Vegetation along all municipal controlled rural roads throughout the Yorke Peninsula is managed as per the Native Vegetation Council’s ‘Guidelines for the Management of Roadside Native Vegetation and Regrowth Vegetation’.
The guidelines comply with Section 25 of the Native Vegetation Act 1991, which relates to Guidelines for the application of assistance and the management of native vegetation. Specifically these guidelines have been developed under Part 3, Division 4, Regulation 11 (23) to allow the clearance of vegetation that is growing or situated on a road reserve or rail corridor for the purpose of:
a) ensuring the safety of persons entering or passing the land, or
b) controlling pests on land.
Under this regulation, clearing can only occur if:
- the clearance complies with these guidelines; or
- the clearance complies with a Roadside Management Plan prepared by the Local Council or DIT and approved by the Native Vegetation Council, and
- the clearance meets all the other requirements of Regulation 11.
As Council does not wish to undertake works outside of the parameters set out in these guidelines, there is no requirement to have a separate Roadside Management Plan.
The guidelines not only inform Council’s operations, but also that of anyone wishing to undertake works/activities on Council road reserves, namely for:
– clearance for access to adjoining land
– clearance for fence lines
– pest plant and animal control
– removing plant material
– activity on undeveloped road reserves, and
– fire management.
Any activity on Council road reserves (Council land) requires the written permission of Council. Please contact Council early on in your planning for any of the above.
The guidelines and further information can be found at: https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/native-vegetation/clearing/roadside-rail-corridor-or-railway-crossing
The safe movement of travelling public is a key requirement of roads and Councils have a responsibility to maintain adequate levels of safety and efficiency for drivers on Council owned roads. The Yorke Peninsula Council recognises that they also have a responsibility to retain and protect roadside vegetation wherever possible, as road reserves have become increasingly important for conservation reasons due to the removal of vegetation from adjoining land.