Balcombe Estuary Reserves: Ecological and Planning Study

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Balcombe Estuary Reserves: Ecological and Planning Study Balcombe Estuary Reserves: Ecological and Planning Study Draft Report Prepared for Mornington Peninsula Shire Council 19 March 2021 Biosis offices Document information Report to: Mornington Peninsula Shire Council NEW SOUTH WALES Prepared by: Hannah Harbourd Albury Jeff Yugovic Phone: (02) 6069 9200 Email: [email protected] Biosis project: 31549 Newcastle File name: 31549.BalcombeEstuaryReservesEcologicaland Phone: (02) 4911 4040 Planning Study: DraftStudy.20210319 Email: [email protected] Citation: Biosis 2021. Balcombe Estuary Reserves ecological and Sydney planning study: draft study report. Report to Phone: (02) 9101 8700 Mornington Peninsula Shire. Authors: Harbourd H, Email: [email protected] Yugovic J. Biosis Pty Ltd, Melbourne. Project 31549. Wollongong Phone: (02) 4201 1090 Document control Email: [email protected] Version Internal review Date issued Draft 01 BRH 19/11/2020 VICTORIA Draft 02 BRH 15/02/2021 Ballarat Phone: (03) 5304 4250 Draft 03 BRH 18/3/2021 Email: [email protected] Melbourne (Head Office) Acknowledgements Phone: (03) 8686 4800 Email: [email protected] Wangaratta Biosis acknowledges the contribution of the following people and Phone: (03) 5718 6900 organisations in undertaking this study: Email: [email protected] Mornington Peninsula Shire: Nadia Smith, Katanya Barlow (Strategic Planning) Mark Stahel, Jo-Anne Elvish (Sport and Recreation) Jo-Anne Tetteroo (Natural Systems) Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group (BERG): Peter McMahon, Liz Barraclough Biosis personnel: Mapping: Sonika Kumar Quality Assurance: Ben Howells, Matt Gibson Consultation and advice: Mitch Deaves Biosis Pty Ltd This document is and shall remain the property of Biosis Pty Ltd. The document may only be used for the purposes for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of the Engagement for the commission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited. © Biosis 2021 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting - www.biosis.com.au ii Contents 1. Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Project Introduction ............................................................................................................................................3 2.2 Municipal context ................................................................................................................................................3 2.2.1 Study Area ..................................................................................................................................................3 2.2.2 Site Context ...............................................................................................................................................3 2.3 Traditional owners ...............................................................................................................................................8 2.4 Ecology ...................................................................................................................................................................8 2.5 Sport and recreation ...........................................................................................................................................9 2.5.1 Sport and recreational facilities within the Reserves .......................................................................9 2.6 Establishment of the Balcombe Estuary Reserves .................................................................................... 10 3. Relevant Local, State, and Commonwealth legislation ......................................................................... 12 3.1 Commonwealth ................................................................................................................................................. 12 3.1.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ............................................. 12 3.2 State ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 3.2.1 Planning and Environment Act 1987 ................................................................................................ 12 3.2.2 Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme ........................................................................................ 12 3.2.3 Water Act 1989....................................................................................................................................... 27 3.2.4 Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 ....................................................................................... 27 3.2.5 Environment Protection Act 1970 ..................................................................................................... 28 3.2.6 Environment Effects Act 1978 ............................................................................................................ 28 3.2.7 Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 ............................................................................................... 28 3.2.8 Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 .............................................................................................................. 28 3.2.9 Road Management Act 2004 .............................................................................................................. 28 4. Literature Review ......................................................................................................................................... 29 4.1 Ecology ................................................................................................................................................................ 29 4.1.1 Flora.......................................................................................................................................................... 29 4.1.2 Fauna ....................................................................................................................................................... 30 4.1.3 Ecosystems ............................................................................................................................................. 31 4.1.4 Ecological health .................................................................................................................................... 32 4.1.5 Buffer zones ........................................................................................................................................... 33 4.2 Sport and recreation ........................................................................................................................................ 35 4.2.1 Sporting capacity ................................................................................................................................... 35 4.2.2 Recommendations Citation and Ferrero Ovals .............................................................................. 38 4.2.3 Future planning Sports Capacity Plan Volume 2 and 3 ................................................................ 40 4.2.4 Open Space ............................................................................................................................................ 40 4.3 Benefits and issues to note while undertaking such work ...................................................................... 43 4.3.1 Balancing the environment for conservation and recreational use .......................................... 43 4.3.2 Potential constraints on ecological values ....................................................................................... 43 © Biosis 2021 – Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting III 4.3.3 Current constraints on sports and recreation ................................................................................ 44 4.4 Benefits and restrictions of potential planning controls .......................................................................... 44 4.5 Councils Climate Emergency Response from 2020 to 2030 ................................................................... 45 5. Methodology ................................................................................................................................................. 46 5.1 Mapping .............................................................................................................................................................. 46 5.2 Observations ...................................................................................................................................................... 47 5.3 Balancing ecological values with sport and recreational use ................................................................. 47 5.3.1 Planning considerations ...................................................................................................................... 47 6. Results ............................................................................................................................................................ 48 6.1 Native flora ........................................................................................................................................................
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