Mansfield Shire Council

Draft Environment Strategy

2019-2023

Page 1

Photo: Community tree planting at Fords Creek, Up2Us Landcare Alliance

Acknowledgements

Mansfield Shire Council acknowledges the Taungurung Traditional Custodians of the land on which the Council operates. We pay respects to Elders, past present and emerging and recognise the valuable contribution they have made to this Environment Strategy.

The task of developing the Strategy involved many stakeholders and community members and without their input, this document would not have been truly reflective of the Mansfield region. The Mansfield Shire Council acknowledges and thanks all involved.

Cover photo: Lake Eildon at Bonnie Doon, Brad McSweeney Page 1

Treat the land with respect and the land in turn will look after you - Taungurung Clans

Page 2 VISION:

Working together to protect and enhance the natural environment

Page 3

Contents

Council Foreword

Environment Strategy summary

Strategic context  Council  Taungurung Traditional Owners  Our Region – Assets and Challenges

Aspirations and strategy Focus Area 1: Waste Focus Area 2: Water Focus Area 4: Land Focus Area 3: Sustainable Development

Monitoring and evaluation

Appendix 1: Overview of consultation

Photo: Australian Reed-warbler at Mullum Page 4 Wetlands, Lachlan Read

Photo: Gang-gang cockatoo, Steve Wilson

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Council’s Foreword

Welcome to the Mansfield Shire Council’s Environment Strategy. This Strategy is a statement of Council’s intention and commitment to improve our natural environment at an organisational level and reflects the aspirations of our community for action.

The four focus areas of our strategy are waste, water, land and sustainable development.

Each focus areas presents both challenges and opportunities for our natural environment. These challenges for our natural environment are amplified under a future of climate change. Mansfield Shire Council acknowledges that climate change is a real threat to our community’s way of life. For Council, we seek to significantly reduce emissions from our own operations and work with stakeholders to support community in climate change action.

This Strategy also identifies actions that you, as community members, can take to support Council’s efforts to protect and enhance our natural environment.

Finally, thank you to the community members and agency stakeholders that were involved in developing this Environment Strategy. Through your contribution, collaboration and commitment we now have a Strategy we can all be proud of.

We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with our community to make this work a reality.

Photo: Tree planting at Jamieson, Kerstie Lee

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Photo: Community tree planting, Up2Us Landcare Alliance

Page 7 Environment Strategy summary

Mansfield Shire is fortunate to have breathtaking natural beauty. Our clean water, fertile soil and diverse environment are the foundation of our economic development, community liveability and individual wellbeing. But our environment is under severe pressure from climate change and unsustainable development. In this context, over 150 people from across the Shire shared their insights on what we, as a community, must do to protect our most important natural assets. The summary of our consultation process is in Appendix 1.

This Environment Strategy sets out the action that must be taken now to combat these challenges, to protect, promote and rejuvenate our natural environment. It will guide Council’s decision-making, so that future generations can continue to enjoy the living world around us.

Vision: Working together to protect and enhance the natural environment

Page 8 Strategic context

Council In 2017, Council adopted a new Council Plan outlining a number of priorities for 2017-2021, some of which are This Environment Strategy will guide Council in setting specifically related to the environment including environmental policies and priorities for implementation. . Review the Mansfield Shire Environment Strategy to Our commitment to the environment is significant and ensure its ongoing relevance and actions for real. We understand economic growth, human implementation. wellbeing and a sustainable future in our region are . Support the work of the key environmental groups intimately connected. By protecting and enhancing the and organisations. environment, we are promoting the wellbeing of . Review and progressively implement the Mansfield individuals and communities. Shire Waste Management Strategy.

. Articulate Council and community views on major The Strategy sets out our focus for the next four years; Federal and State government initiatives including waste, water, land and development. Council will be a protection and enhancement of the environment in leader in policy and advocacy and work to support partnership with local community groups. businesses, communities and federal/state agencies to . Develop and implement a local policy on housing ensure our goals are met. provision covering issues such as type, mix,

subdivision design and best practice environmental History outcomes. Mansfield Shire Council’s previous Environment . Prepare and implement an Integrated Water Strategy was formally endorsed by Council in 2012. Management Plan for the Mansfield Township. The strategy was supported by the Mansfield Shire

Environment Action Plan 2013-2017, which focussed on In May 2019, Council again acknowledged climate three key areas: the control of pest plants and animals, change as a threat to our community’s way of life as we waste water management and roadside conservation know it. Council committed to identifying the challenges and management. that this creates and produce a Climate Change Action Plan to outline how Council can significantly reduce In 2015, Council undertook a review that resulted in emissions from its own operations and work with additional priority areas being added for implementation stakeholders to support our community in climate including: implement biodiversity initiatives, implement change action. the Great Victorian Rail Trail management initiatives and develop a project management checklist. However, the Council recommits to the key environmental programs introduction of rate capping in 2016 significantly reduced and partnerships it is currently delivering under the Council’s capacity to fund new initiatives. previous Environment Strategy and the Council Plan.

