Biodiversity

Council has adopted a Biodiversity Strategy. It demonstrates that biodiversity is a part of core business and commitment toward conserving biodiversity in the face of a changing landscape and urban growth. The Biodiversity Strategy identifies:

• Current landscape & values within the local government area
• Threats within the study area
• Responses to the threats
• Actions for effective implementation
• Effective monitoring and evaluation of the strategy

Implementing the actions outlined in the Strategy will help to mitigate biodiversity loss and guide a sustainable, adaptive and achievable approach to biodiversity conservation and urban growth.

Fauna rely on habitat for protection, food, breeding and other ecological aspects. If habitat is threatened, for example by degradation, fragmentation, human impacts, introduced pest species or inappropriate fire regimes, then fauna may be threatened or impacted. In order to protect fauna and threatened species in particular, habitat needs to be maintained and protected.

• Degradation of roadside vegetation
• Degradation of limited remnant vegetation (in reserves and private land)
• Lack of connectivity between remnant vegetation and degradation around the edges of remnants (the ‘edge effect’)
• Wildlife conservation, including:
• • Reduction in habitat (vegetation, dead timber)
  • Reduction in biodiversity
  • Predation by pest species (cats, foxes and stray dogs)
  • Grazing competition (rabbits, deer, straying sheep and cattle).
• Weed invasion
• Pest diseases
• Fire management regimes
• Recreational impacts (bicycles, off road vehicles, horses).

Council has an active biodiversity program aimed at protecting and enhancing native vegetation and habitat in reserves and roadsides. 22 Bush for Life sites are cared for by volunteers and Council funds an annual bushcare program throughout the district.

Council’s revegetation program is targeted at linking and buffering remnant vegetation sites, establishing habitat in urban areas and along linear trails and in supporting schools and community groups.

The Grampians has large areas of open space, bushland and grassland - a perfect environment for snakes especially in the summer months.

Snakes are a natural part of our environment and should be left alone. To help control snake numbers each summer, we encourage residents to mow long grass and remove hard rubbish from their property.

Snakes are a protected species, and can be found on public and private land. Council does not have authority to take any action other than provide details of snake removal specialists.

Residents can contact Council if they find a snake on their property. Council will provide contact details for local snake catcher specialists, who will come and collect the snake for a separate fee for their services.

Are you looking to landscape your yard?

Have you considered using the range of local native plants, that are fire wise and ideally suited to this area?

Natives can be used in formal gardens as well as more casual designs.

Fire wise and sustainable landscape design incorporates all the fire wise principles whilst still including sustainable landscape design.