Page 1 8/08/2008 Shire of Hindmarsh, Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value (WCMA 2007) Decision Guidelines ESO 5 & ESO6 INCORPORATED DOCUMENT Shire of Hindmarsh, Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value (WCMA 2007) . Decision Guidelines ESO 5 & ESO6 INCORPORATED DOCUMENT (AMENDMENT C6) AUTHORISATION NO. A724 Page 2 8/08/2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction .................................................................................................. 4 2. Conservation Values of Wetlands 5 2.1 Depleted wetland type since 1994 mapping 5 2.2 Level of Naturalness 5 2.3 Wildlife Conservation Reserve 5 2.4 Threatened Wetland Flora 5 2.5 Threatened Wetland Fauna 6 2.6 Ramsar 6 2.7 Listed on the Directory of Significant wetlands 6 3. Land Use and Development to be managed........................................ 6 3.1 Generation of waste water 7 3.2 Silviculture 7 3.3 Leisure and Recreation 7 3.4 Mineral, Stone or Soil extraction 7 3.5 Construction of a building 7 3.6 Removal, destruction, or lopping of vegetation. 7 3.7 Construction or carrying out of earthworks 8 3.8 The construction of a fence 8 3.9 Subdivision 8 4. How to use the Decision Guidelines 9 4.1 Step 1 9 4.2 Step 2 9 4.3 Step 3 9 4.4 Step 4 10 4.5 Step 5 10 Shire of Hindmarsh, Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value (WCMA 2007) . Decision Guidelines ESO 5 & ESO6 INCORPORATED DOCUMENT (AMENDMENT C6) AUTHORISATION NO. A724 Page 3 8/08/2008 5. Application Requirements 10 6. Reference Documents 11 7. Appendices 12 7.1 Appendix 1 12 Table 1 List of Wetlands of conservation value; their conservation 12 values and attributes Figure 1 Hindmarsh Planning Scheme – Local Provision ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE OVERLAY 5 & 6 – INCORPORATED DOUCMENT MAPS 7.2 Appendix 2 13 7.2.1 Matrix 1 13 7.2.3 Matrix 2 13 7.3 Appendix 3 15 7.3.1 Criteria for Matrix 1 ESO 5 15 7.3.2 Criteria for Matrix 2 ESO 6 23 7.4 Appendix 4 30 Table 2 Corrick (1994) Hydrology classification of Wetlands 30 7.5 Appendix 5 31 Table 3 Vegetation Function Table Shire of Hindmarsh, Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value (WCMA 2007) . Decision Guidelines ESO 5 & ESO6 INCORPORATED DOCUMENT (AMENDMENT C6) AUTHORISATION NO. A724 Page 4 8/08/2008 Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value Decision Guidelines 1 Introduction The Hindmarsh Shire contains numerous low-lying areas that hold wetland conservation values. These conservation values indicate areas that may be of ecological significance. The ecological condition of these wetlands has the potential to be degraded by the impact of land use and development. The Wimmera Catchment Management Authority has undertaken investigations that seek to identify the location of a range of conservation values of various wetlands. Table 1, in Appendix one identifies each wetland with an individual wetland number and shows its size and descriptions of the wetland hydrology classification (described by using the Corrick Classification) and conservation values present. Wetland hydrology (Corrick Classification) is classified based on the depth, duration of inundation and the nature of the water (fresh or saline). Wetlands are divided into 6 broad groups as outline below (Table 1). The vegetation community that a wetland supports provides the habitat structure that supports the fauna that utilize the wetland. Wetland hydrology classification and data, are key to understanding if the wetland warrants management consideration and how to make management responses to use and development applications. Each of these wetlands of conservation value has the potential to receive water from the primary catchment areas identified in ESO 6, as defined by the topography of the landscape. It is important that land use and development within these catchments does not impact on the ecological condition of the wetlands of conservation value. These Decision Guidelines are intended to be used for deciding on planning permit applications for land covered by both Environmental Significance Overlay 5 (ESO 5) and Environmental Significance Overlay 6 (ESO 6). The process for making a decision will be slightly different for both ESO 5 and ESO 6, as the management objectives are different for both areas. Shire of Hindmarsh, Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value (WCMA 2007) . Decision Guidelines ESO 5 & ESO6 INCORPORATED DOCUMENT (AMENDMENT C6) AUTHORISATION NO. A724 Page 5 8/08/2008 The Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value, Local Planning Policy seeks to identify land use issues which should be addressed when a Planning Permit for use is required for land identified in either ESO 5 or ESO 6. ESO 5 only applies to wetlands that have conservation values, and as such it seeks to preserve the ecological condition of those areas by managing development in the wetland itself. ESO 6 only applies to the catchment area that surrounds the wetland of conservation value, and seeks to ensure that water leaving the catchment and entering the wetland of conservation value does not alter the ecological condition of the wetland of conservation value. 