Draft Plan of Management - Office of Environment and … PLAN OF MANAGEMENT NSW National Parks and...
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Draft Plan of Management The Crookwell Reserves (Incorporating Thalaba State Conservation Area, Gillindich Nature Reserve, Burwood Creek Nature Reserve, Nuggetty State Conservation Area and Mount Davies Nature Reserve)
Transcript of Draft Plan of Management - Office of Environment and … PLAN OF MANAGEMENT NSW National Parks and...
Draft Plan of Management
The Crookwell Reserves (Incorporating Thalaba State Conservation Area,
Gillindich Nature Reserve, Burwood Creek Nature Reserve,
Nuggetty State Conservation Area and Mount Davies Nature Reserve)
Acknowledgments The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) acknowledge that the Crookwell Reserves are in the traditional country of the Wiradjuri, Gundungurra and Ngunnawal people. This plan of management was prepared by the staff of the Southern Ranges Region of NPWS, part of the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet. Cover photo of Tuena Creek, Nuggetty State Conservation Area, by D. Mills. For additional information or any inquiries about these Reserves or this plan of management, contact the NPWS Queanbeyan Area Office at 11 Farrer St, Queanbeyan NSW 2620 or by telephone on (02) 6229 7166. Disclaimer: This publication is for discussion and comment only. Publication indicates the proposals are under consideration and are open for public discussion. Any statements made in this draft publication are made in good faith and do not render the NPWS liable for any loss or damage. Provisions in the final management plan may not be the same as those in this draft plan. Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage 59–61 Goulburn Street PO Box A290 Sydney South 1232 © Copyright State of NSW and the Office of Environment and Heritage NSW: Use permitted with
appropriate acknowledgment. ISBN 978 1 74293 922 3 OEH 2012/0914 Printed on recycled paper
THE CROOKWELL RESERVES
(INCORPORATING THALABA STATE CONSERVATION AREA, GILLINDICH NATURE RESERVE, BURWOOD CREEK NATURE RESERVE, NUGGETTY STATE CONSERVATION AREA, AND MOUNT DAVIES NATURE RESERVE)
DRAFT PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service November 2012
INVITATION TO COMMENT
The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) requires that a plan of management be prepared that outlines how an area will be managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The procedures for the exhibition and adoption of plans of management are specified in the NPW Act and involve the following stages:
• The draft plan is placed on public exhibition for at least 90 days and any person may comment on it;
• The plan and submissions received on the plan are referred to the Regional Advisory Committee for consideration;
• The plan, submissions and any advice from the Regional Advisory Committee are referred to the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council for consideration;
• The plan, submissions and the recommendations of the Advisory Council are referred to the Minister administering the NPW Act, and a copy referred to the Regional Advisory Committee;
• After considering the submissions, the recommendations of the Advisory Council and any advice from the Regional Advisory Committee, the Minister may adopt the plan or may refer the plan back to the NPWS and Council for further consideration.
Members of the public, whether as individuals or as members of community interest groups, are invited to comment on this plan of management. Comments should be forwarded to:
Area Manager Crookwell Reserves National Parks and Wildlife Service PO Box 733 Queanbeyan NSW 2620
Comments may also be sent to the website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/comment. The closing date for comments on the plan is Monday 25
th February 2013.
All submissions received by NPWS are a matter of public record and are available for public inspection upon request to NPWS. Your comments on this draft plan of management may contain information that is defined as “personal information” under the NSW Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. The submission of personal information with your comments is voluntary.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
MAPS OF CROOKWELL RESERVES Map 1 Regional Locality and Planning Area i Map 2 Thalaba State Conservation Area ii Map 3 Gillindich Nature Reserve iii Map 4 Burwood Creek Nature Reserve iv Map 5 Nuggetty State Conservation Area v Map 6 Mount Davies Nature Reserve vi
1. LOCATION, GAZETTAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT 1 2. MANAGEMENT CONTEXT 2
2.1 Legislative and Policy Framework 2 2.2 Management Purposes and Principles 2
2.2.1 Nature Reserves 2 2.2.2 State Conservation Areas 3
2.3 Statement of Significance 3 2.4 Specific Management Directions 4
3. VALUES 5
3.1 Geology, Landscape and Hydrology 5 3.2 Native Plants 6 3.3 Native Animals 9 3.4 Aboriginal Heritage 10 3.5 Historic Heritage 11 3.6 Recreation, Education and Research 11
4. ISSUES 12
4.1 Weeds and Pest Animals 12 4.2 Fire 13 4.3 Isolation and Fragmentation 14 4.4 Soils 14 4.5 Climate Change 15
REFERENCES 16 5. IMPLEMENTATION 17
i
MAPS OF CROOKWELL RESERVES
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
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1. LOCATION, GAZETTAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT
The Crookwell Reserves are a complex of five reserves located north of Crookwell in the Central Tablelands of NSW (Map 1-6). They are, in a general progression from south to north: Thalaba State Conservation Area, Gillindich Nature Reserve, Burwood Creek Nature Reserve, Nuggetty State Conservation Area and Mount Davies Nature Reserve. They cover a combined area of 2779 hectares. They are collectively referred to as ‘the Reserves’ in this plan of management. Thalaba State Conservation Area (31 hectares), Gillindich Nature Reserve (1225 hectares), Burwood Creek Nature Reserve (34 hectares), Nuggetty State Conservation Area (1146 hectares) and Mount Davies Nature Reserve (343 hectares) were gazetted in August, 2010. All were previously areas of Crown Land recommended for addition to the protected area system as a result of the Goulburn Comprehensive Regional Assessment to enhance the protection of a number of key vegetation communities, and to improve habitat connectivity in this fragmented landscape by incorporating reserves into this poorly conserved region. The Reserves, excluding Mount Davies Nature Reserve, lie within the South Eastern Highlands Bioregion, one of the 85 bioregions defined in Australia on the basis of common vegetation and land systems. Over 58% of the South Eastern Highlands Bioregion has been cleared for agriculture and development while less than 10% lies within conservation reserves. Mount Davies Nature Reserve and 15% of Nuggetty State Conservation Area lie within the NSW South Western Slopes Bioregion. Over 84% of this bioregion has been cleared while less then 3% lies within conservation reserves (NPWS, 2008). The Reserves are separated by up to 60 kilometres. They are clustered around a group of older reserves - Keverstone National Park and State Conservation Area, and Razorback Nature Reserve. Other large reserves in the vicinity include Copperhania Nature Reserve and Abercrombie River National Park and State Conservation Area. The Reserves are within the Upper Lachlan Local Government Area, and the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority. The Reserves lie within the boundaries of the Pejar Local Aboriginal Land Council apart from Mount Davies Nature Reserve which is within the boundaries of the Cowra Local Aboriginal Land Council. The Crookwell Reserves border onto or are within the traditional country of the Wiradjuri, Gundungurra and Ngunnawal people The Reserves are within the geographical area of the Tablelands Livestock Health and Pest Authority district.
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2. MANAGEMENT CONTEXT
2.1 LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK The management of nature reserves and state conservation areas in NSW is in the context of a legislative and policy framework, primarily the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) and Regulation, the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) and the policies of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Other legislation, international agreements and charters may also apply to management of the area. In particular, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act) may require the assessment and mitigation of the environmental impacts of any works proposed in this plan. The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) also applies in relation to actions that may impact on migratory and threatened species listed under that Act. A plan of management is a statutory document under the NPW Act. Once the Minister has adopted a plan, no operations may be undertaken within Thalaba State Conservation Area, Gillindich Nature Reserve, Burwood Creek Nature Reserve, Nuggetty State Conservation Area and Mount Davies Nature Reserve except in accordance with the plan. This plan will also apply to any future additions to these reserves. Should management strategies or works be proposed for these reserves or any additions that are not consistent with the plan, an amendment to this plan or a new plan will be prepared and exhibited for public comment. 2.2 MANAGEMENT PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES 2.2.1 Nature Reserves Nature reserves are reserved under the NPW Act to protect and conserve areas containing outstanding, unique or representative ecosystems, species, communities or natural phenomena. Under the Act (section 30J), nature reserves are managed to:
• conserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem functions, and protect geological and geomorphological features and natural phenomena;
• conserve places, objects, features and landscapes of cultural value;
• promote public appreciation, enjoyment and understanding of the reserve’s natural and cultural values; and
• provide for appropriate research and monitoring. Nature reserves differ from national parks in that they do not have the provision of recreation as a management principle.
