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Best Practice Guideline 8 - Reserve Management

Introduction

This Best Practice Guideline is intended for Council staff undertaking works and maintenance activities in foreshore and bushland reserves of Pittwater Estuary.

The foreshore habitats in Pittwater Estuary include important and endangered ecological communities (EEC) and habitats. For example mangroves, saltmarsh and seagrass are all EEC’s and additionally, are protected under the Fisheries Management Act 1994. These habitats support a range of native plant and animal species which provide a valuable ecological resource, but also provide a natural backdrop to the estuary which is highly valued by residents and visitors alike.

The wildlife corridors are also vital, allowing native animals to move between larger areas of available habitat within the uninhabitable confines of an urban environment. In Pittwater, bushland in private
backyards, public reserves, vegetation around creeks and the estuary foreshores, and nature strips
provide corridors for wildlife. It is vital that local native species are planted in nature strips, public gardens, and are maintained in public reserves, to ensure ongoing provision of corridors for wildlife.

The aim of this guideline is to maintain and improve the management of Council’s reserves, and protect and improve native foreshore vegetation such as mangroves and saltmarsh

How to maintain and improve the management of our reserves

  • Ensure existing foreshore vegetation is properly maintained and protected e.g. provide fencing to stop public access and minimise land-use impacts.
  • Ensure existing formal access ways protect the foreshore environment
  • Remove and rehabilitate informal access ways in foreshore vegetation
  • Ensure tracks around the waterway are located as far as practicable from the waterways edge to allow growth and migration of foreshore habitats (particularly with sea level rise)
  • Always use local native plants in reserves, gardens and nature strips to enable these areas to provide corridors for native wildlife movement. The native plants also require less water, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers than exotic species.
  • Limit the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
  • Implement water reduction techniques
  • Ensure all new or replacement stormwater outlets are designed to treat stormwater and minimise impacts on foreshore land – See Best Practice Guideline 1
  • Provide bins, dog bags and educational signage to ensure all users of the foreshores dispose of rubbish and waste correctly.
  • Install interpretive environmental signage to improve foreshore users understanding of the environmental values of Pittwater Estuary and ways they can contribute to preserve these values
  • Conduct environmental education for Council staff working in bushland and foreshore reserves to ensure they are equipped to recognise and protect foreshore habitats.

To access the full details of the Best Practice Guidelines click here

Further information

Guideline 8