This Regional Catchment Strategy applies Victorian and Australian Government environmental policies and strategies to guide regional and local planning and action. And, importantly, vice versa!
Important sources of policy, strategy and planning are:
Victorian Government
This strategy responds to Victorian Government policy, strategy and priorities by:
- Describing and setting targets for the future condition of native vegetation, native animals, waterways and wetlands, hinterland, coasts, Port Phillip Bay and Western Port
- Describing threats and barriers to the attainment of the targets
- Providing for monitoring, reporting and continual improvement.
Relevant Victorian Government policy and strategy:
- Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006
- Biosecurity Strategy for Victoria
- Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
- Code of Practice for Bush Fire Management on Public Land 2012
- Code of Practice for Timber Production 2007
- Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987
- Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forests Management in Victoria
- Environment Protection Act 1970
- Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
- Forests Act 1958
- Heritage Act 1995
- Heritage Rivers Act 1992
- National Parks Act 1975
- Plan Melbourne: Metropolitan Planning Strategy 2014 (updated ‘Refresh’ edition to be released in 2017)
- Regional Forest Agreements
- Relevant State Forest Mangement Plans
- Sustainability Charter for Victoria’s State Forests
- Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004
- Victorian Climate Change Act 2010
- Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Plan
- Victorian Waterway Management Strategy
- Victorian Coastal Strategy 2014
- Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2036
Australian Government
This strategy responds to Australian Government policy, strategy and priorities by:
- Describing and setting targets for the future condition of native vegetation, native animals, waterways and wetlands, hinterland, coasts, Port Phillip Bay and Western Port including assets and areas identified as priorities from a national perspective
- Describing threats and barriers to the attainment of the targets including those recognised as national priorities for treatment
- Promoting strategic partnerships, ecosystem resilience to climate change, protection of species diversity and ecosystem functions, knowledge sharing, Indigenous engagement, efficient delivery and robust monitoring and reporting which are recognised as national priorities.
Relevant Australian Government policy and strategy
- Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation (ABC) Strategy 2010-13
- The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
- Australia’s Native Vegetation Framework 2012
- National Forest Policy Statement 1992
Regional strategies and action plans
Regional-level planning is undertaken in this region for various environmental assets such as native vegetation and waterways and for various threats such as salinity and water quality decline. This planning informs the Regional Catchment Strategy and shows how targets for particular assets and threats can be attained.
Relevant regional-scale policy and strategy
- Port Phillip and Western Port Healthy Waterways Strategy
- Port Phillip & Western Port Regional Invasive Plants and Animals Strategy
- Port Phillip and Western Port Regional Salinity Report (three sections under Environmental Research & Information)
- Central Region Coastal Plan 2015-20
Council policies, strategies, planning schemes and actions
The Regional Catchment Strategy incorporates the values and priorities of many Councils and shows how local action can be regionally significant. It:
- Makes whole-region strategy relevant to local governments by describing environmental assets and targets for Council areas
- Draws on local strategy to describe the values of environmental assets and the main threats to them
- Recognises the leadership roles that Councils play in many aspects of environmental management including the management or oversight for areas of native vegetation, coasts and hinterland.
Relevant local government policy, strategy and planning
- Municipal strategic statements
- Land use planning schemes
- Biodiversity strategies and plans
- Reserve management plans
- Stormwater and waste water management policies and plans
- Coastal management plans
- Green wedge management plans
Local strategies and action plans
The Regional Catchment Strategy is informed by local values and priorities and shows how local action can be regionally significant. It:
- Makes whole-region strategy relevant to local groups and land managers by describing environmental assets and targets at local scales
- Draws on local plans to describe the values of environmental assets and the main threats to them
- Provides a monitoring and reporting system that will be enhanced by local-scale data collection
- Fosters collaboration between agencies, councils and local communities in the setting of environmental targets and the design and delivery of programs to attain the targets
- Is accessible to the entire community and succinctly describes the targets for the environmental condition of local areas and the organisations with lead roles for attaining them.
Relevant local strategy and planning
- National and marine park management plans
- Ramsar site management plans
- Biodiversity and local area action plans
- NGO management plans for waterways, biolinks, etc
- Landcare group and network plans
- ‘Friends’ of group management plans
- Public land committee of management plans