2 Conservation Values of Wetlands The wetlands listed in table 1 Appendix 1 were determined to be of conservation value based on a range of attributes. As such, these areas warrant attention, as they may be of ecological value. Each of these attributes relates to an Environmental Objective to be achieved via the implementation of the Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value Local Planning Policy and Environmental Significance Overlays 5 and 6. The significance of these attributes is discussed below. 2.1 Depleted wetland type since 1994 mapping Wetland surveys were started in Victoria in 1975 by Norman and Corrick their methodology has become known as the Corrick Classification System. The Norman and Corrick (1994)) classification system, (referred to as the Corrick (1994) system hereafter) is the State based wetland mapping system, which has mapped all wetlands 1 ha, or greater and classified them into one of eight categories based on hydrology and salinity. In 2004 Wimmera CMA updated the Corrick mapping using updated and more advanced data sets. Analysis of the Corrick (1994) and the Wimmera CMA (2004) wetlands mapping layer identifies Freshwater Meadows and Deep Freshwater Marshes as depleted wetland types (in area and number) across the Wimmera, these wetland types are also the most productive and biodiverse groups. Depleted wetland types require protection to ensure that the diversity of wetland habitats is maintained and biodiversity protected. 2.2 High Level of Naturalness Wimmera CMA (2004) wetlands mapping identifies modification within the wetlands, such as the presence of drains, dams and banks. Wetlands that have undergone lower levels of modification have the potential to have a more natural hydrology regime, therefore higher level of ecological functionality. This value also includes an element of Shire of Hindmarsh, Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value (WCMA 2007) . Decision Guidelines ESO 5 & ESO6 INCORPORATED DOCUMENT (AMENDMENT C6) AUTHORISATION NO. A724 Page 6 8/08/2008 visual amenity, in that the level of naturalness is a consideration in the design of man made structures. 2.3 Wildlife Conservation Reserve Land identified as a Wildlife Conservation Reserve by the Land Conservation Reserves, Melbourne (1981). These wetlands were reserved as they provided specialized habitat for large groups of birds, fish and crustaceans and some mammals. Some may contain habitat for endangered species and have ecological significance (LCC, 1981). 2.4 Threatened Wetland Flora Threatened flora is identified by under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). This Act contains a number of conservation and management objectives as well as Action Statements for threatened flora. These objectives and Action Statements must be met by any proposal for use and development. 2.5 Threatened Wetland Fauna Threatened flora is identified by under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). This Act contains a number of conservation and management objectives as well as Action Statements for threatened fauna. These objectives and Action Statements must be met by any proposal for use and development. 2.6 Ramsar listed wetland Wetlands are identified as being Ramsar wetlands if they are important habitat for migratory birds. Australia is a signatory to the Ramsar treaty, and as such there is an obligation to protect wetlands that have been identified under this treaty. 2.7 Listed on the Directory of Important Wetlands (DIW) The Directory of Significant Wetlands identifies wetlands that display the following attributes. y It is a good example of a wetland type occurring within a biogeographic region in Australia. y It is a wetland which plays an important ecological or hydrological role in the natural functioning of a major wetland system/complex. y It is a wetland which is important as the habitat for animal taxa at a vulnerable stage in their life cycles, or provides a refuge when adverse conditions such as drought prevail. Shire of Hindmarsh, Wetlands and Catchments of Conservation Value (WCMA 2007) . Decision Guidelines ESO 5 & ESO6 INCORPORATED DOCUMENT (AMENDMENT C6) AUTHORISATION NO. A724 Page 7 8/08/2008 y The wetland supports 1% or more of the national populations of any native plant or animal taxa. y The wetland supports native plant or animal taxa or communities which are considered endangered or vulnerable at the national level. y The wetland is of outstanding historical or cultural significance. 3 Land Use and Development to be managed Various forms of land use and development have the ability to impact on the conservation values above. These decision guidelines are intended to manage the impacts of use and development. The ability of these uses and development to impact on conservation values is discussed below. 3.1 Generation of waste water Waste waters have the ability to impact on wetlands of conservation value by altering the quality and quantity of water entering the wetland.