About Spatial Vision 
The 2009 Planning Sustainable Futures for Melbourne's Peri-urban Region report prepared for the Peri-urban Group of Councils and funded by the Victorian government has received the Planning Institute of Australia (Victoria division) award for best Rural and Regional planning achievement.
Shire of Moorabool Mayor, Cr Michael Tudball accepted the award on behalf of the councils, project team, and all others involved in the overview and preparation of the report at the awards function on 16 October 2009.
Spatial Vision was responsible for the biodiversity and vegetation change component of the report that addressed the six peri-urban municipalities covered in the study.
Key areas evaluated in the biodiversity chapter included the public land conservation system, changes in native vegetation extent and types (in terms of ecological vegetation classes), significant vegetation from a biodiversity and conservation status viewpoint, significant flora and fauna, significant wetlands and sites of biological significance.
The level of protection offered by the Environmental Significance Overlay and Vegetation Protection Overlay in relation to key biodiversity assets and native vegetation on private land were also evaluated.
Preparation of the report was undertaken by the School of Social Science and Planning, at RMIT University, who engaged Spatial Vision to undertake the biodiversity and vegetation change work.
In acknowledging the achievement of the award Prof. Michael Buxton from the School of Social Science and Planning, at RMIT University, noted ‘the award is an expression of confidence by the planning profession in the report's quality and importance. I hope that it contributes further to the momentum building up in this country for action by communities and all levels of government on peri-urban issues’.
The six peri-urban LGAs covered by the report are: Moorabool, Macedon Ranges, Murrindindi, Mitchell, Surf Coast, and Bass Coast. An updated version of the report is currently being prepared that includes Baw Baw LGA.
An outline of the project can be viewed at http://planning.org.au/vic/images/stories/awards/awards09_winners.pdf
Spatial Vision has finished compiling the 2nd Edition South East Region Vicmap Book and sent it to the printers for an expected release in early November.
This will complete the much improved 2nd edition series which has significantly benefited from CFA brigade field checking and major data upgrades by DSE.
