local biodiversity conservation planning framework discussion … and building... · 2016-07-05 ·...

Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning

Framework

Discussion Paper

April 2013

Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework Discussion Paper

City of Bunbury i

Disclaimer:

This document has been published by the City of Bunbury. Any representation, statement, opinion

or advice expressed or implied in this document is made in good faith and on the basis that the

City of Bunbury, its employees and agents are not liable for any damage or loss whatsoever which

may occur as a result of action taken or not taken, as the case may be, in respect of any

representation, statement, opinion or advice referred to herein. Information pertaining to this

document may be subject to change, and should be checked against any modifications or

amendments subsequent to the document’s publication.

Cover Photograph:

Couple walking at Maidens Reserve, Bunbury, Western Australia.

Publication Details:

Published by the City of Bunbury.

Copyright © the City of Bunbury 2013.

Edition Details:

Title: Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework Discussion Paper

Production Date: April 2013

Author: Ben Deeley (Team Leader Sustainability)

Editor: Thor Farnworth (Manager Sustainability and Integrated Land Use Planning)

Modifications List:

Version Date Amendments Prepared by

1 30/4/13 Minor numerical corrections. BD


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Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................................... 1

What is Biodiversity? .................................................................................................................. 1

What is ‘Biodiversity Conservation’ and Why is it Important?...................................................... 2

Biodiversity Decline and Key Threats ......................................................................................... 3

Need to Balance Biodiversity Conservation and Development ................................................... 3

City of Bunbury Biodiversity Planning Perspectives.................................................................... 4

Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework.............................................................. 5

Aims of the Framework............................................................................................................... 5

Framework Measures................................................................................................................. 5

Measure 1 - Vision, Objectives and Targets........................................................................... 6

Measure 2 - Maps.................................................................................................................. 7

Measure 3 - Planning Tools ................................................................................................. 10

Measure 4 - Supporting Information..................................................................................... 14

Likely Biodiversity Outcomes for Bunbury................................................................................. 14

Framework Implementation, Monitoring and Review ................................................................ 16

Informal Public Consultation Period ......................................................................................... 18

References .................................................................................................................................. 19

Figures

Figure 1. City of Bunbury Remnant Native Vegetation 2012. ....................................................... 9

Figure 2. Proposed Biodiversity Special Control Area Sites. ...................................................... 11

Figure 3. Proposed Conservation Reserve Sites. ...................................................................... 13

Figure 4. Diagrammatic Representation of Decline in Biodiversity in Relation to Decline in Native Vegetation Cover and Habitat. .................................................................................... 16

Tables

Table 1. Target Types, Scope and Examples. ............................................................................ 8

Table 2. Forecast Long-term Native Vegetation Retention Versus Clearing in Bunbury............ 15


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Introduction

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”

John Muir (21 April 1838 – 24 December 1914) Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States.

The City of Bunbury is currently in the process of reviewing its town planning scheme. The review requires Council to prepare two important land use planning documents, that being the City’s inaugural Local Planning Strategy and a new Local Planning Scheme number 8. For further information on the scheme review generally, please refer to the Local Planning Strategy - Discussion Paper (September 2012) and Local Planning Scheme Review Report (October 2011), which are both available by downloading the documents from the City of Bunbury’s website at www.bunbury.wa.gov.au. As part of this work, the City has developed a series of measures to support biodiversity conservation at a local level. These measures are collectively referred to as the “Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework”, and include a biodiversity conservation vision, objectives and targets, maps, planning tools and supporting information. This discussion paper has been prepared in order provide an overview of the framework and to support the community and key stakeholders in making submissions on it as part of an informal public consultation period during April and May 2013. The results of the informal public consultation period will be used to support the development of the framework to final draft stage, ready for inclusion into the draft Local Planning Strategy and revised draft Local Planning Scheme 8 (LPS8).

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the variety of naturally occurring life forms in an area and the non-living features, such as air, water and soil, which support them.

Biodiversity is measured at several levels including ecosystems, species and genes. Examples of biodiversity include:

• the different types of bushland in Bunbury such as banksia woodland, paperbark wetlands, mangrove vegetation, and coastal dunes (ecosystem diversity)

• different native animal species such as birds, bats, mammals, frogs, reptiles and insects (species diversity)

• variations within individual species such as the colour variations between Banksia grandis flowers, which may result in different physical and survival characteristics (genetic diversity).


