Native Vegetation Precinct Plan, Geelong Ring Road Employment ...

FINAL REPORT:
Native Vegetation Precinct Plan, Geelong Ring
Road Employment Precinct
ON BEHALF OF:
City of Greater Geelong
February 2011
Ecology Partners Pty Ltd
HEAD OFFICE: 420 Victoria Street, Brunswick VIC 3056 MELBOURNE: PO Box 298, Brunswick VIC 3056 GEELONG: PO Box 8048, Newtown VIC 3220

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 .............................................................................................. 7
4.1 Overview ................................................................................................................ 7
4.2 Requirements ......................................................................................................... 7
4.3 Conditions .............................................................................................................. 7
4.4 Procedures for the Collection of any Payments .................................................... 7
4.5 Other Information ................................................................................................... 7
4.6 Reference Documents ........................................................................................... 8
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 Plan
1

Acknowledgements
We 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
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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;
Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct Native Vegetation Precinct Plan 3

• 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.
Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct Native Vegetation Precinct Plan 4

2 NATIVE VEGETATION TO BE PROTECTED
Native vegetation to be protected is shown in Map 2 and described in Table 1. This
vegetation should not be removed.
Table 1: Habitat Zones to be protected
Property Address
Habitat
Zone
EVC no
and
initials
Size
(Hectares)
Habitat
Hectares
Conservation
Status
Conservation
Significance
New Corio Estate PG3 PG 132_61 0.06 ha 0.03 Hh Endangered Very High
PG 1, 2
PG 132_61
9.79 Hh Endangered
New Corio Estate
& 4
29.31 ha
High
137-207 McManus Road, Lara PGW 1 PGW 125 3.06 ha 0.52 Hh Endangered High
Notes: PG = Plains Grassland, PGW = Plains Grassy Wetland
Native vegetation shown in table 1 and map 2 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.
Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct Native Vegetation Precinct Plan 5

3 NATIVE VEGETATION TO BE REMOVED, DESTROYED
OR 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
Property
Number
Property Address
Habitat Zone
EVC number
and 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
Map 2: Native Vegetation to be Protected and Removed
Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct Native Vegetation Precinct Plan 6

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.
Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct Native Vegetation Precinct Plan 7

4.6 Reference Documents
DPCD 2010. Planning Schemes Online: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/. Department of Planning
and Community Development.
DSE 2010a. ‘Determining the requirements of degraded treeless vegetation’, Department of
Sustainability and Environment.
DSE 2010b. ‘Clarifying when an offset may not be required’, Department of Sustainability
and Environment.
Earth Tech 2005. ‘Proposed Industrial Development, O’Brien’s Road, Lara - Flora and Fauna
Assessment’. 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. Unpublished
report to the City of Greater Geelong.
Ecology Partners 2010. Vegetation Assessment of O’Briens Road, Lara. Unpublished report
to 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 report
to the City of Greater Geelong, MWH Pty Ltd.
Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct Native Vegetation Precinct Plan 8