Leadership for native vegetation
The success of this strategy will be evidence of effective leadership. Leaders will drive the achievement of its targets for the regional community. They will bring relevant organisations together and foster collaboration to achieve optimum results with available resources.
Specific targets are set for each patch of permanent native vegetation and for other native vegetation across the region (Targets). Leaders for the achievement of these targets are listed below. Targets and leadership arrangements are determined in consultation with relevant departments, agencies and delegated land managers.
Vegetation assets, targets and other information can be explored on the interactive map.
Permanent native vegetation
The table below shows the leadership commitments and roles that have been adopted by agencies and organisations pursuing targets for permanent native vegetation.
Full list of permanent native vegetation patches and targets.
Permanent native vegetation can also be seen on the interactive map.
The table below summarises agreed targets and Statements of Commitment.
RCS leaders, their targets and statements of commitment
| Land manager | Total area of patches (ha) | No. of patches | Target summary | Statement of commitment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parks Victoria | 383,848 | 407 | Maintain the extent of each park through to 2030. | Parks Victoria considers this target important and achievable, and recognises collaboration and coordination is important for its attainment. It will play a lead role in fostering the necessary partnerships, particularly with DEPI, PPWCMA and local community groups. Parks Victoria will monitor its success in achieving this target for native vegetation. It will share this information with its partners and make it available for regional catchment condition reporting.
Phil Pegler, Manager, Conservation Programs June 2013 |
| Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning | 86,158 | 22 | 86,158 ha of State Forest to be maintained to 2030 | The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) considers this target important and achievable. DELWP recognises collaboration and coordination are important for attaining this target and will play a lead role by fostering partnerships to help achieve it. Consistent with priorities and available resources, DELWP will take a lead role in areas such as research, policy development, forest-use planning and on-ground work. DELWP will contribute data to help monitor progress towards this target.Travis Dowling Regional Director, Port Phillip RegionApril 2014 |
| Manningham City Council | 4,552 | 54 | Maintain the extent and improve the quality of native vegetation in each reserve through to 2030. | The Manningham City Council considers this target important and achievable. It is intent on and will contribute to its attainment. Manningham City Council recognises that collaboration and coordination amongst numerous organisations is required to achieve this target and will play a lead role by generating and fostering the necessary partnerships.
Joe Carbone, Chief Executive Officer April 2013 |
| Phillip Island Nature Parks | 2,649 | 9 | Protect the extent and improve the quality of vegetation of high conservation significance within the park boundaries to 2030. | Phillip Island Nature Parks considers this target important and achievable. It will act in partnership with DEPI and other organisations to protect the extent and improve the quality of the native vegetation in its Reserve. Phillip Island Nature Parks will take a lead role in areas such as management planning and on-ground work and will contribute data to help monitor progress towards these targets.
Matthew Jackson, Chief Executive Officer March 2014 |
| Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | 1,947 | 246 | The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council seeks to maintain the extent and quality of native vegetation in this reserve through to 2030. | To be determined |
| City of Hume | 1,559 | 132 | Maintain the extent of native vegetation in each reserve through to 2030. | To be determined |
| Nillumbik Shire Council | 580 | 101 | Maintain the extent and improve the quality of native vegetation in each reserve through to 2030. | The Nillumbik Shire Council highly values the significant habitat and species in its reserves and recognises that they make an important contribution to the biodiversity of the Shire and of the Port Phillip and Westernport Region. This target will be achieved through the implementation of Nillumbik’s Biodiversity Strategy, the implementation of management plans for individual reserves and through the engagement of our community in the protection and enhancement of these reserves and other significant habitat in the Shire.
Stuart Burdack, Chief Executive Officer December 2013 |
| City of Whittlesea | 562 | 32 | Maintain the extent and improve the quality of native vegetation in each reserve through to 2030. | The City of Whittlesea recognises that collaboration and coordination amongst numerous organisations and individuals is required to achieve this target. It will play a lead role by generating and fostering the necessary partnerships. As both the Planning Authority and a responsible Authority under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the City of Whittlesea will work with State Government, developers and other relevant stakeholders to identify opportunities to achieve a net gain by avoiding, minimising or offsetting the clearance of native vegetation. It will also work with private land managers to promote sustainable land management practices across the municipality.
David Turnbull, Chief Executive Officer September 2013 |
| Brimbank City Council | 338 | 151 | Maintain the total area of Conservation Asset at 388 hectares through to 2030. | To be determined |
| Hobsons Bay City Council | 204 | 12 | Maintain the extent and improve the quality of native vegetation in each reserve through to 2030. | Hobsons Bay City Council considers the target practical and important. Dedicated staff are already working towards continual improvement of the vegetation found here. To foster this target we are focused on participation with community and collaboration with committed organisations.
