Table of Contents - Nillumbik Shire Council

Hurstbridge Township Strategy• The water of the Diamond Creek needs to be improved and measures implemented toachieve this.• Any infrastructure works should have minimum impact on the natural environment.Community Values - Natural EnvironmentSome of the values raised by the community in relation to the natural environment can bedirectly attributed to the issue of development and its potential detrimental impacts on theenvironment. Some of the values expressed by the community in reference to theenvironment mirror those values within the settlement and housing section:• maintenance and enhancement of the natural environment including creek areas,conservation areas and private property;• retention of bush woodland character;• improve water quality of the creeks and prevent further degradation;• retain definition of the township edge;• indigenous plants should be encouraged where any landscaping is required orproposed by landowners/developers;• vegetation clearing should be minimised where possible, particularly maturevegetation;• planting and revegetation of creek banks and conservation areas should beundertaken;• future development should allow for the retention of trees and provide adequateareas for future planting of indigenous trees;• weeds should be eradicated and planting of exotic plants discouraged;• private property owners should take some responsibility for appropriate landmanagement;• open space areas and conservation areas should be maintained and enhancedthrough further landscaping and protective measures;• any new development should have minimal impact on the existing landscape(vegetation removal, effect of sight lines, views etc); and• any application for development should have regard to the NEROC Report and theDiamond Creek Sub-catchment Local Action Plan.Comment on Draft Strategy – Natural EnvironmentFrom the responses it would appear that respondents were generally in support of thestrategic directions contained in this section, however more must be done to protect andenhance the natural environment.Some of the comments made in response to this section of the Strategy include:• More needs to be done to maintain the environment. There is currently too muchland clearing, removal of native vegetation and planting of exotic plants in localgardens (2 respondents);• Protect habitat areas (2 respondents);• More funding needs to be set aside to aid weed control and revegetation programs (2respondents);Nillumbik Shire Council – March 2002 24