Council has developed a Sustainable Gardening in Gippsland booklet, which contains information on how to encourage local biodiversity in your garden. If you are unable to download this booklet contact us for a printed copy.

Options for sustainable gardening include native plant selection (to increase local biodiversity), mulching (to reduce water use and spread of weeds), composting food scraps (to give your plants food and reduce your garbage), growing fruit and vegetables (to reduce 'food miles' and carbon emissions from transporting food) and installing a rainwater tank.  Or join your local Landcare or 'Friends of' group.

Want to find an environmental volunteering group?

It’s as easy as Zoom, Select, Connect. Go to the environmental volunteering interactive map to see what environmental volunteering groups are in your area.

Other information

• ‍Sustainable Gardening Australia (answers questions about mulching, composting, worm farms, pests, what to plant, etc)‍
• Build a raingarden and help clean up stormwater before it reaches your local waterway.  Raingardens can be adapted to suit most areas, and they look great too!  Learn more about raingardens and find out how to create your own.

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Populations of Grey Headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) are known within East Gippsland Shire. A strategic action plan has been developed to assist in the management of their roost site in Bairnsdale.

A report has been prepared by East Gippsland Shire Council in relation to satisfying Condition 9 of Permit 2009/5017 under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 received from the Department of Environment in relation to the approved Grey-headed Flying-fox Strategic Management and Action Plan.

EPBC compliance reports for Poplar tree removal (Grey Headed Flying Fox summer camp):

Compliance report 2020-21

Compliance report 2019-20

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Biodiversity or ‘biological diversity’ is the collective term for genes, species and ecosystems.  East Gippsland has high species and ecosystem biodiversity.  Did you know?  Ninety of Victoria’s 300 Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) occur in our Shire.

Although 80 per cent of East Gippsland’s original native vegetation remains, there are many vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered species. Rarer EVCs (such as rainforests unique to East Gippsland) and threatened EVCs in agricultural areas need special protection, management and restoration.

Threats to biodiversity in the region include invasive plant and animal species, climate change, altered fire regimes, extreme natural events, urban development, recreation, habitat loss/fragmentation and pollution.

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East Gippsland plants are very significant at the continental scale, due to the area overlapping between southern cool temperate and eastern warm temperate zones. There are many species of plants and animals which are absent from, or rare in, the rest of Victoria.

East Gippsland is highly valued because of its vast expanses of wilderness and virtually pristine ecosystems. “The continuity of native vegetation over a very extensive area makes East Gippsland one of the great reservoirs of biodiversity in Australia; there are no other regions on mainland Australia where native vegetation is continuous from alpine environments to the coast.” (Victoria’s Biodiversity Strategy 1997).  The vegetation on our road reserves and on our farms and properties is also extremely valuable, and forms important habitat links.

Nearly one third of Victoria's Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) occur within East Gippsland, which also has unique bioregions.

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Your naturestrip tree

We are rolling out naturestrip trees across the shire and will soon be inviting select property owners to tell us whether they would like one planted outside their property.

Well-chosen trees play an important role in any town. They are critical in maintaining the health and liveability of our townships and create a long-term sustainable vision for the character and amenity of every community.

Howitt Avenue, Metung - Streetscape Planting

East Gippsland Shire Council is planting and replacing trees each year across the municipality. The species of trees chosen is based on:

• Site conditions, including utilities (power, water, gas etc.), soil profile and space available

• Existing vegetation in the locality

• Future-proofing for expected climate changes

• Minimising ongoing maintenance requirements for Council

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