Southern Grampians Shire Council is requesting feedback from the community on its draft Plan for Nature 2023-2023.
Council developed the 10-year plan with input from the local community, Traditional Owners, and relevant agency stakeholders. The plan aims to deliver a shared vision to protect and enhance the local biodiversity and natural values across the Southern Grampians Shire.
Mayor Councillor David Robertson highlighted the importance of the shire's environmental and landscape assets, which are crucial to the local ecosystem and the shire's tourism industry.
"We are blessed in the Southern Grampians Shire with an outstanding natural environment, with features such as the Grampians National Park, the Glenelg and Wannon Rivers and ancient Volcanic plains attracting visitors year-round, and fertile farming land supporting a prosperous economy," said Cr Robertson.
"Council places a high value on this natural resource base, and we want to see it continue to thrive in the face of continued threats including climate change, land use change, pest plants and animals, and destruction of native vegetation.
"To address these issues, the proposed actions in the draft plan include increasing habitat quality at council-managed nature reserves and significant roadside vegetation sites and improving habitat connectivity to help animal species move about the area.
"We also want to increase the protection of remnant native vegetation, especially large paddock trees and native grasslands, and increase Indigenous cultural landscape management practices into the management of council nature reserves and roadsides. We also aim to engage and empower the regional community to participate and partner in local Landcare initiatives," he said.
Cr Robertson said all proposed actions directly contributed to other plans at Southern Grampians Shire Council, as well as state and regional strategic plans aimed at protecting the natural environment - particularly the Glenelg Hopkins Regional Catchment Strategy and Biodiversity 2037.
"Thank you to those who collaborated with council to develop this very important 10-year vision to protect and enhance our local natural environment," he said. "We are now keen to gather feedback from the broader community."
Copies of the draft Plan for Nature 2023-2033 can be found on council's website under Have your Say or from council customer service.
Submissions close on February 9 and can be emailed to [email protected] or posted/hand delivered to 111 Brown Street, Hamilton.
