Bulletin 8 Melbourne

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environmental indicators for METROPOLITAN MELBOURNE BULLETIN 8 OCTOBER 2005

air quality

biodiversity

buildings AIUS AIUS

environmental indicators for litter

transport METROPOLITAN

MELBOURNE

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF URBAN STUDIES

& CITY OF MELBOURNE BULLETIN 8 BULLETIN www.aius.org.au/indicators metropolitan melbourne profile

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Region Local Government Area Area (square Estimated Residential Population density kilometres) Population, June 2004 (population per km2) Central Melbourne 36.1 61 670 1708.3 Port Phillip 20.7 82 857 4002.7 Yarra 19.5 69 749 3576.8 Total 76.3 214 276 2808.3 Inner Boroondara 60.2 158 290 2629.4 Darebin 53.5 127 521 2383.5 Glen Eira 38.7 122 901 3175.7 Maribyrnong 31.2 62 054 1988.9 Moonee Valley 44.3 109 165 2464.2 Moreland 50.9 138 773 2726.3 Stonnington 25.6 90 903 3550.8 Total 304.4 809 607 2659.6 Middle Banyule 62.6 117 323 1874.1 Bayside 37 89 232 2411.6 Brimbank 123.4 174 426 1413.5 Greater Dandenong 129.7 127 230 980.9 Hobsons Bay 64.4 83 199 1291.9 Kingston 91.1 136 684 1500.3 Knox 113.9 150 044 1317.3 Manningham 113.3 113 920 1005.4 Monash 61.4 161 544 2631.0 Maroondah 81.5 100 943 1238.5 Whitehorse 64.3 144 935 2254.0 Total 942.6 1 399 480 1484.7 Outer Cardinia 1281.6 54 543 42.5 Casey 409.9 201 913 492.5 Frankston 129.6 118 951 917.8 Hume 503.8 148 195 294.1 Melton 527.6 71 350 135.2 Mornington Peninsula 723.6 137 467 189.9 Nillumbik 430.4 60 623 140.8 Whittlesea 489.4 126 297 258.0 Wyndham 542.1 107 868 198.9 Yarra Ranges 2471.6 143 228 57.9 Total 8832.9 1 170 435 132.5 Metropolitan Area 8832.9 3 593 798 406.8

Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 steering committee members 2005

Lisa Di Felice AIUS – Project Convenor – Chair City of Boroondara

Nevil Amos Department of Sustainability and Environment

Karina Bader City of Melbourne

Brock Baker Sustainability Victoria

Michael Dodd City of Bayside

Dietmar Dinges Environmental Protection Authority Victoria

Lisa Kermode City of Banyule

Kim McDonald City of Melbourne

Alan O’Brien City of Moonee Valley

Lalitha Ramachandran City of Darebin

Steve Roddis Department of Infrastructure

Silvana Predebon City of Yarra

Financial support from each of these councils is gratefully acknowledged.

Financial support also provided by Bayside, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Moonee Valley, Nillumbik, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Financial support also provided by: Whittlesea.

This Bulletin was researched and written by Vera Wong* in collaboration with members of the steering committee

*Environmental Editor Consultant Phone 0438 624 229

All Bulletins are available at http://www.aius.org.au/indicators.

Please contact the City of Melbourne on (03) 9658 9658 or via email [email protected] for additional copies of this bulletin.

ISSN: 1447-2449

ISBN: 0-86419-411-0

Statements in this document are not necessarily the views of the organisations involved.

Material in this publication may be reproduced subject to acknowledgement of AIUS.

Printed on 100% recycled paper.

Design and production by William Troedel & Company Pty Ltd

Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 1 contents

Foreword 3 What you can do to encourage ecologically sustainable development (ESD)?

At a Glance – A summary of 4. Litter 44 what’s been happening 4 Pressure Introduction 5 Condition Urban Litter Waterway Litter Pressure – Condition – Beach Litter Response 5 Response What you can do to decrease littering? 1. Air Quality 6 5. Transport 53 Pressure Condition Pressure Particles Motor Vehicles Ozone Public Transport Response Cycling and Walking What you can do to improve air quality? Condition Public Transport 2. Biodiversity 15 Cycling Response Pressure Behaviour Change Programs Condition What you can do to increase walking, cycling and public Remnant Vegetation transport use? Birds Threatened Species References 66 Sites of Biological Significance Response Council Incentives for Biodiversity and Land Appendices 69 Management Appendix A – Bioregional Conservation Status of What else you can do to conserve Melbourne’s unique Ecological Vegetation Classes biodiversity? Appendix B – Threatened Fauna 3. Buildings 31 Appendix C – Threatened Flora Pressure Acknowledgements 71 Energy and Greenhouse Water Use Waste Condition Green Building Products Response Regulations – 5 Star and beyond Rating Tools

2 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 3 foreword

On behalf of the Australian Institute of Urban Studies The introduction of a number of new state and local (AIUS) and the Steering Committee, I am pleased to government representatives on the committee provided present the eighth annual edition of Environmental great insight into the issues facing the state of the Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne. environment in metropolitan Melbourne.

The Bulletin revisits the themes in Bulletin 6 reflecting on I would like to thank the Boroondara City Council for the how air pollution, high energy consumption, litter, waste opportunity to be a part of the Steering Committee and and the continued decline in biodiversity have all arisen for supporting my contribution of time to the development from population and economic pressures. of this Bulletin.

The Bulletin looks at the ways these conditions have I would also like to extend my thanks to Vera Wong, impacted on metropolitan Melbourne, and what steps are the Bulletin consultant, for her invaluable support and being taken by the building and transport sectors as well commitment to working with the Committee to research, as the litter prevention programs, to reduce environmental compile and interpret information that went into producing impact. this Bulletin.

The data gathered provides invaluable information on the Gratitude also needs to be given to the many individuals environmental conditions and priority issues facing each and organisations that offered data and case studies metropolitan Melbourne municipality. This information which, assisted in creating a Bulletin that captures provides useful benchmarking data, and indicates current, relevant and meaningful information. where more attention is required to improve the local environmental situation. To improve the accessibility of this data, in mid 2005 the AIUS proudly launched its indicators website. The The Bulletin brings together case studies and tips on what website can be found at www.aius.org.au/indicators councils, the community, and individuals can do to lead a more environmentally sustainable life. All metropolitan councils, state government departments and other organisations that are interested in sitting on The Bulletin is an excellent example of what can be the committee in 2006 can contact the AIUS. achieved through collaboration and partnerships. The City of Melbourne has made the project possible through Lisa Di Felice its substantial support of the project in terms of financial Project Convener resources, human resources and hosting meetings. Australian Institute of Urban Studies.

This Bulletin would not be possible without the support Please forward any comments on this Bulletin to of the members of the Steering Committee who Australian Institute of Urban Studies, GPO Box 2620 contributed their time and commitment to the project. Melbourne 3001.

2 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 3 At a Glance – a summary of what’s been happening

The ‘Envirometer’ gives a snapshot of the key messages from the data presented. However it is not a quantitative measurement. Readers should not interpret the Envirometer in isolation from the detailed data and commentary provided. The Envirometer ‘score’ has been based on the current condition of each issue presented.

Air Quality • Five of the six common pollutants identified by the EPA have been within acceptable limits for many years. Air Particles (which exceeds acceptable limits every year) and Ozone (which rarely exceeds the acceptable limit) are of most concern in Melbourne. • The highest ever recorded particle levels were recorded in 2003. The pollution was caused by The Envirometer severe bush fires in northeast Victoria and south east NSW and widespread dust storms. Air quality is improving, but motor vehicles and wood • The PM10 objective, or desired maximum level of particle pollution, was exceeded at an EPA air heaters need to used more monitoring station a maximum of seven days during 2004. Melbourne’s Air Particle Index was wisely. exceeded at an air monitoring station a maximum of 10 days. • Despite these exceedences, Melbourne’s overall air quality is improving due to the phasing in of cleaner motor vehicles, cleaner fuels, control in industrial emissions, the adoption of cleaner technology and control on backyard burning. Biodiversity • 32% of Melbourne’s original vegetation remains, mostly within the protected water catchment areas. Only 10% of the original vegetation remains in the rest of the metropolitan area. The Envirometer Melbourne’s indigenous vegetation has been categorised into around 80 Ecological Vegetation Our indigenous biodiversity is Communities. continually under threat, and we need to do much more • 70 threatened plant species, 66 threatened animal species (7 mammals, 43 birds, 4 reptiles, 3 to manage and protect it for frogs, 6 fish and 3 invertebrates) and 10 threatened ecological communities have been recorded its own values and for future in the metropolitan area in the past 10 years (out of approximately 1800 plant species and 432 generations. vertebrate species). • 149 Nationally, 288 State, 406 Regionally and 72 Locally significant sites of biodiversity significance have been recorded in the Port Phillip Region. • 15 of Melbourne’s 31 councils offer biodiversity conservation and land management incentives. Buildings • Houses and buildings account for 36% of Victoria’s Greenhouse gas emissions, and construction The Envirometer and demolition of houses and buildings generates around 40% of all waste going to landfill. While all our new homes are Residential use of drinking water accounts for 60% of the city’s usage. required to be energy efficient, • A range of ‘green’ rating tools are now available to assess the environmental performance of there is still scope to reduce their environmental impacts. residential and commercial buildings. A small number of ‘green’ buildings demonstrate how A range of green building buildings can be constructed and operated with minimal environmental impact. tools are available for houses • According to one product rating system, only 12% of products marketed as “green” address a and building to help us use resources more wisely. wide range of environmental criteria. The majority of environmental products (59%) only address one or two aspects of environment conservation. The environmental criteria that the most products address is preservation of resources (70%), followed by protection of habitat and land (45%). • While all new Victorian homes are required to be 5 Star energy rated, there is still great scope to reduce environmental impacts of houses and buildings Litter • Melbourne is ranked one of the cleanest cities in Australia - most of the time Melburnians don’t The Envirometer litter. Cigarette butts remain the most littered item. While most of the time we don’t litter, littering continues to be • In the past six years overall levels of beach litter have not changed. an environmental problem • In 2004, 730 m3, or the equivalent of 9700 household size garbage bins, of litter were removed that we all need to take responsibility for. from litter traps in the Yarra and adjoining waterways. This is less than 1% of the estimated amonut of litter that is washed into our waterways and flows into the bay. Transport • The total kilometres travelled by motor vehicles in Melbourne increased 63% in 20 years, while the population increased by 24%. • In 2004 Melburnians made over 360 million boardings of public transport, one third less than the total number of boarding recorded in 1950, while our population is two and a third times greater in size. The Envirometer This means that on average Melburnians use public transport 102 times per year (or less than one While sustainable transport use continues to slowly increase in boarding every three days), compared to 415 per year (slightly more than once per day) in 1950. the inner suburbs, excessive • Bicycle use in the inner city continues to increase, while cycling in the middle and outer suburbs car use is still a problem. decreases. • The government TravelSmart program is proving to be a successful way of increasing use of sustainable transport. Pilot programs in local areas have decreased car use by 3 - 10%.

4 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 5 introduction

Pressure In the last 10 years, according to the Australian Bureau of Condition Statistics, the level of concern amongst the Australian population about environmental problems declined from 75% to 57%.1 These Response statistics are of great concern because we know from our own Melbourne Bulletin and ‘Envirometers’ that while there are some We all know what it is like to feel under improvements here and there, the general state of the environment pressure. And if those pressure go on for continues to be in much need of protection and repair. a long time, then it is almost inevitable that our wellbeing will suffer. For our condition Understanding the impact that our everyday lives have on to stabilize and improve we must respond the natural environment is not always easy in a big city like by alleviating the pressures and remedying Melbourne. Surrounded by bricks, concrete, asphalt, and the stress-related symptoms. This is a manicured parks and gardens, it can be too easy to forget, simple model of the human response to ignore or disregard our environmental impacts. It also can be stressors in our lives. It is a model which difficult to conceptualise that the quality of our lives is inextricably is commonly used to report on the greater linked to the quality of the environment. Often our impacts environment of which we are just a part. on the environment are not immediately obvious; they can be cumulative and may take a long time, years and decades, to We use the Pressure – Condition become measurable. As a consequence, the choices we make in – Response (PCR) model to illustrate the our lives often have little concern for the environmental. However dynamics of each of our environmental if we want to sustain our quality of life and the quality of life for themes. We report on the pressures on future generations, then we must make choices that sustain our an environmental theme, the condition or environment. state of the theme and the responses that government and the community are taking Our Bulletin aims to help Melburnians understand the to improve the quality of the environment. environmental consequences of their everyday actions and to We suggest things that you can do to guide them in making choices that sustain the environment. improve the environment. Examples of such choices are outlined throughout the Bulletin. We also hope to educate Melburnians about the special and The apparent simplicity of the PCR model unique values of their local environment. can be a shortcoming when applied to our incredibly complex environment. We present local environmental information on 11 themes: Air Cause and effect are not always clear-cut Quality, Biodiversity, Buildings, Litter, Transport, Air Emissions, as the model may suggest. Responses Water, Beach Bay, Greenhouse, Open Space, and Waste. Each are not only human actions, which theme is repeated every two years. The first five themes listed is what the Bulletin reports on. The are reported on in this edition in the format of pressure, condition perspective that an indicator takes on and response. a particular environmental theme is an added complication – an indicator that is For each theme we present Melbourne’s environment as a a pressure on one perspective may be a series of indicators. Indicators are chosen on their effectiveness state in another and a response in a third. to measure important elements in the local environment and the availability of data. Data is often limited due to resourcing The application of the model gets more and access issues, varying perspectives on what is important, complicated when you consider than change in collection methods over time, and the lack of the city is an inextricable combination of consistent approaches across different organisations. the ‘natural’ environment and the human environment. Thus both pressures and We present this Bulletin with the hope that one day Melbourne’s conditions of the natural and human air and waterways will always be clean, buildings and homes will environment need to be considered. run on renewable energy and use resources wisely, waste will be recycled and sustainable transport use will be the norm. We In the Bulletin we use the PCR model to hope that our city will remain home to a diverse range of thriving help focus the perspective of the reader on communities of indigenous plants and animals, and that the the complexities and often delicate balance Helmeted Honey Eater, Sunshine Diuris, Kilsyth South Spider- of Melbourne’s environment. orchid, Southern Brown Bandicoot and Golden Sun Moth will be household names.

4 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 5 air quality air quality air quality 1

The quality of the air we breathe directly affects everybody in Melbourne, so it is no surprise that air pollution is a major environmental concern of the community. Melbourne’s air quality is good most of the time, but every year we still see the brown haze of poor air quality days. Asthmatics and sufferers of other respiratory conditions feel elevated pollution levels, with increased breathing difficulties.

Air quality in Melbourne has improved over the past couple of decades, but fine particles and ozone are consistently the major pollutants needing attention.

Pressure

Cars, cars, cars, trucks and smoky wood fires are, and have been for many years, Melbourne’s main causes of air pollution. Industry also contributes a considerable mixture of pollutants (see Air Emissions in Bulletin 7). Bushfires and widespread dust storms cause isolated severe pollution Motor vechicles: the major source of urban air pollutants episodes. Localised dust events and prescribed burning also contribute to air pollution.

Motor vehicles are the major source of urban air pollutants. In Melbourne, motor vehicle emissions contribute 77% of the carbon monoxide (CO), 38% of hydrocarbons, and

71% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels in the air. Motor vehicles contribute to 18% of particle

pollution (PM10). Diesel vehicles, which represent around 14% of Melbourne’s motor vehicle use, contribute about three quarters of the particle pollution.1 Well-maintained older passenger cars can contribute more than nine times the hydrocarbons, eight

times the NOx and 25 times the CO than new cars that are well maintained. Cars of any age that are not well maintained emit more air pollutants than those that are. 4WDs produce more emissions than standard cars The Envirometer (because they are heavier).2 Air quality is improving, but motor vehicles and wood heaters need to used more Vehicle usage in Melbourne increases wisely. every year (see Transport Chapter) and

6 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 7 air quality air quality

you might expect that increased car use would equate to higher levels of air case study: spotlight on the Westgate pollution. Fortunately improvements in 1 In 2004 the EPA sent its MoLab to the Westgate Freeway at Brooklyn. fuel standards and engine efficiency have resulted in an overall improvement in MoLab is the EPA’s mobile air quality monitoring laboratory that forms part of a program that monitors air quality at potential ‘hotspots’ such air quality.3 The Environment Protection as major roads. The Westgate Freeway at Brooklyn is a heavily trafficked Authority Victoria (EPA) predictions indicate road – 130 000 vehicles per day pass over this section, approximately further improvements in the medium term, 1/3 are trucks. The site chosen was 10m from the freeway and 500m as a result of improved vehicle emission from Miller’s road – a similar distance from the freeway as the nearest standards. Greenhouse gas reduction residential development. A similar study was conducted at the site in strategies, such as duel-fuel cars, and 1996/97, when traffic levels measured 100 000 vehicles per day. decreased car use resulting from increased

fuel prices due to worldwide resource Levels of the major air pollutants, fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen

depletion will also help to decrease motor dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds vehicle emissions. (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), were monitored from March to November. Of the pollutants, only fine particles levels were found to be above the Melbourne norm. PM levels exceeded In 2003/04 fuel combustion from small 10 intervention levels on 7 occasions – which was thought to be from factories was Melbourne’s largest source local industry and is consequently being addressed. PM2.5 levels were of fine particle pollution (PM10) (19%), consistently below SEPP intervention levels. Overall PM2.5 and PM10 levels closely followed by motor vehicles (18%), close to the freeway were higher than levels measured at EPA fixed-site construction material mining (13%), roads monitoring station in residential areas of Alphington and Footscray, but (12%) and wood smoke from domestic did not cause levels to go above the intervention level. fires (12%).4 During the cooler months as much as 44% of fine particles emitted into Pollution levels of the 2004 study were comparable to the 1996/97 the air are due to domestic wood heating.5 study, even though there has been a 30% increase in the traffic on the road. The Westgate study supports the findings of other EPA studies Of the major air pollutants, fine particles that show that within a short distance from a road, air quality objectives are generally met. and hydrocarbons pose the greatest risk to human health, resulting in upper respiratory For more information visit www.epa.vic.gov.au tract irritation and infection, exacerbation of cardiorespiratory disease, lung cancer, asthma and eye irritation (for more detail Source: EPA Victoria, Publication no. 974 see Air Emissions Chapter of Bulletin 7).6 Condition

Air quality in Melbourne has improved significantly over the last 20 years. 2003 was an exception to this trend with severe bushfires and drought related dust storms that led to higher levels of ozone and air particles than had been recorded for many years. 7

EPA routinely monitors pollutant levels at 16 monitoring sites scattered throughout the Melbourne-Geelong Airshed. Fourteen of these stations are located in metropolitan Melbourne. According to the Ambient Air Quality National Environmental Protection Measure (Air NEPM) guidelines, stations are located to monitor air quality likely to be experienced by the majority of the population, whilst avoiding direction impacts of localised pollutant sources.8

6 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 7 air quality

Potential pollution ‘hotspots’ are monitored Indictor AQ1: Average of all Melbourne stations annual maxima using a mobile air monitoring laboratory of PM levels, 1996 - 2004 10 (see case study: spotlight on the Westgate). �� Levels of six common pollutants are measured: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen

�� dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), lead,

ozone and particles (PM10, PM2.5 and visibility- �� reducing particles). Pollutant levels are compared to air quality objectives and goals �

� outlined in the State Environment Protection �� Policy (Ambient Air Quality) (SEPP (AAQ)), � � � 9

� which was revised in 2001. The air quality � �� objectives are pollutant levels against which � air quality can be assessed. The objectives �� have been set to protect human health and in the case of visibility-reducing particles, � aesthetics. The SEPP goals are to reduce �� the number of high pollution days per year (when the objectives are exceeded). Each pollutant has a specified number of days Source: EPA as its air quality goal. The government is responsible to attempt to meet the air quality goals by 2008. In 2003 and 2004, four of the six common

pollutants, CO, NO2, SO2 and lead were within the acceptable levels. Levels of CO,

NO2 and SO2 are low and overall have not increased over the last 20 years.10 Airborne

Indicator AQ2: Maximum number of PM10 exceedences per lead has been so low that monitoring year at any station* in metropolitan Melbourne, ceased in 2004. Ozone levels exceeded 1996 - 2004 the SEPP objective and goal in 2003, but not in 2004. Levels of visibility-reducing particles in Melbourne exceed the SEPP �� 11 �� objective and goals every year.

�� Particles and ozone, the two common pollutants of most concern in the Melbourne metropolitan, are reported

� �� on here. � � �

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� Particles

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� Airborne particles reduce visibility and can

� � � initiate or aggravate respiratory problems. � Fine particles can penetrate deep into the � lungs where they may be absorbed into the blood. Some are toxic, some can cause � �� allergies or even cancer. The smallest particles can irritate our eyes.

*There are 14 air monitoring stations in the Melbourne Region Source: Particles are emitted from industry, motor EPA Victoria vehicles (especially diesel and poorly

8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 9 air quality

maintained engines), wood combustion and arise naturally from wind-blown Indicator AQ3. Monthly maximum 24 hour average concentrations

dust, pollen and bushfires. Every year in of PM10 in metropolitan Melbourne, 2004 Melbourne particle pollution consistently exceeds SEPP objectives and goals. �� Particle pollution is usually worst in �� the autumn and winter months, when �� temperature inversions in winter mean that warm air higher in the atmosphere traps �� pollutants in a narrow layer of cold air �� closer to the ground.12 � � �

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Particles are categorized into two sizes: � �

� �� PM10 and PM2.5. PM10 in everyday terms are �

those smaller than 10 µm (one-tenth the � ��

width of a human hair). PM2.5 are those less than 2.5 µm, the finest measured particles, �� which are the main cause of urban haze. ��

In 2003 severe bush fires in north-east � Victoria and NSW and widespread dust �� storms caused the highest particle readings ever measured by EPA Victoria. Indicator Source : EPA Victoria AQ2 shows that the annual maximum of Over the last eight years, excluding PM10 (the average maxima of all Melbourne stations) for the last nine years has the effect of the bushfires in 2003 and fluctuated just above or below the SEPP construction in Box Hill in 2004, there has

3 objective of 50 µg/m except in 2003 when been little change in PM10 concentrations it peaked at 265 µg/m3, over five times the and the number of days when the objective objective. Because of the bush fires and is not met (Indicator AQ2).16

dust storms, 2003 air quality data on PM10 levels did not comply with the SEPP goal of The 2004 monthly maximum

3 not more than 50 µg/m five days per year concentrations of PM10 in metropolitan

at any station. In 2003, the PM10 goal was Melbourne are shown in Indicator AQ3. not met at any monitoring site. Indicator Elevated fine particle levels were recorded AQ2 shows that the maximum number of in autumn, spring and early summer. exceedences recorded at any station in metropolitan Melbourne was 13 days, at Airborne particles that reduce visibility are Mooroolbark.13 A nearby quarry contributed measured as an ‘Airborne Particle Index to the exceedences at the Mooroolbark (API). There is an inverse relationship station.14 between API and visibility – a high API measure means high particle concentration

2004 PM10 pollution was relatively good and low visibility. The SEPP Air Quality compared to 2003. In 2004 the maximum objective and goal for visibility reducing

number of PM10 exceedences recorded at particles is not less than 20km (API = 2.35) any station in metropolitan Melbourne was on not more than 3 days per year. seven days at Box Hill (Indicator AQ2). The elevated levels of fine particle pollution The 2003 bushfires contributed to a recorded at the Box Hill monitoring station bad year for visibility with a maximum were due to dust from nearby construction of 30 API exceedences at an individual work. The data from the air quality station (Alphington) – more than had monitoring provided a basis for the EPA been recorded at any station since 1989 to enforce dust control measures at the (Indicator AQ4). Drought related impacts construction site. The other exceedences during the summer – dusts storms and in 2004 were due to windblown dust, bushfires – accounted for three-quarters of which affected large areas of Melbourne. 15 these pollution events.17

8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 9 air quality air quality

In 2004 visibility conditions were significantly Ozone better than in 2003 with a maximum of 10 days at any individual station (Alphington) Ozone occurs naturally in the Earth’s upper when particle objectives were exceeded atmosphere, 10 to 50km above the Earth’s (Indicator AQ4). surface. It shields us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Ozone is a problem when The 2004 monthly maximum Airborne it is formed in the lower atmosphere from Particle Index in metropolitan Melbourne is the chemical reaction of human generated shown in Indicator AQ5. Reduced visibility pollutants in the presence of sunlight and conditions occurred mostly during autumn results in smog. Ozone can initiate and and winter, as is the norm in Melbourne, aggravate respiratory conditions. when controlled burning and domestic wood heating contribute significantly to The highest levels of ozone develop 18 reductions in visibility. in Melbourne on warm to hot summer afternoons. The reactions take many hours Visibility reduction is an ongoing issue in and high ozone levels develop in the city Melbourne. However Indicator AQ4 shows only when pollutants are blown out over that these problems have become less the bay and return later in the day with frequent since the 1980s and stabilised afternoon sea breezes, or when there is in the early 1990s. This can be attributed hardly any wind. The same pollutants can to cleaner motor vehicles, controls on recirculate for days if this weather pattern industrial emissions, cleaner wood heaters is on-going.19 The mixture of chemicals and the banning of backyard incineration. needed to form ozone mainly comes

Indicator AQ4: Maximum number of API (a measure of visibility) exceedences per year at any station* in metropolitan Melbourne, 1984 -2004

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*There are 14 air monitoring stations in the Melbourne-Geelong Region Source: EPA Victoria

10 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 11 air quality air quality

from motor vehicles. Other contributions Indicator AQ5. Monthly maximum Airborne Particle Index in of precursor pollutants (hydrocarbons metropolitan Melbourne, 2004. and NOx) come from fuel burning, fuel production, bushfires, bacteria in soils, � and natural volatile oils emitted by plants in �� warm weather.20

� In 2003, 4-hour ozone levels (measurements of ozone averaged over � �

4-hour periods) exceeded air quality � � � � �

standards for the first time in five years � � � �

(Indicator AQ6). The SEPP 4–hour ozone � � goal is not more than 80ppb on one day �

� � � �

per year at any station. The air quality � � � goal was met at only three of the 10 � � metropolitan stations. The increase in the � number of exceedences mostly occurred in February and can be attributed to bushfires in north-east Victoria. The normal � mechanism by which photochemical ozone �� is formed was enhanced by the presence of additional precursor chemicals from the bushfires.21 Source: EPA Victoria In 2004 all the air quality standards for ozone were met at all stations. Indicator AQ7 shows the monthly maximum concentration of 4-hour ozone during 2004. Levels of ozone were highest in the summer months, which is a typical air quality pattern.

