ANNUAL REPORT2012-13

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The NSW Roadside Environment Committee

The NSW Roadside Environment Committee (REC) was formed by the NSW Government in 1994 and is supported by the NSW Roads and Maritime Services.

The goal of the REC is to achieve the best possible environmental management of roadsides and other linear reserves (e.g. rail corridors, travelling stock reserves, crown reserves, utility easements) in NSW. The involvement and co-operation of local councils, State Government agencies, utilities and other groups within the community is essential to achieve this goal.

The objectives of the REC are to:

➢ • achieve consistent, high quality management of vegetation and other environmental aspects in NSW linear reserves➢ • improve the management of linear reserves in NSW through the engagement of key stakeholders➢ • facilitate the resolution of issues related to the management of linear reserve environments in NSW.

The REC currently comprises twelve organisations with interests in the management of roadside and other linear reserves in NSW.The REC member organisations are:

• NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) • Nature Conservation Council (NCC) • Essential Energy • Rural Fire Service (RFS) • RailCorp • Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) • Local Government NSW (LGNSW) • Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA) • Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) • NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) • TransGrid • Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs)

Strategic plan

To achieve its objectives, the REC developed a strategic plan for 2010-2013. The plan is found in Appendix 1.

The key strategies in the plan are to:

1. Develop, and support the development of, best practices in the environmental management of linear reserves2. Assist and support training on best practice environmental management of linear reserves3. Build awareness and adoption of continuous best practice in linear reserve environmental management in NSW4. Facilitate discussion and, if possible, develop an approach to resolve conflicts relating to the management of linear reserve environments 5. Promote the REC and its activities.

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Achievements

The REC developed a 2012-13 work plan to carry out actions related to the Strategic Plan. Actions completed from the work plan included:

1. Providing advice for the Roadside Vegetation Implementation Project (RVIP) (Actions 1.1, 1.2 in the REC Strategic Plan). The RVIP is funded by the NSW Environmental Trust and managed by Local Government NSW – a member of the REC.

The objectives of the RVIP are to:

• Allow for the protection, revegetation and regeneration of large areas of linear reserves across the State.• Improve environmental conditions and enhance ecological corridors in NSW.• Add value to a considerable investment already made by the NSW Environmental Trust which funded councils to prepare roadside vegetation management plans (RVMPs) in 2005 (a project managed by the REC).

A total of $1,286,428 was distributed across 28 projects and 31 local councils from across NSW for Round 1 of the RVIP in 2012.For Round 2 (2013), a total of $396,110 was distributed to ten individual projects across NSW. Two regional projects received $250,000 each to coordinate roadside vegetation management activities across a number of councils in their region.These regional projects are in the Murray region and Central West NSW (see map of all projects below).

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1 Albury 11 Deniliquin 21 Guyra 31 Murray 41 Tumut Shire

2 Ballina 12 Dubbo 22 Hawkesbury 32 Muswellbrook 42 Upper Hunter Shire

3 Bathurst Regional 13 Dungog 23 Hornsby 33 Orange 43 Uralla

4 Berrigan 14 Gilgandra 24 Jerilderie 34 Palerang 44 Wagga Wagga

5 Blayney 15 Glen Innes Severn 25 Kempsey 35 Parkes 45 Wakool

6 Cabonne 16 Gloucester 26 Kiama 36 Port Macquarie-Hastings 46 Walcha

7 Cessnock 17 Gosford 27 Lismore 37 Port Stephens 47 Warrumbungle Shire

8 Clarence Valley 18 Greater Taree 28 Lockhart 38 Richmond Valley 48 Wellington

9 Conargo 19 Greater Hume Shire 29 Maitland 39 Singleton 49 Wingecarribee

10 Corowa Shire 20 Great Lakes 30 Mid-Western Regional 40 Tumbarumba 50 Wyong

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2. Hosting the NSW Linear Reserve Environmental Management Forum on Tuesday 30 October 2012 at the Australian NationalMaritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney (Actions 3.1, 3.3, 5.1, 5.2). The forum provided an opportunity for land managers and other interested people to learn and discuss operational and strategic issues facing linear reserves in NSW. Eighty partici-pants attended the forum with presentations covering the importance of linear reserve environments, the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, as well as best practices in roadside environmental management. Workshop sessions focused on ways to manage competing and complex issues.

3. Mapping the status of RVMPs in NSW (Action 1.2). Using its comprehensive database of local council RVMPs, the REC mappedthe status of RVMPs and their implementation across the State. The mapping involved a series of GIS layers that were updated during 2012-13 as new information was received including from the RVIP applications. The maps were regularly assessed by the REC to identify gaps and where further support to local councils may be required.

4. Sponsoring the Roadside Environmental Management Award as part of the 2012 Local Government Excellence in theEnvironment Awards initiated by Local Government NSW (Action 3.4). The Awards are open to all councils in NSW and aim to recognise outstanding achievements by NSW Local Government in managing and protecting the environment. The winners of the 2012 Roadside Environmental Management Award were:

• Winner A Division - Tumut Shire Council for the project Tumut Shire Council Valuable Roadside Vegetation • Winner B Division & Overall Category Winner - Albury City Council for the project Albury City Council Working in Signifi cant Environment Areas: Standard Operating Procedure.

