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CITY OF COCKBURN GREENING PLAN Prepared by: Alan Tingay & Associates Gerard Healy & Associates The Planning Group Barbara Green MAY 2000 REPORT NO: 99/123 DISCLAIMER This document is published in accordance with and subject to an agreement between Alan Tingay & Associates (“ATA”) and the client for whom it has been prepared, the City of Cockburn (“Client”) and is restricted to those issues that have been raised by the client in its engagement of ATA and prepared using the standard of skill and care ordinarily exercised by Environmental Scientists in the preparation of such Documents. Any person or organisation that relies on or uses the document for purposes or reasons other than those agreed by ATA and the Client without first obtaining the prior written consent of ATA, does so entirely at their own risk and ATA denies all liability in tort, contract or otherwise for any loss, damage or injury of any kind whatsoever (whether in negligence or otherwise) that may be suffered as a consequence of relying on this Document for any purpose other than that agreed with the Client. QUALITY ASSURANCE Alan Tingay & Associates has implemented a comprehensive range of quality control measures on all aspects of the company’s operation and has Quality Assurance certification to ISO 9001. An internal quality review process has been applied to each project task undertaken by us. Each document is carefully reviewed by core members of the consultancy team and signed off at Director level prior to issue to the client. Draft documents are submitted to the client for comment and acceptance prior to final production. Document No: 99065_050b_ms Report No: 99/123 Report Status: Draft Checked by: S. Maxwell Date: 31 May, 2000 Approved by: M. Scheltema Date: 31 May, 2000 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... V HOW TO USE THIS GREENING PLAN ..................................................................VI PART 1: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 What is a Greening Plan .................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objective of the Greening Plan .......................................................................... 1 1.3 Methodology ...................................................................................................... 1 PART 2: THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .............................................................. 3 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Heritage and Social Values in the City of Cockburn ......................................... 5 2.2.1 Aboriginal Heritage ................................................................................... 5 2.2.2 Municipal Heritage .................................................................................... 5 2.2.3 Community Values .................................................................................... 8 2.2.4 Recreational Values ................................................................................. 13 2.3 Environmental and Landscape Attributes ........................................................ 13 2.3.1 Landforms and Landscapes...................................................................... 13 2.3.2 Landforms and Soils ................................................................................ 16 2.3.3 Wetlands .................................................................................................. 19 2.3.4 Bushland .................................................................................................. 19 2.3.5 Fauna ........................................................................................................ 28 2.4 Existing Streetscapes ....................................................................................... 29 PART 3: CITY OF COCKBURN GREENING PLAN .............................................. 31 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 31 3.2 Greening Plan Objectives ................................................................................ 34 3.3 Implementation ................................................................................................ 56 3.3.1 Strategic ................................................................................................... 56 3.3.2 Operational ............................................................................................... 56 3.3.3 Monitoring and Review ........................................................................... 57 3.3.4 Research ................................................................................................... 57 3.3.5 Resourcing ............................................................................................... 58 3.3.6 Links with other Councils ........................................................................ 58 PART 4: RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................. 59 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 60 APPENDICES City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 i LIST OF FIGURES 1. Regional Location 2. Topography 3. Landscape Analysis 4. Wetlands 5a. Remnant Vegetation in the City of Cockburn 5b. Vegetation Complexes 5c. Vegetation Condition 5d. Bushland Areas Protected in the City of Cockburn 5e. Bushland Areas at Risk of Development 5f. Bushland Reserves and Possible Future Development in the City of Cockburn 6. Characteristics Plan 7. Bushland Corridors 8. Streetscape Themes 9. Combined Bushland Corridors and Streetscape Plan LIST OF PLATES 1. Market Gardens are a Part of the History of Cockburn 2. Community Workshops 3a. Shopping Centre Display 3b. Recreational Use of Wetlands 4. Beeliar Regional Park Links Wetlands Throughout Cockburn 5. Main Roads Without Central Islands 6. Major Roads and Main Roads With Central Islands 7a. Residential Roads (Local Distributor) City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 ii 7b. Residential Roads (Local Distributor) 8. Residential Roads – Access Roads LIST OF TABLES 1. Estimated Population in Each of the Suburbs in the City of Cockburn 2. Landscapes of the City of Cockburn 3. Vegetation Complexes Within the City of Cockburn 4. Rare and Significant Flora Known to Occur Within the City of Cockburn 5. Key Elements of the Greening Plan 6. Existing Planning Policies Affected by the Greening Plan 7. Recommendations for Land Use Zonings in the City of Cockburn 8. Proposed Streetscape Themes for the City of Cockburn 9. Priorities for Streetscaping in the City of Cockburn 10. Roads Within the City of Cockburn That May Provide a Wildlife Linkage and Streetscape Enhancement LIST OF APPENDICES 1. Community Values – Response to Questionnaire and Community Workshop 2. Criteria Used to Assess Vegetation Condition 3. Criteria for Determining Locally and Regionally Significant Vegetation 4. Existing Planning Policies Affected by the Greening Plan Policy 5. Indicative Species for Streetscape Themes 6. Further Reading City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The development of a Greening Plan for the City of Cockburn provides a strategy for bushland conservation and management, amenity, and a rationalised approach to the greening requirements of parks, major and minor road reserves, non-Council land and private land. The objective of the City of Cockburn’s Greening Plan is to: develop a long-term strategic plan for the maintenance and enhancement of remnant vegetation within the City of Cockburn, the revegetation of previously cleared areas, road reserves, public land and the enhancement of ecological, landscape and streetscape values and community amenity. The City of Cockburn has a number of strengths and weaknesses. The strengths include the relatively large amount of bushland and wetlands remaining within the City and the protection of regionally significant bushland within the Beeliar Regional Park. The strengths are tempered by threats to the environment:- the amount of bushland proposed for residential development in the future, and the fragmentation of the bushland. As at January 2000, approximately 30% or 4,760ha of the City of Cockburn is bushland, with over 50% of the bushland in very good condition. This compares favourably with the amount of bushland remaining in more developed areas. The two chains of wetlands that run north south through the City are included in the Beeliar Regional Park, as well as a number of isolated wetlands in the eastern region of the City. Other bushland and wetland areas are Conservation Reserves under the City of Cockburn’s District Zoning Scheme No 2. However, a significant amount of the existing bushland within the City is zoned either Urban or Urban Deferred and is proposed for residential development in the future. The environmental values of the City are shown in Figures 3 – 6 of the Greening Plan. The Greening Plan uses the values and attributes of the City of Cockburn to maximise the opportunities, and at the same time, minimise threats to the environment within the City. The strategies that form the Greening Plan are shown in Figures 7-9 within the plan. The key objectives and strategies of the Greening Plan are summarised in Table 1. A series of recommendations are made regarding the development and implementation of the Greening Plan. The Greening Plan for the City of Cockburn, illustrating important green space and linkages, will be an evolving mechanism for the protection of bushland parcels, linkages and enhancement of community amenity. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 i TABLE 1 KEY ELEMENTS OF THE GREENING PLAN Objective Protection of existing bushland Strategy Manage the Impact of Future Development Link Areas of Bushland Urban Forestry Significant Trees Landscaping/Streetscaping program Community education, awareness and involvement City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 Investigate opportunities to obtain locally significant bushland Manage existing bushland reserves to maximise their conservation values Provide incentives to encourage the protection of bushland in private ownership Review planning policies Implement greening strategies for different land use zonings within the City Review planning policies Develop and maintain existing bushland corridors to encourage movement of native fauna Identify fauna movements within the City in collaboration with research organisations Develop partnerships with Main Roads, Westrail and Western Power to improve the use of road verges, railway reserves and power easements to act as bushland corridors Increase awareness of community and other stakeholders of the significance of linkages Investigate opportunities for urban forestry (eg rehabilitation of quarries, parts of open space areas) to maximise green spaces in the City Investigate the need for a planning policy outlining appropriate initiatives to protect significant trees within the City Develop a landscaping/streetscaping program for the City that identifies streets needing treatment. Use the four landscaping/streetscape themes identified for the City of Cockburn. Liaise with local community Link proposed streetscaping program with other enhancement programs such as Trails Master Plan, Open Space programs Develop community awareness about local flora and fauna Provide information on the benefits of planting local species Promote education programs in association with schools, community groups and other educational institutions. ii Implementation of the Greening Plan Monitoring and Review of the Plan Encourage schools/institutions to undertake bushland projects Support existing and new community groups Encourage local community to be involved in greening events Establish a Greening Plan Advisory Committee to ensure on-going Council support for the Plan Develop a Greening Plan Policy for adoption under the City of Cockburn’ District Zoning Scheme No. 2 Develop a monitoring program for all programs identified in the Greening Plan. Review Greening Plan strategies and actions annually and modify greening strategies accordingly. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The City of Cockburn should protect existing bushland by: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) investigating opportunities to obtain locally significant bushland; manage existing bushland reserves to maximise their conservation values; provide incentives to encourage the protection of bushland in private ownership; and review its planning policies 2. A policy detailing the objectives and strategies of the Cockburn Greening Plan should be prepared and adopted under the City of Cockburn District Zoning Scheme No.2. Existing policies should be reviewed to ensure they do not conflict with the Greening Plan, and that they refer to the Cockburn Greening Plan Policy where appropriate. 3. The City of Cockburn should manage the impact of future development by implementing greening strategies for the different land use zonings within the City. 4. The City of Cockburn should develop and maintain bushland corridors to encourage the movement of native fauna between areas of bushland. The City should develop partnerships with Main Roads WA, Westrail, and Western Power to improve the use of road verges, railway reserves and power easements as bushland corridors. 5. The City of Cockburn should investigate opportunities for urban forestry (eg rehabilitation of quarries, parts of open space areas, management of waste water) to maximise green spaces within the City of Cockburn. This may include providing private landowners (of more than 0.2ha properties) with information City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 iii packs detailing the benefits of urban forestry and its relationship to the Greening Plan. 6. The City of Cockburn should consider the need for a planning policy outlining appropriate initiatives to protect significant trees within the City. 7. The City of Cockburn should develop and implement a landscaping/streetscaping program. The program should be based on the four landscaping/streetscaping themes of native species, exotic species, Cockburn theme and Special Character plantings. The streetscaping program should be linked wherever possible with other enhancement programs such as the Trails Master Plan and the Open Space programs. 