Environmental Assets – Managing the Risk
July 2010 could be considered the turning point for Council’s environmental management with the appointment of a dedicated Environmental Assets Offi cer (EAO) to the Technical Services Department. The broad role of the EAO is to identify how and where the natural environment is impacted by Technical Services, and how the natural environment could impact on its activities. Environment & Recreation works, road maintenance and road construction activities were identifi ed as having the most potential impacts to the natural environment and Aboriginal cultural heritage, and will be the main focus for risk management activities throughout the year.
Pictured: Green Lake. Photo by: The Wimmera Mail-Times.
Return of Water to Green Lake
With the signifi cant rain events benefi ting the region’s catchments, Council is working closely with the Green Lake Action Group and local Member for Lowan, Mr Hugh Delahunty MP, to lobby Water Authorities and the State Government(s) (pre and post the election) for a return of water to Green Lake. This was also supported by an extensive media campaign and widespread community support with over 5000 people signing a petition.
A comprehensive case was put forward which saw a release of water substantially fi lling the lake in December, 2010 under the newly elected State Government.
Council has reconstituted a Green Lake Management Committee to oversee the development and management of Green Lake and is continuing to lobby the State Government to secure an ongoing entitlement to allocate top up water under the revised Bulk Entitlement arrangements.
Liaising with the DSE and other external authorities, the EAO is able to identify areas of signifi cant native fl ora and fauna, and cultural heritage sensitivity and a strategic management approach was developed to minimise Council’s impact to these areas. The new management system moves away from hard copy maps, to an interactive electronic mapping system that which clearly defi nes the location and known extent of Aboriginal Places and threatened fl ora and fauna.
After successful negotiations with the DSE, a blanket permit was granted to Council that allowing conditional removal of State protected threatened fl ora species in sensitive areas is exempt from any disturbance without separate and complex DSE permits. The fi ve year permit was unique to Horsham Rural City Council and is the only one of its type in Victoria.
Also fundamental to the management of Council’s roadside vegetation is the voluntary signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
Council is pleased there were no reportable environmental or cultural heritage incidents for the year.
Planning Department Planning Applications Received
% Decisions made within Statutory Timeframe
2008-09 259
77%
2009-10 231
74%
2010-11 203
72%
Horsham Rural City Council’s Planning Department has commenced work on the following strategic work in consultation with independent consultants: - Horsham Planning Scheme Review - fi nalised December 2010 - Rural Zones Review – fi nalised December 2010 - Urban Character Study - 50% completed
Pictured: Solar lighting Skate Park.
Skate Park Solar Public Lighting Installation of solar public lighting at the Horsham Youth Park Establishment (HYPE) was completed in April, 2011. Council is planning more solar lighting at isolated locations where illumination is needed.
24 Horsham Annual Report 2010 - 2011
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