Dr Rachel Clancy of Albury City Council with the 2012 overall Roadside Environmental Management Award

(photo: N.Dufty)

Participants discuss workshop scenarios at the forum (Photo: K. McIntyre)

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5. Supporting a pilot study to better manage weeds in linear reserves (Action 4.2). Weed invasion can greatly degrade linearreserve environments across NSW. To help identify effective weed management methods in the strategically important Sydney area, the REC provided funding to the Sydney Weeds Committees to conduct a pilot study that will:

• review processes for managing weeds in the Sydney area • identify and map locations of key and priority weeds in the Sydney area • recommend improved processes for managing roadside weeds in the Sydney area.

The report from study is due later in 2013 and the REC will assess whether its recommendations can be transferred to linear reserve management in other parts of the State.

6. Implementing the REC Communication Plan (Actions 3.1, 3.2 and 5.2). During 2009, the REC developed its Communication Planto better communicate the Strategic Plan actions and its role. The REC evaluated and refined the Communication Plan during 2012-13. Measures of the performance of the Communication Plan implementation in 2012-13 include:

➢ • Mailing list of stakeholders increased from 230 to 260 people during the year➢ • Hits on the REC website averaged 130 per month ➢ • Four editions of the REC newsletter were produced and distributed electronically to stakeholders during the year as planned➢ The REC Speaker’s Kit was used by several member organisations to promote best practices in linear reserve environmental management and the role of the REC➢ • The REC website was updated to include examples of RVMPs.

The REC carried out a range of other activities in 2012-13 related to the Strategic Plan. The activities included:

• Review of the 2010-13 REC Strategic Plan and development of the 2013-16 REC Strategic Plan• Presentation from the ARTC on its environmental management • Presentation on Priorities Action Statement (PAS) 2 by OEH• Regular updates from the RFS about bushfire management in linear reserves• Response to a broad range of correspondence from the general community and other stakeholders about matters such as vegetation management, litter reduction, animal road kill and weed management.

Meetings

The REC met four times during 2012-13. Meetings were held at OEH, Sydney (13 August 2012), Christie Conference Centre,North Sydney (12 November 2012 & 25 February 2013) and RFS, Homebush (13 May 2013).

The following persons represented the member organisations on the REC during 2012/13:

Martin Driver (NCC) - ChairpersonVince Kelly (Essential Energy)Josie Stokes (RMS)Lloyd Van Der Wallen (RFS)Peter Semple (RailCorp)Warren Sharpe (IPWEA) Kirsty McIntyre (LGNSW)Tim Seears (LHPA)Lynn Webber (OEH)Richard Denham (DPI)Stuart Johnston (TransGrid)Ian Simpson (CMAs)

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The following persons were alternates to the above:

Simon Heemstra (RFS)Brigid Dowsett (NCC)Kevin Roberts (RMS)Mark Turner/ Brendyn Williams (IPWEA)Ian Fitzpatrick (Essential Energy)Lucian McElwain (OEH)Richard Connors (LGNSW)

Molino Stewart Pty Ltd was contracted by RMS to provide secretariat services to the REC during 2012-13. Neil Dufty of Molino Stewart was the Executive Officer of the REC and was supported by Jeff Kelleway and Kavita Vaid of the same company.

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Appendix 1 - NSW ROADSIDE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE STRATEGIC PLAN 2010 – 2013

STRATEGY ACTION PERFORMANCE INDICATOR PRIORITY

1. Develop, and support the development of, best practices in the environmental management of linear reserves

1.1 Collate information, including Roadside Vegetation Management Plans (RVMPs), on current best practice in linear reserve environmental management

1.2 Monitor RVMPs to assess their currency and usage

1.3 Support the mapping of linear reserves using standard guidelines that focuses on the needs of land managers

1.4 Review the RTA Biodiversity Guidelines for Road Projects for potential use with local councils

1.5 Review the REC Handbook and other REC publications with a view to updating them

Information collated

Number of active RVMPs

Mapping programs supported where possible

Guidelines reviewed

REC Handbook and other RECpublications reviewed

Medium

High

Low

Medium

Medium

2. Assist and support training on best practice environmental management of linear reserves

2.1 Develop key learning outcomes for training

2.2 Identify training opportunities

2.3 Promote training packages that meet these key learning outcomes

2.4 Support training programs with in-kind unless there is an opportunity to help fund a program where there is a targeted outcome for best practice

Key learning outcomes developed

List of training courses

Training packages promoted

Training programs supported

High

High

Medium

Medium

3. Build awareness and adoption of consistent best practice in linear reserve environment management in NSW

3.1 Share 3.1 collated information (see 1.1) on best practice management with stakeholders including linear reserve managers

3.2 Update the REC website with information about current best practice in linear reserve environmental management

3.3 Promote with land managers a process of assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation including the use of SREA signage

3.4 Facilitate with providers awards for the environmental management of linear reserves

Number of stakeholders receiving REC information

Examples of best practice on the REC website

Land managers aware of REC assessment, planning etc. guidelines

Awards established and implemented

High

Medium

High

Low

4. Facilitate discussion and, if possible, develop an approach to resolve conflicts relating to the management of linear reserve environments

4.1 Facilitate a rational approach for clear zones on rural roads that recognises environmental values

4.2 Develop a common position on the REC approach to bushfire management, weed management and other environmental issues

4.3 Develop a common REC position to where new utilities will be located in relation to linear reserve environments

Approach promoted to local councils

Common REC positions established

Common REC position on the location of new utilities established

High

High

Medium

5. Promote the REC and its activities 5.1 Discuss involvement in the REC with each member organisation

5.2 Develop, implement and evaluate the REC Communications Plan to profile the REC and communicate aspects of the Strategic Plan with stakeholders and within REC member organisations

Each REC member organisation consulted

Increased awareness of the REC and its activities through anecdotal evidence

Medium

High