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Biodiversity is found throughout Bunbury, albeit in differing amounts. In developed areas such as residential neighbourhoods, biodiversity is considerably reduced from natural levels, often only comprising of individual native trees in road reserves and parks and the few animal species that have adapted to living alongside humans, such as magpies and small lizards. Local bushland reserves usually contain much higher levels of biodiversity than developed areas due to their more natural state. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the reserve, the greater the biodiversity due to there being more habitat and less human-induced pressures. This is why the conservation of large reserves in Bunbury such as Maidens Reserve, Hay Park and Manea Park is so important - as previously recognised by the state government through the Preston River to Ocean Regional Park proposal. However, smaller natural areas can also be important from a conservation perspective, as they can provide refuges for urban fauna, provide habitat for threatened species and act as ‘stepping stones’, which allow species to migrate across the landscape.

What is ‘Biodiversity Conservation’ and Why is it Important? Biodiversity conservation is the maintenance of biodiversity and its health and functioning as an integrated system over the long-term (i.e. 100 years+). Biodiversity conservation requires both the formal recognition and protection of natural areas and the ongoing management of protected natural areas. Without formal recognition and protection, natural areas may be at risk of development in the future. This recognition and protection can occur through a range of mechanisms under planning, land administration and other legislative processes. Natural areas also require ongoing management in order to address human-induced impacts such as weeds, pest animals and plant diseases - otherwise their condition and viability may decline over time. The conservation of biodiversity is important given the wide ranging benefits that it provides for the environment, society and the economy, as outlined below:

• Environmental benefits – biodiversity supports ecosystem services and a healthy, functioning natural environment, which in turn provides critical requirements for humans such as clean air, water and food.

• Social benefits – biodiversity contributes to sense of place and amenity and provides for recreation, education, research and spiritual pursuits.

• Economic benefits – biodiversity supports important industries such as fisheries, forestry, agriculture and tourism and buffers sensitive land uses.

In short, the health of Bunbury’s local natural environment, the quality of lifestyle offered to residents, the attractiveness of the City to visitors, investors and immigrants and the long term sustainability of the community are all ultimately underpinned by biodiversity. The protection of these values for the benefit of both current and future generations has been a key motivating factor for the City in preparing the Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework as outlined in this discussion paper.


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Biodiversity Decline and Key Threats Unfortunately, the world’s biodiversity is in a state of decline. Global extinction rates are currently hundreds of times above normal and rising and there is overwhelming evidence that human activities are a key cause (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). At a national level, Australia has experienced the largest documented decline in biodiversity of any continent over the past 200 years (ABS 2010). This trend is also apparent in Western Australia, which has over 362 threatened plants, 199 threatened animals and 69 threatened ecological communities. The Swan Coastal Plain area between Jurien Bay and Dunsborough has lost over 60% of its native vegetation and 70-80% of wetlands since European settlement (EPA 2007). Locally, 76% of Bunbury’s original native vegetation has been cleared to date, as such, it is possible that some ecosystems, species and genes once present are no longer found here. Remaining biodiversity in the south west is under threat from a range of factors, including:

• altered fire regimes

• feral animals

• weeds

• dieback and other plant diseases

• climate change

• land clearing. Of the above mentioned threats, land clearing is of particular concern given its tendency to result in the almost complete removal of natural values from a site. During the mid 20th century, the major driver behind land clearing in the south west was the expansion of intensive agriculture, however, this has largely ceased. Instead, development, particularly for urban and industrial purposes, is the current major driver of ongoing land clearing in the region. This in turn can be linked to recent levels of high economic and population growth and the residential marketplace preference for relatively large houses compared to other parts of the world (EPA 2007).

Need to Balance Biodiversity Conservation and Development Whilst recognised as a key threat to remaining biodiversity in the south west, development is nevertheless important to our society due to its role in supporting economic growth under current systems through the creation of new areas for people to live and work. Clearly, a balanced approach is needed that recognises the importance of both biodiversity conservation and development, and which ultimately puts the best interests of the community first (i.e. sustainability meeting the needs of current and future generations through the integration of environmental protection, social advancement and economic prosperity). However, it is important to note that biodiversity conservation and development aren’t always in conflict, but can actually be mutually supporting - particularly when development is preferentially located in existing cleared areas, which are extensive in the south west. For example, biodiversity conservation can contribute to development through better urban water management and enhanced amenity and the buffering of sensitive uses. In turn, development can support biodiversity conservation through the creation of habitat linkages and the injection of needed


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management funds. The Western Australian land use planning system, which regulates planning and development in this state, offers an important opportunity to balance biodiversity conservation and development and strive for mutually beneficial outcomes between them. The land use planning system is principally governed by the WA Planning and Development Act 2005.

