniture standards. It is recommended thata landscape master plan be prepared to guide the planting ofvegetation and integrate existing strategies/plans into a physicallandscape framework plan.In upgrading playgrounds, Hobsons Bay City Council isreviewing the location and layout of play equipment to resolverisk management issues, including the safety standard of playequipment and improvements to the road safety barriers.BoatingThe Warmies Boat Ramp is located off The Strand in Newportand has parking for 55 vehicles with trailers, 12 standard carspaces and a dual ramp. It is designated as a District Facility inthe Boating CAP and is operated by Hobsons Bay City Council.Preliminary assessment of usage has been undertaken byHobsons Bay City Council (The Warmies Boat Launching andRetrieval Facility Feasibility Study 2008), which estimatedapproximately 21,000 launches from the Warmies Boat Rampin 2006/07. An assessment of launches contained in theWilliamstown Vessel Traffic Management Plan suggests that theboat ramp is already over capacity on summer Saturdays. Basedon a 6% growth rate in launches, capacity will be exceededevery day of the week during summer by the year 2018. Itshould be noted that this assessment is indicative only and theWilliamstown Vessel Traffic Management Plan recommendsthat further monitoring is required to ascertain traffic volumes,pattern of use and traffic conflicts.The Hobsons Bay Boating Forum: Summary Report 2006outlined a number of recommendations to improve thecapacity, safety and efficiency of The Warmies Boat Ramp,including additional ramps and floating jetties and improvedsignage. Funding to install on-water berths at The WarmiesBoat Ramp was allocated in July 2009 through the MarineSafety Victoria Boating Infrastructure Fund.Traffic Management/ParkingAny development associated with The Warmies Boat Ramp thatwill increase capacity is likely to result in traffic managementand parking impacts. These issues will need to be carefullyconsidered as part of any redevelopment undertaken, to ensurethat appropriate traffic management measures are put in placeand adequate parking (for both cars and trailers) is provided.Hobsons Bay City Council has commenced improvement worksalong The Strand that will provide several pedestrian refugeislands within this Precinct to enable safer crossing of the roadto and from the foreshore. The first one has been constructedadjacent to Yarra Street.Pedestrian/Bicycle LinksWhilst part of the shared path within the Precinct runs alongthe foreshore at Greenwich Bay, most of the path is locatedadjacent to The Strand. The shared path is currently well utilisedand it is anticipated that usage will increase in the future.A potential solution being explored by Hobsons Bay CityCouncil is for a more active shared path to be retained alongthe roadside, with a passive walking path located along theforeshore.3.3.4 Recommended actionsThe following actions are recommended for Precinct Two:• Undertake an ecological assessment of Greenwich Bay(focusing on water quality) prior to carrying out any worksthat require sediments within the Bay to be disturbed.• Commence a staged program of remediation works,by means of a sea wall, to protect the foreshore fromfurther erosion.• Support revegetation of Sandy Point and the spit to reinforcethe environmental significance of these areas and encouragethe Friends of Greenwich Bay to play an active role inrevegetation and environment protection works.• Develop a landscape master plan to provide a co-ordinatedand consistent approach to improving the landscapequalities and amenities (including shading) withinthe Precinct.• Upgrade existing boating facilities at The Warmies tomanage boat launching and retrieval time and provideshort term berthing facilities for launch and retrieval.Consider traffic management and parking impacts of anyredevelopment.• Continue implementation of pedestrian refuge islands alongThe Strand as per the North Williamstown Local Area TrafficManagement Study 2004 to provide safer crossing of theroad and facilitate use of the public open space alongthe foreshore.• Upgrade the pathway system within Precinct Two to providea more active shared path along The Strand and passivewalking path adjacent to the foreshore.20