Victorian Resources Online - Goulburn Broken

Vegetation Management

Regeneration of fenced Grey Box (source Environmental Management Program,
DPI Tatura).

The management of native vegetation within the region is governed by the Goulburn Broken Native Vegetation Plan (GBNVP) website (external link) completed by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA) website (external link). The GBNVP provides a strategic regional framework on which to base all future management issues in the region. It defines long term goals that aim to improve the biodiversity of the catchment. These goals were determined in consultation with DSE’s Principles for Native Vegetation:

Maintain or increase the extent of all native vegetation types, using 1999 levels in keeping with the goal of ‘no net loss’ listed in Victoria's Biodiversity Strategy 1997.

Enhance the quality of existing native vegetation by managing 90% of native vegetation cover according to Best Management Practices by 2010.

Increase the cover of all ‘Endangered’ and applicable* ‘Vulnerable’ Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) to at least 15% of their pre-European vegetation cover by 2030. * All ‘Endangered’ EVCs are below 10% pre-European cover and some ‘Vulnerable’ EVCs are below 15%.

Increase the viability of threatened species and the extent and quality of threatened ecological communities.

Native Vegetation Retention controls (NVR) available on the GBCMA website (external link) were first introduced in 1989 by the Victorian State Government to limit broad-scale clearing of native vegetation. The GBCMA has produced guidelines in relation to the NVR so a consistent interpretation is gained across the whole of the catchment. These guidelines are documented in Volume 2 of the Goulburn Broken Native Vegetation Plan: Native Vegetation Retention controls - Regional Guidelines for the Goulburn Broken Catchment.

NVR has been successful in reducing broad scale clearing at a statewide level, although this has not had the same impact on incremental removal of small stands and scattered native vegetation on private land. The Guidelines address the importance of conserving and managing these patches of native vegetation for the catchments well being, whilst still allowing for the continued development of the region's agricultural industries.

The guidelines also provide a consistent method for assessing permit application for the removal of native vegetation. "Under clause 52.17 of the NVR, a permit is required to remove, destroy or lop native vegetation (subject to a range of exemptions designed to facilitate normal domestic and rural practices). 'Native vegetation' is defined as all plants that are indigenous to Victoria, including trees, shrubs herbs and grasses".

The following table provides a guide for the replacement ratio of trees to replanted for every native tree removed.

Category of Scattered Trees Being Removed.	Replacement Ratio*
Character of species from known depleted EVC e.g. Grey Box, Yellow Box, Buloke, Murray Pine, other.	100:1
Scattered trees of: Species unknown / Common EVC.	50:1

* Number of trees / shrubs to be planted for every tree removed.
Ref: GBCMA 2000

A downloadable version of the Revegetation Guide for the Goulburn Broken Catchment is available from the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority website (external link).

Relevant Landcare Notes (DPI website)

Protecting white cypress-pine and buloke in the Shepparton Irrigation Region.

Revegetation in the Shepparton Irrigation Region: 1. Local trees & shrubs.

Revegetation in the Shepparton Irrigation Region: 2. Irrigation & non-local species.

Revegetation in the Shepparton Irrigation Region: 3. Wetlands.

Revegetation in the Shepparton Irrigation Region: 4. Grasses and groundcovers.

Planting stock specifications in the Shepparton Irrigation Region.

Planting native vegetation in the Shepparton Irrigation Region.

Environmental weeds in the Shepparton Irrigation Region.

Related Links

The document: "Native Vegetation Management - a needs analysis of regional service delivery - Goulburn Broken" is available for download on the Greening Australia website (external link). As part of the 2003 Bushcare Support contract, Greening Australia was contracted by Environment Australia website (external link) to develop Regional Vegetation Management Summaries for natural resource management regions across Australia. It provides a snapshot of the 'infrastructure' currently available in those regions to assist in the technical on-ground management of native vegetation in light of five and a half years of Natural Heritage Trust investment website (external link). These documents have been prepared by Greening Australia staff in consultation with key regional stakeholders.

The Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seedbank is a joint project between The University of Melbourne, Kraft Foods Ltd, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, DPI/DSE and other stakeholders and is available for download from The University of Melbourne website (external link) . The role of the seedbank is to provide local seed for revegetation in the Goulburn Broken Catchment.

A full text downloadable version of the Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands Investigation - Report for Public Comment (June 2001) is available on the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council website (external link).

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