green plan 2 strategy for the conservation of urban … · 2.2.2 adjoining land use ... promoting...

GREENPLAN 2 (A STRATEGY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF

URBAN BUSHLANDS TO PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY)

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RESERVES City of Stirling, Perth, Western Australia

NOVEMBER 2002

This document is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by

any process without written permission. Enquiries should be made to the Chief Executive Officer, City of Stirling, Civic Place, Stirling, WA 6021.

© The Council of the City of Stirling 2002

City of Stirling GREEN PLAN 2

CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PREFACE SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THE GREEN PLAN - WHAT IS IT?

1.1 OBJECTIVES OF GREEN PLAN 2 1.2 RATIONALE BEHIND THE GREEN PLAN CONCEPT

2. WHY IS THE GREEN PLAN IMPORTANT? 2.1 THE PLIGHT OF BUSHLAND REMNANTS 2.2 THREATENING PROCESSES 2.2.1 Human Population Impacts 2.2.2 Adjoining Land Use Impacts 2.2.3 Soil Erosion 2.2.4 Nutrient Imbalance 2.2.5 Hydrological Imbalance 2.2.6 Past Land Clearing 2.2.7 Altered Fire Regimes 2.2.8 Fragmentation of Bush Blocks 2.2.9 Invasion of Weeds 2.2.10 Invasion of Pests 2.2.11 Infestation of Disease 2.2.12 Pollution via Stormwater Drainage 2.2.13 Rubbish Dumping 2.2.14 Vandalism 2.2.15 Uncontrolled Recreational Impacts 2.2.16 Illegal Removal of Plant Material 2.3 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 2.4 ECOLOGICAL LINKS & CORRIDORS 3. WHAT MAKES UP THE GREEN PLAN? 3.1 EMPHASISING THE IMPORTANCE OF LARGE BUSHLANDS 3.2 UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF SMALL BUSHLANDS

3.3 EMBRACING STRATEGICALLY LOCATED RECREATIONAL PARKLAND

3.4 INCORPORATING OTHER NATURAL AREAS 3.5 ADOPTING A POLICY REGARDING BUSH AREAS ON NON-

COUNCIL LAND 3.6 IDENTIFYING A MECHANISM TO LINK ALL ABOVE AREAS

TOGETHER 4. WHAT VALUES DOES THE PLAN BRING TOGETHER? 4.1 CULTURAL / HERITAGE 4.2 EDUCATIONAL 4.3 RECREATIONAL 4.3 ENVIRONMENTAL - PHYSICAL 4.4 ENVIRONMENTAL - BIOTIC


5. IMPLEMENTING THE GREEN PLAN 5.1 CONSERVATION OF LARGE BUSHLANDS

5.1.1 Site assessment and planning 5.1.2 Flora and fauna surveys 5.1.3 Formulation of management plans 5.1.4 Rubbish removal and prevention of further dumping 5.1.5 Weed eradication and control 5.1.6 Mitigation of stormwater drainage 5.1.7 Control of feral animals and pets 5.1.8 Protection of wildlife habitats 5.1.9 Fire prevention and control 5.1.10 Restoration of burnt areas 5.1.11 Permitting natural regeneration 5.1.12 Assisted revegetation (planting) 5.1.13 Assisted revegetation (direct seeding) 5.1.14 Protective perimeter fencing 5.1.15 Definition of public access 5.1.16 Reserve signage system 5.1.17 Facilitating public recreational needs 5.1.18 Monitoring and continued research

5.2 PROTECTION OF SMALL BUSHLANDS 5.3 THE ‘GREENING’ OF RECREATIONAL PARKLAND 5.4 WETLAND TRANSITION ZONES 5.5 COASTAL DUNE SYSTEMS 5.6 MEDIAN STRIPS OF ROAD/STREET NETWORK

5.7 BUSH AREAS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS 5.8 BUSH AREAS UNDER PRIVATE HOLDINGS 5.9 IDENTIFICATION OF LINKS AND CORRIDORS 5.10 DEMARCATION OF GREEN ZONES 5.11 ADOPTION OF A PLANTING SCHEME 5.12 NURSERY PRODUCTION 6. PROMOTING THE GREEN PLAN 6.1 PUBLICITY OF GREEN PLAN 2 OBJECTIVES 6.2 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CREATING AWARENESS 6.3 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION 6.4 SCHOOLS INVOLVEMENT 6.5 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION 7. MONITORING THE GREEN PLAN’S EFFECTIVENESS 7.1 SITE EVALUATIONS 7.2 BENCHMARKS & PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT 7.3 SURVEY OF PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS 8. LEGISLATIVE TOOLS FOR BUSHLAND PROTECTION 9. REFERENCES 10. APPENDICES

Appendix Ia Major Conservation Reserves in the City Appendix Ib Total list of Bushland Conservation Reserves/Sites Appendix IIa Bushland Management - Maintenance Checklist Appendix IIb Schedule of Maintenance Visits – Bushland sites Appendix IIc Schedule of Annual Maintenance Operations Appendix IId Schedule of Weed Control in Bushland Appendix IIIa Green Plan Reserves – Group A


Appendix IIIb Green Plan Reserves – Group B Appendix IIIc Green Plan Reserves – Group C Appendix IV Selected Schools for Green Plan planting Appendix V Selected major Roads/Streets for Green Plan planting Appendix VIa Species selection for Upper Storey planting Appendix VIb Species selection for Mid Storey planting Appendix VIc Species selection for Lower Storey planting Appendix VIIa Likely occurrence of Native Fauna (Birds) in the region Appendix VIIb Likely occurrence of Native Fauna (Mammals) in the region Appendix VIIc Likely occurrence of Native Fauna (Reptiles & Amphibians) in the region Appendix VIIIa Council adoption of amendment to District Planning Scheme 2 regarding

urban bushland Appendix VIIIb Council endorsement of Bushplan/Bush Forever Appendix VIIIc Council endorsement of the Perth Biodiversity Project Appendix IX Sample bushland site assessment data sheets

11. MAPS

Map 1 Extent & distribution of Bushland/Wetland conservation sites Map 2 Extent & distribution of Schools and Golf Courses with bushland Map 3 Extent and distribution of major Road/Street medians Map 4 Principal Planting Zones of the City


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The cooperation and assistance of the following in the preparation of Green Plan 2 has been invaluable and is gratefully acknowledged. Ashley Hams (Licensed Surveyor) and his survey team for ground surveys and cadastral definition on GIS of all Green Plan listed bushlands over several weeks early in 2002. Graham Harris (Tree Conservation Officer) for assistance with reviewing the previous listing of suggested species for Green Plan planting within the different planting zones of the City (as appendixed). Graeme Fuller (Technical Officer – Parks Maintenance) for assistance with reviewing the previous listing of Green Plan reserves (as appendixed). Philip Burton (Computer Design Draftsman) for the AutoCAD revision of all Green Plan maps (as appendixed). Vicki Liddington (Final Year Horticultural Apprentice) for assistance with data collection on all Green Plan listed reserves, and in preparation of various tables and charts as appendixed. Bill Betts (Leading Hand – Natural Areas Conservation) for useful suggestions in the development of assessment criteria for bushland sites and, together with various staff from the City’s Natural Areas Conservation Unit, for the survey of all Green Plan listed bushlands to evaluate their condition and for subsequent assistance with refining site-specific conservation strategies. Tanja Lambe (Natural Areas Technical Officer) for much of the on-site photography and incorporation of digital images into the manuscript, for the GIS & AutoCAD production of aerial photos, location plans and site plans of individual bushland sites and for valued assistance in the review of Green Plan listed sites, the production of various statistical figures/tables throughout the document and also in the compilation of Volume 2. Members of the City’s Natural Environment Advisory Committee, principally Jennifer Hawkes, David Pike and Phylis Robertson for their valuable input on the preliminary draft with respect to content and editorial matters. Sam Morrison (Manager Parks & Reserves) for scrutiny and overall guidance in this project. Last but not least, Julie Leonard (Divisional Secretary, Works Division) and Rainy McKnight (Customer Services Officer, Works Division) for much valued advice on formatting the document, for word processing and preparation of the draft manuscript, for subsequent amendments and additions and for organising the final document. DANIEL RAJAH (Senior Environmental/ Conservation Officer)


PREFACE Background to this Review The Green Plan, (a strategy for the conservation of urban bushland to promote biodiversity) was originally adopted by the Council of the City of Stirling in 1992. Its main purpose then was to bring into focus the plight of numerous small bushland remnants throughout the municipality. Few were managed in any sense. The City’s conservation effort was purely devoted to significant bushland reserves that had some status under listings of the then existing System 6 Study Report of 1978 or the Darling System Report of 1983. Most had environmental management plans formulated and given annual budgetary allocations for on-ground rehabilitation work Not withstanding the above, the Green Plan of 1992 presented the case for the preservation and management of the smaller bushland remnants because of their potential for the establishment of ecological linkages and movement corridors. It successfully argued that the survival and long-term sustainability of many larger bushland areas in the urban environment is, in part, dependant on effective linkages being formed via convenient links with each other and other natural remnants. This is particularly significant within the environment of the Swan Coastal Plain considering the large-scale clearing during the last half-century that has left behind a discordant landscape with refuge islands of bushland within present suburbia. The idea of ecological linking to enhance biodiversity was therefore the principal thrust of the Green Plan of 1992 through which several smaller bushlands were evaluated as being locally significant and subsequently listed for protection and on-going rehabilitation. The Plan also included a number of non-bushland reserves eg recreational parkland and road/street medians because of their strategic location with these bushlands and potential for the development of similar links. Achievements since the Green Plan The following is a summary of what the City has achieved since adoption of the Green Plan in 1992: • Continued the process of updating reserve specific management plans for all

regionally significant bushlands • The progressive inclusion of smaller bushland areas of local significance for

rehabilitation over successive budgetary programmes since 1992 • Development of a ‘rolling’ 5-year Forward Works Plan to identify long-term

bushland conservation needs • Development of an Annual Schedule of Maintenance for individual bushland sites

to guide site specific rehabilitation strategies • Formulation of a Field Inspection Checklist for staff use on their scheduled

maintenance visits of individual bushland sites • Completion of a series of field trials in key rehabilitation techniques as part of the

formulation of Best Practice Standards • Identification of basic indices for use in the measurement of conservation oriented

tasks • Progressive adoption of innovative methods for public education and environmental

interpretation • Establishment of a team of dedicated conservation workers, the City’s Natural

Areas Conservation Unit, to undertake the planning and implementation of bushland conservation tasks Supplementing the City’s labo• ur resources with specialist skills out-sourced through a few selected conservation teams


pose of this Review Pur

e need to recognise the various changes that have occurred ince adoption of the original Green Plan of 1992. The ensuing new document,

had taken a broadly prescriptive approach to the management of cally significant sites, Green Plan 2 ventures into site-specific strategies after careful

ponding eals and objectives to the Perth Biodiversity Project (an inter-Council initiative of the

sites and the revision of strategies for these areas, reen Plan 2 upholds all current reserve specific Management Plans whilst

n, there is a recommitment to ensure the rotection of regional and locally significant bushland from further degradation and to

mework for action involving the detailed study of ushland sites in the City, their location within the system of reserves, their spatial

sures from urbanisation there may not be the net increase in servation of any more bushland on the Swan Coastal Plain, however, much can be

d in two volumes. Volume I deals with policy and strategic spects whilst Volume II contains site assessment data sets for all 64 bushland sites in

one of the principal objectives of the City of Stirling’s Sustainable ity Plan (Local Agenda 21) under the policy area of Natural Landscape Protection.

This review stems from thshenceforth to be referred to as Green Plan 2, seeks to reaffirm the policies and principles of Green Plan whilst updating Best Practice Standards in light of the City’s research and monitoring over the last ten years. In this process, there is an evaluation and refinement of current management practices for all bushland sites, particularly the smaller remnants. Where Green Planloassessment of individual sites. It has also provided the opportunity to include a number of new bushland sites not previously recognised or listed as locally significant. In this regard it is important to acknowledge that Green Plan 2 mirrors corresidWA Local Government Association commenced in 2001 and to which the City is committed) that similarly promotes the conservation of locally significant ecological sites for biodiversity preservation. With regard to regionally significantGaccommodating refinements and updates where required on Best Practice Standards. Additionally it takes cognisance of various State Government guidelines for urban bushland conservation since 1992. This refers principally to the 1993 Perth Environmental Project, the 1995 Urban Bushland Strategy and the 1998 Perth Greenways Project all of which were subsequently incorporated into the 1999 Bushplan and the 2000 Bush Forever documents. In keeping with the original Green Plapdevelop their long-term sustainability. Green Plan 2 therefore provides a frabrelationships, the potential threats that they face and how they can be better managed. Quite importantly, it looks at how these remnants can be linked ecologically to each other by the promotion of wildlife movement corridors. In this sense, Green Plan 2 is a rationalised attempt at substantially increasing the extent of ‘green belts’ within the urban environment. With continued presreachieved in a positive way within the scope of existing sites by the principles so espoused in Green Plan and further supported in Green Plan 2. The City, by virtue of its size and location within this part of the region is obligated and well placed in adopting such a strategy. Green Plan 2 is presenteathe City of Stirling. Green Plan 2 fulfilsC


Key elements within this area include the conservation of natural landforms, remnant native vegetation, wetlands/waterways and coastal systems.


SUMMARY Green Plan 2 is presented as a strategy to conserve regionally as well as locally significant areas of native bushland within the City of Stirling. The strategy explores the long-term sustainability of these areas by an improved system of management based on detailed on-site assessment of conservation needs and classification into management categories. Degraded areas with potential biodiversity values are rehabilitated and given the opportunity to regenerate either naturally by the removal of identified threatening processes or with assisted methods viz direct seeding and planting. As an extension of the above the Plan calls for the establishment of ecological links or ‘ecolinks’ wherever the possibility exists between these bushland sites. It is proposed that the establishment of ‘ecolinks’ be achieved by incorporating a variety of other strategically located reserves within the City and that these be ‘ear-marked, for landscape analysis and tree planting using, particularly, local native and indigenous species. The reserves thus embraced will include selected recreational parkland, wetland transition zones, road/street medians, golf courses, numerous school grounds most of which already contain minor bushland remnants and other non-Council lands. It is envisaged that this collective process will strengthen the ‘ecolink’ network, certainly within the City, and hopefully within this part of the Region. More precisely, it will facilitate the transfer of plant propagules and genetic material from one bushland area to another as well as the free flow of insects, birds and small animals associated with this transfer. As a result, individual bushland sites will accrue the benefits through increases in the diversity and richness of local plants and animals. The restoration of individual bushland sites together with the establishment of ecological links are therefore seen as vital components to promoting biodiversity and in turn, the sustainability of all bushlands in this part of the region. The Plan advocates continued assessment of individual bushland sites using prescribed methods to (1) determine on-going rehabilitation needs for annual budgetary programmes and (2) measure the net effect of all conservation effort in terms of improvements to biodiversity. Public education is planned through a variety of environmental interpretation programmes so that the general community is better informed about the importance of conserving urban bushland remnants and to hopefully engender positive attitudes towards their care.


RECOMMENDATIONS The following constitute the principal recommendations arising from Green Plan 2: 1. That urban bushland be recognised for all the intrinsic values that sustain our

environment and contribute immensely towards human habitation on the Coastal Plain as well as values of natural and cultural heritage that fulfil our educational, recreational and leisure interests.

2. That this strategy for the conservation of urban bushlands in the City of Stirling

be adopted with these following broad objectives:

2.1 The conservation of natural ‘green belts’, as represented by all existing bushland sites, by the implementation of sound protection and rehabilitation measures;

2.2 The expansion of ‘green belts’ to other strategically located reserves that serve as corridors to promote ecological linking and local biodiversity.

3. That the management of all regionally significant bushland reserves ensure the

following:

3.1 The establishment of reserve specific Management Plans; 3.2 The elimination of all on-site threatening processes, including

indiscriminate bushfires and weed invasion that jeopardise the sustainability of bushland ecosystems;

3.3 The application of conservation measures with emphasis on protection from further degradation, rehabilitation of areas lost, natural regeneration of species once existent and a return to species diversity and abundance.

4. That the long-term viability of regionally significant bushland reserves be further

enhanced by the establishment of ecological links with each other to improve biological diversity, ie of flora and fauna, and to preserve the genetic repository of many species in these areas.

5. That the establishment of ecological links with regionally significant

bushland reserves additionally involve the incorporation of a number of selected smaller bushlands considered locally significant and in strategic locations to provide essential wildlife movement corridors and transfer of plant propogules.

6. That all locally significant bushland sites be afforded an improved system of

management equally comprehensive to that for the larger bushlands and that this system be designed to eliminate all identified threatening processes and encourage high levels of natural regeneration.

7. That the establishment of ecological links or ‘ecolinks’ includes the expansion of

'green belts' within the City by the incorporation of a number of recreational parkland considered significant and strategic to the strengthening of ‘ecolinks’. Such reserves are to be targeted for added planting and landscaping with predominantly local native and indigenous species of trees and shrubs.

8. That the establishment of ecological links incorporate various public and private

golf courses and other significant land areas, principally educational reserves of schools and colleges. Such areas are to be targeted for the extension of ‘green


belts’ by encouraging these organisations /institutions to similarly undertake plantings of local native and indigenous species of trees and shrubs.

9. That the establishment of ecological links further incorporate wetland transition

zones, coastal dunes, major roads/street medians, highway medians and embankments and associated linear reserves within the City for ‘green belt’ establishment to provide vital movement corridors for numerous birds, insects and small animal inhabitants in the region. It is envisaged that this will similarly facilitate the transfer of plant propagules and genetic material thereby improving local biodiversity.

10. That the system of periodic assessment currently in place for regionally

significant bushland sites, be extended to locally significant sites to determine on-going rehabilitation needs for Council consideration through annual budgetary processes.

11. That a system of annual assessment of representative bushland sites be

implemented to include measurement of prescribed biodiversity indices that reflect the net result of all conservation effort.

12. That all long-term planting needs for expansion of ‘green belts’ be continued by

the previously restructured nursery production programme involving the management of the ‘seed bank’ and the regular acquisition of provenanced seeds.

13. That active publicity and promotion of Green Plan 2 be pursued by a variety of

educative mechanisms as specified to seek public understanding and support of the Plan's ideals and objectives. That this process be considered as the essential first step to the successful implementation of Green Plan 2.

14. That opportunities be explored, wherever possible, to invite public participation

in implementing the strategies of Green Plan 2 and to develop positive community attitudes of cooperation and care for all bushlands.


1. THE GREEN PLAN – WHAT IS IT?

1.1 OBJECTIVES OF GREEN PLAN 2

Green Plan 2 aims principally at conserving all native bushland particularly those already considered regionally significant as well as those deemed locally significant in the City so as to improve biodiversity within this part of the Region. Where a degree of sustainability is attached to the larger, regionally significant, bushland blocks, very little is commonly attributed to the value of many smaller bushland remnants in the urban setting. Green Plan 2 explores the long-term sustainability of the smaller but locally significant bushland areas by advocating equally active protection and restoration measures as the larger areas. The Plan ascribes a degree of importance to smaller bushland areas not only because of all the intrinsic values that they provide but also because of their potential for ecological linking between the larger bushland reserves. Ecological linking is therefore recognised as a vital process contributing towards the sustainability of all bushlands and hence central to this strategy. In addition to the inclusion of the smaller but locally significant bushland areas, the establishment of ecological links involves a number of other strategically located non-bushland reserves. These include recreational parkland, wetland transition zones, coastal dunes, road/street medians, school grounds and golf courses and non-Council lands. The areas thus selected are to be the subject of planting, wherever space is available, with local native and indigenous species.

