Mount Alexander Shire Council proudly manages bushland, roadsides and waterways, encompassing over 2,000 hectares of vital natural spaces for ecological outcomes.
Throughout our diverse urban and rural landscapes, these sites serve as crucial havens and connections for the shire’s unique and precious array of native plants and animals.
Beyond their ecological significance, these sites offer invaluable opportunities for residents to connect with nature and participate in a variety of cultural and recreational pursuits.
These landscapes are actively managed from within Council’s Parks and Open Space team, with restoration efforts assisted in areas by dedicated volunteers from various community groups to protect and enhance these spaces for environmental and community benefit.
Council’s Natural Environment Officer works to conserve and enhance the ecological values of these areas for present and future generations. This work encompasses a range of essential activities including:
- Weed control - Managing invasive plant species to build resilience in re-establishing native flora.
- Pest animal management - Implementing strategies to control pest animals that impact biodiversity.
- Habitat enhancement – Improving and expanding natural habitats for local wildlife.
- Threatened species management – Protecting and supporting vulnerable and endangered species.
- Revegetation – Planting indigenous species to restore plant communities and strengthen ecosystems.
- Hazard reduction – Working constructively with emergency services to mitigate risks to public safety, such as from fire and tree hazards whilst balancing with overall ecological health.
Mount Alexander Shire Council undertakes and supports indigenous vegetation management and revegetation as part of its broader environmental and land management strategies.
These efforts are primarily focused on enhancing biodiversity and habitat connectivity, improving water quality and mitigating climate change impacts across the shire.
Key components of Council’s indigenous vegetation management and revegetation work include:
Roadside Conservation
Guided by the Roadside Conservation Management Plan, Council actively protects, maintains and enhances indigenous vegetation and ecological communities along rural roadsides and the peri-urban fringes of our townships. We recognise their significance as wildlife corridors and refuges for remnant species.
Weed Management
By controlling noxious and environmental weeds, Council directly supports native vegetation condition by reducing competition and creating favourable conditions for indigenous plants to re-colonise.
Habitat Restoration Initiatives
Council manages two main bushland reserves: the Honeycomb Bushland Reserve in Campbells Creek and the Flora and Fauna Reserve, which is part of the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens. These reserves have undergone significant restoration over recent years and are becoming functional ecological assets and valued open space for protected flora and fauna, and local community enjoyment.
Council is involved in the current Grow Towards Zero pilot project which is a partnership with the North Central Catchment Management Authority and other adjoining shires. This initiative will support large-scale revegetation on private land with the aim of capturing carbon to offset carbon emissions within the shire, creating wildlife habitat and to improve soil and water quality.
Waterway Restoration
Council delivers ground rehabilitation works which are guided by the Castlemaine Urban Waterways Management Plan, and in partnership with local landcare groups and agencies such as Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA), North Central Catchment Authority and local Indigenous first nations corporation, Djaara.
This work includes larger projects such as the Forest Creek Revitalisation project that will see the enhancement of a degraded creek environment in central Castlemaine to restore habitat and ecological values, along with creating inviting green spaces for visitation and relaxation.
Urban Greening
Through its Urban Tree Policy, Council actively conserves and improves tree cover in urban areas, implementing planting programs to maintain a sustainable tree resource.
Community Engagement
Council works closely with local landcare groups and community volunteers on various planting and environmental restoration projects, fostering community involvement in revegetation efforts.
These diverse approaches demonstrate Council’s comprehensive commitment to ecological restoration and the long-term health of the shire’s natural environment.
Roadside Conservation Management Plan
Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Roadside Conservation Management Plan is a guiding document for Council officers, the community, landowners and contractors.
Its primary purpose is to ensure clear and consistent decision-making in managing rural roadsides across the shire.
The plan acknowledges that while roads facilitate transit, roadsides hold significant biological value and provide crucial habitat connectivity.
It outlines Council’s approach to vegetation management, detailing actions to protect, maintain, and enhance the ecological communities and environmental asses within roadsides.
Key objectives include maintaining biodiversity, increasing vegetation resilience, preventing the spread of noxious weeds, managing fire risk, raising community awareness, minimising impacts from roadworks, preventing unlawful activities, and protecting cultural and heritage values.
Download the Roadside Conservation Management Plan(PDF, 8MB).
Castlemaine Urban Waterways Management Plan
This management plan guides the restoration of Barkers Creek, Forest Creek and Campbells Creek along with approximately 70 hectares of surrounding public land within the urban centre of Castlemaine.
The plan's actions will restore the ecological function of the waterway and provide spaces for passive and active recreation as well as increasing opportunities for community to interact with nature through the heart of town.
Download the Castlemaine Urban Waterways Management Plan(PDF, 6MB).
Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Flora and Fauna Reserve Environmental Management Plan
This plan identifies and describes the values of this very important Box-Ironbark remnant, and complement to the formal Botanical Gardens, and guides its future management.
Download the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Flora and Fauna Reserve Environmental Management Plan(PDF, 16MB).
Honeycomb Bushland Reserve Environmental Management Plan
The plan includes actions that will restore the ecological values and improve visitor access and facilities for the Honeycomb Bushland Reserve.
Download the Honeycomb Bushland Reserve Environmental Management Plan(PDF, 5MB).
Mount Alexander Shire Council operates under significant state and federal legislation governing the natural environment.
Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006
This act protects all Victorian Aboriginal archaeological sites and prevents the disturbance of cultural sites or objects. Any activity that has the potential to impact Aboriginal heritage requires consultation with the relevant Registered Aboriginal Party.
Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
Outlines responsibilities for landholders and authorities in managing land, water, and biodiversity. This is a primary piece of legislation that governs the management of invasive species including noxious weeds and is aimed at preventing land degradation.
Climate Change Act 2017
The Climate Change Act 2017 requires councils to factor climate change into their decisions.
Country Fire Authority Act 1958 (CFA Act)
The act establishes the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and outlines its responsibilities for fire prevention and suppression in country Victoria. Local governments in Victoria have specific duties under this act related to fire prevention on land they control and in their road management.
Environment Protection Act 2017
Environment Protection Act 2017 and Regulations 2021 are paramount, imposing a ‘general environmental duty’ to minimise harm from pollution and waste, overseen by the EPA Victoria.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
This is Australia’s main piece of national environmental legislation. It provides a framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important plants, animals, habitats and places. This includes threatened species, ecological communities and matters of national environmental significance.
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
The act serves to protect threatened species and aims to prevent the extinction of flora and fauna species and communities, and strongly influences Council’s biodiversity management.
Local Government Act 2020
The Local Government Act 2020 mandates that councils promote environmental sustainability.
Planning and Environment Act 1987
This act regulates land use and development, ensuring environmental considerations at the planning stage to limit impacts to the state’s biodiversity and include provisions for native vegetation management.
Road Management Act 2004
Outlines management responsibilities of Council to provide a safe and efficient road network whilst aiming to minimise negative impacts on the environment.
Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010
The Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 and the resultant Recognition and Settlement Agreement’s that were signed between the Victorian Government and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, the Taungurung Land and Waters Council Aboriginal Corporation and the Taungurung Traditional Owner group detail a suite of agreements including the Land Use Activity Agreement (LUAA) which requires notification, at the minimum, to Traditional Owner groups of activities on public land that may impact the rights of Djaara and Taungurung people.
Water Act 1989
The Water Act 1989 guides water resource management.