MURRINDINDI PLANNING SCHEME
21.10
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
24/09/2009
C22
21.10-1
24/09/2009
C22
Context
The municipality is blessed with significant areas of native forest, productive agricultural
land and clean watercourses.
The natural resources of the municipality form the basis of the three fundamental industries
within Murrindindi, those being agriculture, timber and tourism. These industries underpin
the economy of shire.
The long term viability of these industries depends on the health of the natural environment.
The Goulburn River is an important natural feature that has cultural and heritage
significance. The river is designated as a heritage river under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992.
Flooding
The catchments of the various rivers and streams within the municipality include areas of
flood prone land, where flooding has historically caused substantial damage to the natural
and built environment. Floods are naturally occurring events and the inherent functions of
the floodplains to convey and store floodwater should be recognised and preserved to
minimise the deterioration of environmental values, the long term flood risk to floodplain
production, assets and communities.
Flooding imposes substantial costs on individuals and the community. While significant
costs are incurred by direct damage to public and private property, indirect costs to the
community such as loss of productivity, displacement of residents, closure of roads, trauma
and ill health are also significant. Notwithstanding these significant impacts, natural
flooding of floodplains and their associated wetlands provide essential breeding habitats for
bird and aquatic species, and promotes the health of rivers and floodplains.
It is evident that the impact of floods is increasing due to land use and vegetation changes.
In particular:
 Raised earthworks (including but not limited to roadworks, levees and farm channels)
have reduced natural flood storage, obstructed and/or redistributed flood flows, and
increased flow velocities and levels; and
 Urban expansion has occurred in floodplains, reducing flood storage, obstructing flood
flows and increasing the risk to life, health and safety to occupants of the floodplain.
Sound floodplain management in the municipality is the critical means by which the
economic, social and environmental risks associated with floodplain use and development
can be minimised. Floodplain management is provided through the use of the Flood
Overlay, Land Subject to Inundation Overlay, Urban Floodway Zone and the Murrindindi
Local Floodplain Development Plan, Precinct of Goulburn River, May 2008 that has been
prepared to provide a performance-based approach for decision making that reflect local
issues and best practice in floodplain management.
This local floodplain development plan is an incorporated document at Clause 81.
MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.10
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MURRINDINDI PLANNING SCHEME
21.10-2
19/01/2006
VC37
Issues
 The need to identify key areas within the municipality that may be sensitive to
development, such as the Cathedral Range, Skyline Road and the major highways that
service the Shire
 Native vegetation removal on private land
 Soil erosion and soil structure degradation
 Protection of watercourses from pollution
 Decrease in biodiversity
 Protection of natural and heritage values of the Goulburn River
21.10-3
19/01/2006
VC37
Strategies and objectives
 Strengthen the existing landcare and catchment management practices
 Retain and improve existing tree cover including roadside vegetation, remnant
vegetation areas and support revegetation programs
 Identify environmental constraints, such as areas subject to high fire hazard, soil
erosion, and flooding
 Identify areas of environmental significance that require protection or improvement
 Protect the natural and heritage river values of the Goulburn River
21.10-4
Implementation
27/07/2006
C18
The strategies and objectives will be implemented by:
 Use of the Rural Conservation Zone for small parcels of land surrounded by public land
 Application of the Erosion Management Overlay in areas identified as being potentially
subject to significant soil erosion
 Investigation of the use of the Rural Conservation Zone adjacent to the Cathedral Range
State Park, Lake Eildon National Park and the Kinglake National Park
 Consultation with the Department of Sustainability and Environment regarding mapping
of areas of significant remnant native vegetation on private land for possible inclusion in
the Vegetation Protection Overlay
 Consultation with the Department of Sustainability and Environment regarding mapping
of significant wetlands on private land for possible inclusion in the Vegetation
Protection Overlay or the Environmental Significance Overlay
 In conjunction with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, develop a
heritage rivers policy for the Goulburn River and include this policy in the planning
scheme
MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.10
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