Page 9 Operating context

This strategy sets a direction for our local government There are several key policies and legislation that are organisation with respect to our own operations, as well relevant to this Environment Strategy. The main policies as how we support community led environmental action. and legislation are: The delivery of this strategy will primarily be led by . Environment Protection and Biodiversity Council’s environmental management and sustainable Conservation Act 1999 development staff. . Water Act 2007 . State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Advising and supporting Council’s environmental ) management and sustainable development staff is the . Fisheries Act 1995 Environmental Advisory Committee. The Committee’s . Wildlife Act 1975 membership includes local agency and community . Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 organisational representation, along with student and . Managing Native Vegetation on Roadsides community representatives. The Committee meets six . Victorian Planning Provisions Clause 52.17 Native times per year. Vegetation . Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 Mansfield Shire Council works closely with . Environment Protection Act 1970 environmentally focussed community organisations . Planning and Environment Act 1987 including: Up2Us Landcare Alliance and its member . Climate Change Act 2017. groups and, where opportunities arise, with Trust for Nature and Waterwatch.

Photo: Great Victorian Rail Trail, Ross Vaughan Page 10

Taungurung Traditional Owners

Wumindgika (Welcome)

Mansfield Shire Council are pleased to be working with Taungurung Land and Water Council on the development and implementation of our Environment Strategy. The members of the Taungurung Land and Water Council have offered to contribute a welcome to the strategy and an image to reflect this welcome. We will be pleased to include this welcome and image before the strategy is finalised.

The Traditional Owners of the land where Mansfield There are many significant cultural sites throughout the Shire operates are the Taungurung people. The region including scarred trees on and Taungurung Land and Water Council (Aboriginal . The lower parts of Country were for food Corporation) are the Registered Aboriginal Party, that and higher Country was for food and traditional holds decision-making responsibilities under the ceremonies. The mountains housed small marsupials, Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 for protecting Aboriginal alpine plants and Bogong moths that were important Heritage in a specified geographical area. sources of food for people.

Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation developed Taungurung Country encompasses all of the Mansfield the Taungurung Country Plan which outlines key Shire Council and extends from east of Heathcote, priorities for action, which are: towards Rushworth and Euroa in the north, down to near Mount Buller and as far south as Marysville and . Identity, Recognition and Rights Kilmore. . Health and Wellbeing . Cultural Heritage Taungurung Nation is a diverse group of people who . Taungurung Traditional Knowledge live throughout Victoria and elsewhere. Taungurung . Caring for Our Country People are strongly connected to Country through the . Economic Independence mountains, rivers and lakes including: Cathedral Range, , Reef Hill, , Mt St The Country Plan also provides a foundation for Leonard, Mount Torbreck, Mount Black, Mount developing strong partnerships and relationships with Feathertop, Mount Buller, Goulburn River, Campaspe land and water management agencies and community River, Delatite River, Ovens River, Lake Eildon and organisations that care for Country (Taungurung Land Lake McCowan. and Waters Council, 2016).

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Image from Taungurung Land and Waters Council

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Our Region – Assets and Challenges

. Litoria raniformis – Growling Grass Frog Natural assets . Litoria spenceri – Spotted Tree Frog . Macquaria australasica – Macquarie Perch Mansfield Shire is located in North-East Victoria, . Pseudomys fumeus – Smoky Mouse covering 3,843 square kilometres. More than 60% of the . Maccullochella macquariensis – Bluenose Cod shire is designated Crown Land and 30% is owned by (Trout Cod) private landholders. Approximately, 90% of private Vulnerable landholdings are zoned for farming. . Delma impar – Striped legless lizard Our Shire is an agricultural, lifestyle and tourist . Litoria verreauxii alpine – Alpine tree frog destination known for its natural environment. It is comprised of several towns and regions including: . Maccullochella peelii peelii – Murray cod