1.2 RATIONALE BEHIND THE GREEN PLAN CONCEPT

On examining the extent of bushland within the City of Stirling, it may seem initially that the proportion of bushland existing as reserves is greater than average for suburban Perth (based on the combined area of all bushland being a third of the total area of all reserves). However, in terms of total area of the municipality this proportion comprises of only about 4%. The following statistics provide further analysis:

Number of sites Area Reserves totally as bushland 6 330 ha Bushland within recreational parkland 57 140 ha TOTAL BUSHLAND 64 470 ha Total area of the municipality is 10,940 hectares Total area of all reserves (recreational and conservation) is 1342 hectares Number of sites Area Reserves totally as bushland 6 330 ha Coastal foreshore reserves 11 126 ha Passive recreation parkland reserves 457 299 ha Active recreation parkland reserves 63 587 ha TOTAL RESERVES 537 1342 ha


Whilst it is unlikely that any more native bushland of substantial size will be or can be reserved, it is essential that all existing areas be consolidated and protected from further loss. Prior to adoption of the Green Plan in 1992, the system of bushland management merely concentrated on the larger bushland areas within the City (ie those 50 hectares and larger). These were managed mainly because of their recognition as regionally significant sites as listed in the then existing System 6 Report of 1978. There was no comprehensive system neither for the care of many smaller bushland reserves (ie those less that 10 hectares) nor of numerous bushland remnants contained within recreational parkland reserves. Under current terms, such an exclusive system of simply managing the larger bushlands would be considered far from satisfactory. It is becoming increasingly evident, from several studies conducted elsewhere, that selective management of mainly the larger sized or major bushlands is flawed and provides no great advantage in terms of the continued survival of these areas. Several experts conclude that serious problems involving the loss of species diversity and long-term viability could occur in bushland areas thus isolated in the urban environment and question their long-term value as true examples of the kind of vegetation that once flourished on the Coastal Plain. It is far from the aim of Green Plan 2 to include each and every pocket of native bush in this conservation strategy. Such a strategy, besides being extremely impractical, would require the inclusion of many small and severely degraded remnants within the City. Green Plan 2 therefore adopts a rationalised approach whereby a number of smaller bushlands have been selected for management at levels comparable to the larger bushland reserves. Their selection has been based on several attributes including size, vegetation structure, floristic composition and potential for biodiversity improvement. A total of 55 reserves/sites considered locally significant have been thus selected. Most range from 0.5 to 8 hectares. These together with 9 larger bushlands of regional significance bring the total bushland reserves or sites within the City to 64. (This represents an increase of 14 from the 49 listed under the Green Plan of 1992). Additionally, Green Plan 2 nominates a further 93 recreational parklands as key reserves because of their strategic location and orientation in relation to the 64 bushland sites. The principal criteria for selection of these 93 key reserves was the presence of significant stands of remnant trees from past clearing for parkland or the presence of transitional native vegetation between wetlands and bushland proper. The 64 bushlands and the 93 key recreational parklands thus form 157 distinct Green Plan sites out of a total of 537 parks and reserves within the City. All 157 Green Plan sites have been categorised (refer Appendix III) in accordance with bushland component, native vegetation content, whether they are reserves totally occupied with bushland or only partially in conjunction with recreational parkland and whether the bushland areas exist as single distinct blocks or as several fragmented remnants. The 157 sites have also been assessed in


terms of the extent of significant stands of remnant native trees and their potential for the extension of native ‘green belts’ through planting.

It is expected that the ‘ecolink’ network amongst all 157 Green Plan sites will be strengthened through (i) restoration of all bushland areas to improve local biodiversity and (ii) the extension of native ‘green belts’ wherever possible on recreational parkland through the planting of as diverse a range as possible of local native and indigenous trees and shrubs. To further supplement the above, Green Plan 2 calls for the inclusion of major road/street medians and non-Council lands, principally school, college and university grounds within the municipality under a similar planting programme to enhance the ‘ecolink’ potential of these areas. The inclusion of road/street medians should further provide a rationalised approach to the current Citywide streetscape planting scheme. In this regard, Green Plan 2 highlights a number of strategically located roads and streets that form arterial links throughout the City (refer Appendix VI and Map 3) for streetscape improvement. The strategy to include non-bushland areas for local native and indigenous planting is particularly significant as it would greatly extend and intensify recognisable native 'green belts' within the City to the extent that our bushland areas will no longer exist as isolated islands within suburbia but will benefit from the establishment of essential links and corridors. The underlying objective of Green Plan 2 is of course the revival of original biodiversity and a degree of sustainability being returned to both large and small bushland areas. The proposed establishment of an ‘ecolink’ network throughout the City will greatly facilitate this process. It is therefore vital that this strategy be adhered to, not only with respect to bushland conservation, but also to engender community support of the Green Plan concept. With the growing trend towards higher density living in some urban areas of Perth and the expected decrease in individual garden space, the Green Plan concept could assume an even greater importance in years to come as the idea of communal green spaces is further engendered. Under such a scheme, diverse areas of remnant bushland, well treed parkland with local native species and self sustaining native gardens representing many of the under storey species of bushland shrubs and groundcovers could well become the future norm for the treatment of Green Plan listed parkland.


2. WHY IS THE GREEN PLAN IMPORTANT?

2.1 THE PLIGHT OF BUSHLAND REMNANTS

When one considers the areas occupied by individual bushlands and the spatial distances between them it becomes clear that they are unevenly distributed within the municipality and that their combined area is small compared to the suburban expanse. With the exception of those areas specifically reserved as bushland, most of the others bear the legacy of poor planning for recreational space from some 20 to 30 years ago. Many remnants from that era exist today mainly from having escaped whole-scale clearing for recreational parkland development. Recent trends however indicate a revision of what was traditionally acceptable as Public Open Space. Increasingly, new residential sub-divisions are setting aside viable areas of intact native vegetation in an attempt at diversifying leisure and public interest options on parkland space. This is an encouraging trend that needs to be perpetuated. Nevertheless, many small, poorly structured urban bushlands exist in isolation today and reveal a variety of problems attributed to the fragmentation of what would once have been continuous stretches of natural vegetation. These problems are often exacerbated by the impacts of a variety of surrounding land uses that continue to this day. Even bushlands that are substantial in size are on the decline, mainly because of the cumulative imposition of disturbances (mostly human induced) at levels that cannot be assimilated by the natural system. Green Plan 2, as a strategy for the conservation of urban bushlands, introduces a two-pronged approach to restoring local biodiversity (i) comprehensive rehabilitation of individual bushland sites based on the elimination of all environmental impacts and threatening processes and (ii) the identification and establishment of ecological links to bridge the spatial expanse between individual bushland sites.

2.2 THREATENING PROCESSES

2.2.1 Human Population Impacts

The pressure to access bushland areas for a variety of recreational and leisure pursuits is constant. Excessive or inappropriate access is often responsible for the degradation of many urban bushland areas. The needless duplication of paths invariably leads to destruction of vegetation, soil erosion and destruction of floor litter. This then leads to other problems commonly associated with uncontrolled access or inappropriate use such as removal of plant material, (wildflowers, bark etc) and clearing of bushland for BMX activity.


2.2.2 Adjoining Land Use Impacts

Frequent impacts from adjoining land uses in residential areas include rubbish dumping (household and garden waste), discharge of drainage, discharge of toxic wastes, herbicide/pesticide spray drift and selective clearing along immediate fringes for substitution with exotic plantings. Impacts from adjoining industrial/commercial areas whilst not as prevalent in the City can be equally damaging to bush areas.

2.2.3 Soil Erosion

This is encountered especially where there are differing land levels and where there has been a sudden change in the nature of adjoining land use, for example, from re-development of old residential allotments. Soil erosion in such cases is commonly as a result of uncontrolled or improperly designed drainage. Erosion is also a problem when there has been sudden loss in natural vegetation cover following bushfires or gradual loss of vegetation from disease. In both cases water induced erosion can eventuate because of the loss of soil permeability. Soil erosion is therefore a critical issue to the survival of bushlands as it often involves the irreplaceable loss of valuable topsoil or the humic layer and with it, many years accumulation of latent seed store.

2.2.4 Nutrient Imbalance

Most natural soils on the Coastal Plain are quite infertile, by world standards, and many native plants have become adapted to these conditions. Increased nutrient regimes usually permit the invasion and prevalence of weeds that subsequently outgrow native species. Sources of nutrient influxes include fertiliser run-off from surrounding grassed areas of parkland reserves and residential lawns and gardens. Additional sources may be from dumping of road-metal dust, stormwater run-off, sewerage surcharges and dumping of garden waste.

2.2.5 Hydrological Imbalance

Sources that contribute to un-natural soil moisture conditions tend to be similar to those that contribute to nutrient influxes. Apart from promoting the growth of weeds, soil moisture changes usually favour a dominance of native mesomorphic species over original sclerophyll types. This can, in certain areas, result is a somewhat altered floristic composition with the suppression of many inherent species. Hydrological imbalance from sudden changes in drainage is also attributed to disease outbreaks in stands of native vegetation. Particularly susceptible areas are natural swales and depressions in bushland although disease susceptibility usually tends to be specific to certain species.


2.2.6 Past Land Clearing Some bushlands within the City have been subject to selective clearing from past timber harvesting activity. A higher degree of restoration is required in these areas mainly because of the loss of original structure, composition and diversity and as a result, a predisposition for the entry of other threats such as weed invasion.

2.2.7 Altered Fire Regimes

This refers to the frequency, intensity and season of fire occurrence. Fire regimes of urban bushlands today are very different to that prior to European settlement and urban development. Current fire regimes comprise of more frequent fires, intentionally lit usually as a result of vandalism, and sometimes very quickly controlled. The absence of any natural fire regime can adversely affect the successful recruitment of many native plants and instead favour the establishment of mesic species (that is those generally featured in temporary succession eg Solanum symonii and various Acacias) as well as weeds. Many trees are killed by leaf scorch from frequent and particularly hot, intense fires and only re-sprout from lignotubers stimulated by the fire or from fire-damaged roots. However, as re-establishment of the over-storey usually takes the longest, bushland structure is altered in the meanwhile leading to the dominance of scrub vegetation. Altered fire regimes are also thought to be affecting relict species such as the Tuart, which is now experiencing decline in some areas of the State. Under fire frequencies any more than 8-10 years, many trees and shrubs that normally mature and flower after approximately 8 years or those that flower and set seed infrequently, are killed without establishment of progeny. Such species are being lost irreversibly from our bushland systems at an alarming rate. (Ideally, the minimum fire frequency is thought to be 2.5 – 3.0 times the period to first flowering, ie if a species first flowers at 8 years, then the minimum fire frequency should be 20 – 24 years). Occasional fires under natural conditions are beneficial by destroying pests and diseases, rejuvenating moribund vegetation and recycling nutrients. Conversely, too frequent fires are a threat to biodiversity, wildlife habitat (eg bird nests, hollow logs, dense understorey etc) and food resources, all of which are incinerated and often unrecoverable at the same site.

2.2.8 Fragmentation of Bush Blocks

Intact areas of bushland have become fragmented in various ways. The loss of bushland structure from frequent fires is implicated in this process. Initially the over storey is thinned out followed by weed infestation of the understorey from increased light penetration and much later, loss of even this understorey


from subsequent fires. Fragmentation also occurs through the creation of informal pedestrian trails. These invariably widen over time and become primary sources for weed dispersion and eventually regression of bush areas along either side of these trails. With a number of bushland sites in the City that occupy recreational parkland reserves, fragmentation has taken place because of poor planning in the past with regard to the location of recreational/sporting facilities. Intact areas have thus been bisected or ‘carved out’ leaving behind several smaller areas of bush. In some cases, such remnant small areas have been further reduced in size and segregated by being progressively mowed out along the fringes by parkland mowers and in some cases, eventually, completely mowed out.

2.2.9 Invasion of Weeds

Most successful invaders of the bush are either mesomorphic broad-leaved weeds or grasses. Broad-leaved species out-compete other plants as they cast heavy shade and produce conditions inappropriate for the germination and establishment of native species. Grasses compete in a similar manner however the greatest hazard that they present is when they dry out in summer and form dense masses of dry matter. In the event of deliberate or arson related fires, the fuel load thus consumed at ground level, renders the fires extremely intense and hot resulting in the loss of a vast amount of regenerative material of many native species. The presence of weeds in bushland is often an indication of severe degradation brought about by too frequent a fire. In a more vibrant understorey where frequent fires and grassy weeds have not been a problem, the understorey is usually capable of withstanding fairly intense fires without severe loss of regenerative material. The gradual loss of the over storey through successive fires and environmental changes in the lower storey brought about by increased moisture and light conditions, further encourages the emergence of grassy weeds and the suppression of a normally shade tolerant native understorey. Weed occurrence may also be attributed to uncontrolled public access that has been allowed to occur over time via numerous tracks and trails through bushland. These provide avenues for further weed dispersion with vast areas eventually being infested. The influence of peripheral roads/streets particularly around small bushland reserves has the same effect. Because of the high 'edge to area ratios' associated with such reserves, weed growth, if left uncontrolled on road verges, very quickly proceeds to infest the entire reserve. The presence of weeds in bushland may further lead to other long term environmental changes such as alteration to soil chemistry and structure, changes in microbial populations, reduction in nutrient recycling and the depletion or enrichment of soil minerals and trace elements.


2.2.10 Invasion of Pests The fragmentation of bushlands can cause marked reductions in the diversity of native animal habitation. With even greater access to domestic pets (particularly cats and dogs) under such conditions, further dramatic changes tend to occur. An obvious effect is that the natural balance of many small native animals and birds is adversely affected and over turned. Cats make occasional forays into the bush and are known to be carnivorous. Other studies have found that cats hunt extensively even when adequately fed. Dogs are known to leave incompatible scents that discourage habitation of affected bush areas by small native animals. Persistent populations of foxes in some metropolitan reserves are also of concern as these are a threat to the survival of many small animals. Rabbit populations are also widespread and are a threat to any serious attempts to regenerate remnant bushland. Another potential threat to the natural balance of birds and plants in bushland appears to be the feral bee or European Honey Bee. These not only displace many native insects that usually pollinate native plants but also compete for habitat space (usually tree hollows) with various native birds. Once a hive is built in a tree hollow, the nest is rendered almost permanently unusable for nesting birds. Yet another pest of increasing proportions is the feral dove because of its potential for the dispersal of seeds of certain weeds, particularly Carnation Weed. They are also known to consume the seeds of numerous native obligate seeders that become exposed on the ground straight after a fire.

2.2.11 Infestation of Disease

Plants in the natural environment are subject to numerous insects and microbes some of which are vectors for a variety of pathogens. Pathogenic activity, whilst unnoticed in a balanced ecosystem, becomes obvious when large-scale deaths occur usually as a result of some change to environmental conditions. Examples are dieback from Phytophthora cinnamomi and basal canker from Amillaria both due to unnatural changes in soil moisture conditions possibly from diversion of off-street drainage. Some studies attribute dieback to changes in the association of soil mycorrhiza with the root systems of dieback susceptible plants; the changes referred to in this case being brought about by frequent fires mainly as a result of cool burns. Another example of disease incidence is the phenomenon referred to as ‘Tuart decline’ that, from recent theories, points to long-term regressive changes to bushland understorey as the possible cause.


2.2.12 Pollution via Stormwater Drainage With the ever-increasing proportion of impervious surfaces (roads, carparks, footpaths, driveways, roofs etc) discharge peaks from storm events develop quickly and with greater velocity that previously accustomed. Where there are no convenient wet or dry detention basins, stormwater seems to be always directed into the nearest bushland (or wetland in other areas). Impervious run-off surfaces accumulate a wide range of pollutants viz silica based sediments, nutrient adsorbed clay colloids, oxygen demanding organic matter, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, heavy metals, hydro-carbons, animal faeces, urine and various bacteria. In addition to the discharge of these pollutants into bushland, permanent changes to soil moisture and temperature tend to occur, and consequently, changes to the floristic composition of these areas. Perhaps the most serious impact from stormwater drainage is the dispersion of seeds of many weeds and exotic plants. These generally favour the raised nutrient levels and the altered soil moisture and temperature conditions.

2.2.13 Rubbish Dumping

The problem may be divided into compostable and non-compostable rubbish. The latter refers to discarded/ old household items (clothes, furniture, toys, white goods, car bodies etc) and industrial garbage (packaging material, glass, metals and building rubble) These are visibly distracting as well as smother all living and emerging native plants in the areas affected. Compostable rubbish refers to garden waste (eg grass clippings, pulled out weeds, tree/shrub prunnings, surplus sand and soil). Those who dump such rubbish do it either out of ignorance and are not concerned about its effects or because they think it will ‘do the bush some good’. Compostable rubbish will, in time, release large amounts of nutrients into the soil and provide ideal conditions for the establishment of dumped weeds. The greatest concern is the dumping of grass clippings most often by residents but also by unscrupulous lawn maintenance contractors. Grass clipping will almost invariably lead to the dispersion of seeds and invasion of grassy weeds for several metres into bushland.

2.2.14 Vandalism

This consists of a wide range of activities and may be divided into damage to physical infrastructure and damage to biotic elements of the bushland. Physical damage includes damage to gates, fences, signage, access tracks, etc. Damage to biotic elements involves, amongst others, tree felling for timber, excavation and removal of grass trees and intentionally setting the bush alight. The huge costs incurred each year in remediation following vandalism does severely impact on


funding resources that could otherwise have been used for conservation works.

2.2.15 Uncontrolled Recreational Impacts

Impacts on bushland can be severe when considering persistently repeated activities such as bush clearing and soil excavation for the creation of BMX tracks, breaking branches and clearing undergrowth for building cubby houses, and walking through the bush where no tracks exist and, in so doing, damaging vegetation and creating numerous informal trails.

2.2.16 Illegal Removal of Plant Material

The removal of plant material can range from removal of entire plants (eg grass trees) to removal of parts of plants such as wildflowers, fruits and seeds, cut portions of living stems/ branches, bark and fallen wood. The removal of wildflowers, fruits and seeds, if allowed to continue uncontrolled, could eventually deplete the regenerative potential of a bushland site. The removal of other material can upset certain components of the bushland ecosystem for example, bark and fallen wood which form valuable habitat niches for numerous insects that are themselves the food source for various insectivorous birds.

2.3 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Biological diversity, or biodiversity, may be defined as the richness in species within any given community or ecosystem and is often a measure of the sustainability of an area. Hence, a bushland ecosystem, comprising of a large number of different species of plants and animals is considered to be biologically diverse. In other terms, it is also used to describe an ecosystem that is well represented by different species across all tiers of its structure. The most important reason for conserving biodiversity is simply because it exists. However, there are many other valid reasons. For instance, of the 20,000 odd Australian native plants currently in existence, there are many that we know very little about. Some of these may indeed be the storehouses for valued substances that could be used as medicinal drugs or contain the genetic information that could be incorporated into food crop plants to develop their resistance to pests and disease. Even ecosystems that appear very uniform and seemingly consisting of only a few species of plants and animals are actually complicated mosaics of various communities that depend on small variations in microclimate (ie differences in soil, topography, moisture and temperature). The Australian bush is a good example of an ecosystem that is much more complex and diverse than first impressions would suggest.


Many native insects and small animals play a beneficial role towards human habitation especially where near-existing ecosystems are kept intact. As an example, of all the pests that sometimes do attack crop plants, many are kept under control by a complicated web of interactions involving several beneficial insects, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. It is only when the diversity of an ecosystem is adversely affected or when there is an imbalance in species composition that outbreaks of pest populations occur. Apart from resistance to insect and disease attacks, a diverse gene pool is also important within any ecosystem in terms of tolerances to heat, drought, soil moisture stresses, lowering of the water table, changes in acidity, regrowth vigour after fires and other changes in environmental parameters. A point that is rarely appreciated in this whole context is that the diversity of local native fauna (insects, birds, small animals) is almost totally dependent on local native plants being as just as vibrant and diverse. An excellent example is the Banksia with different flowering times amongst its species, which if all present in any area, will ensure a year-round supply of nectar for many nectarivorous insects and birds. Every native plant forms habitat for some living organism that has co-evolved with particular plant species often with mutually beneficial results, such as the pollination of flowers or dispersal of seeds. Compared to introduced plants, nearly all parts of any locally native plant provide food and shelter for a myriad of insects. Considering that almost all our land-dwelling birds on the Coastal Plain are insectivorous, it is even more compelling why areas of native vegetation should be preserved. The principle of species specificity could not be more starkly displayed than in the spread of many introduced plants throughout bushland. As these plants do not have natural predators or are of little value to native insects, they are able to spread quickly and assume weed proportions. The fragmentation of bushland into several isolated remnants is a cause for concern and is a major factor in the loss of biodiversity and threat to their long-term viability. If a remnant bushland area is too small, some plant and animal species may not find sufficient resources or appropriate mechanisms within it to complete their life cycles. This becomes crucial when key species or indicator species are affected because it can have similar consequences on various dependant species, to the extent that even the entire community is threatened. The problem of biodiversity preservation is particularly acute when dealing with plant and animal species that do not disperse easily. Hence strategies aimed at preserving biodiversity, must of necessity, include measures to promote such dispersal. A valid and effective mechanism to ensure this is by the creation of ‘ecolinks’ or corridors through which the transit and dispersal of essential regenerative material can take place.