David Murnane Team Leader, Conservation & Environment June 2013 |
| City of Casey | 98 | 16 | The City of Casey seeks to maintain the extent and quality of this reserve until 2020. | To be determined |
| City of Greater Geelong | 50 | 120 | Maintain the extent and improve the quality of the 50 hectares of native vegetation within the Port Phillip & Western Port region through to 2030. | To be determined |
| Crib Point Stony Point Crown Land Reserve Committee of Management | 42.4 | 1 | The extent of the native vegetation in the Crib Point Stony Point Crown Land Reserve to be maintained to 2030. | The Crib Point Stony Point Crown Land Reserve Committee of Management considers this target important and achievable. The Committee will act in partnership with DEPI and other organisations to protect the extent of the native vegetation on its Crown Land Reserve. The Committee will take a lead role in areas such as management planning and on-ground work. Crib Point Stony Point Crown Land Reserve Committee of ManagementApril 2014 |
| Cardinia Shire Council | 413.5 | 10 | At least 413.5ha of native vegetation with an average quality score of 300.39 habitat hectares to be retained in the Cardinia Shire Council area to 2030. | The Cardinia Shire Council considers this target important and achievable. It is intent on and will contribute to its attainment. The Cardinia Shire Council recognises collaboration and coordination amongst numerous organisations is required to achieve this target and will play a lead role by generating and fostering the necessary partnerships.
Mike Ellis, General Manager of the Assets and Services Division |
| Mitchell Shire Council | 6 | 2 | At least 6 hectares of native vegegation to be retained in the Beveridge Swamp and the proposed flora reserve, Old Sydney Road, Wallan. | To be determined |
| City of Kingston | 34.6ha | 16 | Ensure all 34.6ha of native vegetation, and its quality, to be retained in reserves and parks through to 2035 as per One Vision-Council Plan. | Kingston City Council considers this target important and achievable. It is intent on and will contribute to its attainment. Council highly values the significant habitat and species in its natural areas and recognises that they make an important contribution to the biodiversity of the City and of the Port Phillip and Western Port Region. This target will be achieved through the implementation of Kingston’s Biodiversity Strategy and the implementation of management plans for individual reserves and through the engagement of the community in the protection and enhancement of these reserves.
Tony Collins, Parks & Recreation Team Leader |
| City of Moonee Valley | 40 ha | 100 | Maintain the extent and enhance the quality of these conservation assets through to 2030. | Moonee Valley is committed to achieving these targets as reflected in its Urban Ecology Strategy 2014 adopted by Council in 2014.
Michelle Gooding, Conservation Officer |
| Frankston City Council | 366 | 56 |
|
Frankston City Council considers these targets important and achievable. It is intent on and will contribute to their attainment. Council highly values the significant habitat and species in its reserves and recognises their important contribution to the biodiversity of the City and the Port Phillip and Westernport Region. These targets will be achieved through the preparation and implementation of Frankston’s Biodiversity Action Plan, implementation of management plans for individual reserves and by engaging the community in the protection and enhancement of these reserves.Michael Papageorgiou, Manager Planning & Environment |
| Trust for Nature | 3820 | 241 | Maintain the extent and improve the quality of each property in conservation reserves and under perpetual conservation agreements with landowners and increase the extent of strategic privately protected areas through to 2030 | Trust for Nature considers this target important and achievable, and recognises collaboration and coordination is important for its attainment. This target will be achieved through sharing resources and expertise in partnership with the PPWCMA, DEWLP, Local Government Authorities, Landcare, Landholders and all other relevant stakeholders on private land. Trust for Nature will play a leading role in protecting privately owned areas with important natural values, including native vegetation, wetlands, threatened species and wildlife corridors. Trust for Nature will contribute its philanthropic trust capability; private land management and stewardship expertise as well as Statewide Conservation Plan data for this purpose.
Victoria Marles, CEO |
| Southern Rural Water | 558 | 4 |
|
Southern Rural Water is committed to the targets and considers them to be achievable within the specified timeframe. Southern Rural Water values the presence of native vegetation within the Port Phillip and Westernport Region. As well as the benefits to habitat, biodiversity and landscape connectivity, it also reduces land degradation and helps protect the quality of water supplies. These targets will be achieved through the continuing implementation of SRW’s Sustainability Plans and through ongoing engagement and partnership with relevant agencies in the region, such as Melbourne Water, Grow West and community groups.Craig Smith, Manager, Sustainability. |
| City of Boroondara | 36 | To be determined | Protect and restore remnant bushland, and revegetate and extend land managed for biodiversity from 36 hectares (2013) up to 45 hectares by 2023. | The City of Boroondara considers this target important and achievable. It is intent on and will take lead in its attainment. The City of Boroondara values all indigenous flora and fauna within its boundaries. The City of Boroondara recognises that collaboration and coordination amongst numerous organisations and the local community will help the achievement of this target and will play a lead role by generating and fostering the necessary partnerships.
