Protect Nature on the Surf Coast: Stop Habitat Loss and Create a Surf Coast Plan for Nature

For five years, a flock of ibis returned to the same stand of trees at the edge of Briody Drive in Torquay. The trees provided a reliable place to rest, nest and exist alongside the community.

Earlier this year, that stand of trees was cleared as part of the Briody Grove Estate development. The loss became a visible reminder of a broader issue. Across Torquay, mature habitat is being removed, wildlife displaced and ecosystems fragmented through the cumulative impacts of development and urban growth.

The ibis were not the only species affected. Residents across Torquay are witnessing the loss of mature trees, the fragmentation of habitat and the decline of natural spaces that support local wildlife. These changes reflect a broader issue affecting biodiversity across the Surf Coast. 

Why we are raising our voices now

Torquay is experiencing rapid growth, but planning processes are not adequately accounting for cumulative ecological impacts. Mature habitat is being removed faster than it can be replaced, wildlife rescue volunteers are reporting increasing numbers of displaced animals, and residents are noticing fewer birds, fewer mature trees and fewer places where nature can thrive. 

Council often notes that developments comply with planning requirements and consultation processes. However, compliance with minimum standards does not necessarily provide the level of environmental stewardship expected from a municipality that promotes itself as an Eco Destination. 

Across Australia, environmental laws are being rewritten because existing frameworks have not prevented ongoing habitat loss or species decline. The Federal Government's Nature Positive Plan acknowledges the need for stronger action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

Reference: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/epbc/publications/nature-positive-plan

Reference: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/13/threatened-species-habitat-destruction-australia-15-year-high 

Clearing a mature roosting site cannot be fully offset by planting saplings elsewhere. Mature trees provide habitat, canopy cover, cooling, carbon storage, nesting opportunities and ecological complexity that may take decades to develop. While replacement planting has value, the ecological loss is immediate, while the benefits of new plantings are long term and uncertain. 

It is sometimes argued that vegetation being removed was originally planted rather than naturally occurring. However, the ecological value of mature habitat is not determined solely by how it was established. Across Torquay, many planted native trees have been part of the landscape for decades and now provide important habitat, canopy cover and movement corridors for wildlife. In the area between Grossmans Road and Briody Drive, residents regularly observe birds and other wildlife using these mature native trees. Once established, habitat has ecological value regardless of whether it originated through natural regeneration or planting.

This is about cumulative habitat loss across Torquay and the Surf Coast

The clearing at Briody Grove brought community attention to an issue that extends well beyond a single development site. Across Torquay and the wider Surf Coast, mature vegetation continues to be removed through urban expansion, subdivision, infill development and infrastructure projects. Recent examples include vegetation removal associated with Briody Grove, the upcoming Cypress Lane and Coombes Road developments, and community concerns regarding the future of mature Moonah trees at Taylor Park. 

At the same time, important local ecosystems such as the Karaaf Wetlands and Deep Creek face increasing pressure from urban growth, stormwater impacts and habitat fragmentation.

Reference: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-05/torquay-property-boom-puts-karaaf-wetlands-under-threat/100046260

While each impact may appear manageable when considered in isolation, their combined effect is a gradual erosion of the ecological character of the Surf Coast. Habitat becomes fragmented, wildlife movement is restricted, tree canopy declines and species become less resilient to climate change. Understanding these cumulative impacts is essential to protecting biodiversity across the landscape. 

What other councils are doing and why Surf Coast is falling behind

The City of Greater Geelong has recognised the need for a whole-of-landscape approach through its Draft Plan for Nature, which includes biodiversity targets, habitat mapping, restoration priorities and measurable actions to protect and restore nature.

Reference: https://yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/planfornature 

Surf Coast Shire is proposing to develop a Biodiversity Strategy, which is a positive step. To be effective, however, it should include measurable targets, ongoing monitoring, public reporting and clear integration with planning and development decisions. While the Shire has adopted strong environmental objectives in a range of strategic documents, it still lacks a comprehensive Plan for Nature that can address cumulative impacts across the landscape and provide a consistent framework for decision-making. 

A new way forward: recognising nature as a stakeholder

Around the world, including in Victoria, governments are increasingly recognising that ecosystems have intrinsic value and should be considered in decision-making.
Examples include:

• The Whanganui River in Aotearoa New Zealand, which has legal personhood
• Te Urewera Forest, which is recognised as a living entity
• The Yarra River (Birrarung), which is recognised in Victorian law as a living entity with its own voice.

These examples reflect a broader shift towards giving greater weight to ecological values in governance and planning. Surf Coast Shire can take a practical first step by embedding habitat-first principles into planning and development decisions.

Reference: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4ee3fe38e16d45709278edf5bdc1dc1f

We, the undersigned, call on Surf Coast Shire Council to:

1.  Adopt a habitat-first approach that prioritises the retention of mature trees and existing wildlife habitat, including mature planted native vegetation that demonstrably provides habitat value, wherever possible across all development and infrastructure projects.

2. Require staged vegetation removal that considers wildlife movement, breeding seasons and the availability of alternative habitat.

3. Treat trees and ecosystems as essential infrastructure, not optional extras, and retain mature trees wherever possible.

4. Commence development of a Surf Coast Plan for Nature within 12 months, co-designed with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, local environmental organisations, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and the wider community.

5. Establish annual monitoring and public reporting of vegetation cover, tree canopy cover and habitat loss across Torquay and the wider Surf Coast, including private, public and council-managed land, to assess cumulative impacts over time.

6. Set measurable biodiversity targets aligned with national commitments to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and report publicly on progress.

7. Recognise nature as a stakeholder in planning decisions by adopting habitat-first planning principles and exploring rights of nature approaches for key landscapes.

8. Assess cumulative environmental impacts across Torquay and the wider Surf Coast, rather than considering developments solely in isolation.
    

This petition is not about stopping growth. It is about ensuring that growth occurs in a way that protects the natural systems that make the Surf Coast distinctive, resilient and liveable.

We ask Surf Coast Shire Council to align its planning decisions, Biodiversity Strategy and future growth planning with its Eco Destination values, national biodiversity commitments and the community's desire to protect nature.

We call on Council to lead, not follow, in creating a truly Nature Positive Surf Coast.