Rural Strategy - Surf Coast Shire

Surf Coast Shire Rural Strategy Review
Final Report
To restore the balance between vegetation and built form in highly visible locations on the
edges of townships.
To encourage discreet placement of simple structures within the landscape.
Environmental values
This precinct is within both the Otway Plains and the Otway Ranges bioregion. The Otway
Plain bioregion featured heathy and native grassy woodlands and coastal scrubs which
dominated the coastal areas prior to European settlement. There has been substantial
clearing of all vegetation types for the coastal settlements and surrounding farms. The
Otway Ranges bioregion featured moist and dry foothill forest with small areas of lowland
forest, heathy woodland and riparian forest. 80% of the bioregion is under public ownership
and large areas have been set aside as catchment areas for water supply. Part of the
bioregion has been cleared for agriculture and forestry but tourism is expected to increase
with the phasing out of logging.
The precinct includes many creeks. The largest of these are the Retreat and Wormbete
Creeks which flow through the northern foothills of the Otways and both support intact
riparian vegetation. On the coast the most significant creeks are the Painkalac, which has
high estuarine values and supports endangered and diverse riparian and wetland
vegetation, and the Erskine River and Anglesea River which have good/moderate stream
condition and support endangered riparian vegetation.
The precinct includes the Great Otway National Park that covers much of the Otway Ranges
from the northern foothills to the coastal towns of Lorne, Aireys Inlet, Anglesea and Jan Juc.
The private land behind Lorne is surrounded by the park adding to it’s conservation value as
it provides linkages and habitat for a range of threatened flora including Brooker's Gum
(Eucalyptus brookeriana) and Wrinkled Buttons (Leiocarpa gatesii). Threatened fauna
include Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus), Masked Owl (Tyto
novaehollandiae novaehollandiae) and Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua). The vegetation in this
area is often of very high quality.
Private land adjacent to the coast provides an important link between the National Park and
Coastal Reserve which is important for the movement of species such as Rufous Bristlebird.
The heathland between Anglesea and Moggs Creek is also of regional to national
significance due to its botanical value and the adjacent beaches that provide habitat for a
range of threatened shore birds.
Land adjoining the townships of Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven, Moggs Creek and
Eastern View supports a mosaic of shrubland, woodland, grassland and heathland.
Dominant species include Moonah (FFG listed community), Drooping Sheoake, Messmate
and Ironbark with other Eucalyptus species scattered throughout. Understorey species
include tussock- grass, sedges, grasses and prostate herbs. Significant flora include
numerous species of orchid, such as Merrans Sun Orchid (Thelymitra x merraniae), and
Anglesea Grevillea (Grevillea infecunda) and the most southerly known occurrence of Otway
Grey Gum. Significant fauna include White-footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis leucopus), Rufous
Bristlebird (Dayornis broadbenti) and White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus).
The Anglesea heathlands are nationally significant due to their floristic diversity and the
habitat they provide for numerous State threatened species. Fauna include Southern toadlet
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