Warrnambool City Council is seeking quotations for a management plan for the maintenance of vegetation adjoining the foreshore paths under its management. This would include obtaining the required planning permits, offsets and consents to undertake the works for an extended period of time.

Council are the Committee of Management (CoM) for the Warrnambool foreshore (foreshore) which consists of crown land, council owned land and private land.

The foreshore paths include:

• Logans Beach Estate (under development);
• the Foreshore Promenade (concrete paths) from Logans Beach Whale Platform to the Warrnambool Breakwater;
• gravel paths at the Bluehole, Pickering Point, Thunder Point; and
• Informal grassed paths between the Flume to Moyjil/Point Ritchie including Grannies Grave.

Council’s depot staff including the Parks, Gardens and Environment, Trees and Botanics and Roads and Drains Teams have actively maintained these paths since their formation, in particular the Foreshore Promenade which is an important link to a number of areas surrounding the foreshore and is used considerably by the community, especially in the summer months. There has been an increased concern by users of the Foreshore Promenade around safety. In particular blind corners caused by vegetation and overhanging branches.

Maintenance has included vertical trimming of vegetation along path edges and where practical, maintaining the tops of vegetation. View lines to the ocean/Lady Bay across the foreshore have been maintained as well over the years but is not a consideration for this management plan. Maintenance has been undertaken predominately using hedge trimmers and other hand tools but at times a contractor with a mulching head on an excavator has been used.

The following will be delivered as part of this project:

A management Plan clearly outlining the following:

• How and to what extent vegetation will be removed and maintained along the edges of all foreshore paths. Setting a standard for future maintenance.
• An outline of ‘best practise’ methods for vegetation removal/maintenance that can to utilised by maintenance staff and contractors.
• An annual timeline outlining when works should be undertaken, how many staff required and costs involved to do the work.
• A description of environmental factors that need to be considered before vegetation removal and maintenance occurs.
• Any risks that may be encountered and how to minimise their impact. This can be done through a risk assessment and/or standard operating procedure.
• Identification of any rare or vulnerable plant species and communities that should be protected within and near the work sites.

• Consultation with key stakeholders including Council departments, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC).
• Applying for and obtaining required Planning Permits, offsets, FFG Act permits, MACA Consent and any other permits/consents required to undertake works (minimum five year period).