2.4 ECOLOGICAL LINKS AND CORRIDORS Urban bushland with its differing vegetation strata provides important habitats for wildlife. With the exception of a few reserves on the Coastal Plain, most of our larger reserves are considered too small to support larger animals such as kangaroos and wallabies. Nevertheless, they provide food and shelter for many smaller species such as possums, bats, birds, lizards and a variety of insects and other invertebrates, all of which play an important part in the complex bushland food web. (Appendices, Ia, Ib and Ic portray, in part, the diversity of animal life existent in this part of the region). It may be argued, in terms of theories relating to island ecology, that a level exists in all reserves where colonisations balance extinction and that the equilibrium number of species depends directly on the size of the isolated bushland and inversely on the distance of its isolation. However it is becoming more evident, from recent studies, that even reserves with large 'edge to area ratios' (ie very small bushland reserves) are surprisingly diverse in species numbers. This may partly be attributed to the fact that whilst some insects, birds and animals are permanent residents within individual reserves, others, if not most, are nomadic, migratory or free ranging from reserve to reserve. Further, corresponding movements of their ‘traditional’ sources of food influence the movement of many birds. Insectivorous birds, for instance, follow the movement of insects. Raptors or predatory birds move in accordance with the distribution of their prey. Some of the larger birds that normally undertake long distance movements do not need continuous corridors, but only patches of vegetation to provide ‘stepping stones’ along their journey. On the other hand, many of the smaller birds rely on almost continuous corridors of bush to access other parts of the region. With regard to insects, whilst their movement and flight, in some cases, is wind assisted or in accordance with general wind directions, it is nevertheless dependent on the availability of naturally occurring movement corridors. The need, ability and freedom to move on the part of species would therefore seem to be a justifiable basis for preserving local diversity at individual bushland sites and most importantly the provision of ‘ecolinks’ or movement corridors. In fact, insects, birds and small animals have to move from one bushland reserve to another to improve their range of resources and survival potential in terms of food, shelter and breeding opportunity. It is also important that this opportunity exists for individuals within any given species. The greater the range and intensity of exploration between reserves, the greater is the gene flow and exchange between common areas of that species. Hence, it is this essential biological process that helps preserve the vibrancy and survival of any one species in animals. Just as movement is essential to the preservation of insect, bird and animal species, so is it equally applicable to native plants. However, any mechanism of movement or transfer in plants is principally reliant on animal vectors (as well as other means) to effect the dispersal of pollen, seeds and other propagules. Whilst many native species


remain indigenous to select localities and habitats, gene flow and exchange between individuals from genetically diverse localities is still essential for the preservation of fertility and survival of those species. The individuals of a species, thus conditioned, are better able to withstand a greater range of survival pressures than those normally accustomed in their place of origin. In the urban environment, such pressures include heat, drought, changes in soil moisture retention, sudden shifts in the groundwater table, rises in soil salinity, resistance to exotic pests and diseases etc. As previously discussed, the fragmentation and isolation of bushlands is threatening the long-term viability of many of the larger bushland reserves in the urban environment and has rendered many of the smaller reserves almost non-sustainable. A halt to this decline is however possible given that strategies adopted are based on principles relating to the preservation of species diversity and the promotion of ‘ecolink’ opportunities.


3. WHAT MAKES UP THE GREEN PLAN?

3.1 EMPHASISING THE IMPORTANCE OF LARGE BUSHLANDS

The City is endowed with a number of significantly large bushland sites reserved for conservation (total 9). These are included in Green Plan 2 (refer Appendix Ia) for continued management under reserve specific management plans. (refer Appendix Ia). Each of these sites exceeds 50 hectares. They are important for the following reasons: • The preservation of diverse ecotypes (viz Remnant Tuart, Banksia

Woodland, Melaleuca Wetland, Open Heathland) within the one site;

• The preservation of intact transition zones between the different ecotypes that would provide unique opportunities for further study and understanding;

• The preservation of a more substantial repository of regenerative material that has values for dispersion to other areas;

• Their immense habitat value and their role as refuge centres for wildlife that may have been displaced due to destruction of habitat at smaller sites;

• A base for the extension of ecological links with other regionally significant sites external to the City;

• A base for the extension of ecological links with several smaller bushland sites within the City and

• Their viability and self-sustaining attributes because of their resilience to surrounding impacts (small edge to area ratios).

3.2 UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF SMALL BUSHLANDS

Green Plan 2 lists 55 locally significant bushlands on separate reserves or locations (refer Appendix Ib). These range from 0.5 to 8 hectares. They are being included under Green Plan 2 for protection and restoration with almost equal rigour and intensity as the larger regionally significant reserves. With the exception of a few, all others do not have reserve specific management plans. However, under Green Plan 2 prescriptions are issued for on-going care and management based on individual site assessment of conservation needs. Although these bushlands occupy relatively small areas they are valued for the following reasons: • Collectively, they cover a significant area of the City and hence

contribute to the composition of local landscapes; • They are evenly scattered throughout the City and offer convenient

options for the establishment of ‘ecolink’ opportunities with the larger bushland sites; Although they may ap• pear to be poor in biodiversity they actually consist of complex mosaics of organisms occupying specific niches; Each sit• e is unique in terms of its physical and biotic attributes because it differs in location to all other sites in the City (hence display differing vegetation suites or ecotypes when comparing, for example, coastal with inland sites);


• They provide opportunities for ‘island hopping’ via indirect movement corridors for a wide variety of insects, birds and small animals and

• Their dispersion throughout the City enables a greater level of local appreciation by those residing in neighbourhood to these bushlands.

3.3 EMBRACING STRATEGICALLY LOCATED RECREATIONAL

PARKLAND

Of the 157 key reserves listed under Green Plan 2 (refer Section 2.1 and Appendices IIIa, IIIb & IIIc), 93 have been listed for the establishment of ‘green belts’. They have been selected for the following reasons: • All are non-bushland reserves or recreational parkland; • They occur in strategic locations in relation to both regionally

significant and locally significant bushland; • Most have either small fragmented pockets of remnant bush or

significant stands of remnant native trees; • Most have areas currently not utilized for any form of active or

passive recreation and • A few are relatively devoid of native trees however are regionally

significant in term of recreational parkland (eg Yokine Reserve, Dianella Regional Open Space and Charles Riley Reserve) and offer substantial areas for ‘green belt’ establishment.

3.4 INCORPORATING OTHER NATURAL AREAS

To enable ecological linking occur to its full extent within the City a number of other natural areas have been included under Green Plan 2. These include: • Coastal dune systems stretching for 6.5 kilometres from Brighton

Beach to North Beach and • Wetland transition zones principally at Star Swamp Reserve,

Carine Regional Open Space, Lake Gwelup Reserve and Dianella Regional Open Space.

These areas are recognised for the following: • The coastal landscape and associated vegetation provides a

variety of habitat niches for wildlife and introduces an added dimension to biodiversity preservation;

• The linear orientation of the coastal strip lends itself conveniently as a movement corridor for a variety of migratory wildlife; Wetland transition zones straddle a range of ecosyste• ms from wetland floodplain through to elevated areas containing progressively intense bushland and Owing to their natural links with bush• land, wetland transition zones offer several essential movement ‘pathways’ for wildlife in search of food, shelter and breeding opportunity.


3.5 ADOPTING A POLICY REGARDING BUSH AREAS ON NON-COUNCIL LAND There exist a number of valuable bushland areas within the municipality that are on lands not vested in or managed by the City (refer Appendix IV and Map 2). However the ideals of the Green Plan 2 extend beyond the conservation of vested reserves to advocating a ‘whole of community’ approach towards the establishment of ‘ecolinks’ and promoting biodiversity. The dilemma to achieving this principle is that in most cases bushland on privately held land is gradually being degraded from cumulative urban pressures and/or await future clearing for urban development. Green Plan 2 therefore undertakes preliminary investigations into some mechanisms to ensue that at least part of these areas can be, firstly, protected from clearing and, secondly, afforded a degree of conservation to enable the future establishment of ‘ecolinks’. The following are some situations where bushlands exist on non-Council land: • School grounds; • College/university campuses; • Private golf courses; • Media owned lands; • Undeveloped Crown reserves and • Undeveloped land under private holdings.

3.6 IDENTIFYING A MECHANISM TO LINK ALL ABOVE AREAS

TOGETHER With the main thrust being urban bushland conservation for the purpose of improving biodiversity, it is essential that some linking mechanism be developed between all Green Plan sites identified thus far. Green Plan 2 considers a number of possible mechanisms including the following: • Incorporation of substantial median strips on the arterial network of

streets/roads within the City; • Incorporation of linear reserves such as coastal dune systems; • Identification of specific links and corridors via strategically located

street/road medians and parkland reserves; • Demarcation of ‘green belts’ on a Citywide basis within evenly

dispersed sectors; • Demarcation of ‘green belts’ within selected regionally significant

conservation reserves and recreational parkland and Adoption of ‘planting zones’ across the City to g• uide in the selection of local native and indigenous species on all Green Plan sites.


4. WHAT VALUES DOES THE GREEN PLAN BRING TOGETHER?

4.1 CULTURAL / HERITAGE VALUES

What remains of urban bushland today is but a microcosm of a once extensive wilderness consisting of many different plants and animals that have evolved and adapted over thousands of years. Today they are important as examples of the original natural landscape within this part of the region as well as examples of the once abundant flora and fauna on the coastal plain. Our bushlands are therefore of immense natural heritage significance to our community. A number of bushland reserves today have been associated with early European settlement and still portray many historical and cultural values. Others still preserve pre-European links to the life and times of the indigenous people of this land. Apart from major bushland sites such as Star Swamp Reserve, Trigg Bushland Reserve and Lake Gwelup Reserve where significant archaeological sites have been identified, several smaller bushland reserves may still contain valuable artefacts that could serve as links either with pre-European Aboriginal habitation or of early European settlement.

4.2 EDUCATIONAL VALUES

Although bushlands currently remnant in the urban setting can never display the full diversity of species contained in much larger wilderness areas, they nevertheless serve as valuable repositories for a significant number of plants and animals, and in some cases, even species that are rare or unique only to their part of the region. Urban bushlands are therefore tremendous resources for much scientific and environmental research. Further, bushlands provide a convenient base for community oriented educational and environmental interpretation programmes on topics aimed at greater understanding and appreciation of bushland systems. These can include subjects such as diversity of flora, diversity of fauna (insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals), habitat types, soil microflora, food chains and webs, ecosystem, ecotypes, ecotones, biomes, niches, ecological links and corridors, natural regenerative mechanisms, the role of bushfires, effects of environmental stresses (viz clearing, salinity, drought, fluctuations in groundwater table), adaptations to indigenous land use systems and many others.

4.3 RECREATIONAL VALUES

Urban bushlands offer a range of recreational possibilities that give families and individuals across all ages some diversion away from the pressures of urban living. Most bushland reserves in the City provide good, safe public access on limestone- consolidated walk trails. Common recreational activities in bushland are walking, jogging, photography, drawing/painting, nature appreciation and wildlife observation. Increasingly popular amongst communities in neighbourhood with local bushlands are the formation of environmental interest or ‘Friends of’ groups. These are effective


forums for organising a variety of conservation oriented tasks in conjunction with the City as well their own social interest and educational activities.

4.4 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES – PHYSICAL

Just as trees are sometimes referred to as the lungs of a city, urban bushland similarly provides, at least to some, much-needed breathing space away from urban living. Considered in its entirety, it is quite conceivable that bushland vegetation has a modifying effect on air temperatures, wind velocity and air pollution levels. It is envisaged that in association with wetlands, coastal foreshores and river foreshores the areas occupied by bushland would help preserve natural humic layers, increase rainfall percolation rates, contribute towards replenishment of aquifers, stabilisation of soils, reduction of stormwater runoff and reduction of nutrient discharge into sensitive natural systems. Quite importantly, bushlands also provide a visual and noise buffer between residential areas and other forms of land use such as highways, industrial, commercial precincts, etc.

4.5 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES – BIOTIC

Apart from the diverse native flora, our bushlands are habitat for an equally diverse range of fauna. Some 30 different native mammals and an equal number of reptiles and amphibians have been recorded in bushland on the northern parts of the Swan Coastal Plain (refer Appendices 1b and 1c). Over the years these animals have declined in numbers. Reasons include fragmentation of bushlands, the influence of feral species, large scale clearing, urbanisation and changes to fire regimes. Habitat restoration and protection are therefore important aspects of any conservation strategy in terms of the survival of these animals. Another important point with regard to fauna protection is that many natural regenerative processes of native bushland (eg pollination and seed/fruit dispersal) are almost totally reliant on the movement of insects, birds and small mammals. In most cases these insects, birds and small animals are actually habitat specific, which means having a preference for particular species of local trees or shrubs. This dependency becomes pivotal to the establishment of reliant and consistent food webs throughout the bushland ecosystem, for example, certain trees/shrubs being host-specific to certain insectivorous birds because of the kind of insects that traditionally nest on these plants. Bushland ecosystems are not merely restricted to the visible biota such as birds and animals that inhabit the upper and mid stories of bushland structure. By far the greater spectrum of habitats in any forest or woodland system occurs within the lower storey. It comprises a myriad of small creatures and invertebrate organisms as well as a variety of fungi and bacteria. These organisms exist in a dynamic relationship to each other as well as contribute towards the performance of the total ecosystem. Some, for instance, are involved in the processes of decay and in returning nutrients back to the soil for reuse by plants.


5. IMPLEMENTING THE GREEN PLAN

5.1 CONSERVATION OF LARGE BUSHLANDS A listing of the major conservation reserves containing significant bushland (ie 50 hectares and larger) and associated wetland transition zones is provided under Appendix Ia. The conservation of wetlands proper will be covered in another strategy report. Green Plan 2 deals principally with the conservation of bushland and associated transition areas. Appendix II provides the management status of these reserves in terms of whether individual Management Plans operate. Although most seem to be governed by Management Plans, in some instances the Plans are not specific enough and do not address all issues relating to the conservation of natural areas. In such cases, the need for properly instituted Management Plans is stressed for each reserve containing significantly large bushlands. It is not within the scope of this document to deal individually with each major bushland regardless of whether management plans exist. Nevertheless, this will be addressed when either existing Management Plans are reviewed or new ones formulated under the Green Plan 2 programme. It should suffice in the interim that criteria be established to guide the formulation of future Management Plans wherever significant bushland areas are involved.

5.1.1 Site Assessment and Planning

Site assessments should be a factual examination of all natural and introduced attributes of the area, the identification of obvious issues as well as opportunities/constraints for protection, restoration and on-going management. The principal components of such an analysis should consist of the following (also refer Volume II of Green Plan 2 for detailed site assessment considerations): • Physical attributes – topography, physical features; • Biological attributes – vegetation structure, vegetation

cover, % cover, dominant species, diversity/richness of flora and fauna;

• Threatening processes – adjoining land use impacts, stormwater drainage, soil erosion, weed invasion, pests, disease;

• Management issues – past disturbances, continuing public access impacts, frequent fire, rubbish dumping and

• Planning opportunities & constraints. Site assessment and analysis could be more meaningful if the following base-line data is also acquired: • Geo-referenced ortho-rectified aerial images; • Superimposition of cadastral data – viz boundaries of

reserves, roads and properties;


• Superimposition of topographical data – land relief data viz contours, disturbed sites;

• Superimposition of planimetry data – fencing, tracks, trails, roads, carparks, buildings and other infrastructure and

• Superimposition of soft detail – natural and introduced vegetation.

5.1.2 Flora and Fauna Surveys

Gathering the following data would greatly assist in the understanding of biotic factors operating within the bushland system: • Vegetation region and association; • Vegetation condition – viz pristine, excellent, very good,

good, average, degraded but potentially restorable, completely degraded beyond restoration;

• Vegetation structure – viz dominant species and % cover of trees, mallee, shrubs, herbs, sedges, grasses and others;

• Diversity and richness of native flora and fauna, species abundance;

• Wildlife habitat potential; • Presence of rare and endangered flora/fauna; • Presence of introduced flora/fauna; • Conservation significance (local/regional); • Conservation potential/priority and • Qualitative assessment of overall ecosystem.

The following processes are considered important in the

Site analysis; ys;

ues paper; ation

• Comblic workshop)

ups / recreational

o ry committee

• Formulation of draft management plan; mment;

e agencies

• corporation of public and agency submissions;

/

• Reserves administration staff and

5.1.3 Formulation of Management Plans

formulation of any site- specific management plan: •• Baseline surve• Development of iss

o Environmental / conservo Recreational / public use munity consultation; o General public (puo Key stake holders (Friends of gro

& sporting groups) Management adviso

o Councillors

• Council endorsement for formal public co• Public comment (variable from 1 to 3 months); • Comment/ endorsement from relevant Stat

(optional); Audit and in

• Council approval/adoption of final plan; / public libraries • Public release – administration library

customer service; • Briefing of relevant of Council departments;

Briefing of Parks &


• Briefing of Parks area supervisors and Natural Areas

5.1.4 Rubbish Removal & Prevention of Dumping

tances of rubbish umping in bushland areas (also refer Section 2.2.13):

l from dumped site whilst avoiding any damage to living plants

•

•

and non-

• Desharm s

5.1.5 We

ould be based on the principle and in establishing a vibrant

Conservation unit.

The following steps are recommended in insd • Non-compostable rubbish – remove all materia

amongst or around the dumped area and ensure that the ground surface is cleaned of any contaminants; Exercise caution and involve special procedures with regard to the removal of sharp objects, discarded syringes, broken glass, toxic materials and asbestos; Compostable rubbish – remove all garden waste including grass clippings and ensure that any dumped sand/soil is also removed;

• The cleaned site is to monitored for weed emergence and any emergence promptly controlled;

• Install appropriate signage that will o Declare the site as a conservation area awaiting

rehabilitation o Prohibit the dumping of further rubbish o Provide a City contact number for options on

preferred disposal of green wastecompostable matter;

ign a brochure that would explain the environmental ustained by natural areas from rubbish dumping and

seeking public cooperation in preventing the problem and • Identify all similar ‘hot spots’ throughout the City and carry

out a letter drop around affected neighbourhoods requesting cooperation in avoiding the dumping of green waste and to advise their contract gardeners of the need for the same compliance.

ed Control and Eradication

Where practical, weed control shof minimum ground disturbanceground cover of local native species as quickly as possible. Most forms of ground disturbance promote weeds and can be caused by events such as clearing, bushfires, and soil erosion from stormwater drainage and uncontrolled pedestrian/vehicle access. The mechanism of invasion is commonly through so-called invasion corridors viz paths, tracks, trails, firebreaks, drains and service roads. This is further augmented by the activities and movement of people, dogs, horses etc along these invasion corridors. Where weeds have been allowed to gain a foothold the following strategies for control and eventually eradication should apply (also refer Appendix IId – Schedule of Bushland Weed Control):


• festations of perennial grasses (eg Veldt Grass) and annual

• /or sprayed with

• e cut and

• d removed of

•

•

•

•

•

-plan weed control/eradication

Ingrasses (eg Wild Oats) should not be pulled out as this would disturb the soil and cause further germination; All grassy weeds should either be slashed anda selective herbicide (eg fluazifop-p which is grass specific and does not affect native plants except native grasses); Rhizomatous grasses eg Buffalo and Couch are to bremoved of extraneous biomass prior to all remaining green matter being sprayed with a selective herbicide; Rhizomatous gasses eg Kikuyu are to be cut anextraneous biomass prior to all remaining green matter being spot-sprayed with a non-residual contact herbicide eg glyphosate; With geophytic weeds (bulbs and corms), mechanical cutting does not remove nor eradicate the reproductive structures. It is preferred that these species eg Gladiolus, Freesia and Sparaxis be hand pulled following the onset of flowering and/or spot-sprayed with a non-residual contact herbicide eg glyposate; Woody shrub species such as Castor Oil and non-local species of Wattle are best controlled by cutting and removing from the area all above ground biomass followed by herbicide sprays with glyphosate for any regrowth or emerging seedlings; Herbaceous groundcover species such as Wild Geranium are best controlled by cutting and removing from the area all above ground biomass followed by herbicide sprays with glyphosate of any regrowth; Herbaceous annuals such as Lupins and perennials such as Carnation Weed are best controlled by hand pulling;

• Control of geophytic creepers such as Bridal Creeper present options for an integration of chemical control (metasulphuron which is translocated down to the underground tubers) and biological control (using host specific species of a leafhopper, a beetle and a rust fungus); Bushlands that occupy part of recreational parklands suffer from grass encroachment (Couch and Kykuyu) around the fringes due mainly to the over-spray of irrigation sprinklers – these must be re-located to avoid over-spray into bush areas or converted to part-circles. t is also important to preI

programmes to the extent that all known areas are sampled and accurately mapped out to determine the varying densities of occurrence for any one weed species. Using principles espoused under the Bradley method, it may be more appropriate to effect controls commencing from areas of least resistance ie where bush density is the strongest and weed density is weakest. This should ensure that competition from weeds is progressively eliminated from areas of least resistance towards principal source areas of weeds or areas where competition is most intense. Prompt removal of competition from areas of least resistance will halt further dispersion of weeds deeper into bushland proper and facilitate quick restoration of native plant cover and vigour. Prompt restoration of full structure, cover and vigour are probably the


best defences against further weed invasion. It is expected that the Bradley method would be effective with most forms of weed control - physical (hand pulling), mechanical (cutting and removal) and chemical (herbicide sprays). Mitigation of Stormwater Drainage 5.1.6

om surrounding residential/ dustrial/ commercial/ horticultural land use catchments is

n with engineered devices and mechanisms a ariety of nutrient stripping techniques may be employed.

mwater drainage clude, soil erosion (particularly valuable topsoil), increasing

5.1.7

ets must feature strongly in any management programme for remnant bushland so as to

permitted. Dog owners must be encouraged to keep their

• night hours for domestic cats are

•

• preferably using a combination of the alici virus should be undertaken

oduction of

All too often stormwater drainage frinterminated into bushland reserves (refer also Section 2.2.12). Whilst the re-routing of such drainage to alternate discharge points is hardly neither likely nor feasible in engineering terms, steps must be taken to mitigate direct discharge that already occurs into bush areas. Possible solutions include the installation of added capacity sediment detention traps on road verges just before the drainage outfall or purpose built detention-cum-infiltration soaks and swales in convenient off-road areas. In conjunctiovThese include the planting of native rushes where the bushland is associated with a wetland. Another method is to terminate the discharge into suitably designed swales or fluidised beds filled with limestone spalls and soaks that have the capacity to absorb most of the nutrients. Problems associated with unmitigated storinthe level of nutrients and soil moisture to un-natural levels and the associated encouragement and spread of weed growth and soil-bourn pathogenic fungi such as Armillaria.

