Ku-ring-gai Council Ecologically Sensitive Lands Policy

Ku-ring-gai Council acknowledges its important role in the management of biodiversity within the Kuring-gai local government area and at a regional level. It acknowledges that the ecologically sensitive lands in particular play a vital role in the sustainability of the natural resources that define this part of Sydney.

Purpose
To assist Council in meeting its ecological, social and legal responsibilities through appropriate management and conservation of local biodiversity in natural and urbanised landscapes at the local level.

Objectives
Our objectives are to: Prevent the loss of local native biodiversity on public and private land Protect and enhance local biodiversity and habitats across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and connectivity therein Increase awareness of biodiversity and values within our community and Council

Definitions
In this policy: Biodiversity is the variety of life forms, the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they form. It is usually considered at three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.1 Ecologically Sensitive Land (ESL) - Land containing: National or State significant communities, populations or species Riparian lands Areas of biodiversity significance

Legislative framework
Key relevant legislation affecting the management of ESLs, include: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (NSW) 1979 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Commonwealth) 1999 Local Government Act (NSW) 1993 National Parks and Wildlife Act (NSW) 1974 Noxious Weed Act (NSW) 1993

Commonwealth of Australia 1996, The National Strategy for the Conservation of Australias Biological Diversity, Canberra: Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories.
Doc Distribution Public Doc Status Final File/Trim No. 2010/129674 S06560

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Team Leader Natural Areas N/A N/A

Contact Officer Approved by Review period

Manager Corporate Planning & Sustainability Manager Corporate Planning & Sustainability 2 years Review date June 2012

History of approved versions Version No. 1.0 Effective Date: N/A Summary of changes: Original

Rural Fires Act (NSW) 1997 Water Management Act (NSW) 2000 Threatened Species Conservation Act (NSW) 1995

Principles
Councils actions and decisions will be guided by the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) and Councils Community Strategic Plan 2030 (adopted 14 September 2009).

Background
The Ku-ring-gai Local Government Area (LGA) has 1164 hectares (ha) of bushland, 60 ha urban parks, 6 ha public gardens. Within the LGA are: 12 State listed flora under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 15 Federally listed flora under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) 35 fauna species listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 16 fauna species listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. One endangered population, Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum) 2 Federally listed critically endangered ecological communities, Blue Gum High Forest and Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest 1 critically endangered ecological community, Blue Gum High Forest 4 endangered ecological communities: Blue Gum High Forest Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest Duffys Forest Estuarine Salt marsh Estuarine Fringe Forest - Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest

Our bushland reserves, remnant and modified habitats and gardens play an important role in regional biodiversity management providing corridors linking three National Parks. These natural assets are highly valued by council and the community and help define the character of this area. There are a number of threatening processes as identified by the NSW Scientific Committee that is affecting our ecologically sensitive lands. These will depend on the fauna, flora, population or community, but typically include loss and fragmentation of habitat through clearing and development, invasion by weeds and feral animals, boundary encroachment, urban runoff, inappropriate fire regimes and mowing that stops regrowth.

Doc Distribution

Public

Doc Status

Final

File/Trim No. 2010/129674

S06560

Doc Owner Approval date Effective date

Team Leader Natural Areas N/A N/A

Contact Officer Approved by Review period

Manager Corporate Planning & Sustainability Manager Corporate Planning & Sustainability 2 years Review date June 2012

History of approved versions Version No. 1.0 Effective Date: N/A Summary of changes: Original

Implementation
Public land

Operational
All works on public land under the care and control of Council must be undertaken in accordance with all key supporting documents Where there are no key supportive documents that inform the management of Environmentally Sensitive Lands, the project is to be referred to Strategy and Environment for review during planning or prior to the commencement of works Training on the management of Environmentally Sensitive Lands will be delivered to all relevant staff in accordance with the Ecologically Sensitive Lands Training Strategy (reviewed annually)

Approval
Private land All approvals must be undertaken in accordance with key supportive documents

Approval
All approvals must be undertaken in accordance with key supportive documents.

Key supportive documents

The principal basis guiding the implementation of this policy is councils current Ku-ring-gai Council Biodiversity Strategy. Key national, state, regional and local policies and guidelines include: National State Relevant guidelines, Threatened Species Priorities Action Statement (PAS), Recovery and Threat Abatement Plans (noting these will be modified and updated by the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water as necessary) Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2020 (draft) Relevant Recovery and Threat Abatement Plans

Regional Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority - Sydney Metropolitan Draft Catchment Action Plan Targets 2010 Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority - Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Action Plan 2008

Doc Distribution

Public

Doc Status

Final

File/Trim No. 2010/129674

S06560

Doc Owner Approval date Effective date

Team Leader Natural Areas N/A N/A

Contact Officer Approved by Review period

Manager Corporate Planning & Sustainability Manager Corporate Planning & Sustainability 2 years Review date June 2012

History of approved versions Version No. 1.0 Effective Date: N/A Summary of changes: Original

Local / Council plans and policies Supportive documents may be updated or superseded. In the event of this, updated or complementary documents are to apply. Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan (Town Centres) 2010 and Ku-ring-gai Development Control Plan (Town Centres) 2010 Ku-ring-gai Riparian Policy (2004) Ku-ring-gai Council Development Control Plan No 47 Water Management (2005e) Tree Preservation Order (2009) Tree Management Policy, Ku-ring-gai Council 1999 Weed Management Policy Ku-ring-gai Council 2006 Bushfire Management Policy, Ku-ring-gai Council 2007 Recreation in Bushland Policy, Ku-ring-gai Council 1997 Fauna Management Policy, Ku-ring-gai Council 1998 Recreation in Bushland Policy (1997b) Ku-ring-gai Biodiversity Strategy (2006). Ku-ring-gai Council Development Control Plan No 38 The Ku-ring-gai Residential Design Manual (2006a) People, Parks and Bushland, Open Space Strategy for Ku-ring-gai (2005) Ku-ring-gai Bushland Reserves Plan of Management (December 2009) Ku-ring-gai Bushland Reserves Plan of Management Operational Plan (May 2006) Echo Point Park Plan of Management (2004) Ku-ring-gai Bicentennial Plan of Management (2002) Parks Generic Plan of Management (2005) Sports Grounds Generic Plan of Management(2003) Gordon Golf Course Plan of Management(2009) North Turramurra Recreation Area Plan of Management (2009) St Ives Showground Plan of Management (1999) Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve Management Plan (1999)

Doc Distribution

Public

Doc Status

Final

File/Trim No. 2010/129674

S06560

Doc Owner Approval date Effective date

Team Leader Natural Areas N/A N/A

Contact Officer Approved by Review period

Manager Corporate Planning & Sustainability Manager Corporate Planning & Sustainability 2 years Review date June 2012

History of approved versions Version No. 1.0 Effective Date: N/A Summary of changes: Original