We plant and replace trees each year across the municipality - and Moroney Street in Bairnsdale has been chosen for a project to complement the urban street improvements completed in the area recently. We are now planting Stage 4.

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
• Stock availability

We are informing property owners what species Council intends to plant on their nature strip as part of this project. The streetscape has been designed by Council’s Arborist, Parks & Gardens Coordinator and Open Space Officer.

A map of the streetscape is available. Click on the Maps tab here.

Impacted property owners have been contacted and given the opportunity to review the streetscape design and provide feedback, which can be done by contacting Council’s Open Space Officer on 5153 9500 or email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au.

For more information, contact our Open Space Officer, Marc Taylor, on 5153 9500 or email us.

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

Our shire is home to many waterways of significant cultural, environmental and economic value. The Gippsland Lakes include Lake Wellington, Lake Victoria and Lake King, along with numerous smaller lagoons and wetlands. Covering around 400 square kilometres, they form Australia’s largest navigable inland waterway.

The Gippsland Lakes support a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna, including hundreds of indigenous plant and native wildlife species. The Lakes were listed under the Ramsar Convention as wetlands of international importance in 1982, recognising their distinctive landforms, diverse wetland habitats and importance for waterbirds and other wildlife.

Healthy waterways are highly valued by our community and visitors. They are vital to our local economy, supporting industry, tourism, recreation and fishing.

Our waterways face increasing pressure from population growth, changing land use and a changing climate. Sediment and nutrient runoff, stormwater, erosion, altered water regimes and litter can all affect waterway health.

There are things we can all do to help protect our waterways. Learn more through our Urban Waterway Guidelines and local case studies.

Water plays a vital role in our urban landscapes, from the water we drink, to the rivers and wetlands flowing through our towns, and how we capture and manage stormwater in our neighbourhoods. This system is known as the urban water cycle.

To manage it more effectively, Council has adopted an approach called Integrated Water Management (IWM). IWM considers the whole water system and focuses on managing it in a more connected, sustainable way.

By understanding how all parts of the water cycle interact, IWM helps identify smarter solutions that deliver multiple benefits, healthier communities, a thriving environment, and long-term economic value.

Our work is guided by the East Gippsland Strategic Directions Statement and the Bairnsdale Integrated Water Management Plan, which set out a clear vision and priorities for water management in the region. These plans identify local opportunities to improve water use, liveability, and environmental outcomes, supporting the long-term sustainability of Bairnsdale and surrounding areas.

Building on this direction, a Lakes Entrance Integrated Water Management Plan is now in development. It will address the town’s unique water challenges and support more coordinated, sustainable management of stormwater, wastewater, and waterway health, aligning with regional strategies to build a more water-resilient East Gippsland.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is a way of planning and building our towns that works with the water cycle, not against it. For Council, this means using smart design to manage rainwater where it falls, through things like raingardens, wetlands, swales, and surfaces that let water soak into the ground. These features help keep our waterways clean, reduce flooding, healthy habitat for native birds and wildlife, and make our neighbourhoods greener and more pleasant to live in. WSUD is a practical way Council can build healthier, more sustainable places for our community.

The aim is to reduce high volume nutrient and sediment loads reaching creeks and rivers.  Even small things can make a difference; planting trees, treating storm water and bank stabilisation on farms.  Importantly, we can encourage and enable community access so residents and visitors can appreciate and look after a waterway they love.

‍

WSUD Guidelines

East Gippsland Shire Council has developed Urban Waterway Guidelines to provide guidance for developers to use to help protect East Gippsland's waterways.

The guidelines suggest ways to include WSUD in new developments and subdivisions. The issues associated with urban waterway erosion in the East Gippsland Shire area are particularly severe in terms of the Gippsland Lakes with their high ecological value. The guidelines refer to strategies to assist in areas such as vegetation, channel stability, water quality, hydrology and habitat.

• ‍Rural Roadside Vegetation Management
• ‍Urban Tree and Foreshore Reserve Vegetation Management Procedure.‍
• Sustainable Gardening in Gippsland‍
• ‍Environmental volunteering interactive map ‍
• Sustainable Gardening Australia ‍‍
• Build a raingarden‍