8. The City of Cockburn should develop programs aimed at ensuring community awareness and involvement in the City of Cockburn Greening Plan. A greening Plan Advisory Committee should be established to ensure on-going Council support for the Greening Plan. 9. The City of Cockburn should review the effectiveness of the Greening Plan strategies and actions and its implementation annually. The review should be linked to the annual budget and plans for the business units within the City of Cockburn to ensure adequate resourcing. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The City of Cockburn would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following people in the development of the Greening Plan: Greening Plan Steering Committee Grahame Aldridge Julie Baker Wendy Blake Valda Ellement Mary Jenkins Siddhartha Jha Vicki Johnson Stephen Lee Virginia McDonald Felicity McGeorge Caroline McVicar Robyn Mandal Deirdre Napier Rex Sallur Maryanne Separovich John Siegmann Teresa Spence Suzane Symans Pam Townshend Council Staff Susan Anthony Allan Conroy Darren Walsh (until February 2000) Consultancy Team Barbara Green Gerard Healy Pauline Holdaway Sarah Maxwell Martine Scheltema Facilitator Gerard Healy & Associates The Planning Group Alan Tingay & Associates Alan Tingay & Associates Thank you to the following children who contributed to the Greening Plan Art Awards: Solana Rosenthal Louise McVicar Jamie Komar Zach Leithhead Jessica Salmon Nathan Evans Tess Cullity Jozeph Chattelle Sophie Figueiredo Chau Do Nadia Vcich Kara deMaria Rhys Turner Ricky Hee Marjorie Blunton Tamara Delgado Danica Wintermann City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 Taylor Dreamtime Holly McLean Kinley Fowler Johnny Read Cassandra Kotchie Megan Payne Zoe Walker Camille Visser Sophie Osborne Annalise Judd Rachel Conroy Cyone Williams Joel Nash Jennifer Loth Moshe Phillips Jessica Heaton Marianna Donlin Gabriel Maddock Edan Kidd Nadia Bishop Louise Jeckells Sarah Visser Ripley Warner Brooke Hammond Sophie deMaria Anna Kinney Jasmine Dixon Rachel Champtaloup Phoebe Phillips Ben McGann Kirsty Hulica Miranda Patterson Andrew Jennings v HOW TO USE THIS GREENING PLAN The Greening Plan for the City of Cockburn is presented in five parts. It may either be read as a whole, or alternatively, the reader may choose to focus on one (or more) of the parts. The reader is directed to specialised reports where appropriate for more detailed information about a particular aspect of the Greening Plan. Part 1: Introduction Part 1 of the Greening Plan defines the Greening Plan, outlines the objective adopted for the City of Cockburn’s Greening Plan and describes the methodology used to develop the Plan. Part 2: The Existing Environment Part 2 of the Greening Plan provides an overview of the existing biological and social values within the City. It summaries the aboriginal and heritage values of the City, the existing community values relating to vegetation and bushland within the City, the physical, biological and environmental attributes of the City and the threats that currently exist to those values. Part 3: The Greening Plan Part 3 details the Greening Plan. It outlines strategies to protect the environmental and landscape amenity values of bushland on public and private land, landscapes and streetscapes within the City of Cockburn, and provides guidance on the implementation of the Greening Plan. Part 4: Recommendations Part 4 summaries the recommendations contained in the Greening Plan. Part 5: Appendices Part 5 contains the appendices referred to throughout the Greening Plan. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 vi CITY OF COCKBURN GREENING PLAN PART 1: 1.1 INTRODUCTION What is a Greening Plan A Greening Plan is a strategy for the management of existing vegetation in parks and reserves and on private land, revegetating degraded areas and road reserves, securing open space and developing and enhancing linkages between green areas. A Greening Plan identifies public and private open space areas, and the vegetation on them, as community assets. The Greening Plan guides on-ground works and future policy and planning application. 1.2 Objective of the Greening Plan The objective of the City of Cockburn’s Greening Plan is to: develop a long-term strategic plan for the maintenance and enhancement of remnant vegetation within the City of Cockburn, the revegetation of previously cleared areas, road reserves, public land and the enhancement of ecological, landscape and streetscape values and community amenity. Specifically, the Plan aims to: Ensure the long-term conservation of remnant bushland, wildlife corridors and significant habitat; Establish or enhance existing ecological linkages between significant bushland areas; and Establish landscape themes for distinct sectors in the City. 1.3 Methodology The development of a Greening Plan for the City of Cockburn was initiated by the community and supported by the Council. The preparation of the Plan involved: Community Consultation 1. THE GREENING PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE - Established to provide guidance in the development of the Greening Plan. The 21-member committee met four times to develop environmental strategies and landscape themes and to provide comment on drafts of the Greening Plan. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 1 2. COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS - Two workshops, (one for the Cockburn Community and one for students within the Cockburn municipality) were held to obtain input into the Greening Plan. 3. PUBLIC DISPLAYS - A display was mounted at Phoenix and Gateways Shopping Centres to create awareness of vegetation in the City and to seek input into the Plan. 4. COCKBURN SOUNDINGS - Cockburn residents were informed about the Greening Plan through articles in the Cockburn Soundings. 5. QUESTIONNAIRE - A questionnaire was distributed to all residents within the City of Cockburn seeking comment on the management of vegetation. 6. ART COMPETITION – An art competition for 6-12year olds and 13-17 year olds with the themes ‘plants and animals of Cockburn’ and ‘greener human habitats’ held in conjunction with the development of the Greening Plan. The winning entries have been incorporated into the Greening Plan. Consultancy Team An integrated team of environmental scientists (Alan Tingay & Associates), landscape architects (Gerard Healy & Associates), town planners (The Planning Group) and a community facilitator (Barb Green) were appointed by the City of Cockburn to guide the development of the Greening Plan. Preparation of an Environmental Inventory Information on the physical, biological, environmental values and human uses of the City of Cockburn was reviewed and used to compile an environmental inventory for the City. The environmental inventory provides an up-to-date record of green space. Development of Environmental Strategies Strategies were developed to protect the environmental and landscape amenity values of bushland on public and private land within the City of Cockburn. Development of Landscape and Streetscape Themes Existing landscape and streetscaping themes currently adopted throughout the City of Cockburn were identified. Themes for streetscaping were developed and priorities for implementation established based on the road hierarchy. Development of the Greening Plan Existing and potential green areas (including bushland, parkland, private land such as golf courses, schools and other educational institutions) and linkages between areas (green links) were identified. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 2 PART 2: 2.1 THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT Introduction The City of Cockburn is located 22km to the south of Perth and 8km south of Fremantle as shown in Figure 1. It stretches from the coast inland by 14km and has a total area of 14,800ha. The City is dominated by a chain of wetlands running north – south through the centre of Cockburn. The City contains a diverse mix of land uses, ranging from agricultural uses including the historical use of market gardens, industry, residential and commercial. The City is growing rapidly. It currently has a population of about 68,500, which is expected to grow to more than 100,000 by the year 2010. The majority of the City’s population live in the older established areas, but residential development is also progressing rapidly in the eastern half of the City. An estimate of the population in each of the City’s seventeen suburbs is given in Table 2. TABLE 2 ESTIMATED POPULATION IN EACH OF THE SUBURBS IN THE CITY OF COCKBURN Suburb Estimated Population Atwell 4,051 Banjup 1,277 Beeliar 2,532 Bibra Lake 5,635 Coogee 4,015 Coolbellup 5,872 Hamilton Hill 10,743 Henderson 98 Jandakot 2,437 Leeming 2,501 Munster 3,477 North Lake 1,012 South Lake 5,778 Spearwood 9,859 Success 1,324 Wattleup 1,555 Yangebup 6,283 TOTAL 68,448 Source: City of Cockburn, 2000 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 3 INSERT FIGURE 1 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 4 2.2 Heritage and Social Values in the City of Cockburn 2.2.1 Aboriginal Heritage Prior to European settlement, the Nyungar people, including the Midgegoorong and Whadjug family groups, were the principal inhabitants of the Swan Coastal Plain. They did not have fixed places of habitation, but moved according to a set pattern within a designated tract or territory. The Beeliar wetlands chain, continuing to the north and south of Cockburn, was an important resource around which these groups gathered to make use of the wide variety of abundant food, including fish, water birds, turtles, marsupials, vegetable foods and fresh water. In addition, Paperbark and riparian vegetation were utilised for tools and materials. The Swan River Aborigines, the original inhabitants of the Cockburn District, generally made their campsites on the eastern Cockburn wetland chain, most of them being located on the fringes of North and Bibra Lake (Ecoscape et al., 1996). The register of Aboriginal Sites administered by the Aboriginal Affairs Department indicates a number of significant sites in the City of Cockburn predominantly located on the Bassendean Dune formations. These sites were investigated as part of the Ecotourism Feasibility Study (Ecoscape et al., 1996) to determine an approach to incorporating heritage values into ecotourism proposals, such as the identification of resources, hunting and gathering techniques and imparting of appropriate mythological information. 2.2.2 Municipal Heritage The Woodman Point area is recognised as the first point of European settlement in the City of Cockburn. This settlement, named the township of Clarence, failed after two years and today there is no indication that it ever existed (O’Brien Planning Consultants, 1993). Soon after the surrounding land within Cockburn comprised large pastoral leases which were subdivided about 50 years post-settlement. From 1876 to 1882 the land surrounding Lake Coogee was settled mainly by retired prison guards and retired officers for the British Army who arrived on the convict ships. Following 1870 land regulation were amended to encourage small farms rather than large pastoral leases. However, during this time most of Spearwood, Munster and Henderson land remained under pastoral leases with the only inhabitants being newly released Aboriginal prisoners from Rottnest and ticket-of-leave convicts employed to tend stock (Ecoscape, 1996). During the 1890s settlement around Coogee including Market Garden Swamp No. 2 increased to incorporate various rural activities and market gardening. Between 1911 and 1929 ethnic settlement of the area commenced. These settlers were the last major group to work the land in the Cockburn area. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 5 Since the 1950s urban development of the Cockburn area has prevailed with the municipality changing from a strong rural to urban base. The City of Cockburn maintains a Heritage Inventory of specific buildings and features worthy of protection. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 6 INSERT PLATE 1 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 7 2.2.3 Community Values Community values about bushland and landscaping of reserves and parks were identified through a questionnaire distributed to all residents in the City, two workshops and a Steering Committee comprising 21 community representatives. The response to the questionnaire and the outcomes of the two community workshops are summarised below and are presented in full in Appendix 1. Questionnaire 231 responses (1.2% of the population) were received to the questionnaire from fifteen suburbs. Most of the responses came from Hamilton Hill, Coogee, Yangebup, Coolbellup, Spearwood and Bibra Lake. 45% of respondents preferred to keep bushland in its natural state, with walk trails and signage. 28% preferred a mix of grassed parks and bushland. 72% would support Council using only native plants in streetscaping and landscaping. 26% preferred a mix of native and non native plants. Over 80 locations were identified as special or worth looking after. 