Goulburn Broken Native Vegetation Management Strategy
The Plan is a landmark for Victoria and the first attempt to deal with the complex issues of native vegetation management in such an integrated manner.
The Goulburn Broken Native Vegetation Management Strategy was finalised in late 2003, following an extensive process of development with key stakeholders. The Native Vegetation Management Strategy forms Volume 1 of the Goulburn Broken Native Vegetation Plan. Volume 2 is the Regional Guidelines for Native Vegetation Retention Controls in the Goulburn Broken Catchment.
The Plan is a landmark for Victoria and the first attempt to deal with the complex issues of native vegetation management in such an integrated manner. By taking a landscape perspective the Strategy sets out a framework for the community to tackle native vegetation management issues in a coordinated manner, maximising the benefits for our investment and effort.
The Goulburn Broken Native Vegetation Plan has been updated in light of the release of Victoria's Native Vegetation Management - A Framework for Action in 2002. This process, and the essence of the changes made to the Plan, is detailed in the Addendum. The Plan translates the policy of the State Framework to the specific circumstances of the catchment through Volume 2 - Regional Guidelines for Native Vegetation Retention Controls in the Goulburn Broken Catchment.
The Goals of the Native Vegetation Management Strategy have been modified slightly with newly available information, as part of the review of the Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy. The modified goals are:
- Maintain extent of all native vegetation types at 1999 levels in keeping with the goal of 'net gain' listed in Victoria's Biodiversity Strategy 1997.
- Improve the quality of 90% of existing (2003) native vegetation by 2030.
- Increase the cover of all endangered and applicable vulnerable Ecological Vegetation Classes to at least 15% of their pre-European vegetation cover by 2030.
- Increase 2002 conservation status of 80% threatened flora and 60% threatened fauna by 2030.
The Goulburn Broken Native Vegetation Plan is made up of several component documents. Click on a title in the relevant section below:
Volume 1: Native Vegetation Management Plan
 | Addendum (2003) Explains refinement of the 1999 Draft (Vol 1), including updated appendices and maps, to December 2003. | |
| Catchment Response (2000) Addresses the issues raised during community consultation on the 1999 Draft | |
| Vol 1 Introduction (1999) This is the Draft Native Vegetation Management Strategy. | |
| Vol 1 Part A Discusses the issues surrounding the scientific, government policy and community attitudes that have driven changes in natural resource management over the past couple of decades. | |
| Vol 1 Part B Explains what the Goulburn Broken will do regarding native vegetation management – our goals. | |
| Vol 1 Part C Explains how we will achieve our goals. | |
| Vol 1 Appendices |
Volume 2: Native Vegetation Retention Controls - Regional Guidlines
| Native Vegetation Retention Controls | |
| Addendum to Native Vegetation Retention Controls This document provides additional information to Appendix 4, Table 4 of the Goulburn Broken Native Vegetation Retention Controls Regional Guidelines (Vol 2) 2003, in response to changes to the Victorian Native Vegetation Management Framework. The information provided below should be used in conjunction with the guidelines to determine and provide offsets for ‘small / slow growing’ trees. |
| GB CMA 2007 EVC Bioregional Conservation Status, Tenure and Depletion Statement | |
| Native Vegetation – Modelled Extent 2005 |
Bushfire protection and vegetation removal
The information sheets below, which are also available on the DSE web site here, provide some guidance as to the issues involved in bushfire protection and vegetation removal.
From the CMA's perspective, some of the important points are:
- A permit is required from the CMA before any work proposed to occur within a waterway can commence
- Clearing must have the permission of all relevant land owners (a lessee / license holder is not a landowner!). Any veg removal on public land must have written permission from DSE or delegated agency (PV, Shire, etc). An application form for obtaining permission is available on the DSE website, or by phoning the DSE Customer Service centre
- The distance rule applies only to the distance from accommodation, not sheds etc
- Clearing cannot be undertaken where there is a legal agreement (e.g. Covenant, Sec 173 or Sec 69 agreement) to protect native vegetation or other purpose.
- Clearing on boundaries - exemptions only apply to an existing fence, and up to a max of 4m (totalled across both sides).
- Landholders need to meet all Legal and Safety agreements: this would include the FFG and EPBC Act, as well as the obvious OH&S Act.
- Permission (to clear on public land) can be withheld when:
- Clearing will result in a breach of the Planning Scheme requirements or applicable laws
- When clearing is in breach of other Legal Agreements or covenants
| Vegetation removal on a public land boundary | |
| Preparing for bushfire | |
| Managing erosion and landslip risk | |
| Frequently asked questions |