final report: native vegetation precinct plan, geelong

HEAD OFFICE: 420 Victoria Street, Brunswick VIC 3056 MELBOURNE: PO Box 298, Brunswick VIC 3056 GEELONG: PO Box 8048, Newtown VIC 3220

FINAL REPORT:

Native Vegetation Precinct Plan, Geelong RingRoad Employment Precinct

ON BEHALF OF:

City of Greater GeelongMarch 2013

Ecology Partners Pty Ltd

Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct Native Vegetation Precinct Plan1

Table of Contents

1 Native Vegetation Precinct Plan ........................................................................3

1.1 Background...........................................................................................................3

1.2 Purpose.................................................................................................................3

1.3 Vegetation Objectives to be Achieved ..................................................................4

2 Native Vegetation to be Protected.....................................................................5

3 Native Vegetation to be Removed, Destroyed or Lopped ...............................6

4 Offset Calculations .............................................................................................8

4.1 Overview...............................................................................................................9

4.2 Requirements........................................................................................................9

4.3 Conditions.............................................................................................................9

4.4 Procedures for the Collection of any Payments ....................................................9

4.5 Other Information ..................................................................................................9

4.6 Reference Documents ........................................................................................10

Tables

Table 1: Habitat Zones to be protected......................................................................................5

Table 2: Habitat Zones which may be removed ..........................................................................6

Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct Native Vegetation Precinct Plan2

AcknowledgementsWe thank the following people for their contribution to the project.

Bill Johnsen (City of Greater Geelong) for project information.

Donna Burns and Nathan MacDonald (Department of Sustainability and Environment) for

planning information.

Ecology Partners Pty Ltd personnel who contributed to the project include:

Mark Stockdale, Robyn Giles and Andrew Hill.

Project #2176

Copyright © Ecology Partners Pty Ltd

This document is subject to copyright and may only be used for the

purposes for which it was commissioned. The use, or copying of this

document in whole or part without the permission of Ecology Partners

Pty Ltd is an infringement of copyright.

Disclaimer

Although Ecology Partners Pty Ltd have taken all the necessary steps to

ensure that an accurate document has been prepared, the company

accepts no liability for any damages or loss incurred as a result of

reliance placed upon the report or its content.

Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct Native Vegetation Precinct Plan 3

1 NATIVE VEGETATION PRECINCT PLAN

1.1 Background

This is the Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct (GREP) Native Vegetation Precinct Plan

(NVPP) listed under the Schedule to Clause 52.16 of the City of Greater Geelong Planning

Scheme. The Relevant Authority for the implementation of conditions specified within the

NVPP is the City of Greater Geelong.

The removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation in accordance with this NVPP, does

not require a permit provided conditions and requirements specified in this NVPP are met.

Map 1: Area to which the NVPP applies

1.2 Purpose

The purpose of the GREP NVPP is to:

Specify the native vegetation to be protected and the native vegetation that can be

removed, destroyed or lopped;

Ensure that areas set aside to protect native vegetation are managed to conserve

ecological values;


Ensure that the removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation specified to be

protected is consistent with conserving the ecological values of these areas and is in

accordance with the three-step approach to net gain as set out in Victoria’s Native

Vegetation Management – a Framework for Action (DSE 2002);

Set out the works or other necessary actions required to offset the removal, destruction

or lopping of native vegetation; and,

Streamline the planning approvals process through a landscape approach to native

vegetation protection and management.

1.3 Vegetation Objectives to be Achieved

The objectives for native vegetation protection are to:

Protect and manage floristic communities listed under the Environment Protection

Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian

Volcanic Plain).

Protect and manage floristic communities listed under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna

Guarantee Act 1988 (Western (Basalt) Plains Grassland).

Protect and manage Ecological Vegetation Classes listed as endangered in the

Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion (Heavier-soils Plains Grassland (EVC 132_61) and

Plains Grassy Wetland (EVC 125).

Develop a land management plan to improve the condition and habitat value of native

vegetation specified to be retained for nationally listed significant flora (i.e. Spiny

Rice-flower Pimelea spinescens subsp. spinescens) and fauna (i.e. Golden Sun Moth

Synemon plana).

Implement specific environmental objectives outlined in Environmental Significance

Overlay – Schedule 4 (ESO 4) to the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme, including:

o Prevent a decline in the extent and quality of native vegetation and native fauna

habitat of the Victorian Volcanic Plain;

o Enable areas of environmental significance, due to their native vegetation or

habitat values, to be identified; and,

o Enhance the environmental and landscape values of the area.


2 NATIVE VEGETATION TO BE PROTECTED

Native vegetation to be protected is shown in Map 2 and 3 and described in Table 1. Thisvegetation should not be removed.

