If viewing on a mobile phone, please scroll across to see all tabs.

Our goal is to prepare a plan to set the future direction for programs to protect, restore and manage nature in Greater Geelong through to 2030.

The plan is informed by an analysis of the current state of Geelong's nature and will include a new strategic policy framework, action plan and monitoring program. It will focus on promoting nature on private and City managed land across the municipality. Nature on Crown Land managed by Parks Victoria and committees of management and adjoining municipalities will also be referenced.

Blue Wren and Great Egret Photos: Rod Morrison

The State of Nature (SoN) report is being prepared to inform our Plan for Nature and provide benchmark information to enable changes to be assessed over time.

Six score cards have been prepared for landscape areas across the Greater Geelong: Barwon Plain, Basalt Plains, Bellarine, Geelong Cities, Little River Catchment and Northern Uplands (refer Figure 1: SoN Landscape Areas and see individual summary reports above).

The landscape areas have been selected as they align with with the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Regional Catchment Strategy and Melbourne Water management area. As the score cards are complete, they will be uploaded on this Have Your Say Page.

Figure 1: SoN Landscape Areas

What We Know

• Our Conservation Estate (protected areas) is increasing through the addition of new nature reserves and private land covered by Trust for Nature covenants.

• Many of the new reserves are small and fragmented – not all vegetation communities are represented in reserves.

• Remaining patches of remnant habitat across the region are fragmented and not connected.

• More than 86 per cent of all our native vegetation communities (ecological vegetation communities) are endangered or vulnerable.

• Five of our native animals are listed on the Federal List of 100 priority threatened species – Orange Bellied Parrot, Swift Parrot, Hooded Plover, Australasian Bittern and Growling Grass Frog.

• Our most threatened vegetation communities and plants and animals, such as coastal saltmarsh, Orange Bellied Parrot and Hooded Plover, are very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

• The number of our plants and animals listed as threatened is increasing.

• Ramsar sites are likely to increase with boundary changes.

• Revegetation adjoining waterways is increasing, especially in growth areas and/or projects lead by landcare. Opportunities exist to further improve the plant palate to be more representative of the local habitat.

• Community engagement about nature is increasing.

Kookaburra Photo: Reg Ryan

The City is part of Wadawurrung country, a geographically diverse region, encompassing three natural bioregions, the Victorian Volcanic Plain, the Central Victorian Uplands and the Otway Plains. The region comprises a variety of habitats associated with marine and coastal environments, waterways and wetlands, woodlands and grasslands and lowland forests, providing niches for a rich diversity of animals, plants and fungi.

Since European settlement there has been extensive change to this natural environment. In the City’s first Biodiversity Strategy in 2003 it was estimated that only five per cent of former vegetation exists in the City and that which remains is often severely degraded.

Since that time the City’s native vegetation, habitat and biodiversity continues to be under extreme pressure from threats associated with climate change, population growth and changes to land use in both rural and urban areas. Aside from some areas secured in nature reserves, most nature areas are small, fragmented and isolated, and the number of plants, animals and vegetation communities that are threatened is increasing. Impacts from pest plants and animals and a range of factors continue to degrade nature.

Within this challenging space the City has committed to renewing its plan for nature, to build resilience and set in place a program to protect, restore and manage the regions nature by 2030.

The preparation of the plan has five components:

1. Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• An engagement process to enable the community and stakeholders to participate in and contribute towards the plan, including online and in-person opportunities to access relevant information and contribute to the process. This includes the formation of three Technical Advisory Groups with key City, stakeholder and community representatives.

2. Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Collaboration

• A partnership with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to connect culture and biodiversity and develop collaboration opportunities using the Healthy Country Plan: Paleert Tjaara Dja – Let’s make country good together 2020-2030 as the key reference document.

3. State of Nature

• Key indicators developed for reporting on the City’s current state of nature, informed by the Federal 2021 State of the Environment report, Victoria’s State of the Environment 2018 report, the Global Reporting Initiative Standards, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the engagement process and the best available science.

4. Monitoring Program

• A monitoring and evaluation plan developed concurrently with the Plan for Nature. This plan will outline a program logic, indicators for monitoring, targets for actions, roles and responsibilities for delivery and timeframes for delivery of actions. It will also include a high-level evaluation framework.

5. Geelong’s Plan for Nature

• Geelong’s Plan for Nature will be prepared for endorsement by Council, informed by an analysis of the current state of Geelong nature and the engagement process. It will include a new strategic policy framework, action plan and monitoring program.

Chocolate Lily Photo: Andrew Quick

Guiding Principles for the new Plan for Nature

• Collaborate with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to connect culture and nature

• Protect and enhance indigenous nature

• Restore nature in modified urban landscapes

• Adaptive management approach to nature conservation

• Build community knowledge, engagement and partnerships.

The plan supports the 30-year community vision of the Greater Geelong: A Clever and Creative Future for the

Greater Geelong region which recognises the uniqueness and significance of our natural environments.

The plan is a key action of the City’s Sustainability Framework 2020.

The development of the plan will achieve a key target identified in the City’s Environment Strategy 2020 – 2030 to review and update the Biodiversity Strategy (now called the Plan for Nature) by 2021 and to meet the goal of protecting, restoring and managing the regions biodiversity by 2030.

Wildflowers Photo: Reg Ryan

Your feedback is important to us. Please have your say through one or more of the options below.

Feedback closed at 5pm 16 January, 2023.

• Complete our Plan for Nature survey to help us capture your ideas and thoughts
• Tell us your great idea for nature
• Share a nature image, or
• Show us your favourite place to enjoy nature.