Land management plans
This advice has been prepared to assist permit applicants to prepare a Land Management Plan.
These plans may be required as part of a planning application for new development and/or land use on land in rural and environmentally significant areas. You will need to engage an ecological or environmental consultant to prepare your plan. They will begin with an inventory and evaluation of the land.
The plan will outline how to protect and enhance the land, and how to manage the new development or land use so that it will not impact on environmental values.
Checklist – what to include in your plan
Your land management plan must have two sections:
- Site development plan - site plan and management processes for the proposed construction/development works, or any changes to land use
- Land management plan - details of the long-term land management objectives of the entire property (for example, map areas of remnant vegetation, set out a weed control program, provide a revegetation plan and schedule).
Section 1 - Site development plan
A report and a scaled and dimensioned plan at 1:100, 1:200 or 1:500, including:
- north point
- building envelope (include any existing and/or proposed buildings).
Site development
The plan should identify and address the following:
- sediment control measures, such as sediment control fences
- extent of any earthworks (cut and fill), including methods of reinstatement and erosion control.
Features and structures
Include:
- permanent features - all existing and proposed features and site information
- existing buildings, gates, sheds, farm yards or paddocks
- dams
- waterways and wetlands
- contours and/or spot levels of the existing and proposed landform.
Services
Include:
- easements and services (underground and overhead)
- location of an effluent disposal envelope/field.
Boundaries and access
Include:
- road names and vehicle access tracks
- title property boundaries clearly labelled, and any existing external or internal fencing
- vehicular access to the construction zone
- driveway materials proposed, with indicative grades and drainage provision
- CFA vehicle turning requirements.
Construction zone
Include this on your plan if the site contains remnant indigenous vegetation. This zone will form the area where soil disturbance will occur during construction. Storage of material and machinery during the construction period must be confined to this area.
Vegetation
Include details of:
- existing vegetation (indigenous and exotic)
- any vegetation proposed for removal
- vegetation protection zones.
All vegetation within the construction zone and/or within the vicinity of the proposed development site and marked on the plan to be retained must have a Vegetation Protection Zone defined and fenced.
Each Vegetation Protection Zone must extend clear of any ground storey vegetation, and for middle and upper storey vegetation must extend at least around the periphery of the foliage canopy to include the drip line.
Section 2 - Land management plan
The plan must cover a 10-year period. The following must be provided in a report format with plans attached:
- management objectives for the property
- management zones - consider splitting the property into these such as domestic zone, bushfire protection, conservation zone, agricultural zones etc)
- table of actions identifying works to be undertaken each year, zoning and targets to be met
- regular monitoring and a progress report to Council at the end of years one, three, five and 10.
Weeds and pasture
- Weed control: identify significant noxious and environmental weed.
- Infestation on the property: list the types of weeds, percentage cover and the proposed method and timing of control (both short and long term).
- Pasture: indicate any existing pasture areas located on the property including areas that are either grazed or proposed for grazing.
Native vegetation
- Detailed assessment of the ecological vegetation communities present including any significant flora, its location and condition.
- Specify how indigenous vegetation will be managed.
- Identify any significant habitat corridors, areas proposed for revegetation or regeneration.
- Provide a list of species, including quantity and botanical names, which will be used for revegetation.
Fauna - native and pest
- Identify any significant faunal species, and measures to protect them.
- Detail other practices that may improve habitat values on the property (such as nesting boxes, fencing off from livestock).
- Describe how pest animals (for example, rabbits) will be managed on the property. Indicate any existing rabbit warrens and harbour (for example, log heaps, weeds such as blackberries and gorse).
Soil and water
Identify any existing waterways and/or wetlands and describe how they will be protected and/or enhanced. Identify erosion (gully or tunnel) and describe how it will be protected and addressed.
Other issues
Include information on any other land management issues which may be specific to your property.
Refer to these publications when developing your plan
Who can help you to prepare your plan
Ecological or environmental consultants can help you to prepare your land management plan. Contact us for further information.