Control of Feral Animals and Pets

The control of feral animals and p

maximise on rehabilitation efforts and to restore biodiversity. • Free ranging dogs within bush areas should not be

pets under control on a leash and to use only paths or tracks designated for pedestrian access in bushland conservation reserves. Restriction on cat numbers per household and curfews during late evening andnow in place under the City’s new Cat By-law – and is applicable anywhere within a 200 metre zone around all major conservation reserves within the City. Trapping for foxes should be undertaken under advice from the Agricultural

• Protection Board (APB). Rabbit control, Myxomatosis virus and Cunder the direction of the APB. (A previous intr


the Myxomatosis virus by the APB at Star Swamp Bushland Reserve late in the 80’s still appears to be active and effective in rabbit kills each Summer). The problem with feral bees or the European Honey Bee (as discussed under Section 2.2.10) is mainly a matter of commercial hive management. Bees

•

swarm from

•

disposal under methods prescribed

5.1.8 Pro

From information already available and discussed under ite evident that the diversity of

animal life is dependant on an equally diverse range of plant

ossums amongst Banksia and Grevillea;

eand

e ards those more complimentary to the protection

5.1.9

ect an environment free of ban situation, a number of steps hat effects of fire damage are

commercial hives usually when hives are full of honey or when the hives are infrequently harvested. Some awareness/education amongst apiarists in this regard could assist and may be necessary. However where hives are detected in bushland trees, it is recommended that fumigation be undertaken by licensed pest control operators. The problem of feral doves and pigeons as earlier discussed under Section 2.2.10, is best resolved by trapping and humane by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and to be undertaken by appropriately licensed pest control operators.

tection of Wildlife Habitats

Sections 2.3 and 2.4, it is qu

species and communities being present. Appendices 1a, 1b and 1c illustrate the range of birds and small animals that have established niches within the bushland reserves of the region. Some birds and small animals even exhibit particular habitat preferences such as the following and others yet to be identified under Green Plan 2: • The under-storey of Banksia Woodland by Jewel Beetles; • Honey Eaters and Honey P

• Extensive use of Tuart Woodland by Parrots and Galahs • Numerous hollows of mature as well as dead and dying

trees inhabited by Kingfishers, Pardalotes and Tree Martins.

Th re is therefore the need to discover all likely habitat types

habitat preferences and to align bushland conservation asures towm

and perpetuation of these areas.

Fire Prevention and Control

Although it is unrealistic to expindiscriminate fires in the urcan be taken to ensure tminimised in the event of a fire. Firstly, it is important to know the conditions and circumstances under which bushfires can be a risk. This means timely assessment of individual sites to identify all possible on-site hazards and to have an annual programme to resolve these. It also means adopting attendant


strategies that would seriously address the causes of indiscriminate fire lighting - which in most cases is due to a lack of community awareness of the damaging effects of frequent bushfires. The following is therefore recommended: • Installation of appropriate fire breaks to safeguard adjoining

property and to arrest progress or confine the fire to sections as close as possible to the flashpoint;

• Installation of adequate vehicle access tracks to enable

• control of

• ate, to reduce excess fuel loading on the ground –

•

•

•

•

rivate property

unhindered and safe access by fire fighting vehicles; Reduction of potential fuel load (viz dry flammable material) on the ground by the appropriate and timelybroad-leaved non-native annuals, perennials and grassy weeds;

• Reduction of potential fuel load immediately around the bases of significant trees or stands of trees; Implementation of a system of cool burns, where approprito be on a rotational cycle of no less that 20 years and on condition that there have not been intermittent fires in between cycles (supervision of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority or FESA is essential); Establish a community oriented Volunteer Fire Watch scheme to enable the prompt reporting of any fire; Declaration of annual fire risk periods to ensure extra vigilance by all concerned (the most damaging fires are those intentionally lit during hot dry summers); Cooperation of the media is to be sought to denounce common fallacies about the need for annual burning, to raise concern about the ecological damage sustained by frequent fires and to promote the importance of conserving remnant bushland within the urban environment rather than merely sensationalising the aspect of arson commonly associated with bushfires; Cooperation of education authorities should be sought to teach children about the enormous environmental damage/disadvantages of burning bushland at frequencies that cannot be sustained by the ecosystem. In addition to the above fire prevention measures, it would be prudent to have in place a clear emergence response strategy to combat and contain bushfires, should one

ccur, so as to ensue no risk to life and poand with minimum damage to bushland areas. The following is therefore recommended: • Identify all essential emergency services relevant to

bushfire situations within the City and devise a clear system of communication to ensure prompt reporting of bushfire incidents;

• Institute an annual check of all regionally significant reserves within the City with officers from FESA to ensure the following:

o Identification of fire hazards and emergency access issues


o Maps lodged with the local Fire Brigade showing location of all gates and vehicle access tracks for both water tankers and light tenders

• Annwithcomma f neicon h Traffic Police and protocols governing

•

tained by Council

•

5.1.10 Restor

The sdependpost-fire implementation of restorative measures undertaken

conditions. Quite often post-fire not having had

bers and

•

• survive because of browsing by rabbits – their baiting and

o Council standard keys to be issued to access gates

ually re-visit all emergency response procedures FESA with respect to possible locations of

nd stations, aerial monitoring, issue oghbourhood warnings, and traffic diversions in junction wit

commissioning of the water bomber. Ensure that FESA is clear of Council’s requirement that the City be notified of all bushfires, no matter how small, and that have been attended to by local Fire Brigades before their leaving the site; this will ensure that post-fire vigilance can be mainstaff to avoid further damage from any re-flaring of fires not completely extinguished; Clarify the role of other civil emergency authorities viz State Emergency Services so that un-justified felling of significant trees is avoided either during or after a fire.

ation of Burnt Areas

uccessful recovery of bushlands after a fire would very much on (i) pre-fire conditions of the bush itself (ii)

and (iii) prevailing climaticperiods end up being missed opportunities inthe timely application of correct restorative processes. It is therefore important that the following be considered: • Implement temporary closure of the reserve via all public

access paths to enable assessment and remediation of all hazards;

• Post-fire ‘mopping-up’ – extinguish burning em‘smoking chimneys’ in tree trunks and limbs;

• Render all hazardous situations safe from a public safety point of view, for example trees in danger of falling across pedestrian walk tracks/trails (arboricultural advice/justification before felling is essential);

• Frequent fires leave behind large nutrient rich areas that encourage rapid invasion by weeds, principally broad-leaved annuals, grasses and some perennials – their control prior to seed set and dispersal in vital; Frequent fires also cause declining levels of regeneration of native annuals or obligate seeders due to loss of capacity to replenish their seed store in the soil – direct seeding may have to be considered to assist with replenishment of these species;

• The depletion of soil seed store is also attributed to ‘seed robbing’ by ants and feral pigeons – trapping and disposal of feral pigeons must be given serious consideration; Frequently, prolific re-sprouting of native plants does not


eradication must be given serious consideration (to be undertaken under the direction of the Agriculture Protection

5.1.11 Per

Theundstrelatent mechanisms to produce new growth or recruit new offspring once the stress factors have been removed.

hilst the rehabilitation of severely degraded areas may

ble from practical viewpoint. This is all the more reason to encourage

5.1.12

n with planting of the appropriately natural mix and proportion of species may be considered. The features of an

gramme should essentially consist of the following:

Identify and mark out specific sites for planting and

• urce areas and

•

•

Board or APB).

mitting Natural Regeneration

regenerative capacity of many bushland areas is often erestimated. Even areas that have undergone prolonged ss (eg frequent fires, weed competition etc) still retain

Wrequire intervention with some hand planting and/or direct seeding these are not preferred options until the capacity of the site for natural regeneration has been fully explored. Replacement plantings can never fully replace the original makeup of all understorey species nor is it fully attainaaas much natural regeneration as possible before resorting to replacement plantings. It is therefore recommended that a moratorium be established on planting in bushland for at least the first 5 years of commencing active rehabilitation at any site. Specific management strategies to promote natural regeneration have been discussed in part, under Sections 5.1.9 (Fire Protection Plan) and 5.1.5 (Weed Control). An integration of these and all other measures is essential in order to realise more lasting outcomes from the regeneration process.

Assisted Regeneration – Planting

In areas where severe disturbance has occurred eg frequent fires, and it has been satisfactorily determined that the natural regenerative capacity of the bush area has depleted, interventio

effective rehabilitation-planting pro

• Undertake vegetation mapping to determine the type,

extent, density and distribution of species; • Ensure that the planting plan replicates, as much as

possible, natural patterns of varietal mixing, spatial relationships and vegetation structure of the space being rehabilitated;

•determine the varietal mix that would apply; Collect and provenance seed from local soestablish a reserve- specific seed bank; Ensure, through nursery practice, that seedlings produced for bushland planting are not nutrient enriched; Propagate under disease free conditions eg sterilised, dieback free soils;


• Plant at tube stock stage – older plants are not preferred because of the risk of damage to tap roots either during re-

• in such disturbed

5.1.13 Ass Direct Seeding

Theplanting is that it can produce more nat

etec

icant components of

Pla

out

he desired species mix and ratio based on

have to

• repared seed should be undertaken under

so that tap roots can be developed well before summer.

potting or at planting out; Varieties to be propagated and plantedareas are to consist only of species locally native and indigenous to the floristic region.

isted Regeneration –

major advantage with direct seeding in comparison to urally replicated

outcomes in terms of species mix and distribution for any given ar a being restored and within a shorter time frame. The

hnique has its uses under the following situations:

• Badly degraded sites where signiforiginal bushland structure have been lost;

• Severely degraded sites where it has been established that soils are basically resource poor in terms of latent store of viable seeds;

• In situations where the understorey has been lost and it is simply impractical to restore, even with several successive years of planting;

• Where remnant bushland pockets exist in grassed recreational parkland and it is intended that these pockets be merged.

nning for direct seeding is just as complex as it is for hand

planting and effort must be made to adequately research site requirements and prepare the site to ensure the right

comes. The following procedure is recommended: • Identify the vegetation type and association of the area

being rehabilitated; Determine t•similar intact bushland complexes in the near vicinity;

• Collect locally provenanced seeds and prepare in the correct mix of varieties and proportions;

• Scarifying and other seed treatments (eg smoke stimulation) to remove germination inhibitors maybe considered;

• Site preparation in a degraded bushland site may require the eradication of all competitive effects that could threaten seed germination and survival; Control all weeds – several attempts may be neede• d to fully exhaust the store of weed seeds in surface layers of soil;

• Have the area fenced off from people traffic, domestic pets and feral animals; Sowing of the pthe most desirable of on-site environmental conditions to mimic natural patterns of germination – preferably after the first substantial autumn rains


5.1.14 Perimeter fencing of bushland sites is increasingly becoming a

sur hat reserve managers have to contend

•

informal walk trails; • The principal objective of perimeter fencing is to guide and

d pine posts with panels of ring-lock square mesh should suffice);

It can also be used to buffer against any adverse impacts

•

•

5.1.15

regcre

•

unnecessary should be e re-claimed areas re-

eyond required widths;

Protective Perimeter Fencing

necessity in the urban environment because of the high level of rounding impacts t

with. Following are some important considerations:

Perimeter fencing is to be installed in situations where indiscriminate pedestrian access is not desired as it could lead to the creation of numerous

direct public access (treate

• Another purpose is to prevent off-road vehicle access across broadly exposed fronts of bushland (treated pine posts with top pencil-joint rails and panels of ring-lock square mesh is recommended);

•from surrounding land use; An important reason is to prevent the regression of bushland fringe by being gradually mowed into by parkland mowers (the use regularly spaced treated pine bollards along the bushland fringe works very well); All perimeter fencing is, however, not intended to restrictany movement of small animals to other bushland reserves via movement corridors (in this regard the use of large open mesh fencing as described above is recommended).

Definition of Public Access

The public right to access and enjoy bushland cannot be denied, however there is the need to clearly define protocols

arding permissible ingress and egress to prevent the ation of a myriad of unnecessary tracks. The following

need to be taken into account:

The location and number of access points should be carefully determined in relation to the size of the reserve and commonly observed usage patterns;

• All trails through bushland deemed barricaded and closed off and thvegetated;

• All tracks considered necessary should be consolidated to provide a stable natural appearing surface (options for materials that can be used are crushed limestone, stabilised limestone or cemented earth); to prevent erosion and unnecessary widening b

• Unconsolidated sand trails almost invariably widen with regular use over time and present loose unstable conditions that become invasion corridors for weeds; All access points should, where possibl• e, be adequately sign-posted and controlled via standard pedestrian/disabled access gates.


5.1.16 Geto com ignage

thacom that

• nd designate bushland

sites as important reserves for biodiversity conservation; • Regulatory Signs – to request avoidance of any form of

abuse or misuse in particular reference to issues such as rubbish dumping, litter disposal, lighting of fires, collecting of plant material, dog control, horse riding, off-road vehicle access, clearing for BMX activity, logging etc;

• Directional Signs – to guide and direct proper and safe public access, usage of facilities where provided and orientation of principal access tracks and walk trails;

• Interpretation Signs – to provide concise information, of an educational nature, regarding features and attributes of public interest such as wildlife habitats, the diversity of plants and animals, ecosystem relationships and other aspects of natural and cultural heritage.

5.1.17 Facilitating Public Recreational /Leisure Needs

Bushlands, no matter how small, add visual dimension, variety and balance to the landscape character of many open parkland reserves. They thereby add recreational value that is appreciated by most visitors and regular users of parks (also refer Section 4.3). Perhaps the best way of promoting bushland in the urban environment is to present them as areas that are being adequately protected and well looked after as well areas of safe access from a recreational / leisure perspective. Public access for recreational or leisure purposes, however, has to be maintained at sustainable levels and without detrimental impacts on bushland areas. With the larger bushland reserves, a zoning scheme is advocated (viz zones defining frequent access, moderate access and restricted access) to guide the levels of recreation use permitted and to delineate sensitive areas from undue public use pressure and other stresses. Zoning will additionally permit undisturbed rehabilitation and recovery of previously disturbed parts of the reserve. The following is provided as a guide to placement of public facilities in major conservation reserves • Frequent access zones – carpark, toilets, shade shelters,

park seating, litter bins, pedestrian access tracks, declaration signs, regulatory signs, directional signs and interpretation signs;

Reserve Signage System

nerally, signage at bushland conservation sites is intended convey essential messages that either inform or require pliance with some aspect relevant to the site. All s

should be worded courteously and invite positive action rather n overly emphasise the negative consequences of non-pliance. The following are the major types of signs

should be considered:

Declaration Signs – to declare a


• Moderate access zones – log seating, walk trails, boardwalk, directional signs and interpretation signs;

5.1.18

anagement decisions must depend on bserved responses to whatever treatments that have been

reh e

conbe rehund

•

•

• ss of quarantine

of any control

bushland managers. This

Wildlife habitat preferences – to guide development of

•

• Restricted access zones – walk trails, directional and interpretation signs.

Monitoring and Research

Monitoring is a vital aspect of conserving any natural system because all on-going moapplied. Like any other natural system, bushland responses to

abilitation measures are slow, therefore suggesting thneed for long-term strategies to fully realise the effects of

servation effort. The following are some indicators that can monitored to determine the effectiveness, or otherwise, of abilitation measures applied (detailed methods are covered er Section 6.2):

Natural regeneration responses of native species following bushfires;

• Effectiveness of weed control following physical removal or following herbicide treatments; Recovery of bushland areas where the competitive influence of weeds has been removed; Disease incidence and the effectivenemeasures and control treatments;

• Pest populations and the effectiveness treatments applied;

• Re-establishment of wildlife habitats and monitoring the success or otherwise of new habitation;

• Effects from environmental stresses, for example, lowered water tables, soil salinity;

• Public use patterns and levels of compliance to awareness strategies.

Additionally, continued research is advocated on investigating more effective and environmentally compatible ways of

ddressing other issues confrontingais seen as vital to the refinement of traditional rehabilitation measures used, and the development of desired ‘Best Practice’ standards. Some aspects in this regard include the following: • Species associations and ecosystem relationships; • Weed physiology and ecology; • Types of herbicides used and concentrations applied; • Timing of various herbicide applications, rates of

application and optimal environmental conditions; • Options for biological control and appropriate techniques; •

planting plans; Direct seeding techniques.


5.2 CO

Minor bushland remnants within the City come under two broad categories (i) small reserves that are themselves entirely

ll remnant pockets of bushland encompassed within larger recreational parkland most of which

preferably be as comprehensive because f the enormous peripheral pressures (large edge to area ratio)

exc criteria for management in relation to the major

sm

How

o

t

e

es e the following:

d are to be consolidated with crushed limestone to

nd and ed by means of a defined

strip

,

bushland fringes from being mowed out erations

NSERVATION OF SMALL BUSHLANDS

bushland and (ii) sma

have been grassed and reticulated. As already discussed under Section 1.2, these form 56 of the 64 bushland conservation sites listed under Green Plan 2. They are deemed as being locally significant and are of varying sizes ranging from 0.5 to 8.0 hectares. This section therefore deals principally with the conservation of these 56 specially selected small bushlands. Although these areas are small, the scope and intensity of their management shouldothat these areas are normally subject to. With a few

eptions, allbushland reserves, would therefore equally apply to these

all reserves.

ever, an aspect of management that is specific to small bushland remnants within larger recreational parkland is the pr blem of grass invasion. As previously discussed, the reasons for grass invasion into bush areas, include increased nu rients and soil moisture from surrounding grassed areas and also dispersion of seed material by wind, water and m chanical means or by being carried in by pedestrian traffic. These and other threatening processes clearly point to the need for particular strategies that will minimize the extent of further impacts on small bush areas. Such a strategy should

irably includd • Re-direction of all public movement around the periphery of

the remnant bush area rather that allow indiscriminate access from all fronts and cause the creation of numerous informal trails;

• Rationalise all existing tracks and trails and retain only those absolutely essential for public access - those thus retaineprevent further widening as sand tracks;

• Establishment of a clear interface between bushlagrassed areas – to be delineatpublic access track, or a 1 metre wide herbicide spraycreated with a selective herbicide to keep grass incursions in check;

• Installation of vehicle incursion barriers (preferablyuniformly interspersed treated pine bollards) to prevent regression of through parkland mowing op


• Re-direction of stormwater drainage away from the bush s or dry detention

basins;

s the dispersion of small bushlands straddle different climes

development of site specific strategies based n assessments of individual bushland sites. Site assessment

Data Set 3 - Biological Attributes;

ive Assessment; Data Set 7 - Conservation Strategy;

• 5.3 TH ECREATIONAL PARKLAND

RecmaCity of the large areas

busthedesreserves appear under Appendices IIIb and IIIc as a separate

rem Mo er of remnant native vegetation with much having been cleared as part of early development of these reserves. It is only logical therefore that

areas, preferably into remote grass swale

• Re-direction of mowing and fertilizer applications away from the bush areas so that dispersion of grass seeds and nutrient enrichment is avoided;

• Advocating minimal use of water and fertilizer to grassed areas in close proximity to bushland fringe areas;

• Prohibit the dumping of rubbish, garden waste and grass clippings;

• Where surrounded by irrigated parkland, ensure that sprinklers do not over spray into bush areas – otherwise have them shifted or converted to part circles;

Aand vegetation associations across the City (also refer Section 3.2), unique attributes are displayed with individual sites that would therefore require specific attention. In this regard, Green Plan 2 differs from the original Green Plan in that where Green Plan had simply taken a broadly prescriptive approach to the management of small bushlands, Green Plan 2 progresses further with the odata sets for all 55 small bushlands are presented in Volume II. Following is only a preliminary look at site assessment criteria for bushland sites with further details being provided under Section 6.1 that deals specifically with Site Evaluations: • Data Set 1 - Location Reference and Vesting; • Data Set 2 - Physical Attributes; •• Data Set 4 - Threatening Processes and Management

Issues; • Data Set 5 - Planning Opportunities and Constraints; • Data Set 6 - Overall Qualitat•• Data Set 8 - Community Involvement / Values;

Data Set 9 - Evaluation of Conservation Effort.