The purpose of the Planning and Development Act 2005 is to:

• provide for an efficient and effective land use planning system in the State; and

• promote the sustainable use and development of land in the State.

Local government is a key stakeholder and decision maker under the state’s land use planning system and thereby has an important role to play in balancing biodiversity conservation and development. In recognition of this role, the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) and Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) have both prepared guidance documents to assist local governments in integrating biodiversity conservation principles and tools within their local planning instruments (N.B. termed “biodiversity planning”). To date, over 13 local governments in Perth and the broader south west region have commenced biodiversity planning, including the City of Wanneroo, City of Bayswater, City of Busselton and the Shire of Dardanup.

City of Bunbury Biodiversity Planning Perspectives The City of Bunbury first commenced biodiversity planning in 2005 following a decision to participate in the South West Biodiversity Project - a WALGA initiative, which assisted local governments in the south west to undertake biodiversity planning. The City successfully completed the initial stages of the project through the preparation of ecological assessments for several local natural areas prior to the project’s demise in 2009. Since this time, the City has proactively continued to undertake biodiversity planning in keeping with the WALGA and WAPC guidance documents. Through the City’s efforts to date, it has become apparent that two fundamental issues limit the capacity for the balancing of biodiversity conservation with development in the achievement of mutually beneficial outcomes under the current land use planning system. These issues include:

• the tendency for biodiversity conservation to be considered late in the planning process

• uncertainty regarding state and federal government environmental requirements. The consideration of biodiversity conservation late in the planning process often results in sub-optimal biodiversity outcomes because proposals can take a considerable amount of time and resources to prepare and are consequently less flexible as time proceeds. Conversely, where government steps in and requires particular biodiversity outcomes, proponents may be faced with additional costs and time delays. The issue of uncertainty in relation to government environmental requirements may result in wasted efforts and feelings of dissatisfaction, not only by proponents, but also by conservation interest groups. Addressing these two issues has been a key motivating factor for the City in preparing the Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework, along with the City’s broader interests in conserving local biodiversity for the benefit of current and future generations as discussed.


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Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework The Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework represents the culmination of many years of biodiversity planning by the City of Bunbury. The City’s aims in preparing the framework and the framework’s measures and proposed implementation, monitoring and review procedures are outlined below.

Aims of the Framework The City of Bunbury’s aims in preparing the Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework are:

1. To support the conservation of Bunbury’s biodiversity.

2. To maximise the opportunity for mutually beneficial outcomes for both conservation and development interests by:

a. supporting the consideration of biodiversity conservation early in planning process

b. providing greater certainty of state and federal government environmental requirements.

Framework Measures The framework will support the achievement of the City’s aims through its four measures, which include:

1. Vision, objectives and targets - establish ‘what’ the City hopes to achieve through the framework in terms of biodiversity outcomes.

2. Maps - outline ‘where’ important biodiversity values are likely to be found in Bunbury.

3. Planning tools - establish ‘how’ (in part) the vision, objectives and targets will be achieved.

4. Supporting information - outlines ‘why’ the framework is required by establishing its context.

Measures 1, 2 and 4 will be incorporated into the City’s Local Planning Strategy in order to highlight the importance of the framework and give it weight so that it may influence future planning decisions by the local, state and federal governments. The Local Planning Strategy will also introduce the third measure, the planning tools, and outline how all four measures operate together as a planning framework. Measure 3 comprises of two planning tools, including a Biodiversity Special Control Area and a Conservation Reserve. These tools are regulatory in nature and will be incorporated into the City’s revised Local Planning Scheme 8.

What is a Local Planning Strategy?

A Local Planning Strategy is a non-statutory instrument, which sets out a local government’s long-term planning directions and provides a rationale behind the Local Planning Scheme. The Local Planning Strategy is important because all decisions made by the local government under the scheme must be in accordance with the strategy.


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What is a Local Planning Scheme?

A Local Planning Scheme is a statutory instrument comprising of a series of provisions and a corresponding map, which regulates planning and development within a local government area.

