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
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retain habitat elements in situ for fauna species unless they pose a identifiable risk to road
safety after which they should be relocated to a suitable area;
encourage regeneration of native vegetation through weed control;
reduce threats from weed control activities and plant pathogens; and
utilise signage to identify the presence of significant vegetation.
6.5 FAUNA HABITAT MANAGEMENT
It is important that as many habitat components as possible are retained along HCC’s roadsides in a
manner that also allows for road safety and fire protection and suppression. This is particularly
important where roadsides act as wildlife corridors through a fragmented and degraded landscape (see
Section 3.5).
The following actions detail how roadside environments should be managed for the maintenance of
fauna habitat.
• Plan activities and works to result in minimal vegetation removal. Consider:
o alternative sites (e.g. sides of road, private land);
o options for services (e.g. underground, aerial bundled cable, zigzagging, shared
easements);
o clearance requirements on individual roads (e.g. bus routes may require more
clearance); and
o options to keep works vehicles on the formed road pavement.
• Plan activities and works to result in minimal changes to natural hydrology;
• Inspect, identify and mark all vegetation to be removed before starting any works. Fence
off or mark areas of native vegetation to be protected. Tree drip lines of native vegetation
to be protected should be avoided to minimise root damage or soil compaction in this area;
• Select machinery which will suit the size/type of the task and result in minimal impact on
surrounding earth and vegetation;
• Remove the least amount of vegetation necessary to do the works;
• Use personnel with appropriate horticultural training when removing the vegetation;
• Wherever possible, vehicles used during removal works are to remain on the road
formation (if this is not practical, consider gaining permission to use cleared private land
adjacent to roadside);
• Unless posing a safety hazard or conflict with fire prevention and suppression
requirements, retain dead trees and fallen limbs (avoid “tidying up” of areas). Similarly,
retain larger felled vegetation containing hollows on site or relocate to another area to
provide additional wildlife habitat;
• Fell vegetation in a direction that minimises damage to surrounding vegetation (preferably
onto the road formation or a cleared area);
• When disposing of felled vegetation (e.g. by sawing, splitting or chipping) minimise
disturbance to the understorey. Consider recycling felled material by:
o chipping and returning to site (Note: do not stockpile mulch around tree bases as
this encourages collar-rot; do not apply a layer of mulch to indigenous ground flora
that will result in smothering of vegetation);
• If felled material cannot be recycled, burn or dispose of the excess material at a designated
tip site;
• Rehabilitate and facilitate regeneration of indigenous vegetation in any areas beyond the
works zone which have been accidentally disturbed during removal of vegetation;
• Ensure weeds do not establish in any work areas; and
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