SUMMARY: 

Vegetation in Port Phillip and on public land abutting it can be classified in one of the classes (a) to (e) below, and should be managed as indicated there. 'Environmental weeds', which may include trees, shrubs or the marine equivalent of weeds, should be prohibited from sale or distribution, and required to be removed from anywhere from which they can be expected to significantly affect Port Phillip or that public land. 

DETAIL:

(a) Remnant Indigenous Vegetation: It is most important that all the remnant indigenous vegetation on the public foreshore land around Port Phillip be conserved, and protected against risks to its continued healthy and unimpaired existence. Areas with vegetation in which remnant indigenous plants are to any extent a significant component should not be developed, except that non-indigenous plants should be removed. The process for their removal should facilitate their replacement, in as natural a fashion as possible, by indigenous plants. Similar considerations apply to indigenous marine vegetation. 

(b) Historically Significant Planting: Where appropriate authorities identify specific plants or groups of plants as being of historical significance, and they advocate their retention on those grounds, such plants should be conserved, but on their death they should be replaced by plants indigenous to the area. 

(c) Other Existing or Proposed Replanted Indigenous Vegetation: This vegetation should be conserved and protected, although in certain exceptional cases individual plants could be removed, provided that sound officially recorded justification for that exists, and that equivalent planting takes place in the vicinity. 

(d) Other Existing or Proposed Intentionally & Legitimately Planted Non-indigenous Vegetation: Unless there continues to be sound officially recorded justification for its retention, this vegetation should in due course be replaced with appropriate indigenous vegetation. 

(e) 'Environmental Weeds' & Non-indigenous Plants Not Placed Intentionally or Legitimately: It is very important that this vegetation should be removed, and wherever appropriate, replaced with indigenous vegetation. The highest priority here applies to marine vegetation, owing to its rapid dispersion throughout Port Phillip, and the difficulty of its subsequent removal. 

Management: Where justified to manage indigenous species, official controlled burning is acceptable, provided that areas are burnt in very small stages to preclude large areas being burnt in the same year. After accidental or illegitimate burning, natural regeneration is normally the most appropriate management approach. Fencing, to exclude interference, should be provided wherever necessary for vegetation protection purposes. Feral animals that damage vegetation should be eliminated from vegetated areas. Unvegetated areas that would have originally had indigenous vegetation should, wherever appropriate, be replanted with indigenous vegetation. 

ADOPTION:
 

This Revision No. 1 of PPCC Inc. Policy Statement No. 5 was adopted by a General Meeting of Port Phillip Conservation Council Inc. on 30th April 2001.