Long-term improvement in Melbourne’s 4-hour ozone concentrations from the early 1980s to the present is shown in Indicator AQ6. Indicator AQ6. Maximum number of exceedences of 4-hour ozone per year at any station* in the metropolitan Melbourne, 1983 to 2004 Response �� The long-term improvement of Melbourne’s air quality is mainly due to the phasing in of cleaner motor vehicles, cleaner ��

fuels, controls on industrial emissions, � � � � �

the adoption of cleaner processes and � � �

technology by industry, and the banning � ��

of backyard burning in much of the � � � �

metropolitan area. � � � � �

� �

The EPA predicts further air quality � improvements in the medium term as a result of improved vehicle emission standards, greenhouse gas reduction � strategies and fuel shortages. However �� if car use continues to increase these strategies will not provide a complete solution. Wide spread behavioural change *There are 14 air monitoring stations in the Melbourne Region Source: EPA Victoria

10 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 11 air quality air quality

Indicator AQ7. The monthly maximum concentration of 4-hour particle emission limits, 55% (26 out of 47) ozone in metropolitan Melbourne, 2004. of wood heaters had one or more serious design faults that could affect performance, and 72% (34 out of 47) of wood heaters �� had one or more labelling faults that could �� affect emissions performance. AS4013 certified heaters most commonly failed �� to meet emission standards because of �� post-standard design modifications of �

� primary air inlets that made them smaller �

� 24 � �� than originally specified. To reduce the � � �

� chance of heaters being modified and to

� �� increase compliance with standards, future � �

� �� audits need to include assessment and/or � �

� regulation of engineering design. �� What you can do to �� improve air quality? � �� Councils

Source: EPA Victoria • Develop strategies to reduce the use of private motor vehicles and congestion on roads including: of Melbourne drivers will be essential for • promoting walking, cycling and public long term air quality improvement. The transport Transport Chapter has ideas and examples • making street friendlier and safer by of programs that reduce the use of motor improving pedestrian and cycling vehicles and encourage the use of more infrastructure sustainable and less polluting forms of • encouraging car pooling transport. • better integrating transport planning at The EPA’s draft Air Quality Improvement a local level. Plan22, released in 2001, sets out (The case study: calling smog busters how we can improve Melbourne’s for a day of change presents a local air quality. The comprehensive, plan initiative to encourage sustainable aims to guide the decision-making and transport by school children, which actions of government, industry and the reduces polluting air emissions.) community to deliver long term air quality • Redesign local roads to decrease improvements. traffic volume and speed and increase space for other road users, eg, bicycle To help tackle wood smoke pollution the and pedestrian ways, recreation and EPA introduced a regulatory requirement greenery. in mid 2004 that all new heaters sold meet • Reduce council fleet emissions by the Australian Standard (AS4013).23 decreasing vehicle kilometres travelled and An Australian Government audit of wood by using LPG and petro-electric cars (see heaters tested retail wood heater models case study: fleet cars size up on cost and for compliance with AS4013. The 12 greenhouse gas in Transport Chapter). most popular nationally available models • Lobby the state government and were tested for emissions and design public transport providers to improve specifications, with a further 35 models public transport services. tested only for design specifications. • Promote air quality awareness in the Results showed that 58% (7 out of 12) community with education in wood of wood heaters failed to meet AS4013 heater and car emissions.

12 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 13 air quality air quality

• Promote and enforce bans on burning waste in residential areas. case study: calling smog busters for a day of change • Work through landcare programs to During 2004 the City of Yarra supported three local schools in running a promote alternatives to burning for Smogbusters program. Here is the story of how the program is helping farmers and property owners in outer to change travel behaviour at Spensley St Primary School in Clifton Hill. metropolitan areas. All year levels were involved in the Smogbusters program, to understand • Introduce disincentives for car travel and demonstrate the environmental benefits of reducing the use of when public transport is a viable option. cars. Prior to the Day of Change, where students, parents and teachers • Introduce incentives for sustainable converted to a non-car mode of transport, several projects were held to travel to the workplace and for work promote the day. Baseline data was collected about “normal” modes of transport to school. Students also worked out how to travel to high purposes. school (Year 6), studied the greenhouse effect and calculated emissions from cars (Years 4 & 5), and studied how students travel to school in other countries (Years 2 & 3). A visit from Captain Smogbuster was a hit Individuals at the school fete. The Day of Change was most successful with older students, who are • Tune and maintain your car regularly generally more independent travellers and have more influence over – you can reduce its pollution by up parents’ decisions. Of 125 students in Year 6, there was a 50% increase to 25% and you will also save on fuel in the number of students walking to school, and a 50% decrease in consumption. Emissions are reduced the number of students being driven to school. In total, there was a by driving smoothly and keeping your reduction of 150 vehicle kilometres travelled on the day. car’s tyres inflated to the manufacturer’s Another 2004 travel initiative was the Spensley Street Traffic Group. specifications. When you trade in your The parents group aims to form car-pools, walking groups and public old car check out the possibility of a transport groups. It is also putting Walk on Wednesday into action, to fuel-efficient, low emission car as a support families who wish to walk or cycle regularly but are not able to do so every day, or have safety concerns. replacement – consider a hybrid petrol- electric vehicle.25 The challenge for the school community will be to build on what was achieved on the Day of Change! • If using wood heaters make sure they burn efficiently: • always burn dry, seasoned, untreated wood Table: Smogbusters Day of Change pollution • use small logs and do not overload the reduction heater • burn the fire brightly so it does not smoulder and produce too much PT CAR- POOL BIKE* WALK DRIVE smoke (especially important in old TOTAL heaters) • maintain a flame if burning overnight Base 21 18 2 17 55 113 – never leave the heater to smoulder. Smogbusters The ultimate test is to go outside at NO. OF 44 32 9 13 27 125

STUDENTS Day of Change least once every evening and check your chimney or flue for smoke. If there Base 21 24 5 86 267 403 is continuous visible smoke after 20 minutes of operation check that you KMS Smogbusters 64 52 93 92 117 418 are following these operation tips. If Day of Change your wood heater is old and won’t stop TRAVELLED smoking you may need to consider replacing it.26,27 Don’t forget if you are *Includes scooters, rollerblades and skateboards burning wood make sure that it is from a sustainable source to protect biodiversity. Pollutant emissions saved: 140 g Hydrocarbons, 1.4 kg Carbon monoxide, 290 g, Oxides of nitrogen, 30.0 kg Carbon dioxide.

12 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 13 air quality

• When buying a slow combustion Case study: MOWDOWN wood heater, make sure it meets biodiversity the Australian Standard AS4013 Domestic petrol lawn mowers are recognised as a significant source of and is installed correctly, according to AS2918. Refer to the National Wood 2 particle pollution, CO2 emissions and noise menace. Additional emissions (including VOCs) due to evaporative losses from fuel also occurs. The Heater Audit Program Report to see comparison of mower use with car-use emissions is frequently used as a which wood heaters comply with means of expressing the impact of mower emissions: 1 hour of mower Australian Standards: www.deh.gov.au/ use is equal to emissions from 40 cars for the same period, or 100 to atmosphere/airquality/publications/audit- 240 km car use, and also 10% of total hydrocarbon emissions (according program.html. Take a step further and to the USA EPA). choose a heater with a lower emission factor (grams of smoke per kilogram of MOWDOWN is an environmental scheme conceived by Enviromower, wood burnt) than the current Australian a Melbourne based company specialising in environmentally friendly Standard of 4g/ kg. garden care products, to reduced mower emissions and noise. The scheme is based on an incentive program for the exchange of petrol • Report smoky vehicles. If you see a car mowers for cleaner, quieter and easy-use battery rechargeable or truck blowing smoke for more than ten mowers. MOWDOWN is delivered in partnership with the Victorian seconds continuously, call the EPA on Government, Local Government a renewable energy generator and (03) 9695 2755 or 1800 444 051 if you service organisations. live in the country or use their website www.epa.vic.gov.au. Make sure you The first lawn mower rebate and exchange event was delivered in record the location and the make and partnership with the City of Knox in December 2002. 151 mowers were model of the vehicle. In 2003, 10 400 exchanged, which equates to abating an estimated 7 tonnes of CO2 annually. Since 2003 MOWDOWN events have occurred with a further smoky vehicles were reported through 11 of Melbourne councils resulting in just over 2 000 mower exchanges. EPA’s smoky vehicle program. Over 150 tonnes of metals and plastics have been recycled from old mowers surrendered in the program.

The continuing abatement from the MOWDOWN scheme is estimated at 110 tonnes CO2 per annum. Since the programs inception Volatile Organic Compounds equivalent to about 9 millions kilometres of car travel have been abated.

For more information contact Mark Coffey at Enviromatters Pty Ltd on 9878 4472 or visit www.mowdown.com.au

14 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 15 air quality biodiversity 2

Biodiversity is the variety of all life: the plants, animals, microorganisms, their genetic material and ecological communities.1 It is also the interactions between these life forms.2

The locally native, or indigenous, biodiversity of a place, together with landforms, is what gives every place its unique character. The majority of Australian species are unlike any other plants and animals. 84% of Australian terrestrial mammals, 85% of our flowering plants, 89% of our reptiles, 93% of our frogs and 85% of our in-shore temperate zone fish are uniquely Australian and do not occur naturally anywhere else in the world.3 This makes Australia such a unique country and is just one reason why conservation of our biodiversity is so important.

Biodiversity is also essential for human survival, providing food, resources, medicine and ecological services such as oxygen production, water purification, nutrient cycling, amelioration of climate Southern Brown Bandicoot in Royal Botanical Gardens, Cranbourne. and breakdown of waste and pollutants. Photo by Reiner Richter Natural places and habitats can be important places for recreation and can hold immense cultural and spiritual value.

Over 200 years of human settlement in the 8 800 km2 area of land that we call metropolitan Melbourne has reduced its indigenous biodiversity to scattered remnants. Introduced plants and animals have become as much a part of the landscape as local natives, and knowing the difference can sometimes be difficult.

This chapter aims to increase our awareness of Melbourne’s original dwellers, the indigenous plants and animals and their habitats. The indicators used to represent our unique biodiversity have been chosen The Envirometer on data availability: remnant vegetation, Our indigenous biodiversity is threatened species, birds and sites of continually under threat, and we need to do much more biological significance. to manage and protect it for its own values and for future generations.

14 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 15 biodiversity

case study: win-win for biodiversity and new Pressure housing developments? Change and disturbance are part of every According to the Melbourne 2030 plan, Melbourne’s Green Wedges, natural environment. Human activity located outside the Urban Growth Boundary, are meant to ensure the almost inevitably affects the direction and permanent protection of critically important flora and fauna habitat in the increases the speed of change. The extent greater Melbourne area. Unfortunately decision making and planning of disturbance challenges the ability of for urban fringe areas has been largely conducted in the absence of ecosystems and species to respond. Over ecological knowledge. As a consequence we have little idea of whether the past 200 years change in Australia has the Urban Growth Boundary and Green Wedges guarantee biodiversity been by world standards extensive and conservation in Melbourne. There are many areas of high biodiversity rapid. The effect on our biodiversity has value in the identified urban fringe growth corridors, located within the been devastating.4 Urban Growth Boundary.

The rapid growth of urban areas has resulted in the loss of native habitats The destruction of habitat – bushland, and fragmentation of the landscape and urbanisation is now considered wetlands, grasslands, rivers, creeks one the greatest threats to Australia’s biodiversity. The biodiversity value and estuaries – is the major cause of of remnant areas in Australia is considered nationally and internationally biodiversity loss in Australia.5 And it is significant, with over 40% of nationally listed threatened ecological continuing at an alarming rate. Victoria communities and more than 50% of threatened species occurring in has lost a higher proportion of its native urban fringe areas. vegetation than any other state or territory.6 In urban Melbourne, new housing and Biodiversity conservation in the growth corridors of Melbourne is being development, roads (see case study: tackled by a large multi-faceted research project titled ‘Reimagining the nothing stands in the way of a freeway), Australian Suburb: Biodiversity Planning in Urban Fringe Landscape.’ agriculture, pollution and firewood The project, which commenced in 2005, is being researched at RMIT collection are all responsible for native University, the University of Melbourne, the Australian Research Centre vegetation destruction and degradation. for Urban Ecology and the Department of Sustainability and Environment Clearing of native vegetation not only (DSE) with contributions from Industry Partners Stockland (property investment and development), Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment destroys plants and local ecosystems, Management Authority, Whittlesea City Council and Hume City Council. it destroys wildlife habitat and removes It aims to address the question of how to balance the growth of our cities the food on which other native species and towns with the preservation of our unique biodiversity. rely. Clearing and disturbance of native vegetation promotes the spread of weeds The project aims to develop a software framework that incorporates the (252 of approximately 900 naturalised latest ecological knowledge with planning and decision making principles exotic species have been identified as in a systematic and repeatable way. Optimisation strategies will ensure serious pest plantsvii) and feral animals that biodiversity outcomes are maximised, while still achieving social and (foxes, cats, dogs), causes greenhouse gas economic goals. The framework will enable different planning scenarios emissions, degrades waterways and can to be assessed for their ability to ensure the persistence of threatened lead to soil degradation. Fragmentation and species in the landscape. It will also provide guidance for areas that degradation of native vegetation reduces should be prioritised for restoration and revegetation. its ability to regenerate. For more information contact Dr Sarah Bekessy at [email protected] .au, Dr Ascelin Gordon at [email protected], Dr Brendan Wintle at Clearing of land for housing developments [email protected], Dr Mick McCarthy at [email protected] in the growth corridors of Melbourne’s or Dr Josh Dorrough at [email protected] urban fringe is probably one of the greatest immediate threats to Melbourne’s Sources: Williams J., Read C.F., Norton T., Dovers S., Burgman M., Proctor remaining biodiversity.8 The case study: W. and Anderson H. 2001, Australia State of the Environment Report 2001: win-win for biodiversity and housing Biodiversity Theme Report, An independent report to the Commonwealth Minister for Environment, Department of Environment, Sport and Territories. CSIRO developments? briefly describes why. Publishing. Newman et al. 2001, Human Settlements Theme, Australia State of the The rate our climate is changing has Environment Report 2001, An independent report to the Commonwealth Minister been enormously accelerated by the for the Environment, Department of the Environment, Sports and Territories, CSIRO Publishing. emissions of fossil fuel burnt since the Yencken D. and Wilkinson D. 2000, Resetting the Compass: Australia’s Journey Industrial Revolution in the mid eighteenth Towards Sustainability, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. century. This phenomenon is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect, or global

16 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 17 biodiversity

warming, and has the potential to have a huge impact on our indigenous biodiversity. case study: nothing stands in the way of a freeway Southern Victoria is predicted to have temperature rises up to 1.4oC by 2030 and Why is it that a slick of asphalt can be exempted from legislation that up to 4.3oC by 2070 and reduced rainfall protects threatened species and communities and be given permission in less frequent more extreme bursts (see to destroy indigenous plants on the brink of extinction? This is exactly what happened in mid 2005 with the EastLink, Mitcham to Frankston, Greenhouse Chapter Bulletin 7).9 Many Freeway. The freeway is exempt from the Flora and Fauna Guarantee of Melbourne’s ecosystems and species Act and will be constructed through the Boggy Creek Wetland. This have a limited ability to adapt to the wetland is the second biggest remnant of the ecosystem called herb-rich increased speed of change – others will be plains grassy wetlands, of which only 1% of the total original extent of the advantaged. Preliminary research on the community remains. potential effect of climate change on the distribution of 42 fauna species in south eastern Australia indicated that 41 are likely Source: Fyfe, M. 2005, Freeway to Destroy Rare Plants, The Age May 16th 2005 to suffer reduced bioclimatic ranges. 57% are predicted to lose between 90% and 100% of range if a 3oC average temperature rise occurs.10

Indicator BD 1. Remnant vegetation in the bioregions of Condition metropolitan Melbourne

Metropolitan Melbourne is rich in indigenous flora and fauna – a fact that more of us need to know and celebrate. Approximately 1800 native plant species and 432 native vertebrate speciesxi (45 mammals, 293 birds, 35 reptiles, 18 amphibians and 41 fish) were recorded between 1994 and 2004.12 The greater Port Phillip and Western Port Region of which metropolitan Melbourne is a part, is one of the most biologically diverse regions in Victoria with 1860 indigenous plant species, 616 indigenous vertebrate fauna species and thousands of invertebrate species.13 Remnant vegetation

Over 180 years of urban development and agriculture has left Melbourne with almost one-third (32%) of its original vegetation (Indicator BD1, but more detail can be �� found in Bulletin 6).14 A preliminary estimate �� of native vegetation quality across the �� region suggests that 25% of this vegetation �� is in poor condition, 25 % in medium �� condition and 50% in good condition.15 �� These statistics give the impression that �� the remnant vegetation of the metropolitan area is in reasonable shape. Source: Department of Sustainability and Environment 2005 A very different picture emerges of Melbourne’s remnant vegetation if you consider that around 70% of the remaining

16 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 17 biodiversity

Indicator BD2. Bioregional conservation status of Ecological Vegetation Classes in metropolitan Melbourne 2005

Ecological Vegetation Classes

Bioregional Conservation Status Bioregion Total Presumed Least Endangered Vulnerable Rare Depleted Extinct Concern

Central Victorian Uplands 15 - 5 6 - 1 3

Gippsland Plain 59 1 25 15 5 5 8

Highlands – Northern Fall 10 - - 1 - 1 8

Highlands – Southern Fall 44 - 12 12 2 6 12

Otway Plain 6 - 6 - - - -

Victorian Alps 11 - - 1 2 - 8

Victorian Volcanic Plain 35 3 23 4 - 4 1

Source: DSE Corporate GIS June 2005

32% is in the forest areas of the outer Forests (4.1% remaining), Lower Slopes water catchments.16 That means that in the or Hills Woodlands (5.3% remaining), rest of the metropolitan area only 10% of Riparian Scrubs or Swamp Scrubs and the original vegetation remains. Also, the Woodlands (11.6% remaining). The most vegetation of the outer water catchments intact major EVC is Wet or Damp Forests is generally in good condition, whereas (99.6%) - which are found in the protected most of the metropolitan remnants are in outer catchment area.19 More information poor condition. The urban remnants are on metropolitan EVC groups can be found highly fragmented, damaged, riddled with in Bulletin 6. weeds, impinged on by development and agriculture, and invaded by introduced For the purposes of recognising and animals. Our city’s remnant vegetation is in responding to biodiversity values, the need of help. Australian landscape has been carved into broad scale mapping units called Remnant vegetation is divided into Bioregions. Bioregions capture the Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) units for patterns and ecological characteristics in the purposes of conservation assessment the landscape. There are 11 Bioregions and planning. An EVC consists of one in Victoria, which are divided into 27 or more plant communities that exist in subregions.20 a particular ecological environment on a regional, state or continental scale.17 Melbourne is at the confluence of seven Metropolitan Melbourne contains biological subregions: Central Victorian indigenous vegetation categorised in Uplands, Gippsland Plain, Highlands around 80 EVCs.18 – Northern Falls, Highlands – Southern Fall, Otway Plain, Victorian Alps and The most depleted EVC groups in Victorian Volcanic Plain (Indicator BD1). Melbourne, and consequently those of The bioregional conservation status of most concern, are Grasslands (3.7% EVCs in Melbourne are summarised in remaining), Plains Grassy Woodlands or Indicator BD2 (a full list can be found in

18 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 19 biodiversity

Appendix A). The Gippsland plain bioregion Indicator BD3 shows the total number has the greatest number of EVCs (59) in of native bird species recorded by Local the metropolitan area, followed by Victorian Government Area (LGA) in the DSE Volcanic Plain (35). Victorian Fauna Database at 1995 and at 2005. The graph shows that throughout Loss of native vegetation has been greatest Melbourne there has been an increase in in the Victorian Volcanic Plains (78% of the total number of bird species recorded EVCs threatened), Gippsland Plains (68% in 2005 from 1995. Caution is advised of EVCs threatened) and Otway Plains when interpreting this data, as records bioregions (75% of EVCs threatened). are obtained opportunistically and not The Victorian Volcanic Plains subregion by systematic survey. These counts has suffered one of the greatest losses of increased considerably mainly as a result native vegetation in Australia: 95% of the of the second Bird Atlas count which was vegetation has been cleared leaving one of coordinated by Birds Australia during 1998 the highest numbers of threatened species to 2002. This demonstrates that we often 21 per subregion in Australia. do not know all of the species that may be present in a place, and only discover Birds more as our survey effort increases. This applies not just to birds in Melbourne, but Birds can be a useful indicator of to species all over the world. When habitat biodiversity because they are relatively is cleared or degraded, it is often unknown easy to see, identify and monitor. A what plant or animal species we may be greater number of native bird species often losing. Long term drought is another factor indicates a greater diversity and quality of in the increase of native species in the habitats, plants and other animals. urban area.

Indicator BD3. The number of native bird species sighted in Local Government Areas of metropolitan Melbourne in 1995 and 2005

300 ��

250

200 � � � � � � � 150 � � � � � � � � �

� 100 � �

0 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ��

Source: Victorian Fauna Database, DSE

18 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 19 biodiversity

case study: Helmeted Honeyeater re-introduced to Bunyip State Park

Since 1983 the entire wild population of the Helmeted Honeyeater has been confined to a few kilometres of dense, swampy vegetation along the Cockatoo and Macclesfield Creeks near Yellingbo on the east side of the Dandenong Ranges. The Helmeted Honeyeater formerly occurred in dense streamside vegetation over much of the mid-Yarra and Western Port catchments.

An intensive recovery program for the Helmeted Honeyeater, which began in 1989, has resulted in an increase in the Yellingbo population from about 50 individuals to about 90, and established a productive captive colony at Healesville Sanctuary. However, the species remains critically endangered (for more information see the recovery plan at www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened).

One serious threat to the wild population is its confined geographic spread, which means the entire population is at risk from a wildfire or other dramatic habitat disturbance. To lessen this risk, one aim of the recovery team is to establish populations of the Helmeted Honeyeater in other parts of its former range.

Following trials of release techniques conducted at Yellingbo between 1993 and 2000, the first attempt at establishing a new population is now underway along the Diamond Creek in Bunyip State Park, east of Gembrook. Birds bred in captivity at Healesville Sanctuary are being released and their subsequent survival is being closely monitored via the application of coloured bands to their legs and via the attachment of tiny radio transmitters to a subset of birds. The numbers of bird released each year is shown in Table 1 – these are the surplus birds from the captive-colony.

