Environment and Sustainability
Golden Plains Shire's natural environment boasts wide open plains, beautiful river valleys and rolling hills with significant remnant native vegetation. Weeds, drought and climate change all present threats to our environment. Together, the community and Golden Plains Shire are playing an active role in responding to these challenges.
Community Environment Strategy
The Golden Plains Shire Community Environment Strategy guides the management of the Shire's environment. Adopted in 2000, this dynamic and broad ranging document identifies a range of environmental issues and proposes a series of actions to address these issues. The Strategy is currently being reviewed and a comprehensive community consultation process is being undertaken in the development of a new Strategy.
Click on the link below to download a copy of the current strategy.
(10523 kb)Environment Strategy Review
The Community Environment Strategy adopted by Council in 2000 is currently under review. The new Strategy will guide the management of the Shire's natural environment and resources in the period 2009-2015 is being developed through an extensive community consultation process.
A 12 member Steering Committee comprising Councillors and community representatives has been formed to guide the review process. They are being assisted by a 15 member Reference Group of community members who are contibuting a wide range of personal and professional experience to the development of the Strategy.
For more information, contact the Natural Resources Officer on 03 5220 7111.
Golden Plains Environment Survey
The Golden Plains Environment Survey has now closed. With just over 500 surveys completed and returned, the analysis of the data is well underway. Early indications show that our community's highest priorities are water supply and conservation and river health.
The Discussion Paper will be released soon.
Analysis of the data provided through the survey is available by clicking on this link- Golden Plains Environment Survey Data Analysis Report
Environment Strategy Discussion Paper
Golden Plains Shire has released its Environment Strategy Discussion Paper for public comment. Get your copy by clicking here - Discussion Paper
The Discussion Paper is a significant step in the process of reviewing the Golden Plains Shire Environment Strategy as it provides the community with an opportunity to closely examine the environmental issues highlighted in the Community Environment Survey and contribute to the development of possible solutions.The Paper highlights issues raised by the community up to this point and emphasises Council's role in addressing these issues. Actions being considered for inclusion in the Strategy have been drawn from the Environment Survey and have been included to provide insight into possible directions Council may take.
The 6 week public consultation period will conclude on the 8th of August 2009.
During this period, Golden Plains Shire is seeking community feedback on the following:
- Additional actions for consideration
- Anything that is unclear, ambiguous or omitted
- Removal of actions not deemed relevant or necessary
- Any issues that have not been addressed or addressed insufficiently
Feedback can be provided via email to feedback@gplains.vic.gov.au or by written submission to: Golden Plains Shire Environment Strategy Discussion Paper, P. O. Box 111, Bannockburn, VIC 3331.
For more information about the Discussion Paper, contact the Natural Resources Officer on 5220 7111.
Teesdale Grassy Woodland Management Plan
The Teesdale Grassy Woodlands Reserve is part of the area known as the Don Wallace Reserve in Teesdale. It contains high quality remnant native vegetation. In 2007, a separate Council Section 86 Committee of Management was established to manage the Grassy Woodlands area of the Reserve for its conservation and passive recreation values.
The Management Plan is broad and general in scope and provides a basis upon which decisions can be made regarding the future management of the Reserve. The Management Plan was developed by Council's Natural Resources Officer in consultation with the Committee of Management.
Broadly speaking, the Reserve will be managed to protect and enhance the natural assets of the area while recognising and facilitating suitable public use in keeping with the conservation aim.
Some key points are:
Fire - a Fire Management Plan will be developed in consultation with DSE, CFA, Parks Victoria and the local community. A portion of the reserve is earmarked for a fuel reduction burn in autumn 2009.
Motorbikes - these are not permitted in the Reserve as they disturb other users and damage tracks.
Horse riding - horse riding is permitted in the Reserve and riders are encouraged to ride on existing tracks.
Revegetation/Woody weed removal - perimeter plantings of non-indigenous shrubs and trees which are now becoming weedy and spreading into the Reserve will be progressively removed and replaced with local indigenous species.
External consultation has been undertaken with the Draft Plan circulated to relevant staff of the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Parks Victoria and the local community.
To see a copy of the plan, click here
Sustainable Water Use Plan
Council has a Sustainable Water Use Plan to guide Councils use of our most precious resource in our day to day operations. Council is aiming at a 25% reduction in water use by 2020. Actions completed to date include:
- connection of public toilets to water tanks
- replacement of turf at the Bannockburn Bowls Club with a synthetic surface
- water audits at councils major water use sites.
Council will continue to work to reduce water use both within its own operations and across the community.
Councils Sustainable Water Use Plan can be found here
Sustainable Living
There are many ways we can make our lives and lifestyle more sustainable and the benefits don't just flow to the environment. In changing the way we live, we can improve our health and fitness, learn new skills and hobbies and cut our living expenses.
Sustainable living tips for renters - Are renters legally able to change their showerheads? How can you make your toilet waste less water when you don't have dual flush? Sometimes it's not easy to find answers to these questions, so Environment Victoria has put together the Victorian Green Renters' Guide, to answer these and more. It's full of suggestions which can be done on a shoe string budget, and the guide also includes information on government rebates, a checklist for people looking for a new place to rent, and an explanation of renting law in Victoria. The Victorian Green Renters' Guide can be downloaded from here.
I want to know about....
Every day, the Golden Plains Shire recieves enquiries about a range of environmental issues. A series of information sheets have been developed to help to answer many of the common requests. Check the list below to see if the information you are seeking has an answer.
Roadside Vegetation
Roadside native vegetation provides important habitat for plants and animals and provides visual amenity and beauty for our towns and rural areas.
To download the Roadside Vegetation Management information sheet, click here
Native Vegetation
Specific rules apply when removing or modifying native vegetation on your land. It's important to understand what you can and can't do.
To download the Native Vegetation Management information sheet, click here
Environmental Weeds
Garden plants that jump the back fence and escape onto farms, roadsides and into natural areas are known as Environmental Weeds.
To download the Environmental Weeds information sheet, click here
Declared Weeds
Declared weeds are species listed under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 and landholders are required to undertake works to eradicate or control the spread of these weeds.
To download the Declared Weeds information sheet, click here
Indigenous Planting Guide
Gardening with native plants from your local area can create a beautiful garden while providing homes and food for local insects, birds and animals and minimising weed invasion into natural areas.
To download the Indigenous Planting Guide, click here
Plains and Rivers Planting Guide
The southern part of Golden Plains Shire is known for its wide open plains and deeply incised river valleys with remnants of once extensive native grasslands and woodlands.
To download the Rivers and Plains Planting Guide, click here
Hills Planting Guide
The northern and eastern parts of Golden Plains Shire are characterised by forested hills filled with colourful shrubs and wildflowers all specially adapted to the poor quality soils typical of these areas.
To download the Hills Planting Guide, click here
I still need more information...
If the information provided above has not answered your questions, please contact the Natural Resources Officer on 03 5220 7111 or email: enquiries@gplains.vic.gov.au
Links
The links below will guide you to a wealth of environmental information. Enjoy!
Catchment Management
Victorias Catchment Management Authorities
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
State Government Organisations
Department of Primary Industries
Department for Sustainability and Environment
Environment Protection Authority
Greenhouse and climate change
Sustainable living
Sustainable Households Challenge
Make your home Green - Victorias Building Commission
Water
Energy
Green Power - Acredited Renewable Energy
Native vegetation
Victorias Native Vegetation Framework
Native Vegetation Removal - Planning Permit process
Revegetation
Pest Plants and Animals
Regionally controlled and prohibited weeds