Each of the framework’s four measures is outlined further below. Measure 1 - Vision, Objectives and Targets A vision, objectives and targets have been prepared for the framework in order to guide, motivate and support the measurement of local conservation efforts over time. The vision, objectives and targets are linked and form a hierarchy. The vision provides broad overarching direction to the framework and is supported by the objectives. Each of the objectives, in turn, translates into a series of measurable targets. It is important to note that the achievement of the vision, objectives and targets will be reliant on the actions of the entire community, not just Council, either through direct involvement with the framework as a relevant stakeholder, or indirectly through care and consideration for local biodiversity through everyday activities e.g. by not dumping rubbish or riding motor vehicles in local bushland areas.

1.1 Vision The proposed vision for the Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework is outlined below:

Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework Vision

“Protecting a network of local bushland, wetland and riverine reserves connected through revegetation and street tree planting, to conserve the full assemblage of local native species and vegetation types in the City. These are to ensure that locally indigenous vegetation types and the diversity of plants and animals exist into the long-term for the enjoyment of our community and the wider public”.

1.2 Objectives The following series of three objectives have been prepared in order to support and clarify the intent of the overarching vision:

Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework Objectives

1. Conserve representative areas of local bushland.

2. Conserve natural areas that support special biodiversity features such threatened species, threatened ecological communities and wetlands.

3. Manage and enhance the landscape-scale ecological processes that support local biodiversity by maintaining and enhancing ecological linkages between natural areas and managing key threatening processes such as fire, weeds and feral animals.

All three objectives are challenging in an urban context, but are considered necessary to conserve local biodiversity.


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1.3 Targets Each of the three objectives has been translated into a set of targets, which will be used to support the City’s decision-making on proposals involving important biodiversity values. The targets also allow the success of local conservation efforts to be measured over time due to their quantitative nature. Table 1 outlines the type and scope of each set of targets. It also provides an example target and illustrates the existing legislation and/or policy that apply in each case. The protection of any one bushland area can contribute towards the achievement of one or more targets. Generally, the more targets met by an area, the more valuable it is likely to be regarded for protection. The targets are underpinned by existing state and federal legislation and policy and have been developed through careful consideration of existing planning processes in Bunbury (e.g. structure planning). In this manner, the targets are considered to be realistic in seeking to strike a balance between development and conservation. The targets have not been outlined in full within this discussion paper in the interests of brevity; however, a detailed copy of the targets can be obtained upon request by contacting the City’s Team Leader Sustainability on (08) 9792 7081.

Measure 2 - Maps The Local Planning Strategy will include a series of maps that spatially reflect the biodiversity conservation values of Bunbury in order to support the City’s decision-making and the achievement of the vision, objectives and targets. These maps will highlight the location of remnant bushland in Bunbury and its relative priority for conservation. They will also demonstrate where the Conservation Reserve and Biodiversity Special Control Area will apply. These maps have been drawn together from publically available datasets and do not replace the need for detailed surveys of flora and fauna on specific sites. An example of the types of maps that will be included in the Local Planning Strategy is provided at Figure 1, which illustrates the location of remnant native vegetation in Bunbury in relation to existing Regional Open Space under the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme (GBRS).

What is the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme and Regional Open Space?

The Greater Bunbury Region Scheme is a broad planning scheme administered by the WAPC that applies to the Shires of Harvey, Dardanup, Capel and the City of Bunbury. It, amongst other things, provides coarse scale integrated planning across these local governments, identifies strategic industrial and future urban sites and sets aside lands for public uses.

The “Regional Open Space Reserve” (or ROS) is a land classification under the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme, which comprises of lands set aside for public purposes such as conservation, waterways and public access.


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Table 1. Target Types, Scope and Examples.

Targets

Example

Objectives

Type & Scope

Target Supporting Legislation/Policy

Objective 1. Conserve representative areas of local bushland.

Vegetation Complex Targets:

Address the protection of a representative sample of each of the remaining seven major vegetation types in the City.

Protection of an additional 0.2 ha of Guildford Vegetation Complex (i.e. over and above Regional Open Space), to protect 2.4 ha of this vegetation complex in total.

• EPA Bulletin 1108

• WA Environmental Protection Act 1986.

Objective 2. Conserve natural areas that support special biodiversity features.

Biodiversity Feature Targets:

Address the protection of:

• Rare and significant flora species

• Rare and significant fauna species

• Threatened ecological communities

• Wetlands and wetland vegetation

• Waterways and riparian vegetation.