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2.2.2 State Conservation Areas State conservation areas are reserved under the NPW Act to protect and conserve areas that contain significant or representative ecosystems, landforms or natural phenomena or places of cultural significance; that are capable of providing opportunities for sustainable visitor or tourist use and enjoyment, the sustainable use of buildings and structures, or research; and that are capable of providing opportunities for uses permitted under other provisions of the Act. Under the Act (section 30G), state conservation areas are managed to:
• conserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem functions, protect natural phenomena and maintain natural landscapes;
• conserve places, objects and features of cultural value;
• provide for the undertaking of uses permitted under other provisions of the NPW Act (including uses permitted under section 47J such as mineral exploration and mining), having regard to the conservation of the natural and cultural values of the state conservation area;
• provide for sustainable visitor or tourist use and enjoyment that is compatible with conservation of the area’s natural and cultural values and with uses permitted in the area;
• provide for sustainable use (including adaptive reuse) of any buildings or structures or modified natural areas having regard to conservation of the area’s natural and cultural values and with other uses permitted in the area; and
• provide for appropriate research and monitoring. The NPW Act requires a review of the classification of state conservation areas every 5 years in consultation with the Minister administering the Mining Act 1992. In the long term it is intended for Nuggetty and Thalaba State Conservation Areas to become nature reserves. Accordingly the management principles applying to nature reserves will be applied as far as possible to the state conservation areas in the interim. 2.3 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Crookwell Reserves are considered to be of significance for:
• Biological Values: The Reserves protect a number of key vegetation communities in this poorly conserved region, including an area of the White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland Endangered Ecological Community. Nine animal species listed under the TSC Act have been recorded in the Reserves. The Reserves also provide suitable habitat for several other threatened species, and support a large variety of native fauna and flora.
• Landscape/Catchment Values: The Reserves are important vegetated remnants within a landscape that has been extensively cleared for agriculture.
• Historic Heritage Values: Excavation diggings occur on the banks and flats of Tuena Creek in Nuggetty State Conservation Area and provide evidence of previous mining activity. A small section of rock wall is located in Mount Davies Nature Reserve which may be a remnant of a bridle path.
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2.4 SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT DIRECTIONS In addition to the general principles for the management of nature reserves and state conservation areas, management of the Crookwell Reserves will focus on the:
• Protection of the range of plant and animal communities within the Reserves, with particular attention to minimising further fragmentation, enhancing connectivity to other remnants, and the maintenance of populations of threatened or regionally significant species and communities.
• Protection of Aboriginal cultural values in consultation with the local Aboriginal community.
• Co-operation with the NSW Rural Fire Service and the local community regarding fire management activities and fire suppression in the Reserves.
• Control of introduced plant and animal species, including through cooperative programs with neighbours and the Livestock Health and Pest Authority.
• Encouragement of appropriate use of the Reserves.
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3. VALUES The location, landforms and plant and animal communities of an area have determined how it has been used and valued. Both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people place values on natural areas, including aesthetic, social, spiritual and recreational values. These values may be attached to the landscape as a whole or to individual components, for example to plant and animal species used by Aboriginal people. This plan of management aims to conserve both natural and cultural values. For reasons of clarity and document usefulness, various aspects of natural heritage, cultural heritage, threats and on-going use are dealt with individually, but their inter-relationships are recognised. 3.1 GEOLOGY, LANDSCAPE AND HYDROLOGY The Reserves lie in central eastern New South Wales. The landscape of the Reserves was formed by uplifting associated with the underlying Lachlan Fold Belt. The area consists of Paleozoic age sequences (Ordivician to Permian) overlain in part by Cainozoic age volcanic rocks, e.g. basalts and sediments. The general structural trend in this bioregion is north-south and the undulating topography of the Reserves strongly reflects this (NPWS 2003). All of the Reserves contain a mix of sedimentary and volcanic rocks. A widespread band of older marine sediments called the Adaminaby Group underlies all of the Reserves. These sediments formed in the Ordovician period (488 to 443 million years ago). These sedimentary deposits are known as turbidites (in this case deposited from massive submarine landslides) and comprise sandstones, mudstones, shales chert and quartzite. In the Nuggetty and Thalaba State Conservation Areas (SCAs) and Gillindich and Burwood Creek Nature Reserves (NRs) the Adaminaby group sediments are interspersed with extrusive volcanic rocks. In Mt Davies NR the Adaminaby Group sediments were intruded by a biotite granite intrusion, (the Bartletts Creek granite) in the late Silurian period (443 million years ago). Similarly in Burwood Creek NR the western portion of the reserve is intruded by granite of the late Silurian period (the Yarra Aplite) whilst the eastern portion of the reserve is based on the Adaminaby group and undifferentiated volcanics. Thalaba and Nuggetty SCAs form part of a plateau surface which is generally characterised by low rolling hills (the Rockley Plains landscape (NSW DECC, 2008), although Nuggetty SCA does contain linear ranges steeper than the surrounding landscape. The soils derived from this landscape contain red and yellow texture-contrast soils often with prominent bleached A2 horizons (NSW DECC, 2008). Texture contrast soils have an abrupt increase in clay content down the soil profile, which can restrict drainage and cause waterlogging, and are often erodible. Bleached A2 horizons can be associated with texture contrast soils. They are lighter in colour-as minerals have been washed out. Many of the slopes in Nuggetty SCA are steep and highly erodible, with skeletal soils.
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Nuggetty SCA has a history of gold mining, particularly along the Tuena Creek. The Peelwood Silver, Copper and Lead Mine was located approximately 16km southwest of Tuena (Hogan, 1993). Gillindich and Burwood Creek NRs contain soils which are yellow, hard setting texture-contrast soils with distinct bleached A2 horizons. Burwood Creek NR also contains the linear ranges and rounded hills on lower Silurian gneissic and foliated granite, of the Gunning Hills Landscape (NSW DECC, 2008). The soil consists of siliceous uniform sands, red earths and yellow texture-contrast soils, and provides the underlying substrate for the endangered White Box – Yellow Box – Blakeleys Red Gum Woodland vegetation community. Mt Davies NR forms part of the westerly facing slope draining towards Wyangala Dam. The soils derived from the rocky outcrops of granite are thin loamy sands between outcrops, red texture-contrast soils on upper slopes grading to yellow texture-contrast soils on lower slopes and there is an accumulation of siliceous coarse sands along streams (the Wyangala Hills Landscape (NSW DECC, 2008). Black Cypress Pine (Callitris endlicheri) (South West Slopes Tall Shrubland Low Forest) are found in the infertile soils of the rocky outcrops which dominate the reserve. Soil erosion is present in the Reserves, particularly within gully systems and areas of disturbance, such as the trail network. Gillindich and Mount Davies NRs and Nuggetty SCA contain steep and highly erodible land (vulnerable land) as designated under the Native Vegetation Act 2003. The drainage lines in Burwood Creek NR are actively eroding, resulting in gullies that are several metres deep There are few watercourses in the Reserves. Nuggetty SCA contains Tuena Creek, which forms the major tributary through the reserve and drains into the Abercrombie River. Gillindich NR contains unnamed tributaries that drain into Tuena Creek. Burwood Creek forms the southern boundary of Burwood Creek NR. 3.2 NATIVE PLANTS The region is characterised by a pattern of extensively cleared forest and woodland. Much of the remaining vegetation occurs in very small patches or as scattered trees. This fragmentation is largely the result of past clearing for agricultural purposes (Resource and Conservation Assessment Council, 2002). The Reserves contain some of the only substantial vegetated areas remaining in the region, protecting a number of key vegetation communities that are under represented within the reserve system. The vegetation communities in the Crookwell reserves are shown in Table 1.
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Table 1: Summary of vegetation communities located within the Crookwell Reserves (from Gellie, 2005 and Miles, 2010).
Reserve Community Dominant Species Structure Geomorphology
Thalaba State Conservation Area
Central Northern Tablelands Dry Shrub/Grass Forest
Main Canopy: Eucalyptus dalrympleana, E. dives, E. bridgesiana, E. macrorhyncha, E.goniocalyx Shrub layer: Acacia dealbata, Cassinia sp., Exocarpus strictus Understorey: Poa sieberiana var. sieberiana, Joycea pallida, Danthonia racemosa var. racemosa, Microlaena stipoides, Themeda australis.
