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The Project

  • The City is developing Environmental Management Plans for the natural reserves we manage. The purpose of developing these plans is to establish a set of goals for the protection and enhancement of our biodiversity.

Provide feedback on our Natural Reserves

The community has a wealth of knowledge of the flora, fauna and ecological communities and use many of the natural reserves we manage. Your feedback is important to help us understand how sites are currently used, what is important to you about the reserves, and how the City could enhance important values and use of these sites.

Below are the natural reserves the City is currently developing Environmental Management Plans for.

Community members are invited to provide feedback for each site.

Greater Bendigo covers an area of 3,048km2 that includes national and regional parks, crown land reserves, public forests, and private land. These areas provide important ecological functions and habitats for flora and fauna, and benefits to the community. This includes fresh air, clean water, nutrients, climate regulation, and the preservation of the culture and amenities of Greater Bendigo.

The plans will:

  • develop actions to help seek and allocate resources
  • develop actions for managing, monitoring, and enhancing our biodiversity

Frequently asked questions

Mining, agriculture, and urban development have contributed to vast changes in the natural environment.

Poor land management, overgrazing by animals, increased non-native predators such as foxes and cats, invasive plants and altered hydrology to streams and wetlands, including groundwater can have a impact on the habitat.

Greater Bendigo is currently home to 105 threatened flora species, 65 threatened birds, 7 threatened mammals, 4 threatened fish, 7 threatened reptiles, 2 threatened amphibians and 2 threatened invertebrates.

In 2021 the City adopted the Climate Change and Environment Strategy 2021-2026.

The strategy provides a vision for biodiversity and regeneration. The Natural Reserve Environment Plans are documents that flow on from the Strategy goals.

Five broad goals were set out in the strategy under two groups - Council and Community:

Council

  • Council projects regenerate landscapes & ecosystems
  • Native habitat and areas of important biodiversity are protected for future generations

Community

  • Connected and flourishing urban and rural landscapes and ecosystems
  • Strong community connection to, awareness of and care for our ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Respectful and effective partnerships with Traditional Owners to regenerate ecosystems

The development of management plans for City managed natural reserves will provide a platform to enable the review and/or progression of the following actions listed in the Strategy:

  • Develop an ecological baseline and mapping to determine the extent and condition of existing biodiversity and remnant vegetation in Greater Bendigo.
  • Investigate and progress potential nature corridors between existing remnant vegetation, and commence developing partnerships and implementation arrangements to facilitate corridors

Contact Us

Have questions about this project, contact us below:

Contact Information
Name Climate and Environment Team
Phone 1300 002 642
Email CCE@Bendigo.vic.gov.au