The key outcomes for biodiversity conservation at the local government level were derived by the National Local Government Biodiversity Education Steering Committee, a group of individuals with specific strengths in both local government and biodiversity conservation. These outcomes aim to provide common goals for local government across Australia, and are deliberately broad and non-prescriptive to give local Councils the latitude to take innovative local action.
Specific direction on how to achieve each key outcome is given in the form of examples. Alternatively, download the Local Biodiversity Action Plan to view recommended or suggested actions.
Please Note: Some documents below are in PDF format. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF files.
- Key Outcome 1 - Council and maps identifies conservation priorities in its local government areas (LGAs).
- Key Outcome 2 - Council's infrastructure planning, development and operations have minimal impact on biodiversity values.
- Key Outcome 3 - Local communities are supported and engaged by Council as part of a biodiversity conservation partnership.
- Key Outcome 4 - Council's local planning schemes, development assessment processes and by-laws powers are implemented to conserve and enhance biodiversity conservation values.
- Key Outcome 5 - Council engages in regional partnerships to share ideas and resources to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
- Key Outcome 6 - Land and water under Council's control is managed appropriately to conserve biodiversity.
- Key Outcome 7 - Council's rating and planning schemes, and revenues provide an incentive and do not discourage landholders from undertaking biodiversity conservation on private land.
- Key Outcome 8 - Council embraces a culture for continual improvement in biodiversity conservation.
Key Outcome 1: Council and maps identifies conservation priorities in its local government areas (LGAs).
Actions:
As a priority, examine data collected in local surveys and studies to identify incidence of local remnant vegetation, habitat, corridors, fauna, etc. (Benchmark 2)- Determine specific conservation priorities based on this data.
- Use regional NRM plans or other regional strategies to set priorities and targets for biodiversity conservation.
Key Outcome 2: Council's infrastructure planning, development and operations have minimal impact on biodiversity values.
Actions:
- Develop an environmental code of practice, designed to mitigate any negative biodiversity impacts related to works undertaken by Council.
- Prepare a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) prior to conducting any work within the local government area. Appropriate studies and investigations will be conducted when concerns are raised.
- Develop a strategy to ensure the connection of known wildlife corridors and core habitat areas.
- Develop a Council steering committee, ensuring representation from a wide variety of disciplines, to provide direction to Council's approach to conserving biodiversity.
- Endeavour to design and develop training programs focusing on environmental management and biodiversity conservation for Council staff, focusing particularly on those staff with no to minimal environmental experience.
Example:
Key Outcome 3: Local communities are supported and engaged by Council as part of a biodiversity conservation partnership.
Actions:
- Encourage the community to participate in biodiversity conservation through:
- Building their capacity to participate in decision-making processes;
- Engaging them in visionary exercises to determine their picture of the future Shire.
- Establish a community nursery for the collection of native seeds and mulch, and propagation of native species for distribution throughout the Shire.
- Prepare and distribute educational material at various public events and through Council offices (eg. how to establish a native garden, species indigenous to the area, etc).
- Provide equipment and machinery for native species establishment on private land, including water tanks, rippers, etc.
- Establish a community environmental committee as a committee of Council, with all recommendations and resolutions submitted to Council for consideration and endorsement.
Example:
Key Outcome 4: Council's local planning schemes, development assessment processes and by-laws powers are implemented to conserve and enhance biodiversity conservation values.
Actions:
- Incorporate an Environmental Protection or Conservation Zone in Council's LEP/ Local Planning Scheme. Activities permitted within this zone will be limited to those promoting habitat and biodiversity conservation.
- Grant development concessions to landholders prepared to enter into a management agreement for conservation of biodiversity on their property, including:
- Provision for development outside permitted use; and
- Waiving of need for development application provided thorough property management plan has been prepared and submitted to Council.
- Produce a Development Control Plan or environmental policy specifying requirements for consideration of biodiversity values when proposing development on a property.
- Conditions of consent placed on a development approval must:
- Ensure that local biodiversity is conserved;
- Stipulate retention of any remnant vegetation;
- Consider any management agreement already on the property pertaining to biodiversity conservation;
- Be communicated to concurrent property owners.
- Review the present development assessment process, and introduce changes to ensure biodiversity is considered.
- Develop standard development consent conditions to clearly convey importance of biodiversity conservation.
- Develop landscape design requirements to ensure the retention or creation of habitat for indigenous species.
- Develop and implement a compliance process to ensure the long-term enforcement of development consent conditions.
- Investigate opportunities available for the introduction of local by-laws restricting practices which lead to reduction in biodiversity, including Tree Preservation Orders, etc.
- Review existing by-laws to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness.
- Commit to developing supportive systems for assessing development applications (GIS, etc).
Example:
Key Outcome 5: Council engages in regional partnerships to share ideas and resources to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
Actions:
- Establish regional biodiversity working groups from Council staff, councillors and community members to facilitate the setting of regional biodiversity targets and objectives.
- Investigate the possibility of providing joint funding with other councils within the region for an officer to establish region-wide programs for biodiversity conservation.
- Negotiate with local and regional nurseries to provide locally indigenous plants to customers.
- Establish a relationship with the local university/ TAFE and provide research opportunities in biodiversity conservation or traineeships for students.
- Establish partnerships with local schools, environmental community groups, and individual residents to increase biodiversity conservation on private land.
Example:
Key Outcome 6: Land and water under Council's control is managed appropriately to conserve biodiversity.
Actions:
- Review zoning of Council-managed property to ensure conservation of biodiversity.
- Investigate existing land and water maintenance practices, and introduce best management standards for on-ground works if not already employed. Examples could include conservation of native grassland communities, appropriate management of roadsides, public-recreational reserves, community lands, public cemeteries, parks, etc.
- Utilise any opportunity to revegetate Council-managed property with indigenous species, and use this as a demonstration site for the community.
- Ensure that major activities and developments on Council-managed sites do not impact on biodiversity.
- Develop a Fire Management Plan to ensure that hazard reduction on Council-managed properties does not impact on areas of high biodiversity value.
- Develop a Roadside Vegetation Management Plan outlining:
- methods of investigation and surveying of roadside vegetation strips to identify presence of indigenous vegetation, and map areas of high biodiversity value;
- management and operational guidelines to ensure conservation of roadside values; and
- identification and promotion of roadside areas of high biodiversity value with a system of roadside markers.
Examples:
Key Outcome 7: Council's rating and planning schemes, and revenues provide an incentive and do not discourage landholders from undertaking biodiversity conservation on private land.
Actions:
- Establish procedures and policies for the introduction of incentives and supporting mechanisms to encourage biodiversity conservation on private land. These mechanisms may include:
- Rate relief
- Annual payments or credits
- Development concessions
- Grants
- Technical Assistance
- Training and Education Programs
- Management Agreements
- Covenants
- Local levies
- Community recognition through local awards.
- Review local planning schemes that impede the adoption of biodiversity conservation practices on private land
- Investigate and correct disparate rating schedules that discourage biodiversity conservation on private land.
Example:
Key Outcome 8 : Council embraces a culture for continual improvement in biodiversity conservation.
Actions:
- Regularly review this local biodiversity action plan, and any other strategies, policies or documents developed under it, to ensure continual improvement through the adoption of new information as it becomes available.
- Use each opportunity available to integrate biodiversity conservation into all areas of operation as new information becomes available.
Example:
