Background

Adelaide Hills Council owns and manages approximately 1200ha of native vegetation and 790ha of land and roads managed for conservation purposes. Many of these locations host threatened plant and wildlife species, even if currently degraded. Protecting Council’s native vegetation and conservation lands is vital.

The Draft Native Vegetation Protection and Conservation Policy will support Council's Biodiversity Strategy and has been developed for a number of reasons:

  • To protect Council’s native vegetation and sites managed for conservation purposes
  • To help prevent habitat loss and fragmentation
  • To support threatened and declining native plants and animals in the region.

The Policy has also been developed to provide clear guidelines to assist Council’s decision making with regard to protection of native vegetation and land or roads managed for conservation purposes. Council would like to ensure the Policy is easy to understand and follow.

Council will look to develop useful guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions for residents and developers. These will become valuable tools to assist practical application of the Policy in regard to proposals and application processes.

Council decision and next steps

At the Council Meeting held on 28 October 2025, Council endorsed the final Native Vegetation and Conservation Encroachment Policy. This policy incorporates feedback we received from our community during December 2024 and January 2025.

Following the endorsement of this policy, council staff will now look to review and update our Biodiversity Strategy.

You can find out what we heard from our community by viewing the Engagement Summary tab below or reading the Community Engagement Outcomes Report under the Document Library.

Engagement summary

What we asked

Between the 4 December 2024 to the 21 January 2025, we asked our community to share your feedback on our draft Native Vegetation Protection and Conservation Policy.

We asked a range of questions seeking to understand your levels of support and sentiment for the draft Policy, clarification in regard to how clear and easy to understand principles within the Policy were and provided opportunities to share your thoughts including concerns and gaps in the Policy content.

How we asked

What we heard

There was a total of 54 participants who provided feedback on the draft Policy. 48 Respondents provided their feedback by online feedback form and 6 participants responded via email.

  • Have you read the draft Policy?

    Respondents were asked if they had read the draft Native Vegetation Protection and Conservation Policy.

    • Yes, in detail - 36 respondents
    • I have had a quick read - 12 respondents

  • Objective 1

    Respondents were asked to what extent they supported Objective 1: Demonstrate the Council's commitment to the protection of native vegetation and areas of conservation value.

    • Fully support - 40 respondents
    • Partially support - 5 respondents
    • Do not support - 2 respondents
    • Unsure - 1 respondents

  • Objective 2

    Respondents were asked to what extent they supported Objective 2: Protect native vegetation and land of conservation value through the development of educational, procedural and regulatory initiatives across Council departments and teams, including development applications, permit and lease processes.

    • Fully support - 37 respondents
    • Partially support - 7 respondents
    • Do not support - 3 respondents
    • Unsure - 1 respondents

  • Objective 3

    Respondents were asked to what extent they supported Objective 3: Embed the use of an impact assessment tool into Council processes and procedures for assessing permit applications and leases and guide regulatory responses to damaging activities.

    • Fully support - 38 respondents
    • Partially support - 6 respondents
    • Do not support - 2 respondents
    • Unsure - 2 respondents

  • Objective 4

    Respondents were asked to what extent they supported Objective 4: Enable consistent decision making in relation to the various functions, duties and powers available to the Council in respect to native vegetation contained in the Local Government Act 1999.

    • Fully support - 39 respondents
    • Partially support - 5 respondents
    • Do not support - 2 respondents
    • Unsure - 2 respondents

  • Guiding Principles

    Respondents were asked if they felt the draft Native Vegetation Protection and Conservation Policy provided clear and easy to understand guiding principles.

    • Yes - 38 respondents
    • No - 4 respondents
    • Unsure - 6 respondents

  • General Feelings

    Respondents were asked if they could indicate how they generally felt about the draft Native Vegetation Protection and Conservation Policy.

    • Very happy - 17 respondents
    • Happy - 18 respondents
    • Neutral - 9 respondents
    • Unhappy - 0 respondents
    • Very unhappy - 4 respondents
Community Engagement Outcomes Report open in new window

FAQs