Many birds disappear within a few weeks of release. Others have now survived for three years after their release and have bred successfully in the wild. Some individuals have ‘gone missing’ from the release site for periods of up to four months, only to return and rejoin the colony. Experience has shown that birds less than 12 months old are more likely to persist at the release site than older birds.

Breeding attempts by released birds are increasing, and four independent young have been produced (Table 2). Unfortunately, most nestlings produced at Bunyip have disappeared from the nest before fledging, presumably eaten by predators. Investigations are underway to alleviate this risk. One bird born in the wild at the release site has participated in breeding during the last two breeding seasons.

The capacity of naive captive-bred birds to successfully survive the rigours of a wild existence is a continuing source of amazement and inspiration for the staff and volunteers involved in the project. This project is a wonderful example of collaboration between Government agencies (Healesville Sanctuary, Parks Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment) and community volunteers (Friends of Bunyip State Park, Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater) to achieve conservation aims.

Table 1. Numbers of captive-bred Table 2. Breeding attempts by captive-bred Helmeted Honeyeaters released Helmeted Honeyeaters released at Bunyip at Bunyip State Park. State Park.

Year of Number released release

2001 11

2002 19 Breeding season Number of pairs that laid Number of eggs laid Number of nestlings hatched Number of young fledged Number reaching independence 2003 10 2001/02 - - - - - 2004 17 2002/03 1 2 2 1 1 2005 8 to date 2003/04 2 7 5 0 0

Total 65 (23 adults and 42 2004/05 4 18 15 5 3 immatures) Totals 27 22 6 4

20 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 21 biodiversity

In 2005 between 47 (Stonnington) and 253 knowledge and new sightings, (Wyndham) native birds were recorded in and vice versa. LGAs across Melbourne. Between 10 and 14 introduced species were also recorded Melbourne is home to an incredibly large in each LGA. There is a general trend of an number of threatened species. There increasing numbers of native bird species are 70 plant species (4% of indigenous recorded with distance from the city centre, plant species), 66 animal species (14% of which can be very roughly correlated with indigenous vertebrates) and 10 ecological remaining native vegetation and wetland communities that are listed as threatened areas. The municipality of Darebin stands (Indicator BD4). The threatened fauna out as having a higher number of native consists of 7 mammals (16% of indigenous bird species (195) than other inner city mammals), 43 birds (15%), 4 reptiles municipalities. (11%), 3 frogs (11%), 6 fish (25%) and 3 invertebrates.23 Some of the species found only in the Melbourne area are the Threatened Species Helmeted Honeyeater (see case study), Kilsyth South Spider-orchid (case study Australia has the world’s worst record of Bulletin 6) and the Sunshine Diuris (see mammal extinctions – we have lost 10 of case study). Complete lists can be found in 144 marsupial species and 8 of 53 rodent Appendices B and C.24 species in the past 200 years. Some 5% of flowering plants, 23% of mammals, 9% of Since our last report in Bulletin 6, 2003, birds, 7% of reptiles, 16% of amphibians four new plant taxa have been added to and 9% of freshwater fish are extinct, the threatened species list, either as a endangered or vulnerable.22 result of new records for the Melbourne area or changes in status: Dianella sp. When a species is ‘threatened’ it means aff. Longifloia (Benambra), Pedinophyllum that it is at risk of extinction. When a monoicum, Diuris X fastidiosa and species is labelled ‘threatened’ it generally Prasophyllum pyrifome s.s. refers to a species that has been listed under state or federal legislation as at A summary of the conservation status of risk of extinction in the corresponding Melbourne’s threatened species is shown state and/or nationally. Threatened in Indicator BD5. The conservation status species are placed in categories of of each threatened species is shown in ‘critically endangered’, ‘endangered’, Appendices B and C. Of the 136 Victorian ‘vulnerable’ and ‘rare’ as a measure of listed species in Melbourne 4 (3%) are the probability of extinction within a given critically endangered, 52 (38%) endangered time frame if threatening processes are and 72 (53%) vulnerable. Almost one third not managed. The majority of our listed (31%) of these species are listed nationally. threatened species are unique to Australia. Threatening processes are the factors that Indicator BD4: FFG listed ecological communities in Melbourne are causing the decline of a species. 1994 - 2004

The number of threatened species in Coastal Moonah (Melaleuca lanceolata spp. Lanceolarta) Woodland a region provides an indication of the Community vulnerability and long-term survival of its Cool Temperate Rainforest Community local biodiversity. A decline in this grouping of biodiversity or an increase in the number Herb Rich Plains Grassy Wetland (West Gippsland) Community of listed threatened species can point to a wider decline in biodiversity. However it Plains Grassland (South Gippsland) Community should be kept in mind that the status of a Sedge Rich Eucalyptus camphora Swamp Community threatened species relies on our knowledge of the distribution and threats to that Victorian temperate-woodland bird community species. A species status can therefore Western (Basalt) Plains Grassland Community change without any change in the natural environment with increasing research Source: DSE June 2005

20 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 21 biodiversity

Indicator BD5. Threatened species status in metropolitan Melbourne, 2004

Victorian National Threatened Species Total Critically endangered Endangered Vulnerable Near threatened Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Total National

Fauna 71 7 23 33 1 1 8 10 19

Flora 65 0 29 39 0 1 12 10 24

4 52 72 2 20 20 Total 136 1 43 (3%) (38%) (53%) (5%) (49%) (47%)

Source: DSE.

Over 1000 individual recovery actions for 23 fauna and 31 flora species and 3 threatened ecological communities at approximately 145 sites across in the metropolitan area have been identified as a priority for 2005/06. Locations can Indicator BD6 Location of priority actions for management of threatened flora, fauna and communities, 2005/06 be found in Indicator BD6. Some actions relate to a wide area or are not site specific.

Sites of Biological Significance

Sites of biodiversity significance (BioSites) in the Port Phillip Region are shown in Indicator BD7.25 The map results from work carried out by DSE between 2000 and 2004 consolidating information from a wide range of studies and reports of Sites of Significance in the region. Knowing the location of high conservation value areas can provide us with strategic guidance for future investment in biodiversity conservation.

The BioSites database is a work in progress. At present the database does not represent an exhaustive inventory of Sites of Biodiversity Significance within the Port Phillip Region, as there are Source: ABC database May 2005, DSE. many areas where survey information

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is insufficient. Much work is still to be case study: snow in the paddock returned to done in the following councils: Brimbank, Casey, Greater Geelong, Hobsons Bay, the wild – just in time Hume, Knox, Melton, Monash, Mornington Peninsula and Whitehorse. A number A unique species of orchid is now finding its way back into the wild after coming close to extinction. of councils, including Manningham City, Knox City and Boroondara City have either recently completed or are Sunshine Diuris, once so common it was referred to as ‘Snow in the Paddock,’ has gradually declined with the loss and degradation of its currently undertaking Sites of Biodiversity natural Western Basalt Plains Grassland habitat. In 1992 a single plant Significance projects using DSE’s 2004 remained in a small Kangaroo Grass dominated grassland remnant in version of Consolidated Criteria for Sites of Melbourne. In spring 2004, 300 plants grown over three years at the Biological Significance In Victoria. Melbourne Zoo were returned to their natural grassland habitat at a protected and managed site west of Melbourne. In summary, there are now 149 Nationally, 288 State, 406 Regionally and 72 Locally The Sunshine Diuris Recovery Program has been a cooperative effort significant sites of biodiversity significance lead by the Department of Sustainability and Environment Port Phillip recorded in the Port Phillip Region, of Region Flora and Fauna, with project partners Melbourne Zoo, the which approximately 79% are mapped. Royal Botanic Gardens, Parks Victoria, Melbourne University and the Australasian Native Orchid Society. Flora and Fauna have been successful in obtaining Natural Heritage Trust funding to support this program over the last three years. Each project partner brings different Response skills to the recovery process.

Reversing, or even just slowing or A key to the success of the plant’s reintroduction lies with a fungus, stopping, the damage done to Melbourne’s which exists inside the root systems of wild orchids and has a role in the biodiversity by human settlement is no easy germination of seed and maintaining plant health and vigour. The fungus task. has been isolated by a Melbourne University PhD student from captive populations at Melbourne Zoo. Understanding the relationship between Legislation has been set in place to protect the survival of the orchids, and the survival of the fungus will direct the animals, plants and ecological communities actions for future reintroductions. at risk. The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) provides a systematic Two further reintroductions of 400 plants occurred over summer and autumn in 2005. A total of 700 plants have been returned to their administrative and management framework former habitat, planted over three seasons into plots with four different for the recovery of threatened species and treatments, enabling determination of comparative success rates to communities and for the management inform future reintroductions. The recovery program aims to produce of potentially threatening processes. self-sustaining wild populations in the long-term. In the short-term local The national Environmental Protection threats to new wild populations are carefully managed. Destruction of Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 applies original habitat, human activities, as well as invasion by Chilean Needle- to an action that has or will have or is likely grass and predation by slugs, snails and mice were the threatening to have a significant impact on matters processes which originally led to the decline in the orchid population. of national significance, which includes nationally listed threatened species and For more information contact Karen Lester at DSE Box Hill communities. on 9296 4637 photo: Andrew Garnham Strategies and plans outline objectives and targets to be worked towards by government and the community. Current major strategies are Melbourne 203026, Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA) Regional Catchment Strategy 2004 – 200927, Our Environment, Our Future 200528, Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management 200229 and Victoria’s Biodiversity 199730.

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Melbourne 2030 proposes to protect case study: Golden Sun Moth shines from Craigieburn Melbourne’s Biodiversity through the restriction of urban development to the In late 2003 the nationally Critically Endangered Golden Sun Moth was Urban Growth Boundary.31 Beyond this rediscovered in an outer northern suburb of Melbourne, at Craigieburn boundary are the Green Wedges in which Grasslands in the Merri Creek valley. Until this find there were only five other confirmed populations of this medium-sized moth in Victoria. Melbourne’s biodiversity is supposed to be represented and therefore conserved. The Golden Sun Moth is restricted to Native Grasslands, Victoria’s The case study: Win-Win for biodiversity most threatened plant community with less than 0.1% of its original and new housing developments? explains remaining. Habitat fragmentation is a huge threat to the survival of this why this provision is not nearly enough to species as the female moths rarely fly, making the moth vulnerable preserve Melbourne’s biodiversity. to local extinction. The caterpillar’s habitat of native grassland is also threatened by weeds, intensive farming practices and industrial and The Regional Catchment Strategy sets urban development five objectives to deal with the key risks to Two community-led surveys assessed the extent of the moth population the region’s biodiversity. The objectives in late 2004. The first survey, involving 24 volunteers, was conducted in are: a net gain in the quantity and quality sunny hot windless conditions and over 800 Golden Sun Moths were of indigenous vegetation, maintenance recorded. A second survey, involving 18 volunteers, conducted a week of the diversity of indigenous habitats later in windy overcast conditions sighted less than 10 moths. The and species, sustainable populations population is possibly now the largest known. of indigenous flora and fauna species, improvement in connectivity and long If you want to help with future moth surveys or for more information contact Merri Creek Management Committee on 9380 8199 or visit term security of indigenous habitats and www.mcmc.org.au or The Friends of Merri Creek at species, and intelligent use of introduced http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fomc flora and fauna species with minimal impact on indigenous habitats and species.32 Ten biodiversity targets have been proposed in the Regional Catchment Strategy to achieve the objectives and Case study: population viability for local bandicoot enhance the health of habitats and species in the region. These include: The nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot is one of the • at least 35% increase in the total extent few remaining marsupials with populations that can still be found of indigenous vegetation in the region by within the greater Melbourne area. Until the late 1960s the bandicoot 2030 was commonly found in small pockets of heathland, rough pasture and market gardens in some outer eastern suburbs. New housing • at least 95% of the regions ecological developments and fox predation have since reduced the populations to vegetation classes (EVC) represented to small isolated pockets in golf courses and undeveloped bushland, which at least 10% of their pre-1750 extent by are now at risk of localised extinction. The development of a population 2030 viability model for the Melbourne Southern Brown Bandicoot population will give land managers a tool for saving this declining population. • a net gain in the quality and extent of native vegetation in the region, with the A bandicoot habitat suitability model is being developed at RMIT to total “habitat hectares’ increased by 10% help identify priority areas for conservation. The model is specifically for by 2030. the local government areas where the bandicoots have been recently recorded: Casey, Cardinia, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula. The relative suitability of an area as bandicoot habitat will be modeled using • at least 15%of all EVCs in the region to the variables: type and age of vegetation and the impact of predation have of their current extent protected by and roads. The output will be a series of maps with remnant vegetation 2030.33 patches rated according to their relative habitat suitability. A population model will test the impact of different landscape scenarios such as a reduction in vegetation due to future urban development. The goal of the model is to provide managers with a tool to determine what actions will have the greatest effect on the long term survival of the Melbourne’s bandicoots.

For more information contact Alex Lechner at RMIT on 9925 1858

photo: Reiner Richter

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Indicator BD7: Sites of Biological Significance in the Port Phillip Region, 2005

Source: DSE 2005 A suite of actions has been proposed both on public and private land. State to achieve the objectives and targets. and Federal community grant programs, Only one of these is directed at urban such as Landcare and more recently biodiversity. The action proposes to Envirofund, have created a culture of develop an inventory of urban biodiversity voluntary community involvement in small and undertake research, community on-ground conservation works. A list of education and involvement campaigns state and national grant programs can be to promote and pilot urban practices found in the PPWCMA calendar of grants that contribute to the health of natural and incentives www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au. ecosystems. In 2003/04, 87 state and federally funded community grants were coordinated by the Our Environment, Our Future was released CMA.35 in 2005 as Victoria’s Environmental Sustainability Framework. Its biodiversity Native vegetation remnants exist on objective is ‘Flourishing biodiversity in land with a variety of ownership and health ecosystems, with an interim target management regimes, with varying levels of a reversal, across the entire landscape, of protection. Around 40% of Melbourne’s of the long-term decline in extent and native vegetation is in parks or reserves quality of native vegetation, leading to managed for conservation purposes. net gain’. (The Net Gain policy was first Another 30% is on publicly owned land and established by Victoria’s Biodiversity and 30% is on private property. Management agreements or covenants protect around further detailed in the Native Vegetation 1700ha or just over 1% of remnants on Framework).34 private land.36 In Australia we rely heavily on community action for local biodiversity conservation,

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case study: LEAF and BUSH gain in the Council Incentives Manningham Green Wedge for Biodiversity and

Since 1995 Manningham Council has run several successful biodiversity Land Management incentive programs for landholders in the Green Wedge. The most significant program, known as Land Environment Assistance Fund Council incentives are successful (LEAF), has provided direct financial support for on ground management mechanisms for encouraging community priorities in the Green Wedge. involvement in enhancing and protecting local biodiversity and changing land Manningham Council has recently adopted a Green Wedge Strategy, management practice. Rate incentive which provides a guide for the strategic planning, use and management of the non–urban area of the City of Manningham. The new strategy and cash payments provide a financial continues to support the LEAF program, and also introduces a new incentive to private landowners and financial reward program, which aims to protect and enhance remnant leased land users to protect remnant flora vegetation on private property. This program, called BUSH (Biodiversity and fauna and develop sustainable land Under Sustainable Hands) Gain, provides landholders with a payment of management practices. They also create $150 per hectare of remnant vegetation protected. A distinctive feature positive partnerships between council, of BUSH Gain is its acknowledgement that biodiversity conservation local communities, and key resources benefits the wider community. The program encourages people’s active management agencies. involvement in conserving biodiversity and rewards their effort and service to the wider community, In 2005, 15 Melbourne councils offered Participation in BUSH Gain is prioritised in favour of private properties biodiversity and land management with the highest quality of remnant vegetation, as determined by incentives, a welcomed increase from Council’s 2004, Sites of Significant Study. Participating landowners must the 8 of 2003. Council incentives are agree to ‘habitat hectare’ assessments of their property, and implement summarised in Indicator BD8. The agreed management plan actions during the year. Attending a number incentives ranged from rate rebates to cash of community events and providing advice to other participants are an payments for small community biodiversity important part of the BUSH Gain program. projects and weed and pest control. The case studies: LEAF and BUSH gain in the For further information contact Manningham City Council on Manningham green wedge and wildlife 9840 9307 or visit www.manningham.vic.gov.au corridors in Banyule describe two council programs in detail.

What else you can do to conserve Melbourne’s unique biodiversity?

Councils • Prepare and implement a biodiversity strategy and include local biodiversity policies in the planning scheme. This should include fencing and/or reservation of patches of remnant bush, wetlands and waterways. Revegetation with indigenous species should be included to buffer and extend remnants, provide habitat for wildlife, establish and extend wildlife corridors, link open spaces and stabilize waterways. Land use can be regulated to protect remnant vegetation and waterways. Use Environmental

26 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 27 biodiversity

Indicator BD8. Council incentives for biodiversity and land management in Melbourne 2005

Council Program & objective Mechanism

Banyule City Council Conservation and Environment Grants – to provide incentive to groups to develop Landcare, • Typical grant $1 – 2 000 conservation or environmental programs.

Wildlife Corridors Program – to link patches of remnant vegetation with indigenous revegetation • “Buy One Get One Free” indigenous plant voucher for up to 20 plants at local indigenous nursery. Larger landholders eligible for more. Boroondara Conservation Initiative – to increase the number of indigenous plants in private gardens • Vouchers for five free indigenous plant vouchers City Council Cardinia Shire Biodiversity Incentive Program – to help conserve biodiversity and native habitat • Rate rebates for covenanted land, • $50 towards landowners attending land management courses • Cash grants for fencing quality native vegetation.

Tree Grant Program – for enhancement of the environment and beautification of the municipality • Covers the cost associated with tree planting Casey City Council Biodiversity Grants Scheme – for fencing, revegetation work & training. • $30 per ha. for Trust for Nature Conservation covenanted land is (min $200 & max $500) • Grants for fencing remnant vegetation (on a per metre basis) • Subsidies for land management

Conservation Initiative Grants – for support projects aligning with local conservation strategy. Darebin City Council Community Grants for Environmental Projects – to enhance, protect and/or restore the local • Grants up to $1 500 environment. Frankston City Frankston Land Management Grant – for on ground works for long-term environmental • Grants up to $1 500 Council sustainability Hume City Council Rural Areas Plant Donation Scheme – for assistance and indigenous plants to undertake • Free indigenous plants & trees (~ 200 – 300). revegetation projects. Manningham City Urban Stream-Frontage Program – for protection of biodiversity • Dollar for dollar funding up to $200 Council Park Care – for protection of biodiversity • Dollar for dollar funding up to $200

Local Environment Assistance Fund (LEAF) – for protection of biodiversity • Dollar for dollar funding up to $800

Integrated Pest Animal Control Grants & Pest Plant Control Grants – for protection of biodiversity • Dollar for dollar funding up to $200 Maroondah City Biodiversity Incentive Program – for properties of high biodiversity significance • Rate rebates Council • Small grants ($700 for materials and a $300 admin) for Friends groups in bushland reserves Mornington Land Protection Incentive Scheme – to involve and encourage landholders to protect and • Biodiversity rate rebate and works grant incentive scheme up to $5 000 Peninsula enhance high priority vegetation types to achieve a net gain in biodiversity. on a dollar for dollar basis • Grants for protection and fencing of high priority remnant vegetation and revegetation Melton Shire Environmental Enhancement Rebate – to provide rural landowners a monetary incentive to • Upfront rate rebate based on works agreed to be undertaken. Works are undertake works that will improve the environment. inspected at the end of the period. Nillumbik Shire Landcare Support Grants Purpose – for projects addressing land degradation issues and/or • Grants of up to $2 500 Council biodiversity. Sustainable Agricultural Rebate – for specified works on properties to improve land and water • Rate rebate (20% of farm rate) resources and address land degradation

Rabbit Control Program • Generally a third of the total cost

Biodiversity Enhancement Program • Rate rebate for properties @ $50 / ha of covenanted land (max $500) • Grants program to undertake biodiversity enhancement works

Community Weed Control Program – for the control of high priority weeds (ie. blackberry, gorse, • Up to $500 for the cost of herbicide serrated tussock etc). Whittlesea City Environmental Works Grants – to involve and encourage landholders in the protection and • Grants up to $1000 are available for protection and fencing of high Council enhancement of high priority vegetation types. priority remnant vegetation and revegetation Wyndham City Land Management Rate Rebate Scheme – for property management plans for the control of • 20% rate rebate Council weeds and pest animals. Shire of Yarra Biodiversity Incentive Scheme – focusing on covenanted land • Rate rebates for Trust for Nature covenanted properties Ranges

Total number of metropolitan councils 2005 15

Total number of metropolitan councils 2003 8

Source: Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority Community Grants Calender 2004

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Significance Overlays in local planning Case study: Wildlife corridors in Banyule schemes to protect and enhance important areas. Management of feral Linking patches of remnant vegetation in fragmented landscapes like our pests and environmental weeds should city with narrow areas of bush, known as wildlife corridors, is important be an important part of the strategy. The for the survival and dispersal of native species. The City of Banyule has Planning Practice Note on Biodiversity developed a wildlife corridor program that provides a variety of targeted provides material to assist in developing opportunities for the community to engage in local nature conservation. local policy and overlay schedules for Biodiversity Conservation.37 Over three years 48 000 indigenous plants have been planted at close to 1500 sites on private land involving 13 500 people. Sites included • Develop/offer incentives for schools, churches, golf courses, Simpson Army Barracks, residents on biodiversity conservation and typical quarter acre suburban blocks and residents on larger acreages in sustainable natural resource the Yarra and Plenty River corridors. management on private land.

The program offers residents a “Buy One Get One Free” indigenous plant • Facilitate community action and voucher that they can take to a local indigenous nursery and receive up awareness. Assist local environmental to 20 half-price plants. Larger landholders in important wildlife corridors groups, organizations and educational such as adjacent to the Yarra and Plenty Rivers are eligible for larger institutions to measure and monitor quantities of plants for revegetation. When residents sign-up for the plant biodiversity and participate in habitat offer they are invited to join a mailing list to receive Council’s quarterly protection and restoration work – environment newsletter “Greenwrap”, the annual Spring Outdoors including indigenous plantings, weeding, program and invitations to various environmental events. bird surveys, frog surveys and Stream Watch. Offer community education Spring Outdoors, along with the Middle Yarra Sustainable Gardening programs to increase awareness of Award are regional initiatives, pooling the resources of Banyule, local biodiversity and its threats. Help Manningham and Nillumbik Councils. These projects lift the profile of community groups apply for grants nature conservation and sustainable gardening and attract sponsorship for biodiversity projects – for more and media exposure. For example, the residential gardens in the 2004 information contact the PPWCMA Sustainable Gardening Award were featured in the March 2005 edition of on 9785 0183 or have a look at their Gardening Australia magazine. Calendar of Grants and Incentives at www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au The wildlife corridor program also has a role in local schools providing targeted information on the local natural environment, supporting school • Use indigenous trees and shrubs in grounds’ greening projects and linking schools with environmental planting programs and encourage education resources such as the DPI & Weeds CRC “Weed Warriors residents to do the same in private Program” and the CERES / Gould League Sustainable Schools program. gardens. Consider running/participating For more information contact the Banyule City Council on in the Sustainable Gardening Australia 9490 4222 or visit www.banyule.vic.gov.au programs – see case study: sustainable gardening in your home.

• Promote the sale and use of sustainably collected firewood. Endorse firewood merchants and retailers who supply mixed loads (hard and soft woods), sell firewood by mass (weight for weight pine generates the same output as native hardwoods), sell only seasoned wood, provide information on correct wood burning practices and state the source of wood. For more information www.ea.gov.au/firewood, www.timbershop.wilderness.org.au/ product/firewood

• Make implementation of your council’s stormwater management plan a priority.

• Encourage responsible pet ownership to minimise threats to native animals.