All populations of Declared Rare Flora and associated habitat are to be protected within an ecologically viable natural area.

• WA Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.

Objective 3. Manage and enhance landscape-scale ecological processes.

Ecological Connectivity Targets:

Address the protection of patches of bushland that are important for the movement of fauna through the landscape and ensure species and habitats can be maintained and evolve over time.

Protect all patches identified as Regional Linkage Priority 1 and Local Linkage Priority 1 by the City for their ecological linkage value and other ecological values.

• EPA Bulletin 1108

• EPA Environmental Protection Bulletin 8.


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Figure 1. City of Bunbury Remnant Native Vegetation 2012.


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Measure 3 - Planning Tools Two planning tools have been developed in order to support the achievement of the vision, objectives and targets, including a Biodiversity Special Control Area and a Conservation Reserve. Both of these tools are outlined further below.

3.1 Biodiversity Special Control Area

What is a Special Control Area?

Special control areas, along with zones and reserves, are the major types of land use classification under local planning schemes.

Special control areas are mechanisms that deal with specific issues, which may overlap zone and reserve boundaries. Special control areas can place requirements on the development and use of land that apply in addition to the requirements of the underlying zones and/or reserves.

It is important to note that special control areas outline the processes to be followed and considerations to be made during planning and development assessment. They are not protection mechanisms in themselves.

The purpose of the proposed Biodiversity Special Control Area is to support the consideration of biodiversity conservation early in the planning process and to clarify existing state and federal environmental requirements. It will be applied primarily to zoned lands with known or suspected important biodiversity values (see Figure 2). The Biodiversity Special Control Area will support the consideration of biodiversity conservation early in the planning process by:

• empowering the City to require proponents to prepare structure plans; and

• requiring proponents to consider the framework’s vision, objectives and targets during planning and development and to provide evidence to the City of how this has occurred.

It should be noted that most of the proposed Biodiversity Special Control Area sites already carry the requirement for the preparation of structure plans under the existing City of Bunbury Town Planning Scheme No. 7 (TPS7). The City seeks to bolster this existing power through the Biodiversity Special Control Area by extending it to include additional sites that support remnant bushland.

What is a Structure Plan?

A structure plan is a planning instrument that outlines the proposed pattern of land use for an area and provides a framework for the assessment of detailed rezoning, subdivision and development proposals (State of Western Australia 1996).

Although structure plans may be adopted by local governments, their final endorsement ultimately rests with the WAPC.

The Biodiversity Special Control Area will also empower the City to require proponents to undertake ecological surveys, for example, as part of structure planning, and to prepare management plans for proposed conservation areas as required.


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Figure 2. Proposed Biodiversity Special Control Area Sites.


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These are existing powers available to local governments under the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme, which apply to the majority of the proposed Biodiversity Special Control Area sites. The City seeks to bolster these existing powers through the Biodiversity Special Control Area by expanding them to include other sites that support remnant bushland. The Biodiversity Special Control Area will clarify existing state and federal government environmental requirements by translating them spatially onto the revised Local Planning Scheme 8 map. Also, a corresponding table will be included in the Local Planning Strategy that outlines existing state and federal government requirements and the amount of bushland that is likely to be conserved through these processes for each Biodiversity Special Control Area site. Additionally, the Biodiversity Special Control Area will illustrate circumstances during which the City will not support planning proposals due to an existing state and/or federal government protection requirement. 3.2 Conservation Reserve

What is a Reserve?

Reserves, along with zones and special control areas, are the major types of land classification under planning schemes.

Reserves are lands that are set aside for public purposes such as parks, schools and airports, and are typically managed by a government body.

The Conservation Reserve is the second planning tool under the framework proposed for inclusion under the City’s revised Local Planning Scheme 8. Unlike the Biodiversity Special Control Area, the Conservation Reserve is focused primarily on public lands and is a protection mechanism, not a process mechanism. The locations of the proposed Conservation Reserve sites are illustrated at Figure 3. The purpose of the proposed Conservation Reserve is to recognise and protect existing public open space areas in Bunbury that support important biodiversity values. At present, the existing “Parks and Recreation Reserve” under TPS7 applies to both active open space and local bushland areas and hence does not provide sufficient guidance on the development and management of these two very different types of public open space (POS). The City seeks to address this issue by changing existing Parks and Recreation Reserve land with important biodiversity values to a new “Conservation Reserve” in order to ensure that they are appropriately recognised and protected into the future. The Conservation Reserve will take the form of a new category of local reserve on the revised scheme map. The following reserve purpose statement will also be included within the revised scheme text:

Conservation Reserve

To provide for the conservation of local natural biodiversity, landscape preservation, environmental buffers, natural resource management and natural hazard management, for the benefit of current and future generations. To ensure the maintenance of ecological services, which support local ecosystems and the long term ecological sustainability of the city. These areas provide opportunities for scientific research, educational experiences, and passive recreational opportunities.