Ancona, Barjarg, Bridge Creek, Bonnie Doon, Goughs Six major waterways flow through the region – the Bay, Howqua, Jamieson, Kevington, Macs Cove, Broken River, Delatite River, Howqua River, Goulburn Maindample, Merrijig, Merton, Piries, Sawmill River, Big River and Jamieson River. All of these rivers Settlement/Alpine Ridge, Tolmie and Woods Point. are catchments for the water storages at Eildon and Our Shire’s natural environment is highly valued for its Nillahcootie and ultimately contribute to the flow and picturesque landscape and natural features. Our Shire health of the Murray Darling system. has a diverse environment due to its topographic These lakes and rivers have significant environmental variation and microclimates and consists of four bio- and cultural value and are significant to the Shire regions, including: Highlands Northern Fall, Highlands (Mansfield Shire Council, 2019a). Southern Fall, and Central Victorian

Uplands. Located in these areas are Mt Buller and Mt Stirling.

Our region has many flora and fauna species, some of which are listed as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable under Environment Protection Biodiversity

Conservation Act 1999 (Mansfield Shire Council, 2013). There are also several endangered ecological communities.

Critically endangered

. Synemon plana – Golden Sun Moth

Endangered

. Anthochaera phrygia – Regent Honeyeater

. Burramys parvus – Mountain Pygmy-Possum

. Dasyurus maculatus maculatus – Spot-tailed Quoll

. Galaxias fuscus – Barred Galaxias

. Gymnobelideus leadbeateri – Leadbeater’s possum Photo: Tawny Frogmouth – Mullum Wetlands, . Lathamus discolor - Swift Parrot Lachlan Read Page 13 Primary land uses Population and growth

Agriculture is one of our region’s key economic drivers Mansfield Shire is a fast-growing municipality with a and major land uses. Agriculture contributes around population growth of approximately 2% per year since $60.7M to the economy (Mansfield Shire Council, 2001. This has been driven by the lifestyle, rural 2019a). Cattle and sheep grazing as well as seed amenity, affordable housing and its close proximity to production are the predominant industries. Grape and (Mansfield Shire Council, 2019a). tomato production industries are also present in the Population growth and associated economic Shire as well as many agricultural related services. development must be managed to ensure that needs of the present generation do not compromise the ability for Small acreage agricultural producers are increasing the future generations to meet their own needs. diversity of produce now grown in our region including crops such as garlic, capers, saffron and berries to Mansfield Shire has a permanent resident population of name few. Both small and large agricultural enterprises 8,584 persons (ABS, 2018) and median average present significant opportunities to enhance our weekday population of 10,355 including visitors. The regional biodiversity and tackle local weed challenges. total daily population increases to over 23,000 people during peak holiday periods. Resource use The visitor population to our region significantly Mansfield Shire has municipal waste and recycling increases the demand on local infrastructure and collection. In the 2017-18 financial year, the Shire resources, and challenges the capacity and delivery of collected 4,234 tonnes of waste and recycled 1,302 local waste services. tonnes. Mansfield Shire Council has operational responsibility for the Mansfield Resource Recovery

Centre providing waste diversion and recycling opportunities at a local transfer station.

Photo: Working bee at Woodfield, Ross Vaughan

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Page 15 The case for action

The challenges we face today threaten the health of our Adaptation Report. Council is working across the region natural environment and the health of our people and in partnership with local groups, other councils and liveability of our communities. Climate change has agencies to manage and mitigate the impacts of climate already started to impact the Hume region where the change. It is also a member of the Goulburn Broken Mansfield Shire is located. The climate has already Greenhouse Alliance and as a member has participated become warmer and drier and forecasts indicate that: in projects such as: Watts Working Better – Street

. Temperatures will continue to rise year round lighting upgrade project, Electric Vehicle Feasibility . Fewer frosts will occur Study – Building the case for electric vehicles in Council . More frequent and more intense downpours fleets and Climate Smart Agriculture Development – . More hot days and warm spells Identifying agricultural opportunities under a climate . Less rainfall in autumn, winter and spring changed future. . Harsher fire weather and longer fire seasons. Climate change is amplifying threats to biodiversity. The