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Individuals case study: Boroondara valuing biodiversity • Join a local environmental community group and participate in In 2004 The City of Boroondara conducted an inventory and assessment activities – contact Greening Australia of indigenous flora and fauna in the municipality as a part of the ongoing www.gav.com.au or your local council for implementation of its 2003 Biodiversity Strategy. information. Over 12 months environmental consultants, Biosphere, surveyed 30 • Apply for community grants for significant sites which may have contained rare or threatened species biodiversity conservation and of flora, fauna or vegetation. Over 45 selected sites were identified restoration work – for more information and assessed using Victorian State Government criteria. Community contact your local council or the feedback was sought to nominate sites. PPWCMA on 9785 0183 or have a look at their Calendar of Grants and Incentives The survey resulted in the identification of a range of rare species and at www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au. important habitat areas. Protection and management needs have been identified for each site. The biodiversity assessment will serve as a • Manage native vegetation on your valuable tool for protecting the City’s important biological assets and property to maintain and enhance its promoting their importance to the wider community in the future. For biodiversity value. Consider placing a more information contact the City of Booroondara on 9278 4523 conservation covenant over areas with significant biodiversity values.

• Plant indigenous trees and shrubs in your garden, avoid environmental weeds. For more information see case study: sustainable gardening in your home, contact your local council or VINC www.vinc.net.au.

• Only use sustainably collected or bought firewood – avoid red gum, box, ironbark and mallee roots. For eco-firewood suppliers in Melbourne visit www.timbershop.org.au/product/ firewood.

• Make responsible purchasing decisions – avoid products made from unrenewable materials, especially unsustainable forest timbers. Research building products that have minimal impact on habitat and land through Ecospecifier at www.ecospecifier.org.au

• Report native animal and plant sightings, especially threatened and rare species to Department of Sustainability and Environment for inclusion in Flora and Fauna databases. Contact the Biodiversity Information Officer [email protected] or 9637 8393. Flora and fauna recording forms can be provided.

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case study: sustainable gardening in your home

Have you ever thought of making your garden a part of the locally native environment? That’s just what Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) hopes to help you achieve. SGA has worked with retail nurseries, garden designers, landscape gardeners, garden maintenance operators, Melbourne Water, Landscape Industries Association of Victoria, University of Melbourne (Burnley) and Victorian local governments to develop a range of sustainable gardening initiatives.

A key part of the SGA project is an environmental accreditation system for retail nurseries. SGA accredited nurseries are required to demonstrate ongoing commitment to six key areas of sustainability relevant to gardening: Pesticides and Herbicides, Composting and Organic Waste Recycling, Water Conservation, Environmental Weeds, Indigenous Plants and Sustainable Purchasing. Nurseries must remove from sale the 10 worst garden escapees in the municipality and tag with an SGA Weed Warning label any other plants of concern. Twenty six retail nurseries have committed to the project since it was launched in May 2004.

The Green Gardeners accredited training program for professional gardeners has been developed by SGA. The six hour training course discusses the environmental impacts of gardening and practical steps to mitigate the impacts in their own and their customers’ gardening. In the two years the program has been running over 650 garden designers, landscape gardeners, garden maintenance operators and retail nursery staff have undergone training courses. Twenty Melbourne councils have participated in the delivery of the program. SGA also conducts professional gardener training in the areas of Conducting a Garden Water Audit, Greywater & Rainwater Information Session, Green Purchasing Expo and Indigenous Plants in Landscaping.

SGA runs workshops for the home gardener on Water Efficient Gardening, Reduced Chemical Usage in the Garden, Indigenous Plants in Garden Design, Greywater & Rainwater Systems, Green Gardeners and a Sustainable Gardening Walk & Talk tour.

For more information contact the Sustainable Gardeners Association on 9850 8165 or visit www.SGAonline.org.au or the Green gardeners website

Agapanthus, Gazanias, Seaside Daisy, English Ivy, Bluebell Creeper, Cootamundra Wattle, Bridal Creeper, Fountain grass, Myrtle-leaf Milkwort and Sweet Pittosporum were recently removed from sale by one retail nursery in Melbourne in order to achieve Sustainable Gardening Australia’s environmental accreditation standard.

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Buildings provide one of the fundamental needs of humanity – shelter. They are the backbones of our towns and cities and provide the places where we live, shop, work and enjoy ourselves.

The concept of green buildings, also known as Ecological Sustainable Development (ESD), has developed from a need to minimise the impact of construction, fit-out, operation and deconstruction of our houses and buildings on the natural environment. Building materials, building practices, building usage and their associated energy and water consumption deplete, pollute and damage natural resources.

Green buildings provide a healthier indoor environment. When indoor air quality is bad, our physical and mental health can be affected – our productivity is reduced and Houses and buildings account for over one third of Victoria’s we take more sick days. Indoor air quality greenhouse gas emissions. is polluted by materials and machines that emit unhealthy gases and substances (off- gassing), air conditioning, electromagnetic radiation, mould, bacteria and rising damp. Buildings with poor air quality are labelled in the community, businesses and as having ‘sick building syndrome’. corporations want to be (or to be seen as) socially responsible. This attitude is driving The greening of building design and a growing demand for environmentally function is a relatively new environmental friendlier houses and buildings.3 theme compared to our other themes. It is an exciting and rapidly expanding field. Also driving ESD is the increasing There has been enormous change and recognition of indirect economic benefits. progress in the green building industry These benefits include added value, since our last report two years ago in energy savings including reduced peak Bulletin 6. demand, offset in costs (eg smaller pipes and air-conditioning systems), improved health, amenity and productivity.4 The rapid Pressure expansion of knowledge, skills and ‘eco- friendly’ products and materials makes Our increasing population, growing ESD easier and more accessible. Rating economic output, a trend towards tools help people assess the performance 1 2 The Envirometer smaller households in larger houses , an of a building and provide benchmarks to While all our new homes are increasing standard of material well being work towards. Government regulations required to be energy efficient, there is still scope to reduce and continual upgrading of older-style have forced green design elements their environmental impacts. dwellings creates a continual demand for into new houses and major renovations A range of green building renovations, new houses and commercial – a positive step that will soon apply to tools are available for houses and building to help us use buildings. A growing number of people commercial buildings. resources more wisely.

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0 to 6% of standard construction costs. Case study: ESD = Educating for Sustainable Design But those that really stretch the boundaries like the Melbourne City Council’s Council Despite the rapid growth in the “green building” industry in recent years, House 2 cost a lot more (see case study).6 the aim of translating sustainable design principles into practice to result in a building with high environmental performance remains a challenge. To encourage ESD a different perspective A project at the City of Yarra aimed to overcome this challenge by needs to be taken on cost. Given that most developing a series of guidelines as an educative tool for planners, residents, developers, architects and builders. new developments have a fixed budget, developers should not be asking how The idea of guidelines came about after discussion with statutory and much does a green building cost, but how strategic planners. It was first thought that a local policy or rating tool green can a building be for the available could be incorporated into the Yarra Planning Scheme to encourage budget. Green choices don’t necessarily sustainable design, but this was met with some hesitation. Staff have to cost more, rather design teams lacked confidence in being able to guide the applicants in achieving need to absorb the additional costs within the objectives of any local policy for ESD while meeting strict heritage budgets.7 controls that apply to most of the municipality. So it was decided to approach the aim for sustainable design from an educative perspective Where sustainable building features do rather than a planning perspective. cost more, the cost is often looked at from the point of a ‘payback period’. The In order to assist the development of the guidelines, environmental performance objectives were specified for energy, water, waste, payback period is estimated by dividing the materials, transport, biodiversity, internal environment, and construction total cost by the annual savings to get the & demolition. A brief analysis of planning applications showed that number of years. The payback mindset is a while over 70% of the permit applications received were for proposed major barrier to ESD as sustainable design alterations or additions to existing single dwellings (many require a elements should be seen as an investment, permit under a Heritage Overlay), other common building types could adding value, rather than a cost. A key be classified as townhouse developments, apartment developments, issue is to prove that benefits will be warehouse conversions, or commercial buildings. A series of five 8 guidelines in the form of technical notes and diagrams was then delivered. developed by Ark Resources and Design Inc. The series was released in late 2005 and is available on the City of Yarra website. Energy and It is envisaged that the value of the guidelines as an educative tool will be Greenhouse strengthened by the development of a local policy for the Yarra Planning Scheme in the next few years. Houses and buildings are not seen as big polluters because they don’t emit fumes For more information contact the City of Yarra on 9205 5555 like cars, but they account for around 36%

or 36 Mt CO2-e of Victorian greenhouse gas 9 A big hurdle to green development is cost, emissions (1999). This is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 7.2 million or the perception of cost. A common cars. myth is that if something is good for the environment it is bad for business. Commercial buildings and their operations Construction has a baseline cost and it is were responsible for around 15% or commonly believed that sustainable design 15 Mt CO2-e of Victoria’s total greenhouse adds costs above that baseline. Costs of gas emissions in 1999. The major sources green features are often over-estimated in of commercial emissions were lighting the building industry ‘to-be-safe’.5 (26%), air handling (20%), heating (15%) and Currently in Australia the public availability cooling (12%). Electricity use accounted of costs data on the small number of for 89% of commercial greenhouse gas completed sustainable projects is limited. emissions. Emissions from the commercial The experience of one private construction sector are the fastest growing source of cost analysis is that typical projects greenhouse gas emissions, increasing more incorporating sustainable features have than 40%, or more than 4% a year, between done so with increased cost of only 1990 and 1999.10

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The residential sector was responsible for

around 21% or 21 Mt CO2-e of Victoria’s Case study: GreenSports total greenhouse gas emissions in 1999.11 Per capita greenhouse gas emissions GreenSports is a program run by the City of Greater Dandenong to from household energy usage are higher engage the community to reduce greenhouse emissions. Sporting in Victoria than in any other Australian clubs were targeted as their strong social networks facilitate community state. Despite making homes more energy involvement. In terms of reach, if the City’s 200 sports clubs have at least 50 members each who have three friends and family, the potential reach efficient in recent decades, between 1990 is at least 40 000 people. The program runs under a number of stages. and 1999 residential emissions increased by over 20%, or more than 2% a year. First, energy efficient upgrades were conducted at four pavilions with This can be attributed to high demand total emissions reduction of 7t CO2 and savings of $500 per year to the for heating, widespread use of electric clubs. This allows members of the clubs to see energy efficiency in hot water systems and the fact that action. most Victorian electricity is produced by burning brown coal – the most greenhouse Second, four GreenSports events showcased the Alternative Technology intensive form of energy in Australia.12 The Association (ATA Solar Shuttle, Active Catchment Education Model, high rate of heating related emissions is WaterWatch, Performances by Vox Bandicoot and give-aways of energy due to the cool climate, but emissions efficient equipment to householders. would still be higher if Victorians did not use more gas than electricity for Third, in addition to event give-aways, members put their name down heating. Indicator GB1 shows that space for 40 raffled energy efficiency packs. Each pack included compact heating was the biggest greenhouse fluorescent tubes, 35W halogen downlights, water saving shower head, shower timer, draught strips & seals, packet of pegs to reduce dryer use, source accounting for 25% of residential a thermometer and daily MetCards. emissions, followed by water heating (22%, of which 7% is water heater losses), Across four events GreenSports attracted 740 people. The program has refrigerators (11%) and lighting (8%).13 saved 38 tonnes of CO2, 701 000L of water, around $5 000 per year on The introduction of 5 Star energy efficient energy bills. building design in 2004 should help to curb the growth of residential emissions For more information contact the City of Dandenong Environmental with new houses predicted to use half the Planner on 9238 1531. energy load of houses built between 1992 photo: Sigmund Fritschy and 2004.14

The type of dwelling influences greenhouse gas emissions. A study on Sydney residences by the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Indicator GB1. Share of residential emission by end use, Resources (DIPNR) found that the highest Victoria 1999 per person greenhouse gas emissions came from high-rise apartment buildings, �� followed by free standing houses (the �� bigger the house the more greenhouse �� gas it produces).15 High-rise apartment buildings probably consume higher levels �� of electricity per person because the majority of the energy supply is electricity, �� higher levels of clothes drier use as there �� are no yards, indoor car parks which need �� continual ventilation and small household size. Electricity consumption figures �� published in the Greenhouse Chapter of �� Bulletin 7 suggested a similar pattern is �� found in Melbourne – local government �� areas with a high proportion of high density housing had the highest per resident electricity consumption. Source: DSE 2002

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Case study: from demonstration to replication

Sustainability Victoria aims to accelerate the uptake of sustainable energy in Victoria. Part of their overall strategy includes demonstration projects of innovative sustainable energy solutions across the commercial, industrial and residential sectors. These demonstration projects reduce the risks, and therefore the costs, of future projects.

Residential sector projects include Sustainable Public Lighting Initiative (SPLI), the Solar Hot Water Rebate (SHW), and 5 Star. Commercial sector projects are the Commercial Office Buildings Energy Innovation Initiative (COBEII), Sustainable Energy Innovation in Educational Facilities (SEIEF), and Victorian Solar Innovation Initiative (VSII). The Industrial sector initiative is the Business Energy Innovation Initiative (BEII). Key demonstration initiatives are being hosted by different local council across Melbourne (Figure A).

Figure B shows the amount of energy being saved in these demonstration projects. It should be noted that while some demonstration projects save relatively large amounts of energy, they may have a relatively modest “replication potential”, while other, smaller projects may result in modest savings, but when replicated across the relevant sector will result in a step change in energy use (examples are SPLI, SEIEF, BEII).

Sustainability Victoria is working to make replication of sustainable energy outcomes easier and more cost-effective across the Victorian economy. There is a range of levers that can be applied to stimulate the broad uptake of sustainable energy outcomes:

• developing policies and regulations that lead to a favourable investment climate for sustainable energy • leveraging Government resources to drive sustainable energy outcomes • supporting the development of an industry that is able to deliver a range of sustainable energy products and services.

Figure A: Sustainability Victoria programs and initiatives across the Metropolitan Local Government Areas (excluding SHW and 5 star)

��

34 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 35 buildings

Figure B: Energy savings by sector through Sustainability Victoria programs and initiatives

��

�� Waste �� Water Use �� The construction and demolition of houses �� Melbourne has experienced below �� and buildings generates around 40% of �� average rainfall conditions for much of �� all waste going to landfill (approximately �� the last decade, leading to a dramatic �� 40% of 4.2 million tonnes in 2002-03).�� drop in available water supplies and �� Over 75% of this waste is clean excavated �� the introduction of water restrictions. 18 �� material, concrete, bricks and�� timber.�� Of �� Population growth and climate change are �� the construction and demolition waste sent �� predicted to leave less water available per to landfill in metropolitan Melbourne,�� 39% �� person in the future. �� is sourced from residential demolition, 33% �� from commercial demolition, 15%�� from�� Melbourne’s residential buildings account �� residential and commercial construction�� for 60% of the 480 000 megalitres of and the balance from roads and� �civil�� potable water used in the city each year.16 19 construction and demolition. �� Increasing the efficiency of domestic water �� consumption will be central to meeting Of all residential demolition in Melbourne, �� water security needs. The average 59% occurs in inner suburbs, 41% in outer �� Melbourne home uses around 240 000 suburbs. On average 133 tonnes of waste �� litres of water per year, equal to about 5 is generated from housing demolitions, domestic swimming pools. 65% of this with a range of 60 to over 350 tonnes. The is used indoors.17 Installing water efficient recovery rate of materials from residential taps, toilets, showers and encouraging demolition ranges from 17 to 63% water conservation behaviour changes (depending on the range and quantity of will be part of the solution of reducing the materials, the condition of the house and pressure on Melbourne’s water supply. the relative cost of recovery to labour). 20

34 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 35 buildings

have seen an increase in building and case study: Council House 2 – setting an example design of new houses and commercial buildings with sustainable features. Council House 2 (CH2) is the City of Melbourne’s new sustainably designed office building. It is no ordinary office building with sustainable This chapter showcases a couple of technologies incorporated into every conceivable part of its 10 storeys. A Melbourne’s outstanding sustainably water-mining plant in the basement, phase-change materials for cooling, automatic night-purge windows, wavy concrete ceilings, a façade of designed buildings (see adjoining case louvres (powered by photovoltaic cells) that track the sun – even the pot studies). The City of Melbourne’s Council plant holders have involved a whole new way of thinking. Although most House 2, is considered a world leader in its of the principles adopted in the building are not new – using thermal use of sustainable features. Darebin City’s mass for cooling and using plants to filter the light – never before in Reservoir Civic Centre (RCC) is recognised Australia have they been used in such a comprehensive, interrelated as one of Australia’s most sustainable fashion in an office building. developed buildings.

CH2’s environmental features are estimated to pay for themselves within There are many predicted energy and 10 years. Compared with the existing Council House (a seven storey water savings statistics from the new wave building with 455 workstations located next door on Little Collins Street), of ESD. Actual figures are slowly becoming CH2 (ten stories with an estimated 530 work stations) will reduce its available for individual houses and some electricity consumption by 85% and its gas consumption by 93%. This buildings, but due to the infancy of this means CH2 will use only 13% of the energy consumed by the existing industry there is little wide-scale summary Council House. It will produce 20% of the emissions of the current data for energy and water savings. The Council House. summarises energy savings from a range of Sustainability Victoria’s programs and Although the reduction in energy costs will be substantial, the greatest economic benefit is expected to be in increased productivity, reduced initiatives. absenteeism and lower staff turnover rates, which cost employers millions of dollars each year. Studies have shown the improved air quality of systems like CH2’s air conditioning system could achieve a 4.9% Green building increase in productivity, in part through reduced sick leave. It is predicted this will save the City of Melbourne up to $1.12 million a year products

For more information contact the City on Melbourne on 9658 9658 or Supply and demand is the law that governs visit www.melbounre.vic.gov.au the consumer marketplace. There is an increasing consumer demand for green building products driving manufacturers to produce more green products. Also, In 2002/03 approximately 1.85 million existing products are being marketed with tonnes of construction and demolition a new ‘green’ tint. There are hundreds waste was recycled in Victoria; the waste of ‘environmentally friendly’ products to stream consisting of concrete, brick, choose from, but how can you tell how asphalt, rock, soil, sand and plasterboard. green they really are? Can we believe the In addition 169 000 tonnes of timber and manufacturers claims? 808 000 tonnes of steel were recovered, a significant proportion of which would have Ecospecifier, an entirely Australian on-line arisen from the construction and demolition database and educational knowledge sector. The total 2002/03 construction and base of eco- and health-preferable demolition recovery figure represents the building materials and technologies, highest recorded quantity to date and an provides an independently audited increase of 8% over the 2001/02 financial directory of the green product market year figure.21 (www.ecospecifier.org). While it does not list all environmentally friendly products on the market, we (and they) hope Condition that it represents a good subset. The database was launched in late 2003 In the last two years consumer demand with 576 products and 399 suppliers and government regulation (new homes are or manufacturers of “eco & health required to conform to a 5 Star standard) preferable products”. In mid 2005 there

36 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 37 buildings

were 730 products and 623 suppliers or manufacturers on the database.22 The case study: lessons from Reservoir Civic Centre service is a not-for-profit venture led by the sustainability consultancy ‘Natural Darebin City’s Reservoir Civic Centre (RCC) is recognised as one of Integrated Living Pty Ltd’ and was co- Australia’s most sustainable redeveloped buildings. In comparison to developed with RMIT’s Centre for Design. similar conventional buildings, RCC utilises design, materials and fittings that provide for 60% less water use, 50% less energy use, and diverts 94% of waste to landfill through re-use, recycling and minimisation. Ecospecifier independently assesses every The performance of RCC and the lessons learnt from its use and product on the database. Environmental management provide are a rich insight in maintaining a sustainable assessments are based on Life Cycle building. Assessment (LCA) or follow a methodology that takes into account a number of Integrating Sustainability into the Design & Construction Process principles from LCA including: looking Three critical factors that ensured sustainability principles from the beyond product or use stage impacts to planning-design stages through to completion were: include all relevant stages from raw material 1. A clear, strong sustainability-focused brief to architects and extraction right through to disposal and contractors that not only specified environmental efficiencies but recovery, consideration of a broad group reflected the building’s local precinct character and community use of environmental issues, dominant impacts functions. This meant considerable consultation not only with the and consideration of the functionality of the community and the architects but extensive training of contractors and project managers. product. 2. The use of environmental consultants to ensure the integration of key sustainability objectives and the integrity of the design & construction Ecospecifier presents product information process that encourages consideration of six 3. The use of Life Cycle Thinking as a primary decision-making tool environmental criteria: energy and to avoid negative impact options and identify resource efficient, greenhouse, habitat and land degradation, environmentally positive solutions for all 3 stages of development resource use, human health, pollution, and – design, construction and subsequent operation. other vital signs (material safety data sheet, ecolabel or certification, independent LCA, Building Performance & Maintenance independent verification, documented Building users were provided with an induction session, while manufacturer claim, environmental building managers and contractors were provided with training and information, Australian Standard compliance an Ecologically Sustainable Development checklist. Additionally, the and environmental company policy). building’s performance is monitored annually to audit the meeting of its sustainability capacity and to identify any problems such as faulty technology. Critical lessons include: The Ecospecifier database provides an opportunity to give an overview of the 1. Managing & monitoring performance – assign clear responsibility (to building managers/maintenance officer) to do this as well as identify green product market. The number of faults. Ensure those responsible have the expertise and knowledge environmental criteria that a product satifies to check and address performance issues. gives an indication of the environmental 2. Educate contractors (eg cleaners, café operators) – contractors performance of the product. Products are require continuing education and the contract should reflect clear given a green dot for each environmental sustainability responsibilities. criteria they satisfy – six is maximum. 3. Making manufacturers responsible – most sustainability technology is Indicator GB2 show the dot ratings of all specialised and requires additional know-how to determine whether it the products in the database. Indicator is working optimally. Ensure manufacturers meet warranty conditions GB3 shows the number of products 4. Make installers responsible for ensuring that the technology is in that satisfy each of the six environmental working order and will continue to work optimal in the long term. categories. Indicator GB4 shows the green dot ratings of products sorted into 26 The resulting RCC demonstrates a consistency and integration in different building categories (products can sustainable design, materials and fittings and had very low impacts be listed in more than one category). at construction. It is a building that is highly amenable (provides for a multiplicity of uses and is very accessible to the local shopping precinct) and enhances the local village character. Of 730 products on the database in mid 2005 only 31 (4%) satisfied all six For more information contact the Environment Officer Darebin City environmental criteria. A further 59 (8%) Council on 9230 4535 scored five dots and 84 (12%) four dots. The environmental criteria that the highest number of products addresed

36 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 37 buildings

was preservation of resources (70%), Indicator GB2. Environmental performance of environmentally followed by protection of habitat and land preferable building products and services in the Ecospecifier database (45%). Reduction of pollution was the least addresed environmental criteria (16%).

The building category with the highest �� number of environmentally preferable products was Interior and Fitouts �� (144), followed by Materials (120) and �

� Landscaping and Outdoors (116). The �

� �� building categories with the most 6 dot � � � �� products were Interiors and Fitouts (19), � ��

� �� Walls and Ceilings (11) and Furniture � �� and Fabrics (10). More than 20, 4-6 dot � ��

� �� products were available in Floors, Furniture �

� �� and Fabric, Insulation and Acoustic, Interiors and Fitout, Landscaping and � Outdoors, Materials, Siteworks, Timber, � �� Walls and Ceilings, Water and Gas. �� In conclusion, the green product market is thriving, but only a small percentage of products address Note: There are six green dot categories: energy and greenhouse, enhance human health, preserve resources, protects habitat and land, reduces pollution, and other vital signs. a wide range of environmental criteria. We all need to make Source: Ecospecifier, May 2005 the effort to use the greenest of green products and demand that manufacturers produce products that look after the environment in as many ways as possible. Indicator GB3. Environmental issues satisfied by environmentally Response preferable building products and services in the Ecospecifier database. Regulations – 5 Star and beyond

�� The first energy saving measure to be introduced into the Victorian Building Code

� ��

� was insulation requirements in 1991. There �

� was a long wait before any further energy � ��

� saving measures were introduced. In 2001 �

� �� a mandatory package of provisions for �

� residential development, ResCode was � � �� introduced. ResCode aims to protect � �

� neighbourhood character and amenity and �� to help ensure environmentally sustainable � residential development. It introduced �� new environmental standards including � �� a 4 star energy rating for multi-unit � � � � � � � � � � �� developments, a permeability standard to � � �� reduce stormwater run off and a standard � � � � � � � � �� to protect solar access to north-facing � � � � � � � � �� windows of existing buildings. In mid 2004 the 4 star ResCode planning requirements �� were replaced by the 5 Star Standard in the building regulations. In its first year this Source: Ecospecifier, May 2005 required all homes to to achieve a minimum

38 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 39 �� buildings ��

� ��

Indicator GB4. Environmental Performance* of environmentally preferable products in different building� � � � �� categories from Ecospecifier database � �

� ��

*There are six green dot environmental performance categories: energy and greenhouse, enhance human health, preserve resources, protects habitat and land, reduces pollution, and other vital signs. Source: Ecospecifier, May 2005

4 star rating level. window design, insulation, orientation and other features) and provides an overall From mid 2005 the 5 Star Standard rating on a scale from 0 to 5 stars, with required all new houses to achieve a 5 Star half star increments. It also acts as a rating. Houses need to achieve 5 stars design tool in that it immediately tests the using the FirstRate house energy rating effects of design changes on the energy software (or equivalent), install water saving performance of each part of the house. A measures, and either solar hot water or a 5 Star requirement is proposed to apply rainwater tank. Apartments must achieve nationally for houses in 2006.23 a 5 Star energy rating average and no apartment less than 3 Stars plus water Improving the building fabric of houses is saving measures. an important step to ensuring their long term potential for energy efficiency, as The FirstRate house energy rating scheme they are generally around for 50 years or measures the energy efficiency of a house more. In contrast the energy efficiency of by allocating a point score for various appliances is important for shorter term design features (such as building fabric, energy savings as they are replaced every

38 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 39 buildings

10 or so years. DSE Sustainable Assessment Tool.