Adam Hall, Acting Director, Environment and Infrastructure. |
| Other Authorities, Councils & Committees of Management | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Totals | 486,413 | 1,722 |
Other native vegetation
The table below shows the leadership commitments and roles adopted by local governments and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) for their pursuit of targets for other native vegetation. These accord with the aims of the Native Vegetation Permitted Clearing Regulations that apply to much of the ‘Other Native Vegetation’. They accord with the mutual roles Councils and DELWP have for implementing the regulations.
Region-wide targets and statement of commitment led by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
| Target | Lead role | Statement of Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| No net loss in the biodiversity value of Victoria’s native vegetation occurs as a result of permitted clearing to 2030. | DEPI | The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) considers this target important and achievable. DELWP recognises collaboration and coordination are important for attaining this target and will play a lead role by fostering partnerships to help achieve it. Consistent with priorities and available resources, DELWP will take a lead role in areas such as training, research, evaluation and policy development. DELWP will contribute data to help monitor progress towards this target.Travis Dowling, Regional Director, Port Phillip Region. April 2014 |
Targets and statements of commitment lead by Councils
| Target | Lead role | Statement of commitment |
|---|---|---|
| At least 760 habitat hectares of other (buffer) native vegetation be retained in the Manningham City Council area through to 2030. | Manningham City Council | The Manningham City Council considers this target important and achievable. It is intent on and will contribute to its attainment. Manningham City Council recognises that collaboration and coordination amongst numerous organisations is required to achieve this target and will play a lead role by generating and fostering the necessary partnerships. Joe Carbone, Chief Executive Officer, April 2013 |
| No net loss is achieved regionally whenever any of the existing ‘other native vegetation’ in the Hume City Council area is cleared. | Hume City Council | The Hume City Council considers this target important and achievable. It is intent on and will contribute to its attainment. The Hume City Council recognises that collaboration and coordination amongst numerous organisations is required to achieve this target and will play a lead role by generating and fostering the necessary partnerships. Damien Harrison, Coordinator Land & Biodiversity, June 2013. |
| No net loss is achieved whenever any of the existing ‘other native vegetation’ in the City of Whittlesea Council area is cleared. | City of Whittlesea | The City of Whittlesea recognises that collaboration and coordination amongst numerous organisations and individuals is required to meet the target. It will play a lead role by generating and fostering the necessary partnerships. As both the Planning Authority and a Responsible Authority under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the City of Whittlesea will work with State Government, developers and other relevant stakeholders to identify opportunities to achieve net gain by avoiding, minimising or offsetting the clearance of native vegetation. It will also work with private land managers to promote sustainable land management practices across the municipality.
David Turnbull, Chief Executive Officer, September 2013. |
| Ensure existing tree population and its quality (tree canopy with 90,000 trees) be retained and where possible increased in reserves/parks/streetscapes through to 2035 as per One Vision-Council Plan. | City of Kingston | Kingston City Council considers this target important and achievable. It is intent on and will contribute to its attainment. Council highly values the urban forest and recognises that it makes an important contribution to the biodiversity of the City and of the Port Phillip and Western Port Region. This target will be achieved through the planting and establishment of approximately 2-3,000 trees p.a. throughout streets and reserves. Kingston City Council also partners with other Councils, agencies and local communities to improve large-scale connectivity between and around existing vegetation.Tony Collins, Parks & Recreation Team Leader |
| No net loss is achieved regionally whenever any of the existing ‘other native vegetation’ in the Frankston City Council area is cleared and where a planning permit has been issued and where a planning permit has been issued. | Frankston City Council | Frankston City Council considers this target important and achievable. It is intent on and will contribute to its attainment. As both the Planning Authority and a Responsible Authority under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Frankston City will work with State Government, developers and other relevant stakeholders to identify opportunities to meet no net loss by avoiding, minimising or offsetting the clearance of native vegetation. It will also work with private land managers to promote sustainable land management practices across the municipality.Michael Papageorgiou, Manager Planning & Environment |
| Increase tree canopy cover of the municipality | Frankston City Council | Frankston City Council considers this target important and achievable. It is intent on and will contribute to its attainment. To foster this target we are focused on participation with community and collaboration with committed organisations.
