SCENIC QUALITY PROJECTS

The projects are summarised here and links provided to the project reports. Click here for a summary of these studies (PDF2.5 MB).

Click on the following list of projects.

Landscape quality assessment of South Australia
Assessing the Visual Impact of Wind Farms in Coastal and Inland Locations
Assessing the Scenic Amenity of Large Remnant Trees in Agricultural Land
Measuring and Mapping the Scenic Quality of the South Australian Coast
Assessing the Impact on Scenic Quality of Coastal Developments
Measuring and Mapping the Scenic Quality of the Barossa Region
Advising Wind Farm Companies about the Scenic Quality Impact of Wind Farms at Myponga-Sellicks and Yankalilla
Assessing the Scenic Quality and Landscape Characteristics at the City of Victor Harbor
Measuring and Mapping the Scenic Quality of the River Murray, Lakes and Coorong
Assessing Visual Effects of Development along the River Murray
Measuring and Mapping the Scenic Quality of the Flinders Ranges

Landscape Quality Assessment of South Australia

Dr Andrew Lothian’s PhD dissertation was on the subject: Landscape Quality Assessment of South Australia.

The thesis explored the philosophical, perceptual, psychological and cultural aspects of landscape quality, reviewed methodologies internationally, and developed and applied a methodology to measure and map landscape quality for the whole of South Australia, a State of Australia nearly one million square kilometres in area.

The thesis (444 pages) is available via the University Library: http://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/handle/2440/37804

Projects carried out by Scenic Solutions include the following.

Assessing the Visual Impact of Wind Farms in Coastal and Inland Locations

Dr Lothian conducted private research to assess the visual impact of wind farms in coastal and inland areas of South Australia. It examined 21 coastal and 47 inland locations. The research determined that wind farms diminished scenic quality in all coastal locations. For inland areas, where the prevailing landscape quality was low (< 5.1), the presence of a wind farm actually enhanced scenic quality through introducing interest in an otherwise dull landscape.

Coastal wind farms: ratings of scenes with and without the wind farm

Inland wind farms: ratings of scenes with and without the wind farm

Results of the research were presented at several international conferences including the European Wind Energy Conference in London in 2004. A paper was published in Geographical Research, 46:2, June 2008, 196 - 207

Paper: Visual Impact Assessment of Wind Farms in South Australia (19 pages, PDF 0.5 MB)

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Assessing the Scenic Amenity of Large Remnant Trees in Agricultural Land

The project was commissioned by the South Australian Native Vegetation Council which has a statutory responsibility to consider amenity aspects in its decisions on applications to clear trees. Such applications are common for vineyard development and pivot irrigation.

The project involved photographing scattered and isolated trees in various regions, classifying the trees and selecting over 100 photographs for the survey. Based on the results, a mathematical model was derived which enables assessors in the field to determine the likely scenic quality provided by the tree(s).

Report:

Cover, Summary, Contents, Background (13 pages, 0.1 MB)
Amenity value of trees (18 pages, 0.4 MB)
Acquiring the data (15 pages, 1.2 MB)
Analysis of Results (32 pages, 1.0 MB)
Predictive model, workbook, conclusions, references (17 pages, 0.5 MB)
Appendixes (19 pages, 1.8 MB)

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Measuring and Mapping the Scenic Quality of the South Australian coast

Recognising the growing pressures on the coast from development, marinas, aquaculture and wind farms, the Coastal Protection Branch of the Department for Environment and Heritage commissioned Scenic Solutions to measure and map scenic quality for the entire 4,800 km South Australian coast. The report concluded with comprehensive recommendations covering planning of the coast. The report of this project won the PIA National Award for Planning Excellence in 2006.

Scenic Quality Map of Kangaroo Island, Yorke and Fleurieu Peninsulas

Report:

Cover
Contents (14 pages)
Chapter 1 Introduction (3 pages)
Chapter 2 Study of Aesthetics & Coastal Landscapes (19 pages, 1.9 MB)
Chapter 3 Acquiring the Data (33 pages, 2.2 MB
Chapter 4 Analysis of Data (34 pages, 4.3 MB)
Chapter 5 Mapping Coastal Scenic Quality (11 pages, 1.1 MB)
Chapter 6 Coastal Development Survey (8 pages, 2.8 MB)
Chapter 7 Application to Policy, Planning & Development Management (21 pages, 0.7 MB)
Chapter 8 Conclusions (3 pages)
References (4 pages)
Appendix 1 Project Brief (2 pages)
Appendix 2 Gannt Chart of Coastal Viewscapes Project Implementation (1 page)
Appendix 3 Scenes in survey by regions (11 pages, 2.4 MB)

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Assessing the Impact on Scenic Quality of Coastal Developments

Complementary to the Coastal Viewscapes project, a separate survey was conducted of coastal development covering housing development, marinas and aquaculture to assess the community’s perception of these.

Report:

Coastal Development Survey (8 pages, 2.8 MB)

Measuring and Mapping the Scenic Quality of the Barossa region

The project was commissioned by the Barossa and Light Councils and Planning SA. Its purpose was to assess the scenic quality of the Barossa Valley Region rural landscapes outside of townships.

Report:

Advising Wind Farm Companies about the Scenic Quality Impact of Wind Farms at Myponga-Sellicks and Yankalilla

Advice was provided to several wind farm companies regarding the likely visual impact of wind farms at Myponga and Yankalilla and also advising on possible colouring of the Myponga wind farm to reduce its visual impact.

Assessing the Scenic Quality and Landscape Characteristics at the City of Victor Harbor

The project was commissioned by the City of Victor Harbor as part of its strategic planning process. The tasks were to describe the landscape characteristics and assess scenic quality for the region and make recommendations covering landscape amenity for strategic planning.

Victor Harbor Scenic Quality Ratings

Report: Victor Harbor report [PDF 8.2 MB]

Measuring and Mapping the Scenic Quality of the River Murray, Lakes and Coorong

The project was commissioned by the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation. Its purpose was to measure and map the scenic quality of the River Murray, Lakes Alexandrina and Albert and the Coorong.

Report:

Assessing Visual Effects of Development along the River Murray

The project was an adjunct to the scenic quality survey and involved the community rating scenes of houses, houseboats, waterfronts, caravan and recreation areas, and irrigation pumps.

Report: Development survey (PDF 1.1 MB)

Measuring and Mapping the Scenic Quality of the Flinders Ranges

The project was initiated by the Department for Environment and Heritage. Its purpose was to measure and map the scenic quality of the Flinders Ranges, comprising arid mountainous ranges in the north of South Australia.

Report:
Cover, summary, contents (PDF 0.5 MB)
Introduction, Arid mountainous landscapes (PDF 0.1 MB)
Significance of the Flinders Ranges landscape (PDF 1.7 MB)
Acquisition of data (PDF 1.8 MB)
Analysis of data & mapping scenic quality (PDF 3 MB)
Discussion, conclusions and references (PDF 2 MB)
Appendixes (PDF 2.7 MB)

Heysen Range, Flinders Ranges

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