Moderately tall forest with shrub/ tussock grass understorey
Rolling Hills
Gillindich Nature Reserve
Widespread Tablelands Dry Shrub/Tussock Grass Forest
Main Canopy: Eucalyptus macrorhyncha, E.dives, E. mannifera Shrub layer: Daviesia leptophylla, Acacia falciformis, A. gunnii, Brachyloma daphnoides. Understorey: Joycea pallida, Poa sieberiana
Moderately tall forest with shrub/ tussock grass understorey
Slopes with southerly aspect at southern end of reserve, and on lower slopes of central creek line
Tablelands Dry Shrub/ Tussock Grass Forest
Main Canopy: Eucalyptus rossii, E. macrorhyncha, E.dives Subcanopy: E.goniocalyx, Acacia falciformis Understorey: Joycea pallida, Daviesia leptophylla, Acacia gunnii, Brachyloma daphnoides,, Poa sieberiana, Lomandra sp.
Moderately tall forest with shrub/ tussock grass understorey
Exposed slopes and ridges
Tableland Dry Grassy Woodland
Main Canopy: Eucalyptus melliodora, E.bridgesiana Shrub layer: Acacia dealbata Understorey: Microlaena stipoides, Pteridium esculentum.
Grassy Woodland
Major creek lines
Burwood Creek Nature Reserve
Tableland Dry Grassy Woodland (includes White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland EEC)
Main Canopy: Eucalyptus melliodora, E.bridgesiana Understorey: Themeda australis, Austrodanthonia sp., Aristida sp.
Grassy Woodland
Rolling hills
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Reserve Community Dominant Species Structure Geomorphology
Nuggetty State Conservation Area
Tablelands Dry Shrub/ Tussock Grass Forest
Main Canopy: Eucalyptus rossii, E. macrorrhyncha, E.polyanthemos, E.mannifera Understorey: Joycea pallida, Brachyloma daphnoides, Poa sieberiana, Lomandra sp., Xanthorrhoea glauca
Moderately tall forest with shrub/ tussock grass understorey
Exposed slopes and ridges
Tableland Dry Grassy Woodland
Main Canopy: Eucalyptus melliodora, E.bridgesiana Shrub layer: Acacia dealbata Understorey: Themeda australis, Austrodanthonia sp Microlaena stipoides
Grassy Woodland
Sheltered slopes
Riparian Acacia Shrub/Grass/ Herb Forest
Main Canopy: Casuarina cunninghamiana Shrub layer: Acacia mearnsii Understorey: Microlaena stipoides, Lomandra sp., Pteridium esculentum
Tall Forest Tuena Creek
Mount Davies Nature Reserve
South West Slopes Tall Shrubland Low Forest
Main Canopy: Callitris endlicheri, Eucalyptus sideroxylon, E.dealbata, E.polyanthemos, Shrub layer: Acacia doratoxylon Understorey: Gonocarpus elatus
Low Forest Exposed slopes and ridges
Western Slopes Shrub/Herb/ Grass Dry Forest
Main Canopy: E.goniocalyx, E.albens Understorey: Poa sieberiana, Cassinia quinquefaria
Moderately tall forest with shrub/ tussock grass understorey
Lower slopes
Burwood Creek NR contains White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum (Box-Gum) Woodland which is listed as an Endangered Ecological Community (EEC) under both the TSC Act and the Commonwealth EPBC Act. Although locations are not currently known, there is the potential for this EEC to also occur in Gillindich and Mount Davies NRs and Nuggetty SCA, particularly on the lower slopes or in drainage lines. Flora species located in these areas may meet the definition of the EEC, however, it is questionable whether the areas containing these suite of species would be recognised as a distinct vegetation community or whether they are an ecotonal part of the broader vegetation mosaic, which would not be recognised as the EEC. The Threatened Species Priorities Action Statement contains strategies for the recovery of EECs and threatened species. Actions to recover this community include pest and weed control using methods that do not disturb native species within the remnant, and the retention of fallen timber. There is a Draft National Recovery Plan available for this community (NSW DECCW, 2010b).
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The most significant threats to ecological condition in the Reserves include burning of drought stressed vegetation, competition from weeds, and impacts from feral animals, particularly goats. 3.3 NATIVE ANIMALS Preliminary surveys (Mills and Robertson, 2010) suggest that the Reserves support a large variety of native fauna including twenty three mammal species, eighty species of birds, nine species of frogs and twenty species of reptile. Mammals found on the Reserves include the Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus), Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolour), Wallaroo (Macropus robustus) Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), Greater Glider (Petauroides volcans), Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) Wombat (Vombatus ursinus), Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), Agile Antechinus (Antechinus agilis), Water Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster) and eleven species of bat. Table 2 details the nine threatened fauna species that are known to occur within the Reserves. The presence of threatened species identified during the surveys indicates the Reserves are valuable as habitat. Table 2: Threatened fauna species known to occur within the Reserves (Mills and Robertson, 2010).
Common name Scientific name Status under TSC Act
Th
ala
ba
S
CA
Gil
lin
dic
h
NR
Bu
rwo
od
C
k N
R
Nu
gg
ett
y
SC
A
Mt
Da
vie
s
NR
Spotted-tailed Quoll
Dasyurus maculatus Vulnerable X
Eastern False Pipstrelle
Falsistrellus tasmaniensis
Vulnerable X
Southern Myotis (Fishing Bat)
Myotis macropus Vulnerable X
Gang-gang Cockatoo
Callocephalon fimbriatum
Vulnerable X X
Powerful Owl Ninox strenua Vulnerable X X
Scarlet Robin Petroica boodang Vulnerable X X
Speckled Warbler Pyrrholaemus saggitatus
Vulnerable X
Varied Sitella Daphoenositta chrysoptera
Vulnerable X
Booroolong Frog Litoria booroolongensis
Endangered X
The presence of Powerful Owls and the identification of a high density of prey species (Greater Gliders Petauroides volans) and roost trees signal that the Gillindich and Burwood Creek NRs are likely to be significant habitat for Powerful Owls (Mills and Robertson, 2010).
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There is potential for Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) to occur within gullies containing Ribbon Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) in Gillindich NR. Also, although the
Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) is currently not known to occur within the Reserves, the River Sheoak (Casuarina cunninghamiana) that lines Tuena Creek in Nuggetty SCA provides prime foraging habitat for this species (Mills and Robertson, 2010). The Priority Action Statements and recovery plans contain strategies for the recovery of threatened animal species. A recovery plan has been prepared for the Large Forest Owls, which includes the Powerful Owl (NSW DEC, 2006). Continued management of habitat values, such as hollow bearing trees, structural complexity of some habitats and open understorey vegetation of other habitats; and weed and feral animal control is required to limit further decline of threatened species, and of woodland birds towards threatened status. 3.4 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE Aboriginal communities have an association and connection to the land. The land and water within a landscape are central to Aboriginal spirituality and contribute to Aboriginal identity. Aboriginal communities associate natural resources with the use and enjoyment of foods and medicines, caring for the land, passing on cultural knowledge, kinship systems and strengthening social bonds. Aboriginal heritage and connection to nature are inseparable from each other and need to be managed in an integrated manner across the landscape. The Reserves lie within or border onto the traditional country of the Wiradjuri, Gundungurra and Ngunnawal people (NSW Aboriginal Land Council, 2009). The Gundungurra Tribal Council Aboriginal Corporation has registered a native title claim over the area in which the Reserves are located. The Reserves lie within the boundaries of the Pejar Local Aboriginal Land Council apart from Mount Davies NR which is within the boundaries of the Cowra Local Aboriginal Land Council. The Onerwal and Pejar Local Aboriginal Land Councils were consulted during the Goulburn Comprehensive Regional Assessment process, to explain the objectives and intended outcomes of the assessment and to seek the Local Aboriginal Land Councils consideration and input (Resource and Conservation Assessment Council, 2002). Aboriginal sites recorded in the local region include open campsites, shelter with art/deposits, and scarred trees. An art site is located on private land within close proximity to Bigga. Given this, it is likely that other sites exist on the Reserves. An Aboriginal site survey of Gillindich NR was conducted by NPWS staff in April 2011. The survey was conducted along the trail network, as it provided disturbed areas with suitable visibility. Approximately 6.5 kilometres of trail was surveyed, which traversed ridgelines. No cultural material was found within Gillindich NR during the survey. Aboriginal site surveys have not been conducted in any of the other reserves. The key threats to the potential Aboriginal sites are fire and fire management operations (see section 4.2).
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3.5 HISTORIC HERITAGE Prior to gazettal, the Reserves comprised Crown lands mostly held under lease or permissive occupancy. Evidence of past grazing use in the Reserves includes old fence lines. Gillindich NR and Nuggetty SCA are located in rugged country and were at best marginal areas for pastoral and agricultural activities. There is evidence of past mining activity in Nuggetty SCA. Excavation pits/diggings, approximately half a metre deep, occur adjacent to Tuena Creek. The operational details of these particular diggings are not known. The remains of a smelter occur on private land to the north east of the reserve. Fossicking occurs along Tuena Creek. In the main gully north of the promontory in Mount Davies NR, a metre wide section of path, has been constructed across the steep slope by building up a rock retaining wall. It starts at the foot of a steep cascade on the southern slopes of the gully, traverses the slope in a north westerly direction and ends approximately 50 metres later(Miles, 2010). Hut ruins are located in the north east section of Thalaba SCA. Neighbours suggest the hut was built by the previous lessee to use as weekend accommodation. 3.6 RECREATION, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH The current level of use of the Reserves is low and there are no visitor facilities in the Reserves. The Reserves are not considered a priority for development of visitor facilities due to their management objectives as nature reserves, their small size, and their lack of proximity to population centres and major travel routes. Although Gillindich and Burwood Creek NRs and Thalaba and Nuggetty SCAs each have at least one frontage to a minor public road, public vehicular access is currently only available into Gillindich NR. There are no trails in Burwood Creek NR and Thalaba SCA and access to the trails in Nuggetty SCA are through private property. Vehicular access to Mount Davies NR is dependant on water levels in Wyangala Dam. There is evidence that some illegal use of the Reserves occurs, such as hunting and timber getting. Research into the natural and cultural features of the Reserves and their maintenance requirements is important as it provides an effective framework for making informed management decisions. Research to date has included flora and fauna surveys, preliminary surveys for cultural heritage, and assessments of fire fuel levels in the Reserves.
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4. ISSUES 4.1 WEEDS AND PEST ANIMALS A weed is defined in this plan as any plant species not native to the Reserves. Weeds can be listed as noxious weeds, weeds of national significance and environmental weeds. The Noxious Weeds Act 1993 places an obligation upon public authorities to control noxious weeds on land that they occupy to the extent necessary to prevent such weeds spreading to adjoining lands. The NPWS also has a priority to control environmental weeds which threaten natural habitats. The NPWS Southern Ranges Region Draft Regional Pest Management Strategy (OEH, 2011) identifies priority pest species and programs for the Region. The strategy prioritises programs based on such issues as the control of weeds in endangered ecological communities, threatened species habitat, significant impacts on human health or economic enterprise, and co-operative programs. Consistent with the Regional Pest Management Strategy (OEH, 2011), control programs in the Reserves will target:
• Serrated Tussock Nassella trichotoma
• Blackberry Rubus fruticosus
• Thistles such as Cirsium vulgare
• Sweet Briar Rosa rubiginosa
• St Johns Wort Hypericum perforatum
• Herbaceous weeds, such as Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) and Cape weed (Arctotheca calendula).
These species generally exist in low to medium numbers in the Reserves, and occur in areas of disturbance such as old sheep camps and trails, or productive areas such as creek lines. There is a large infestation of blackberry, serrated tussock and St Johns wort in the north west of Nuggetty SCA where the reserve adjoins Junction Point Rd. Serrated tussock, blackberry, sweet briar, St Johns wort and Patersons curse are declared noxious weeds under the Noxious Weeds Act, in the Upper Lachlan LGA. Serrated tussock and blackberry and are also declared Weeds of National Significance. A pest animal is defined in this plan as any animal species not native to the Reserves. Pest animals within the Reserves and on adjoining land are of concern because they have the potential to have detrimental effects on native animal communities through competition for resources, predation, disturbance and transmission of diseases. Pest animals can also impact on native vegetation and have the potential to have an adverse economic impact on neighbouring properties. Table 3 details the pest species that are known to occur within the Reserves.
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Table 3: Pest species known to occur within the Reserves (Mills and Robertson, 2010; OEH, 2011).
Common name Scientific name
Th
ala
ba
S
CA
Gil
lin
dic
h
NR
Bu
rwo
od
C
k N
R
Nu
gg
ett
y
SC
A
Mt
Da
vie
s
NR
Fox Vulpes vulpes X X X X X
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus X X X X
Hare Lepus capensis X
Goat Capra hircus X X
Pig Sus scrofa X X
Sheep/Cattle Ovus aries/ Bos taurus X
Dog Canis familiaris X X
Cat Felis catus X X X X X
Fallow Deer Cervus dama X
All species, identified in Table 3, excluding sheep/cattle and hares have been listed as a Key Threatening Process under the TSC Act and a Threat Abatement Plan has been endorsed for foxes. Rabbits, goats, fox, cats and pigs are also listed as key threatening processes under the EPBC Act. Pigs, dogs and rabbits are declared pests under the Rural Lands Protection Act, 1989. There is frequent evidence of pig rooting along the banks of Tuena Creek and adjoining flats in Nuggetty SCA. This has the potential to significantly degrade habitat quality for fauna species associated with the riparian habitat, including two threatened species – the Booroolong frog and the Southern Myotis bat. Goats also have the potential to significantly degrade the habitat of native species. Small patches of heath occurring in Nuggetty SCA provide good quality habitat for small mammals, however, almost all of this heath appears to be affected by grazing, most likely by goats. Feral goats may account for the low diversity of shrubs detected and lack of recruitment of Black Cypress Pine (Callitris endlicheri) and Acacia doratoxylon in Mount Davies NR (Miles, 2010). Control programs for these species are implemented as needed in line with the Regional Pest Management Strategy (OEH, 2011). The Reserves are surrounded primarily by cattle and sheep properties. There is some evidence of stock occasionally straying into the Reserves. 4.2 FIRE The primary fire management objectives of the NPWS are to protect life and property and community assets from the adverse impacts of fire, whilst managing fire regimes to maintain and protect biodiversity and cultural heritage. Fire is a natural feature of many environments and is essential for the survival of some plant communities. However, inappropriate fire regimes can lead to loss of particular
14
plant and animal species and communities, and high frequency fires have been listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act. Little information is available about the fire history of the Reserves. Anecdotal reports indicate the Reserves have been subject to some fires started by lightning but these have been quickly extinguished and there is little evidence of recent fires in the Reserves. The Reserves generally contain dry sclerophyll forest in undulating country. There are few assets that are vulnerable to fire within the Reserves but all the Reserves adjoin areas of private grazing land with associated houses and outbuildings. A campus of Trinity Grammar School is located adjacent to Mount Davies NR. The greatest fire threats are from lightning, arson, escaped hazard reduction burning and accidental ignitions on the Reserves, nearby properties or public roads. Separate (map-based) fire management strategies are being prepared for the Reserves. The strategies will outline the recent fire history of the Reserves, key assets within and adjoining the Reserves including sites of natural and cultural heritage value, fire management zones, and fire control advantages such as management trails and water supply points. Fuel monitoring sites are being established in the Reserves to provide baseline information to monitor fire fuel levels. NPWS maintains cooperative arrangements with surrounding landowners and Rural Fire Service brigades and is an active participant in the Southern Tablelands Bush Fire Management Committee. Cooperative arrangements include trail maintenance, asset protection, fuel management, support for neighbour fire management efforts and information sharing. 4.3 ISOLATION AND FRAGMENTATION The area surrounding each of the Reserves has been extensively cleared, which has resulted in a high loss of biodiversity and fragmentation of habitat in the region. Long term conservation of biodiversity depends upon the protection, enhancement and connection of remaining habitat across the landscape, incorporating vegetation remnants on both public and private lands. Nearby vegetated areas contribute to the habitat values of the Reserves and provide ecological corridors to other vegetated areas. Maintaining the integrity of the remaining habitat within the Reserves and, where possible, linking this to adjacent vegetated areas to facilitate wildlife corridors, or increasing the size of protected areas of remnant vegetation, is important in ensuring long term viability of the Reserves’ biological values. 4.4 SOILS The drainage lines in Burwood Creek NR are actively eroding. Erosion within this reserve is resulting in gullies that are several metres deep. The movement of soil in the eroded gullies is resulting in a decline in water quality due to sedimentation.
