Vegetation Management Plan
What is a Vegetation Management Plan?
A Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) assists in protecting and managing important native vegetation and fauna habitat on a development site.
A Vegetation Management Plan is also referred to or known as a Biodiversity Management Plan, Conservation Management Plan, Bushland Management Plan, or Vegetation Rehabilitation Plan.
Councils often require a Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) as part of a Development Application (DA) before consent to assist in the management of impacts or as a requirement for a Controlled Activity Approval under the NSW Water Management Act 2000.
A Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) aims to provide a schedule of impact mitigation measures along with ongoing conservation, restoration, and maintenance activities to allow for the long-term maintenance of bushland and biodiversity values on the site. Most actions in Vegetation Management Plans will need to be implemented before the release of an occupation certificate.
When is a Vegetation Management Plan required?
In many cases, any planned development application which triggers entry into the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (BOS) may require a Vegetation Management Plan in addition to a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR).
Under the NSW Water Management Act 2000, any entity that undertakes controlled activities (e.g. development, construction or earthworks) on ‘waterfront land’, is legally obligated to prepare a Vegetation Management Plan. Work on waterfront land is defined any construction or building work that will be conducted as close as 40 metres from the 'top of bank' of any shore, watercourse, creek, river, wetland or lake.
Examples of development work that will typically require a Vegetation Management Plan applies to:
Land development
Building construction for residential properties
Extensions to dwellings
Road work
Powerline easements
Establishment of golf courses
Mining zones
Rezoning
If you need a Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) for your Development Application (DA) it is advised that you choose a qualified ecological consultancy like East Coast Ecology to avoid costly delays to your application. Working with our team will ensure the success of your project as well as being efficient and cost-effective.
At East Coast Ecology, our team has over a decade of experience preparing Vegetation Management Plans (VMP) for applicants across both large and small projects. If you’re looking for a Vegetation Management Plan provider in regional New South Wales or the rest of NSW - from the Central West to the Southern Highlands. We are the ecologists you can trust. Get in touch with the East Coast Ecology team today.
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EMAIL: admin@ececology.com.au
Who can prepare a Vegetation Management Plan?
The preparation of a Vegetation Management can only be conducted by an Environmental Consultant or Bush Regenerator with theoretical and practical experience in bushland restoration and management, including weed control.
At East Coast Ecology, each member of our team has the necessary qualifications as well as the requisite experience needed for the preparation of a Vegetation Management Plan. We ensure that every aspect of the Vegetation Management Report preparation is undertaken in accordance with local Council and State guidelines, as well as in line with the industry best practices for ecological restoration.
Can a Vegetation Management Plan be revised or updated?
Yes, a Vegetation Management Plan can be revised or updated as required to reflect key changes in the project’s scope, site conditions or regulatory requirements.
Ideally, the preparation of a vegetation management plan should be started as soon as the project details are confirmed so as to allow for time buffers in the event that any revisions or amendments need to be made. Having worked with multiple developers across a diverse range of development projects and land types, we know even small changes can have a big impact on your Vegetation Management Plan.
When a VMP is revised, the updated version should be submitted to the relevant regulatory authorities for review and approval. This ensures that the plan remains valid and that the development continues to comply with all environmental obligations.
How recent must a Vegetation Management Plan be for valid consideration?
The validity of a Vegetation Management Plan will vary based on the project and regulatory requirements of the council or other governing authority. In some cases, vegetation management plans that have already been endorsed by a relevant authority can continue to be recognised, only requiring reassessment in the event of a major change in circumstances or past the stated expiry date. This is to ensure that the report reflects the most current environmental conditions and complies with the latest regulations.
Our team of NSW ecologists are dedicated to conducting thorough assessments of the proposed development area to produce a comprehensive Vegetation Management Plan. We ensure that the report is meticulously prepared and delivered within the required timeframe, helping to avoid any unnecessary or costly delays in the development application process.
Why choose East Coast Ecology?
East Coast Ecology employs highly qualified terrestrial and aquatic Ecologists. We have helped clients deliver hundreds of Development Applications, State Significant Developments, and State Significant Infrastructure projects across New South Wales.
