Planning for Areas Adjacent to National Parks in Victoria

Abstract

Threats to national parks from development outside their boundaries are increasing especially on the urban fringe. This article examines the threats in Victoria and the USA. It looks at what has been done so far by town planners in Victoria to combat these threats. Various measures such as the use of siting and design guidelines, conservation covenants and agreements, zoning controls and the role of state and local government legislation are discussed. The article goes on to suggest what could be done. It discusses the importance of having buffer zones around parks in which the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would become a statutory referral authority. The problems of defining the buffer zone and administering it are also discussed. The author calls for more co-operation between state and local government authorities to reduce these threats. How America handles these threats is also mentioned.

Key Words:

• National Parks
• Land Use
• Planning Controls
• Buffer Zones