Open For Comment: Victorian Biodiversity Strategy and Native Vegetation Clearing Regulations

Posted on 24 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2036

The Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water has released the draft Biodiversity Plan titled “Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2036” for public consultation. This is the government’s twenty-year plan for addressing the decline of Victoria’s biodiversity.

What is interesting in this plan is the introduction of the major goal “to encourage more Victorians to value nature”. Their hope is to have Victorians understand that their personal wellbeing and the economic wellbeing of Victoria are dependent on the health of the natural environment.

The second major goal of the plan is “to ensure that Victoria’s natural environment is healthy”. Of interest here is the focus on the impact of a changing climate on our natural systems. They also talk of the use of “modern tools that will be used to identify the areas of the state where we can achieve the greatest biodiversity success”. These products are to be released with the full plan, and will identify the best places to focus on, the most appropriate actions to undertake, and the species that will benefit. Unfortunately there is no indication in this draft report how these products will work or where these areas are thus making it difficult to comment on their use.

Have Your Say: The draft plan and consultation questions can be found at DELWP’s consultation website at http://haveyoursay.delwp.vic.gov.au/biodiversity-plan. Local community forums are also planned and we will let you know if there is to be one in this area.

Comments and submissions on the draft plan will close on Sunday 15 May 2016 at 5.00pm AEST. The finalised Biodiversity Plan is scheduled for release later this year

Review of Native Vegetation Clearing Regulations

The “Review of the native vegetation clearing regulations – Consultation Paper” has also been released which sets out proposed changes to Victoria’s native vegetation clearing regulations.

A six week public submission process until 29 April 2016 is now underway, where the community can provide feedback on the proposed changes.

Have Your Say: Information about the review, including how you can make a submission to the Consultation Paper, can be found at http://haveyoursay.delwp.vic.gov.au/native-vegetation-clearing-regulations