S3 Identify remnant vegetation on public and Council land in Nillumbik suitable for use as offsets via the Native Vegetation Framework. EW & EP 2011 S4 Support and encourage residents to access the State Government’s Native Vegetation Credit Register. EP 2011 S5 Create a list of Nillumbik’s key significant flora as part of the ESO1 Review Stage 3. This will be a subset of the list in Appendix 2 (Background Paper). EP 2011 S6 Create a list of Nillumbik’s key significant fauna as part of the ESO1 Review Stage 3. This will be a subset of the list in Appendix 3 (Background Paper). EP 2011 S7 Incorporate recommendations from the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission into the current Roadside Review. EW 2011 S8 Investigate the modification of current Council programs to target revegetation and natural regeneration on private properties in buffer areas, taking into consideration the requirements of the WMO. EP 2011 S9 Investigate better protection of native vegetation and implementing net gain through the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. For example by developing a new native vegetation planning policy.. EP/SP 2011 - 2013 S10 Provide training for relevant Council staff to allow them to provide expert advice about biodiversity assets, threatening processes and offset opportunities. EW 2012 S11 Prioritise and target on-ground works as identified in the ESO1 Review Stage 3 recommendations. EP/EW 2012
S12 Advocate for listing of box-stringybark woodland as an Ecological Vegetation with DSE to ensure adequate protection under the planning scheme. EP 2012 S13 Develop an “over-the-counter” offset trading scheme to address the needs of non-referred applications and Council’s own offsetting requirements. EP 2012 S14 Develop an internal Council operating procedure to offsetting within Nillumbik, including reference to managing offsets received from outside Nillumbik, to encourage local residents to offset in Nillumbik and managing internal offsetting. EP 2012 S15 Investigate possible methods of discouraging the subdivision of large rural properties especially in Habitat Corridor areas. SP 2012 S16 Ensure that when Council’s internal standard operating procedures are reviewed they take into account requirements for biodiversity conservation. All 2012 S17 Create a guide for managing remnant vegetation on private properties. EP 2013 S18 Develop management plans for significant areas of remnant vegetation as identified in the ESO1 Review Stage 3 recommendations. EP/EW 2013 S19 Advocate to DSE to provide information regarding management of threatened species within Nillumbik, with emphasis on better protection of threatened orchids. EP 2013 S20 Review the Biodiversity Strategy every five years to ensure best practice and relevance are maintained. The next review should be broadened to include: EP 2016
contain the of established weeds and prevent their dispersal into environmentally significant areas control established strategically to protect the biodiversity values of the corridor. Issues Adaptive management requires that Council learn and improve management techniques by reviewing and monitoring the outcome of actions then adapting them. Changing environmental factors and new knowledge in the field of biodiversity studies mean that any ongoing programs must be reviewed to ensure they are not only effective but represent the best possible approach. Benchmarking of important remnant vegetation and fauna habitat and a system to measure change in biodiversity values over time are keys to adaptive management. By periodically measuring biodiversity values in core habitat areas the effectiveness of management practices can be accurately assessed. This knowledge then needs to be adapted and used to inform the implementation of best management practice on-ground programs which protect significant species and communities. These on-ground works programs need to be supported financially and within the broader community. Weeds, pests and diseases are ‘tenure blind’ and have significant impacts on both public and private land. There needs to be a greater focus on the adoption of the biosecurity approach to managing weeds and pests across property boundaries and early detection mechanisms for new and emerging threats. is also a limited understanding of ecosystem processes and the dynamics within these ecosystems. Options for enhancing existing habitat at any particular location or time must be informed by the dynamic relationship between species and the relationship with their surrounding environment. Action Responsibility Timeframe EM1 Identify the significant fauna and vegetation communities of Nillumbik. EP 2011 EM2 Continue to support the conservation of endangered species such as the Eltham Copper Butterfly, Clover Glycine and Rosella Spider Orchid in Council’s environmentally significant reserves. EW Ongoing
EM3 Develop detailed studies of the habitat requirements for key biodiversity assets. EP 2011 EM4 Refer to and where necessary act upon the recommendations provided in the Post-fire Weeds Triage Manual (Draft). EW/ EP 2011/12 EM5 Encourage research and monitoring of Nillumbik’s flora and fauna by government agencies, universities, schools and the general community EP/ EW 2012 EM6 Consolidate relevant biodiversity information from data collected by Council, Government agencies, community groups newsletters, individuals and sources to compile a list of already occurring research. Identify gaps in research. EP /EW 2012 EM7 Develop a list of key ecological processes specific to each of Nillumbik’s Ecological Vegetation Classes or key species, will be monitored to assist land managers. EP 2012 EM8 Continue to review and update Nillumbik’s weed lists on a regular basis so that new and emerging weeds are listed. EP Ongoing EM10 Develop a monitoring system to record biodiversity values over time. EP/EW 2013 EM11 Target weed control programs on high threat and new and emerging weeds. EW/EP Ongoing EM12 Implement a hazardous tree register according to Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission Recommendation 31. OS Ongoing
Monitoring and reporting Biodiversity Strategy Progress report Council will utilise Council’s Business Planning process to generate the annual Biodiversity Action Plan Progress Report. The report will include information on how Council’s biodiversity actions are progressing. Reporting to the community Information generated for the Biodiversity Strategy Progress Report will be made available from the Nillumbik Shire Council Review of Biodiversity Strategy The Biodiversity Strategy will be reviewed every five years to revise the vision and objectives, accommodate new actions and revise existing actions. The community will be invited to have input into the review.