Global surface air temperatures have risen by around 1 spread and establishment of pest plants and animals C over the last 100 years due to human activity. across Victoria continues to be an issue. Throughout Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (a heat the Goulburn Broken Catchment, there are over 80 trapping greenhouse gas) are more than 40% higher noxious weeds, which are declared under the now compared to before the industrial revolution. Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Noxious weeds are classified into four categories: State The changing climate has the potential to impact Prohibited, Regionally Prohibited, Regionally Controlled significantly on primary production, infrastructure, and Regionally Restricted. tourism, health and community and the environment. This may include: There are several weeds that are of particular concern to the Mansfield Shire Council. These include: . Changed distribution of pests and diseases . Increased risk of bush fires Regionally Controlled weeds: . Changed pasture growth . Ulex europaeus – Gorse . Reduced water security . Rubus fruiticosus (agg.) – Blackberry . Increased flood risk . Genista monspessulana - Cape Broom . Increased maintenance costs . Cystisus scoparius – English Broom . Reduced snow depths and shorter seasons . Hypericum perforatum – St John’s Wort . Risks to tourists in unfamiliar conditions . Echium plataginuem – Paterson’s curse . Increased stress on health and emergency services Established pest animal . Amplification of existing threats to biodiversity . Changed habitats . Oryctolagus cuniculus – Rabbits . Contraction of alpine ecosystems (DELWP, 2015) . Vulpes Vulpes - Fox Weed of National Significance Although Mansfield Shire Council has been preparing for climate change over the last decade, more needs to . Nasselle neesiana - Chilean needle grass be done. In 2009, with assistance from the Australian Council is responsible for managing weeds on Council Government, Mansfield Shire Council developed a owned land and roadsides and continuously work with Climate Change Risk Assessment and Climate Change others to ensure efforts are maximised. Page 16 Council currently collaborates with other agencies Our community must also manage increasing and community groups at the Regional Weeds Forum wastewater, where Mansfield’s Wastewater and has developed a Roadside Weeds and Pests Treatment Plant is already at capacity. Declining Control Plan. Council recognises that pest plants water security will further strain our ability to sustain and animals are an on-going issue and is committed growth long-term. to on-going control. (Mansfield Shire Council, 2019b) While our environmental challenges are significant, The impacts of changing climate are heightened by there are also opportunities for action. The need for the pressures of our growing population. Our efficient, sustainable agriculture is increasing, with population has grown steadily since the early 2000s. the industry in aiming to grow by 70% by Our Shire has seen more housing developments 2030 (National Farmers Federation, 2018). occurring across the landscape including small The Victorian State Government has set ambitious allotments and rural living allotments on larger targets to achieve the Paris Climate agreement to acreage. This is also putting significant pressure on keep global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees existing infrastructure, including the waste water Celsius. The transition to greater renewable energy treatment plant and waste disposal mechanisms future is happening. Local action is being led by (transfer station and landfill). The average Victorian groups such as Renewable Energy Mansfield and disposes of 363kg in waste ever year – almost 99 Mansfield Climate Action Group. Council’s role is to percent of which became waste within six weeks of support community action and programs that benefit purchase (Sustainability Victoria, 2019). While our region. recycling has increased in our Shire, our growing population means more waste is still ending in Our Shire in partnership will leverage grants where landfill. Greenhouse emissions from waste is they become available to ensure we deliver on increasing and existing landfills are running out of actions that will address these environmental space. challenges. The Council budget will also reflect the actions raised in the strategy in future years.

Figure 1: Sustainability Victoria, 2018 Figure 2: Hume regional forecast (DELWP - Climate Future developments should consider environmental Ready Victoria: Hume (2015) impacts, potential impacts on large scale agricultural land and the natural rural amenity that Mansfield

Shire is known for.

Page 17 Pathways for actions

VISION: WORKING TOGETHER TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

We need to work together to overcome the challenges our environment faces and capitalise on the momentum for a low-carbon, sustainable economy. We have identified four key focus areas in this Strategy to continue this work.

Focus Area 1: Waste

Focus Area 2: Water

Focus Area 4: Land

Focus Area 3: Sustainable Development

These areas will guide Council’s actions and how it works as a partner with communities and stakeholders. Mansfield Shire Council has been undertaking a number of environmental works over the years and continues to build partnerships with local community groups such as Up2Us Landcare Alliance and Renewable Energy Mansfield.

Each Focus Area identifies example actions that community members can take to support the vision and long-term goals of the strategy. We should all be encouraged, that with these simple actions, we can all protect and enhance our local environment.

The attainment of our vision will only be achieved when, as a community, we are willing to embark on this pathway together.

