Macedon Ranges council is asking for community groups and environmental groups on its refreshed biodiversity strategy.
A recent review of the 2018 plan was undertaken, and of the 97 actions listed in the current strategy, almost all actions have been completed.
Of those, a private land conservation officer role was established alongside the rollout of the healthy landscapes regenerative agriculture program, a shire-wide annual high-threat weed control program was established and a Roadside Conservation Management Plan was implemented.
Director planning and environment Rebecca Stockfeld said refreshing the strategy provided an ideal opportunity to better reflect policy and classification changes in the biodiversity space, to improve strategy outcomes, and to gauge any current preferences from the community.
“We’re so fortunate to have such an abundance and diversity of biodiversity within our shire – from unique animal species to our high-value conservation areas, our environment is what makes the Macedon Ranges a really special place to live, work and visit,” she said.
“A new strategy will ensure that our biodiversity information and approach is up-to-date, actions are evidence-based and informed through consultation with the community, and that the current progress of council works is accurately reflected.”
Across the shire’s close-to-1750 square kilometres, public land covers 10 per cent and includes 517 hectares of council-managed bushland reserves, plus various smaller conservation and waterway reserves.
The Macedon Ranges is also home to many threatened fauna species – such as the Brush-tailed Phascogale and Powerful Owl – and since 2018, an additional 60 species that are likely to occur in the shire have been uplisted to a threatened species, under either state or federal legislation.
Feedback is invited via a short survey until Saturday, September 20.
Survey: yoursay.mrsc.vic.gov.au/biodiversity-strategy-refresh