An ecologist qualified to prepare a Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) must have all relevant insurance and licenses issued by the NSW Department of Planning & Environment (DPE) and Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and a degree in Environmental Science or a related field.
At East Coast Ecology, our ecologists are accredited under the Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM) so we can help you navigate the Biodiversity Offset Scheme and avoid you paying for expensive credits. We are also practising members of the Ecological Consultants Association (ECA), have a scientific research background, and hold a doctoral degree in ecology.
Our team has experience in reviewing Vegetation Management Plans (VMP) in the role of Local Government Reviewer, understanding which pitfalls to avoid during report preparation. You can be assured that you are working with a team that knows exactly what to expect and how to help you achieve your development goals.
Having partnered with developers and council teams alike, we understand that delays to your project can be costly. We want to assist you in streamlining the approval process by taking care of the specialised requirements. Our team also comprises former Government Reviewers who know exactly what your Council’s expectations are and how best to tick all of the required boxes.
East Coast Ecology provides VMP reports for projects across the entirety of New South Wales. This includes Western Sydney to Northern Beaches, Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Newcastle, Central Coast, Port Macquarie, North Coast, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Hunter Valley, Wollongong, Illawarra, Southern Highlands, Central West, Yass Valley, Hill Tops, Upper Lachlan Shire, and the rest of regional New South Wales.
What is included in a Vegetation Management Plan?
Vegetation Management Plans are required to help protect and manage crucial native vegetation and other fauna in a proposed development site. A qualified professional like East Coast Ecology must produce the Vegetation Management Plan.
Our Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) reports are strategically designed to be easy to read and easy to interpret by both you and the consent authority (usually Council) who will be assessing your Development Application (DA).
INTRODUCTION
The introduction of Vegetation Management Plan is required to include the following information:
Identification and description of the site, including Lot, DP, and street address; and
Identification and description of proposed management zones to be included in the VMP.
MANAGEMENT ZONES
East Coast Ecology will include a description and detailed map of each proposed management zone, including existing bushland conditions and significant environmental features. Within this description, this sub-heading will also involve:
Clear and achievable objectives for each zone
Detailed management actions are proposed to achieve each objective.
Identification of any retained native vegetation on the map.
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
The Vegetation Management Plan must specify which management actions will be undertaken. Such examples of management actions include:
Installing a nest box
Pre-clearing and clearing procedures
Weed removal
Replanting native vegetation
Fencing and tree protection
Erosion and sedimentation controls
Seed collection
Habitat salvage and habitat creation
WORK SCHEDULE/GANTT CHART
A GANNT chart will be needed in the Vegetation Management plan as it will outline the timing and responsibility for the delivery of management actions.
The Vegetation Management Plan should have a maintenance period of no less than five years unless specified by Council and must include the following delivery stages:
Prior to commencement
Prior to the issue of a construction certificate
During building construction
Prior to the issue of the occupation certificate and ongoing.
Where possible, all works must be scheduled ‘before the issue of construction certificate’.
East Coast Ecology will ensure that your works are scheduled correctly and include all the relevant information to ensure consent approval and minimise delays.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Meaningful key performance indicators should be identified for each management action.
For smaller sites, performance criteria may be limited to photo point monitoring undertaken by the owner. If this option is used, photo points must capture all management actions. In addition, baseline photo points are to be included, taken at the time of the Vegetation Management Plans preparation to track the progress of site management.
Copies of annual monitoring reports are to be provided to Council to ensure ongoing management and compliance.
East Coast Ecology can undertake annual monitoring requirements in line with the performance indicators and provide you with clear, concise reports to demonstrate ongoing compliance.
FIGURES AND TABLES
The Vegetation Management Plan should include relevant figures and tables to support the overall assessment. These can include:
A detailed map showing site boundaries and each proposed management zone
A detailed weed density map
A list of Priority and environmental weeds identified on the site
A map showing the location and direction of photo points
A list of suitable local native species for planting on site (where applicable)
Minimum planting densities for groundcovers, understorey, mid-storey and canopy.
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Give us a call, send us an email or fill out the contact form and one of our experts will get back to you shortly.
PHONE: 02 7813 6119
EMAIL: admin@ececology.com.au