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Figure 3. Proposed Conservation Reserve Sites.


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The Conservation Reserve will protect applicable sites through provisions under the revised scheme that require:

• development on Conservation Reserve sites to have prior planning approval from the City of Bunbury in order to lawfully proceed

• the City of Bunbury to consider the ultimate intended purpose of the Conservation Reserve, that is, biodiversity conservation, prior to granting planning approval for development upon Conservation Reserve sites.

Under the current proposal, the Conservation Reserve will have no implications for private land because it will only apply lands in public ownership (i.e. applicable only to Parks and Recreation Reserve). In the future, the City of Bunbury may consider proposals that voluntarily apply the Conservation Reserve to private land in order to protect important biodiversity values (e.g. as part of a POS contribution). However, this is only likely to occur under exceptional circumstances, for example, where requested by a land holder as part of a negotiated planning outcome.

Measure 4 - Supporting Information The Local Planning Strategy will contain supporting information that provides context for the framework and demonstrates its links to established science, policy and legislation. The supporting information will include an overview of the importance of biodiversity and its need for conservation in a similar manner to that outlined earlier in this discussion paper. It will also include general information on bushland areas known to occur in Bunbury and will provide an outline of the methods employed in developing the framework. The Local Planning Strategy will also contain a table that outlines existing state and federal government requirements and the amount of bushland that is likely to be conserved through these processes for each Biodiversity Special Control Area site.

Likely Biodiversity Outcomes for Bunbury Approximately 1,529 hectares of native vegetation currently remains in the City of Bunbury, which equates to 24% of the 6,295 hectares originally thought to occur. Table 2 illustrates how much of the remaining native vegetation in Bunbury is forecast to be conserved over the long term as a result of the Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework and existing state and federal government protection mechanisms, versus that likely to be cleared.

As can be seen from Table 2, much of the remaining native vegetation in Bunbury is located in the Regional Open Space Reserve (953 hectares, approximately 15% of original vegetation) and is thereby reasonably secure.


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Table 2. Forecast Long-term Native Vegetation Retention Versus Clearing in Bunbury.

Remaining Native Vegetation Area (hectares)

% of Original 6,295 ha

Regional Open Space Reserve 953 15

Conservation Reserve 53 1

Likely to be conserved

State and federal protection mechanisms* 206-375 3-6

Likely to be cleared 317-148 5-2

Total = 1,529 24

*As supported by the proposed Biodiversity Special Control Area. The Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework is likely to contribute towards the conservation of between 259 and 428 hectares of native vegetation in the long term, which equates to approximately 4 - 7% of the original amount (N.B. this includes native vegetation protected via state and federal protection mechanisms in view of the Biodiversity Special Control Areas likely supporting role). The lower figure (259 hectares) represents a ‘business as usual’ estimate of likely conservation outcomes, whereas the upper figure (428 hectares) illustrates what could possibly be achieved if a concerted effort is made by the development industry to protect local biodiversity. Overall, it is estimated that somewhere between 1,212 and 1,381 hectares of native vegetation will be conserved in the long term via the protection mechanisms listed above, which equates to 19% - 22% of the original amount. Consequently, somewhere between 148 and 317 hectares of native vegetation is likely to be cleared over the coming decades. In drawing conclusions on what these figures might mean for the conservation Bunbury’s biodiversity, it is useful to draw attention to Figure 4, which provides a diagrammatic representation of the relationship between biodiversity and native vegetation cover. It should be noted that Figure 4 was derived from data collected from the east coast of Australia; nevertheless, it generally serves to show that biodiversity and native vegetation cover are directly proportional (i.e. they decline together), albeit in a non-linear way. In approaching 30% of remaining native vegetation cover, biodiversity exponentially declines due in part to the fact that the minimum range of many species has begun to be exceeded. At 10% remaining native vegetation cover, considerable loss of biodiversity has occurred and vegetation types are fast approaching threatened status. Retention of at least 30% of the remaining native vegetation cover is a conservation standard both nationally and internationally, which has also been adopted by the EPA under several policies (e.g. EPA Bulletin 1108).