Photo: Alpine pathway, Lou Perrin

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Focus Area 1: Waste

Ngabedin dhanga-bi ba yumaanda (uneaten and thrown away

Long-term goal: Reduce Policy position: waste to landfill Council acknowledges: . Nationally we face a waste problem. Our growing population is producing more solid waste, which is becoming more expensive to collect and Short-term indicators: dispose. . We know the consumption of goods and . Reduce per capita waste volume directed to Landfill. generation of waste have direct and indirect . Waste Management Strategy Developed. impacts on our environment. . 100% e-waste diversion from landfill. . Reducing consumption and waste production is . Partnerships with community to develop alternatives the most effective way to reduce the need to for local waste diversion from landfill. handle, treat, and dispose of waste.

. Disposing of waste that could be reused or recycled has both an environmental and an economic cost.

Photo: Clean Up Australia Day - Mansfield Secondary College 2018, Kerstie Lee

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Council will continue to: Council will: Community members can:

. Buy products with less . Manage operations of the . Develop a Waste packaging to influence Mansfield Recovery Management Strategy in suppliers. Resource Centre, in 2019-20. . Volunteer to help sort waste accordance with the waste . Eliminate e-waste from landfill at local events so recycling is hierarchy (EPA Victoria). through Transfer Station not contaminated. . Plan, educate and manage upgrades. . Advocate for schools, sustainable waste . Engage the Mansfield hospital, businesses to trial management practices as a community about options for community food and garden member of the North East Green waste/compost organic collection. Waste and Resource collection. . Support businesses to Recovery Group. . Improve website to promote improve waste management. . With agency partners, support the responsible disposal of . Establish and participate in waste education programs rubbish, recyclables, garden community groups that such as ‘carry in – carry out’. and hard-waste at the implement innovative waste . Increase recycling and reduce Mansfield Resource Recovery Council waste to landfill. reduction programs and Centre. opportunities e.g. Repair . Support agency partner and Café, Boomerang Bags, etc. community groups with visitor waste management programs. . Support national community waste events e.g. Clean Up Australia Day . Support local schools to deliver waste and recycling programs.

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Focus Area 2: Water

Baan nugal-nganjin (our water)

Long-term goal: Healthy Policy position:

waterways, wetlands and Council acknowledges: . Rivers were, and remain, central to Taungurung lakes and access to safe, Country. They provide food and places to camp, hunt, fish, swim and hold ceremonies. They are secure and affordable places that are central to their creation stories, and many of their cultural heritage sites are water supplies associated with waterways – burial and birthing. . The natural water bodies across our Shire are invaluable social, economic and environmental assets. Short-term indicators: . The Mansfield Wastewater Treatment Plant is at . Formalise arrangements for Traditional Owner capacity and requires an upgrade. involvement in waterway management. . The parts of the Mansfield township that are not . Adopt and implement Mansfield Township sewered (approximately 20%) pose a small Integrated Water Management Plan. environmental and community risk, given the lack . Reduced water usage in Council operations from of active management. 2018/19 levels. . Efficient use of water should occur to protect supply for future generations.

Photo: Delatite River - Merimbah, Gerard McHugh Page 21

Photo: Lachlan Read Council will continue to: Council will: Community members can:

. Support Traditional Owner . Finalise and implement icon . Consider innovative direct involvement in the projects and key actions from approaches to maximise water management of waterways. the Mansfield Township capture and use in agricultural . Require Water Sensitive Integrated Water lands. Urban Design (WSUD) Management (IWM) Plan in . Install residential water tanks implementation as specified 2019. and adopt water saving by State Planning Policy and . Provide training for developers behaviours. Mansfield Planning Scheme and Council’s works staff on . Increase the use of recycled . Implement the Domestic operation and maintenance of water and stormwater for Wastewater Management WSUD assets. commercial, residential and Plan (DWMP) to reduce . Advocate for the provision of a industrial use. environmental and health reticulated sewage schemes . Establish local river quality risks from domestic in Gough’s Bay, Macs Cove monitoring networks and share wastewater in un-sewered and Jamieson that utilises crowd-sourced data online. areas. connection to existing septic . Undertake to understand the . Manage drought relief bores systems. cultural significance of our available across the Shire. . Support community led action Shire’s waterways to . Maintain public drinking water to improve biodiversity of Traditional Owners. taps provided along High urban waterways. . Support businesses that use Street and at Botanic . Provide in-kind support to recycled water. Gardens in Mansfield. landholders and Goulburn . Join Landcare or community Broken Catchment based environmental group to Management Authority to protect our Shire’s waterways. improve biodiversity and water

quality outcomes for rural waterways. . Review planning schemes and decisions to protect water resources and assets. . Advocate for ongoing river quality monitoring. . Build partnerships with traditional owners and community groups to improve waterway management.

