A Planning Framework for Natural Ecosytems of the ACT and NSW Southern Tablelands Prepared by Martin Fallding, Land & Environment Planning for and under the direction of the Joint Regional Biodiversity Working Group. The Joint Regional Biodiversity Working Group consists of representatives of the Housing Industry Association (ACT and Southern NSW Region), NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Environment ACT, PlanningNSW, Queanbeyan City Council, Yass Shire Council, the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Co-ordinating Committee and the Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra Inc. Martin Fallding is principal of Land & Environment Planning, an environmental planning and land management consultancy. He is an environmental planner with qualifications in science and planning specialising in the integration of biodiversity conservation and natural ecosystems with development. He has extensive experience in local government and also operates the Callicoma Hill wilderness eco-retreat www.calli.com.au. First published in 2002 by: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 43 Bridge Street (PO Box 1967) Hurstville NSW 2220 Phone (02) 9585 6444 Fax (02) 9585 6555 Website: www.npws.nsw.gov.au © NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2002 Information presented in this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes, subject to inclusion of acknowledgment of the source, and provided no commercial usage or sale of the material occurs. Reproduction for purposes other than those given above requires written permission from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. This document should be cited as Fallding M. (2002), Planning Framework for Natural Ecosystems of the ACT and NSW Southern Tablelands. Natural Heritage Trust, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Land & Environment Planning. ISBN 0-646-41930-7 Produced with funding from the Natural Heritage Trust. Disclaimer: The material provided in this framework is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for legal or scientific advice in relation to any matter, whether particular or general. Some information is provisional and subject to change. 1 Foreword The NSW Southern Tablelands and ACT retains important natural areas, including grasslands and grassy woodlands, although some are poorly conserved and are still declining. A total of 156 species have been identified as of conservation importance within the region, including 84 listed threatened species. The Planning Framework for Natural Ecosystems of the ACT and NSW Southern Tablelands has been developed to assist in effective planning for conservation of this biodiversity. By providing comprehensive and consistent information on natural ecosystems, this planning framework will improve certainty for the development industry, and enable effective integration of biodiversity considerations into decision-making processes. The Planning Framework for Natural Ecosystems presents regional-scale information on natural ecosystems and biodiversity. It identifies important species and ecological communities at the regional scale and accesses databases which cross-jurisdictional boundaries. Important regional issues for the conservation of natural ecosystems are also identified. The scientific data supporting the framework will be continuously updated as more information becomes available. This reference information can be applied within existing agency processes, especially by local government. Importantly the framework also provides principles for strategic planning at the regional and local scales and a context for assessing development proposals. This report describes the framework and summarises the supporting information. It enables the process of planning for development and conservation to be made more manageable. Applying the framework will not prevent conflict or remove uncertainty in all situations, but it will reduce them considerably. The planning framework is the result of extensive cooperation between all spheres of government (Commonwealth, NSW, ACT and local) and a range of non-government organisations including the Housing Industry Association, and community resource management and conservation groups. The extensive field surveys and remote sensing mapping which were undertaken to prepare this report as well as the preparation of the framework were supported financially by the Natural Heritage Trust. The Planning Framework for Natural Ecosystems will assist the community in maintaining and enhancing native flora and fauna and habitats while allowing responsible development to proceed. Tony Carey Housing Industry Association Chair of the Joint Regional Biodiversity Working Group i Contents Foreword i Tables & text boxes v Acknowledgments vi Abbreviations vii Summary ix Part 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Purpose of the planning framework 1 1.2 Who can use the planning framework? 