Managing Grasslands in a Growth Area Annette Salkeld Team Leader - Environment

Overview The context of grassland management Grasslands in Wyndham Issues related to grassland management Challenges and opportunities

Who manages grasslands in Wyndham? Public Wyndham City Council (WCC) - Conservation reserves, offset sites, other reserves, roadsides Parks Victoria – reserves Melbourne Water – riparian lands / reserves VicRoads – roadsides VicTrack – rail corridors Other State lands Private Developers – conservation reserves, private lands (within the UGB Land bankers – private lands (outside of UGB) Private land owners/managers - native vegetation offset sites Quarries Farmers – rural properties Small land holders – rural acreage We also have the community groups who partner with these entities to care for areas of grasslands – friends groups and the like. And maybe others……..

Growth Corridor – Planning Considerations Wyndham Planning Scheme Melbourne Strategic Assessment / Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Precinct Development Plans Planning Overlays Native Vegetation Removal Regulations (State) EPBC Act (Federal)

It’s complicated!

Grasslands in Wyndham Council manages 65 conservation sites including significant roadside reserves Within the Urban Growth Boundary - small to medium remnants – multiple tenures largely by the planning system Some sites protected via planning overlays Outside the Urban Growth Boundary – proposed Western Grasslands Reserve – 15,000 ha, approx. 70% in Wyndham 90% still in private ownership

Council managed sites Various sizes and locations Many high-quality remnants, species rich Professionally managed and monitored Aim is to manage and enhance Involvement of the community on some sites But - easily damaged Bottom photo – Ballan Road

Developer managed sites Identified under the Melbourne Strategic Assessment process Generally have long term (10 year) management plans Often small/fragmented sites, without community access Not always well managed – weedy, littered Not greatly valued by the community Some eventually handed over to Council

Private land Farms, small acreage, quarries Varied quality – but some good remnants Varied management capacity – skills, knowledge, finances Serious problem with weed invasion Properties within the future grasslands reserve – disincentive for investment in land Wyndham, Landcare, CMA provide support

Land banker holdings Significant tracts of private lands outside of urban growth boundary Some is farmed by owners, others tenanted Little investment into long term land management Major weed issues

Challenges Multiple types of land tenure / management Different motivations Fragmentation of ecosystems Weeds, dumping Illegal damage/clearing Limited public knowledge / understanding Challenges

Opportunities Urban reserves – community connection Collaborating with land bankers / developers Working with farmers Enthusiasm of tree changers Coordination between agencies Advocating for change Opportunities

Thank you