Page 22 Focus Area 3: Land

Biik-nganjin (our land) Policy position: Long-term goal: Diverse Council acknowledges:

and self-sustaining . Our long-term economic sustainability and social wellbeing are intrinsically connected to our land. landscapes that support . Our unique natural landscapes and biodiversity are under pressure from population growth, subdivision healthy ecosystems now and climate change. . Traditional Owners, Council, communities, farmers, and into the future visitors, and state and federal authorities must all play a role in protecting our physical landscapes and Short-term indicators: diversity of plant and animals. . Fire hazard management practices, including . Reduced prevalence of roadside weeds from traditional burning, can support rather than damage 2018/19 levels. biodiversity. . Land Use Strategy developed. . Strong partnerships with biodiversity groups and agencies i.e. Landcare. . Land management agreements established with Taungurung

Photo: Mountain Pygmy-Possum, Vincent Antony

Page 23 Council will continue to: Council will: Community members can:

. Implement the annual roadside . Develop a Land Use Strategy. . Support and encourage weed control program, . Identify mechanisms to protect community-based environment consistent with the Roadside large red gum trees surrounding groups, such as Landcare to Weeds and Pest Control Plan. the Mansfield township via a continue their contributions to . Support Mansfield Weeds Tree Protection overlay, or restoring the natural Forum to ensure agency policy statement in the environment. coordination of annual weed Mansfield Planning Scheme. . Plan and develop a network of control activities. . Advocate for State and Federal landscape scale biodiversity . Protect and enhance roadside Government funding and corridors. biodiversity (understory plants). support for pest weed and . Protect and promote native . Participate on Goulburn Broken animal control programs, and vegetation on private property Local Government Biodiversity legislative change to reduce – particularly historic red gums. Reference Group to share pest animals (i.e. deer). . Plant native trees and grasses. knowledge and coordinate . Advocate for roadside weed . Encourage local schools to programs with other regional control funding to be based on celebrate the environment. local governments. weed density and impacts . Participate in cultural heritage . Implement Mansfield Shire (need) and not roadway length. workshops. Roadside Conservation . Work in partnership with . Apply soil health management Management Plan. Taungurung, Landcare, Country practice, such as compost, . Provide training for Council’s Fire Authority, and public and conservation tillage, cover operational staff on roadside private land managers to crops, crop-livestock conservation. support the implementation of integration and crop rotation. . Ensure that native vegetation indigenous land management . Organise regenerative protections in the Mansfield techniques (such as burning) to agriculture workshops and Planning Scheme continue to enhance biodiversity. forums. be implemented. . Develop guidance on ‘green- . Offer rates discounts to gardening’ and soil health for properties with a Trust for residential allotments. Nature Covenant. . Work in partnership with . Assess a Timber Harvest Plan community based groups in accordance with Mansfield (Landcare, Friends of Rail Trail Planning Scheme and Code of etc.) to improve biodiversity on Practice for Timber Production Council managed land. as amended. . Advocate for the establishment . Encourage the use of locally of biodiversity off-set sites indigenous plants and within the Mansfield Shire recommended planting lists of region. the Revegetation Guide for the Goulburn Broken Catchment in new development. . Implement roadside fuel reduction activities in accordance with Municipal Fire Management Plan.

Page 24 Focus Area 4: Sustainable Development

Ngi-agat munga (to build and work)

Long-term goal: Our natural Policy position: resources and environmental values are not compromised Council acknowledges: . Climate change is impacting us now. We will see by ongoing economic increased temperatures, less predictable rainfall and longer fire seasons in the coming decades. Water development. resources will be increasingly stretched, meaning more restrictions and pressure on vegetation. Short-term indicators: . Economic and population growth in our Shire will also put added pressure on the environment. Growth . Increased use of renewable energy in Council and requires more resources, produces more waste and community from 2018/19 levels. uses more land. . Climate Action Plan developed and implemented . Our economy must reduce waste and use resources . Reduced Council utility costs. more efficiently to be sustainable in the long-term.