E ‘GREENING’ OF R

reational parkland in this context refers to many of the jor active sporting grounds and passive parks within the . Many of these are significant in terms

they occupy and the spatial relationship to both large and small hland sites. Hence their inclusion under Green Plan 2 as y are well placed to enable the development of much-ired ecolinks and movement corridors. These selected

category as non-bushland reserves and comprise the aining of the 157 Green Plan sites.

st of these contain only marginal cov


some of this native vegetation content be restored. By virtue of ir size, several offer scope for the re-establishment of the

significant ‘green belts’ consisting of trees, shrubs and

pla‘gre owever, occupy only those

any form of recreation. Further, ‘green belt’ establishment will

Law ready have established landscapes of an exotic

It is

st inal

to ease of operations.

also be needed at some

open rmination of

gs in relation to the only occur serves and

where warranted, the development of reserve specific Master dered an

essential prerequisite to any plantings being commissioned.

is not to be ‘ruled out’ ntirely. Their use, given appropriate selection of varieties and

groundcovers. In keeping with the Green Plan principle, such ntings need to be of local native and indigenous species. All en belt’ establishment would h

parts of parkland reserves not directly utilised or required for

exclude reserves within cultural heritage precincts viz Mt ley that al

or non-native content.

not possible, from a practical and economic viewpoint, to ore fully structured ‘green belts’ with all of the origre

elements (viz upper, middle and lower tiers) of native vegetation. The proposal therefore is mainly for establishment of the upper and mid storeys with the use of local native and indigenous trees and tall shrubs and to exclude, in the short term, any understorey components. The exception to the above would be where landscape analysis of the reserve permits grouped planting of trees in clumps or linear bands. Planting in this fashion lends itself to the establishment of under storey shrubs and groundcover. It would, however, require thorough removal of all underlying turf before any attempts to convert areas thus selected to a local native understorey. This technique further permits the

elineation of grouped plantings as solid ‘green belts’ from the drest of the parkland space and will contribute

aintenance parkland mowing and other mEradication of the grassed cover maysites where ‘green belts’ are intended as relatively dense plantings of trees and shrubs. Important aspects of ‘green belt’ establishment in parkland are the selection of species, detenumbers and the orientation of plantingeneral spatial makeup of the reserve. This canthrough an expert analysis of Green Plan listed re

Plans. Site analysis of each Green Plan site is consi

Such a planned approach will ensure that past errors in the planting of open parkland reserves are not repeated. Many large open parkland reserves already surveyed, were found to lack any coherent theme or planting scheme mainly as a result of successive attempts over the years with inappropriate tree selections and the haphazard use of non-local native and exotic varieties. However, the use of non-local species eorientation in context with the total reserve, can create much desired visual effects and aesthetic appeal. Alternatively,


parkland reserves may be landscaped to have distinct local native and exotic zones. Some exotic plantings already feature strongly in certain localities of the City and hence have some value as part of general parkland landscapes. However, in terms of the principal objectives of the Green Plan, the use of species that are local native and indigenous to the region is advocated on all Green Plan sites. This would certainly assist in promoting habitats specific to many insects and small animals and the establishment of vital movement corridors and ‘ecolinks’. The following summarises the proposal for ‘greening’ of

elts’ would only occupy spaces not used for any form of recreation;

g without analysis of individual serves are:

andscape planning for ‘greenbelt’ establishment should

ritage values; Character, age and other attributes of the space being

recreational parkland: • The reserves selected are strategic to the establishment of

‘ecolinks’ with neighbouring bushland; • They offer substantial space for the re-establishment of

native vegetation content previously lost through clearing; • The establishment of ‘green b

• With the exception of specially selected reserves, ‘green belts’ would mainly seek to establish the upper and mid storeys of original native vegetation;

• Eradication of existing grassed ground cover may be required at some sites;

• All ‘green belt’ plantings are to consist of varieties of trees and tall to medium shrubs locally native and indigenous to the region and

• Site analysis and development of Master Plans for Green Plan listed reserves are essential prerequisites before any plantings being undertaken.

The consequences of proceedinre • The development of unrelated themes within the park

space; • The loss of original character especially where groups of

native trees already occur and • The loss of rejuvenation vigour in adjacent bushlands and

the subsequent loss of habitats. Lconsider the following: • Climate factors eg wind conditions, shade, precipitation; • Soil factors eg soil moisture retention, soil acidity, soil

structure; • Historical and cultural associations of certain varieties to

the area or he•

landscaped and the surrounding catchment; • The nature and intensity of public use of the space being

considered and


• The suitability of inherent features to the development of proposed themes.

The selection of species should be based on the following:

with various elements already present in the landscape;

m, texture and colour; Environmental considerations to include habitat preference

and

liste a, and IVc.

5.4 WE

of w

e

ine,

e

llowbank Reserve

Lake

• All factors as considered as part of the original site

analysis. • Functional requirements such as screening or softening of

hard structures, unattractive views, provision of shade and shelter, direction of public flow-ways;

• Aesthetic requirements such as integration of the whole landscape with appropriate themes and compatibility

• The addition of interest and appeal by the skilled use of varying shapes, for

•and food source preference of fauna eg the use of flowering, animal attracting local species

• Compatibility with existing remnant native vegetation.

A selected list of plants suitable for use within Green Plan d parkland is provided under Appendices IV

TLAND TRANSITION ZONES

Reference is made to Section 3.4 recognising the importance etland transition zones within the overall scheme of Green

Plan 2. All wetland transition zones within the City are to be id ntified and should include the following:

• Star Swamp o areas particularly to north and east o bushland to the south

Carine Lakes •o interconnecting area between Little and Big Carine, o bushland to the north east and south east of Big

Caro northern and south western floodplain o eastern and western fringes,

• Lake Gwelup o Bushland to the north and north east o Southern floodplain

• Careniup Swamp o Careniup Balcatta Reservo Careniup Exmouth Reserve o Careniup Saurus Reserve o Careniup Wi

• Jackadder Lake South eastern Flooded Gum remnants o

o Northern and north eastern fringe Herdsman•

o Glendalough Reserve south o Maurie Hamer Park

• Stirling Lakes o Spoonbill Shearwater Reserve


o Cedric Grebe Reserve o Antonio Scarfo Reserve

San Remo Reserve Dianella (including BICM catchment)

o Wriggley Seabrook Reserve

• olbinia/Menora

The following is recommended with all wetland transition zo

•

• listed

zones are to assessed stablishing part of, if not all,

5.5

f de to Section 3.4 that discusses the value of a rall scheme of

Green City’s coastal rling Coastal Report of 1984

ddune c • Brig• Sca

• Ben

• Nor• Wa

h cument to address a oastal dune conservation in great detail,

the foll f the above beach

• Con onsolidation;

o Karrinyup / Roslea Reserve o Karrinyup /

•o Waverley Pola Reserve

o Lilac Shannon Reserve Yokine/Co

o Ron Stone Reserve

nes identified in the City:

All sites are to be assessed and categorised as o Intact wetland transition zones o Semi-intact and disturbed from previous use as

market gardens o Cleared and developed as grassed parkland

Intact wetland transition zones are to be managed under similar principles applicable to Green Plan conservation sites

• Semi-intact wetland transition zones are to be afforded similar rehabilitation measures applicable to Green Plan sites listed for rehabilitation

• Cleared wetland transition regarding the feasibility of re-eof original structure according to similar measures applicable for the establishment of ‘green belts’.

COASTAL DUNE SYSTEMS

Re erence is maco stal dune systems with respect to the ove

made to thePlan 2. Reference is alsoegy (City of Stimanagement strat

an Re wvie of the Coastal Report 1996) for details on coastal onservation at the following locations:

hton Beach rborough Beach

each • South Trigg B• Trigg Beach

nion Beach • Me• Hamersley Pool

ttams Pool

th Beach termans Beach

W ilst m tters relating to c

it is beyond the scope of this do

owing are key strategy elements for each olocations:

tainment of sand drift and dune c


• Protection from the impacts of coastal recreation in the

• Era• Restoring the diversity of coastal plants and promoting

wild• Pub the importance of dune

con 5.6 MEDIA

Reference is made to Section 3.6 that discusses the lishment by incorporating median

strips of roads and streets. Reference is also made to Map 3 nd Ap dix V that show the arterial network of major roads

on the following criteria:

the spatial ma

• Thewith

• The s and

•

•

In has been

of roads or streets with varying n cover’.

sections thus identified are to be a long-term programme for the

sion of ‘green belts’. In keeping with the sed for the ‘greening’ of recreational minant use of local native and indigenous

d groundcover is advocated wherever lection however must take cognisance of

g to public safety and traffic hazards with varieties that shed limbs and large

uiting bodies.

near vicinity; dication of weeds and pests;

life habitation and lic education and awareness of servation.

N STRIPS OF ROAD STREET NETWORK

possibilities for ‘ecolink’ estab

a penand streets within the city. These motor carriageways have been selected based • Their orientation and distribution in relation to

ke-up of the City; ir strategic location in terms of direct or indirect links bushlands and other natural areas; ir significance to the City in terms of traffic flow

usage; Their significance currently as major visual statements or with the potential for future streetscaping;

• The existence of native vegetation remnants on medians, extended verges and adjacent linear reserves; The presence of already landscaped plantings particularly of native trees, shrubs and groundcover;

• Those that remain largely un-vegetated and with potential for substantial plantings.

reference to Map 3, a system of colour codes employed to denote stretchesdegrees of vegetation or “gree • Green – street and road sections that are well planted or

naturally vegetated; • Orange – street and road sections that are only moderately

planted or naturally vegetated; • Yellow – street and road sections with no plantings or

limited natural vegetation. The road and street

ofconsidered as part improvement and extensimilar principle uparkland, the predotrees, shrubs anpossible. Species seall issues relatinparticular reference tofr


Under the City’s current streetscape improvement programme for its arterial network, some of the motor carriageways

entified in Map 3 and Appendix V have been streetscaped st were

vegetation either naturally occurring or planted. In all cases is needed to strengthen

5.7

Reference is made to Section 3.5 that discusses the rationale significant

nks

o

c

om eady have their own tree planting

hich is supplied to all os

Wh sue is that plantings in many schools

app rounds or to any regional

on ols’ part, as to whether Council onated trees are actually planted and as to whether these do

idsince adoption of the original Green Plan in 1992. Moselected in 1992 because they already had some local native

however, substantially more plantingthe capacity of these sites to serve as ‘ecolinks”.

BUSH AREAS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

for inclusion of several small bushlands on anumber of school grounds in the City. Reference is also made to Appendix IV that lists some 70 schools, of which many already have bushland remnants worthy of retention and improvement. Additionally, Map 2 shows the extent and spatial distribution of some of the larger school grounds with bushland content. Although exact areas have not been measured, collectively all the identified school grounds do present a ignificant area under bushland with the potential to form lis

with bushland on Council reserves. Additionally, school gr unds offer areas not utilised for any school purposes for ‘green belt’ establishment. The following is therefore re ommended for schools identified under Green Plan 2: • All schools should be encouraged to retain and manage

their areas of remnant bushland; • Schools should also be encouraged to undertake as much

planting as possible on areas of school ground not intended for school purposes; Plantings are to consist of local native and • indigenous species so as to develop ecological links with nearby remnant bushland areas.

e of the schools listed alrS

programme with a certain number of trees being planted each year especially on Arbour Day. This is to be further encouraged. Whilst a few schools propagate their own plants, most opt for Council’s nursery stock wth e that request them.

at still remains an isare generally not referenced to any cohesive planting scheme

licable either to the school g‘greening’ programme. Further, there is hardly any accounting,

both the City and the schodfinally survive. This matter was identified in the original Green Plan of 1992 and is to be given renewed emphasis under Green Plan 2. All schools are therefore encouraged to adopt a coherent planting plan that will have regional emphasis and impact. The essential features of this programme should include the following:


• Greater coordination and cooperation between schools and the City;

• Council assistance, if requested, with advise on site analysis and selection of species;

ls will be in accordance with the objectives of Green Plan 2 in terms of

t; Council’s future supply of trees to schools will be more in

5.8

in or anaged by the City. Green Plan 2 investigates some

from nd, secondly, afforded a

potwhe nd a preliminary look at

pro School grounds – as outlined under Section 5.7;

g the property of the owners but the bushland protected in perpetuity on behalf of the

• Schools are to be encouraged to develop a coherent planting plan specific to their own school grounds and to ensure that it complements the ideals of the City’s Green Plan;

• Council assistance with the annual supply of trees will continue, or alternatively, schools can undertake their own seed collecting and propagation;

• Council’s future supply of trees to schoo

bushland restoration or ‘green belt’ establishmen•

accordance with each schools specific requirements as per planting plans produced by individual schools and will be met over a number of years as nursery stock becomes available;

• Schools should be encouraged to monitor their own plantings and to rate their success in accordance with annual targets established under their planting plan; Regular feedback and liaison with Council is essential to ensure success of this programme.

BUSHLAND UNDER PRIVATE & NON-COUNCIL HOLDINGS

As previously discussed under Section 3.5, there exist a number of valuable bushland on lands not vested mmechanisms to ensure that these areas are, firstly, protected

clearing or further degradation adegree of management to further enhance the ‘ecolink’

ential within this part of the region. Following are situations re these bushlands occur a

possible options for their preservation as part of a continuing cess to clarify the final mechanisms that could be adopted:

•• College and university campuses – legally binding

protective covenants, with the land remaining the property of the owners but the bushland protected in perpetuity on behalf of the community;

• Private golf courses – legally binding protective covenants, with the land remainin

community; • Undeveloped Crown reserves – invoking protective

mechanisms already available under Bushplan/Bush Forever especially with respect to regionally significant sites eg Mirrabooka, Regional Open Space;

• Undeveloped land under private holdings – applying Town Planning conditions for retention as provision of Public Open Space at the sub-division stage of development.


All the above mechanisms already exist and operate successfully in the City. However the following aspects need further investigation during the life of Green Plan 2 with the view to their incorporation wherever applicable:

conservation obligations

• nces;

•

5.9 IDE

y lineproand

pas Mafurtof o . However, in spite of

a (ii) their

or p

geopot

r

• Memorials on land titles to inform future owners of land of

bushland • Moratorium on any clearing without the necessary Planning

approvals; • Avoidance of any form of disturbance (eg excavation,

burning); Prohibition of any form of ground contamination with toxic substa

• Prohibition of any form of dumping of organic and inorganic waste; Control of weed invasion;

• Control of pest infestation.

NTIFICATION OF LINKS AND CORRIDORS

B strict definition, ecological links and corridors are actually ar reserves that enable the free transit of animals and plant pagules. Typically, examples of linear reserves are ocean river foreshores and also verges and medians of roads

and highways. Where such areas exist, they ought to be ex lored so that they can be further enhanced and established

functional corridors for ‘ecolink’ movement. Appendix V and p 3 identify some existing roadway corridors which may be her improved and linked in this manner as part of a network ther major roadways within the City

the above forms of direct ‘ecolinks’ several informal ones occur simply by the near proximity of comparable areas of local native vegetation Perhaps, the greatest potential for the establishment of informal ‘ecolinks’ and movement corridors within the City lies in utilising various strategically located non-bushland reserves or recreational parkland. These should be targeted under a special planting programme to extend the diversity of particularly local native and indigenous vegetation. Appendices IIIb and IIIc and also Map 1 identify the location of these reserves in relation to bushland sites within the City. The

ain criteria for the selection of these reserves has been (i)mtheir size and/or cumulative impact on the City areproximity and orientation relative to significant bushland sites and (iii) their existing content of already established vegetation

ockets of remnant native vegetation.

Additionally, it would be prudent to consider the inclusion of other non-Council areas that already impact vastly in bio-

graphic terms within the City to further strengthen ‘ecolink’ ential in this part of region. Appendix V and Map 2 make ticular referenpa ce to areas occupied by schools, colleges and

private and public golf courses. These areas should be


simbus een belts'.

It isthu nal parkland and (iii) non-Council reserves, a substantial

rridors via the echanisms already described will to be identified for planning

wor liminary list of potential

Gre

•

link via Karrinyup Rd; p link via North Beach Rd and

Res link via

5.10

ms have yet to investigated however it is

e as represented by e following:

ilarly embraced with regard to improvement of existing hland content and extension of supporting 'gr

envisaged that with the superimposition of all three areas s identified viz (i) road/street medians (ii) recreatio

framework can be established for stronger and more lasting ‘ecolinks’ between all bushland sites in the City. Not withstanding the above, specific links and comand implementation each year as part of Council’s forward

ks programme. Following is a presites that will be added to and incorporated during the life of

en Plan 2:

Star Swamp to Carine ROS link via Reid Highway; • Star Swamp to Carine ROS link via Almadine Dve and

Osmaston Rd; • Star Swamp to Trigg ROS link via Charles Riley Reserve; • Star Swamp to Trigg ROS link via Marmion Ave and

Hamersley Golf Course; • Trigg ROS to Lake Gwelup • Carine ROS to Lake Gwelu

Karrinyup Golf Course; • Richard Guilfie Res to Rickman Delawney

Delawney St; • Link to Balga bushland sites x 8 via Camberwell Rd and

Balga Ave; • Link to Mirrabooka bushland sites x 6 via Boyare Ave and

Northwood Dve; • Link to Dianella bushland sites x 4 Dianella Dve and also

Alexander Dve; • Dianela ROS to Yokine Res link via Alexander Dve.

DEMARCATION OF GREEN ZONES

The future intent of Green Plan 2 is to structure arbitrary demarcation of selective areas of the City as 'green zones'.

pecific mechanisSenvisaged that the ‘green zones’ thus identified would be placed under specific covenant probably via an amendment to the District Planning Scheme. This is certainly the model that has been applied to a few other municipalities in Australia and overseas. In context of the City the 'green zones' would embrace all natural bushland areas, remnant vegetation, supporting recreational parkland that could be used for the extension of 'green belts', linear reserves and corridors and road reserves considered essential to the establishment of ‘biolinks’ and promotion of biodiversity. In analysing the City's area, it does seem that there is an even scatter of all the above forms of reserves. Nevertheless, a

road pattern of occurrence does emergbth


• The Coastal Green Zone which includes Star Swamp and Trigg Bushland;

• The ‘Chain of Wetlands Green Zone which includes Carine ROS and Lake Gwelup;

• The Eastern Green Zone which includes the suburbs of Balga, Mirrabooka, Dianella, Yokine, Inglewood and Mt Lawley.

An extension of this view is that the entire City can be

mongst other overnment authorities and agencies to the extent that equally

5.11

o ease the selection of species for all areas identified for planting

series of planting zones across the City (refer Map 4). These

features within this part of the region. Map 4 sh

cc

r

5.12 U

egy, an attempt is made k that may be required

considered a 'green zone' within the greater context of the Swan Coastal Plan. There is little doubt that the adoption of ‘green zones’ and their successful application would, in time, place the City in that status. It is hoped that the ideals thus portrayed will engender a similar ethic agcomprehensive conservation strategies are adopted. This would certainly ensure in the long-term the protection of areas vital to the preservation of biodiversity in this part of region. ADOPTION OF A PLANTING SCHEME T‘green belt’ planting under Green Plan 2, a Citywide scheme has been devised. The scheme is presented as a

zones are an arbitrary delineation based on a compositeoverlay of known soil types and predominant topographical

ows a total of 8 planting zones. A ordingly, planting zones have been assigned to all 157 Green Plan listed reserves (64 bushlands and 93 recreational pa kland) as per Appendices IIIa, IIIb and IIIc. To correspond with the above, Appendices VI a, VI b and VI c indicate preferred planting zones under the listing of all selected local native and indigenous species of trees and shrubs.

RSERY PRODUCN TION

In implementing the Green Plan 2 stratto quantify the extent of planting stocand to make some projections for annual nursery productions targets. As part of this exercise, all reserves listed under Appendices IIIa, IIIb and IIIc were site assessed to determine the additional number of trees and shrubs that could be planted. (The total number of reserves thus covered was 157 - ie 14 in Group A, 90 in Group B and 53 in Group C). It has been estimated from this survey that the total number of trees/shrubs required for just the non-bushland reserves (ie partly of Group B and Group C reserves) would approximate 20,000.


