Protecting our rare and endangered species

THE morning chorus of tradies picking up tools in our area is a daily reminder that we’re living in one of the fastest growing parts of the country. But what happened to the birdsong?

Geelong will add 150,000 homes by 2050. In a housing crisis, these homes are desperately needed. But every house built on former grassland is habitat lost. Balancing growth with protecting the natural environment is the only way we can hold onto what makes this place special.

In a growth area, pockets of natural beauty exist because of careful planning and conservation. Speaking with the community, it’s clear people value this environment and want to protect the unique plants and animals that call our region home.

So, as Deputy Chair of Environment & Circular Economy, I am proud that Council has endorsed the Draft Plan for Nature 2026–2036 for public engagement.

This strategic work recognises how our environment underpins the health, liveability and resilience of our community.

It’s a ten-year plan outlining how we as a Council will work with key stakeholders to conserve and protect our beautiful ecosystems for years to come.

Unfortunately, some stark statistics have informed how this plan was formed.

It’s estimated over 80 per cent of our region’s remnant vegetation has disappeared, and what we have remaining is quite vulnerable or rare.

More than 90 per cent of the City’s ecological vegetation classes are listed as rare, vulnerable, or endangered.

Meanwhile, only 9.7 per cent of the City’s land sits within a conservation estate, well below the national goal of protecting 30 per cent.

It’s incredibly important for us as Councillors, as stewards for the term we’re in council, that we support a plan that offers ongoing care and protection of our rare and endangered species.

This plan looks at a couple of different strategies to do this.

One key objective is to increase support to community groups and landholders undertaking nature restoration projects in priority areas.

It also explores strengthening planning controls and expanding and connecting existing habitats through bio-links.

The linking of separate habitats is vital to the survival of our native plants and animals.

Many in the community have raised concerns about local kangaroo mobs becoming landlocked as development continues. We’ve worked with developers and ecologists, and the plan includes wildlife corridors to support safe movement. In Mount Duneed, fencing has even been adjusted in response to community feedback to help kangaroos travel more freely.

I recently had the chance to join our Environmental Planning team on a tour of parts of Armstrong Creek, and it really brought home what’s at stake. We are incredibly lucky to still have areas of revegetation, conservation and even trees along Armstrong Creek that are hundreds of years old.

Seeing these places firsthand – including a small patch of Bellarine Yellow Gums not far from my own home – really reinforced just how important it is that we get this right and continue protecting what remains.

We are living in a time and area where a real tension exists between our population growth and conserving space and biodiversity in our natural habitats.

There’s no simple solution, so the work our officers have put into developing this draft is incredibly in depth.

And now we want to hear from you.

We have two upcoming community engagement sessions. Come join us at Wurriki Nyal civic precinct, 137-149 Mercer Street, from 9.30-11.30am or 3-5pm on Thursday 16 April to learn more.

To have your say, head to yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/planfornature by Monday 27 April.

Cr Emma Sinclair

Charlemont Ward,

City of Greater Geelong