5 Star building designs will result in A first for commercial buildings will be a reduced impact of houses on the the introduction of national energy saving environment – but savings may vary measures in 2006. The energy savings considerably from house to house. from these measures are estimated to FirstRate (and NatHERS) are good energy be 9.9 GJ or $3.4 billion over 10 years at saving design tools in the right hands, but a cost of $0.7 billion. This will decrease in the wrong hands a house may fulfil 5 Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 27 Star regulations yet still not be very energy 17.8 Mt CO2-e. efficient per person. How can this be? While an adjustment for house size that penalises larger houses and rewards small Rating Tools houses applies under the 5 Star Standard, big houses may still use more energy and Sustainability or ‘green’ rating tools are more energy per person (according to relatively new to Australia. The tools facilitate the trend of smaller households in larger the sustainable design, construction, operation and fitout of houses and buildings. houses). The NSW Building Sustainability They help us understand the environmental Index BASIX regulatory framework for new performance of a building and provide a buildings and the Victorian Department benchmark to be achieved or bettered. of Sustainability and Environment’s Rating tools provide easy recognition Sustainability Assessment Tool (which is to the community and industry of the still being developed and formerly known importance and status of ESD. All tools as IDEAs) have answers to this problem.24 cover energy efficiency, but more recently developed tools approach ESD from a more The NSW mandatory BASIX certificate holistic perspective and include aspects for new housing design involves such as water conservation, stormwater demonstrating a 40% reduction in water management, transport, materials (source use and a 25% reduction in greenhouse and production), landscape, indoor air gas emissions (increased to 40% in 2006) quality and more. Some tools provide actual compared to the state average of 3 292 performance measures of environmental kg CO per person per year and 90 2-e variables. 155 litres per person of water per year. Houses must also pass thermal comfort While many aspects of ESD can be easily standards. Big houses and high rise measured (eg the energy involved in developments have to work a lot harder manufacturing a kitchen cupboard) the on saving energy and water to achieve value of landscaping in ESD is not so the target sustainability measures. Unlike easy to measure. Integrating landscaping the Victorian 5 Star regulation, there is into the building design may result in no trade off between water and energy stormwater protection (permeable surfaces savings – BASIX requires saving in both to prevent run-off), water conservation areas in every new house.25 The DSE (drought-tolerant plants), shade and light Sustainability Assessment Tool builds control (deciduous plants), and add to local on the 5 Star energy standard and water biodiversity (indigenous plants). measures aiming for a quantifiable savings – 15% reduction in greenhouse, 10% Rating tools relevant to Melbourne reduction in peak demand electricity, 25% buildings are described in Indicator reduction in water and 20% improvement GB5. There are many to choose from for 26 in stormwater quality. residential and commercial buildings, some mandatory and other voluntary. Some of If the Victorian government wants to achieve the schemes have been in widespread use better savings in water consumption and over recent years (FirstRate, NatHERS, greenhouse gas emissions, they should ABGRS, BASIX). Others are much newer consider extending 5 Star to a BASIX-type and have not been widely applied (Green model, or consider the mandatory use of the Star, NABERS, STEPS, SDS), or are still

40 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 41 buildings

in a trial or set up phase (Accurate, DSE Sustainability Assessment Tool). case study: sustaining Doncaster Hill

The Australian Building Greenhouse Rating Doncaster Hill is a 58 ha site stretching along the major corridors of (ABGR) Scheme is the most widely adopted Doncaster Road and Williamsons/Tram Road, located 12 km from tool commercial building rating tool, with Melbourne City. In 2004 Manningham City Council released 20-year 189 accredited buildings in 2005 with an strategic plan for the redevelopment of Doncaster Hill by the private up to 5 Star rating. ABGR rates buildings sector. Developed through extensive community consultation, the plan ensures that by the year 2020, the Doncaster Hill Activity Centre will on their energy efficiency (based on real become a sustainable and cosmopolitan mixed-use urban village, which data) and allows developers to “badge” the enhances the social, economic and cultural life of Manningham. greenhouse performance of their new office development from the outset on the proviso The Doncaster Hill Strategy delivers ESD outcomes, with the introduction of using the Commitment Agreement. of a mandatory requirement, the preparation of a Sustainability There are three ABGR rated buildings in Management Plan (SMP) for all new applications for development on Melbourne – Investa Property Group at Doncaster Hill. An SMP ensures applicants address eight specific ESD 469 and 485 Latrobe St (both 3 Star) and elements throughout a building’s design and life including building energy Szencorp Sustainable Development in St management, water sensitive design, construction materials, indoor Kilda Rd (5 Star).28 environment and quality, waste management, quality of public and private realm, transport as well as demolition and construction. A set of The Green Star commercial building rating user-friendly guidelines is available to assist development applicants with system is the most comprehensive of their Sustainability Management Plans. commercial building tools. Launched in 2003, it now consists of four tools – Office It is hoped that the buildings created by following the Guidelines will Design, Office As Built, Office Interiors and become the model for healthier, more accessible and ecologically responsive environments. This will in turn lead to the creation of Office Asset (a pilot in 2005). In 2005 two environmentally conscious communities which will reap the benefits of commercial buildings in Australia had been sustainable living. accredited under the Green Star scheme – Council House 2 in Melbourne (6 Star Further information contact Manningham City Council on 9840 9229 or Office Design) and Brindabella in Canberra visit www.manningham.vic.gov.au (5 Star Office Design). The 6 Star tool builds on existing tools in overseas markets including the British BREEM (Building Research Establishment Environmental sustainability tool to encourage the Assessment Method) and the US LEED development of green buildings. (Leadership in Energy and Environmental For more information contact the 29 Design). Around a dozen buildings are Moreland City Council about STEPS currently applying for the certification and www.morelandsteps.com.au or the Port 30 more are in the pipeline for the future. Phillip City Council about the Sustainable Design Scorecard www.portphillip.vic. What else you can gov.au/sustainable_design_scorecard. The case study: sustaining Doncaster do to encourage Hill is an example of a local mandatory ecologically sustainable requirement for sustainable buildings for all new applications for development in development (ESD)? the activity centre. • Lobby the state government to go Councils beyond 5 Star. Make a sustainability assessment tool with measurable • Lead by example by making sure that performance outcomes for water and any works or fit-outs to council buildings energy use mandatory in the planning are as environmentally sound as process. possible. • Develop incentive schemes to • Consider including in planning policy encourage the development of green and controls a planning scheme houses and buildings, for example, to drive the use of a mandatory Moreland City Council offers a rebate to

40 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 41 buildings

Indicator GB5: Sustainability rating tools for residential and commercial buildings, 2005

Tool Ratings Ownership Methodology or commercial) Scope of rating Stage of life cycle Regulatory or Voluntary Building type (residential

FirstRate 0- 6 Star. R Design Energy – uses NatHERS R Correlation Sustainability Victoria 5 Star energy rating mandatory for energy predictions www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/ new houses in Vic buildings/firstrate

NatHERS 0- 5 Star. R Design Energy R Simulation CSIRO www.csiro.au (Nationwide House NatHERS Star bands are slightly Energy Rating different to FirstRate Scheme) Accurate

AccuRate 0 - 10 Star. R Design Energy – will replace V Simulation Department of Environment and NatHERs software and Heritage set performance criteria www.absa.net.au/accurate/ for updated version of FirstRate

ABGR (Australian 0 - 5 Star C Operation Energy V Real data The NSW Department of Energy, Building Utilities and Sustainability Greenhouse www.abgr.com.au, Administered by Rating) Sustainability Victoria

Green Star 4 star – best practice C Entire Holistic (Management, V Scorecards Green Building Council Australia 5 star – Australian excellence – design, indoor, energy, transport, www.gbcaus.org 6 star – international leadership construction, water, materials, land Tools cover Office Design, Office As operation Use, site selection Built, Office Interiors and Office Asset ecology, emissions)

BASIX 40% water reduction R Planning Holistic R Web based, NSW Department of Infrastructure, (Building 25% greenhouse gas reduction (Water, greenhouse, includes energy Planning and Natural Resources Sustainability (40% in 2006) thermal comfort) simulation using www.basix.nsw.gov.au Index) Thermal comfort pass NatHERs or equivalent

NABERS (National Score for each environmental C & R Operation Holistic V Checklist Department of Environment and Australian Building performance indicator from 1 to (Greenhouse energy, scorecard Heritage, Sustainable Energy Environmental 10 where 5 represents current refrigerants, water, Development Authority of NSW Rating System) average performance and 10 is stormwater sewerage, www.deh.gov.au/industry/ world beating transport landscape, toxic construction/nabers materials, waste, indoor, occupant satisfaction)

Sustainability 15% reduction in greenhouse R Planning Holistic V Web based Department of Sustainability and Assessment Tool 10% reduction in peak demand (Energy, water, Environment (formerly IDEAS) electricity stormwater) www.dse.voc/gov/au/planning 25% reduction in water 20% improvement in stormwater quality

STEPS (Sustainable -100 to 100 score where 0 is the R Planning Holistic V Scorecards Moreland City Council Tools for estimate average performance of (Energy, water, www.morelandsteps.com.au Environmental conventional design. Performance stormwater, building Also used by City of Port Phillip Performance targets as for DSE Sustainability materials ) Strategy) Assessment Tool

Sustainable Design Minimum performance targets C Design Holistic V Scorecard City of Port Phillip Scorecard (point requirements) for each (Energy, transport, water, www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/ (SDS) environmental performance waste, materials, indoor, sustainable_design_scorecard.html indicator innovation)

42 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 43 buildings

planning applicants who are not required • Only buy appliances with high energy under planning or building requirements (5 or 6 Star) or water conservation to have a FirstRate energy assessment ratings (4 or 5 A). but who do so as part of completing the • Choose Green Power – for more STEPS tool. information www.sustainability.vic.gov.au • Develop education programs for • Install your own water tank and/ council staff. or grey water system – for more • Develop and promote educational information www.greenplumbers.com.au resources on green building design • Install and/or build with renewable and materials to: energy such as solar – for more ß encourage use of non-toxic recycled information www.sustainability.vic.gov.au material • Replace your hot water system with a ß display brochures in the municipal gas boosted solar hot water unit. office and community building foyers • Use government incentives to install ß design programs to educate relevant energy and water saving measures council staff and designers on into your house. In Victoria rebates sustainable building design issues are available for water saving products, ß design an information kit on sustainable replacement of an existing hot water building for builders, architects and system with a solar hot water system, designers replacement of an electric or wood ß design a model sustainable building for heater for a 4 of 5 Star gas heater in your local environment. outer suburban areas, installation of The case studies: ESD = Educating for photovoltaic cell. For more information Sustainable Design and Green Sports visit www.ourwaterourfuture.vic.gov.au or describe education strategies of two www.sustainability.vic.gov.au councils. • Choose plants for drought tolerance and light control (shading) to decrease water usage and increase the thermal Individuals efficiency of your house. • Go beyond 5 Star when planning your • Lobby building product manufacturers new house or renovation. Use the to produce more and greener DSE Sustainability Assessment Tool or environmentally preferable products. STEPS to achieve measurable savings in energy and water use. Consider GreenSmart qualified professionals to design and build your home www.greensmart.com.au • Use products and building materials that have no or low toxicity, low environmental impact and/or are recycled. Research ‘eco-friendly’ products on the Ecospecifier database www.ecospecifier.org.au, which provides an independent assessment of ‘green’ building products and services. You need to be a member to use the entire database (only 10% of the database is available to non-members). Beware of industry ‘green wash’, where a product, service or building claims to be green, but does measure up performance wise.

42 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 43 air quality litter 4

Litter is anything left where it is not supposed to be: cigarette butts, take-away food and drink containers, plastic bags, confectionary wrappers, paper, bottles and their tops, cans, food scraps and glass are some of the most common items.

Early in 2005 litter was exposed to more than usual public attention after Melbourne experienced the highest ever recorded rainfall in a 24 hour period. Creeks and rivers turned into raging brown torrents filled with run-off and stormwater channelled from our streets, breaking their banks in many places. As the waters receded there were no secrets where Melbourne’s litter ends up – tonnes of rubbish were left strewn along our waterways, at high tide lines and caught up in streamside vegetation. The stormwater transported many more tonnes of litter into the bay, turning Port Phillip Bay’s beaches into rubbish tips. Almost all of the litter was washed from our streets.

Litter prevention is considered a very important issue to almost all Australians1 – yet many people continue to litter.

Pressure

Litter floating in Merri Creek, East Brunswick. The amount of litter that accumulates in any one place is a consequence of how much waste is dropped, blown or gets washed there. Much of our litter comes from the ever increasing amount of waste that our fast-paced, convenience- demanding city lifestyle produces. Waste turns into litter when we do not think of the consequences of our action, are not aware of the consequences, lack community pride or are just plain lazy.

The accumulation of litter is affected by variations in rainfall, wind, site usage, The Envirometer temperature and season. Street cleaning While most of the time we don’t and litter traps decrease the accumulation of litter, littering continues to be litter. Litter acts like a magnet to litter – clean an environmental problem that we all need to take places tend to stay clean, whilst littered responsibility for. places look dirty and get more littered.

44 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 45 air quality litter

Litter reduces the attractiveness of our open spaces and natural places. case study: sporting litter It attracts vermin, creates bad smells, causes personal injury from glass or Littering is a well recognised problem of sporting events such as football. syringes, blocks drains resulting in In 2003 a study of littering conducted by Banyule City Council at the localised floodings and adds toxins to the Heidelberg Football Club found that footy fans were ‘not aware’ of the environment. Litter degrades wildlife habitat rubbish bins placed around the ground. The response was to install new look swing top bin caps that sit on top of the existing 240L rubbish bins and causes injury to wildlife, particularly to create a brighter look, make bins more noticeable and make it easier of aquatic animals, through strangulation, for patrons to dispose of rubbish. An education program promoted choking or poisoning. Flicked cigarette and encouraged footy fans to think about responsible rubbish disposal. butts can cause bushfires. Banners with the slogan ‘Clean-Up Your Game – Bin It’ were placed around the ground. Littered cigarette butts are a considerable source of toxic chemicals – they may seem Another approach to litter at sporting events has been developed by small, but with an estimated 7 billion butts the Diamond Valley Football League, with the support of Banyule City littered in Australia every year2, the toxic Council and the Northern Region Waste Management Group. The chemicals add up. Each butt contains the League is a major user of Banyule’s recreation and sporting grounds and also uses many other grounds across the Northern Region, so the remnants of tobacco, paper and the filter. program reaches many people. A broad educational approach targets The residue in the butts contains some Club members to reduce litter around their sporting grounds. Techniques very toxic and soluble chemicals which have included selling Eco Safe Personal Ashtrays with the Diamond can leach into water within one hour of Valley League Logo, raffle ticket giveaways as a reward for good disposal contact. These chemicals are toxic to small habits by club members, articles in footy fixtures and working with club crustaceans (cladocerans) and one type canteens to encourage appropriate packaging and waste minimisation. of bacteria at concentration as low as one The project and has resulted in a marked reduction of litter at sporting cigarette butt per 40 litres. This toxicity grounds. persists for seven days.3 For more information on the program, contact Banyule City Council on 9490 4588 or www.banyule.vic.gov.au Condition

Every year around an estimated 230 000m3 of litter and debris find their way into Melbourne’s waterways and out into Port Phillip Bay. This is equivalent to dumping one semi-trailer load of rubbish every two hours off the Westgate Bridge. Included in the tonnes of litter that reach waterways each year are between 1 - 3 billion cigarette butts (more than one third of the total number of litter items) and up to 300 000 syringes.4 95% of litter on Port Phillip Bay’s beaches comes from our streets.5

Cigarette butts are one of Australia’s biggest litter problems – butts are consistently the most littered item across Australia each year. Litter studies in public places consistently find butts comprise over 50% of all littered items.6 One in 3.5 cigarette butts is littered in Australia. One in 10 cigarette butts ends up in the bay or in Melbourne’s waterways. 350 000 butts end up in Port Phillip Bay every day.7

44 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 45 litter

Indicator LT1. Disposal Behaviour Index for Melbourne and Australia.

��

� �

� ��

� � � � � �

� ��

� �

� ��

��

Source: Beverage Industry Environment Council

Urban Litter waste minimisation initiatives. Over 80 000 observations have been recorded in five years of study. Littering Behaviour Studies Disposal behaviour at a chosen site is measured using the Disposal Behaviour The Beverage Industry Environment Index (DBI). Sample sites include beaches, Council (BIEC) in association with shopping areas, markets, parks, public Community Change (CC) has been buildings and transport terminals. A scale studying litter behaviour since 1997 of 1 – 7 reflects the amount of littering, (annually since 2000). The Littering binning, recycling and composting Behaviour Studies (LBS) involve the secret observed at a site. Sites with a high DBI observation of individuals in public places are clean and waste is recycled. Sites with who are disposing of an item of waste a low DBI are highly littered. (either littering or using a bin). The studies aim to minimise littering and increase In 2004 Melbourne scored a DBI level of 6, recycling in public places. 8 the fourth year of continual improvement (Indicator LT1).9 A DBI score of 6 indicates After a person has been observed that binning greatly exceeds littering completing a disposal behaviour, they are and appropriate bin use occurs most interviewed by a second person who does of the time. Indicator LT1 shows that not know of the person’s disposal method. Melbourne’s disposal behaviour and Interviewers conduct a standard survey to improvement is ahead of the national gain information on people’s awareness trend. In 2004 Melbourne and Sydney of their own behaviour, their attitudes to ranked Australia’s cleanest cities, with DBI litter, anti-littering measures and other scores of 6.

46 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 47 litter

Indicator LT2 . Littering and bin use patterns for different bin distances at public places, 2003

��

� ��

�

� ��

Source: Beverage Industry Environment Council

The 2004 LBS found that cigarette butts at beaches walked an extra 10 metres to continue to be the most littered item use a bin than those in transport areas, – constituting 60% of all litter in capital markets, shops or malls. cities. The study found that smokers often have no idea of the environmental impact The BIEC and CC studies have found that of butt litter, and even do not consider that there is no such thing as a stereotypical dropping butts is littering.10 litterer in Australia – with regard to gender, age, employment status and education. More than 61% of people who were seen They have consistently found that: men to litter were unable to remember whether litter more than women, homemakers are they had littered or were unwilling to admit more likely to litter than other people and it. Of those who were seen to litter, 46% people litter less when alone. said they had not littered in the last 24 hours or they ‘didn’t know’ when they had The most common suggestions to improve last littered, and a further 15% said ‘they disposal behaviour were the introduction had never littered’. of recycling bins, ‘more bins’ and ‘more ashtrays’. The most common reasons for littering were: no bin (32%), too lazy (18%) and no Victorian Litter ashtray (20%). Monitoring Protocol The further a person is from a bin, the more likely they are to litter. Indicator Until 2000/01 litter was monitored in LT2 shows the relationship between Melbourne using the Victorian Litter Count disposal behaviour and bin distance. Methodology. Around that time doubts The relationship between littering and bin emerged about the validity of litter counts, distance was closely associated with site particularly as a measure of littering type. For example, on average, people behaviour, so a new survey methodology,

46 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 47 litter

the Clean Communities Assessment Indicator LT3. Victorian Litter Monitoring Protocol using the Tool (CCAT), has since been developed Clean Communities Assessment Tool (CCAT) for by Community Change. CCAT assesses Melbourne - Victorian Pilot Study 2003 situations where littering occurs. It is based on an observational approach, like the �� LBSs, and the knowledge that in public places most people are doing the right � thing most of the time with their waste disposal actions. 11 � �

� � ��

� CCAT is a systematic subjective rating � � �

� of four core factors: context (sense of � � � community and overall cleanliness of a � � �

� location), facilities (litter, recycling and butt �

�� bins, litter accumulation points), attitudes and perceptions and waste disposal actions. Each factor is rated from 1 to � 5 representing the level of cleanliness: �� ‘not at all’, ‘slightly, moderate’, ‘very’ and �� ‘extreme’. All four factors are combined to provide a location assessment – the Source: Community Change and EcoRecycle Location CCAT score.

The Victorian Litter Monitoring Protocol (VLMP) using CCAT was piloted in mid 2003. Nine metropolitan councils were included. Indicator LT3 shows that the overall Location CCAT score for Melbourne was 3.7 out of 5, indicating substantial support for litter prevention. The disposal actions score was around 3, indicating a majority of positive actions but some way to go to improve disposal behaviour and prevent litter in Melbourne.

Indicator LT4. Amount of litter collected from the litter traps on Waterway Litter Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers 1998 - 2004 Parks Victoria has been removing litter from strategically placed litter traps in the lower Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers since �� 1994. The Yarra River catchment is the �� largest and most prominent in metropolitan

� �� Melbourne and tonnes of litter are � � �

� transported from upstream waterways into

� ��

� its lower reaches, before heading out into �

� �� Port Phillip Bay. The litter traps intercept � �

� ��

� a large amount of litter (but which is less � � �

� ��

� than 1% of the estimated total amount of �� waterway litter) before it pollutes our bay. � �� There are currently 15 litter traps in use, �� 12 on the Yarra River and three on the Maribyrnong River. Each trap is 15 metres long, three metres wide and 0.6 metres Source: Parks Victoria in height and has the capacity to hold 15

48 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 49 litter

cubic metres of debris, the equivalent of Indicator LT5. Litter counts at five Melbourne beaches – average 200 household size garbage bins. Litter number of items per site during six summers traps are emptied on an ‘as needed’ basis. 1999/00 to 2004/05

Indicator LT4 shows that in the past seven �� years between 210 and 730 m3 was collected from the Yarra and Maribyrnong �� Rivers each year. More litter was collected �� 3

in 2004 than in any previous year – 730 m � �� or the equivalent of 9700 household size � ��

� ��

garbage bins. If you add debris and organic �

� ��

matter to the litter, the amount collected � �

3 � ranged from 500 to 1600 m in the � �� years 1998 – 2004. The amount of litter � ��

collected is influenced by annual rainfall � � �

– in drought conditions less litter is washed � ��

from the streets into the stormwater � �� system and creeks. � Beach Litter �� Source: EPA Victoria Litter on the popular Port Phillip Bay beaches was investigated in the summer of 2004/05 by the EPA and Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria (KABV) for the seventh year in a row.12 Ten surveys were conducted between 1 December 2004 and 31 March 2005 at 12 beaches. Each survey included the number, type and composition of litter items at 48m2 sites.13 Indicator LT6. Litter by Material Type at 12 Melbourne Beaches, Average litter counts at Melbourne’s 2004/05 beaches during six summers 1999/00 to 2004/05 are shown in Indicator LT5. �� For ease of comparison with previous �� Bulletins, we include data here from five �� beaches: Mt Martha, Rye, Seaford, St Kilda, � �� Williamstown. There are no consistent trends in litter accumulation over time �� across the five beaches, suggesting no overall change in litter at beaches. Over the last two summers at Williamstown much lower levels of litter were found than � �� previously recorded (40% less than in 2002/03). In 2002/03 Williamstown was � �� Melbourne’s worst littered beach and as �� a response the Hobson Bay City Council purchased new beach cleaning equipment.14

A breakdown of the average material type of litter at Melbourne’s beaches in 2004/05 is shown in Indicator LT6. The most littered � �� materials were cigarette butts (52%), followed by plastic (23%) and paper (10%).

