Roadside Vegetation Management Plan Review Chris Nichols, Jo Baulderstone, Mel Carson Native Vegetation & Biodiversity Management Unit LGA Roads & Works Conference Tanunda 25 August 2011

Introduction Current status of Roadside Vegetation Management Plans Review process for Roadside Vegetation Management Plans Proposed Templates for Roadside Vegetation Management Plans

Introduction of the Native Vegetation Act District Councils required to manage roadside vegetation:- either through Native Vegetation Council (NVC) - “Guidelines for the Management of Roadside Vegetation, 1997 ”:- or in accordance with a Roadside Vegetation Management Plan, (RVMP) approved by the NVC. Current Status

Current Status not a legal requirement to produce RVMP many Councils have developed them using the NVC:- “Preparing Roadside Vegetation Management Plans, Guidelines for Local Government prepared by the Native Vegetation Council” (2004).

Current Status many Councils have not prepared a RVMP or have let it lapse at the end of the NVC approval period or have not extended the plan beyond the approval period.

Roadside Vegetation Management Plans Status - Update August 2010

Review Process April NVC and LGA review of issues Working group established process established to enable council’s to easily develop and implement RVMP’s May 2011 framework developed for LGA comment August 2011 redrafting framework following LGA feedback

Review Process 19 Councils not overly positive excessive documentation roadside vegetation survey required resource intensive financial impost little perceived operational improvement and benefit outside the capacity of most Council’s a widening scope of work responsibility issues with some of the clearance standards

Review Process positive comments document well written provides a template that assists Councils more user-friendly than the current system

Proposed Templates single RVMP document incorporating 3 alternative templates at differing levels of detail:- (Level 1, 2 and 3) bulk of information pre-written stepped approach - level of information and detail increases in each template enables Council’s to choose the most appropriate type of RVMP based on their specific needs and circumstances

Instructions on use pre-written text colour coded for Level 1, 2 and 3 Level 1 (Basic) - Black Level 2 (Vegetation Survey) - Red Level 3 (Comprehensive) - Purple

Proposed Templates Level 1 BASIC RVMP Quick, inexpensive to produce, outlines approval procedures. Does not consider vegetation, limited information over and above NVC Guidelines. All pre-written text highlighted in Black can be retained and modified Level 2 RVMP WITH VEGETATION MAPPING Expands and takes the next step up from a basic RVMP More informative, benefits District Council, general community, and helps to protect important areas of native vegetation from inadvertent clearance. Vegetation survey expensive, but can be partly funded by an NVC grant. All pre-written text highlighted in Black and Red can be retained and modified Level 3 FORWARD PLANNING RVMP Comprehensive RVMP builds upon Level 2 Incorporates forward planning, more pro-active management style, improves efficiencies with vegetation related matters. Contains Action Plan Requires increased Council commitment and input. All the pre-written text highlighted in Black, Red and Purple can be retained and modified.

Example 1.3 Purpose of this Roadside Vegetation Management Plan This Roadside Vegetation Management Plan (RVMP) has been developed to provide a basis for managing roadside vegetation in accordance with the requirements of the Native Vegetation Act 1991, etc etc. ADD if including Level 2: As well as providing Council with a comprehensive understanding of roadside management issues within the region, it also outlines the ecological value of roadside native vegetation etc etc. ADD if including Level 3: Council also recognises that having a RVMP is important for road planning as well as road maintenance purposes - from road network planning, management of maintenance contracts, construction project planning, to development of environmental programs and strategies etc etc.

Example (Level 1) 1.3 Purpose of This Roadside Vegetation Management Plan This Roadside Vegetation Management Plan (RVMP) has been developed to provide a basis for managing roadside vegetation in accordance with the requirements of the Native Vegetation Act 1991, etc etc.

Example (Level 2) 1.3 Purpose of This Roadside Vegetation Management Plan This Roadside Vegetation Management Plan (RVMP) has been developed to provide a basis for managing roadside vegetation in accordance with the requirements of the Native Vegetation Act 1991, etc etc. ADD if including Level 2: As well as providing Council with a comprehensive understanding of roadside management issues within the region, it also outlines the ecological value of roadside native vegetation etc etc.

Example (Level 3) 1.3 Purpose of This Roadside Vegetation Management Plan This Roadside Vegetation Management Plan (RVMP) has been developed to provide a basis for managing roadside vegetation in accordance with the requirements of the Native Vegetation Act etc etc. ADD if including Level 2: As well as providing Council with a comprehensive understanding of roadside management issues within the region, it also outlines the ecological value of roadside native vegetation etc etc. ADD if including Level 3: Council also recognises that having a RVMP is important for road planning as well as road maintenance purposes - from road network planning, management of maintenance contracts, construction project planning, to development of environmental programs and strategies etc etc.