72 streets, including 26 main streets, were considered in need of improvement. Community Workshop Participants at the Community workshop supported the development of a Greening Plan to guide the greening of the City. There was strong support to retain as much bushland (and wetlands) as possible and to use only local species in bushland rehabilitation projects. In general, participants thought local species should be used as much as possible in streetscaping projects, but many were not aware which species are local to Cockburn as opposed to other parts of Australia. Student Workshop Twenty seven students from 12 schools within the city of Cockburn attended the Youth Workshop. Students were very environmentally aware and had a good working knowledge of ecological principles. They were particularly aware of the wetlands within the City and interested in seeing them looked after. Most students were involved in environmental activities at their school. Students had an excellent knowledge of the local fauna and where to find them. They supported increased planting of street trees. The views expressed in the Youth Workshop were similar to those expressed in a youth consultation program as part of a Youth Needs Survey undertaken by the Council in 1998. In that survey young people were concerned about industrial pollution and environmental degradation, and identified a need for more beautiful natural and built landscapes. Concern was raised about the loss of native vegetation to development, limited provision of public open space, extent of industrial City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 8 development and environmental health issues associated with the overhead transmission lines traversing the City. Greening Plan Steering Committee Members of the Steering Committee held strong views about the need to protect bushland within the City of Cockburn. Many of the views expressed by the Steering Committee were similar to those in the Community Workshop and Questionnaire and are summarised below: Protection of Bushland The Greening Plan provides a good starting point for bushland reservation in the future. Heavy fines and penalties should be enforced for environmental damage in the City. Maintain bushland in its natural state. Integrate the conservation of native bushland (including walk trails, interpretive signage etc) with passive recreation. Degraded bushland areas should be rehabilitated with species native to that area. Encourage the development of green corridors that connect bushland throughout the City. Community Involvement Community ownership of the Greening Plan should be encouraged by promoting opportunities for involvement. The City should support community groups involved in bushland management. Streetscaping/Landscaping The streets recognised as requiring enhancement are major transport corridors in the City. Plantings of mainly native (local) species in streetscaping, with some areas established with a mix of natives and exotics. Consideration should be given to the thought that palms are a short term ‘fad’. The planting of fruit trees should consider collection to avoid rotting fruit. Allow for more street furniture. Incorporate features such as lighting for safety. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 9 Trees should perhaps be planted in an irregular format rather than evenly spaced. Include creative shade options. Serious consideration should be given to cost and maintenance of future landscaping. Consideration given to maintenance of streetscaping where there are a high number of rental properties. Round-a-bouts need to be considered in streetscaping while also ensuring traffic safety. Consider a heritage theme for landscaping. and entry statements such as ‘Welcome to Jandakot – Banksia woodland of Cockburn’ Keep lawn areas to a minimum. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 10 INSERT PLATE 2 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 11 INSERT PLATE 3 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 12 2.2.4 Recreational Values The varying landscape of the City of Cockburn encompassing coastal, bushland and wetland environments, has been used for recreation pursuits ranging from swimming to horseriding. The preparation of an Ecotourism Strategy for the City of Cockburn (Ecoscape & Tourism Co-ordinates, 1996) identified the unique opportunities the City presents for the implementation of a viable ecotourism experience. The study identified that the City of Cockburn offers a number of activities in a natural environment including horse riding, bike riding, walking, access to native flora and fauna, bird watching. In addition, the City offers visits to pioneer heritage sites, access to recreational park areas, access to biological and ecological research programs, interaction with seals, dolphins and whales, diving experiences and an appreciation of environmental restoration and habitat creation programs. The study also recognised the potential for other recreational pursuits in the City including canoe or other boating experiences, longer horse rides, spotlight tours of native fauna , interpreted experiences and guided tours. 2.3 Environmental and Landscape Attributes This section of the Greening Plan describes the landforms and landscapes, geomorphology (soil and landform development), wetlands, vegetation and fauna of the City of Cockburn. 2.3.1 Landforms and Landscapes The landform of the City of Cockburn ranges from sandy beaches to limestone ridges and relict dunes interspersed by a series of wetlands aligned parallel to the coast. Further inland the landform is gently undulating with low-lying areas dominated by wetland systems. This is summarised in Figure 2, which shows the topography of the City. The landscape character of an area results from a combination of all the physical and biological components of the area. As these components change from one place to another so does the character. Areas with common attributes or character can be classified as a character type. The City of Cockburn has four distinct visual landscape characteristics which are a combination of the natural landform and the built environment. Character types resulting from human intervention such as residential, industrial and commercial developments often display similar overall character in various locations. The four character types within the City of Cockburn are generally oriented north-south and are described Table 2. The location of the character types are shown in Figure 3, together with the location of heritage sites. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 13 INSERT FIGURE 2 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 14 INSERT FIGURE 3 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 15 TABLE 2 LANDSCAPES OF THE CITY OF COCKBURN Coastal Landscapes Consists of undulating dunes close to the coast which are generally devoid of tall vegetation except in the residential/industrial areas. Most of the heritage sites within the City occur within the coastal landscape. This landscape offers a number of panoramic views from existing roads. Interdunal Areas Consists of residential, commercial, industrial, market gardens and open space areas in areas between dune ridges. The remaining bushland is generally tall open forests of TuartJarrah-Marri. This landscape offers some panoramic views from existing roads. Wetland Landscapes Wetland areas including surrounding residential, industrial or parkland areas. The native vegetation generally Flooded Gum Woodlands and other wetland species. Bushland Plains Generally rural land use with open paddocks, some residential, special use or public open space areas. Bushland areas include Low Open Forests of Banksia-Sheoak-Pricklybark or Heath. 2.3.2 Landforms and Soils The City of Cockburn has three main landforms, which stretch north to south on the Swan Coastal Plain. Developed from the process of aeolian transport or wind deposition, the oldest landform is the Bassendean Dunes which is located to the east of the Beeliar wetland chain. The resulting soils are called Bassendean Sands. These soils are pale grey or faint yellow, and are very infertile, their minerals and nutrients have been largely leached out over time. Closer to the coast the Spearwood Dunes, consist of a core of limestone overlain by yellow sands. The Spearwood sands range from yellow to brown to yellow in colour, and may have limestone close to or at the surface. Like the Bassendean sands, the Spearwood sands are also infertile. The Quindalup Dunes are very young soils formed within the last few thousand years and are located close to the coast. Unlike both the Bassendean and Spearwood Dunes which are gradually being worn away, the Quindalup Dunes are in the process of being formed. The soil (sands) of the Quindalup Dunes are composed of quartz grains and shell fragments. They are white in colour, limy and very infertile. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 16 INSERT FIGURE 4 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 17 INSERT PLATE 4 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 18 2.3.3 Wetlands The City of Cockburn contains two chains of wetlands, which are included in the Beeliar Regional Park, as well as a number of isolated wetlands in the eastern region of the City. Many of these wetlands are part of local conservation reserves including Bosworth Reserve, Emma Treeby Reserve, Mather Reserve and Denis de Young Reserve. Figure 4 shows the location of wetlands within the City of Cockburn. The wetlands of the Beeliar wetland chain are generally lakes that are inundated throughout the year. The wetlands in the Beeliar Wetland chain are protected under the Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy. Several wetlands are listed under the RAMSAR Convention as sites of significance for migratory birds. In addition to the lakes, much of the original landscape of the eastern region of the City supported wetlands being either seasonally inundated (sumplands or floodplains, mainly in the south-eastern area of the City) or seasonally waterlogged (damplands or palusplains). The north-south sequence and isolated wetlands within the City are of great spiritual importance to Aboriginal people. Prior to European settlement the wetlands were sources of abundant food and freshwater and where often used as camping sites by the Nyungar family groups. Post settlement, the ecology of the wetlands was significantly modified for the establishment of market gardens, watering of stock and duck shooting. Today, however, the reservation of the wetlands and surrounding dryland vegetation for conservation has enabled their environmental values to be enhanced and maintained. 2.3.4 Bushland As at January 2000, more than 32% of the area of the City of Cockburn, or 4,730ha, is bushland. This compares favourably with the 2% of bushland remaining in the City of South Perth and the 6% of bushland in the City of Melville. Past and present land use practices have influenced the amount of clearing with the largest areas of bushland remaining in the eastern and central region of the City of Cockburn. Extensive clearing of bushland has occurred in the low-lying areas around wetlands and in the established suburbs of Hamilton Hill, Spearwood and Coogee. The southern and eastern periphery of the City, including the suburbs of Henderson, Wattleup, Banjup and Jandakot, contain the largest intact parcels of remnant native vegetation on an area basis. The distribution of the bushland within the City of Cockburn is shown in Figure 5a. The bushland varies across the City from coastal heaths, Melaleuca woodlands, woodlands of Tuart, Jarrah, Marri and Banksia to fringing woodlands of Flooded Gum and Swamp Paperbark according to changes in the climate, soil properties, topographical features and water availability. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 19 The City of Cockburn contains six of the 29 vegetation complexes occurring on the Swan Coastal Plain. A brief description of each complex occurring in the City and its relationship with landform units is provided in Table 3. The distribution of the six vegetation complexes within the City of Cockburn is shown in Figure 5b. The City of Cockburn contains one population of 23 plants of the rare orchid, Caladenia huegelii, and nine species considered to be ‘significant flora’ by the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Significant flora are species that are at varying risks of extinction, depending on their classification. The species of rare and significant known to occur within the City of Cockburn are shown in Table 4. The condition of the bushland in the City of Cockburn varies considerably as a result of direct and indirect impacts of past and present land use practices. In general, the vegetation of the larger bushland parcels, such as at Henderson, Jandakot and surrounding Thomson’s and Banganup Lake are in very good condition with an intact vegetation structure, more than 80% native vegetation coverage and limited signs of disturbance. Smaller remnants with greater boundary to area ratios are generally more disturbed. Figure 5c shows the condition of bushland within the City. More than 50% the bushland within the City is in very good condition, with intact understorey and limited disturbance. The criteria used to rate the condition of the bushland was adopted from Perth’s Bushplan (Government of Western Australia, 1998) and the City of Cockburn Weed Management Program (Ecoscape, 1998) and is presented in Appendix 2. A large proportion of the bushland within the City is regionally significant and forms part of the Beeliar, Woodman Point and Jandakot Regional Parks. The criteria for regionally and locally significant vegetation is given in Appendix 3. Other areas are reserved for the purpose of conservation under the City of Cockburn’s Town Planning Scheme. Bushland areas protected in the City of Cockburn are identified in Figure 5d. Of the 4,730ha of bushland within the City of Cockburn as at January 2000, 593ha is located within regional parks or is reserved for the purposes of conservation under the City of Cockburn’s Town Planning Scheme. Some areas of regionally significant vegetation and local reserves have been identified for future development, as shown in Figure 5e. A significant proportion of the remnant vegetation in the City of Cockburn is in private ownership and is zoned either ‘Urban’ or ‘Urban Deferred’. Figure 5f shows bushland in the City of Cockburn which is zoned either ‘Urban’ or ‘Urban Deferred’ under the Metropolitan Region Scheme. This bushland may therefore be cleared for development at some stage in the future. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 20 TABLE 3 VEGETATION COMPLEXES WITHIN THE CITY OF COCKBURN Landform Unit Vegetation Complex Quindalup Dunes Vegetation Description Examples Quindalup Complex Restricted to the coastal dunes and encompasses the characteristic strand vegetation of Spinifex, Cakile, Carpobrotus to stable dune communities of Acacia, Myoporum and Spyridium. Woodman Point Spearwood Dunes Cottesloe Complex – Central and South Supports heaths on limestone outcrops, with deeper sands supporting a mosaic of Woodlands of Tuart mixed with open forests of Tuart-Jarrah-Marri. Manning Lake Reserve, Henderson Regional Open Space, Lake Coogee. Spearwood Dunes Karrakatta Complex – Central and South Reflects the cool, moist conditions of the southern Swan Coastal Plain with the vegetation consisting mainly of an Open Forest of Tuart-Jarrah-Marri. Sherbrooke Gardens Reserve, Holdsworth Park (limited reservation of this complex in the CoC) Spearwood Dunes Herdsman Complex Dominated by Sedgelands and Woodlands of Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus rudis) and Swamp Paperbark (Melaleuca rhaphiophylla)depending on the local drainage characteristics. Bibra Lake Reserve, Yangebup Lake and Little Rush Reserve, Thomsons Lake. Bassendean Dunes Bassendean Complex – Central and South Varies from a Woodland of JarrahSheoak-Banksia on the sand dunes, to a low woodland of Melaleuca spp., and Sedgelands on the low-lying depressions and swamps. Frankland Reserve, Mather Reserve, Denis de Young Reserve. Bassendean Dunes Southern River Complex Consists of an Open Woodland of Marri-Jarrah-Banksia on the elevated areas and a fringing Woodland of Flooded Gum and Swamp Paperbark along the streams. Eastern portion of Reserve 1820. After Heddle et al. (1980). City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 21 INSERT FIGURE 5A City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 22 INSERT FIGURE 5B City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 23 INSERT FIGURE 5C City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 24 INSERT FIGURE 5D City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 25 INSERT FIGURE 5E City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 26 INSERT FIGURE 5F City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 27 TABLE 4 RARE AND SIGNIFICANT FLORA KNOWN TO OCCUR WITHIN THE CITY OF COCKBURN Species Caladenia huegelii Acacia lasiocarpa var. bracteolata Tripterococcus paniculatus ms Aotus cordifolia Stylidium longitubum Phyllota gracilis Verticordia lindleyi subsp. lindleyi Anthotium junciforme Dodonaea hackettiana Microtis media subsp. quadrata Rare Flora Conservation Status R P1 P1 P3 P3 P4 P4 P4 P4 P4 No. of Locations in the City of Cockburn 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 8 1 have been adequately searched for and are determined to be either rare, in danger of extinction, or otherwise in need of special protection and have been declared rare under the Wildlife Conservation Act, 1950. Priority Flora may be rare or threatened but there is insufficient survey data to accurately determine their status. Grouped according to status with P1 allocated to plants with few known populations to P4 flora which have been adequately surveyed and found to be rare but not currently at risk. Descriptions and pictures of threatened flora found in WA are presented in Brown et al., (1998). 2.3.5 Fauna No systematic survey of native fauna occurring in the City of Cockburn has been undertaken. However, due to the extent of fauna surveys undertaken in Perth bushland, patterns of fauna distribution and survival can been identified. In most cases, therefore, it is possible to predict the species that may occur in a particular bushland remnant. In general, frogs and small reptile species, particularly skinks and bobtails, display a remarkable ability to persist in urban bushland remnants. Depending on breeding and feeding requirements, frogs such as the Pobblebonk (Limnodynastes dorsalis) and Moaning Frog (Heleioporus eyrei) are usually found in bushland areas in close proximity to wetlands. The Turtle Frog (Myobatrachus gouldii), a wholly terrestrial species, has greater chances of survival as areas of bushland become fragmented from wetland areas. According to ecologia (in prep., 1999), nine species of amphibians occur in the City of Cockburn including two tree frogs and seven ‘ground frogs’. Reptiles including the Long-necked Tortoise (Chelodina oblonga), the Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus), skinks, geckos and dragon lizards have been identified in the City. Other less common species include the Black-striped Snake (Simoselaps calonotus) and Striped Lerista (Lerista lineata). Larger species such as the Carpet Python (Morelia imbricata) and Gould’s Goanna (Varanus gouldii) have not recently been identified in urban bushland parcels in the City as these species generally require uninterrupted, relatively undisturbed bushland. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 28 Many small birds lack the ability to adapt to the increasing isolation of bushland remnants in an urban setting. Small resident species such as Fairy-wrens, Scrubwrens and Thornbills tend to disappear from urban bushland as they require a large area to support a viable population, they are vulnerable to predation by cats and mortality in fires, and they generally do not traverse through unfavourable habitat. Consequently, they are unable to recolonise isolated bushland remnants. In contrast, larger, more mobile, bird species such as many of the Honeyeaters and Parrots are able to utilise bushland remnants as they are able to fly over urban areas. In particular, birds such as the Australian Magpie, Australian Raven and the introduced Rainbow Lorikeet thrive in the urban environment. Fragmented bushland remnants are also less likely to support mammal fauna. A number of species including the Echidna, several species of Bats (White-striped Bat, Gould’s Wattle Bat and the Lesser Long-Eared Bat), the Brush-tailed Possum and the Honey Possum are often recorded in larger bushland area uninterrupted by urbanisation. The Southern Brown Bandicoot and the Western Grey Kangaroo still occur in the area, however loss of these species may be expected with continued habitat loss, isolation and fragmentation due to pressures from urban development. The Numbat was recorded in Jandakot in the late 1980s however, no observations of this species in the City have been made. Even though many smaller bushland remnants with intact native vegetation in the City are deficient in native fauna, these remnants often form an important linkage between larger bushland areas. The importance of the smaller parcels as a fauna habitat corridor to species such as the Splendid Fairy Wrens and the Painted Button Quails has been emphasised in recent surveys conducted in the City by Regeneration Technology (1996, 1997). 2.4 Existing Streetscapes Transport corridors throughout the City of Cockburn are a dominant physical presence which contribute significantly to the present character of the City. A number of the major roads such as the Kwinana Freeway run in a north-south direction, corresponding with the orientation of the dunal landscape of the City. The roads of Cockburn can be classified into a broad hierarchy as follows: Major Roads: These roads carry traffic across the city eg. Kwinana Freeway, Stock Road, Cockburn Road. These roads carry a high volume of traffic and therefore give an impression to travellers as to the character of Cockburn. The majority of these roads are aligned north-south. Main Roads: Take traffic to destinations within the City such as Phoenix Road, Spearwood Road, Rockingham Road, North Lake Road, Farrington Road, Armadale Road. Some of these roads have central median which are well vegetated and contribute positively to Cockburn’s character. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 29 Residential Roads: (Thoroughfares) This type of road connects residential districts or are the local distributor roads within subdivisions eg. Osprey Drive, The Grange, Casserly Drive, Parkway Road, Coolbellup Avenue. Residential Roads: (Access Roads) This type of road connects people to their homes eg. Porpoise Court, Leonards Way, Ocean Road, Plover Drive. Plates 5-8 in Section 3 of the Greening Plan give examples of each of these types of roads. Road corridors often pass through the various landscape characters ranging from rural to industrial to residential/ urban. In some cases the roads within the City are visually discordant due to development and redevelopment of adjacent land. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 30 PART 3: 3.1 CITY OF COCKBURN GREENING PLAN Introduction The City of Cockburn has a number of strengths and weaknesses, which are summarised in Figure 6. The strengths, such as for example, the relatively large amount of bushland remaining within the City, are tempered by threats to the environment:- the amount of bushland proposed for residential development in the future, and the fragmentation of the bushland. The Greening Plan is using the values and attributes of the City of Cockburn described in Part 2 of this Plan to maximise the opportunities, and at the same time, minimise threats to the environment within the City. Key elements of the Greening Plan are summarised in Table 5 and are discussed in detail in this section of the Plan. The identification of ‘green areas’ (incorporating bushland, public open space and private land containing bushland) and links between these areas provides the basis for an ecological network through the City. Linkages between important bushland areas along existing road and rail reserves, transmission line corridors, trail networks and most importantly, continuous green spaces have been identified in the Plan. The linkages, whether requiring maintenance or enhancement using native or non-native plantings will strengthen the long-term sustainability of connected remnant bushland parcels and improve the amenity value of human-use corridors in the City. The Greening Plan for the City of Cockburn, illustrating important green space and linkages, will be an evolving mechanism for the protection of bushland parcels, linkages and enhancement of community amenity. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 31 INSERT FIGURE 6 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 32 TABLE 5 KEY ELEMENTS OF THE GREENING PLAN Objective Protection of existing bushland Strategy Manage the Impact of Future Development Link Areas of Bushland Urban Forestry Significant Trees Landscaping/Streetscaping program Community education, awareness and involvement City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 Investigate opportunities to obtain locally significant bushland Manage existing bushland reserves to maximise their conservation values Provide incentives to encourage the protection of bushland in private ownership Review planning policies Implement greening strategies for different land use zonings within the City Review planning policies Develop and maintain existing bushland corridors to encourage movement of native fauna Identify fauna movements within the City in collaboration with research organisations Develop partnerships with Main Roads, Westrail and Western Power to improve the use of road verges, railway reserves and power easements to act as bushland corridors Increase awareness of community and other stakeholders of the significance of linkages Investigate opportunities for urban forestry (eg rehabilitation of quarries, parts of open space areas) to maximise green spaces in the City Investigate the need for a planning policy outlining appropriate initiatives to protect significant trees within the City Develop a landscaping/streetscaping program for the City that identifies streets needing treatment. Use the four landscaping/streetscape themes identified for the City of Cockburn. Liaise with local community Link proposed streetscaping program with other enhancement programs such as Trails Master Plan, Open Space programs Develop community awareness about local flora and fauna Provide information on the benefits of planting local species Promote education programs in association with schools, community groups and other educational institutions. 33 Implementation of the Greening Plan Monitoring and Review of the Plan 3.2 Encourage schools/institutions to undertake bushland projects Support existing and new community groups Encourage local community to be involved in greening events Establish a Greening Plan Advisory Committee to ensure on-going Council support for the Plan Develop a Greening Plan Policy for adoption under the City of Cockburn District Zoning Scheme No 2 Review Greening Plan strategies and actions annually and modify greening strategies accordingly. Greening Plan Objectives Objective 1 Protection of Existing Bushland Strategies: Investigate funding opportunities to obtain locally significant bushland. Manage existing bushland reserves to maximise their conservation values. Provide incentives to encourage the protection of bushland in private ownership. Ensure all plans, policies and projects prepared by Council and advice given is consistent with the objectives of the Greening Plan. The City of Cockburn is in the fortunate position of having more than 30% of its bushland protected in regional and local conservation reserves. Much of the remaining bushland within the City is in very good condition and is worthy of protection as locally significant bushland. Under the State Government’s Urban Bushland Policy, local government is responsible for the acquisition of locally significant bushland. Obtaining Locally Significant Bushland Opportunities to ensure locally significant bushland is managed for conservation include: Purchase of locally significant bushland for reservation for conservation purposes. Contributions to Open Space by developers with bushland reserved for conservation purposes. Land exchanges – sites of relatively less environmental significance may be able to be exchanged with developers for sites with a greater environmental value. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 34 Transferable development rights. Investigate possible sources of funding for the purchase of bushland including: the Bushland Heritage Fund; the imposition of a bushland levy administered as part of the Council rating process; rate increases; and long term loans repayable through a levy system. Further investigate transferable development rights which are commonly used to protect heritage buildings, the concept can also be applied to areas of environmental significance. Council may negotiate with a landowner to allow a higher degree of development on a portion of land that is of lesser environmental significance, in return for placing the portion of land with higher environmental values under Council ownership. Management of Bushland Existing bushland currently vested in Council should be managed to maximise the conservation values of the bushland. A Bushland Management Plan should be developed for each conservation reserve, which contains site specific strategies to address weed control, access, drainage, fire, signage and revegetation. The key components of a bushland management strategy are summarised below. BUSHLAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Revegetation Follow prioritisation7 for revegetation in CoC, Conduct planting/seeding in late autumn to early winter, Irregular planting with all stratums planted at once, Establish a seed bank from local native plants. Signage Develop guidelines to reduce potential pollution in catchments with wetlands – ie, appropriate fertiliser application, increase frequency of road sweeping, grassing clipping disposal, community education. Well defined access points and paths, Rationalise paths, Perimeter fencing in bushland reserves, Signage (interpretive and directional). Fire Continue to develop a Fire Management Strategy for CoC, Combine access paths and firebreaks wherever possible. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 Develop sign theme for CoC parks and bushland reserves, Bushland signage should be interpretative/informative, parks – recreational opportunities, amenities, directional, etc., Regulatory signs – succinct, positive where possible. Weed Control Drainage Access Prioritise bushland reserves working from areas in better condition to poor condition; Identify source of weeds in bushland areas, for example, rubbish dumping, clearing of adjoining land/fragmentation, repetitive burning, grazing. Determine appropriate strategies to limit impact of disturbance; Allow regeneration of natives to govern rate of weed removal; and Avoid further soil disturbance during weed removal. 35 Incentives to Encourage the Protection of Bushland in Private Ownership Much of the bushland within the City of Cockburn is in private ownership. Council should consider the introduction of incentives such as rate relief, technical information on bushland management, provision of native seedlings/seed to encourage the protection of bushland in private ownership. Significant incentives may be conditional to the placement of Conservation Covenants on the title of the land. A variety of mechanisms have been developed for the placement of Conservation Covenants including the Soil and Land Conservation Act, the Wildlife Conservation Act and the National Trust. Planning Policies Planning Policies provide guidance to both Council officers in the assessment of applications and the public in making applications to Council. A policy detailing the objectives and general strategies of the Cockburn Greening Plan should be prepared and adopted under the City of Cockburn District Zoning Scheme No.2 (Part II- Policies). A number of policies already adopted by Council should be reviewed as part of the adoption and integration of the Greening Plan into the existing Town Planning System, to ensure the existing policies do not conflict with the Greening Plan, and refer to the Cockburn Greening Plan Policy where appropriate. This will assist in making people aware of the Greening Plan and guide the public in the correct direction. Appendix 4 briefly identifies those Policies that will be affected by the adoption of the Cockburn Greening Plan Policy, the purpose of the identified policy and any recommended modifications that should be made. The existing planning policies requiring review are listed in Table 6. The City of Cockburn should also consider the preparation and adoption of a Significant Tree Policy to recognise those trees that represent a level of importance in the streetscape, heritage or environmental elements within the City. The issues relating to the development of a Significant Tree Policy are discussed in more detail under Objective 5. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 36 TABLE 6 EXISTING PLANNING POLICIES AFFECTED BY THE GREENING PLAN Policy Number PD8 PD10 PD13 PD19 PD24 PD40 PD42 PD45 Objective 2 Title of Policy Bushland Conservation Policy Structure Plans for Subdivisions Public Open Space Landscape Standards for Commercial /Industrial Development Industrial Subdivision Policy Development Control Requirements for North Coogee, Robb Jetty & Henderson Industrial Areas Native Fauna Protection Policy Wetland Conservation Policy (draft) Manage the Impact of Future Development Strategies: Implement greening strategies for different land use zonings within the City. Review planning policies. The City of Cockburn has an established Town Planning System that incorporates a Town Planning Scheme, Policies, Strategic Plans and objectives for development and use of land within the Cockburn municipal area. The Greening Plan must operate within this planning context in order to achieve a best practice approach that incorporates the implementation and increased awareness of the Plan. The Cockburn Greening Plan makes a number of recommendations that apply to the specific land use zonings. These are detailed in Table 7: TABLE 7 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN EACH LAND USE ZONING IN THE CITY OF COCKBURN Land Use Zoning Residential Rural City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 Recommendations Clearing controls (already in place) Identification of locally significant bushland and reservation in POS Protection of significant trees Verge plantings as per landscape themes, equilibrium of passive/active space Bushland conservation incorporated within subdivisions Land clearing controls Designation of building envelopes (already in place) Fencing of significant vegetation 37 Commercial Industrial Resource (New TPS zoning) Objective 3 Revegetation initiatives Implement landscape themes Revegetation initiatives Micro/macro scale landscaping Land Clearing controls Revegetation initiatives Link Areas of Bushland Strategies: Develop and maintain existing bushland corridors to encourage movement of native fauna. Identify fauna movements within the City in collaboration with research organisations. Develop partnerships with Main Roads, Westrail and Western Power to improve the of road verges, railway reserves and power easements to act as bushland corridors. Increase awareness of community and other stakeholders (including adjoining Councils) of the significance of linkages. The bushland in the City of Cockburn is fragmented, which can make it difficult for animals to move between patches of bushland. The value of a corridor to wildlife is largely dependent on the quality of the habitat it provides, and the abundance of animals within a corridor is linked to the availability of suitable food or nesting sites within the corridor (Recher et al., 1987; Bennett, 1990). Bushland corridors may function as isolated habitats for particular species. However they also facilitate the movement of species through unfavourable environments (Bennett, 1990). Edge effects such as the invasion of weeds however, can limit the effectiveness of corridors. The City of Cockburn should maintain existing bushland corridors between areas of bushland. In addition the City should develop bushland corridors by revegetating using local native species in the strata (layers) and densities required for fauna. This will increase habitats for fauna and encourage their movement between bushland areas. The location of existing wildlife linkages within the City of Cockburn is shown in Figure 6. The most obvious of the existing bushland corridors within the City is the chain of wetlands that forms the Beeliar Regional Park. Proposed linkages, including those requiring rehabilitation, are also shown in Figure 7. The linkages are generally located on land in public ownership. However bushland in private ownership, particularly bushland that is protected by a Conservation Covenant or similar mechanism, can also function as a wildlife linkage. Council should develop partnerships with Main Roads, Westrail and Western Power and other service providers to improve the potential of road verges, railway reserves and power easements to act as bushland corridors. Council should increase awareness of the community and other stakeholders about the significance of bushland linkages as part of the community education and awareness about the Greening Plan. Council City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 38 should also discuss the extension of significant linkages outside the City’s boundaries within the Councils adjoining the City of Cockburn. As little is known about the existing patterns of movement by fauna within the City. Council should identify fauna movements within the City in studies undertaken in collaboration with research organisations. The actual benefits and use made of fauna underpasses by animals should be investigated to determine whether fauna underpasses can facilitate movement across (underneath) large barriers such as the Kwinana Freeway. It is likely the location of wildlife linkages within the City will be amended as more information is collected on the patterns of faunal movements. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 39 INSERT FIGURE 7 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 40 Objective 4 Urban Forestry Strategies: Investigate opportunities for urban forestry (eg rehabilitation of quarries, parts of open space areas, management of waste water) to maximise green spaces in the City. The City of Cockburn’s Greening Plan has identified the need to protect existing areas of bushland, and to maintain and develop bushland corridors to link the bushland areas. However there are other areas within the City of Cockburn that may be suited to Urban Forestry. Urban Forestry has been defined in a number of different ways but can be thought of as planting trees (and shrubs) in urban areas for a wide range of reasons. Urban Forestry planting may be harvested some time in the future or alternatively, may be retained as vegetated areas. The City of Cockburn contains several quarries. The rehabilitation of those areas presents significant potential for urban forestry. Depending on the species selected to be planted, the rehabilitated quarry may be planted with local native species to maximise the environmental values of the area, or it may contain a themed planting to enhance or create an area of character. Another example, the establishment of an area of trees and shrubs at the edges (or other unused areas) of some of the playing fields will reduce expenditure on the maintenance of grassed areas, provide additional areas of shade for spectators and may, depending on the species used in the planting, also have environmental benefits. The planting of portions of reserves used for active recreation may thus reduce the budget for maintenance for that park. Another aspect of Urban Forestry is the use of waste water by plants. The City may decide that one component of the treatment of stormwater within the City should be constructed wetlands. Well designed constructed wetlands that are vegetated can act as effective biological filters. The Manual on Best Practice for Urban Stormwater Quality (Water and Rivers Commission, 1998) includes recommendations on the design of vegetated constructed wetlands. In some rural areas treated effluent is used to irrigate tree plantations to boost timber production and at the same time, dispose of the treated effluent. Council should investigate opportunities for urban forestry (eg rehabilitation of quarries, parts of open space areas, management of waste water) to maximise green spaces in the City. Objective 5 Significant Trees Strategies: Investigate the need for a planning policy outlining appropriate initiatives to protect significant trees within the City. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 41 The City of Cockburn should consider the preparation and adoption of a Significant Tree Policy to recognise those trees that represent a level of importance in the streetscape, heritage or environmental elements within the City. Given the experiences of other local authorities in the development and implementation of a Significant Tree Policy, particular care should be given to the definition of ‘significant’ and in the proposed mechanisms for implementation. Discussions should be held with other local authorities who have developed successful policies to ensure the policy developed by the City of Cockburn reflects the City’s intent. Key issues to be addressed include: how will the information be collected without placing a large burden on Council officers; how will the policy be implemented; who is responsible for policing these provisions; and how will the ‘fear factor’ for a sector of the community be dealt with, who may react by removing trees that may be eligible for identification on the register or inventory. Objective 6 Landscaping /Streetscaping Program Strategies: Develop a landscaping/streetscaping program for the City that identifies and prioritises streets requiring treatment. Develop and implement landscaping/streetscaping themes for the City of Cockburn: Streetscaping Strategy Streetscapes are very important mechanism to convey the character of an area as they transport local residents and visitors within and through the City. Streetscapes can contribute to reduced noise pollution, reduced pollution levels in stormwater runoff and reduced air pollution from traffic. Streets can be used to increase amenity and recreation by ensuring streets are considered as links between communities, facilities and resources for vehicles and also pedestrians and bicycles. The use of streetscapes can be improved by: Enhancing the appearance of the roadside environment through planting, appropriate street furniture, gathering points, viewing points, provision of service areas, greater litter control. Improving access to local services and facilities. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 42 Improving traffic signage through greater continuity and visibility. Improved disabled facilities. Streets need to be accessed individually in regard to character, land use, and scale of landscape, patterns, quality, cultural and historical associations, and vistas to and from the road. Highlighting or screening views can make a significant impact on the streetscape. Poor views can be restricted by planting or other aesthetic means and improve continuity of signs and signage. Desirable views can be framed both to and from the road, and variety can be created along the road corridor by opening views in places where they are restricted. A proportion of Cockburn’s streets are visually discordant due to development and redevelopment of adjacent land. Where this occurs, emphasizing existing themes and detailing will assist the visual integrity. The use of colour in hard and soft detailing can create bold or subtle themes on a road corridor. A theme plant for Cockburn would provide both colour and possibly texture. The use of distinctive landscape management techniques can also contribute to an integrated theme to aid continuity in the streetscape. An example may be various mowing regimes within verges and canopy pruning of street trees to a specific height. Visual clutter such as power poles, light columns, inappropriate street furniture, signage should be minimised or eliminated. Road lighting should concentrate on quality rather than quantity. Improving colour rendering minimising light pollution and the negative impact of the daytime appearance of light columns. Cockburn’s various characters change along road corridors, ranging from rural to industrial to residential/ urban. Emphasising these transitions can accentuate speed restrictions. Key centers or crossing points can be emphasised through a variety of techniques such as architectural effects, plantings, signage a change in paving, public artworks. Certain streets or buildings have potential to create a “Sense of Place”. The reintroduction of cultural or historical associations, which have been eroded, can help to construct a better quality streetscape with meaning. An example would be the market gardening activities off Rockingham Road, which were once much more prevalent. Street trees in these areas could hint at past uses of the land, such as fruit trees. This type of association can reflect on the culture as well as the products of that environment. Landscaping/Streetscaping Theme The landscaping themes proposed for the City of Cockburn are shown in Figure 8. It is proposed that streetscape/landscaping of roads should generally follow the character types identified in Section 2 to re-enforce that character type. Exceptions to this rule occur in a number of situations as follows: Identified historical or culturally significant areas: (eg, abandoned market gardens in the older suburbs of Cockburn, lime kilns, Manning Park). City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 43 Commercial areas: Opportunity exists to enhance the landscapes surrounding these areas or developing themes to new and existing commercial areas. Residential areas within existing streetscaping themes: For example where Palm Trees dominate an existing residential area these plants may be used to as a streetscape theme to reinforce the existing character. Retain exotic deciduous trees in new subdivisions if this choice of species has proven successful. Roads of significance that require a total streetscape upgrade. (eg, Rockingham Road, sections of Forrest Road and North Lake Road and roads within Coolbellup). Streetscape Themes Four themes have been developed for the streetscapes within the City of Cockburn, which are: Native species Exotic species Cockburn theme planting Special Character The four themes are outlined in more detail in Table 8. Indicative species for each of the themes are provided in Appendix 5. TABLE 8 PROPOSED STREETSCAPE THEMES FOR THE CITY OF COCKBURN THEME CONCEPT Native species Planting of natives should occur in various areas of Cockburn dependant on the location and character type of the street. Native plantings within the Coastal Strip character type would involve planting trees and shrubs indigenous to Cockburn that are conditioned to a coastal environment. The enhancement of the existing vegetation in areas where the roadside native planting is well established eg Spearwood Road, Phoenix Road, North Lake Road (north) will be the main consideration. Native plantings in the wetland character type is indicated in Figure 7. Exotic species Exotic species (non-invasive) may be used in various areas around Cockburn within the different landscape characters. The species chosen for street tree planting is to relate to the environment without becoming a threat to the environment. Examples of exotic plants that may be used include, deciduous trees, palms, fruit trees. Generally exotic trees have been chosen in particular areas to: - enhance an area that already has predominantly exotic species, eg palms in northern and coastal residential areas. - Reinforce existing commercial areas that have already used exotic species as a theme. - Respect historic or culturally significant areas eg. Fruit trees close to market gardens, olive trees near the coast. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 44 Cockburn’s Theme Intended to give Cockburn an identity by the planting of a certain species that becomes acknowledged as the theme of Cockburn. Public consultation and site investigations indicated that the major road corridors did not provide any entry features to signify the boundary of the municipality. The Cockburn theme is recommended to be a plant species that is specific to streetscape planting schemes within Cockburn. The plant species needs to be tolerant of roadside conditions, impart a distinctive form, colour and texture to ensure it stands out as a theme plant. Special Character Special character treatments should be implemented in areas that have the potential to enhance or create an area of character. These may include the following: City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 i. Commercial Areas ii. Total Street Upgrade (eg. Planting, street furniture, paving, lighting etc.) iii. Urban Forestry iv. Entry Statements v. Community Gardens 45 INSERT FIGURE 8 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 46 Streetscaping Program The Greening Plan Steering Committee identified a priority for the implementation of the streetscaping program, based on the road hierarchy, which are shown in Table 9. Highest priority was given to Main Roads within the City of Cockburn that do not have a central median. TABLE 9 PRIORTIES FOR STREETSCAPING WITHIN THE CITY OF COCKBURN Priority1 1 Road Type Main Roads (without central islands) 2 Major Roads 3 Main Roads (with central islands) 4 Residential Roads (thoroughfares) 5 Grassed Parkland/Ovals 6 Residential Roads Examples Cockburn Road, Forrest Road, Rockingham Road Kwinana Freeway, Roe Highway, Stock Road Spearwood Avenue, Phoenix Road Jandakot Road, Osprey Drive, Healy Road Santich Park, Tempest Oval, Davilak Oval Fox Street, Sunset Court, Hebble Loop Note: 1 as determined by the Steering Committee Plates 5-8 provide a visual representation of the streetscaping program for the different types of roads. Any streetscaping program would involve liaison with the local community, to determine local preferences and to encourage local involvement. Wherever possible, the streetscaping program should be linked with other enhancement programs such as the Trails Master Plan, Parks/Open Space Programs. Interaction between Wildlife Linkages and Streetscape Enhancements Road corridors can contribute to environmental values. Well vegetated corridors can provide habitat for wildlife and can act as a corridor for the movement of fauna. However the linear nature of road corridors means they are often subject to edge effects such as the invasion of weeds, and can result in wildlife casualties due to the presence of fast moving vehicles. In addition the width of many road reserves provides limited scope for wildlife habitats. Within these constraints, some of the roads identified for streetscape enhancement have also been identified as potential or existing wildlife linkages. Figure 9 and Table 10 shows those roads that have been identified as potentially providing both wildlife linkages and streetscape enhancement. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 47 LINK Streetscaping EAST-WEST Environment LINK Streetscaping NORTH-SOUTH Environment PRIORITY TABLE 10 ROADS WITHIN THE CITY OF COCKBURN THAT MAY PROVIDE A WILLIFE LINKAGE AND STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENT 1 Stock Road Russell Road 2 Kwinana Freeway Cockburn Road 3 Beeliar/Armadale 4 Roe Highway Spearwood Avenue Phoenix Drive Railway/Freight Line 5 FRIARS Road 6 Hamilton Road/ Wetland Chain 7 Rockingham Road 8 Spearwood Avenue 9 Freeway Power Easement 10 11 12 Fraser Road/ Liddleow Drive and Wetland Chain Western Power Easement City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 48 INSERT FIGURE 9 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 49 INSERT PLATE 5 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 50 INSERT PLATE 6 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 51 INSERT PLATE 7A City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 52 INSERT PLATE 7B City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 53 INSERT PLATE 8 City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 54 Objective 7 Community Education, Awareness and Involvement Strategies: Develop community awareness about local flora and fauna. Provide information on the benefits of planting local species. Promote education programs in association with schools, community groups and other educational institutions. Encourage schools/institutions to undertake bushland projects. Support existing and new community groups. Encourage local community to be involved in greening events. Establish a Greening Plan Advisory Committee to ensure on-going Council support for the Plan. Local community appreciation for and support for the implementation of the Greening Plan will ensure the primary objective of maintaining and enhancing remnant vegetation with the City, revegetating previously cleared areas, road reserves, public lands and the enhancement of ecological, landscape and streetscape values and community amenity is achieved. To this end Council should develop programs aimed at ensuring community awareness of and involvement in the City of Cockburn’s Greening Plan. Community Involvement Opportunities for community involvement in the Greening Plan include: Inform local community of greening events through community newsletters/papers. Work in conjunction with interest groups, provide funding, equipment. Schools and institutions – ownership of local bushland – weed control, plant propagation/seed collection, revegetation. Recognition, support from council. Continue to encourage community/school participation in Ribbons of Blue and Green. Formation of Green Plan Advisory Committee to ensure ongoing Council commitment to Plan. Encourage and support friends groups/community projects. Community Education and Awareness Community awareness and education on the objectives of the Greening Plan may involve: Develop policy and programs to encourage community awareness and involvement. Provide species lists to community in the form of pamphlets, demo gardens etc. Signage. Provide information on the benefits of planting local species (water usage, fauna attraction). City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 55 Promote education programs in association with schools, community groups and other education facilities. Involvement of Schools and Other Institutions Contact with schools within the City of Cockburn during the preparation of the Greening Plan indicated there was a high degree of interest and awareness among the students. Some schools are already involved in environmental or bushland projects. The City of Cockburn should continue to support these projects and determine the potential for other projects that relate to the greening Plan. Activities to promote the Greening Plan to schools and other institutions may include: 1. Utilise bush areas as the focus of demonstrating the theoretical and practical aspects of bush regeneration. 2. Provide advice and guidance to school groups. 3. Ensure bushland regeneration and landscaping plans are submitted to appropriate Council staff or liaise directly with school groups during the development of projects. Expert advice should be sought where required, to ensure appropriate management techniques are adopted. 3.3 Implementation The City of Cockburn Greening Plan will be implemented through the Greening Plan Steering Committee and a variety of mechanisms at both the strategic and operational level. 3.3.1 Strategic Preparation and adoption of new planning policies and revision of existing planning policies (for additional information refer to Appendix 4). Structure plans and or policies prepared for new development areas or the rehabilitation of degraded areas. 3.3.2 Operational Implementation of the City’s planning policies. Responsibility for implementing the Greening Plan will be shared by a range of business units within Council. Prepare management plans for those conservation reserves without a management plan. Develop annual budgets and maintenance programs for each of the reserves and streetscape projects. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 56 Community initiatives such as planting days. 3.3.3 Monitoring and Review The Greening Plan strategies and actions should be reviewed on an annual basis and linked with the annual budget and business unit plans to ensure the Greening Plan strategies and actions are adequately resourced. The effectiveness of the Greening Plan should be monitored by: the Greening Plan Steering Committee; and identified strategic and operational performance measures for Council. It is recommended that performance is reviewed annually by Council and Committee to quantify progress and success of implementation of the Green Plan. Performance indicators may include: The number of Greening Plan projects completed each year (including school based projects). Have the targets for each project been met. Area treated as part of the Greening Plan strategies (street trees, bushland regeneration and landscape plantings). Monitoring of baseline data for existing bushland reserves for example: vegetation coverage, weed density, water quality (wetland areas). Reduction in maintenance costs as a result of implementing sustainable green spaces as opposed to grassed areas. Area of land secured for the Greening Plan as part of Trust Fund allocation. Level of community involvement. 3.3.4 Research As opportunities arise, Council should encourage or undertake research relevant to the management of City of Cockburn bushland. Research may be with, but not limited to Murdoch University, Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, and CALM. Research may include determining and updating methods of weed control, fire management, replanting techniques and identification of appropriate genetic sources of seeds or seedlings to be used in re-vegetation programs. Other elements which will require continued research will include determining recreational levels of usage in bushland and parkland areas and the significance of these areas in the context of the Green Plan. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 57 Annual review of the Greening Plan objectives and degree of implementation may identify areas for further research such as identification and significance of additional biolinks in terms of transfer of genetic material and movement of fauna. 3.3.5 Resourcing The City of Cockburn should ensure sufficient resources, including human resources, are available for the management of bushland and implementation of the Greening Plan. Resources for specific Greening Plan strategies will depend in part on the ownership or vesting of the land involved. Additional funds for Greening Plan projects may be sought from Commonwealth and State Government programs such as the Natural Heritage Trust, Gordon Reid Foundation for Conservation and the Community Conservation Grants Program. In addition, the corporate sector may be approached for sponsorship of specific projects where appropriate. Landcare activities which often involve voluntary participation may result in rate levies as specified by the WA Municipal Association. This organisation should be consulted with regard to funding opportunities for Landcare activities and community involvement. 3.3.6 Links with other Councils Community enthusiasm and involvement is recognised as a key element in the successful implementation of the Greening Plan at a local level. In a regional context, the success of the Green Plan will depend largely on the development of partnerships between adjoining Local Governments, namely, the City of Fremantle, City of Melville, the City of Canning, City of Gosnells, City of Armadale, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale and the Town of Kwinana. Partnerships may assist in providing support, encouraging and promoting the establishment and ongoing maintenance of bushland corridors. In addition, the City of Cockburn may also facilitate the implementation of the Green Plan in a regional context by providing advice and input to adjoining Local Government authorities in the process of developing Green Plans. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 58 PART 4: 1. RECOMMENDATIONS The City of Cockburn should protect existing bushland by: (i) Investigating opportunities to obtain locally significant bushland. (ii) Manage existing bushland reserves to maximise their conservation values. (iii) Provide incentives to encourage the protection of bushland in private ownership. (iv) Review its planning policies. 2. A policy detailing the objectives and strategies of the Cockburn Greening Plan to be prepared and adopted under the current City of Cockburn District Zoning Scheme. Existing policies to be reviewed to ensure they do not conflict with the Greening Plan, and that they refer to the Cockburn Greening Plan Policy where appropriate. 3. The City of Cockburn continue to manage the impact of future development by implementing greening strategies for the different land use zonings within the City. 4. The City of Cockburn continue to develop and maintain bushland corridors to encourage the movement of native fauna between areas of bushland. The City continue to develop partnerships with Main Roads WA, Westrail, and Western Power to improve the use of road verges, railway reserves and power easements as bushland corridors. 5. The City of Cockburn continue to investigate opportunities for urban forestry (eg rehabilitation of quarries, parts of open space areas, management of waste water) to maximise green spaces within the City of Cockburn. 6. The City of Cockburn should consider the need for a planning policy outlining appropriate initiatives to protect significant trees within the City. 7. The City of Cockburn to develop and implement a landscaping/streetscaping program. The program should be based on the four landscaping/streetscaping themes of native species, exotic species, Cockburn theme and Special Character plantings. The streetscaping program should be linked wherever possible with other enhancement programs such as the Trails Master Plan and the Open Space programs. 8. The City of Cockburn to develop programs aimed at ensuring community awareness and involvement in the City of Cockburn Greening Plan. A greening Plan Advisory Committee should be established to ensure on-going Council support for the Greening Plan. 9. The City of Cockburn to review the effectiveness of the Greening Plan strategies and actions and its implementation annually. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 59 REFERENCES Bennett A.F (1990) Habitat Corridors: Their Role in Wildlife Management and Conservation. Department of Conservation and Environment, Victoria. Brown, A., Thomson-Dans, C. and Marchant, N. (1998) Western Australia’s Threatened Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management. Ecoscape (1998) Rural Bushfire Risk Management Strategy. Prepared for the City of Cockburn. Ecoscape (1998) Weed Management Program – Conservation Reserves. Prepared for the City of Cockburn. Ecoscape, Tourism Co-ordinates and SJB Town Planners. (1996) Ecotourism Strategy for the City of Cockburn. Prepared for the City of Cockburn. Government of Western Australia (1998) Perth’s Bushplan (Draft). Prepared by Environmental Protection Authority, Western Australian Planning Commission, National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority and Water and Rivers Commission. Heddle, E.M., Loneragan, O.W. and Havel, J.J. (1980) Vegetation Complexes of the Darling System, Western Australia. In: Atlas of Natural Resources Darling System, Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Environment. O’Brien Planning Consultants (1993) Lake Coogee Environmental Management Plan. Prepared for the City of Cockburn. Recher H.F., Shields J., Kavanagh R and Webb G. (1987) Retaining Remnant Mature Forest for Nature Conservation at Eden, New South Wales: A Review of Theory and practice.pp177-194 in Nature Conservation: The Role of Remnants of Native Vegetation. Ed. D.A. Saunders, G.W. Arnold, A.A. Burbidge & A.J.M. Hopkins. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping North, NSW. Regeneration Technology Pty Ltd (1996) Flora and Fauna Survey and Conservation Assessment of Reserve 1820, Jandakot. Prepared for the City of Cockburn. Regeneration Technology Pty Ltd (1997) Flora and Fauna Survey Coolbellup Bushland. Prepared for the City of Cockburn. Water & Rivers Commission (1998) A Manual for Managing Urban Stormwater Quality in Western Australia. City of Cockburn Greening Plan 31 May, 2000 60 PART 5: APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 COMMUNITY VALUES - RESPONSES TO QUESTIONAIRE AND OUTCOMES OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS APPENDIX 2 CRITERIA USED TO ASSESS VEGETATION CONDITION (Modified from Bushplan (1998) and Ecoscape (1998)) APPENDIX 2 VEGETATION CONDITION SCALE (Modified from Bushplan and Ecoscape) Very Good to Excellent Vegetation structure generally intact. Native vegetation coverage more than 80%. Limited signs of disturbance, absence of non-aggressive weeds, occasional fires and some dieback. Good Vegetation structure significantly altered by multiple disturbance. Disturbance to vegetation structure caused by very frequent fires, presence of some aggressive and nonaggressive weeds at high densities, partial clearing, dieback and grazing. Poor to Degraded Vegetation structure completely modified. Scope for regeneration but not o a state approaching good condition without intensive management. High density of predominantly aggressive weeds, extensive clearing and evidence of grazing. Completely Degraded Vegetation structure no longer intact. Site completely or almost completely without native species. Often described as ‘parkland cleared’ with the flora comprising weed or crop species with isolated native trees or shrubs. APPENDIX 3 CRITERIA FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF REGIONALLY AND LOCALLY SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION APPENDIX 3 CRITERIA FOR LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT BUSHLAND (Urban Bushland Strategy, 1995) REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT LOCALLY SIGNIFICANT Example of a regional vegetation type which is threatened or poorly reserved or a site with special value for flora or fauna conservation. One of the better examples of a local vegetation type. Having considerable biodiversity or supports a population of Declared Rare Flora, priority listed flora, or threatened fauna. Having biodiversity value but unlikely to include Declared Rare Flora. May include geographically significant species at the limit of their range. Vegetation is in good condition or better. Threatened vegetation types may be regionally significant even if in poor condition. Vegetation may be in poor condition but if poor, capable of regeneration. Usually greater than 20 hectares but may be smaller in the case of threatened or poorly reserved vegetation types, or in areas with special significance for other purposes. Ideally greater than 4 hectares but smaller areas may be of significance depending on how much remains in the locality. Suitable for passive recreation by people from both within and beyond the locality. Suitable for passive recreation by the local community. Region wide use or potential for scientific or educational study. Use or potential for use by local schools. Having cultural heritage values of a regional or greater significance. Having local heritage value. Regular shape is desirable unless the area functions as a significant corridor linking other remnants. Shape not critical but remnant should be capable of ongoing management. APPENDIX 4 EXISTING PLANNING POLICIES AFECTED BY THE GREENING PLAN POLICY APPENDIX 4 EXISTING PLANNING POLICIES AFFECTED BY THE GREENING PLAN POLICY The following section briefly identifies those Policies that will be affected by the adoption of the Cockburn Greening Plan Policy, the purpose of the identified policy and any recommended modifications that should be made. The City of Cockburn District Zoning Scheme No. 2 was granted Final Approval by the Hon Minister for Planning on 7 January 1992 and gazetted in the Government Gazette on 14 February 1992. The Scheme has undergone continual review since this date in the form of amendments to the base documents. Amendment No. 191, gazetted on 23 July 1999, provides for Part 11 – Policies of the Scheme. This part of the Scheme provides for the adoption and amendment of policies by Council and the formal process required to be followed. PD8 Bushland Conservation Policy Purpose: To provide Council with a clear position and a range of strategies for ensuring that the conservation, protection and management of local bushland within the City is optimised. Recommended Modification: A review of the Bushland Conservation Policy will be necessary to ensure that all of the strategies adopted by Council are in keeping with those adopted in the Cockburn Greening Plan. In particular, an additional clause should be added to the Policy section, which acknowledges the Cockburn Greening Plan and through the implementation of PD8 will actively work towards the objectives and strategies of the Greening Plan dealing with local and regional significant bushland areas. PD10 Structure Plans for Subdivision Purpose: To establish an overall planning context in order to assist the detailed planning, assessment and coordination of individual subdivision proposals. Recommended Modification: In the background section of the policy and following the words ‘address environmental constraints,’ it is recommended that the words “objectives and strategies of the Cockburn Greening Policy” be included. This will provide sufficient reference to the Greening Policy to ensure that in the future preparation of structure plans, the principles of the Greening Plan are incorporated into Structure Plans for localities within Cockburn. PD13 Public Open Space Purpose: To specify Council’s local requirements with respect to the preferred allocation and design of POS areas to assist subdividers and the WAPC. To specify the circumstances in which cash in lieu or POS is acceptable. Recommended Modification: A review of the Public Open Space Policy will be necessary to ensure that all of the criteria and provisions adopted by Council through the Open Space Policy are in keeping with those adopted in the