Source: EPA Victoria

48 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 49 litter

Response Litter prevention activities in Melbourne have become much more focused in the Success in controlling litter and helping past couple of years, mostly through work recover resources from public places of The Victorian Litter Action Alliance Litter provides a positive experience for the Champion Project. The VLAA was created community15 and benefits the environment. in mid 2000 and is made up of 13 key Sustainability Victoria’s draft Towards Zero organisations involved in litter prevention Waste Strategy sets a target of a 25% across state, local government, the improvement in littering behaviour and community and industry sectors. The Litter visible litter by 2014.16 Champion Project commenced in 2002 and has identified three priority litter issues: The process of education, installation cigarette butts, building sites and dog of infrastructure and enforcement is poo. Prevention kits have been produced considered the most effective way of to tackle these issues. Implementation changing littering behaviours. Educational rates of the kits have steadily increased, material needs to explain the problem, why from around 5% in 1999 to around 50% in it is an issue and what can be done about 2004, with marked increases associated it. Infrastructure can include appropriate with the launches and availability of litter bins, signage and bin-emptying schedules prevention kits.18,19 The next major litter to keep areas clean. Penalties need to priority is dumping. Other litter priorities be served to reinforce the messages for are ATM litter, bill posters, fishing litter and programs to be successful; compliance charity bins.20 is closely related to the likelihood ‘I will be caught’.17 The Litter Champion Project has identified gaps or barriers to progressing litter prevention across Victoria: case study: Bin it or Swim in it • uneven enforcement by local government – only 23% of Victorian councils run Litter finds its way from our streets, through the stormwater system and some form of regular litter enforcement out into Port Phillip Bay. ‘Bin it or Swim in it’ was a summer beach litter program, with the majority of those (23%) education campaign run by the Association of Bayside Municipalities considering it part of their everyday during 2003/04. business • difficulties in determining the true benefits In the City of Bayside, littering was tackled with high profile media and cost of litter prevention coverage, the distribution of ‘Butts Out’ personal ash trays, ‘Bin it or Swim in it’ frisbees, drink bottles and a litter blitz which fined anyone • issues with financial recording for litter caught littering. Promotional material was distributed directly to beach management – many councils do not and park goers and made available at Life Saving Clubs, beachside keep line item records for all cost of litter kiosks and cafes. clean up and programs • lack of practical support for councils and Visual beach litter assessments were conducted before and after the regions, ie workshops run at this level education program to measure its effectiveness. Before the program the average amount of litter found on beaches was 2.1 butts per m2 and • patchy or changeable levels of support 3% per m2 of litter. After the program a slight decrease in both the from senior management.21,22 number of cigarette butts (1.1 per m2) and other litter items (0.7% per m2) was found. The majority of litter was found at the high tide mark, In 2003 a new organisation, The Butt indicating that most of the beach litter is deposited on the beach by the Littering Trust, was established to combat tides, rather than being directly littered on the beach by visitors. Australia’s leading litter problem. Its focus is to change the behaviour of smokers to For more information contact Bayside City Council’s Waste Education reduce litter. 23 Officer on 9599 4444. The upcoming Commonwealth Games in 2006 are seen as unprecedented leverage for addressing litter issues across all sectors and to build on current successes photo: Lana Collison in litter management and minimisation.

50 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 51 litter

What you can do to case study: Darebin Creek - natural trolley habitat? decrease littering? For the last three years The Darebin Creek Management Committee has been rounding up shopping trolleys worth an estimated $150 000*, with Councils the help of the Cities of Banyule, Darebin and Whittlesea. The Shopping Trolley Muster is an annual event that brings together local government, • Develop a detailed litter strategy. Melbourne Water and the Darebin Creek Management Committee to Include targeted litter prevention reduce the impact of trolleys on the Darebin Creek and raise awareness of the issue to the public. campaigns, eg, for cigarette butts

and make use of the VLAA litter The problem stems from trolleys being used to take groceries home in prevention kits for cigarette butts, dog suburbs adjacent to the Darebin Creek. These trolleys are abandoned poo and building sites available at once the shopper reaches home and are then picked up by others who www.litter.vic.gov.au roll or tip the trolleys into our waterways for a cheap thrill. Every year • Establish a local Litter Prevention approximately 100 trolleys are winched from the Darebin Creek. Some Task Force. For more information visit are so badly degraded that they become part of the creek, trapping www.sustainability.vic.gov.au sediment and providing habitat for wildlife. A number of Burrowing Crayfish (Engaeus sp.), a species not known to be living in the Darebin • Adopt the Don’t Waste Victoria/Do the Creek before the first shopping trolley muster in 2002, were found in a Right Thing campaign. Some examples trolley near the creek’s bank. Between 5-10% of the trolleys recovered used by Melbourne councils are: Don’t are reusable, the rest become scrap metal – a terrible waste of Waste Darebin Creek, Don’t Waste resources. Melbourne, Don’t Waste Toorak Park. For more information, free artwork and A litter campaign was carried out with Northland Shopping Centre using approval visit www.biec.com.au and the slogan “Don’t Waste Darebin Creek” and involving local school www.sustainability.vic.gov.au East Preston Islamic College and Friends of the Darebin Creek to raise awareness of the issue as well as coverage in the local media. Feedback • Include a litter strategy in your from the public suggested that people were shocked and angry about council’s stormwater management the current misuse of shopping trolleys and their effect on the Darebin plan. The Clearwater Program supports Creek. a website www.clearwater.asn.au to provide resources of knowledge The Darebin Creek Management Committee supports the work of the and achievements for the sustainable Australian Retailers’ Association which has run the Abandoned Shopping management of urban stormwater in Trolley Hotline (1800 245 022) for ten years. Using the toll free number Victoria. members of the public and council officers can report trolleys found in their area, so they can be collected before ending up in our waterways. • Make local events ‘Waste Wise’ – a community program run by Sustainability Victoria www.sustainability.vic.gov.au For more information contact the Darebin Creek Management Committee [email protected] or 9499 4454. • Locate recycle bins with litter bins. • Consider financial incentives to encourage local businesses to fit *For the purposes of this report a shopping trolley is valued at $500. They do however range in price from $200 to over $1000 depending on the model. cigarette butt bins and signage outside their premises for smokers. Use planning permit conditions to provide for these in new developments. • Require outdoor dining businesses to provide windproof ashtrays to smoking customers. • Prohibit businesses from sweeping litter and debris into gutters and stormwater drains. • Promote community participation in litter campaigns such as Clean Up Australia Day.

50 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 51 litter

Individuals

• Take waste home with you to bin or recycle. • Choose products with the least or no packaging. • Carry a personal ashtray for your cigarette butts, or at least use a public butt bin or bin. • Carry your own bags for shopping and picking up your dog’s poo. • Pack rubbish free lunches with reusable containers and drink bottles rather than disposable bags and drink boxes. • Put a ‘no junk mail’ or ‘no advertising material’ sign on your mailbox. If you do receive unsolicited advertising material report it to the Distribution Standards Board on 1800 676 139. • Make sure waste is secure in your bin, recycling containers or trailer so that it does not blow away and cannot be washed into the stormwater system. • Sweep paved areas and pick up all the waste rather than hosing down gutter and drains as waste finally ends up polluting our natural waterways and the bay through the stormwater system. • Be involved in litter reduction campaigns in your area, such as Clean Up Australia Day, local Litter Prevention Task Force, or activities run by local community groups, life saving clubs and Keep Australia Beautiful. Contact your Regional Education Officer in your local Regional Waste Management Group, your local council or EcoRecycle Victoria (Sustainability Victoria) for support and information. • Report abandoned shopping trolleys to Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline on 1800 245 022. • Report people who litter from cars on the EPA Litter Report Line on 1800 352 555. You must record details of vehicle registration number, make, model, colour as well as details of location where the littering occurred.

52 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 53 transport 5

We use transport to connect people and activities and to get goods and services to where they are needed. In Melbourne we rely too heavily on cars for most of our personal transport, and on trucks for most of our freight. Over-reliance on motor vehicles has a huge impact on the environment and is not sustainable.

There is no question that motor vehicles are an integral part of Melbourne life. However, to minimise their harm to the environment and to human health, and to maintain our quality of life, a big shift needs to occur in the way we use our cars. We need to make a habit of choosing sustainable transport (public transport, bikes, walking) over driving. We also need to adopt smart car use (car pooling) rather than driving alone. Changes in our use of transport will require wide-scale behaviour change, which will be no easy challenge.

Pressure million registered motor vehicles (equivalent to 1 per adult) – 85% of these are cars (2.1 million). 4,5 89% of Australian households Motor Vehicles have one or more cars. Around 23% of Australian households bought a vehicle in Melburnians choose to travel by car far the 12 months to March 2003 – only 4% of and beyond any other form of transport households considered the environmental simply because cars give us the freedom impact when buying a vehicle.6 to go where we wish, when we wish. Often we have little other choice, as much of our city, especially the outer suburbs, is The total motor vehicle kilometres travelled planned around car use. Only one third of in Melbourne has increased 63% in 20 Melburnians, mostly located in the higher years to 31 538 million in 2003, 7,8 while density inner to middle suburbs, have ready the population increased by 24%.9 As a access to well serviced public transport.1 consequence traffic congestion during Cars are convenient and comfortable, Melbourne’s peak continues to worsen. protect us from the elements and have a The average number of vehicle occupants social cocooning effect. Cars even form in Melbourne’s morning peak is just 1.18 part of many people’s identity – reflected in people – the lowest in Australia.10 a continual stream of advertising targeted at all styles and personalities. Our excessive use of cars is influenced by the common perception that car travel is Every year in Melbourne our use and cheaper, quicker and easier than it actually ownership of cars increases. Victoria’s is and that rail transport, cycling and walking The Envirometer motor vehicle fleet has increased around are worse options than they actually are.11 While sustainable transport use continues to slowly increase in 60% in 20 years to almost 3.6 million in The cost of owning and operating a car is the inner suburbs, excessive 2004.2,3 In Melbourne there are almost 2.5 substantial: the weekly cost in 2005 ranged car use is still a problem.

52 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 53 transport

from $105 for the smallest light car, between have been the subjects of much recent $175 and $220 for medium and large cars, debate. 18 In 2003 a RMIT research paper to around $300 for some prestige cars and was released that claimed Melbourne’s medium to large 4WDs (estimates based on trams emitted 1.23kg of carbon dioxide 15 000km per year and unleaded petrol at (CO2) per passenger kilometre (pkm), 99.5 cents per litre). The running costs only whereas cars emitted just 0.25kg CO2 per week ranged from $34 for light cars, per pkm.19 Public transport was suddenly $40-$47 for medium and large cars, and not looking like such a good travel option up to $68 for large 4WDs.12 In comparison, for the environment. However in favour a weekly public transport ticket ranged in of public transport, a 2005 CSIRO study price from $18/$26 for travel in a single zone found that rail has an energy operating and up to $54 for zones 1, 2 and 3.13 Also efficiency of 1.9 MJ per pkm, light rail consider that these car use pricing structures 2.1 MJ per pkm, urban buses 2.8 MJ per do not reflect the costs of congestion pkm compared to private cars at 5 MJ per that motorists impose on one another or pkm.20 The Millennium Cities Database for environmental impact. Establishing a closer Sustainable Transport gives energy figures link between actual and perceived costs is for tram use in Melbourne of 0.36 MJ per an essential element that requires further pkm, compared with 0.54 for suburban investigation and ultimately will build greater trains, 1.57 for buses and 2.62 for cars.21 awareness of the full economic, social and One explanation for the RMIT statistics is environmental costs of travel options. that they were based on unrealistically low patronage rates.22 Looking towards the future, world oil shortages are predicted to have an impact Roads and parking spaces contribute to on motor vehicle use. Rising fuel prices will curb our use of motor vehicles and the loss and fragmentation of remnant force our community to look towards more vegetation and wildlife habitat. Roads sustainable transport options. Global oil provide easy pathways for predators and production is forecast to decline anytime weed dispersal. Run-off from impermeable from now to 2020. 14 bitumen surfaces is laden with petro- chemicals and heavy metals, which Our love of cars comes at a price: pollution pollutes our rivers, creek and bay (for more and damage to the environment, congestion information see Bulletin 7). on city roads (and not just at peak hour) and injury and death of people and animals. Where car use replaces walking or cycling on a regular basis, it reduces general health Motor vehicles are the major sources of and well being of the community. In the urban air pollutants – their emissions can municipality of Port Phillip, which has good be found in the Pressure section of the access to public transport, walking and Air Quality chapter. cycling facilities, 20% of trips under 400m and almost 40% of trips under 800m are In 2002 transport accounted for 16.5% taken by car.23

(19.3 Mt CO2-e) of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions. 15 Cars accounted for Our strong car culture is probably our 68% of these emissions, goods vehicles biggest hurdle to increased use of 30% and buses 2% (1999 figures).16 After sustainable transport. buildings, transport is the second fastest growing emissions sector. On average in Australia and New Zealand, the total private Public Transport

transport CO2 emissions per capita in 1995 was 2107kg per person,1060% more than In 2003, 31% of Australians chose to use public transport because they didn’t own the total public transport CO2 emissions per capita of 199kg per person.17 a car, 29% because there were parking problems, and 29% for convenience and Energy consumption and greenhouse gas comfort. Environmental concern was a emissions of Melbourne’s public transport minor reason (4%).24

54 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 55 transport

Access and timing were the two main reasons reported by Australians for not case study: home delivery at the Preston Market using public transport.25 Travel times on public transport are often not comparable Preston Central is in the heart of the Darebin municipality and Preston to travel time by car – there are often long Market is the main drawcard of this traditional activity centre. Parking is wait times between connecting services. difficult during market days (Wednesday – Saturday). Two-thirds of Melbournians are not well A two month free home delivery service was trialled as at the market serviced by public transport26 – in the newer by project partners City of Darebin, DSE and DOI. As well as home outer metropolitan areas public transport is delivery once a week, participants received free Metcards for the life scarce to non-existent. of the trial. The trail was aimed to create a more accessible activity centre, demonstrate to participants that it is easy to access the Market Ticket prices are a deterrent to public by sustainable means and to provide impetus to the new owners of the transport use. Melbourne’s public transport Market to instigate a similar, more permanent, home delivery service. system has arguably some of the most expensive transport fares of all major cities, Ninety participants registered for the service and the trial averaged 30 especially for travel from outer suburbs. deliveries per week with a high of 49 deliveries in week four. Comments Public perception of safety, especially such as those below were received when participants completed surveys at night, is another deterrent. Many train following the trial: stations are not staffed and there are no longer on-board conductors or guards. “It was quite simple: we live quite close to the Epping Line therefore a quick walk. All we required was a backpack for the meat and what not. Trams, buses and trains also do not always The traffic problem at Preston market is shocking so it was a relief not to offer the same comforts as cars. They can worry about parking.” be vandalised, dirty and littered.27 “It was very easy and a relief not to have to search for parking.” Somewhat ironically one of the biggest concerns of the current public transport Some key findings: system is its success in establishing strong peak period use. On the rail system in * 100% of respondents would like to see this service continue. particular, some lines are now at or close to capacity, limiting the availability of seats * 90% of survey respondents found it ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to access the and longer term ability to grow patronage Market by alternative means, even though the majority had previously been using their cars to shop at the Market. for key activities such as work and education. * More than 50% of survey respondents will now be leaving their cars at home to access the Market and another 40% will sometimes leave their Cycling and Walking car at home after participating in the trial. * Some participants ‘rediscovered’ both the Market (as a cheap and In 2003, 69% of Australians chose to convenient local place to shop) and public transport/walking as a walk or cycle to work because they were legitimate alternative to the car. close to their place of work or study, For more information contact the Sustainable Transport Officer at the 50% for exercise and health and 19% for Darebin City Council on 9230 4341. cost reasons. Similar to public transport, environmental reasons were low (5%), but this is not a disappointing result. The results indicate that people are choosing to cycle, walk or catch public transport to work for individual benefit and practical reasons, rather than because it’s the ‘right thing to do’. These are choices that should be more sustainable in the long term.

Distance was the main deterrent (70%) for people not walking or cycling to work.28

Safety and the perception of safety, which are linked to speed, volume and driver

54 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 55 transport

Indicator TR1. No of cyclists and injuries on St Kilda Rd, 1992 – 2005 Condition Melburnians make more than 11 million trips by car, train, bus, bike and on �� foot every day.30 Melbourne’s projected �� population growth will mean at least �� another three million trips in and around the �� city each day by 2030.31 �� In this section, based on data availability, we look at public transport and cycling. ��

�� Public transport

Melbourne has one of the largest rail �� systems in the world with 15 lines that run 306 trains. Our tram system is also one of � the biggest in the world with almost 500 trams running on 31 routes. There are � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 32 � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1470 buses that travel on 298 routes. � �� Since the 1960s public transport patronage in Melbourne declined as a proportion *count data not available for 1995 and 2004. Source: Bicycle Victoria of all transport modes faster than in any other Australian city.33 Public transport boarding numbers steeply declined from the 1950s to the early 1980s followed by a slow increase until the present, as shown in Indicator TR2. In 2004 there were 364.4 million boardings, one third less than the behaviour of motor vehicles, are probably 540.2 million boardings recorded in 1950, the biggest hurdles to increasing bike use. while our population was two and a third A Newspoll survey conducted in early 2004 times greater in size.34 The lowest recorded showed that less than half of people in number of annual boardings was 255.8 outer Melbourne thought they had access million in 1982. The overall trend in public to a safe place to ride. Almost a quarter transport use reflects train and tram use, (24%) of those without easy access to a bus usage has shown less variation over bike path said they would do more riding if the decades. there was a bike path nearby.29 A slightly different perspective on public Bicycle paths encourage cycling by transport use in Melbourne can be seen increasing safety for riders. This has been in Indicator TR3, which illustrates the seen over the last decade on the busy St average yearly number of boardings per Kilda Rd, a major arterial into the CBD. Melburnian. A steep decline in boardings Indicator TR1 shows that while the cyclist per person occurred from a peak of 415 numbers increased dramatically on St per year (slightly more than one per day) in Kilda Rd after the construction of on-road 1950 to a low point of 90 per year in 1982. bike lanes, there was no corresponding Boarding rates fluctuated between 90 per increase in reported injuries. As well as year and 102 per year from the late 70s being ‘safe’, cycle paths need to be more to the present day. A second low point of direct to make journey times shorter to be 91 per year occurred in 1994, after which an attractive option. To do this, cycle paths there has been a very slow increase in need to go where people want to go, give average per person patronage rates to the priority to cyclists over cars and not be present day rate of 102 per person per used as parking lanes in off-peak times. year (or less than one boarding every three

56 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 57 transport

Indicator TR2. Public transport use in Melbourne, 1947 – 2003

��

� ��

��

Source: Melbourne Atlas, Department of Sustainability and Environment

days). The current levels of public transport Bicycles use per Melburnian are the highest levels Melbourne has seen since 1978. Melbourne is Australia’s only capital city with an extensive network of dedicated Our public transport system has the bike lanes on the roads. On-road bike potential to be one of the best in the world, lanes and shared bicycle paths have but considerable investment, planning been, and continue to be, built throughout and commitment are required to achieve the metropolitan area by local councils, this. High quality public transport should VicRoads and Parks Victoria. By 2002, give the sort of ‘go anywhere anytime’ 685km of a planned 2400 km Principal convenience that cars provide. It requires Bicycle Network had been built.39 a fully-integrated ‘seamless’ network with short waiting times and easy transfers. The success of Melbourne’s bike lanes There are overseas cities with comparable and increased bike facilities is reflected in a (but higher) densities to Melbourne, such large and steady increase in the number of as Vancouver and Toronto in Canada and cyclists using them. Indicator TR4 shows Oslo in Norway, where well-run public that the number of cycle trips to work transport is regarded as the norm. The increased around 40% from 10 821 in 1976 governments in these countries have made to 15 244 in 2001. In the 15 years 1981 to 1996, the number of cycling trips to work visionary investments and tough decisions fluctuated between 12 300 and so that public transport is a more efficient 13 700. Between 1996 and 2001 the travel option than cars for most trips.35 largest increase in cycle trips between The lack of such a system in Melbourne is census years was recorded (24%), which reflected in the consistently low proportion reflects increased cycling as a result of of journeys that we make with public construction of on-road bike paths around transport. Melbourne.40

In 2000 public transport accounted for 9% Data on cycle trips to work is taken from of all journeys in Melbourne, 36 increasing the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census. slightly to 11% in 2005.37 Around 81% Each Census was conducted on a winter’s of Australians (18 years and over and day when it was dark at 7.30am and who work and study) never use public after 5.10pm. Under these conditions transport.38 the motivation to cycle to and from work

56 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 57 transport

Indicator TR3. Public transport use per person in Melbourne, 1950 - 2003

��

� ��

��

� ��

Source: Melbourne Atlas, Department of Sustainability and Environment and Australian Bureau of Statistics

is severely challenged, suggesting that the ABS estimate may be extremely conservative. As such, the number of cycling trips to work during the non- winter months would be much higher. The Victorian Activity and Travel Survey for the period 1990 to 1997 indicated that there were up to 30% more cycling trips undertaken in autumn than winter.41

The majority of Melbourne cyclists start their journeys to work from inner city areas, as shown in Indicator TR5. These included Indicator TR4 Total number of cycle trips to work in Melbourne Yarra, Moreland, Port Phillip and Darebin. 1976 to 2001 In 2001 about 55% of cycling to work trips from these areas were to the City of �� Melbourne. Indicator TR6 illustrates the �� distribution of bike-only trips to work in � � � �� 2001 by Local Government Area. � � � ��

� Bicycle Victoria has found that Melbourne’s � ��

� CBD has some of the most popular cycling � ��

� streets and shared paths in Australia. �

� ��

� Bicycle Victoria has monitored cyclists’ �

� ��

� numbers in and around the CBD for the � �� past 5 to 13 years, depending on location.