Assuming a conservative 50% success rate, and an accordingly adjusted total of 40,000 trees, it would take a 10-ear programme to establish all required trees at the rate of

ent production capacity and taking into account

per total holding capacity of 37,000.

disp About 14,000 of what is produced each year comprises

er watering, inappropriate propagation/planting techniques

es selection. The remaining 3,000 approximately, is assigned to

nt ‘seed bank’ was established in 1990. It bjective is to ensure that all provenanced seeds are

t seeding. The ontinued operation of the ‘seed bank’ is recommended and is

n demands. Currently, all seeds are collected by licensed seed collectors who also clean, package and

seed bank’. The nursery should further liaise with the various ‘Friends groups’ for assistance

us species should be formulated as a guide for ouncil staff and community groups.

y4,000 plantings per year. This figure of 4,000 trees for the planting of all 93 non-bushland reserves over the next 10 years is considered a practical and achievable target, given the Nursery’s currits commitments to other Citywide requirements.

Council's nursery has an annual production of about 30,000 year although it has a

Following is a breakdown of where the 30,000 plants are atched:

•entirely of trees, of which, most are used for planting of street verges and medians as part of the City’s on-going streetscape improvement programme.

• Another 10,000 approximately, make up natural area plantings in selected bushlands, wetlands and coastal dunes.

• A number of trees are planted on non-bushland or recreational parkland each year however numbers have varied (approximately 3,000). Losses are experienced however, due to vandalism, mower damage, und

and possibly from inappropriate speci•

maintenance plantings in various landscapes. An essential prerequisite to this Green Plan Programme, as far as Nursery operations are concerned, is the establishment and maintenance of a reserve specific ‘seed bank’. The ‘seed bank’ must provide sanitary storage of seeds of varieties provenanced either to individual reserves or specific regions. The City’s curreopropagated and returned wherever required or possible to the reserves of origin. Returns to reserves of origin may either be as germinated tube stock or through direccseen as vital to this programme. The Nursery acquires new seed stock each year to meet its productio

catalogue collections for the ‘

with progressive deposits of seeds into the ‘seed bank’ particularly of varieties not commercially collected. In this regard, a seed maturation schedule of local native and indigenoC


The following summarises the essential requirements of the nursery with regard to implementation of Green Plan 2: • Annual site assessment of Green Plan sites to determine

planting needs; • Formulation of a seed maturation schedule to provide

optimum collection times for the different varieties; • Collect seeds and provenance to specific reserves; Maintain the ‘seed bank’ under conditions conforming with

Dispatch at tube stock stage, particularly for planting in

•relevant standards;

• Timely germination to ensue production of tube stock for planting the following winter;

• Propagate under hygienic conditions using disease free growing medium;

• Avoid production of nutrient enriched seedlings; • Allow sufficient ‘hardening off’ of seedlings before due

planting period; •

natural areas, to avoid damage to tap root during planting.


6. PROMOTIN

6.1 PUBLIC

Public consideconserrelation ronger support of the program The op venue consideredand wh iand pro o • Counci• Fea re• Pre n• Presen roups or articles in their newsletters; • Pub i

parklan• Pre n• Publicity amongst other Local Government Authorities in the

reg • Arti s• Articles of relevant State agencies/departments -

eg eDepart Conservation & Land Management.

6.2 PUBLIC EDUCATION & CREATING AWARENESS

Apart from gaining public support towards the objectives of Green Plan 2 the main thrust behind public education should be about changing attitudes, removing apathy, clarifying misconceptions and about encouraging positive actions. There are many in the community for instance, who take the existence of urban bushland for granted, content to leave it in the care of others or complacent in the belief that it will always be there. There are others who consider bushlands a threat, viewing them as fire hazards and as havens for snakes, vermin and undesirable elements. There are yet others who strongly advocate the citizen’s right to access and use any public reserve. This has led to some difficult issues such as dogs on bushland reserves, horse riding, off road vehicles and other non-compatible uses of bushlands. In many instances, urban bushland has been treated as a waste ground and there is general apathy and disregard to practices such as dumping of garden prunings, grass clippings, waste soil and construction rubble. There are misconceptions about the collection and removal of dead wood. There is a lack of understanding amongst

G THE GREEN PLAN

ITY OF GREEN PLAN 2 OBJECTIVES

understanding and acceptance of the ideals of Green Plan 2 is red the vital first step in the realization of this overall

vation objective. It will certainly enable a closer working ship with the community and stmes implemented under this strategy.

portunity should be taken therefore to utilize every a effective in promoting Green Plan 2 – what it stands for

at t seeks to achieve. These are but some options for publicity tion: m

l fact sheet/brochure for public dissemination tu articles in local press and media coverage; se tation to Councils Advisory Committees;

tations to ratepayer glic ty via sporting groups and other users of recreation

d; se tation to local conservation groups and ‘Friends’ groups;

ion through the WA Local Government Association; cle via appropriate publications of professional institutes;

via publicationsth Department of Environment & Water Protection, the

ment of Planning & Infrastructure and the Department of


planners of urban drainage about nointo bushland.

t terminating stormwater runoff

struction and removal

d

e ty today who o preserve it. ore and more

l

as

expertise may be drawn upon from schools, community interest nal

muregrefe

s follows:

riends of Trigg Bushland) and promoting their activities as examples of what other sections of the

in the implementation of the Green Plan objectives;

6.3

encouraged at all levels and sections of the community.

People are also complacent, generally, to the deof vast tracts of native vegetation and trees for development purposes and the replacement with exotic or cultivated native varieties. Perhaps one reason for the prevalence of such attitudes is the almost complete unfamiliarity by most people with their local native flora and

una and hence a lack of appreciation of the complexity anfauniqueness of bushland ecosystems. There is great merit in the belief that a knowledge of these things is best acquired by the young in society. It behoves the appropriate agencies and institutions therefore to address this aspect of public education. Th re are nevertheless many people in the communi

tvalue urban bushland highly and are actively workingd mThere is also a perceived growth in awareness an

people are beginning to assist in conservation efforts with locaauthorities and State agencies. These energies need to be harnessed into co-ordinated effort by Council and very much encouraged. Locally, there are also a number of people who can be relied on experts in the field of bushland ecology and conservation. Such

groups, clubs and organisations to provide informative educatioforums and guided tours. A directory of expert personnel within the

nicipality as well as appropriate publications on bushland eneration and ecosystems could be made available for public rence.

Strategies for public education may be summarised a

• Production of fact sheets on issues highlighted under Green Plan 2 that are important for the community to know;

• Encouraging groups already involved in bushland regeneration (eg Friends of Star Swamp and F

community can do; • Encouraging participation of members of the public in organised

activities eg guided bush walks, wildlife monitoring and wildflower identification;

• Coordinating with experts from within the local community to assist

• Mounting interpretative displays and exhibitions on themes related to Green Plan 2 at the Henderson Environmental Centre, all 6 public libraries in the City, major recreation and community centres in the City and major shopping centres.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Owing to the magnitude of the implementation programme under Green Plan 2 it is imperative that community support and participation be sought to fulfil all objectives. Participation is therefore to be


One of the major aspects of Green Plan 2 implementation would be

ee planting on Council reserves and recreational parkland, school

y to the uccess of these programmes.

ope for application of this rinciple to the other reserves. The emphasis here is on removing

f their eighbouring bushland and encouraging residents to be vigilant

nother way of generating public support is to involve local eration

rogrammes under Green Plan 2. This is an area that perhaps expert

eco ring could include

regimpran ansect lines may be used for plant sampling,

sminvolved in this work however, with coordination by expert members of

•

recreational clubs,

mmunity awareness and care;

weeding, etc;

trgrounds, and road reserves. This is an activity that is very much community oriented and lends itself to public participation. Advance liaison with interest groups, and co-ordination would be the kes Another aspect of Green Plan 2 where public participation may be invited is weed eradication in bushland areas, particularly with non-chemical methods such as hand removal of broad-leaved species eg Lupins. This method,, through enthusiastic and concerted public support over the past, has achieved much success at Star Swamp Bushland Reserve. There is therefore scpcompetition from weeds and encouraging natural regeneration rather than on planting. A novel way of fostering support especially amongst residents around bushland reserves is to introduce 'bush watch'. This involves identifying all residences that have good vantage points onagainst any form of disturbance or misuse eg fires, vandalism to trees etc. A volunteer Bush Fire Watch System already operates in the residential precincts around Star Swamp Reserve and Trigg Bushland Reserve. An advantage in working with similarly reserve-oriented groups is the development of a conscious and caring neighbourhood with much positive support being engendered for the implementation of management programmes. Acommunities in monitoring the results of various regenpmembers of the community, with some knowledge of bushland

systems can assist with. The forms of monitosurveys to determine the success of ‘green belt’ establishment,

eneration of native species, eradication of weed dominance and rovements in flora and fauna diversity. (Techniques involving dom quadrats and tr

while the use of pit traps and visual sightings may be employed for all animals and birds). General community support may also be

the community or experienced Council staff.

Strategies for community participation may be summarised as follows:

Adopt a ‘whole of community’ approach involving local experts, the local neighbourhood, local primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, industry, sporting and etc;

• Develop and promote a sense of co• Investigate and promote community oriented 'bush watch'

schemes; • Encourage participation in regeneration programmes eg planting,


• Involve the community in monitoring programmes; • Plan for the implementation of these programmes with support

resources and materials;

6.4

school ground. Efforts must also be made to habilitate associated bushland areas.

6.5 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION

erpretation themes:

Difference between ecotypes and ecotones;

• • • ife habitats

• Bushfires – their role and bushland responses/adaptations; • Ecological links locally and within the region;

• Give recognition to any community support received from individuals and groups involved;

• Promote or advertise community oriented conservation programmes and activities to solicit maximum involvement.

SCHOOLS INVOLVEMENT

Involvement by schools is going to be an important aspect of implementing Green Plan 2. As previously discussed under Section 3.5 and Section 5.7, the areas occupied by school grounds are significant when considered in relation to all other forms of surrounding land use. Many contain viable bushland remnants as well as stands of remnant local native trees. There are advantages therefore, in merging these components through plantings of the appropriate species and to extend the coverage of native 'green belts' throughout the re However, there is the need, in the first instance, for a closer working relationship with schools. It is acknowledged that this process is already in place to some extent with some schools however much more needs to be done to evoke the values of joint programmes. In this regard, much can be achieved through the School Principals Forum that is convened by the City on a quarterly basis each year. Follow-up presentations to all science coordinators is essential to fully interpret Green Plan 2 and to outline how individual schools and the City could work together.

Apart from those involved in professional or private study, there are few in the general community who have a good understanding about bushlands – how they originated and have evolved, the components that make up their structure and how this contributes to their function and survival even today. It is important that these and other aspects be ‘interpreted’ or communicated in ways that generate comprehension, interest, appreciation, fascination, empathy, a sense of care, a sense of belonging and a sense of place. As part of this process, it has to be determined what it is that really needs interpretation and how can it be done effectively. The following are suggestions for possible int • Vegetation associations and vegetation structure; •• Components of ecosystems and their relationships;

Diversity and richness of flora and fauna; Evolved relationships between plants and animals Wildl

• Ecology of weeds, pests and diseases;


• Ethnographic history; The Aborig• inal six-season cycle of sustainable land management;

ent and land

•

The

• derson

tion of features of public interest;

lowers,

• Aboriginal use of plants for food, medicines, shelter, clothing, tools etc;

• Social/cultural history - early European settlemholdings; Effects of urbanisation – raised water tables and rising salinity;

following are options for mechanisms to undertake interpretation:

Thematic displays/exhibitions to draw on audio, visual and tactile perceptions based on the above topics at the HenEnvironmental Centre;

• Trail guides for field interpreta• Activity sheets to be used during visits by school groups - to

stimulate practical observations and learning; • Production of convenient publications for community dissemination

– brochures, pamphlets, fact sheets; • Interpretation of Management Plans for public information; • Organisation of the environmental resources library for public

access at the Henderson Environmental Centre; • Organisation of herbarium for public access at the Henderson

Environmental Centre; • Display of living specimens at the laboratory of the Henderson

Environmental Centre – ie for seasonal displays of wildfinsects, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, microflora from humic layer and decomposer organisms;

• Electronic access at the Henderson Environmental Centre to CD library, flora and fauna identification software, City’s web page featuring current conservation programmes under Green Plan 2.


7. MONI ENESS

7.1

as been nce to the conservation of large bushlands

are recommended as a measurement of the effectiveness of

ma issues. Reference is also made to Volume II of Green nd

nd f

• es

ichness

management plan already in place or is needed;

• Data Set 6 (Overall Qualitative Assessment) – size, shape, condition, structure, density, diversity, richness, habitats, health, weed cover, other threats, disturbances;

• Data Set 7 (Conservation Strategy) – management category classification, resolution of planning issues, resolution of on-site management issues, proposed protection measures, proposed restoration measures, preservation or enhancement of natural values, proposed ecolink development, controlled access for recreation, on-site public awareness / education, proposed recurrent maintenance, level and source of funding, strategic future directions;

• Data Set 8 (Community Involvement / Values) – whether a Friends group available, potential schools involvement, whether under auspices of a management advisory committee, educational & scientific values, recreational potential, cultural/ heritage importance, Aboriginal significance, interpretation possibilities;

TORING THE GREEN PLAN’S EFFECTIV

SITE EVALUATIONS The need for assessment of individual bushland sites hdiscussed earlier in refere(Section 5.1) and the conservation of small bushlands (Section 5.2).Regular assessments (annually as a minimum) of bushland responses

conservation strategies and in identifying new threats and nagement

Plan 2 that contains site assessment data sets for all 9 large bushla 55 small bushland sites in the City. The following is a summary oa

principal criteria used in the evaluation of these bushlands: • Data Set 1 (General) – Tax File reference, Perth map location,

ownership status, nature of vesting Data Set 2 (Physical Attributes) – size, shape, soil type, slope, slope aspect, outstanding physical features, physical disturbancincluding fire, whether wetlands or wetland transition areas present, nearest Green Plan reserve and ecolink potential;

• Data Set 3 (Biological Attributes) – Vegetation association, vegetation condition, vegetation structure and cover, dominant species, humic layer, extent of bare ground, diversity and rof flora and fauna, habitat potential, presence of rare and threatened plants or animals, overall conservation significance; Data Set 4 (Threatening Processes and Manag• ement Issues) – human population impacts, adjoining land uses, soil erosion, hydrological imbalance, past land clearing, past fire regimes, fragmentation of bush blocks, invasion of weeds, presence of pests, disease infestation, pollution from stormwater drainage, rubbish dumping, vandalism, uncontrolled recreational impacts, illegal removal of plant material;

• Data Set 5 (Planning Opportunities and Constraints) – adequacy of planning mechanisms, adequacy of formal protection measures, whether a Bushplan or Bush Forever, whether specific


• Data Set 9 (Evaluation of Conservation Effort) – IdentificatioKey Performance Indicators or KPIs, setting benchmarks against

n of

surement of performance, evaluation against ment of performance targets.

7.2

reselerele

Grepersta

•

•

•

7.3 SU

An is tawain tinst fectiveness of the various public education and

theto g • • An understanding of their contribution to the urban environment;

selected KPIs, measet benchmarks, refine

BENCHMARKS & PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT

In the context of bushlands management, it is important to be able to determine whether the total sum of all conservation effort (paid and voluntary labour plus the cost of machinery, equipment and materials) is actually ‘making a difference’. In other terms, are our bushlands responding to the protection and restoration measures being implemented and most importantly, are the primary objectives being fulfilled of creating ‘biolinks’ and promoting local biodiversity. Benchmarks and performance measures are effective tools that can be used to identify measurable elements (Key Performance Indicators) of bushland response to conservation effort. It must be st ssed, however, that whatever measurement criteria is ultimately

cted, it must be (i) simple to use, (ii) repeatable over time, (iii) vant to the principal objective and (iv) provide a realistic indicator

of conservation effort.

en Plan 2 does not attempt to develop specific criteria for formance measurement and detailed sampling techniques at this ge. However, this is certainly the intent as part of the future

implementation of this strategy. The following is suggested as interim criteria and the processes that need to be to followed:

Identification of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) such as o Weed index – ratio of native plants to weeds within sample

plots o Diversity index – number of different species within sample

plots o Density index – total number of native plants per sample

plot Establishment of benchmarks against the KPIs; Establishment performance targets for each KPI; •

• Undertaking measurement of each KPI; Evaluate against set benchmarks; Refine performance targets for each KPI. •

RVEY OF PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS

indirect but nevertheless valid and useful indicator of performance o determine the extent to which the general public is becoming re of the importance of bushlands in the urban setting particularly

erms of the criteria listed below. Performance measurement in this ance is on the ef

awareness campaigns that would have been implemented to promote ideals of Green Plan 2. The following are some useful perceptions ather:

An appreciation of bushland values;


• An understanding of the ever present threats to their survival; What effective steps the community can take to ensure their protection.

•


8. LEGI

8.1 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT The Environmental Protection Act (1986) prohibits the clearing or destruction by any means of bushland reserves and sites declared regionally and locally significant.

8.2 DISTRICT PLANNING SCHEME Council on the 20 April 1993 approved a recommendation of its Town Planning and Statutory Services Committee that reads as follows (in part): That District Planning Scheme 2 be amended to: • Include a definition for urban bushland; • Include in clause 1.2, Reserved Land provisions relating to the

protection of Urban Bushland and the preparation of Management Plans;

• Reserve those areas within existing reserves identified as bushland (or proposed as bushland) in the City of Stirling Green Plan as ‘Local Authority Reservations’ on the Scheme Maps.

The above resolution to reserve in the District Planning Scheme all Green Plan listed bushland sites gives their protection the force of law and would also enable better community identification of these areas. The attendant report with its remaining recommendations is attached under Appendix VIIIa.

8.3 BUSH PLAN / BUSH FOREVER Council on the 2 March 1999 approved a recommendation of its Technical Services Committee that reads as follows (in part): • That Council endorse the principle of conservation of regionally

significant bushland on the Swan Coastal Plain as espoused by Perth’s Bushplan.

The attendant report with its remaining recommendations is attached under Appendix VIIIb.

8.4 PERTH BIODIVERSITY PROJECT

Council on the 2 April 2002 approved a recommendation of its Technical Services Committee that reads as follows (in part): • That Council endorse support of the Perth Biodiversity Project that

seeks to promote the long-term protection and rehabilitation of local natural areas for biodiversity values.

Further to the above, the City of Stirling is a signatory to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the WA Local

SLATIVE TOOLS FOR BUSHLAND PROTECTION


Government Association for the protection of native vegetation unthe Perth Biodiversity Project. The attendant report with its remaining

der

recommendations and MOU are attached under Appendix VIIIc.


9. REFE Adam, P (199 June 1990. Adam, P (1990) Linear Reserves - Save the Bush Publication, National Trust, June 1990). Adam, P (1990) How does Biodiversity relate to Remnant Native Vegetation - Save the Bush Publication, National Trust, June 1990. APACE Revegetation Nursery - Species List and Locality Guide for the Swan Coastal Plain. Bradley, J Bush Regeneration - Mosman Parklands and Ashton Park Association, Mosman, NSW. Breckwoldt, T (1985) The Last Stand, Managing Australias Remnant Forests and Woodlands - AGPS, Canberra. Buchannan, R (1989) Bush Regeneration, Recovering Australian Landscapes - TAFE Student Learning Pub. Sydney. Carter, B (1986) Parks towards the 21 Century - Living City, Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works, No. 35 Autumn/Winter 1986, pp 4-5. French, J (1989) Urban Forests - Trees and Natural Resources Journal, Vol. 31 (4) Dec. 1989, opp 3-4. Gill, A M (1981) Adaptive Responses on Australian Vascular Plant Species to Fires - in: AM Gill, RH Groves & IR Noble (eds) Fire in the Australian Biota, pp 243-267, Aust Acad. Sci, Canberra. Gray, M (1986) Bringing the Australian Bush Indoors - Living City, Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works No.35 Autumn/Winter 1986, pp 23 - 25. Greening Australia (1990) The Under-storey - Greening Australia Publication. Harris, J (edt) (1995) Burning our Bushland – Proceedings of a Conference about Fire and Urban Bushland, Urban Bushland Council (WA). Hamilton, G & Scheltema, M (1991) The Needs for Revegetation in WA - Leaflet, Vol. 9(5) May 1991. Hingston, F J, O'Connell, A M & Grove, T S (1989) Nutrient Cycling in Jarrah Forests - in: A M Gill, R H Groves & I R Noble (eds) Fire in the Australian Biota, pp 155-176, Aust Acad, Scji, Canberra. Hussey, BMJ, Hobbs, RJ and Sanders, DA (1989) Guidelines for Bush Corridors - Roadside Conservation Committee. Loneragan, WA (1987) Star Swamp Bushland Reserve Management Plan - City of Stirling, Environmental Sub-Committee of the Star Swamp Management Advisory Committee, Stirling, Perth.