Cockburn Greening Plan. In particular, an additional clause should be added to the Policy (1) section, which requires that the location and design of Public Open Space to take into account the objectives and strategies of the Greening Plan. PD15 Ultimate Strategic District Plan Purpose: To provide a guide for the preparation of structure plans for the district at the regional and local level in terms of generalised land use patterns and transportation routes. Recommended Modification: It is considered appropriate that the Ultimate Strategic District Plan be amended to show the important streetscape and environmental linkages. This will ensure that the status of these linkages and their importance to the community is not only recognised by Council but communicated to the wider public by adoption through the Ultimate Strategic District Plan. In reference to the written policy, it is recommended that the inclusion of “Streetscape and Environmental linkages as shown in the Cockburn Greening Plan” be added to the major land use types listed in the Policy section of PD15. PD19 Landscape Standards for Industrial, Commercial and Mixed Business Development Purpose: To specify Council’s requirements for the details to be included on landscape plans and to specify the required form of landscaping. Recommended Modification: Section 3.2 of the policy should be expanded to include that the retention of existing vegetation should be in accordance with the objectives and strategies of the Cockburn Greening Plan. An additional section 3.7 should also be added being “Selection of Species”. This should specify that the species and landscaping themes should be selected in accordance with those identified as preferred or appropriate in the Cockburn Greening Plan. PD24 Industrial Subdivision Policy Purpose: To provide guidelines for the assessment of industrial subdivision proposals with regard to minimum lot areas and dimensions, servicing requirements and accessibility. Recommended Modification: Within the Policy section of PD24 and following the sentence “Permanent buffer strips should retain all existing vegetation or alternatively, be planted with fast growing species to provide adequate screening.” An additional sentence should be inserted requiring that the retention of vegetation and selection of new species should be in keeping with the objectives and strategies detailed for this locality in the Cockburn Greening Plan. PD40 Development Control Requirements for North Coogee, Robb Jetty and Henderson Industrial Area Background: This policy was prepared on the recommendation of the Max Margetts and Associates report ‘Henderson Industrial Area Amenity Study’ prepared for South Metro Development and the City of Cockburn in June 1998. Purpose: To provide guidance for the development of land in the North Coogee, Robb Jetty and Henderson Industrial Areas in an endeavour to achieve coordinated quality development along Cockburn’s coast. Recommended Modification: Section 3.1 should be modified to read “landscaping shall be in accordance with the provisions of DZS No. 2 and the objectives and strategies detailed for this locality in the Cockburn Greening Plan. PD42 Native Fauna Protection Policy Purpose: Provide strategies for managing native fauna in situations where development requires habitat removal. Recommended Modification: Following the words “including bandicoots” in the background section it is recommended that “(Priority Fauna)” be included to recognise the protection status provided to this species. Within the Policy section, it is recommended that section (1) be amended to read “Where development is to occur on identified land in the Cockburn Greening Plan (refer to Wildlife Linkages Figure #) or on land, which in the opinion of the Environmental Manager, is likely to provide habitat for terrestrial native fauna, proponents are required to prepare a Native Fauna Management Plan to the satisfaction of the City and CALM. This plan should give particular attention to declared rare and other significant fauna and identify any other fauna present and provide commitments for the protection and possible relocation of terrestrial fauna present.” The introduction to section (2) should be amended to read “Item 1 is to be effected via the following means and having consideration to the objectives and strategies detailed in the Cockburn Greening Policy”. In order to provide Council with the proactive position in the prevention of the loss and minimisation of the potential damage to the habitat of native fauna, it is recommended that the preparation of the Fauna Management Plan for subdivisions and ‘other developments’ be required prior to approvals being issued and conditions being placed on the subdivision or development. Whilst this may require some liaison and cooperation from the Western Australian Planning Commission it does allow Council to influence the design or layout should the proposal have a significant impact on the native fauna habitat. If these actions are taken following approval there is little opportunity to influence the design or outcome of the development, which could act as a means of minimising potential impacts on protected species. PD45 Wetland Conservation Policy (Draft) Purpose: To provide Council with a clear position and range of strategies for the protection of wetlands within the City. Recommended Modification: It is recommended that the draft policy statements be reviewed to ensure that all of the strategies to be adopted by Council are in keeping with those to be adopted in the Cockburn Greening Plan. In particular, modification should be made to the final sentence of section 3.6 to read “The report shall provide an assessment of the wetland and provide management and design strategies to deal with the relevant aspects of this policy and the Cockburn Greening Plan to the satisfaction of Council or nominated Council officer.” APPENDIX 5 INDICATIVE SPECIES LIST FOR STREETSCAPE THEMES APPENDIX 5 INDICATIVE SPECIES LIST FOR STREETSCAPE THEMES Cockburn Planting Theme COASTAL Local Species Non-Local Australian Species Rottnest Cypress Tuart Rottnest Is Teatree Red-eyed Wattle Native Pig Face Old Man’s Beard Flax Lily Couch Honey Pot Spidernet Grevillea Native Wisteria Snake Bush Running Postman Coastal Sword Sedge Boobialla Coastal Daisybush Fan Flower Cockies Tongue Trees WETLAND Local Species Eucalyptus rudis Casuarina obesa Melaleuca rhaphiophylla Understorey Acacia cyclops Acacia rostellifera Carpobrotus virescens Clematis microphylla Dianella revoluta Dryandra lindleyana Grevillea thelemanniana Hardenbergia comptoniana Hemiandra pungens Kennedia prostrata Lepidosperma gladiatum Myoporum insulare Olearia axillaris Scaevola crassifolia Templetonia retusa Acmena smithii Agonis flexuosa Araucaria heterophylla Callitris columellaris Casuarina equisitifolia Casuarina distyla Casuarina stricta Eucalytpus botryoides Eucalyptus ficifolia Eucalyptus lehmannii Eucalyptus platypus Lagunaria patersonii Ficus rubiginosa Melia azederach Peppermint Norfolk Is Pine Horsetail Sheoak Carpobrotus glaucescens Calocephalus brownii Grevillea muricata Hibbertia scandens Helichrysum bracteatum Ipomoea brasiliensis Melaleuca arnmillaris Myoporum acuminatum Pelargonim astrale Rhagodia candollearia Tetragonia implexicoma Westringia fruiticosa Non-Local Australian Species Flooded Gum Swamp Sheoak Swamp Paperbark Trees Understorey Trees Trees Callitris preissii Eucalyptus gomphocephala Melaleuca lanceolata Callistemon viminalis Eucalyptus ficifolia Melaleuca armillaris Melaleuca linearifolia Melaleuca quinquenervia Understorey Use of plants that are associated with water eg. Platns with strap-like leaves (make use of sedges and grasses) Non-Local Australian Species Banksia menziesii Banksia attenuata Firewood Banksia Slender Banksia Eucalyptus caesia Eucalyptus camaldulensis Allocasuarina fraseriana Sheoak Eucalyptus citridora Corymbia calophylla Eucalyptus gomphocephala Eucalyptus marginata Eucalyptus todtiana Nuytsia floribunda Marri Tuart Jarrah Prickly bark Christmas tree Trees Trees INTERDUNAL Local Species Eucalyptus maculata Eucalyptus sideroxylon Gungurru River Gum Lemon Scented Gum Spotted Gum Ironbark Understorey Use of plants that are hardy in street situations but related to local species eg. Grevillea sp. Coastal Planting Theme Trees Exotic Species Acuaris heterophylla Arbutus unedo Cedrus atlantica Cedrus deodora Chamaeyparis spp. Cupressus macrocarpa Cupressus sempervirens Pinus pinea Olea europea Norfolk Island Pines Irish Strawberry Lemon Scented Gum Spotted Gum Ironbark Monterey Italian Cypress Stone Pines Olive trees Understorey Plants that are distinct from native coastal eg. Brightly flowering exotic species – Arctosis, Agapanthus, Bougainvilleas Wetland Planting Theme Trees Ulmus pendula Pittosporum phyllyraeoides Understorey Exotic Species Adiantum sp. Agapanthus sp. Alocasia sp. Asplenium sp. Calathea sp. Cordyline sp. Dietes sp. Fescue sp. Iris sp. Kniphofia sp. Lomandra sp. Nadina domestica Nephrolepis sp. Ophiopogon sp. Papyrus sp. Phormium sp. Spathiphyllum sp. Strelitzia sp. Weeping Elm Interdunal Planting Theme Trees Exotic Species Erythina indica Bauhina spp. Gelditisa Jacaranda mimisifolia Liquidamber styriciflua Melia azedarach Metrosideros excelsus Platanus orientalis Robinia pseudocacia Sapium sebeferium Ulmus chinensis Coral Flame Tree Jacaranda Sweet Gum Cape Lilac Italian Cypress Plane Tree Moptop Robina Chinese Tallow Chinese Elm Understorey Typical amenity type planting of drought tolerant low maintenance species Special Character Planting Themes Total Street Upgrade Plant species used in this category can be from variuos categories depending on location. For example: Close to coast (species - coastal native or exotic) Close to wetlands (species - wetland native or exotic) Decisions on choice of species will be made by surveying existing vegetation, character of area and consultation with the public. Entry Statements Palms Butia capitata Chamaerops humilis Cordyline australis Phoenix canariensis Phoenix dactylifera Phoenix robelini Washingtonia filifera Washingtonia robusta Mediterranean Fan Palm Canary Island Date Palm Data Palm Dwarf Date Palm Cotton Palm Fruit Trees Olea europea Olive trees Citris spp. Oranges, Lemons, Tangerines etc. Lauris nobilios Bay Tree Morus alba White Mulberry Understorey species may include herbs and vegetables that are not high maintenance Commercial Areas A variety of interdunal exotics/natives, wetland exotics/native and coastal exotics/ native. Urban Forestry Depending on the location, this theme will involve a mix of all the local species endemic to that particular area – planted solely for aesthetical rather than commercial purposes. Community Gardens Planting of species for consumption, aesthetics, and demonstration purposes. Plants may be native or exotic depending on circumstances. APPENDIX 6 FURTHER READING APPENDIX 6 FURTHER READING Literature providing more detail about the environmental attributes, landscaping initiatives and planning documents relevant to the City of Cockburn are listed below. Flora, Vegetation and Fauna Clay, P.A., Clay, B.T. and Ambrose, S.J. (undated) A Guide to Birds at Harry Waring Marsupial Reserve and Thomsons Lake Nature Reserve. Ecoscape (1998) Weed Management Program – Conservation Reserves. Keighery, G. (1992) Vegetation and Flora of the Dennis De Yong Reserve (No. 31653 and No. 33002) and the Bartram Road (No. 418 Swan Loc. 206 and 209) Complex, Jandakot. Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd (1994) Flora and Vegetation, Jandakot. Prepared for BSD Consultants. Meney, K. (1995) Vegetation Survey of Frankland Reserve. Prepared for the City of Cockburn. Regeneration Technology Pty Ltd (1996) Flora and Fauna Survey and Conservation Assessment of Reserve 1820, Jandakot. Regeneration Technology Pty Ltd Bushland. (1997) Flora and Fauna Survey Coolbellup Trudgen, M. (1995) Objection Assessment for Jandakot Airport: Flora Values. Prepared for the Australian Heritage Commission. V and C Semenuik Research Group (1997) Natural Reserves Management Study. Management Plans/Strategies Department of Planning and Urban Development (1992) Beeliar Regional Park, Proposals for Establishment, Administration and Use. DPUD (now the Ministry for Planning). ecologia Environmental Consultants (1996) Freshwater Drive Public Open Space Environmental Management Plan. Ecoscape (1998) Rural Bushfire Management Strategy. Ecoscape and Coastwise (1999) Integrated Coastal Management Strategy – Summary Report. Draft released for public comment. Ecoscape and Tourism Co-ordinates and SJB Town Planners. (1996) Ecotourism Strategy for the City of Cockburn. ERM Mitchell McCotter (1998) City of Cockburn Open Space Strategy. Draft Maher Brampton and Associates. (1999) Cockburn Trails Master Plan. Wetlands Drake, C. and Kennealy, S. (1995) Recollections of the Beeliar Wetlandsrecollections of long-time local residents. Ecoscape (1996) Market Garden Swamps Environmental Management Plan. Kinhill (1993) Defining the Functions of Wetland Areas Associated With the Extensions of the Kwinana Freeway (Thomas Road to Forrest Road) Prepared for MRWA. Murdoch University (1994) Draft Management Proposal for Wetlands in the City of Cockburn. Murdoch University and the Water Authority of WA. Newman, P. (1976) The Cockburn Wetlands; an Environmental Study. Murdoch University. O’Brien Planning Consultants (1993) Lake Coogee Environmental Management Plan. Landscaping City of Cockburn (1991) Thomsons Lake Nature Reserve and Harry Waring Marsupial Reserve Development Concept Plan. City of Cockburn Recreation and Landscape Branch. Development Concept Plans City of Cockburn (?) Southern Suburbs District Structure Plan - Environmental Audit – Summary Report. Ecoscape (1997) South Jandakot/Mandogalup Urban Area Environmental Assets Register and Landscape Species List. Max Margetts and Associates (1998) Henderson Industrial Area Amenity Study. Prepared for South Metro Development and the City of Cockburn. Western Australian Planning Commission (1999) Fremantle-Rockingham Industrial Area Regional Strategy. Released for public comment.