1 1.3 How to use the planning framework 3 1.4 Method & report structure 4 Part 2 Planning context 7 2.1 Project background and boundaries 7 2.2 Legislative and policy framework 8 2.3 Regional & local policies & programs 12 2.4 Social, cultural & economic issues 13 2.5 Key planning and management issues 13 Part 3 Information on natural ecosystems in the region 15 3.1 Overview of natural ecosystems 15 3.2 Review of regional data 17 3.3 Description of natural ecosystems and vegetation types 18 3.4 Species information 25 3.5 Identifying important ecosystems and species 25 3.6 Landscape units 31 Part 4 Key issues and priorities for natural ecosystems 33 4.1 Threats to the region’s natural ecosystems 33 4.2 Overview of land use planning and management issues 33 4.3 Identifying objectives and priorities 36 4.4 Regional ecological planning settings 38 iii Part 5 Planning framework 41 5.1 Overview of planning framework 41 5.2 Consider regional principles 43 5.3 Determine regional ecological planning settings 45 5.4 Refer to landscape unit descriptions 46 5.5 Refer to key habitats, vegetation and corridors analysis 47 5.6 Refer to activity guidelines 48 5.7 Apply landscape unit decision guidelines 50 5.8 Establish site design criteria 51 Part 6 Applying the planning framework 53 6.1 How should the framework be used? 53 6.2 What are the implications for future development? 55 6.3 Ideas for implementation 55 Part 7 Finding out more 57 7.1 Contacts and data 57 7.2 References 58 7.3 Further reading 60 Part 8 Glossary 61 Part 9 Appendices 69 9.1 Project history and background 69 9.2 Landscape units 71 9.3 Key to regional ecological planning settings map 91 9.4 Draft indicative example of Landscape Unit Guidelines 95 9.5 Metadata statement 99 iv Tables and text boxes Tables Table 1.1 Planning framework users 2 Table 2.1 Proportion of region in terms of area, ranked by size 8 Table 2.2 Important regional planning policies and programs 12 Table 3.1 IBRA Bioregions within region 15 Table 3.2 Summary of planning framework maps for natural ecosystems and biodiversity 18 Table 3.3 Broad vegetation types pre-1750 and 2000, and key conservation issues 19 Table 3.4 Summary of species recorded in region (preliminary) 25 Table 3.5 Listed endangered ecological communities occurring within region 26 Table 3.6 Identified landscape units within region 31 Table 4.1 Checklist of threats to the region’s natural ecosystems 34 Table 4.2 Summary of natural ecosystem conservation planning issues 35 Table 4.3 Summary of regional ecological planning settings 39 Table 5.1 Overview of planning framework elements and steps 42 Table 5.2 Overview of planning framework maps 43 Table 5.3 Regional principles 44 Table 6.1 Applying the framework to the development process 54 Figures Figure 1: The ACT and NSW Southern Tablelands 1 Figure 2: Local Governments, Territories and IBRAs within the study area 7 Figure 3: Catchments within the study area 9 Figure 4: Rural Lands Protection Board within the study area 9 Figure 5: Aboriginal Regional Land Council boundaries within the study area 9 Figure 6: Locations where threatened fauna have been recorded in the study area 26 Figure 7: Locations where threatened flora have been recorded in the study area 26 Figure 8: Known locations of threatened grassland reptiles 27 Figure 9: Known locations of threatened woodland birds 28 Figure 10: Known locations of Green and Golden Bell Frog, Rosenberg's Monitor, and Golden Sun Moth 29 Figure 11: Known locations of selected threatened flora 30 Figure 12: Landscape Units identified within the study area 31 Text boxes Box 1: Regional biodiversity facts 16 Box 2: Key planning questions to consider 36 Box 3: Key management questions to consider 36 Box 4: Key actions for immediate implementation 55 v Acknowledgments The Planning Framework for Natural Ecosystems - NSW Southern Tablelands and ACT is a project undertaken by the Joint Regional Biodiversity Working Group (JRBWG) with financial assistance from the Natural Heritage Trust. The Joint Regional Biodiversity Working Group is a collaboration of the Housing Industry Association (ACT and Southern NSW Region), NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Environment ACT, PlanningNSW, Queanbeyan City Council, Yass Shire Council, Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Co-ordinating Committee and Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra Inc, with the cooperation of all local governments in the region. The early enthusiasm and impetus for this project by David Shorthouse (Environment ACT, and Ian McNamee of the Housing Industry Association (ACT and Southern NSW) is appreciated. This framework report has