Current Situation
- Our local natural environment is under pressure from population growth, development, and climate impacts.
- Native vegetation and wildlife habitats have been reduced.
- Invasive species and weeds are placing increased pressure on local ecosystems.
- Community interest in environmental protection and nature-based recreation is growing.
- Sorell Council has already done significant work addressing runoff into the bay and working with and supporting local Landcare and Coastcare groups.
- Council has an important role in balancing population growth with environmental stewardship.
What is the issue
- Missed opportunities to engage local residents in revegetation projects, leading to plant loss and the need for replanting.
- Missed opportunities to work with developers to ensure all trees and plants are drought tolerant and native species.
- Missed opportunities to involve the community in caring for local natural areas.
- Lack of communication with local residents when planting or maintaining vegetation on public land.
- Our area is prone to bushfires, and using low-combustion plants will help improve fire resilience and reduce risk to homes and communities.
My plan
- Engage residents in the design and planting of new vegetation projects, maintenance of existing vegetation and provide practical ways for the community to help care for native plants on Council land.
- Develop and maintain an example native garden in a public location to showcase plants suited to local conditions, allowing residents to walk through the space and be inspired to plant similar species at home.
- Developers use only drought resilient, low combustible native plants in new subdivisions that are maintained during their first two years to support establishment.
- Deliver an annual community tree planting day, beginning in Midway Point and Sorell, to encourage residents to plant trees and shrubs on nature strips, a model successfully used by many councils across Australia.
- Ensure developers pay financial offsets when high conservation vegetation is removed, with these funds reinvested into the local community through environmental groups and Council-led projects.
- Hold an annual native plant sale where residents can purchase locally-grown, locally-suitable native plants at low cost through Council.
- Work with state and federal governments to secure funding for environmental projects.
- Embed climate resilience (eg, bushfire and coastal erosion prevention) and biodiversity protection into all Council decision making.
- Increase community activities of the Council’s NRM facilitator, eg, school and community workshops (eg, on weed identification and removal).
The benefits
- Increased resident engagement in taking local action to improve vegetation and biodiversity.
- Multiple accessible pathways for residents to actively improve their local environment.
- Healthier ecosystems that support native plants and wildlife.
- Greater resilience to climate impacts such as heat, flooding, and erosion.
- Improved community wellbeing through increased access to nature.
- Stronger community pride and involvement in caring for the local environment.