Hume council has set its direction for the sustainable management of natural and cultural heritage assets through its draft Land and Biodiversity Plan.
At a meeting on August 14, councillors voted to endorse the draft Land and Biodiversity Plan 2023-30 (plan) and draft Land and Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-24 (action plan) for community consultation.
A key strategic objective of the plan is to facilitate appropriate urban development and enhance the natural environment, heritage landscapes and rural places.
Council said its function is to provide community services, act as a statutory authority, facilitate service delivery, and act on behalf of the community.
Speaking at the meeting, councillor Karen Sherry said the plan is one of the most important pieces of work that council does.
“We’ve had previous plans, such as the Land and Biodiversity Plan 2015-19, but this takes it a step further,” Cr Sherry said.
“The work that we do on conserving our rural environment, the grasslands work that we do is very well recognised.
“The grants we provide to private landholders to restore and do weeding and… bring the land back to assemblance of what it might’ve been pre-colonial days [is] very important work.
“The kinds of biodiverse flora and fauna on this private land is the kind of thing that is going to be more climate resistant.
“I think it’s wonderful we’re done this and we’ve continued to consult the community and put resources into this.”
The 2023-30 plan follows the 2015-19 plan, in which council committed to 21 actions across three goals. Thirteen actions were completed and seven actions are ongoing and have been carried over.
Annual action plans will be developed for council endorsement throughout the life of the plan until 2030.
The five themes of the 2023-24 action plan include: healthy and thriving network of conservation reserves, well-connected landscape for wildlife, urban biodiversity and health and wellbeing, landscape rich in cultural heritage and healthy and productive rural landscape.
The plan will be made available for public exhibition on the Participate Hume website, and council said feedback will be considered and incorporated where appropriate.
The final plan will be presented to council for endorsement in November.
– Zoe Moffatt
