Sustainable Property Management Plan
The benefits of a Sustainable Property Management Plan:
· most significant environmental features are protected
· flora and fauna assets are sustainably managed
· land development is safe to people and property
· development areas are created in accordance with the Planning Scheme
· land development and farm management is efficient, productive and sustainable for the long term.
Council’s indigenous plant guide and weed identification guide will assist with native plant and weed identification.
What to include in your sustainable property management plan
Site plan
Draw up a map of your property covering at least an A4 sheet of paper. Larger properties may need to use an A3 sheet. An aerial photograph or title map can provide the basis and be very useful for this.
Site plan requirements
Requirement / DescriptionPointer showing north / Draw an arrow orientated north
Boundaries and roads / Draw your property boundary and any nearby roads
Existing vegetation / Show any isolated trees or any patches of native vegetation (tree, shrubs, grasses etc.)
Waterways or water bodies / Show any creeks, dams, periodically inundated areas
Existing and/or proposed buildings / Draw any houses, sheds, pergolas, car ports etc.
Effluent disposal field / The area of dripper lines where the waste water will be disposed of
Photograph locations / Mark and number the location of any photograph included within the application
Construction zone boundaries / Footprint of your total construction including buildings, earthworks, fences etc.
Offset areas / Area you propose to revegetate or existing native vegetation you will protect to compensate for vegetation removal
Building and living zone management
1. Reduce all built assets into a single building zone. Incorporate currently cleared areas into the building zone and fire management zone.
2. Septic treatment fields should be kept close to the buildings and must not impact on native vegetation.
3. Identify a fire management zone in accordance with CFA guidelines.
4. A firewood plantation could be planted on an unused area. Best species are Silver wattle (Acacia dealbata), Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii), and Narrow Leaf peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata).
5. Identify highest quality pasture and land areas where sustainable development can occur over the long term.
Fencing
1. Fence off and revegetate all waterways (permanent and semi-permanent) to 15 metres from the bank as a bare minimum. A 30-metre setback (or more) from the bank provides the best buffer to enable plants to filter water and protect against soil erosion. Melbourne Water can provide stream frontage grants for fencing.
2. Fence off all remnant vegetation, wetlands and drains to stop animal access. Large old trees often have hollows which are habitat for animals. These trees can be the most important plants on your block (this includes dead hollow-bearing trees).
3. Wildlife friendly fencing should also adequately fence animals out of bushland areas and enable the movement of native species through fence lines (link to wildlife friendly fencing).
4. Consider whether external fences are required in high quality bushland where there are no grazing pressures. Can you install marker posts that require no ongoing maintenance as a cheaper alternative?
5. Fence all pasture trees to the leaf ‘drip line’ – these can be included in clumps with increased plantings to provide protection from animals or create a larger fence around the trees to encourage regeneration.
6. Drainage lines can be fenced and replanted to act as windbreaks, paddock dividers and wildlife corridors. Wildlife corridors must be a minimum of 10 metres wide to have any genuine effect.
7. Fence off and replant dams and provide troughs for cleaner water for animals.
8. To increase nesting sites for birds and mammals place nesting boxes in existing trees if there is a lack of tree hollows. Remnant bushland will regenerate naturally, but it may take some time for trees to mature enough for hollows to become available.
Planting
1. Link existing vegetation with plantings to create habitat corridors and windbreaks that extend through your property to join neighbouring properties, including significant roadside vegetation. These corridors can become important bio-links across the landscape.
2. Only use local indigenous native plants on the property. Council has a list of local indigenous plant nurseries available through the website. Do not plant environmental weeds
3. Only use local indigenous nurseries that source their seeds from the area. Check with your local nursery.
Contact the local Landcare group to find out the important wildlife corridors that exist in your area. You can find out which indigenous plants are best to plant and what public funding may exist to help with tree planting and environmental works.
4. Consider opportunities to plant native vegetation in areas not needed for agriculture such as steep slopes, saline areas, eroded areas, laneways and roadsides.
Pest plant and animal control
1. Remove all noxious and environmental weeds.
2. Have a pest animal control program in place with neighbouring properties for foxes, feral cats, deer and rabbits.
Waterway management
1. Ensure that stormwater is contained and cleaned on site in retarding basins, wetlands, and vegetated buffer strips along drains and watercourses. Use cut-off drains to manage water on site.
2. Provide a grass strip around all cropping areas next to watercourses and wetlands to minimise runoff of soil and nutrients.