Waste to Energy Project Draft
Download a copy of the Energy From Waste Project.pdf draft Report. This report provides a regional strategic view on waste management for further development and consideration through normal planning processes.
The Public Comment period for the above Report has now closed.
Environment Pillar
The Environment Pillar has utilised the key elements of the Federal Government's State of the Environment Report being: Land; Atmosphere; Inland Waters; Natural and Cultural Heritage; Coast/Estuaries; Biodiversity and Human Settlement. In addition, the Pillar has also identified integration as a key outcome area.
The Region is geographically vast, characterised by contrasting coastal, rural, urban and pristine forest environments that define a landscape rich in diversity.
Aborigines occupied the Region for thousands of years, locating major camps in coastal regions and close to rivers and inland water bodies. Today, a much larger population enjoys a lifestyle based in close proximity to these water-based environmental assets.
Geographically, the heart of the Region comprises the Victorian Volcanic Plain, with the Central Highlands to the north and the Otway Ranges to the south. Bounded by Corio Bay and the Barrabool Hills, Geelong is characterised by extensive basalt plain grasslands to the north, extending to the landmark peaks of the You Yangs and the Brisbane Ranges. The Bellarine Peninsula and parts of the south-west coast are typified by undulating hills that extend through to coastal dunes.
A large and diverse range of flora communities characterises the Region and is influenced by the local soil types and the spatially and temporally variable rainfall patterns. Eucalypts dominate on the higher ground.
The Otway Ranges support dense temperate rainforest and wet sclerophyll forests that influence a rain shadow effecting much of the Region to the north-east. Grassland communities exist on the plains and ridges of the central valley developed after the (geologically recent) creation of the Volcanic Plain. Rainfall increases in the north with altitude, and the natural vegetation is mainly open woodland.
European colonisation has led to significant changes in land use. This includes the removal of grassland communities for crops and introduced pastures, woody vegetation removal for agriculture, the use of woodlands and native hardwood forests for construction timber, firewood and gold mining requirements, and more recently the introduction of exotic plantation forests.
Today, remnant native vegetation is primarily forest, while scrubs, grasslands, heaths and woodlands are much depleted. Approximately half of the remaining native vegetation in the Region is on private land or along roadsides, streams or disused rail lines. Seventy per cent of this vegetation is rare, endangered or vulnerable.
The Region is home to many well-known native animals, many of which are abundant. Icon species that require protection include the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Striped Legless Lizard, Rufous Bristlebird, Tiger Quoll, Hooded Plover, Corangamite Water Skink and the Platypus. A number of indigenous species are listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988).
The main river system, the Barwon River, occupies most of the eastern volcanic plain, and drains the high-rainfall upper slopes of the Otway Ranges to the south and the Central Highlands to the north.
The Otway Ranges and the Central Highlands contain proclaimed catchments supplying the fresh water needs of towns and industries in the Region and in the neighbouring Glenelg-Hopkins Region. Groundwater is a significant resource for provision of water supply to the Region and for stock water supplies.
Lakes and wetlands are a defining feature of the Region, and are of national and international significance. Thirteen wetlands have been classified under the Ramsar Convention. The Region includes parts of the Port Philip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site. There are over 1,400 other wetlands, comprising 65,000 hectares. Of these, 340 have been listed as significant.
The Region's coastline is scenically spectacular with forest descending down steep slopes to many rocky headlands and crescent-shaped sandy bays. The Otway Coast Basin contains many short southward-draining streams with high biodiversity values. The 20 estuaries, mainly wave-dominated, are highly sought-after locations for recreation and residential development, and are ecologically fragile.
The Region has successfully attracted special recognition for numerous environmental assets either at a regional, state, national and international level. These include parks and conservation reserves, rare and endangered native grasslands and the threatened fauna that this habitat supports. The landscape and geology of the basalt plains, stoney rises and wetlands across the large Victorian Volcanic Plains, Ramsar wetlands and wetlands recognised under other international agreements, the heritage-listed Aire River, proclaimed water supply catchments and National Marine Parks and Marine Sanctuaries.
The Region hosts some of Australia's greatest National and State Parks including Otway National Park and the Angahook-Lorne State Parks, each supporting a diverse range of flora and fauna. The Angahook-Lorne State Park is earmarked to become part of the Otway National Park and its national recognition is currently under consideration by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council. The Council review is also considering the incorporation of other highly valued environmental areas in the Region into the Otway National Park.
Otway National Park already includes many sites of National and State Rainforest Significance including areas such as the Olangolah Forest and Fauna Reserve, the Aire State Forest and Melba Gully State Park.
The Departments of Primary Industry and Sustainability and Environment have significant roles in the development of strategy and policy for improved environmental outcomes for the Region. The Victorian Environment Protection Authority, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Barwon Water and Local Governments also play important roles in this area.