Policy Area

The land is situated within the Mid Murray Council's Recreation and Tourism Policy Area. The Development Assessment Commission's document discussing this area is quite large, so for those interested in further research, we provide a link to it. To save time, go directly to page 82 and you will find the Recreation and Tourism Policy Area staring 3/4 way down the page.

http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/edp/pdf/mimu.pdf

For your convenience we have extracted the most pertinent section and included it below:

River Murray Zone — Recreation And Tourism Policy Area

Background
The Area is the prime location for recreation and tourism activities in the Murray Valley outside of the urban areas. The co-location of similar uses will assist in the economic provision of public infrastructure and services required to support tourism and recreation facilities. In addition the concentration of like facilities will minimise aesthetic and other impacts along the River and hence ensure considerable parts of the River are maintained in either a rural or natural character. The visual impact of development from the River itself or adjoining land should be minimised through design treatments and landscaping, but it is recognised the Area is the location for potentially high densities of built form and residential occupancy.

Desired Future Character
The Area transverses the flood plain and therefore activities need to be carefully managed to minimise impact. In general terms most permanent structures will need to be located outside of the designated 1956 flood level other than those required for supervision or administrative purposes. For example, a caravan park office or caretaker building should be designed to take account of the risk of flooding, possibly through an elevated or transportable design.
Continuation of primary production in the Policy Area is appropriate , but this will need to have regard to managing land use practices to ensure tourism and recreation uses are not adversely affected.
Residential development required to manage recreation and tourism development is appropriate in the Policy Area.

Accommodation:
There should be a range of accommodation types to cater for visitor needs including:

• Bed and breakfast: small-scale establishments providing basic bed and breakfast needs, often using existing character buildings;
• Farm stay: farmhouse, cottage or bunkhouse style accommodation in a working farm atmosphere;
• Guesthouse: small-scale owner-operated establishments;
• Hikers huts: 4-6 person, small scale huts with limited services often in remote locations;
• Nature retreats and eco-style tourist accommodation: low impact and designed to encourage and facilitate an appreciation of the natural environment; or
• Serviced apartments: small to medium scale accommodation.

Built Form and Design:
All development should be sited and designed to ensure the natural features of the land form area an integral part of the design and function of the development. Regard for the special character or sense of place should be incorporated into the detailed design.
There should be use of local materials where possible, and use materials with colours that are muted or recessive, have low reflective qualities and blend with the natural landscape.
All development in the Area should have access to a full range of urban services including acceptable waste treatment with land-based disposal off the flood plain.

The following uses are acceptable in the Tourism and Recreation Policy Area:
marinas;
offices and shops associated with tourism development;
dwellings required for management of recreation and tourism development;
tourist accommodation including camp sites, caravan parks, hostel, bunkhouses, guest houses and farmstay;
infrastructure to support desired uses; and
water and land based recreation.
The following uses are unacceptable in the Tourism and Recreation Policy Area:
retail;
urban residential; and industry.
OBJECTIVES
Environment
Objective 1: Development and the use of land for recreation and tourism facilities which does not contribute to the degradation of the River Valley and Flood Plain, especially significant wetlands.
Recreation
Objective 2: A range of recreational activities compatible with the local character of the River Murray.
Tourism
Objective 3: Sustainable development of tourism enterprises consistent with the local character of the River Murray and/or to complement local primary production.
Objective 4: Development of a range of accommodation types to meet visitors needs.
Objective 5: Tourism and recreation uses developed in an orderly and economic manner. Public Access
Objective 6: Maintain and promote public access to the River waterfront.
Objective 7: Development and use of land for recreation and tourism does not contribute to increased health and safety risks for the users of the River Murray.
PRINCIPLES OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL
Form of Development
1     Development should not be undertaken unless it is consistent with the Desired Future Character and Acceptable Uses for the Zone and Recreation and Tourism Policy Area.
2     Development should be undertaken with regard to development concepts set-out in Fig RT/1  Cowirra to Younghusband.
Environment
3     Development should take place in a manner which will not compromise the utilisation, conservation or quality of water resources or capacity for natural systems to restore or maintain water quality.

Evening on the Murray 5 minutes from home