15
4.5 CLIMATE CHANGE
Anthropogenic climate change has been listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act. The NSW Climate Impact Profile (DECCW 2010) for the Southern Tablelands outlines projected changes in climate and the physical responses expected to these changes. The projections for the Southern Tablelands are that temperatures are likely to rise, there is likely to be a substantial increase in summer rainfall but conversely, winter rainfall is projected to decrease by up to 50%. Many parts of the Southern Tablelands are likely to become significantly drier than in the past, especially during the winter. Water stress, particularly during drought years, is likely to kill many trees in woodlands, and stressed trees are also likely to die from additional pressure from insect attack and disease. Such impacts are likely to be most severe for resident species or those with low dispersal capacity including many threatened woodland birds such as Scarlet Robins, and small mammals. The seasonality of growth in the tablelands is likely to intensify. This change is likely to increase the browsing and grazing of herbivores on grasslands and grassy woodland during drier winter periods. Summer-growing grasses such as wallaby grass, red grass and weeds such as St John’s Wort are likely to expand and displace other native species such as poa tussocks (DECCW 2010). Programs to reduce the pressures arising from other threats, such as habitat fragmentation, weeds and pest animal species and fire, will help reduce the severity of the effects of climate change.
16
REFERENCES Gellie N (2005) Native vegetation of the Southern Forests: South East Highlands, Australian Alps, South-west Slopes, and SE corner bioregions. Cunninghamia 9 (2): 219-253 Hogan, T (1993) Glimmer of Gold – A history of Tuena Gold Mining. Government Printing Service, Goulburn. Miles J (2010) Comments on Vegetation Mapping, Small Southern Tablelands Reserves. Unpublished report to NPWS Mills, D.J and Robertson, G (2010) Flora and fauna of National Parks in the Crookwell, Yass, Goulburn and Gundaroo Regions of the Southern Tablelands of NSW (Draft). Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, NSW, Queanbeyan.
Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) (2006). NSW Recovery Plan
for the Large Forest Owls: Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), Sooty Owl (Tyto
tenebricosa) and Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae). DEC, Sydney. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/TSRecoveryPlanForestOwls.pdf NSW DECC (2008) Description for NSW (Mitchell) Landscapes. http://maps.environment.nsw.gov.au/Metadata/NSW%20Landscapes%20descriptions.pdf
NSW DECCW (2010) NSW Climate Impact Profile, The impacts of climate change on the biophysical environment of New South Wales. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, Sydney South. NSW DECCW (2010b). Draft National Recovery Plan for White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, Sydney. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) The Bioregions of New South Wales: their biodiversity, conservation and history. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/bioregions/Bioregions.htm
NSW NPWS (2008) NSW National Parks Establishment Plan. Sydney, NSW. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/protectedareas/0852npestplan.pdf
Office of Environment and Heritage. (2011). Southern Ranges Region Regional Pest Management Strategy Part B 2012-2015. OEH, Sydney, NSW
Resource and Conservation Assessment Council (2002). Proposal for public land use in the Goulburn Region. NSW Government, Sydney. NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Natural Resources Advisory Council, Cultural and Heritage Division of Department of Environment and Climate Change (2009) Aboriginal NSW. NSW Government.
17
5.
IM
PL
EM
EN
TA
TIO
N
Cu
rre
nt
Sit
ua
tio
n
De
sir
ed
Ou
tco
me
s
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Re
sp
on
se
P
rio
rity
1
On
-Pa
rk E
co
log
ica
l C
on
se
rva
tio
n
Th
e C
roo
kw
ell
Re
se
rve
s w
ill e
nh
an
ce
th
e
pro
tectio
n o
f a
nu
mb
er
of
ke
y v
ege
tatio
n
co
mm
un
itie
s,
inclu
din
g t
he
Wh
ite
Bo
x-Y
ello
w
Bo
x-B
lake
ly’s
Re
d G
um
Wo
od
lan
d
En
da
nge
red
Eco
logic
al C
om
mu
nity.
T
he
R
ese
rve
s
co
nta
in
on
e
an
ima
l sp
ecie
s
liste
d a
s e
nd
an
ge
red
an
d e
igh
t a
nim
al sp
ecie
s
liste
d a
s v
uln
era
ble
un
de
r th
e T
SC
Act.
T
he
R
ese
rve
s p
rovid
e su
ita
ble
h
ab
ita
t fo
r se
ve
ral
oth
er
thre
ate
ne
d s
pe
cie
s.
Th
e d
rain
age
lin
es in
Bu
rwo
od
Cre
ek N
R a
re
active
ly e
rod
ing,
resu
ltin
g in
gu
llie
s t
ha
t a
re
se
ve
ral m
etr
es d
ee
p.
R
ese
arc
h t
o d
ate
pro
vid
es a
go
od
ba
sis
fo
r m
an
age
me
nt,
ho
we
ve
r fu
rth
er
rese
arc
h w
ill
exp
an
d t
he
kn
ow
led
ge
ba
se
.
La
nd
sca
pe
an
d
ca
tch
me
nt
va
lue
s a
re
pro
tecte
d.
Na
tive
pla
nt
an
d
an
ima
l sp
ecie
s a
nd
co
mm
un
itie
s a
re
co
nse
rve
d.
N
ega
tive
im
pa
cts
on
th
rea
ten
ed
ta
xa
are
sta
ble
or
dim
inis
hin
g.
Re
se
arc
h e
na
ble
s
imp
rove
d
ma
na
ge
me
nt
de
cis
ion
s t
o b
e
ma
de
.
1.1
Un
de
rta
ke
fire
, p
est
an
d w
ee
d m
an
age
me
nt
pro
gra
ms t
o m
ain
tain
an
d e
nh
an
ce
th
e n
atu
ral
bio
div
ers
ity v
alu
es,
red
uce
th
rea
ts t
o e
xis
tin
g
thre
ate
ne
d s
pe
cie
s p
op
ula
tio
ns a
nd
to
in
cre
ase
th
e
Re
se
rve
s a
bili
ty t
o c
op
e w
ith
fu
ture
dis
turb
an
ce
s,
inclu
din
g c
lima
te c
ha
nge
.
1.2
Pro
tect
en
da
nge
red
eco
logic
al co
mm
un
itie
s a
nd
th
rea
ten
ed
sp
ecie
s t
hro
ugh
im
ple
me
ntin
g r
ele
va
nt
str
ate
gie
s in
th
e P
rio
rity
Actio
n S
tate
me
nts
an
d
reco
ve
ry p
lan
s.
1.3
Pro
tect
Bo
x-g
um
wo
od
lan
d c
om
mu
nity b
y
avo
ida
nce
of
wid
en
ing d
urin
g r
oa
d m
ain
ten
an
ce
a
ctivitie
s.
1.4
Asse
ss s
tab
ility
of
ero
sio
n g
ulli
es.
Ob
tain
sp
ecia
list
ad
vic
e a
nd
un
de
rta
ke
re
me
dia
l a
ctio
ns.
1.5
En
co
ura
ge
fu
rth
er
su
rve
y w
ork
of
pla
nt
an
d a
nim
al
sp
ecie
s t
arg
etin
g t
hre
ate
ne
d s
pe
cie
s,
su
ch
as K
oa
las
in G
illin
dic
h N
R,
an
d G
lossy B
lack C
ocka
too
s in
N
ugge
tty S
CA
.
On
go
ing
On
go
ing
Hig
h
Lo
w
Lo
w
18
2 C
ult
ura
l H
eri
tag
e
T
he
R
ese
rve
s a
re lo
ca
ted
w
ith
in th
e a
rea
of
the
P
eja
r a
nd
C
ow
ra
Lo
ca
l A
bo
rigin
al
La
nd
C
ou
ncils
.
Th
e
Gu
nd
un
gu
rra
T
rib
al
Co
un
cil
Ab
origin
al
Co
rpo
ratio
n h
as r
egis
tere
d a
na
tive
title
cla
im o
ve
r th
e a
rea
in
wh
ich
th
e R
ese
rve
s
are
lo
ca
ted
.
Pre
limin
ary
su
rve
y w
ork
fo
r A
bo
rigin
al site
s
ha
s b
ee
n c
on
du
cte
d o
n t
he
tra
il n
etw
ork
in
G
illin
dic
h N
R.
No
site
s w
ere
id
en
tifie
d.
E
xca
va
tio
n d
iggin
gs o
ccu
r o
n th
e b
an
ks a
nd
fla
ts
of
Tu
en
a
Cre
ek
in
Nu
gge
tty
SC
A
an
d
pro
vid
e e
vid
en
ce
o
f p
revio
us m
inin
g a
ctivity.
Fo
ssic
kin
g o
ccu
rs a
lon
g T
ue
na
Cre
ek.
A s
ma
ll se
ctio
n o
f ro
ck w
all
in M
ou
nt
Da
vie
s
NR
, m
ay h
ave
he
rita
ge
sig
nific
an
ce
. H
ut
ruin
s a
re l
oca
ted
in
th
e n
ort
h e
ast
se
ctio
n
of
Th
ala
ba
SC
A.
