Park Management Issues Monash Councillors Vote on VPO Proposals All members of the Friends of Damper Creek Reserve will be aware that the Friends Group decided early on that the ill-defined changes proposed by Cr Lake to the Monash Council’s Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO) were unacceptable. Our decision was taken following a unanimous vote in favour of opposing the changes at a general meeting of members in July. Following a brief mention at the August public meeting of the Council, the issue was resolved at the recent September Council meeting. Members of the Friends of Damper Creek joined members of the Friends of Scotchmans Creek & Valley Reserve to witness an enthralling debate made more interesting by the previously announced absence of the Mayor, Cr Male. This meant 10 Councillors were in attendance. All Councillors spoke on the issue of the VPO and the final count was five votes for removing the policy and five for its retention. The Acting Mayor (Cr Drieberg) used her casting vote to retain the VPO without change. She based her vote on precedence and the fact that Cr Male had made clear at the August Council meeting that he would vote for the retention of the policy. Our three ward Councillors (Crs Banerji, Lo and Morrissey) all voted to the VPO to be retained. Street and Reserve Trees Whilst the VPO policy applies to mature trees on private land, the street and reserve tree policy applies to trees on public land through out the City. This includes the trees in Damper Creek Reserve and those in our nature strips that are such a feature of the suburbs that originally made up the City of Waverley. We were never clear why street and reserve trees were lumped together. Unfortunately the changes proposed by Cr Lake were approved by Councillors, albeit with an important amendment proposed by Cr Lo to the effect that Reserve trees that were dead or dying but considered by Council officers to be safe after appropriate trimming of dead branches, would be retained in Reserves as these are important habitat trees for indigenous fauna. Full details are available on the Monash website under "Public Tree Management". Implications of Retaining the VPO We realise that Monash Council, having introduced the VPO ten years ago, needs to provide appropriate support for residents. Some of the complaints from residents that prompted the review, reflected their inability to maintain trees on their property. As you get older it is more difficult, of not foolhardy, to clean your own gutters of leaves; large trees do need occasional maintenance by an arborist. Residents living on pensions or retirement savings find these services expensive and so the one-off cost of removing a mature tree becomes attractive. Undoubtedly the average age of Waverley residents is increasing. We all enjoy the treed environment of these suburbs and so perhaps it is appropriate that we all contribute to the maintenance of this environment. We will be recommending to Council that they offer financial support with tree maintenance as already occurs in other Councils’ jurisdictions such as Knox. Cr Lake stated in his presentation to Council when speaking in favour of repealing the VPO, that the Council had closed the office that provided staff to inspect trees and to give advice to residents if a tree is or is not safe. We will be asking that the office be re-opened as part of Council’s responsibilities to residents. Whilst the battle to retain the VPO has been won on this occasion, we need to ensure that Council continues to provide support to residents to ensure that it remains good policy. Without support, the issue will return. The VPO policy document can be found on the Monash City Council website. The VPO does not include dead trees or trees dangerous to life or property, nor does it include tree weed species. To view the current VPO policy document go to: Monash City Council Planning Guidelines: www.monash.vic.gov.au/planning/otherguidelines and locate: "Tree removal or tree works within the Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO) area" - 19 kB (PDF document) The City of Monash - Indigenous Reserves Corridors Conservation & Management Plan (Ecology Australia - October 2000) identifies the following threats and management issues within Damper Creek Reserve. Threats & Management Issues (Urgent Priorities) Habitat degradation due to weed invasion (particularly invertebrate habitat) - common weed species, old native plantings & escapees from gardens Loss of trees and canopy associated with Eucalypt Dieback (vertebrate habitat) - caused by many factors including fungal pathogens, insect attack and possum browsing. Probably exacerbated by internal run-off and inappropriate drainage from adjoining properties causing eutrophication and water-logging. Nutrient rich run-off results in eutrophication of wetlands and promotes weed invasion Uncontrolled run-off causing erosion & silting of wetlands Reduced water quality due to dog faeces, pollutants, sedimentation, fertilisers and rubbish entering creeks via storm water Disturbance and Predation by Domestic Cats, Dogs and Foxes Soil compaction, trampling of vegetation and erosion due to uncontrolled public access Loss of indigenous vegetation and continuous habitat links from surrounding area / adjoining properties Reduced supply of hollows and nesting boxes due to competition with the Honey Bee Reduced supply of nectar due to competition for nectar resources with the Honey Bee Predation of invertebrates by the European Wasp Introduced mosquitofish which competes with native fish species Fish barriers in Gardiners Creek preventing fish access to Damper Creek Lack of fallen timber for habitat Feeding ducks which creates over-population Low species richness of aquatic plantings and ground layer plants in revegetated areas Some plant species require ecological burning Other Recommendations: Compatible uses : passive recreation (walking, running, bicycle riding) in designated areas; nature based and educational activities and walking of leashed dogs. Objectives include maintaining, conserving and enhancing the existing flora and fauna values and preventing further alteration to the semi-natural ecological processes. Management should focus on preventing degradation and loss of biodiversity by reducing existing threats; and enhancing existing values through revegetation, provision of other habitat components and improved water quality. First priority should be the protection and enhancement of indigenous remnants with revegetation as a second priority. Weed invasion - Weed invasion from gardens is a major problem in Damper Creek Reserve. Common garden weeks include Ivy, Wandering Jew, Agapanthus, Arum Lilies, Cotoneaster, Morning Glory, Sweet Pittosporum and Bridal Creeper.