RENCES

0) Urban Vegetation - Save the Bush Publication, National Trust,


oyn and Snekling, G (1987) The L , R Value of Small Reserves for Wildlife - Trees and

(1989) Preserving our Indigenous Flora - Trees and Natural Resources

(1992) Review and Amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1950 -

ape Development of the City of

A (1989) Revegetation Strategies and Techniques - Trees and Natural

t)(1995) Australian Weed Control Handbook – Tenth Edition, Inkata

h (Trees and Tall Shrubs of Perth - Dept of CALM,

ks and Gardens for Wildlife - Department of

ed, pers, comm.

oves &

ard of Works, No 35 Autumn/Winter 1986, pp 26-27.

Natural Resources Journal, Vol 29 (2) June 1987, pp 10-11.

ay, SMJournal, Vol 31(4) Dec. 1989, pp 5-7.

ell, DMWildlife Conservation Branch, Dept of CALM, Perth. pers. comm.

rmsby, BT (1982) Afforestation and LandscOSalisbury - City of Salisbury Publication, Sept. 1982.

aget, PResources Journal, Volume 31(4)Dec 1989, pp 9 - 10.

arsons, JM (edPPress, Melbourne.

owell, R (1990) Leaf & BrancPPerth.

owell, R (1986) Greening Urban ParPCALM, Perth & Greening Australia, WA.

owell, R (1991) Conserving Perth's Flora - UnpublishP Powell, R (1991) Landscaping for Wildlife - Landscape Journal, Dept of CALM vol

(3) Autumn 1991. 6 Rawlings, J (1991) The Bush Next Door Brisbane City Council/Greening Australia/Qld of Education Publication, 1991. Underwood, RJ and Christensen, PES (1981) Forest Fire Management in WA Forests Department of WA Publication, Perth. Walker, J (1981) Fuel Dynamics in Australian Vegetation - in: A M Gill, R H Gr

R Noble (eds) Fire in the Australian Biota, pp 101-128, Aust Acad. Sci, Canberra. I Waterman, G (1986) A Miracle in the Bush - Living City, Melbourne Metropolitan

oard of Works, No.35 Autumn/Winter 1986, pp 12-17. B Whatley, R (1986) Let Visitor Services Be Your Guide - Livity City, Melbourne

etropolitan BoM


10. APPENDICES


REEN PLAN 2

City of Stirling G

Appendix IIa continued


APPENDIX IIIc Group A Reserves A listing of both large and small reserves almost entirely of remnant bushlands or of significant areas occupied by bushland. Whilst these form some of the more dense pockets within the City, some regeneration and planting is warranted to increase diversity and enhance such areas. Group A Reserves (10 Hectares and Over)

RESERVE NAME RESERVE CLASSIFICATION SIZE (Ha) PLANTING

ZONE GREEN BELT

CLASSIFICATION LOCALITY (SUBURB)

Breckler Park Bush/Active 17.8 G Dianella Dianella ROS Bush/Active/Passive 33.7 G Dianella Star Swamp Bush 98.8 B North Beach Trigg ROS Bush 121.9 B Trigg/Karrinyup Group A Reserves (2 – 10 Hectares)

RESERVE NAME RESERVE CLASSIFICATION SIZE (Ha) PLANTING

ZONE GREEN BELT


Coralberry/Verbena Passive 3.4 F Dianella Heritage Park Passive 3.3 E Balga Macauley Park Passive 3.3 G Inglewood Wanneroo/Derrington Passive 2.5 C Balga Esperanto/Martin Passive 4.0 C Westminster Memory Place Passive 4.2 C Churchlands Cottonwood Crescent Bush 9.0 F Dianella


APPENDIX IIIc

(Under 2 Hectares) RESERVE NAME RESERVE SIZE (Ha) PLANTING GREEN BELT LOCALITY

Group A Reserves

CLASSIFICATION ZONE CLASSIFICATION (SUBURB) Bradford/Glick Bush 0.4 G Menora Donnybrook/Shadycroft Bush/Passive 1.1 C Mirrabooka Edlaston Chellaston Bush/Passive 0.5 C Carine Fletching/Climping Bush 0.8 C Balga Jackson/Duke/Wheeler Bush/Passive 1.6 B Trigg Vick Minor ers/Wanneroo 0.3 E Balcatta Walter/Hamer/Eighth Avenues

Bush 1.7 G Inglewood

LEGEND

Total Bushland A Exposed Costal (Quindalup White Sands) land/Park Mil (Grey

Passiv Recreatio ees/Parkl Hilly ( ands)

Low Lying (Grey – Black Sands) Undulating (Spearwood Yellow Sands) Elevated Hilly (Spearwood Yellow Sands) Undulating (Brown Sands) River Fl (Alluvial Clay Soil

Bush - Bushland Active – Active Recreation Reserve

e – Passive Partial Bush land B

and C d Undulating – White Sands)

n Remnant TrReserve

Brown S

D E F

GH ats s)


APPENDIX IIIc Group B Reserves

ly partially occupied by remnant bushland. The remaining portions largely contain remnants of origi ubsequent p ed parkla eserv dered ary lin A reser ng is hence ssible o d parkla shland enera

0 He ver) ME RVE

CLASSIFICATION G

CLASSI ATION Y

(S B)

A listing of both large and small reserves on

nal trees and/or of sves. Further planti

l elopwarranted wherever poantings on dev nd. These r

n developees are consi s rim

portion may need regtrategic to the p king of Group

nd. Bu tion. Group B Reserves (1 ctares and O

RESERVE NA RESE SIZE (Ha) PLANTINZONE

GREEN BELT FIC

LOCALITUBUR

Brian Burke Reserve Active 15.1 C Balga Carine ROS Active/Passive 89.3 D Carine Charles Riley Reserve Active 35.3 B North Beach Coolbinia Reserve Active/Passive 20.9 G Coolbinia Lake Gwelup Bush/Active/Passive 70.4 D Gwelup Yokine Reserve – West Active 20.9 G Menora Group B Reserves (2 – 10 Hectares)

RVE NAME RC S SIZE ( ) LOCALITY

(SUBURB) RESE ESERVE LA SIFICATION Ha PLANTING GREEN BELT

N ZONE CLASSIFICATIOA S Luketina Active/Pas .9 Wembley Downs sive 3 C Aintree/Eglinton Passive 4.8 B Carine Allamanda Gardens Passive 1.5 Mirrabooka F Alvaston/Ashover Passiv 2.3 Carine e C Appleblossom/Polyantha Passive 2.1 Mirrabooka F Ardleigh/Eccles Passiv 2.2 Hamersley e E Avocado/Bangalay Passive 3.0 Dianella F Barry Britton Active 5.3 F Balga Beach/Marmion Passive 4.6 B Carine


APPENDIX IIIc Bellview/Hellenic Passive 3.4 F Dianella Celebration Park Active 7.3 E Balga Coniston/Beach Passive 2.2 C Balga Deanmore Square Active 2.0 B Scarborough Deanmore/Duke Passive 3.2 C Karrinyup Dianella Heights Passive 2.2 F Dianella Dongara/Le Grange Passive 3.1 D Innaloo Dryandra/Pendula Passive 3.7 F Mirrabooka Edmo Pas ndson/Klein sive 2.1 C Karrinyup Fragrant Gardens Passive 2.9 F Mirrabooka Gibbs/Harris/Esperanto Passive 2.1 F Balga Herb Elliott Passive 4.7 B Karrinyup Karrinyup Active 2.7 D Karrinyup Karrinyup/Jeanes/Prisk Passive 4.7 C Karrinyup Millington/Kevin Langdon Active 9.2 Karrinyup Morley/Woodchester Active 2.6 C Nollamara Mottlecah Place Minor 2.2 F Mirrabooka Ramsay/Finnerty Passive 2.8 D Karrinyup Rannoch/Tay/Earn Passive 4.8 E Hamersley Ray O Pas’Connor sive 3.8 D Karrinyup Richard Guelfi Reserve Active/Passive 8.0 E Balcatta Rickman/Delawney/Cos grove Active/Passive 9.2 E Balcatta Walter Road Active 2.5 G Inglewood Wanneroo/Beach Passive 1.6 C Balga Williton/Kestrel Passive 2.0 C Karrinyup Woodlands Active 3.6 C Woodlands Wythburn/Redcliffe Passive 4.0 C Balga Yaluma Park Active 5.4 D Innaloo


APPENDIX IIIc Group B Reserves (Under 2 s)

RVE NAME RESERVE CLASSIFICATION

PLANTING Hectare

RESE SIZE (Ha) ZONE GREEN BELT


Alexander/Bunya Passive 3 1. G Dianella Alexander/Woodrow Passive 7 0. G Dianella Babakin/Bolgart Passive 0 1. G Dianella Barralier Circle Minor 3 0. G Mirrabooka Basalt/Silver/Topaz Minor 3 0. C Carine Bentley/Burgess Passive 8 0. E Hamersley Brear Park Passive 1 0. G Mount Lawley Buntine/Haynes Passive 2 1. B Wembley Downs Burroughs/Pascoe Passive 9 0. C Karrinyup Corrington Circle Passive 0 1. F Nollamara Crowcombe/Exford Passive 8 1. B Karrinyup Cunningham Loop Passive 5 F 0. Mirrabooka Dampier Loop Minor 5 0. G Mirrabooka Delawney/Jones/Balcatta Passive 8 0. E Balcatta Dempster/Highbridge Passive 5 1. C Karrinyup Douglas Avenue Minor 2 0. G Inglewood Duffy/Wessex Passive 0 1. E Carine Eastland/Molloy e 2 Passiv 1. G Yokine Emerald/Marmion Minor 9 0. B Carine Felstead/Caleb/Binden e 1 Passiv 1. E Hamersley Fieldgate Square Passive 2 0. E Balga Finchley/Newport Minor 3 0. C Balga Florence/Venice Passive 4 1. G Dianella Glendalough Reserve Passive 5 0. D Glendalough Hamersley/Beachton/Kitchener Minor 9 0. B North Beach Hartley Way Passive 0.5 C Balga Hastings/Lewin Passive 0.2 B Scarborough Knight Avenue Passive 0.6 G Yokine Laurie/Strutt Passive 1.7 A Waterman


Lennox/Hendon/Blissett Passive 0.9 E Hamersley Lucca/Tuscany Passive 1.0 C Churchlands Macalister Gardens Minor 1.0 G Mirrabooka Millett Park Passi 1.9 ve C Innaloo Munro (Scarb Beach/Hancock) Passive 0.7 B Doubleview Newborough/Rainer Passive 0.9 B Karrinyup Normanby/Dundas Minor 0.2 G Inglewood North Beach/Porter Passive 0.8 E Gwelup Oakleaf/Honeywell Passive 0.8 F Mirrabooka Okley/Holmesfield/Osmaston e Passiv 0.8 E Carine Orville Place Passive 0.4 E Hamersley Pagoda Gardens Passive 0.4 F Mirrabooka Peet/Fyfe Passive 1.0 B Trigg Redunca/Coronata Passive 1.5 F Mirrabooka Selina Street Passive 1.2 B Innaloo Shakespeare/Virgil Passive 1.0 G Yokine Shannon/Glanton Minor 0.2 G Dianella Sheil Way Passive 0.3 E Hamersley Silica/Almadine Passive 1.9 D Carine Sunart/Beach Passive 0.5 A Hamersley Trusley/Tone Passive 1.8 B Karrinyup Waldorf/Fairlane Passive 1.4 D Carine Wanneroo/Blisset/Cope Passive 0.6 E Hamersley Wanstead/Teale Minor 0.4 E Gwelup Wellington/Glover Passive 0.8 G Dianella Wiluna/Bradford Passive 0.1 C Coolbinia Worner/Norman/Huntriss Passive 0.8 C Innaloo


APPENDIX IIIc Group C Reserves

reserves with almost no remnants of intact bushland. However, most of these contain significa he ubsequen d. Most, by virtue of their strategic loc on are important in further strengt ks

d Group B reserves. al planting is hence warranted wherever possible on such open parkland.

(10 Hectares and OvSERVE IFICATION

G CLASSI ATION

A listing of both large and small

as trees snt stands of th inoriginal trees as well

ntly plante

ntiati ening the l

between Group A a

Substa

Group C Reserves er)

RESERVE NAME RECLASS SIZE (Ha) PLANTIN

ZONE GREEN BELT

FICLO Y CALIT(SUBURB)

Des Penman Reserve 1Active 1.0 C Nollamara Hamer Park Active/Passive 10.0 G Mount Lawley Jackadder Lake Passive 19.0 D Doubleview Yokine Reserve East 1Active 0.7 G Menora Group C Reserves (2 - 10 Hectares)

RESERVE NAME SERVE IFICATION

G CLASSI ATION

RECLASS SIZE (Ha) PLANTIN

ZONE GREEN BELT

FICLOCALITY (SUBURB)

Abbett Park Active 6.6 B Scarborough Alexander Park Passive 4.9 G Menora Balga Pool & Community Recreation Ctr Passive 2.1 C Balga Bandy Park Active 3.8 G Mount Lawley Butlers Reserve Active 6.2 C Scarborough Camberwell Park Active 2.0 C Balga Cedric/Grebe Passive 2.6 D Stirling Dog Swamp Passive 2.0 C Yokine Empire Avenu Passive 2.3 C Wembley Downs Grindleford Place Active 8.8 D Balcatta Inglewood Oval Active 8.4 G Mount Yokine Wiluna/Cranbrook Minor 3.8 C Coolbinia Wordsworth Reserve Active 4.0 G Menora Wrigley/Seabrook Passive 2.1 G Dianella


APPENDIX IIIc Group C Reserves (Under 2 Hectares)

RESERVE NAME RESERVE SIZE (Ha) PLANTING GREEN BELT LOCALITY CLASSIFICATION ZONE CLASSIFICATION (SUBURB)

Armadale Crescent 1 and 2 Passive 0.1 C Coolbinia Beverley/Murchison Passive 0.8 C Coolbinia Bournemouth/Bushey Minor 0.1 B Wembley Downs Carnarvon Crescent 1, 2 and 3 Minor 0.1 C Coolbinia Clarko Res Passive erve 1.8 A Trigg Colin/Ventnor Minor 0.1 B Scarborough Copley Park Passive 0.6 G Mount Lawley Dumbarton/Inverness/Clyde M inor 0.4 C Menora Dumbarton/Melrose/Inverness M inor 0.2 C Menora Dumbarton/Walcott M inor 0.3 C Menora Fernhurst Crescent Active 1.6 C Balga Hertha/Geneff Passive 1.5 D Innaloo Holmfirth/Tweed Minor 0.2 C Coolbinia Inglewood Pool Reserve Passive 1.0 G Menora Inverness Crescent Minor 0.2 C Menora Inverness/Elstree/Graham Mi nor 0.4 C Menora Lanark/Walcott Mi nor 0.5 C Coolbinia Lanchester Way Passive 1.4 D Stirling Luita Street Passive 0.6 B Wembley Downs Marradong/Mullewa Mi nor 0.1 C Coolbinia Meenar Crescent Minor 0.1 C Coolbinia Meenar/Bradford/Hartwell Mi nor 0.3 C Coolbinia Peet/Fyfe Pa ssive 1.1 A Trigg Queens Crescent Passive 1.5 G Mount Lawley Shearwater/Spoonbill Pa ssive 0.8 D Stirling Talbot Way Minor 0.5 D Woodlands Ted Cross Active 1.9 E Balga Ventnor/Oliver Mi nor A A Scarborough Walcott/McPherson/Alexander Minor 0.3 C Menora


APPENDIX IIIc LEGEND Bush - B Expo uin

eserve land/Parkland Recreation nant Trees/Parkland Hilly (Brow ands)

k SandUndulating (Spearwood Yellow Sands)

s) River Flats (Alluvial Clay Soils)

ushland Total Bushland ial Bush

A sed l (Q Costa dalup White Sands) White Sands) Active – Active Recreation R

ive Part B Mild Undulating (Grey –

Passive – PassReserve

Rem C n S

Minor – Minor Passive Reserve

D Low Lying (Grey – Blac s) E

F Elevated Hilly (Spearwood Yellow Sands) G Undulating (Brown Sand H


Appendix IV continued



APPENDIX V Assessment of Road and Street Corridors A listing of major roads and streets identified as significant and strategic for ‘ecolink’ establishment and hence incorporated in Green Plan 2. Some already have elements of well-structured ‘green belts’ of local native trees, shrubs and groundcover. Several have largely exotic plantings. Most have long stretches of unplanted medians that offer opportunities for local native planting. _____________________________________________________________________ ROAD/STREET LOCATION GREEN BELT ASSESSMENT Morley D• Wellin• T

• •

• Wanner Alexand• Wa• Centra• Woodro•

• • Ligh

• • Widge• Reid H• Australi

• Marmion

• • Beach Ro

• •

• • Erind

• •

Karrinyu• We• • • W roo Road - 10.0 km • oad to Balcatta Road Poor • Poor

Main Street to Amelia Street Poor • ley Drive Average

Morley to Royal Street Average Royal to Cape Street Poor

• e to Flinders Street Good

anneBeach RBalcatta to Main Street •

Amelia to Mor• •

Cap

rive - 6.0 km gton to Roundabout Average

he Roundabout Poor Roundabout to Flinders Good Flinders to Wanneroo Good

oo to Main Average

er Drive - 11.0 km lcott to Central Average

l to Woodrow Good w to Grand Promenade Good

Grand Promenade to Morley Drive Average Morley Drive to Light Street Good

t Street to Yirrigan Drive Average Yirrigan to Widgee Average e to Reid Highway Poor ighway to Australis Poor a to Beach Poor

Beach Road, Entry Statement Poor

Avenue - 3.4 km Beach to North Beach Road Average

North Beach to Karrinyup Road Good

ad - 11.4 km Mirrabooka Avenue to Princess Road Good

Princess to Wanneroo Road Good Wanneroo to Erindale Road Average ale to Okely Road Good Okely to Osmaston Road Average Osmaston to Marmion Avenue Poor

p Road - 7.0 km st Coast Drive to Marmion Avenue Average

Marmion Avenue to North Beach Road Average North Beach Road to Cedric Street Average Cedric Street to Main Street Poor

West Coast Highway - 7.0 km • Peasholm Street to Scarborough Beach Good

oad Poor Karrinyup Road to North Beach Road Poor

Average

ianella Drive - 1.6 km Oliver Street Poor

e

Mirrabo• e e

linders Street rive Average

enswood Drive

reet ve e

Roy So Road

ain Street

Mai tr• Wanneroo Road to Morley Drive Poor

Poor oad

earson Street oad Poor

• e e

Jon Sann Parade

Hale o

• West Coast Highway to Weaponess Road Average arson Street Good

e Road

Street

Nor BMarmion Avenue

• rm ad • y ge

rinyup Road e

• Scarborough Beach to Karrinyup R•• North Beach Road to Beach Road Poor West Coast Drive - 0.8 km • Roundabout

• Roundabout Poor D

• Morley Drive to• Oliver Street to Yirrigan Driv Average

oka - 3.0 km Beach Road to Yirrigan Driv Averag

F• Wiluna Street to Morley D• Morley Drive to Rav Average Nollamara Avenue

• Wanneroo Road to Flinders St Average • Flinders Street to Yirrigan Dri Averag

al treet • Flinders Street to Wannero Good • Wanneroo Road to M Good

n S eet

• Morley Drive to Royal Street• Royal Street to Scarborough Beach R Poor

P

• Liege to Hale RHal Road to Flynn Street Averag

ders Drive

• Selby Street to Herdsma Poor

R ad

• Weaponess Road to Pe W aponess Road • West Coast Highway to Weaponess Average • Weaponess Road to Pearson Good Duke Street • Brighton Road to Jeanes Road Good

th each Road • West Coast Highway to Average

Ma ion Avenue to Duffy Ro Average Duff Road to Porter Street Avera• Porter Street to Kar Averag


LEGEND To p roads./streets broken up’ into geographically identifiable

llowing arbitrary classi was used:

ood - Good structure of trees / shrubs / groundcover ure of trees / shrubs / groundcover

sim lify the assessment process, the above were ‘sections and assessed accordingly. The fo fication GAverage - Average structPoor - Poor structure of trees / shrubs / groundcover


APPE

NDIX VIa

an Greenbelts. _____________________________________________________________________

Average Preferred Height Planting

Zone

Acacia rostellifera Summer Scented Wattle 10m A/B Allocasaurina fraseriana Common Sheoak 15m B/C/D/E/F/G/H Banksia attentuata Candle Banksia 10m A/B/F/G Banksia grandis Bull Banksia 10m B/C/D/G Banksia ilicifolia Holly leaved Banksia 10m C/D/F/G Banksia littoralis Swamp Banksia 10m B/D/G Casaurina obesa Swamp Sheoak 10m D/H Eucalyptus calophylla Red Gum/Marri 40m B/C/F/G/H Eucalyptus gomphocephala Tuart 40m A/B/C/D/E Eucalyptus marginata Jarrah 40m B/C/D/E/F/G Eucalyptus rudis WA Flooded Gum 15m D/G/H Eucalyptus todtiana Prickly Bark 16m A/B/C/D/E/F/G Melaleuca preissiana Stout Paperbark 12m G/F Melaleuca rhaphiophylla Swamp Paperbark 10m B/D/H Footnote: This listing is not, by any means, comprehensive. It is envisaged that other local native and endemic plants will be added with further surveys of bushland within the City.

