Bass Coast Shire Council will complete revegetation works to address encroachment into foreshore reserves at Cowes and Silverleaves this July.
The revegetation works will be undertaken across five foreshore sites and will involve planting over 4000 indigenous plant species, sourced from local nurseries. Site preparation is now complete and planting has begun.
In 2018, Council adopted the Foreshore and Bushland Reserves Encroachment Policy, to provide long-term strategic direction to manage ongoing encroachment issues.
This planting is a being done as part of Council's Encroachment Program, which aims to rehabilitate foreshore vegetation that has been cleared without authorisation.
Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari said that Council has taken a stand on encroachment into public conservation reserves.
"These unauthorised activities reduce the natural values of our conservation reserves which are treasured by so many," Cr Tessari said.
"Native vegetation also provides important habitat for wildlife and protects the coastline from changing climatic conditions."
Over the last year, an extensive audit has been conducted across Council managed conservation reserves, to determine the level of encroachment. The data gathered during this audit has informed on-ground works, such as the removal of unauthorised items from public reserves and identified areas for revegetation.
Council will continue to work closely with landholders to resolve encroachment issues and rehabilitate degraded sites.
