The Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Strategy (HCCREMS) Team has released a comprehensive Strategy for the Management of Roadside Environments in the Hunter, Central and Lower North Coast Region of NSW. The Strategy aims to maintain and improve the important ecosystem services and environmental values that high quality and well managed roadsides contribute to the landscape.
Part of the Strategy included the development of The Roadside Environment Resource Kit which provides a suite of practical resources to assist Councils when undertaking road related environmental assessment and planning activities. In particular, the Kit aims to assist councils to comply with key Commonwealth and State environmental legislation and to facilitate the early identification and assessment of environmental values and impacts by councils when planning and designing road construction and maintenance programs. It won the 2008 LGSA Excellence in Environment Award for Environment Protection & Restoration. The particular resources included in the Kit include:
- Regional Roadside Environment Policy template
- GIS Attribute Layer (to assist with the spatial identification of environmental issues)
- REF templates for routine maintenance activities (slashing and grading)
- Management guidelines. Roadside training manual
Lismore City Council Roadside Vegetation Management Plan
Lismore LGA has a road network of 1,200 km. Lismore City Council developed the roadside vegetation management plan which aimed to enhance routine roadside maintenance, maintain a balance between asset maintenance, traffic safety and environmental protection and conduct outdoor staff and contractor training.
The project reviewed the routine maintenance of roadsides and the environmental impacts of incidental damage such as altering the habitat of threatened plant species, spreading weed propagules and removing soil binding vegetation increasing susceptibility to erosion.
The management plan included a desktop assessment, roadside threatened flora survey, import of survey data to Council’s GIS and plan implementation that included staff and contractor training.
The project was funded through the NSW REC and Environmental Trust. The operational plan received an Environmental Award under the IPWEA (NSW) Excellence Awards in 2007 and the overall award for Environmental Excellence in the Biodiversity Management Category from the Local Government and Shires Association in 2007.
Contact Dave Edwards: dave.edwards@lismore.nsw.gov.au (02) 6625 0456
Albury City Council
Albury City Council recently produced the guiding document Native Vegetation Plan for Roadsides, Waterways and Council Controlled Land in the City of Albury. It identified and assessed areas of land and rated them of high, medium or low conservation value. This was conducted using a rapid assessment process, and as. As a result, maps highlighting vegetation conservation values and a prioritised works program were developed.
Out of 212,212 km of non -urban roadsides surveyed, 8 percent of areas were considered to be of high conservation value (HCV) and 10 percent were considered to be of medium conservation value (MCV).
All areas that were rated as having a HCV or MCV with either of these two ratings were signposted with the NSW Roadside Environment Committee/Albury City ‘Significant Roadside Environment’ signage. The purpose of this was to raise awareness in the community and prevent damage to significant areas from residents, work crews, and council staff/ or contractors.
Another objective of the project was to maintain the areas of HCV high conservation value and improve the MCV to HCV those of medium conservation value to a high rating through weed management, revegetation, direct seeding and the minimisation and prevention of disturbance.
Contact Sarah Stuart: sstuart@alburycity.nsw.gov.au (02) 6051 3436