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Significant Vegetation Being Protected

Significant Roadside Vegetation signage has recently been installed across the Bass Coast Shire.

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 27th October 2005 - Back to News

Council’s Environment Project Officer Clare Lamers said that roadsides identified as having significant conservation values in the Bass Coast Shire’s Roadside Management Plan had signs installed in early October.

"The Roadside Management Plan covers all municipal controlled rural roads and main roads throughout the Shire," explains Ms Lamers.

"Roads inside residential areas have not been considered as part of this project."

Conservation values

Ms Lamers said signs have been erected at approximately 40 locations across the Shire. These roadsides are highly valued for a number of reasons, including:

· They provide examples of indigenous vegetation that may have largely disappeared from the region.

· They provide habitat and corridors for native animals and sometimes represent the only remaining habitat for rare and endangered species.

· They conserve the gene pools of indigenous flora and fauna, which represents a source of genetic diversity.

· They provide trees and shrubs that lock-up carbon and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse effects.

· They define the landscape character and possible heritage of an area.

Assessment

The roadsides were assessed using standard techniques developed by the Roadside Conservation Advisory Committee of Victoria.

"A number of significant features were taken into consideration when determining a roadside’s conservation value," said Ms Lamers.

"These included the proportion of native vegetation remaining in the area, weed cover, fauna habitat, site disturbance, width of road reserve and presence of threatened species."

"The signs help identify sites along roads that are significant," continued Ms Lamers.

"This means that they should be treated with care when road construction, maintenance, slashing or work by service authorities is undertaken.

"The individual signs have a unique site identification code and include contact details at the shire for all enquiries regarding the special management requirements that need to be considered before works are undertaken."

Some examples of the management recommendations on these roadsides include:

· No slashing between September and late January (this allows for the native grasses to set seed).

· No parking of machinery or plant on road verge (to prevent damange to vegetation, tree roots and weed spread).

· Control and removal of threatening weed species

· Education of adjoining landholders about the importance of roadside vegetation.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

• Have your say on the draft Roadside and Footpath Trading Policy balance road access, submit by 28 September 2025
  Baw Baw Shire Council invites feedback on its Draft Roadside and Footpath Trading Policy, aiming to balance vibrant business activity with safe pedestrian access. Consultation runs 29 August - 28 September on Baw Baw Connect.