Photo: Boomerang Bag workshop, Up2Us Landcare Alliance

Page 25 Council will continue to: Council will: Community members can:

. Participate in regional projects . Develop a Climate Change . Support community such as those coordinated by Action Plan. renewable initiatives. Goulburn Broken Greenhouse . Consult to establish a . Install solar panels or switch Alliance. Mansfield Shire Council to a renewable energy . Support community led Greenhouse Emissions provider. environmental action (by groups Reduction target and plan for . Support businesses that use such as Renewable Energy implementation. green energy. Mansfield and Up2Us Landcare . Ensure Mansfield Station . Car pool on school runs and Alliance) with advice, in-kind Precinct Activation Project encourage riding and support and letters of support for meets Green Star design and walking to school. grant applications. construction standards. . Shop locally and support . Explore opportunities to reduce its . Support the implementation of local producers. operating cost by implementing an Asset Management Plan for . Consume less, waste less. energy efficiency projects. Council managed buildings and . Engage local builders and . Protect farm land to limit urban structures that considers encourage use of spread. opportunities for renewable sustainable construction energy projects. materials to ensure that . Advocate for investment in buildings are energy and public infrastructure that water efficient. facilitates a future low carbon economy, such as electric vehicle charging stations, provision for future public transport. . Work in partnership and support Taungurung Lands and Water Council with the management of public lands. . Support community led renewable energy and efficiency programs for greater energy independence.

Page 26 Monitoring and evaluation

community on the implementation of the environment Council recognises the importance of monitoring and strategy with respect to the following focus areas: evaluating the strategy for continuous improvement. . Waste Evaluation of the strategy will be undertaken on a . Water yearly basis by Council who will report back to the . Land . Sustainable Development

Photo: Great Victorian Rail Trail working bee, Ross Vaughan

Photo: Community workshop, Kerstie Lee Photo: Tree planting at Jamieson, Kerstie Lee Page 27 References:

ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics), 2018, 2016 National Farmers Federation, 2018, Talking 2030, Census QuickStats, available: available: https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_servi https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/au/pdf/2018/tal ces/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/LGA24250?ope king-2030-growing-australian-agriculture.pdf ndocument Taungurung Land and Waters Council, 2019, Agriculture Victoria, 2019, Victorian Resources Online Significant Taungurung Sites, available: – Goulburn Broken, available: https://taungurung.com.au/culture/significant-sites/ http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/gbbregn.nsf/pa ges/gbb_climate Taungurung Land and Waters Council, 2016, Taungurung Country Plan, available: Department of Economic Development, Jobs, https://www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/downloads/Traditional_ Transport and Resources, 2015, Victoria’s Renewable Owners/Taungurung_CountryPlan_WEB. Energy Roadmap, available: https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0 026/57914/Victorias-Renewable-Energy- Roadmap.PDF

DELWP (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning), 2015, Climate-ready Victoria: Hume, available: https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/p df_file/0022/60745/Hume.pdf

Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, 2015, The New Climate Economy, available https://newclimateeconomy.report/2015/

Mansfield Shire Council, 2019a, About Mansfield Shire, available: https://www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/my- council/about-mansfield-shire

Mansfield Shire Council, 2019b, Environment and

Sustainability, available: Photo: Blind Creek Falls, Lou Perrin https://www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/residents/community/ environment-and-sustainability#weeds

Mansfield Shire Council, 2012, Mansfield Environment Strategy 2012.

Page 28 Appendix 1: Overview of consultation

copies of the survey were also developed and RM Consulting Group was engaged by the distributed to community groups. Mansfield Shire Council to consult with the local community, Councillors and stakeholders to Results were aggregated for each of the three develop the Mansfield Shire Council Environment questions to identify the biggest environmental strategy. issues in the Shire, themes Council should focus on and their best ideas for environmental action. A community survey was run for two weeks from 28 May to 11 June 2019. The survey results were Question one was structured to enable analysed and provided to Councillors. respondents to elect the top five environmental issues applicable to the Mansfield Shire. This data In addition to the survey, a series of workshops was aggregated and is provided in Figure 3:. were held from the 25th to the 26th of June:

. Councillor workshop For question two, RMCG identified priority areas by . Community workshop weighting responses to the question, “What are the . Stakeholder workshop themes you think Council should focus on?”. Respondents were asked to list up to five themes The findings from the survey are summarised in order of priority. For first priority themes, a value below. of 5 was assigned, second priorities were assigned 4, and so on until fifth priorities were assigned 1. Community Survey Question three was an open response field, comments were summarised and are grouped into A total of 168 responses were collected, themes. They are provided in section 0. representing 2% of Mansfield’s total population. Council’s “Have Your Say” webpage hosted the Respondents were also invited to provide their survey online from 28 May to 11 June 2019. Hard email address for further consultation follow-up, which occurred at the end of June.