Ab
origin
al a
nd
h
isto
ric p
lace
s a
nd
va
lue
s a
re id
en
tifie
d
an
d p
rote
cte
d.
Ab
origin
al p
eo
ple
are
in
vo
lve
d in
m
an
age
me
nt
of
the
A
bo
rigin
al cu
ltu
ral
va
lue
s o
f th
e
Re
se
rve
s.
Ne
ga
tive
im
pa
cts
on
A
bo
rigin
al a
nd
h
isto
ric h
erita
ge
va
lue
s a
re s
tab
le o
r d
imin
ish
ing.
Un
de
rsta
nd
ing o
f th
e
cu
ltu
ral va
lue
s o
f th
e
Re
se
rve
s is
imp
rove
d.
2.1
Co
nsu
lt a
nd
in
vo
lve
re
leva
nt
Ab
origin
al co
mm
un
ity
me
mb
ers
an
d o
rga
nis
atio
ns in
th
e r
ese
arc
h in
to a
nd
m
an
age
me
nt
of
Ab
origin
al site
s,
pla
ce
s a
nd
va
lue
s,
inclu
din
g in
terp
reta
tio
n o
f p
lace
s o
r va
lue
s.
2.2
Lia
ise
with
te
rtia
ry in
stitu
tio
ns a
nd
fu
nd
ing b
od
ies
to e
nco
ura
ge
fu
rth
er
rese
arc
h in
to t
he
Ab
origin
al
he
rita
ge
va
lue
s o
f th
e R
ese
rve
s,
su
ch
as p
red
ictive
m
od
el o
f A
bo
rigin
al va
lue
s,
lite
ratu
re r
evie
ws a
nd
ora
l h
isto
rie
s.
2.3
Asse
ss p
ote
ntia
l im
pa
cts
on
Ab
origin
al o
r h
isto
ric
site
s p
rio
r to
all
wo
rks.
2
.4 D
ete
rmin
e t
he
his
tory
an
d h
erita
ge
sig
nific
an
ce
of
the
exca
va
tio
n d
iggin
gs in
Nu
gge
tty S
CA
. 2
.5 F
ossic
kin
g is n
ot
pe
rmitte
d in
th
e R
ese
rve
s.
2.6
De
term
ine
th
e h
isto
ry a
nd
he
rita
ge
sig
nific
an
ce
of
the
ro
ck w
all
in M
ou
nt
Da
vie
s N
R.
Pro
tect
the
ro
ck
wa
ll, a
nd
re
tain
in
situ
.
2.7
In
ve
stiga
te s
afe
ty issu
es a
sso
cia
ted
with
th
e
dig
gin
gs in
Nu
gge
tty S
CA
. 2
.8 B
rie
f sta
ff in
vo
lve
d in
ma
na
ge
me
nt
an
d f
ire
su
pp
ressio
n o
pe
ratio
ns o
n t
he
po
ten
tia
l fo
r m
ine
(s
ha
ft)
site
s w
ith
in N
ugge
tty S
CA
an
d t
he
re
qu
ire
d
ma
na
ge
me
nt
str
ate
gie
s f
or
sta
ff s
afe
ty a
nd
site
p
rote
ctio
n.
2
.9 R
em
ove
hu
t ru
ins lo
ca
ted
with
in T
ha
lab
a S
CA
, su
bje
ct
to h
erita
ge
asse
ssm
en
t a
nd
en
viro
nm
en
tal
imp
acts
asso
cia
ted
with
th
e r
em
ova
l.
On
go
ing
On
go
ing
On
go
ing
Lo
w
On
go
ing
Lo
w
Hig
h
Hig
h
Lo
w
19
3 V
isit
or
Us
e a
nd
Se
rvic
es
T
he
Re
se
rve
s h
ave
little
pu
blic
use
, a
lth
ou
gh
p
ub
lic r
oa
ds a
djo
in a
ll th
e R
ese
rve
s.
T
he
re a
re n
o v
isito
r fa
cili
tie
s in
th
e R
ese
rve
s
an
d n
o p
ub
lic v
eh
icu
lar
acce
ss w
ill b
e
pro
vid
ed
du
e t
o t
he
lim
ite
d n
um
be
r o
f fo
rme
d
tra
ils,
acce
ss t
rails
wh
ere
ava
ilab
le b
ein
g
thro
ugh
priva
te p
rop
ert
y a
nd
th
e lim
ite
d s
ize
of
the
Re
se
rve
s.
So
me
ille
ga
l u
se
of
the
Re
se
rve
s is e
vid
en
t su
ch
as h
un
tin
g,
an
d t
imb
er
ge
ttin
g.
Vis
ito
r u
se
is
ap
pro
pria
te a
nd
e
co
logic
ally
su
sta
ina
ble
. N
ega
tive
im
pa
cts
of
vis
ito
rs o
n r
ese
rve
va
lue
s a
re s
tab
le o
r d
imin
ish
ing.
3.1
In
sta
ll id
en
tifica
tio
n s
ign
age
with
in t
he
Re
se
rve
s,
in
acco
rda
nce
with
th
e S
ign
age
Po
licy a
nd
Pa
rk S
ign
age
M
an
ua
l. M
on
ito
r a
nd
asse
ss v
isito
r risk in
re
latio
n t
o
exca
va
tio
n p
its/
dig
gin
gs in
Nu
gge
tty
SC
A a
nd
m
an
age
in
a
cco
rda
nce
with
th
e R
egio
n V
isito
r R
isk
Re
gis
ter.
3
.2 A
llow
da
y w
alk
s,
pic
nic
s (
no
fa
cili
tie
s w
ill b
e
pro
vid
ed
an
d n
o f
ire
s p
erm
itte
d)
an
d e
du
ca
tio
na
l vis
its,
su
bje
ct
to lim
its o
n n
um
be
rs a
nd
oth
er
co
nd
itio
ns a
s
ne
ce
ssa
ry t
o m
inim
ise
im
pa
cts
.
3.3
Allo
w b
ush
ca
mp
ing in
Mo
un
t D
avie
s a
nd
Gill
ind
ich
N
Rs a
nd
Nu
gge
tty S
CA
. C
am
pin
g w
ill n
ot
be
p
rom
ote
d,
no
fa
cili
tie
s w
ill b
e p
rovid
ed
an
d n
o f
ire
s
pe
rmitte
d.
Lim
its a
nd
oth
er
co
nd
itio
ns m
ay b
e
institu
ted
as n
ece
ssa
ry t
o m
inim
ise
im
pa
cts
. C
am
pin
g
will
no
t b
e p
erm
itte
d in
Bu
rwo
od
Cre
ek N
R t
o p
rote
ct
the
EE
C a
nd
Th
ala
ba
SC
A d
ue
to
its
lim
ite
d s
ize
. 3
.4 T
he
re w
ill b
e n
o p
ub
lic v
eh
icu
lar
acce
ss w
ith
in t
he
R
ese
rve
s d
ue
to
th
e lim
ite
d n
um
be
r o
f fo
rme
d t
rails
a
nd
th
eir lim
ite
d s
ize
.
3.5
Asse
ss w
he
the
r p
ark
ing f
acili
tie
s a
re n
ee
de
d a
t a
ny o
f th
e R
ese
rve
s a
nd
if
requ
ire
d lia
ise
with
lo
ca
l co
un
cils
to
de
term
ine
wh
eth
er
pa
rkin
g c
an
be
pro
vid
ed
o
n t
he
ro
ad
re
se
rve
or
just
insid
e t
he
re
se
rve
b
ou
nd
ary
. 3
.6 A
llow
cyclin
g in
Gill
ind
ich
NR
on
sig
np
oste
d
ma
na
ge
me
nt
tra
ils.
Cyclin
g w
ill n
ot
be
pe
rmitte
d in
M
ou
nt
Da
vie
s a
nd
Bu
rwo
od
Cre
ek N
Rs a
nd
Th
ala
ba
S
CA
du
e t
o t
he
la
ck o
f fo
rme
d t
rails
. C
yclin
g is n
ot
pe
rmitte
d in
Nu
gge
tty S
CA
as a
cce
ss t
o t
he
re
se
rves
Hig
h
On
go
ing
On
go
ing
On
go
ing
Lo
w
On
go
ing
20
tra
il n
etw
ork
is t
hro
ugh
priva
te p
rop
ert
y.
3
.7 H
ors
e r
idin
g w
ill n
ot
be
pe
rmitte
d in
th
e R
ese
rve
s,
d
ue
to
th
e lim
ite
d n
um
be
r o
f fo
rme
d t
rails
, th
eir lim
ite
d
siz
e,
the
ero
dib
ility
of
the
so
ils a
nd
th
eir s
tatu
s a
s
na
ture
re
se
rve
s.