� Counts are conducted once a year at �� the same sites on a weekday between �� 7am and 9am (wet days are avoided), Source: VicRoads 2004 either in autumn or spring. Daily counts are calculated as approximately 8 times

58 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 59 transport

the morning peak hourly average. It is Indicator TR5. Proportion of cycle-only trips to work by zone in estimated that there are about 12 000 metropolitan Melbourne, 1976 - 2001 cycle trips into and out of Melbourne’s

42 CBD each weekday. ��

Swanston St is the busiest cycling street ��

in Australia, with more than 3600 cyclists ��

per day in 2005. Indicator TR7 shows that �� the number of cycle trips has grown over �� the last 13 years, from 1992 to 2005, by 370%. To further encourage sustainable �� transport use in the CBD the City of �� Melbourne could further improve conditions �� for cyclists on Swanston St (where parked ��

tourist buses leave little room for cyclists ��

when trams go by) and adjoining roads. � �� In the outer suburbs, cycling has followed an opposite trend to inner city cycling. Roads Source: VicRoads 2004 are busier and there are fewer bicycle lanes and shared paths to encourage cycling. The decline can also be attributed to the greater

Indicator TR6 Bike-only trips to work by Local Government Areas of Melbourne, 1981 & 2001

Source: VicRoads

58 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 59 transport

Indicator TR7: The number of cyclists per hour in the morning peak (7-9am) on Swanston St, Melbourne City 1992 - 2005

��

� ��

��

� ��

*count data not available in 1995 and 1998 Source: Bicycle Victoria

spread of work locations and increasing access to frequent public transport within commute distances. Indicator TR5 shows 500m of their home, 90% with access that while the portion of cycle-only trips to within one kilometre by 2009, and double work has steadily increased in the inner the number of cycle trips by 2020. suburbs, cycle trips to work have steadily declined in the outer and middle suburbs. In The State Government vision for the mid 70s the proportion of cycle trips to Melbourne’s transport is that by 2020, work in inner and middle areas was similar 20% of motorised trips (or 15% of all trips) (44% of all cycle only trips to work). By 2001 will be by public transport.44 This target this had dropped to 26% in middle areas is set out in the Metropolitan Transport and increased to 64% in inner areas. The Plan (MTP), which was released in late proportion of cycle trips in the outer areas 2004.45 The MTP outlines a set of programs declined from around a low 16% in the 1980s that aims to meet the Melbourne 2030 to an even lower 10% in 2001. The change policy objective to coordinate development in cycle trip distribution by Local Government of all transport modes to provide a Area in 20 years, 1981 and 2001, towards comprehensive transport system.46 The MTP the city centre is shown in Indicator TR6. measures include: priority for trams and buses on congested roads, increased rail Response capacity and station upgrades, improved bus routes, new services (such as orbital A vision for a more sustainable transport SmartBus routes), increased connectivity system in greater Melbourne was released with other transport modes, improved safety by the Coalition for People’s Transport in on public transport and education programs 2004.43 The vision is a transport system that such as TravelSmart.47 To discourage inner is sustainable, responsive to community city commuting by car a $400 government needs and aims to meet each person’s levy will be imposed on 48 000 central city travelling needs. Objectives include: 75% parking spaces at the beginning of 2006. of Melbourne residents with seven day The levy will double in 2007.48

60 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 61 transport

The MTP proposals are encouraging first steps in the right direction towards an case study: welcome aboard the Kew school bus efficient comprehensive transport system. However, given historical trends in public The Kew Precinct in the City of Boroondara comprises six private schools transport use and very slow increase in use within an area of two square kilometres. The schools are all relatively over the past few years (Indicator TR3), it large and, as private schools, attract students from a broad geographical catchment. Traffic and parking congestion associated with school drop is unlikely that the proposed measures will off and pick up periods was a significant issue for the community and be enough to meet the 2020 objective – led to the need for a public transport service being tailored to the Kew especially as there is current lack of funding schools’ precinct. to support the MTP programs. In 1997 a trial of two 48-54 seater school bus services that perform In a positive step to encourage cycling, a circuit of all the Kew schools and extended to the outer suburbs of requirements were introduced in 2004 Templestowe and Warrandyte was implemented. This trial proved so into Victorian Planning Provisions (Clause successful that the program was expanded in 1999 to 11, 48-54 seater 52.34) for facilities for cyclists at large school buses. The routes now service the outer areas of Templestowe, new commercial and residential buildings. Eltham, Warrandyte, Donvale, North Fitzroy and Park Orchards and incorporate school bus stops at strategic locations. Space for bicycle parking as well as showers, change rooms and lockers will The popularity of the services can be best judged by the number of be required for new buildings larger than students using the buses, which are operating at or near capacity and 2 1000m . The regulations will also apply to that the bus routes can be found in the Melways. buildings undergoing a change of use and to extensions. Offices and shops larger Similar programs that target other schools in Boroondara are likely to be than 1000m2 will be required to include initiatives of the soon to be adopted Boroondara Integrated Transport at least one bike parking space for every Strategy. 300m2 of floor space.49 For more information contact the Boroondara City Council on 9278 4444 Free bicycle lockers are being installed at or visit www.boroondara.vic.gov.au train stations across Melbourne, through the Federal Government’s CycleConnect program and Department of Infrastructure (DOI). The program will increase the supply of bicycle lockers from 571 to 793 and programmes were the most effective. The waive the previous annual fee of $79.40 UK behaviour change programs resulted per year. This puts bicycles on a par with (in the largest study) in a shift of around cars, which have typically received free 5% of all trips. Single studies of commuter parking at stations. subsidies and a new railway station also showed positive effects. The balance of the best available evidence about publicity Behaviour change campaigns, engineering measures, and programs other interventions suggests that they have not been effective.50 It is one thing to know what we should be doing to improve the environment The Australian Government’s TravelSmart – it is another thing to actually do it. It is programme is a world leader in behaviour increasingly recognised in environmental change programs that result in very fields that we often need a little helping significant reduction in car travel rates.51 hand to make changes to our habitual The TravelSmart program aims for behaviours. Targeted behaviour change sustainable change in personal travel programs have been found to be a behaviour from single-car occupant to successful way to catalyse change. sustainable modes of travel, smarter car use and in some cases, travel A 2004 UK study assessed interventions substitution (teleworking). TravelSmart promoting a shift from using cars towards employs intensive, individualised marketing walking and cycling and found that, of campaigns conducted within local 22 studies, targeted behaviour change communities, schools, universities and

60 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 61 transport

workplaces, to ensure that people who Indicator TR8: TravelSmart pilot projects and growth opportunities might be swayed by the benefits of using alternative modes have full information about the choices available to them. �� TravelSmart programs are particularly effective at increasing the off-peak �� utilisation of� public�� transport.52 �� TravelSmart has been most extensively �� trialled in Western Australia where the �� 2 �� average reduction in car-kms travelled 3 2 �� 3 has been 13%.53 In Melbourne the �� programme is being trialled through DOI in �� 1 �� select metropolitan areas (Indicator TR8). 1 ��TravelSmart�� is�� likely�� to be most effective � �� in�� inner-to-middle�� suburbs�� where the � �� density of population is above average, the �� supply�� of� �� public�� transport�� is good, and the �� existing mode share (via public transport) �� is�� at�� least�� moderate.�� Successful pilot �� programs have been run along the Alamein 2 �� 3 train line and in the City of Darebin in 2003 �� and 2004 respectively (see case study: Alamein and Darebin travelling smart). 1 �� During 2005 TravelSmart was delivered to � �� 50 000 households in the municipalities of � �� Moonee Valley and Maribyrnong. Further large-scale TravelSmart projects have been �� proposed for up to 500 000 households in communities in inner and middle suburbs Source: Department of Infrastructure over the next 10 years.

Other programs designed to encourage case study: bike school sustainable transport use are Bicycle Ed (see case study: bike school), the Walking If children had a choice they would prefer to be allowed to walk or cycle School Bus and the MetLink Commuter to school. But often they do not ride because parents are worried about Club. busy roads and ‘stranger danger’. Cycling is a great way of increasing physical activity in children – a major concern in light of the rising problem The Walking School Bus program is a of childhood obesity. program coordinated by VicHealth to promote a fun and safe way for primary Bike Ed, a program set up by VicRoads and now managed by the Department of Education and Training, helps to address parental fears school children to travel to school. Children as well as teaching children to ride safely. It is a course taught at schools walk in a group led by an adult ‘driver’ in years four, five and six which instructs pupils on how to cycle safely with another adult supervisor at the rear. through teaching them bike handling skills, basic maintenance, road rules The ‘bus’ travels along a set route picking etc. A similar program, Cycle On, is taught in year’s seven to 12. up additional passengers at designated stops along the way. The program was Teachers can become bike Ed instructors by completing a two day first trialled in 2001 with four schools. In course. Parents and ancillary staff can also do a modified version of the 2005, 200 schools and over 2000 children course so they can assist with the program. There is a Bike Ed kit that were involved in the program throughout comes with everything that an instructor needs to know. Victoria. 54

For more information on Bike Ed or Cycle On visit Commuter Club is a program to encourage www.vicroads.vic.gov.au business employees to use public transport by offering members 10% off the cost Source: Bicycle Victoria 2004, Ride On, Vol 22, No6. of a Yearly Metcard. Businesses can

62 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 63 transport

choose to bulk-purchase tickets and then offer employees the ticket as part case study: Alamein and Darebin travelling smart of a salary package, or simply offer staff the discounted ticket prices as a one- Travel smart is a behaviour change program run by the Department of time payment. Businesses must have a Infrastructure that aims to increase sustainable travel. Two pilot programs minimum of 10 employees committed to have been completed in Melbourne: the first involving 6100 households in the Alamein train line corridor in 2003 and the second involving 30 000 purchasing a Yearly Metcard in order to join households in the City of Darebin in 2004. Households are individually Commuter Club (commuterclub@metlinkm contacted and offered information about travel options. The results from elbourne.com.au). In 2004 there were 107 both trials have shown encouraging trends towards use of sustainable active commuter clubs, which increased to transport 123 in 2005. As part of the Alamein trial: 2900 TravelSmart packages were home delivered,14 890 public transport timetables were distributed, 1279 What you can do to community members requested information on walking, 137 one-on-one meetings were held with householders regarding public transport and increase walking, 79 one-on-one visits were made by the TravelSmart team to discuss cycling options. At the same time Metlink upgraded public transport cycling and public signage and facilities in the area. At the end of the trial period: car driver trips were down 10%, public transport trips increased 27%, cycling trips transport use? increased 23% and walking trips increased 26% (relative to a control population who were not covered by the TravelSmart project). These promising results were and are consistent with findings in other programs Council conducted in Australian and overseas cities.

• Develop an integrated transport plan The much larger Darebin TravelSmart community project was run for your municipality that emphasises between March 2004 and April 2005. Using independent VicRoads data more sustainable transport options. there appeared to be reduction in on road traffic flows within the Darebin Better link land use and transport area over the period of the TravelSmart implementation. Across the year planning so that sustainable transport is traffic volumes decreased approximately 3% relative to the benchmark the preferred option for access to work, figures (March 2004). Further analysis is required to confirm the scale of change across all transport modes. Sales and validations of public facilities and services. transport tickets increased 4-5% at rail stations within Darebin, relative to • Provide bike and pedestrian ‘safe’ the rest of the network, with greater increases on the weekends. routes to school, open spaces and shopping centres. Provide and lobby Alamein TravelSmart impact for safe and comfortable access to and storage facilities at public transport �� interchanges. �� • Accelerate the development of the Principle Bicycle Network (PBN) and �� make the up-grade of existing paths a priority. Work with local bicycle groups to �� plan bike lanes and cycle-friendly traffic � �

� ��

calming devices. Connection to public � � � �� transport interchanges is particularly � �

important in the middle and outer � �� suburbs. Consider separating on-road � ��

� �� parking spaces and bike lanes. �

� ��

• Maximise opportunities for walking, � �� cycling and public transport use for �� . Help to establish new developments �� community or work place car pool programs, especially in areas where Sources: DOI and Richardson, A.J., Roddis, S., Arblaster, D., Attwood, D., public transport options are limited. Newman, J. 2005. The Role of Trend Analysis in the Evaluation of a Travel Smart Encourage car sharing companies Program, 28th Australian Transport Research Forum. offering the use of small, fuel efficient cars on a shared hire arrangement.

62 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 63 transport

• Encourage the uptake of road safety case study: ride your bike in Yarra. programs eg, RoadSmart (www.vicroads.vic.gov.au), Bike Ed The City of Yarra won the Cycling Promotion Fund’s national 2005 (see case study), and Walking School Bus Bicycling Achievement Award for Contribution by Local Government to (http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au). making Australia more bicycle friendly. • Encourage the adoption of the TravelSmart program at schools and Yarra has some of the highest levels of bicycle use in Australia. This is workplaces. partly due to the investment in bicycle facilities as well as Yarra’s inner city location, high levels of traffic congestion, a high student population • Provide incentives for staff to use and residents committed to sustainable transport. According to Census public transport, cycling and walking. ‘Journey to Work’ data 5.7% of Yarra workers arrived at work on a The case study: ride your bike in Yarra bike (the highest for the Melbourne metropolitan area). Between 1996 describes cycling incentives used by the and 2001 there was a 40.5 % increase in the number of work bicycle City Of Yarra. trips starting in Yarra and a 60.8% increase in the number arriving at workplaces in Yarra. • Encourage businesses to join the Metlink Commuter Club program The cornerstone of Yarra’s achievements in encouraging more cycling and offer yearly tickets as part of salary and making it safer is the construction of its bicycle network. Over the packages rather than cars. For more past two years the Council has invested $410 000 on improvement of information email commuterclub@metlink on-road network of bicycle lanes and off-road paths. The bicycle network melbourne.com.au. is also improved whenever other works are done on roads or paths. The Council actively pursues funding for various other improvements to the network such as major trail extensions or VicRoads funding. It installs Individuals bicycle parking rails on footpaths on request. • Leave your car at home – especially for In developing its bicycle network, the Council works closely with the short trips. community. Its enthusiastic Bicycle Advisory Committee -- made up of • Choose to ride, walk or catch public community members, staff and councillors -- meets six times a year and transport when possible. Ride or walk helps guide the priorities for building the bicycle network. to school with your children. Some of Yarra’s other cycling initiatives include: application of new • Choose to live in an area close to planning rules to ensure bike parking in new developments, bicycle public transport and other services to training for Council staff provided by the Victoria Police, mileage avoid car dependency. reimbursement for staff who use their own bikes for work, provision • Organise a commuter club at your of council-owned bikes for staff who ride more than 20 km a week for work. For more information email work purposes and “Share the road” stickers on rear view mirrors of the [email protected] Council’s car fleet to reduce car door crashes. Another initiative is the Council’s contribution to staff membership of Bicycle Victoria as well as • Shop locally, buy locally made goods to the RACV’s roadside service for cycle breakdowns, “Bike Assist”. and use local services • Work from home For more information contact the City of Yarra Transport Planner on 9205 • Minimise the number of cars per 5061 or visit www.yarracity.vic.gov.au household, buy a small car and rent a large one for holidays, share car ownership and car trips, join a local car pool and maintain your car regularly. • Lobby the State Government for better public transport services and facilities. • Lobby the State Government to increase annual funding for building the Principle Bike Network.

64 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 65 transport

case study: fleet cars size up on cost and greenhouse gas

Petroleum fuelled cars are the largest contributors to city air pollutions and one of the largest contributors to global warming. Manningham City Council purchased two Honda Hybrids (petrol/battery) over the past 12 months to demonstrate its support of new engine designs that decrease our economic dependency on oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

With the purchase price of Honda Civic Hybrids being around $31 000, these cars are now a realistic and affordable option for councils. A full life-cycle cost-benefit analysis of different fleet vehicles by Manningham City Council, found that while there is still a small cost premium for driving green (~$2000 per year), the Honda Civic Hybrid has significant benefits with regard to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Results show that Hybrid vehicles emitted at least 50% less greenhouse gas emissions than larger 6 or 8 cylinder cars running on petrol or LPG. With the small cost premium associated with hybrid cars destined to reduce even further, as the resale value of hybrids increases and petrol prices increase, purchasing Honda Civic Hybrids as fleet vehicles for councils makes sense. Note that the table uses a petrol price of $1.20 fixed for three years, which makes the figures likely to be somewhat conservative given the fuel price rises of 2005. Honda Civic Hybrids will become real economic alternatives to the 6 cylinder Holden when the resale value is 60% & petrol reaches $1.52 per litre.

Table: Running costs of a typical council fleet car for 12 months 20 000kms.

Purchase Purchase Fuel Price FIGURES Depreciation Price Price With Estimated Per LT @ Net Running Greenhouse BASED ON Estimated Fuel Lt/ Fuel Lt/ based on Excluding 4% Return Trade in Value 120c for Operating Costs Cents Gases CO2 20,000kms Life Years 100kms 20000km repayment GST Including Back To @ 3Yrs or 80K Petrol & 44c Cost Per Km Emissions (KG) TRAVEL P/A model Stamp Duty Council for LPG

Toyota Camry $24 000 $24 960 3 $16 500 9.5 1 900 $2 274 $3 049 $7 743 39c 4 370 4cyl Petrol

Holden 6cyl $24 500 $25 480 3 $16 500 12 2 400 $2 872 $3 236 $8 406 42c 5 520 petrol sedan

Magna 6 cyl $24 800 $25 792 3 $13 000 15 3 000 $1 323 $4 610 $8 241 41c 4 500 LPG Sedan

Toyota Corolla $22 500 $23 400 3 $12 000 8 1 600 $1 915 $3 784 $8 119 41c 3 680 4cyl Petrol

Ford 6cyl petrol $25 000 $26 000 3 $17 000 13 2 600 $3 112 $3 243 $8 743 44c 5 980 XT Sedan

Ford 6cyl LPG $25 800 $26 832 3 $14 000 17 3 400 $1 499 $4 624 $8 500 42c 5 100 XT Sedan

Honda Civic $31 000 $32 240 3 $15 000 6 1 200 $1 436 $6 212 $10 195 51c 2 760 Hybrid

Holden 8cyl $31 000 $32 240 3 $18 000 14 2 800 $3 351 $5 131 $10 940 55c 6 440 petrol sedan

Toyota Prius $45 000 $46 800 3 $19 000 6 1 200 $1 436 $10 018 $13 984 70c 2 760 Hybrid

Assumptions: a fixed petrol price at $1.20 per litre for the next three years and depreciation for petrol cars (Holden 6 cyl is approx 33%) is less than Hybrids (Honda Hybrid approx 52%). The resale values at the end of the life are based on 3 yrs or 80 000km. Purchase prices will vary depending on model variant of a particular vehicle type. Trade in figures are base on current wholesale prices or forecasted residual amounts and are a guide only. 4 cylinder cars and hybrids are serviced every 10 000km, 6 and 8 cylinder and LPG every 15 000km.

Further information contact Manningham City Council on 9840 9333

64 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 65 references

Introduction Biodiversity

i Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004, 4602.0 Environmental 1 Commonwealth of Australia 1996, The National Strategy for the Issues: People’s Views and Practices, [Online], 20.4.04, Available Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity, Commonwealth at: http://www.abs.gov.au Department of Environment, Sport and Territories, Canberra. 2 Saunders, D.A. 2005, Biodiversity: What is it and Why is it Important, Biodiversity, Water, Energy and Society: Towards a Sustainable Air Quality Future, Alfred Deakin Innovation Lectures, Melbourne. 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics 1996, Australians and the 1 Environment Protection Authority Victoria unpublished data. Environment, ABS, Canberra. 2 EPA Victoria, Car EcoMeter, [Online] 14.7.05], Available at: 4 ABS, Measuring Australia’s Progress 2002: The Supplementary http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/Air/CarEcometer/default.asp Commentaries: Biodiversity: Looking More Closely, [Online], 21.5.03, Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au 3 EPA Victoria 2005, Victoria’s Air Quality 2004, EPA Publication 1000, 5 EPA Victoria State of the Environment Advisory Council 1996, Australian State of the Environment 1996, An independent report to the Commonwealth 4 National Pollution Inventory, NPI location report – All sources: Port of Australia, CSIRO Publishing. Phillip Region, VIC Airshed, [Online], 14.8.05, Available at: 6 Sattler, P. and Creighton, C. 2002, Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity http://www.npi.gov.au Assessment 2002, National Land and Water Resources Audit, 5 As for 1. Canberra 6 Kjelistrom, T.E., Neiler, A., Simpson, R.S. 2002, Air Pollution and Its 7 Data courtesy of Department of Sustainability and Environment, Flora Health Impacts: The Changing Panorama, Medical Journal of Australia, Information System (January 2004) and Victorian Fauna Database 117, 604-608. (March 2004) 8 7 EPA Victoria 2004, Victoria’s Air Quality – 2003, EPA Publication 951, Bekessey, S. Wintle, B, Davis, N., White, D., Moilanen, A., McCarthy, EPA Victoria M. and Buxton, M. in prep. Can biodiversity planning be better managed under Melbourne 2030? 8 EPA Victoria 2001, Ambient Air Quality NEPM Monitoring Plan 9 Whetton, P.H., Suppiah, R., McInnes, K.L., Hennessy, K.J. and Victoria, EPA Publication 763, EPA Victoria Jones, R.N. 2002, Climate Change in Victoria: High Resolution 9 EPA Victoria, Air State Environment Protection Policies, [Online], Regional Assessment of Climate Change Impacts, Department of 27.7.05, Available at: http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/Air/EPA/default.asp Natural Resources and Environment and CSIRO, Victoria. 10 As for 3. 10 Brereton, R., Bennet, S. and Mansergh, I. 1995, Enhanced Greenhouse Climate Change and its Potential Effect on Selected 11 As for 3. Fauna of South-Eastern Australia: A Trend Analysis, Biological 12 EPA Victoria, Melbourne’s Air Quality, [Online] 14.7.05], Available at: Conservation 72, 339-354 http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/Air/aqa.asp 11 The fauna list does not include marine mammals and pelagic birds 13 As for 7. since these do not effectively occur in the metro area. 14 EPA pers. comm. 12 As for 7. 13 15 As for 3. Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority 2004, Port Phillip and Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy 16 As for 3. 2004-2009, PPWCMA, Melbourne 17 As for 7. 14 Data courtesy of DSE 18 E As for 3. 15 As for 14. 19 As for 12. 16 Department of Infrastructure 2000, Environmental Issues and their 20 EPA Victoria 2005, Ozone Monitoring at Craigieburn, September Impact on Metropolitan Melbourne Strategy, DOI 2003 to June 200, EPA Publication 1003, [Online], 26.7.05, 17 Woodgate P.W., Peel W.D., Ritman, K.T, Coram, J.E, Brady, A.J. Available at: http://www.epa.vic.gov.au and Banks J.C.G 1994, A Study of the Old-Growth Forests of East Gippsland, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 21 As for 7. Victoria. 22 EPA Victoria 2001, Draft Air Quality Improvement Plan, [Online], 18As for 14. 12.7.05, Available at: http://www/epa/vic.gov.au/Air/aqip.asp 19As for 14. 23 EPA Victoria, New Requirements for Wood Heaters, [Online], 20 Department of Sustainability and Environment, Bioregions of Victoria, 15.7.05, Available at: http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/Air/woodheater_ [Online], 20.6.05, Available at: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/ requirements.asp vrosite.nsf/pages/biodiversity_bioregions_vic 24 Department of Environment and Heritage 2004, National Wood 21 Sattler, P and Creighton, C 2002, Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Heater Audit Program Report, [Online], 14.7.04, Available at: http: Assessment 2002, National Land and Water Resources Audit, //www.deh.gov.au/atmosphere/airquality/publications/audit- Canberra program.html 22 As for 5. 25 As for 12. 23 As for 13. 26 EPA Victoria, Wood Heaters, Open Fires and Air Quality, [Online], 24 Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority 20.5.05, Available at: http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/Air/woodheaters_ 2004, Port Phillip and Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy tips.asp 2004-2009, PPWCMA, Melbourne 27 DEH, Breathe-the-benefits, [Online], 10.5.05, Available at: http: 25 DSE 2005, BioSites Update, Port Phillip Region, Department of //www.deh.gov.au/atmosphere/airquality/publications/breathe-the- Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne. benefits.html 26 DSE, Melbourne 2030, 9.4.05, [Online], Available at: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/Melbourne2030

66 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 67 references

27 As for 13. 23 Enker, R. 2005, BCA Revisions, Sustainability and Directions in the 28 Victorian Government 2005, Our Environment, Our Future: Victoria’s Victorian Regulatory Environment, Green Building and Design Course, Environmental Sustainability Framework, DSE When Going Green Makes Dollars and Sense, Centre for Design, RMIT 24 29 DSE 2002, Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management: A Framework As for 15. for Action, DSE, Melbourne 25 As for 15. 30 DSE, Victoria’s Biodiversity – the Strategy, [Online], 24.6.05, 26 DSE, Sustainability in the Built Environment, [Online], 28.7.05, Available at http://www.dse.vic.gov.au Available at: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au 31 DSE, Melbourne 2030, 9.4.05, [Online], Available at: 27 As for 23. http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/Melbourne2030 28 Australian Building Greenhouse Rating, Rated Buildings, [Online], 32 As for 13. 28.7.05, Available at: http://www.abgr.com.au/public_assessment_ 33 As for 13. list.asp 29 34 As for 28. Green Building Council of Australia, [Online], 28.7.05, Available at: http://www.gbcaus.org 35 As for 13. 30 Green Building Council of Australia pers. comm. 36 As for 13. 37 Department of Infrastructure 2002, VPP Planning Practice Note – Biodiversity. DOI, Melbourne (Available from DSE website www.dse.vic.gov.au) Litter 1 Community Change 2004, Littering Behaviour Studies National Benchmark 2003, Beverage Industry Environment Council, Sydney Buildings 2 Victorian Litter Action Alliance, FACT SHEET – Cigarette Butt Litter, [Online], 12.4.05, Available at: http://www.litter.vic.gov.au 1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year Book Australia, Population: Households and Families, [Online], 18.8.05, Available at: 3 VLAA, Environmental Impacts, [Online], 12.4.05, Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au http://www.litter.vic.gov.au 4 2 ABS, Building Approvals, Australia 2002, Construction: Special Article As for 3. – Average Floor Area of New Dwelling, [Online], 18.8.05, Available at: 5 As for 2. http://www.abs.gov.au 6 As for 1. 3 Pears, A. 2005, Carbon, Capital and Costing Green Design: The ROI 7 As for 2. Revolution, Green Building and Design Course, When Going Green 8 Makes Dollars and Sense, Centre for Design, RMIT. As for 1. 9 4 As for 3. Community Change 2005, Littering Behaviour Studies National Benchmark 2004, Beverage Industry Environment Council, Sydney 5 As for 3. 10 As for 9. 6 Williams, L. 2005, When ESD Costs More, and When It Doesn’t: 11 Current and Future Trends, Green Building and Design Course, When Community Change 2003, Victorian Litter Monitoring Protocol Pilot Going Green Makes Dollars and Sense, Centre for Design, RMIT. Test and Benchmarks using the Clean Communities Assessment Tool, EcoRecycle Victoria 7 As for 6. 12 EPA unpublished data. 8 As for 3 13 EPA Victoria, 2005, Port Phillip Bay Beach litter Survey 2003-04, 9 Department of Natural Resource and Environment 2002, Victoria’s Publication 996, EPAV. Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990, 1995, 1999: End Use Allocation of 14 Emission, George Wilkenfeld & Associates Pty Ltd. As for 11. 15 10 As for 9. Community Change 2003, Victorian Litter Monitoring Protocol Pilot Test and Benchmarks using the Clean Communities Assessment Tool, 11 As for 9. EcoRecycle Victoria 12 Victorian Government 2005, Victorian Greenhouse Strategy Action 16 EcoRecycle 2003, Towards Zero Waste: A Material Efficiency Plan Update, Department of Sustainability and Environment. Strategy for Victoria, summary draft for consultation, EcoRecycle, 13 As for 9. Victoria. 14 Sustainability Victoria pers comm. 17 VLAA, Changing Littering Behaviours, [Online], 1.4.05, Available at: 15 Taper, B. 2005, Has BASIX delivered? The NSW Experience to Date. http://www.litter.vic.gov.au Next Steps? Green Building and Design Course, When Going Green 18 VLAA 2004, The Litter Champion Project Annual Report 2003-2004, Makes Dollars and Sense, Centre for Design, RMIT. VLAA 16 Melbourne Water, [Online], 28.7.05, Available at 19 VLAA 2004, Litter Prevention and Capacity Building Survey 2002- http://www.melbournewater.com.au 2004, VLAA. 17 Savewater.com.au, Saving Water in the Home, [Online], 29.7.05, 20 As for 18. Available at: http://www.savewater.com.au 21 As for 18. 18 Ecorecycle, Waste Generation Data, [Online],24.5.05, Available at: 22 As for 19. http://www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au 23 Butt Littering Trust, About the Trust, [Online], 3.3.05, Available at: 19 EcoRecycle, Construction and Demolition Waste, [Online], 28.7.05, http://buttlitteringtrust.org Available at: http://www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au/www/html/978- construction—demolition-waste.asp 20 As for 19. 21 As for 19. 22 Hal Dobbins, Ecospecifierpers comm.

