Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation Discussion Paper - Victorian ...

Figure 2.7
Proportion (%) of remnant vegetation remaining within the investigation area and within bioregions as a whole
Entire bioregion
Investigation area
Bioregion
Central Victorian Uplands
3,552 ha
519,813 ha
Otway Plain
611 ha
80,065 ha
Victorian Volcanic Plain
273,554 ha
36,021 ha
Highlands–Southern Fall
86,081 ha
875,456 ha
Gippsland Plain
19,066 ha
289,980 ha
0 20 40 60 80 100 %
Native vegetation quality
While EVC mapping describes the extent and composition
of vegetation within the investigation area, it does not
provide information on the quality of the vegetation. DSE
has mapped vegetation quality at a landscape scale
within Victoria based on assessment of the biophysical
components of the site (site condition), the size of the
patch and its proximity to other patches of remnant
vegetation (landscape context). 52
DSE has modelled vegetation quality across Victoria, with
categories ranging from ‘poor’ to ‘good’ quality. Areas of
poor quality, for example, may have remnant overstorey
trees remaining but the understorey components are often
absent or degraded due to clearing and/or invasion by
weeds. Conversely, areas considered good quality, have
most or all components of the vegetation community
remaining intact.
Vegetation quality within metropolitan Melbourne is
highly variable (see fi gure 2.8). It is generally higher in the
north-eastern and eastern parts of Melbourne around
Gembrook, Christmas Hills and Warrandyte. Medium
quality vegetation generally occurs in the western part of
Melbourne around Rockbank, Tarneit, Mount Cottrell and
Wyndham Vale while large areas of poor quality vegetation
occur in the north and north-west around Sunbury and
Craigieburn.
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