The Leadbeater's Possum Advisory Group (LBPAG) established in 2013, was tasked with developing recommendations (actions) to support the recovery of Leadbeater's Possum (LBP) while maintaining a sustainable timber industry (LBPAG Recommendations Report, January 2014). Bushfires in February 2009 and ongoing habitat decline have led to a reduced population of Leadbeater's Possum. The remaining wild populations is therefore critical to the species' recovery. Prior to the LBPAG there was no specific protection for known colonies. LBPAG recommended that colonies are protected to aid the capacity for the species to recover. This will be achieved by removing threats that can be directly controlled (e.g. timber harvesting) or implement programs that minimise the risk of unplanned impacts (e.g. bushfire).

This dataset provides the spatial extent in which the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, as part of the Melbourne Strategic Assessment, applies. The Program, as defined in the Program Report, means the Urban Growth Boundary Review for Melbourne for the development of land, including associated transport infrastructure, within the following areas: - investigation areas for the expansion of the 2005 Urban Growth Boundary - areas inside the 2005 Urban Growth Boundary for which a planning scheme amendment to introduce a Precinct Structure Plan had not commenced as at 26 May 2009 (the existing 28 precincts) - areas in the outer Metropolitan Ring Transport Corridor/E6 Road Reservation and the Regional Rail Link corridor between west of Werribee and Deer Park This Strategy does not apply to the Regional Rail Link corridor between west of Werribee and Deer Park, nor does it apply to any of the 28 precincts for which a planning scheme amendment to introduce a Precinct Structure Plan has been approved prior to 1 March 2012.

Under the Melbourne Strategic Assessment program, liabilities are calculated through the use of the `Environment Mitigation Dataset'. This dataset is made up of two sub-sets, the `Environment Mitigation Polygon Dataset' and the `Environment Mitigation Point Dataset' (this dataset). The `Environment Mitigation Polygon Dataset' provides the habitat areas across the levy area, while the `Environment Mitigation Point Dataset' (this dataset) provides the point data for scattered trees. Liability is based on the hectares of habitat and the price for that habitat type, and the number of scattered tree locations and the price for a scattered tree location. A parcel of land, or other area for which a liability is imposed, may have a liability imposed based on the coverage over that land of one or more of the following: > Native vegetation area > Matted Flax-lily habitat area > Spiny Rice-flower habitat area > Golden Sun Moth habitat area > Growling Grass Frog habitat area > Southern Brown Bandicoot habitat area > Scattered tree location Each of these are represented in the `Environment Mitigation Dataset', with the points for scattered tree locations represented in this sub-dataset.

This dataset provides the spatial extent of the Melbourne Strategic Assessment. The State Government's program, as define in the 'Delivering Melbourne's Newest Sustainable Communities - Program Report' (DPCD, 2009), means the Urban Growth Boundary Review for Melbourne for the development of land, including associated transport infrastructure, within the following areas: > investigation areas for the expansion of the 2005 Urban Growth Boundary > areas inside the 2005 Urban Growth Boundary for which a planning scheme amendment to introduce a Precinct Structure Plan had not commenced as at 26 May 2009 (the existing 28 precincts) > areas in the outer Metropolitan Ring Transport Corridor/E6 Road Reservation and the Regional Rail Link corridor between west of Werribee and Deer Park In accordance with the definition of the Program, this includes Melbourne's four growth areas within the expanded 2010 Urban Growth Boundary given effect by Planning Scheme Amendment VC68. These growth areas and the 28 precincts comprise: > Melbourne's western growth area - Melton and Wyndham > Melbourne's north-western growth area - Sunbury > Melbourne's northern growth area - Hume, Whittlesea and Mitchell > Melbourne's south-eastern growth area - Casey and Cardinia.

The Leadbeater's Possum Advisory Group (LBPAG) established in 2013, was tasked with developing recommendations (actions) to support the recovery of Leadbeater's Possum (LBP) while maintaining a sustainable timber industry (LBPAG Recommendations Report, January 2014). Bushfires in February 2009 and ongoing habitat decline have led to a reduced population of Leadbeater's Possum. The remaining wild populations is therefore critical to the species' recovery. Prior to the LBPAG there was no specific protection for known colonies. LBPAG recommended that colonies are protected to aid the capacity for the species to recover. This will be achieved by removing threats that can be directly controlled (e.g. timber harvesting) or implement programs that minimise the risk of unplanned impacts (e.g. bushfire).

The Leadbeater's Possum Advisory Group (LBPAG) established in 2013, was tasked with developing recommendations (actions) to support the recovery of Leadbeater's Possum (LBP) while maintaining a sustainable timber industry (LBPAG Recommendations Report, January 2014). Bushfires in February 2009 and ongoing habitat decline have led to a reduced population of Leadbeater's Possum. The remaining wild populations is therefore critical to the species' recovery. Prior to the LBPAG there was no specific protection for known colonies. LBPAG recommended that colonies are protected to aid the capacity for the species to recover. This will be achieved by removing threats that can be directly controlled (e.g. timber harvesting) or implement programs that minimise the risk of unplanned impacts (e.g. bushfire).

As part of Melbourne's Strategic Assessment agreement under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Victorian Government has committed to establishing the WGR by way of acquisition of land for transfer to the Crown. A public aquistion overlay was applied to approximately 15,000 hectares of land under the Wyndham, Melton, Greater Geelong and Morrabool planning schemes in August 2010 (Planning Scheme Amendment VC68).

The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Melbourne's Growth Corridors (DEPI 2013a) identified measures for protecting, enhancing and connecting important populations of Growling Grass Frogs within conservation areas and mitigating the losses of habitat that will occur as a result of urban development in Melbourne's growth corridors approved under the strategic assessment. The purpose of the Growling Grass Frog Masterplan for Melbourne's Growth Corridors (Masterplan) is to provide guidance on implementing protection measures and investing in habitat creation and enhancement within Growling Grass Frog conservation areas. This dataset represents areas within the Growling Grass Frog conservation corridors for which particular protection measures are to be implemented.

Firewood collection is allowed in designated firewood collection areas. Collection areas are located, where possible, to avoid sites of environmental and cultural significance, and to make use of the by-products of activities such as commercial timber harvesting and road construction. This data set is edited on a real-time basis, to view the most current version please see the Firewood page on the DSE website or Forest Explorer. The version provided to you was extracted on xx date at xx time.

For use in VicPlan