66 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 67 references

Transport 24 ABS, 4602.0 Environmental Issues: People’s Views and Practices, 1Victorian Government 2004, Linking Melbourne: Metropolitan Transport [Online], 23.4.05, Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au Plan, Victorian Government 25 As for 22. 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics 1985, 9309.0 Motor Vehicle Census, 26 As for 1. ABS 27 PTUA, The Problem with Melbourne Transport, [Online], 5.5.05, 3 ABS 9309.0 Motor Vehicle Census, Australia [Online], 23.4.05, Available at: http://www.ptua.org.au Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au 28 As for 22. 4 As for 3. 29 Bicycle Victoria, Path Health Fix, [Online], 25.4.05, Available at: 5Department of Infrastructure, Know Your Area, [Online], 10.8.05, http://www.bv.com.au Available at: http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/knowyour.nsf 30Melbourne 2030, Melbourne 2030 – Publications: Challenge 6 ABS, 4602.0 Environmental Issues: People’s Views and Practices, Melbourne, [Online], 5.8.05, Available at http://www.dse.vic.gov.au [Online], 23.4.05, Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au 31Melbourne 2030, Integrated Transport, [Online], 5.8.05, Available at: 7 ABS 1982, 9208 Survey of Motor vehicle use, ABS http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/melbourne2030online/ 8 ABS, 9208 Survey of Motor vehicle use, [Online], 8.8.05, Available at: 32 DOI, Public Transport, [Online], 24.6.05. Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/internet/transport.nsf 9 ABS, 3105.0.65.001 Australian Historical Population Statistics – 33 PTUA, Quick Facts, [Online], 5.5.05, Available at: Population Distribution: table 18. population(a), capital city and balance http://www.ptua.org.au of state(b), states and territories, 1901 onwards, [Online], 8.8.05, 34 As for 8. Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au 35 Coalition for People’s Transport 2004, The Place to Be on PT: A Vision 10 As for 1. for Greater Melbourne’s Transport, Coalition for People’s Transport. 11 Metropolitan Transport Forum undated, Creating Choices: The 36 As for 29. Transport Web, MTF Melbourne. 37 Environment Victoria, Melbourne’s Public Transport: On the Move, 12 Royal Automobile Club of Victoria 2005, Driving Your Dollars, Royal 24.5.05, [Online], Available at: http://www.envict.org.au Auto, 73(6), Melbourne. 38 As for 22. 13 Metlink, Fares and Zones, [Online], 25.7.05, 39 See Bulletin 6. http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ 40 VicRoads 2004, Cycling to Work in Melbourne 1976-2001, VicRoads 14 Robinson, B. and Powrie, S. 2004, Oil Depletion: the Crucial factor Bicycle Programs, Melbourne in Transport Planning, Paper presented to the 27th Australian Transport Research Forum, Adelaide, 29 Sept – 1 Oct. 41 As for 38. 15 Victorian Government 2005, Victorian Greenhouse Strategy Action 42 Bicycle Victoria, Bike Count Statistics, [Online], 7.7.05, Available at: Plan Update, Department of Sustainability and Environment http://www.bv.com.au 16 Department of Natural Resource and Environment 2002, Victoria’s 43 As for 35. Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990, 1995, 1999: End Use Allocation of 44 As for 34. Emissions, George Wlikenfeld & Associates Pty Ltd. 45 As for 1. 17 Kenworth, J.R. 2003, Transport Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas 46 As for 29. in Urban Passenger Transport Systems: A Study of 84 Global Cities, 47 Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy, Murdoch University. As for 29. 48 18 Public Transport Users Association, Common myths about transport, The Age 2005, Tax Slug to Fight City Gridlock, April 23. [Online], 27.7.05, Available at: 49 Department of Sustainability and Environment, Project Overview: http://www.ptua.org.au/myths/boyapati.shtml Bicycle Facilities Provisions for the Victorian Planning Provisions, 19 Boyapati, E., Hartono, A. and Rowbottom, J. 2003, Comparison of [Online], 25.7.05, Available at: http://dse.vic.gov.au Emissions from the Public Transport System and Private Cars, 8th Cairo 50 Ogilvie D., Egan M., Hamilton V., Petticrew M. 2004, Promoting International Conference on Energy and Environment. walking and cycling as an alternative to using cars: systematic review, 20 Foran, B., Lenzen, M. and Dey, C. 2005, A Triple Bottom Line Analysis British Medical Journal, 2004;329:763 of the Australian Economy, CSIRO technical report 51 As for 13. 21 As for 16. 52 TravelSmart, [Online], 9.8.06, Available at: 22 As for 17. http://www.travelsmart.gov.au 53 23 City of Port Phillip, Travel Data, [Online], 10.8.05, Available at: As for 13. http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/travel_data.html 54 VicHealth pers. comm..

68 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 69 appendices

Appendix A Bioregional Conservation Status of Ecological Vegetation Classes/Mapunits in Metropolitan Melbourne 2005

Ecological Vegetation Bioregional Ecological Vegetation Bioregional Ecological Vegetation Bioregional BIOREGION Conservation BIOREGION Conservation BIOREGION Conservation Class\Mapunit Status Class\Mapunit Status Class\Mapunit Status

Central Victorian Uplands Grassy Dry Forest Depleted Gippsland Plain Spray-zone Coastal Shrubland Rare Highlands - Southern Fall Riparian Scrub Vulnerable Central Victorian Uplands Creekline Grassy Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Box Ironbark Forest Vulnerable Highlands - Southern Fall Riparian Scrub/Swampy Riparian Vulnerable Central Victorian Uplands Escarpment Shrubland Endangered Gippsland Plain Coast Banksia Woodland Vulnerable Woodland Complex Central Victorian Uplands Grassy Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Coast Banksia Woodland/Coastal Vulnerable Highlands - Southern Fall Riparian Thicket Vulnerable Central Victorian Uplands Plains Grassy Woodland Endangered Dune Scrub Mosaic Highlands - Southern Fall Shrubby Gully Forest Vulnerable Central Victorian Uplands Riparian Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Coastal Saltmarsh/Mangrove Vulnerable Highlands - Southern Fall Stream Bank Shrubland Vulnerable Shrubland Mosaic Central Victorian Uplands Heathy Dry Forest Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Swampy Woodland Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Damp Heathy Woodland Vulnerable Central Victorian Uplands Shrubby Dry Forest Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Valley Grassy Forest Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland Vulnerable Central Victorian Uplands Shrubby Foothill Forest Least Concern Otway Plain Berm Grassy Shrubland Endangered Gippsland Plain Herb-rich Foothill Forest Vulnerable Central Victorian Uplands Box Ironbark Forest Vulnerable Otway Plain Coastal Saltmarsh Endangered Gippsland Plain Lowland Forest Vulnerable Central Victorian Uplands Grassy Forest Vulnerable Otway Plain Creekline Grassy Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Riparian Forest Vulnerable Central Victorian Uplands Hills Herb-rich Woodland Vulnerable Otway Plain Estuarine Wetland/Estuarine Swamp Endangered Gippsland Plain Riparian Scrub Vulnerable Scrub Mosaic Central Victorian Uplands Rocky Chenopod Woodland Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Riparian Scrub/Swampy Riparian Vulnerable Otway Plain Floodplain Riparian Woodland Endangered Central Victorian Uplands Stream Bank Shrubland Vulnerable Woodland Complex Otway Plain Plains Grassy Woodland Endangered Central Victorian Uplands Valley Grassy Forest Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Riparian Thicket Vulnerable Victorian Alps Damp Forest Least Concern Gippsland Plain Clay Heathland/Wet Heathland/ Depleted Gippsland Plain Sedge Wetland Vulnerable Riparian Scrub Mosaic Victorian Alps EVC Least Concern Gippsland Plain Shrubby Gully Forest Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Coastal Alkaline Scrub Depleted Victorian Alps Herb-rich Foothill Forest Least Concern Gippsland Plain Valley Grassy Forest Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Coastal Headland Scrub Depleted Victorian Alps Montane Damp Forest Least Concern Highlands - Northern Fall Shrubby Foothill Forest Depleted Gippsland Plain Coastal Headland Scrub/Coastal Depleted Victorian Alps Montane Riparian Thicket Least Concern Tussock Grassland Mosaic Highlands - Northern Fall Damp Forest Least Concern Victorian Alps Montane Wet Forest Least Concern Gippsland Plain Sand Heathland/Wet Heathland Depleted Highlands - Northern Fall EVC Least Concern Victorian Alps Riparian Forest Least Concern Mosaic Highlands - Northern Fall Heathy Dry Forest Least Concern Victorian Alps Shrubby Foothill Forest Least Concern Gippsland Plain Wet Heathland Depleted Highlands - Northern Fall Herb-rich Foothill Forest Least Concern Victorian Alps Wet Forest Least Concern Gippsland Plain Aquatic Herbland Endangered Highlands - Northern Fall Montane Damp Forest Least Concern Victorian Alps Blackthorn Scrub Rare Gippsland Plain Berm Grassy Shrubland Endangered Highlands - Northern Fall Montane Wet Forest Least Concern Victorian Alps Cool Temperate Rainforest Rare Gippsland Plain Coastal Dune Grassland Endangered Highlands - Northern Fall Riparian Forest Least Concern Victorian Alps mosaic Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Coastal Saltmarsh/Coastal Dune Endangered Highlands - Northern Fall Wet Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Box Ironbark Forest Depleted Grassland/Coastal Dune Scrub/ Highlands - Northern Fall Cool Temperate Rainforest Vulnerable Victorian Volcanic Plain Coastal Dune Scrub Depleted Coastal Headland Scrub Mosaic Highlands - Southern Fall Clay Heathland/Wet Heathland/ Depleted Victorian Volcanic Plain Grassy Dry Forest Depleted Gippsland Plain Creekline Grassy Woodland Endangered Riparian Scrub Mosaic Victorian Volcanic Plain Shrubby Foothill Forest Depleted Gippsland Plain Creekline Herb-rich Woodland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Damp Heathy Woodland Depleted Victorian Volcanic Plain Aquatic Herbland Endangered Gippsland Plain Damp Forest Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Damp Heathy Woodland/Grassy Dry Depleted Victorian Volcanic Plain Berm Grassy Shrubland Endangered Gippsland Plain Escarpment Shrubland Endangered Forest Complex Victorian Volcanic Plain Coastal Saltmarsh Endangered Gippsland Plain Estuarine Flats Grassland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Grassy Woodland Depleted Victorian Volcanic Plain Creekline Grassy Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Floodplain Riparian Woodland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Swampy Riparian Woodland Depleted Victorian Volcanic Plain Escarpment Shrubland Endangered Gippsland Plain Floodplain Wetland Complex Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Wet Heathland Depleted Victorian Volcanic Plain Estuarine Wetland/Estuarine Swamp Endangered Gippsland Plain Grassy Forest Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Aquatic Herbland Endangered Scrub Mosaic Gippsland Plain Grassy Woodland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Coast Banksia Woodland Endangered Victorian Volcanic Plain Floodplain Riparian Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Gully Woodland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Creekline Herb-rich Woodland Endangered Victorian Volcanic Plain Floodplain Wetland Complex Endangered Gippsland Plain Plains Grassland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Escarpment Shrubland Endangered Victorian Volcanic Plain Grassy Forest Endangered Gippsland Plain Plains Grassy Wetland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Floodplain Riparian Woodland Endangered Victorian Volcanic Plain Grassy Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Plains Grassy Woodland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Floodplain Wetland Complex Endangered Victorian Volcanic Plain Grey Clay Drainage-line Herbland- Endangered Gippsland Plain Plains Swampy Woodland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Plains Grassland Endangered Sedgeland Complex Gippsland Plain Riparian Woodland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Plains Grassy Woodland Endangered Victorian Volcanic Plain Lignum Wetland Endangered Gippsland Plain Swamp Scrub Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Swamp Scrub Endangered Victorian Volcanic Plain Plains Grassland Endangered Gippsland Plain Swampy Riparian Complex Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Swampy Riparian Complex Endangered Victorian Volcanic Plain Plains Grassy Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Swampy Riparian Woodland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Valley Heathy Forest Endangered Victorian Volcanic Plain Plains Woodland/Plains Grassland Endangered Gippsland Plain Swampy Woodland Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Wetland Formation Endangered Mosaic Gippsland Plain Valley Heathy Forest Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Damp Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Red Gum Wetland Endangered Gippsland Plain Wetland Formation Endangered Highlands - Southern Fall Grassy Dry Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Riparian Scrub Endangered Gippsland Plain Coastal Dune Scrub Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Heathy Dry Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Riparian Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Coastal Dune Scrub/Coastal Dune Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Heathy Woodland Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Stream Bank Shrubland Endangered Grassland Mosaic Highlands - Southern Fall Herb-rich Foothill Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Swamp Scrub Endangered Gippsland Plain Coastal Saltmarsh Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Lowland Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Swampy Riparian Complex Endangered Gippsland Plain Coastal Tussock Grassland Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Montane Damp Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Swampy Riparian Woodland Endangered Gippsland Plain Estuarine Wetland/Estuarine Swamp Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Montane Wet Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Wetland Formation Endangered Scrub Mosaic Highlands - Southern Fall Riparian Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Heathy Dry Forest Least Concern Gippsland Plain Grassy Dry Forest Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Shrubby Dry Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Brackish Wetland Presumed Gippsland Plain Heathy Woodland Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Shrubby Foothill Forest Least Concern Extinct Gippsland Plain Mangrove Shrubland Least Concern Highlands - Southern Fall Wet Forest Least Concern Victorian Volcanic Plain Estuarine Flats Grassland Presumed Gippsland Plain Brackish Wetland Presumed Extinct Highlands - Southern Fall Blackthorn Scrub Rare Extinct Victorian Volcanic Plain Plains Grassy Wetland Presumed Highlands - Southern Fall Damp Heathland Rare Gippsland Plain Brackish Grassland Rare Extinct Highlands - Southern Fall Box Ironbark Forest Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Coast Banksia Woodland/Swamp Rare Victorian Volcanic Plain Coast Banksia Woodland Vulnerable Highlands - Southern Fall Cool Temperate Rainforest Vulnerable Scrub Mosaic Victorian Volcanic Plain Riparian Forest Vulnerable Highlands - Southern Fall Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Damp Heathland Rare Victorian Volcanic Plain Rocky Chenopod Woodland Vulnerable Highlands - Southern Fall Grassy Forest Vulnerable Gippsland Plain Sand Heathland Rare Victorian Volcanic Plain Valley Grassy Forest Vulnerable Highlands - Southern Fall Gully Woodland Vulnerable Source: DSE

68 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 69 appendices

Appendix B. Threatened fauna recorded in Appendix C Threatened flora recorded in metropolitan Melbourne, 1994 – 2004 metropolitan Melbourne, 1994 - 2004

National* Victorian** National* Victorian** Status Status Status Status Trees Mammals Spotted Gum Corymbia maculata v Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa v Bacchus Marsh Varnish Acacia verniciflua (Bacchus Marsh v Spot-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus V e Wattle variant) Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii E c Studley Park Gum Eucalyptus X studleyensis e Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus obesulus E n Buxton Gum Eucalyptus crenulata E e Leadbeater’s Possum Gymnobelideus leadbeateri E e Melbourne Yellow-gum Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. connata v Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus V v Large-fruit Yellow-gum Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. e Eastern Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus megaphyllus v megalocarpa Tree Geebung Persoonia arborea v Birds Raptors Shrubs Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae v Coast Bitter-bush Adriana quadripartita v Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura v Coast Bitter-bush Adriana quadripartita (pubescent form) v Black Falcon Falco subniger v Rare Bitter-bush Adriana quadripartita s.s. (glabrous form) e White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster v Shiny Nematolepis Nematolepis wilsonii V v Waterfowl Round-leaf Pomaderris Pomaderris vacciniifolia v Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis v Small Milkwort Comesperma polygaloides v Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis e Spiny Rice-flower Pimelea spinescens e Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa e Spiny Rice-flower Pimelea spinescens subsp. spinescens C v Hardhead Aythya australis v Forbs and Herbs Musk Duck Biziura lobata v Tall Astelia Astelia australiana V v Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata v Grey Billy-buttons Craspedia canens e Wetland and shorebirds Bell-flower Hyacinth-orchid Dipodium campanulatum e Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus e Woolly Waterlily Philydrum lanuginosum v Great Egret Ardea alba v Maroon Leek-orchid Prasophyllum frenchii E e Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia c Naked Sun-orchid Thelymitra circumsepta v Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus e Charming Spider-orchid Caladenia amoena E e Little Egret Egretta garzetta e Wine-lipped Spider-orchid Caladenia oenochila v Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla v Little Pink Spider-orchid Caladenia rosella E e Lewin’s Rail Rallus pectoralis v Kilsyth South Spider-orchid Caladenia sp. aff. venusta (Kilsyth South) e Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollis v Forest Bitter-cress Cardamine papillata v Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus v Annual Bitter-cress Cardamine paucijuga s.s. v Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis V c Small Scurf-pea Cullen parvum E e Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa v Tough Scurf-pea Cullen tenax e Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos v Matted Flax-lily Dianella amoena E e Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus e Arching Flax-lily Dianella sp. aff. longifolia (Benambra) v Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola v Proud Diuris Diuris X fastidiosa e Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia v Brolga Grus rubicunda v Sunshine Diuris Diuris fragrantissima E e Terns Swamp Diuris Diuris palustris v Fairy Tern Sterna nereis e Purple Diuris Diuris punctata var. punctata v Little Tern Sterna albifrons v Small Golden Moths Diuris sp. aff. chryseopsis (Basalt Plains) E v Bush birds Purple Eyebright Euphrasia collina subsp. muelleri E e Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius e Rough Eyebright Euphrasia scabra e Helmeted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops Austral Cranesbill Geranium solanderi var. solanderi s.s. v E c Large-flower Cranesbill Geranium sp. 1 e cassidix Basalt Peppercress Lepidium hyssopifolium E e Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia E c Plains Yam-daisy Microseris sp. 1 v Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Hylacola pyrrhopygia v Basalt Podolepis Podolepis sp. 1 e Speckled Warbler Chthonicola sagittata v Green Leek-orchid Prasophyllum lindleyanum v Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata v Silurian Leek-orchid Prasophyllum pyriforme s.s. e Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis e Fragrant Leek-orchid Prasophyllum suaveolens E e Plains-wanderer Pedionomus torquatus V c Leafy Greenhood Pterostylis cucullata V v Parrots Prawn Greenhood Pterostylis pedoglossa v Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster E c Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii V e Brittle Greenhood Pterostylis truncata e Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor E e Button Wrinklewort Rutidosis leptorhynchoides E e Owls Large-fruit Fireweed Senecio macrocarpus V e Barking Owl Ninox connivens e Swamp Fireweed Senecio psilocarpus V v Powerful Owl Ninox strenua v Pallid Sun-orchid Thelymitra sp. aff. pauciflora (Coastal) e Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae e Austral Toad-flax Thesium australe V v Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa v Swamp Everlasting Xerochrysum palustre V v Reptiles Coast Helmet-orchid Corybas despectans v Broad-shelled Tortoise Chelodina expansa e Southern Pedinophyllum Pedinophyllum monoicum v Striped Legless Lizard Delma impar V e Clover Glycine Glycine latrobeana V v Swamp Skink Egernia coventryi v Pale Swamp Everlasting Helichrysum aff. rutidolepis (Lowland v Tree Goanna Varanus varius v Swamps) Frogs Fairy Lanterns Thismia rodwayi v Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis V e Grasses/Sedges Brown Toadlet Pseudophryne bibronii e Brickmakers’ Sedge Gahnia grandis v Southern Toadlet Pseudophryne semimarmorata v Plump Swamp Wallaby-grass Amphibromus pithogastrus e Fish Curly Sedge Carex tasmanica V v Dwarf Galaxias Galaxiella pusilla V v River Swamp Wallaby-grass Amphibromus fluitans V Pale Mangrove Goby Mugilogobius paludis v Ferns Macquarie Perch Macquaria australasica E e Venus-hair Fern Adiantum capillus-veneris e Murray Cod Maccullochella peelii peelii V e Austral Moonwort Botrychium australe v Freshwater Catfish Tandanus tandanus e Skirted Tree-fern Cyathea X marcescens v Australian Grayling Prototroctes maraena V v Slender Tree-fern Cyathea cunninghamii v Invertebrates Beech Finger-fern Grammitis magellanica subsp. v Eltham Copper Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida v nothofageti Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana C e Epiphytes Mt Donna Buang Stonefly Riekoperla darlingtoni v Buloke Mistletoe Amyema linophylla subsp. orientale v

*E= Endangered V= vulnerable (EPBC Act) **c= Critically endangered, e= Endangered, v= Vulnerable, n=Near threatened Source: DSE Corporate GIS June 2005

70 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 71 acknowledgements

Air Quality

Mark Coffey (Enviromatters Pty Ltd) Dietmar Dinges, Warwick Hoffmann, Melanie Middleton, Marilyn Ollif, Tony Robinson, Barry Warwick and Martine Yan (Environmental Protection Authority Victoria) Silvana Predebon (City of Yarra)

Biodiversity

Nevil Amos, Scott Leech, Karen Lester, Peter Menkhorst (Department of Sustainability and Environment) Sarah Bekessy, Alex Lechner (RMIT University) Samantha Bradley (Manningham City Council) Lisa Di Felice (City of Booroondara) Bridget Hayes (Melbourne Zoo) Lisa Kermode (Banyule City Council) Julie Kirkwood (Threatened Species Network) Ray Radford (Merri Creek Management Committee) Penny Richards (Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority) Mary Trigger (Sustainable Gardening Australia)

Buildings

Brock Baker, Doug McPherson, Paul Murfitt and Katrina Woolfe, (Sustainability Victoria) Hal Dobbins (Ecospecifier) Sigmund Fritschy (City of Dandenong) David Mayes (AIUS) Kim McDonald (City of Melbourne) Lalitha Ramachandran (City of Darebin)

Litter

Renate Britton, Henry Pepper (Beverage Industry Environment Council) Karen Cossin (Sustainability Victoria) Michael Dodd, Lana Collison (Bayside City Council) Lisa Kermode (Banyule City Council) Chris Stephenson (Parks Victoria) Steve Watson (EPA Victoria)

Transport

Kate Alder (DSE) David Attwood, Yana Kletsel (MetLink) Brock Baker (Sustainability Victoria) Geoff Baker (Australian Institute of Urban Studies) Faye Adams (Manningham City Council) Richard Smithers (City of Yarra) Lalitha Ramachandran (City of Darebin) Steve Roddis (Department of Infrastructure) Jan Scheurer (RMIT) Roopa Umesh (VicHealth)

70 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8 71 72 Environmental Indicators for Metropolitan Melbourne – Bulletin 8