Attachment 1 to Item 53 - Roadside Vegetation Management Plan

H AW K E S B U R Y C IT Y C O U N C IL R O AD S ID E V E G E T AT IO N M AN AG E M E N T P L AN
• The width of the road envelope will be the width of the road (minimum 6.2 m width) plus a 2
m shoulder on either side of the road (Austroads 2009), this provides for two lanes each
being 3.1 m wide and the shoulder being 1.5 m wide (Figure 4);
• Vegetation outside of these clearance distances (heights and widths) should not be cleared
or disturbed, unless a full assessment of their impacts are performed and approval given.
6.2 ROAD CONSTRUCTION OR WIDENING
Road construction and widening works can have substantial impacts on roadside vegetation, depending
on the scale of works (see Section 3.1). The following actions should be taken when constructing
roads.
• Prior to preparation of plans for road construction or widening, investigate the relevant
permit requirements (e.g. is work occurring near a waterbody).
• Carry out site inspections with all interested parties prior to the preparation of road
construction or widening plans on roads of high and medium conservation value. This will
ensure that the most appropriate methods to minimise vegetation loss will be included and
will assist to plan the rehabilitation of the site after works are completed.
• Conduct an assessment to determine impacts on environmental and other values (REF or
EIS) prior to road construction or widening works being carried out. The environmental
assessment should involve Council staff from design, planning and works walking the
entire route to identify significant roadside vegetation and other environmental
considerations. The process should, among other things, identify:
o all construction activities and where they will take place, including stockpiles and
dump sites, site sheds, machinery storage and turn around points, vehicle parking
sites, access roads;
o sites of environmental or cultural significance that are not to be disturbed; and
o the location and type of erosion and sediment control measures.
• Consider modifying the design to reduce vegetation loss (e.g. different alignments,
pavement and shoulder widths, use of kerb and channel);
• Plan the construction phase to occur at the optimum time of year to minimise impacts (e.g.
erosion). To minimise erosion, undertake (where appropriate) construction works in stages
so as to expose the smallest work area for the shortest time;
• Prior to commencement of works:
o identify all boundaries and use fencing, barricades or other markers to delineate
these;
o inform all workers and contractors of permit conditions; and
o train workers and contractors in erosion control, vegetation removal and vegetation
protection measures prior to commencement of works.
• Apply general principles during road construction that will assist in protecting roadside
vegetation:
o Stay within limits of construction (disturbance) zones;
o avoid using or storing heavy machinery on all native roadside vegetation where
possible;
o keep construction machinery out of high and medium priority roadside vegetation
sites;
o keep machinery, equipment or material on designated storage places clear of native
trees, shrubs and grasses, and use designated turning circles. Use of areas
supporting native vegetation by machinery, equipment or material can damage the
groundcover vegetation and cause soil compaction, which damages tree roots;
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