3.8
In
sta
ll in
terp
reta
tive
sig
na
ge
to
ra
ise
co
mm
un
ity
aw
are
ne
ss o
f th
e r
ese
rve
s s
ign
ific
an
ce
an
d
ma
na
ge
me
nt
pro
gra
ms.
3.9
Mo
nito
r le
ve
ls a
nd
im
pa
cts
of
use
. 3
.10
Co
ntin
ue
to
un
de
rta
ke
la
w e
nfo
rce
me
nt
pa
tro
ls
an
d t
o w
ork
with
ne
igh
bo
urs
an
d la
w e
nfo
rce
me
nt
age
ncie
s t
o c
on
tro
l ill
ega
l a
ctivitie
s.
On
go
ing
Lo
w
Lo
w
Lo
w
4
C
om
mu
nit
y P
rog
ram
s a
nd
Ed
uc
ati
on
T
he
are
as s
urr
ou
nd
ing t
he
Re
se
rve
s h
ave
b
ee
n e
xte
nsiv
ely
cle
are
d,
wh
ich
ha
s r
esu
lte
d
in a
hig
h lo
ss o
f b
iod
ive
rsity a
nd
fra
gm
en
tatio
n
of
ha
bita
t in
th
e r
egio
n.
Ma
inta
inin
g t
he
in
tegrity
of
the
re
ma
inin
g h
ab
ita
t w
ith
in t
he
R
ese
rve
s a
nd
, w
he
re p
ossib
le,
linkin
g t
his
to
a
dja
ce
nt
are
as o
f b
ush
lan
d t
o f
acili
tate
wild
life
co
rrid
ors
is im
po
rta
nt
in e
nsu
rin
g lo
ng t
erm
via
bili
ty o
f th
e R
ese
rve
s’ b
iolo
gic
al va
lue
s.
Pro
mo
tio
n o
f vis
ito
r u
nd
ers
tan
din
g a
nd
a
pp
recia
tio
n o
f th
e v
alu
es o
f th
e R
ese
rve
s is
imp
ort
an
t fo
r m
inim
isin
g d
am
agin
g a
ctivitie
s
an
d m
axim
isin
g v
isito
r e
njo
ym
en
t.
Ne
igh
bo
urs
su
pp
ort
co
nse
rva
tio
n o
f n
ative
ve
ge
tatio
n
ne
ar
the
Re
se
rve
s.
Vis
ito
rs a
nd
th
e lo
ca
l co
mm
un
ity a
re a
wa
re
of
the
sig
nific
an
ce
of
the
Re
se
rve
s a
nd
of
ma
na
ge
me
nt
pro
gra
ms.
4.1
Id
en
tify
ke
y a
rea
s f
or
co
nn
ectivity in
to t
he
R
ese
rve
s a
nd
prio
ritise
th
eir im
po
rta
nce
to
th
e
Re
se
rve
4
.2 L
iais
e w
ith
ne
igh
bo
urs
to
en
co
ura
ge
th
e r
ete
ntio
n
an
d a
pp
rop
ria
te m
an
age
me
nt
of
ke
y h
ab
ita
ts a
nd
co
rrid
ors
ad
jace
nt
to t
he
Re
se
rve
s.
4.3
Fo
ste
r co
mm
un
ity e
nga
ge
me
nt
to b
uild
co
mm
un
ity
prid
e in
th
e r
ese
rve
s a
nd
pro
vid
e in
form
atio
n o
n t
he
n
atu
ral a
nd
cu
ltu
ral va
lue
s (
in c
on
su
lta
tio
n w
ith
th
e
Ab
origin
al co
mm
un
ity)
of
the
Re
se
rve
s v
ia t
he
in
tern
et.
Me
diu
m
Lo
w
Lo
w
21
5
We
ed
s a
nd
Pe
st
An
ima
ls
We
ed
s p
rese
nt
in t
he
Re
se
rve
s in
clu
de
se
rra
ted
tu
sso
ck,
sw
ee
t b
ria
r ro
se
, S
t Jo
hn
s
wo
rt,
bla
ckb
err
y,
ho
reh
ou
nd
an
d t
his
tle
.
Th
ese
occu
r in
are
as a
sso
cia
ted
with
d
istu
rba
nce
su
ch
as o
ld s
he
ep
ca
mp
s a
nd
tr
ails
, o
r p
rod
uctive
are
as s
uch
as c
ree
k lin
es.
T
he
re is a
lso
a la
rge
in
festa
tio
n o
f b
lackb
err
y,
tusso
ck a
nd
St
Jo
hn
s w
ort
in
th
e n
ort
h-w
est
of
Nu
gge
tty S
CA
. F
era
l a
nim
als
re
co
rde
d in
th
e R
ese
rve
s t
o
da
te in
clu
de
fo
xe
s,
rab
bits,
ca
ts,
go
ats
, p
igs,
do
gs a
nd
de
er.
T
he
pre
se
nce
an
d d
en
sity o
f p
est
an
ima
l sp
ecie
s in
th
e R
ese
rve
s is
cu
rre
ntly u
nkn
ow
n.
P
ig r
oo
tin
g a
lon
g t
he
ba
nks o
f T
ue
na
Cre
ek in
N
ugge
tty S
CA
, h
as t
he
po
ten
tia
l to
sig
nific
an
tly d
egra
de
ha
bita
t qu
alit
y f
or
na
tive
fa
un
a a
nd
flo
ra,
inclu
din
g t
hre
ate
ne
d s
pe
cie
s.
Gra
zin
g b
y g
oa
ts is lik
ely
to
de
gra
de
sm
all
ma
mm
al h
ab
ita
t in
Nu
gge
tty S
CA
an
d s
hru
b
div
ers
ity a
nd
sh
rub
re
cru
itm
en
t in
Mo
un
t D
avie
s N
R.
Sto
ck o
cca
sio
na
lly e
nte
r th
e R
ese
rve
s.
Intr
od
uce
d p
lan
ts a
nd
a
nim
als
are
co
ntr
olle
d a
nd
wh
ere
p
ossib
le e
limin
ate
d.
N
ega
tive
im
pa
cts
of
w
ee
ds a
nd
pe
st
an
ima
ls o
n r
ese
rve
va
lue
s a
nd
n
eig
hb
ou
rin
g la
nd
s
are
min
imis
ed
. W
ee
d a
nd
pe
st
co
ntr
ol p
rogra
ms a
re
un
de
rta
ke
n w
he
re
ap
pro
pria
te in
co
nsu
lta
tio
n w
ith
n
eig
hb
ou
rs.
5.1
Ma
na
ge
in
tro
du
ce
d s
pe
cie
s in
acco
rda
nce
with
th
e
Re
gio
na
l P
est
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Str
ate
gy.
Prio
rity
will
be
giv
en
to
co
ntr
ol o
f se
rra
ted
tu
sso
ck,
St
Jo
hn
s w
ort
, b
lackb
err
y,
pig
s a
nd
go
ats
, p
art
icu
larly w
he
re t
he
y
thre
ate
n e
nd
an
ge
red
eco
logic
al co
mm
un
itie
s a
nd
th
rea
ten
ed
sp
ecie
s,
the
in
tegrity
of
na
tive
co
mm
un
itie
s,
an
d h
ave
th
e p
ote
ntia
l to
sp
rea
d r
ap
idly
.
5.2
Pre
pa
re a
we
ed
ma
p f
or
ea
ch
re
se
rve
to
de
term
ine
p
rese
nce
an
d e
xte
nt
of
we
ed
s,
an
d t
o p
rovid
e b
ase
line
co
mp
ara
tive
da
ta f
or
mo
nito
rin
g s
ucce
ss o
f tr
ea
tme
nt
pro
gra
ms.
5.3
Su
rve
y t
he
Re
se
rve
s,
eg.
esta
blis
h s
an
d p
lots
or
rem
ote
ca
me
ras,
to d
ete
rmin
e t
he
pre
se
nce
an
d e
xte
nt
of
intr
od
uce
d a
nim
als
in
th
e R
ese
rve
s.
Imp
lem
en
t a
pp
rop
ria
te c
on
tro
l str
ate
gie
s.
5.4
Tre
at
ne
w o
ccu
rre
nce
s o
f h
igh
ly in
va
siv
e w
ee
d
sp
ecie
s w
ith
th
e p
ote
ntia
l fo
r sig
nific
an
t im
pa
cts
on
th
e
Re
se
rve
s.