Local Native and Indigenous Trees A selection of plants considered suitable for Upper Storey establishment of Urb

Botanical Name Common Name


APPENDIX VIb Local Native and Indigenous Small Trees/Tall Shrubs

attle

orum nt

anniana

Banksia

ervium ush

xocarpus sparteus Broom Ballart 4m A/B yrostemon ramulosus Corky Bark 5m A/B akea lissocarpha Honey Bush 3m A/B/C/D

trata Harsh Hakea 6m B/C/D/E/G

3m B Jacksonia furcellata Grey Stinkwood 4m B/D/F/G Jacksonia sterngergiana Green Stinkwood 4m B/C/E/F/G Leucopogon parviflorus Coast Beard-heath 2.5m A/B/D Logania vaginalis White Spray 3m A/B Macrozamia reidlii Zamia Palm 3m all zones Melaleuca huegelii Chenile Honey Myrtle 4m A/B Melaleuca lanceolata Rottnest Tea Tree 5m A/B Nuytsia floribunda WA Christmas Tree 8m B/C/D/F/G Paraserianthes lophantha Albizia 8m H Pittosporum phylliraeoides Native Apricot 5m A/B Santalum acuminatum Sweet Quandong 5m A/B Spyridium globulosum Basketbush 5m A/B Templetonia retusa Cockie's Tongue 4m A/B Viminaria juncea Swishbush 5m D Xanthorrhoea preissii Balga/Grass Tree 3m all zones Footnote: This listing is not, by any means, comprehensive. It is envisaged that other local native and endemic plants will be added with further surveys of bushland within the City.

A selection of plants considered suitable for Mid-Storey establishment of Urban Greenbelts. _____________________________________________________________________ Botanical Name Common Name Average Preferred Height Planting Zone Acacia cochlearis Rigid Wattle 0.5-3m A/B/EAcacia cyclops Coastal Wattle 3m A/B Acacia saligna Golden Wreath W 6m A/B/C/D/GAcacia truncata 3m A/B Adenanthos cygn Woolly Bush 4m B/F/G Agonis linearifolia Swamp Peppermi 6m D Allocasuarina lehm Dune Sheoak 3m A/B Baeckea robusta 2.5m B/C/D Banksia menziesii Firewood Banksia 6m B/C/D/E/F/G Banksia prionotes Orange 6m B/C/D/E Callitris preisii Rottnest Island Pine 6m A/B Conospermum triplin Tree Smokeb 4.5m B Dryandra sessilis Parrot Bush 5m A/B Eucalyptus decipiens Red Heart 8m B EGHHakea prosHakea ruscifolia Candle Hakea 3m B/F Hakea trifurcata Two leaf Hakea


APPENDIX VIc Local Native and Indigenous Small Shrubs A selection of plants considered suitable for Understorey establishment of Urban Greenbelts.

Planting

nes ra m rtitia are Bitter Bush

/G lis /D/F/G

angaroo aw /F/G

yx ea

uadrifidus F

flower er Starflower /E/G

adis ebush

heads ans ads iera ns

.8m

a pot /G /F/G

entosum

illea

/G m

m /H ns

ibbertia huegelii 0.5m B/F

pericoides 1.0m

1.5m B/F/G Hovea trisperma Common Hovea 0.7m B/F Hypocalymma robustum Swan River Myrtle 1m C/E/F/G Isolepis nodosa Knotted Club Rush 0.9m A Jacksonia floribunda Holly Pea 0.8m B/G/F Jacksonia sericea Walkjumi 0.6m A/B Lechenaultia floribunda Free Flowering Lechnaultia 0.5m C/E/F/G Lechenaultia linarioides Yellow Lechenaultia 1.5m A/B Leucopogon propinquus 1m B/C Melaleuca systena Coastal Honeymyrtle 1.5m A/B/G Melaleuca tricophylla 1m B/F/G

_____________________________________________________________________ Botanical Name Common Name Average Desired Height Zone Acacia lasiocarpa Dune Moses 1m A/B Acacia pulchella Prickly Moses 2m all zoAcacia stenopte 0.3-1 B/D/G Adriana quadripa R 2m B Allocasuarina humilis Dwarf Sheoak 2m A/B/D/FAnigozanthos humi Cat's Paw 0.5m B/CAnigozanthos manglesii Red & Green K P 1.25m B/C/D/EAstroloma microcal Native Cranberry 0.6m B Bossiaea eriocarpa Common Brown P 0.6m B/F/G Calothamnus q One sided Bottlebrush 2m A/B Calothamnus sanguineus Claw Flower 1.5m G/Calytrix flavescens Summer Star 0.8m F/G Calytrix fraseri Pink Summ 1.5m B/DConospermum stoech Common Smok 1.5m F/G Conostephium pendulum Pearl Flower 1.5m B/F/GConostylis aculeata Prickly Cotton 0.5m B/C/D/F/GConostylis candic Grey Cottonhe 0.5m A/B/C/D Dampiera linearis Common Damp 0.5m B/G/FDaviesia decurre Prickly Bitter Pea 1m B/GDaviesia divaricata Marno 0.3-1 B/D Daviesia nudiflora 1m B/F/G Daviesia triflora 0.6m B/C/F/G Dryandra lindleyan Couch Honey 0.5m B/F/GEremaea pauciflora 1.5m B/C/D/E/FEriostemon spicatus Salt & Pepper 0.6m B/C/DEuchilopsis linearis Swamp Pea 0.6m D/G Gompholobium tom Hairy Yellow Pea 1.5m A/B/F/G Grevillea crithmifolia 1.5m A/BGrevillea preissii Spider net Grev 1.2m A/B/CGrevillea vestita 2m B/C/EHaemodorum paniculatu Blood Root 1.7m B/C/EHaemodorum spicatu Blood Root 2m B/D/FHemiandra punge Snakebush 0.6m A/BHemiandra linearis Snakebush 0.3m A/B/C/F/GHHibbertia hyHibbertia racemosa Stalked Guinea Flower 0.5m B/F Hovea pungens Devils Pins


Local Native and Endemic Small Shrubs (contd.)

and Eggs 1m B/F/G

/B icum

ersoonia saccata Snotty Gobble

etrophile macrostachya 1m B/F

nus ose Banjine

anjine /G

Mulla Mulla 1.5m B/D

a

y means, com visaged that o cal na emic with further surveys e City.

Nemcia capitata Bacon Nemcia reticulata Ozothamnus cordatus Tangle Daisy 0.7m APericalymma ellipt Swamp Teatree 1.m D/G P 1.5m B/E/F/G Petrophile linearis Pixie Mops 0.7m B/F/G PPetrophile serruriae 1.5m B Phyllanthus calyci False Bornia 1m B Pimelea rosea R 1m A/B Pimelea suaveolens Scented Yellow B 0.5m B/FPimelea sulphurea Ptilotus drummondi Narrowleaf 0.8m B Ptilotus polystachyus Prince of Wales Feather Regelia ciliata 2m B/D/G Rhagodia baccata Saltbush 2m A/BRicinocarpos glaucus Wedding Bush 1m B Scaevoia crassifolia 1.5m A/B Scaevola nitida 1.5m A/B Verticordia densiflor Feather Flower 1m G Footnote: This listing is not, by an prehensive. It is en ther lo tive and endplants will be added of bushland within th


PPENDIX VIIa A

Native Fauna - Birds

revalent in the b Perth Metropolitan n and e dependent g preserved.

A listing of birds most p ushlands of the Regio hencon these bushlands bein Latin Name n Nam Commo e

a - Yellow r Thornrciliosus - Western Spinebill

ephalus - Collared rrow HaBrown G k

ulata - Red Wattlebird ptera Little Wa

Little Eaarius - Twenty

- Galah - Little Cor

dinii - White ta o costernum - White ba wallo

- Shining ze Cuckircus aeruginosus - Marsh Harrier oracina novaehollandiae - Blackfaced Cuckoo Shrike orvus coronoides - Australian Raven

rquatus - Grey Butcherbird

ed Sitella Dicaeum hirundinaceum - Mistletoe Bird Elanus notatus - Black shouldered Kite Ephthianura albifron - White-fronted Chat Falco berigora - Brown Falcon Falco cenchroides - Nankeen Kestrel Falco longipennis - Australian Hobby Falcon Falco peregrinus - Peregrine Falcon Gerygone Fusca - Western Gerygone Grallina cyanoleuca - Australian Magpie lark Gymnorhina tibicendorsalis - Australian Magpie Halcyon sancta - Sacred Kingfisher Haliastur sphernurus - Whistling Kite Hirundo nigricans - Tree Martin Hirundo neoxena - Welcome Swallow Lichenostomus ornatus - Yellow plumed Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta - Brown Honeyeater Malurus lamberti - Varigated Fairy-wren Malurus leucopteus - White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus splendens - Splendid Fairy-wren Manorina flavigula - Yellow-throated Miner Meliphaga virescens - Singing Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus - White-naped Honeyeater Merops ornatus - Rainbow Bee-eater Microeca leucophaea - Jacky Winter Ninox novaeseelandiae - Southern Boobook Pachycephala rufiventris - Rufous Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis - Golden Whistler Pardalotus punctatus - Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus striatus - Striated Pardolote Petrocia goodenovii - Redcapped Robin

Acanthiza chrysorrho umped bill Acanthorhynchus supeAccipiter cirrhoc Spa wk Accipiter fasicatus - oshawAnthochaera caruncAnthochaera chrysto - ttlebirdAquila morphnoides - gle Barnardius zon eight Cacatua roseicapillaCacatua sanguinea ella Calyptorhynchus bau iled Black CockatoCheramoeca leu cked s w Chrysococcyx lucidus Bron oo CCCCracticus toCuculus pallidus - Pallid Cuckoo Daphoenositta chrysoptera - Vari


Petroica multicolour - Scarlet Robin ehollandiae - New Holland Honeyeater

- White-checked Honeyeater

- Regent Parrot urpureicephalus spurius - Redcapped Parrot

ginosa hipidura leucophrys - Willie Wagtail

Phylidonyris novaPhylidonyris nigra Platycercus icterotis - Western Rosella Podargus strigoides - Tawny Frogmouth Polytelis anthopeplus PRhipidura fuli - Grey fantail RSericornis frontalis - White Browed Scrub-wrenSmicrornis brevirostris - Weebil Tuto alba - Barn Owl Zosterops lateralis - Silvereye


APPENDIX VIIb Native Fauna - Mammals

mals most prevalent in the bushland n Region and hence ushlands being preserved.

A listing of small mam s of the Perth Metropolitadependent on these b Latin Name mon Name Com

- Yell chinus ogilbyi - Woy sh

taile ngaroo s concinnus * - Wes um

i - Gou Bat Chalinolobus morio - Chocolate Wattled Bat Dasyurus geoffroi fortis * - Chuditch/Western Quoll/Western Native Cat Eptesicus regulus - Southern Little Bat Isoodon obesulus fusciventer * - Quenda/Southern Brown Bandicoot Macropus eugenii * - Tammar Macropus irma - Brush Wallaby Mormopterus planiceps - Little Mastiff-Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi geoffroyi - Lesser Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus timoriensis - Greater Long-eared Bat Onychogalea lunata * - Wurrung Petrogale lateralis * - Black Footed Rock Wallaby Phascogale calura * - Red tailed Wambenger Phascogale tapoatafa * - Brush tailed Phascogale Pseudocheirus peregrinus ocidentalis - Common Ringtail possum Pseudomys albocinereus albocinereus - Ashey Grey Mouse Pseudomys gouldii * - Gould's mouse Rattus fuscipes fuscipes - Southern Bush Rat Sminthopsis crassicaudata * - Fat tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis granulipes * - Granule footed or White Tailed Dunnart Tachyglossus aculeatus - Echidna Tadarida australis australis - White striped Mastif Bat Tarsipes rostratus * - Honey Possum/Noolbenger Trichosurus vulpecula - Common Brush Tailed Possum * Considered rare or likely to become extinct and in need of special protection.

Antechinus flavipes ow Footed AnteBettongia penicillata lie/Brush tailed Bettong/Bru d Rat KaCercartetu tern Pygmy PossChalinolobus gouldi ld's Wattled


APPENDIX VIIc Native Fauna - Reptiles and Amphibians A listing of reptiles and amphibians most prevalent in the Perth Metropolitan Region and hence reliant on bushlands as habitat areas. Latin Name Common Name

- renadactylus ocellatus ocellatus -

phalus - n Lizard - se

emansia reticulata reticulata - ke - ke - - kink

punctatus - wing Frog -

- ink

ta - - - - - - Bell Frog/Western - -

otechis scutatus occidentalis - nake - n Bearded Dragon -

oratus - is -

suedophryne guentheri - Guenther's Toadlet anidella glauerti - iliqua rugosa rugosa - Bobtail

Underwoodisaurus millii - Barking Gecko Varanus gouldii - Bungarra/Goanna Vermicella bertholdii - Bandy Bandy Vermicella bimaculata - Western Black naped snake Vermicella calonotos - Western Black striped snake Vermicella semifasciata semifasciata - Half ringed Snake

Apraisia repens Brachyaspis curta Bardick C Clawless Gecko Cryptoblepharus plagioce Common Wall Skink/SuChelodina oblonga Long necked TortoiCtenotus fallens Ctenotus lesuerii D Whip SnaDenisonia gouldi Black headed snaDiplodactylus spinigerus Spiny tailed Gecko Egernia kingii Kings SHeleioporus albo Spotted BurroHeleiporus eyrei Moaning Frog Hermiergis peronii quadrilineata Peron's Three-toed SkLeiolopisma trilineatum Lerista elegans Lerista lineopunctula Burrowing Skink Lerista praepedita Short legged Skink Lialis burtonis Burtons Snake Lizard Limnodynastes dorsalis Bullfrog/Banjo Frog Litoria adelaidensis Slender Tree FrogLitoria moorei Green & Gold Green Tree Frog Menetia greyii Grey's Skink Myobatrachus gouldii Turtle Frog N Tiger SPogona minor WesterPogona minor minor Dwarf Bearded DragonPhyllodactylus marm Marbled Gecko Pseudonaja affinis affin Dugite PRTTympanocryptis adelaidensis adelaidensis - White Dragon


APPENDIX XI Green Plan Sites Assessment – City of Stirling, WA GREENPLAN City of Stirling URBAN BUSHLAND CONSERVATION STRATEGY DATA SET 1 1.1 Site Name: 1.2 Reserve Number: 1.3 File Reference (COS): 1.4 Tax File Reference: 1.5 Perth Map Location: 1.7 Ownership Status: 1.8 Vesting and Nature of Vesting: 1.9 Management Authority: 1.10 Date Assessed:

PHOTOGRAPH


DATA SET 2 – Physical Attributes .1 Size: 2

2.2 Shape (condensed, linear, fragmented etc):

er Map 4): lup white sands) elevated hilly (Spearwood yellow sands)

ulating (grey-white sands) undulating (brown sands) y-brown sands) riverine flats (alluvial clays)

undulating (Spearwood yellow sands)

.5 Slope & Slope aspect: N NE E SE S SW W NW

gentle

l features (eg limestone outcrops):

s (eg fire scaring, natural hazards):

sent:

r uffer zones present:

art of recreational parkland:

rea (bio-linkage potential):

2.3 Soil type: 2.4 Topography / Landform (ref

exposed coastal (Quinda mild und hilly (gre 2

flat

steep

2.6 Outstanding physica 2.7 Physical disturbance 2.8 Whether wetlands pre 2.9 Whether transition zones and/o b 2.10 Whether adjacent to or p 2.11 Nearest natural a

LOCATION MAP


DATA SET 3 – Biological Attributes 3.1 Vegetation region:

.2 Vegetation association:

.3 Vegetation condition: Good

torable nd

Mallee

3 3

Pristine Excellent Average Very good Degraded – potentially res

Completely degraded – beyorestoration

n structure & cover: 3.4 Vegetatio

Trees Vege tion ta Under 8 m type Over 30 m 10 – 30 m Under 10 m Over 8 m

% cover

species

Dominant

Shrubs Other Vegetation type Over 2 m 1 -2 m Under 1 m

% cover

species

Dominant

Vegetation type

Herbs Sedges Grasses Other

% cover

Dominant species

3.5 Humic layer - Estimated % cover: Depth (cm): Estimated % bare

ground:

.6 Diversity & richness of flora:

3.7 Habitat potential (eg nesting hollows): 3.8 Diversity & richness of fauna: 3.9 Presence of rare & threatened flora / fauna: 3.10 Conservation significance (local / regional): 3.11 Conservation potential / priority:

3


DATA SET 4 – Threatening Processes / Management Issues 4.1 Human population impacts:

.2 Adjoining land use impacts:

.3 Soil erosion:

4.4 Hydrological imbalance: 4.5 Past land clearing: 4.6 Inappropriate fire regime

4.8 In 4.9 Invasion of vertebra (eg rab es): 4.10 Infestation of disease (eg dieba ): 4.11 Pollution via stormwater drainag

.12 ubbish dumping:

4.13 V BMX 4.14 Un recreat s: 4.15 Il l o plant material ( od, bark, seed :

4 4

s / fire hazards:

.7 Fragmentation of bush blocks:4

va f weedsion o s:

te estsp bits, fox

ck

e:

4

R

andalism (eg clearings):

controlled ional impact

legal remova f wo s)


DATA SET 5 – Planning Opportunities & Constraints 5.1 Adequacy of planning mecha ms: nis

:

s r site:

:

5.2 Adequacy of formal protection measures 5.3 Bush Plan / Bu h Foreve 5.4 Environmental Management Plan


DATA SET 6 – Overall Qualitative Assessment

Criteria Rating

Size: >50 ha (5), >10 ha (4), >4 ha (3), >1 ha (2), <1 ha (1)

Shape: condensed (3), linear (2), fragmented (1)

Condition: pristine (7), excellent (6), very good (5), good (4) average (3), degraded – potentially restorable (2) completely degraded – beyond restoration (1)

Structure well represented by trees, mallee, shrubs, herbs sedges & grasses (3), partially represented (2), poorly represented (1)

Density: plants per unit area is very high (4), high (3), average (2), low (1)

Diversity: number of species present per unit area is very high (4), high (3), medium (2), low (1)

Richness: population per species per unit area is very high (4), high (3), medium (2), low (1)

Habitats: existing & potential is high (3), medium (2), low (1)

Health: diseased or moribund vegetation is absent (3), some present (2), high presence (1)

Weed cover: presence is low (3), medium (2), high (1)

Other threats: presence of pests, fire hazards, erosion etc is low (3), medium (2), high (1)

Disturbances: presence of clearing, rubbish dumping etc is low (3), medium (2), high (1)

Total Rating: (Note: Highest possible rating is 45)


DATA SET 7 – Conservation Strategy 7.1 Classification into management category: 7.2 Resolution of planning issues: 7.3 Resolution agement issues: 7.4 Proposed protection measures: 7.5 Proposed r 7.6 Preservation / enhancement of natural values: 7.7 sed b 7.8 Controlled 7.9 ite pub 7.1 sed r 7.11 Level and s 7.1 ic fu

of on-site man

estoration measures:

Propo io-link development:

access for recreation:

On-s lic awareness / education:

0 Propo ecurrent maintenance:

ource of funding:

2 Strateg ture directions:


DATA SET 8 – Community Involvement / Values 8.1 Friends group present: 8.2 Schools involvement: 8.3 Management advisory committee:

8.4 Educational / scientific importance: 8.5 Recreational potential: 8.6 Cultural / heritage importance: 8.7 Aboriginal significance: 8.8 Interpretation possibilities:


DATA SET 9 – Evaluation of Conservation Effort 9.1 Identification of Key Performance Indices (KPI):

• Density index

•

• Diversity index Weed index

9.2 Establish benchmark against KPI: 9.3 Performance measurement: 9.4 Evaluate against set benchmarks: 9.5 Refine performance targets:

City of S

tirling GREEN PLAN 2

C t to District Planning Scheme 2 regarding Urba ity of Stirling

APPENDIX VIIIa

• un e 20 93, of amendmeno cil adoption, on th April 19

n Bushland in the C


APPENDIX VIIIb • Council endorsement, on the 2 March 1999, of Bushplan / Bush Forever


APPENDIX VIIIc • Council endorsement, on the 2 April 2002, of the Perth Biodiversity Project • Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Stirling and the WA Local Government

Association for the protection of native vegetation


green plan 2 strategy for the conservation of urban … · 2.2.2 adjoining land use ... promoting...

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