Table 1: Habitat Zones to be protected

Property AddressHabitat

Zone

EVC noand

initials

Size(Hectares)

HabitatHectares

ConservationStatus

ConservationSignificance

New Corio Estate PG3 PG 132_61 0.06 ha 0.03 Hha Endangered Very High

New Corio EstatePG 1, 2

& 4PG 132_61 29.31 ha 9.79 Hha Endangered High

137-207 McManus Road, Lara PGW 1 PGW 125 3.06 ha 0.52 Hha Endangered High

Notes: PG = Plains Grassland, PGW = Plains Grassy Wetland

Native vegetation shown in Table 1 and Map 2 and 3 as to be protected should not be removed

as a landscape approach to native vegetation retention and removal has been adopted in the

preparation of this NVPP, rather than using a site by site approach.

Decisions relating to removal of areas of native vegetation have been made in a holistic

manner taking into account areas of native vegetation which are proposed to be protected.

The adhoc removal of native vegetation which is identified as to be protected may undermine

the holistic and landscape wide approach to the preparation of this NVPP.


3 NATIVE VEGETATION TO BE REMOVED, DESTROYEDOR LOPPED

The native vegetation described in Table 2 and shown in Map 2 as vegetation that can be

removed may be removed subject to the requirements and conditions in this NVPP, as allowed

under Clause 52.16 of the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme. Note: Native vegetation

required for the removal within the GREP and the Elcho Channel has been identified as

‘modified treeless vegetation’ (DSE 2010a).

Table 2: Habitat Zones which may be removed

PropertyNumber

Property Address Habitat ZoneEVC numberand initials

Size(Hectares)

284334 220A Heales Road, Lara Modified Treeless Vegetation N/A 6.5

299269 120 Heales Road, Lara Modified Treeless Vegetation N/A 0.1

282220 21-79 McManus Road, Corio Modified Treeless Vegetation N/A 0.45

294838 310A Bacchus Marsh Road, Corio Modified Treeless Vegetation N/A 0.63

284331 130 Heales Road, Lara Modified Treeless Vegetation N/A 0.14

284333 137-207 McManus Road, Lara PGW1 PGW 125 0.18

Notes: PGW = Plains Grassy Wetland


4 OFFSET CALCULATIONS

4.1 Overview

No vegetation offsets are required for the removal of ‘modified treeless vegetation’ (DSE

2010b).

4.2 Requirements

Requirements of the GREP NVPP include:

A Land Management Plan is required for areas of native vegetation to be protected,

specifically for weed control and to improve vegetation condition and habitat value for

significant flora and fauna species.

4.3 Conditions

The following conditions apply from the gazettal of the NVPP:

Any native vegetation to be removed (in accordance with this NVPP) must be clearly

marked on site to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority whilst works are being

undertaken within the vicinity.

All earthworks must be undertaken in a manner that will minimise soil erosion and

adhere to Construction Techniques for Sediment Pollution Control (EPA 1991).

Any construction stockpiles, fill and machinery must be placed away from areas

supporting native vegetation and drainage lines to the satisfaction of the responsible

authority.

Water run-off must be designed to ensure that native vegetation to be protected is not

compromised.

Only indigenous plants of local provenance may be used in revegetation works of

conservation areas.

4.4 Procedures for the Collection of any Payments

No payments are necessary or specified.

4.5 Other Information

Referral to the Department of Sustainability and Environment for the removal of native

vegetation under ESO 4 of the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme is not required, provided

works are in accordance with this Native Vegetation Precinct Plan.


4.6 Reference Documents

DPCD 2010. Planning Schemes Online: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/. Department of Planningand Community Development.

DSE 2010a. ‘Determining the requirements of degraded treeless vegetation’, Department ofSustainability and Environment.

DSE 2010b. ‘Clarifying when an offset may not be required’, Department of Sustainabilityand Environment.

Earth Tech 2005. ‘Proposed Industrial Development, O’Brien’s Road, Lara - Flora and FaunaAssessment’. Unpublished report to the City of Greater Geelong, Earth Tech Pty Ltd.

Ecology Partners 2010. Net Gain Assessment of Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct.Unpublished report to the City of Greater Geelong.

Ecology Partners 2010. Vegetation Assessment of 240 Heales Road, Lara. Unpublishedreport to the City of Greater Geelong.

Ecology Partners 2010. Vegetation Assessment of O’Briens Road, Lara. Unpublished reportto the City of Greater Geelong.

Ecology Partners 2011. General Fauna Assessment and Targeted Golden Sun Moth Survey,Lara. Unpublished report to the City of Greater Geelong.

MWH 2007. ‘Flora, Fauna and Net Gain Assessment of Council Land’. Unpublished reportto the City of Greater Geelong, MWH Pty Ltd.