5.5
Se
ek t
he
co
op
era
tio
n o
f n
eig
hb
ou
rs a
nd
th
e lo
ca
l L
ive
sto
ck H
ea
lth
an
d P
est
Au
tho
rity
in
im
ple
me
ntin
g
we
ed
an
d p
est
co
ntr
ol p
rogra
ms.
5.6
Pla
nt
ca
no
py s
pe
cie
s in
dis
turb
ed
are
as w
he
re
ca
no
py p
revio
usly
exis
ted
an
d s
err
ate
d t
usso
ck is
pre
se
nt
to a
ssis
t w
ith
we
ed
co
ntr
ol in
th
ese
are
as.
5
.7 U
nd
ert
ake
co
nstr
uctio
n a
nd
ma
inte
na
nce
of
bo
un
da
ry f
en
ce
s w
ith
ne
igh
bo
urs
to
exclu
de
sto
ck f
rom
th
e R
ese
rve
s.
Fe
ncin
g a
ssis
tan
ce
ma
y b
e p
rovid
ed
in
a
cco
rda
nce
with
NP
WS
po
licy.
On
go
ing
Lo
w
Lo
w
On
go
ing
Me
diu
m
Lo
w
Lo
w
22
6 F
ire
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
F
ire
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Str
ate
gie
s a
re c
urr
en
tly
be
ing p
rep
are
d f
or
the
Re
se
rve
s.
Fire
is a
na
tura
l fe
atu
re o
f m
an
y e
nviro
nm
en
ts
bu
t in
ap
pro
pria
te f
ire
re
gim
es c
an
le
ad
to
lo
ss
of
pa
rtic
ula
r p
lan
t a
nd
an
ima
l co
mm
un
itie
s.
Hig
h f
requ
en
cy f
ire
s h
ave
be
en
lis
ted
as a
ke
y
thre
ate
nin
g p
roce
ss u
nd
er
the
TS
C A
ct.
S
eve
ral p
riva
te a
sse
ts a
re lo
ca
ted
with
in c
lose
p
roxim
ity o
f th
e R
ese
rve
s’ b
ou
nd
ary
, in
clu
din
g
a c
am
pu
s o
f th
e T
rin
ity G
ram
ma
r S
ch
oo
l.
Asse
ts w
ith
in t
he
Re
se
rve
s in
clu
de
cu
ltu
ral
he
rita
ge
site
s,
ga
tes a
nd
fe
nce
s.
Th
e f
ire
his
tory
of
the
Re
se
rve
s is u
nkn
ow
n.
Ho
we
ve
r, it
is p
resu
me
d t
ha
t th
e v
ege
tatio
n
co
mm
un
itie
s h
ave
no
t b
ee
n a
ffe
cte
d b
y a
sig
nific
an
t fire
fo
r se
ve
ral d
eca
de
s.
Eco
logic
al
bu
rns s
ho
uld
on
ly b
e in
tro
du
ce
d in
to t
he
R
ese
rve
s if
the
re is a
de
mo
nstr
ate
d
bio
div
ers
ity d
eclin
e.
On
e w
ay t
o d
ete
rmin
e if
se
ne
sce
nce
is a
n issu
e is t
o p
erm
it
exp
erim
en
tal b
urn
s o
ve
r sm
all
are
as.
Lo
ng-
un
bu
rnt
are
as a
re e
co
logic
ally
sig
nific
an
t a
s
the
y a
re r
are
. T
he
re
se
rve
s a
re lo
ca
ted
with
in t
he
are
a o
f th
e
So
uth
ern
T
ab
lela
nd
s
Zo
ne
B
ush
F
ire
M
an
age
me
nt
Co
mm
itte
e.
Life
, p
rop
ert
y a
nd
n
atu
ral a
nd
cu
ltu
ral
va
lue
s a
re p
rote
cte
d
fro
m f
ire
.
Fire
re
gim
es a
re
ap
pro
pria
te f
or
co
nse
rva
tio
n o
f n
ative
pla
nt
an
d
an
ima
l co
mm
un
itie
s.
N
ega
tive
im
pa
cts
of
fire
on
na
tura
l a
nd
cu
ltu
ral h
erita
ge
va
lue
s a
re s
tab
le o
r
dim
inis
hin
g.
6.1
Fin
alis
e a
nd
im
ple
me
nt
the
Fire
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Str
ate
gie
s f
or
the
Re
se
rve
s.
6
.2 P
art
icip
ate
in
th
e S
ou
the
rn T
ab
lela
nd
s Z
on
e B
ush
F
ire
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Co
mm
itte
e.
Ma
inta
in c
oo
pe
rative
a
rra
nge
me
nts
with
lo
ca
l R
ura
l F
ire
Se
rvic
e b
riga
de
s
an
d s
urr
ou
nd
ing la
nd
ow
ne
rs in
re
ga
rd t
o f
ue
l m
an
age
me
nt
an
d f
ire
su
pp
ressio
n.
6
.3 R
esp
on
d t
o a
ll u
np
lan
ne
d f
ire
s in
th
e R
ese
rve
s a
s
qu
ickly
as p
ossib
le.
6.4
In
sta
ll d
ire
ctio
na
l sig
na
ge
on
th
e t
rail
ne
two
rk
with
in t
he
Re
se
rve
s t
o a
ssis
t in
fire
in
cid
en
ts,
in
acco
rda
nce
with
th
e S
ign
age
Po
licy a
nd
Pa
rk S
ign
age
M
an
ua
l.
6.5
Esta
blis
h a
mo
nito
rin
g p
rogra
m t
o id
en
tify
are
as
wh
ere
ve
ge
tatio
n c
om
mu
nitie
s a
re s
en
escin
g d
ue
to
la
ck o
f fire
. U
se
of
exp
erim
en
tal b
urn
s o
ve
r sm
all
are
as is p
erm
itte
d.
6
.6 E
nco
ura
ge
re
se
arc
h in
to im
pro
vin
g u
nd
ers
tan
din
g
of
the
in
flu
en
ce
of
fire
s o
n t
he
div
ers
ity o
f ta
ble
lan
d d
ry
scle
rop
hyll
fore
st,
pa
rtic
ula
rly f
ocu
ssin
g o
n s
en
esce
nt
ve
ge
tatio
n d
ue
to
la
ck o
f fire
.
Hig
h
On
go
ing
On
go
ing
Hig
h
Lo
w
On
go
ing
23
7
Infr
as
tru
ctu
re a
nd
Ma
inte
na
nc
e
Mo
st
ma
na
ge
me
nt
tra
ils a
re 4
WD
on
ly.
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
facili
tie
s
an
d o
pe
ratio
ns
ad
equ
ate
ly s
erv
e
ma
na
ge
me
nt
ne
ed
s
an
d h
ave
min
ima
l
imp
act.
In
fra
str
uctu
re a
nd
a
sse
ts a
re r
ou
tin
ely
m
ain
tain
ed
.
7.1
Ga
te a
nd
sig
np
ost
ma
na
ge
me
nt
tra
ils t
o r
estr
ict
un
au
tho
rise
d a
cce
ss.
7.2
Ma
inta
in a
ll m
an
age
me
nt
tra
ils in
a m
an
ne
r th
at
min
imis
es e
rosio
n a
nd
wa
ter
po
llutio
n,
in a
cco
rda
nce
w
ith
NP
WS
po
licy.
Hig
h
On
go
ing
Hig
h p
riority
activitie
s a
re t
hose im
pera
tive t
o a
chie
vem
ent
of
the o
bje
ctives a
nd d
esired o
utc
om
es.
They m
ust
be u
ndert
aken in
the n
ear
futu
re t
o a
void
sig
nific
ant
dete
riora
tion in n
atu
ral, c
ultura
l or
manag
em
ent
resourc
es.
Med
ium
priority
activitie
s a
re t
hose t
hat
are
necessary
to a
chie
ve t
he o
bje
ctives a
nd d
esired o
utc
om
es b
ut
are
not
urg
ent.
Lo
w p
riority
activitie
s a
re d
esirable
to a
chie
ve m
anag
em
ent
obje
ctives a
nd d
esired o
utc
om
es b
ut
can w
ait u
ntil re
sourc
es
becom
e a
vaila
ble
.
On
go
ing
is f
or
activitie
s t
hat
are
undert
aken o
n a
n a
nnual basis
or
sta
tem
ents
of
manag
em
ent
inte
nt
that
will
direct
the
manag
em
ent
response if
an issue t
hat
arises.