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Figure 4. Diagrammatic Representation of Decline in Biodiversity in Relation to Decline in Native Vegetation Cover and Habitat (Del Marco et al. 2005).

Bunbury, with approximately 24% remaining native vegetation cover, is likely to have suffered some degree of biodiversity loss to date. Should local circumstances mirror those portrayed in Figure 4, it is likely that further clearing in Bunbury may have disproportionately large impacts on remaining biodiversity due to the increasingly fragmented nature of the landscape. However, by the same token, conservation outcomes at this point in time may have disproportionately large benefits for Bunbury’s remaining biodiversity. It is for this reason that the 259 - 428 hectares of remnant native vegetation likely to be conserved through the support of the Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework is considered important by the City of Bunbury.

Framework Implementation, Monitoring and Review Implementation of the framework will occur through the introduction of the two overarching planning instruments, the Local Planning Strategy and the revised Local Planning Scheme 8. These instruments are scheduled for completion in mid 2013, after which formal stakeholder and community consultation will commence. Implementation of the Local Planning Strategy and revised Local Planning Scheme 8, and thereby the framework, is expected to occur in 2014.


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Day-to-day management of the framework will be undertaken by staff from the City’s Planning and Development Services division. The City will maintain a remnant native vegetation database in order to track progress towards the achievement of its biodiversity vision, objectives and targets over time. Minor updates to the framework may occur through strategy and scheme amendments on an as needs basis. A comprehensive review of the framework will occur on a five yearly basis in accordance with the review cycles for the strategy and scheme. In future, the City of Bunbury may choose to expand the Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework to include other elements in order to support the achievement of the vision, objectives and targets, such as:

• incentive mechanisms for biodiversity conservation on private lands

• a Conservation Zone for land holders who wish to retain conservation areas

• a Biodiversity Local Planning Policy in order to provide further guidance upon the application of the framework (e.g. ecological survey standards).

The City of Bunbury will conduct formal public consultation prior to any major amendments or additions to the framework.


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Informal Public Consultation Period April - May 2013 The City of Bunbury will be conducting an informal public consultation period between 15 April and 20 May 2013 in order to obtain initial feedback on the Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework and support its further refinement prior to inclusion in the draft Local Planning Strategy and revised draft Local Planning Scheme 8. A submission form has been created in order to assist community members in preparing a submission. The form is available on the City’s website www.bunbury.wa.gov.au under Residents > Planning Services > Town Planning Scheme Review > Local Biodiversity Conservation Planning Framework. Completed submission forms can be emailed to [email protected], hand delivered to the City’s Civic Administration Building or posted to: City of Bunbury PO Box 21 Bunbury WA 6231 Please note that the public consultation period will close at 4:00pm on Monday 20 May 2013. Submissions must be received prior to this time to be considered. A series of factsheets on the framework is also available on the City’s website. Any enquiries can be directed to the City’s Team Leader Sustainability on (08) 9792 7081. It should be noted that further opportunities for the public to provide comment on the framework will also occur as part of the formal consultation procedure associated with the introduction of the City’s Local Planning Strategy and revised Local Planning Scheme 8, which is scheduled to commence in the latter half of 2013.


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References Australian Bureau of Statistics 2010, Year book Australia, 2009-10, accessed online 8/4/2013, www.abs.gov.au. Del Marco, A., Taylor, R., Clarke, K., Savage, K., Cullity, J. and Miles, C 2005, Local government biodiversity planning guidelines for the Perth Metropolitan Region, Western Australian Local Government Association, West Perth, Western Australia. Environmental Protection Authority 2003, Greater Bunbury Region Scheme: Report and recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority, Bulletin 1108, Perth, Western Australia. Environmental Protection Authority 2007, State of the environment report: Western Australia 2007, Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Western Australia. Environmental Protection Authority 2009, South west regional ecological linkages, Environmental Protection Bulletin 8, Perth, Western Australia. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005, Ecosystems and human well-being: current state and trends, Island Press, Washington DC. State of Western Australia 1996, Planning for people: an introduction to the planning system in Western Australia, Western Australian Planning Commission, Perth, Western Australia.

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