Photo: Striated Thornbill at Rifle Butts Road Mansfield, Lachlan Read Page 29 Findings Biggest environmental issues Overall, waste management was the highest ranked environmental issue for respondents. This was followed by pest plants (weeds) and pest animals, climate change, decreased rainfall and decreased reliability of water supply for human consumption and single use plastics as shown in Figure 3.

Waste management e.g. recycling opportunities, green waste management

Pest plants (weeds) and pest animals

Climate change

Decreased rainfall and decreased reliability of water supply or human consumption

Single use plastics

Loss of native plants and animal (biodiversity)

Land use change e.g. impacts of new developments on stormwater, native vegetation,…

Waterway and wetlands protection and enhancement

Community awareness of environmental issues

Roadside vegetation management

Unsustainable agricultural land management practices e.g. overgrazing, stock accessing…

Increased intensity of weather events i.e. heat waves, storms

Logging and timber harvesting operations

Herbicide or pesticide use

Food security and access to locally grown produce

Indigenous cultural heritage protection

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Figure 3:Survey participants biggest environment issues

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Key areas of focus Waste management was elected as the priority areas of focus for Council’s Environment Strategy. This was closely followed by sustainable water management, sustainable economic development, conservation of biodiversity and land management, as shown in Figure 4.

Waste management

Sustainable water management

Sustainable economic development

Conservation of biodiveristy

Land management

Community engagement and education

Sustainable tourism

Reducing carbon emission

Sustainable buildings and materials

Local and sustainable food

Community partnerships

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Figure 4: Key areas of focus for Council’s Environment Strategy

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Community ideas for improving the Pest plant and animal control environment . Focus on feral deer management. . Weed management on roadsides and public Survey respondents put forward many ideas by land. for consideration in the Environment Strategy. . Coordinate pest plant and animal The ideas have been summarised and listed management working bees including deer below (note this list is not in order of priority): culling with departments and interested . Renewable energy. community members. . Support and encourage the development of . Manage weeds with native plantings. renewable energy farms that feed into a . Pest plant and animal management in water renewable energy network i.e. solar and ways, particularly focus on carp, willows and wind. Potential location for development blackberry. could be Council land in Lakins Road/Benalla Road area. Roadside vegetation . Put solar panels on Council buildings. . Allow farmers and community to manage . Sign up to Red Energy’s 100% renewable roadside vegetation. power plan. . Pest animal and plant management on . Investigate whether Yackandandah’s model roadsides. for renewable energy could be replicated in . Manage Rifle Butts Road to preserve the Mansfield. unique flora and fauna. Waste management Biodiversity conservation . Recycling collection on a weekly basis. . Funding for works in riparian zones to . Increase access to or provide more recycling minimise erosion and plant indigenous stations. species. . Recycling bins for cans and glass. . Work with landholders to undertaken . Access to soft plastic recycling. revegetation works. . Compost and green waste bins / collection. . Research into loss of species (animal and . Set a waste reduction benchmark. plant) and the impact on the ecosystem. . Free green waste drop-off prior to summer . Support landholders to maintain their land for and free mulch collection. biodiversity conservation. . More community waste bins including at . Develop an information package for camp sites. landholders that contains information on . Waste to energy plant that feeds into the drought tolerant plant species, plant species electricity grid for native fauna, species under threat and . Annual hard rubbish collection. how landholders can contribute to conserving . Community and school-based education on them, plants for bees and birds. waste reduction and management. . Native vegetation offset should be in the . Encourage a “circular economy”. Shire. . Re-engineer culverts off roads to prevent erosion gullies on neighbours’ properties.

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Urban development controls

. Ensure urban development’s consider sustainability, living standards, energy efficiency, water storage and minimise tree removal. . Limit urban development. . Preserve good agricultural land.

Compliance

. Enforce environmental laws and regulations.

Partnerships and community education

. Organise working party days with schools, conservation groups, government departments and farming groups to focus on riparian repair, good farming practices, revegetation. . Collaborate with Taungurung people regarding traditional burnings to help with the regeneration of plants Enable to community to deliver environmental outcomes.

Benchmarking and education

. Develop or use sustainability metrics as performance indicators for Council. . Encourage schools to have an environmental program. . Educate the community on sustainable energy and recycling. . Carbon emission targets and benchmarks for the Shire with the aim of reducing carbon footprint. . Council to advocate for climate change action.

Other

. Support e-bikes . Improve green space . Be carbon neutral by 2025 . Camping fees and permits . Reduce dust on roads.

Photo: Superb Fairy-wren at Page 33 Mullum Wetlands, Lachlan Read