Golden Plains Shire Council is responsible for managing approximately 1,700 kilometres of road reserves.
Roadsides make up only 2% of the total land in the Golden Plains Shire but contain some of our most important and rare vegetation. Native vegetation on roadsides is protected and is important for adjoining land protection, flora and fauna habitat and landscape character.
Roadside native vegetation acts as ‘wildlife corridors’ by providing important linkages between larger areas of native vegetation. Where larger remnants no longer exist, roadside vegetation can provide the only functional habitat for flora and fauna.
Landholders must contact Council Natural Resources Officer in relation to trimming, lopping or removing native vegetation on their roadside. Native vegetation includes grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees.
Firewood collection on roadside areas is not permitted due to concerns regarding road/traffic safety and legal liability should a roadside firewood collector be injured. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (call 136 186) operate firewood collection areas in forest reserves.
Removal of firewood does not remove fine fuels which are the main contributor to fire intensity and spread and therefore removal of firewood contributes very little to reducing the impact of wildfire.
Golden Plains Shire has undertaken roadside biodiversity mapping of all Council managed roadsides. This provides Council with detailed information on the conservation significance of all Council managed roadsides and is used to guide and strategically plan all works undertaken on roadsides to minimise and where possible avoid the removal of native vegetation.
More information can be found here:
Detailed information can be found at the Department for Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) website