Michael Papageorgiou, Manager Planning & Environment |
| Tree canopy cover will be 40% by 2040. Urban forest population will be composed of no more than 5% of one tree species, no more than 10% of one genus an no more than 20% of any one family. 90% of the tree population will be healthy by 2040. | City of Melbourne | The City of Melbourne considers this target, part of its Urban Forest Strategy 2012-2032, important and achievable. The City of Melbourne recognises that collaboration and coordination amongst numerous organisations is required to achieve this target and will play a lead role by generating and fostering these partnerships.
Ian Shears, Manager, Urban Sustainability. |
| No net loss is achieved whenever any of the existing ‘other native vegetation’ in the Brimbank City Council area is cleared. | Brimbank City Council | To be determined |
| Net gain is achieved whenever any of the existing ‘other native vegetation’ in the Mitchell Shire is cleared. | Mitchell Shire Council | To be determined |
| No net loss is achieved whenever any existing ‘other native vevegation’ in the Moorabool Shire Council area is cleared. | Moorabool Shire Council | To be determined |
| Net gain is achieved whenever any of the existing ‘other native vegetation’ in the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council area is cleared, and where a planning permit has been issued and associated vegetation offsets are a condition of permit and protected by a legal control on the title of the land. | Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | To be determined |
Potential nature links
Potential nature links are parts of the landscape considered to offer major, realistic and highly-valuable opportunities for creating large-scale vegetation corridors and improving landscape connectivity.
Nature links would generate north-south and east-west connections between existing habitat, enabling species transit and improving ecosystem resilience to climate change and habitat fragmentation.
The potential nature links do not have precise boundaries or specific targets. They are identified where there is strong potential for revegetation and other activities to improve large-scale connectivity between and around existing vegetation.
It is intended that a relatively small number of major potential nature links will be identified in this strategy so there is a focus on these links as priorities from a regional perspective.
The potential nature links are:
| Potential Nature Link | Existing plan/project | Project status | Leadership | Partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Ranges to Lerderderg State Park | Grow West | Underway | Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority | Moorabool Shire Council, Melbourne Water, Southern Rural Water, Rowsley Landcare Group, Pentland Hills Landcare Group |
| Port Phillip Bay western shoreline | Ramsar Protection Program | Underway | Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority | Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria, Wyndham City Council, Hobsons Bay City Council |
| Kororoit Creek | Kororoit Creek Regional Strategy | Underway | Friends of Kororoit Creek | Department of Transport Planning and local Infrastructure, Melbourne Water, Hobsons Bay City Council, Brimbank City Council, Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek |
| Maribyrnong River | Greening the Maribyrnong | Underway | Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority | Melbourne Water, Brimbank City Council, Hume City Council, Moonee Valley City Council, Maribyrnong Valley Coordinating Committee, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Airport |
| Merri Creek | Merri Creek and Environs Strategy | Underway | Merri Creek Management Committee | Darebin City Council, Hume City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Moreland City Council, Whittlesea City Council, Yarra City Council, the Friends of Merri Creek |
| Yarra River | To be developed | At concept phase | To be developed | To be developed |
| Kinglake to Warrandyte Habitat Corridor | Peri-urban Weed Management Initiative | Under way | Nillumbik Shire Council | Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria, Trust for Nature, City of Whittlesea. |
| Yellingbo | Yarra4Life | Underway | Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority | Yarra Ranges Shire Council, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria, Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater |
| Dandenong Ranges to Port Phillip Bay | Living Links | Underway | Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority | Councils in the south east of Melbourne, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria, Bicycle Victoria, Bushwalking Victoria, South East Water |
| Mornington Peninsula | To be developed | At concept phase | To be developed | To be developed |
| Mornington Peninsula National Park to Cerberus | Western Port South-West Coastal Reserves Draft MOU | In planning phase | Balnarring Foreshore & Parks Rreserve Committee of Management | Somers, Merricks, Point Leo and Shoreham Reserves Committees of Management, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Parks Victoria |
| Western Port coast | Ramsar Protection Program | Underway | Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority | Parks Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, City of Casey, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Western Port Biosphere Foundation Inc. |
| Upper Bunyip | Cardinia Environment Coalition Biolinks Action Plan | Underway | Cardinia Environment Coalition and Westernport Catchment Landcare Network | Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority |
| Western Port to Mount Worth | Western Port Land Stewardship project | Underway | Bass Coast Landcare Network | Department of Environment & Primary Industries, Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority |
| Werribee River | Werribee River Biolinks Action Plan | Planning phase completed | Lead West Ltd. | Wyndham City Council, Melton City Council, Moorabool Shire Council, Melbourne Water, Werribee River Association |
| Brisbane Ranges to the You Yangs | To be developed | At concept phase | To be developed | To be developed |
| Cobaw Range to Macedon Ranges | To be developed | At concept phase | To be developed | To be developed |
| Cobaw Range to Mt Disappointment | To be developed | At concept phase | To be developed | To be developed |