Lower Beechmont Mount Nathan Conservation Reserves · Lakeview Downs Parklands, Lookout Place...

Lower Beechmont Mount Nathan Conservation

Reserves

Community Consultation Report

OCTOBER 2010

LOWER BEECHMONT MT NATHAN COMMUNITY CONSULTATION REPORT of 12

Lower Beechmont Mount Nathan

Conservation Reserves

Community Consultation Report

Gold Coast City Council Natural Areas Management Unit

October 2010

© Gold Coast City Council, 25 October (2010). Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of the Gold Coast City Council.

Table of contents


1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................4

1.1 Lower Beechmont-Mount Nathan Conservation Reserves Management Plan.......4 1.2 Purpose of consultation...............................................................................................4

2 Methodology ........................................................................................................................4 2.1 Phase one: preliminary input ......................................................................................4 2.2 Phase two: comments on the draft .............................................................................5

3 Results and discussion ......................................................................................................5 3.1 Phase one: preliminary input ......................................................................................5 3.2 Phase two: comments on the draft management plan .............................................8

Appendices ...........................................................................................................................10 Appendix 1 Have Your Say flyer for first phase consultation ......................................11


1 Introduction

1.1 Lower Beechmont-Mount Nathan Conservation Reserves Management Plan In July 2010 a draft management plan was prepared for Lower Beechmont-Mount Nathan Conservation Reserves (the planning area). This reserve network covers nearly 1200 hectares in the Nerang hinterland and includes Lower Beechmont Conservation Area, Mount Nathan Reserve, Little Clagiraba Reserve, Elimbah Court Reserve, Cliff Bird Park, Lakeview Downs Parklands, Darwalla Road reserve and Oval Drive Parklands. The management plan provides a strategic framework for the protection, restoration and use of the reserves. It lists guidelines and actions to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural values of the planning area, whilst promoting these values through nature-based recreation, interpretation and community involvement.

1.2 Purpose of consultation Community consultation was conducted by Gold Coast City Council (GCCC), firstly to gain a greater understanding of the values and aspirations the community have for the reserves and secondly to obtain input into the management strategies presented within the plan. Community consultation on the Lower Beechmont-Mount Nathan Draft Management Plan was carried out in accordance with Council’s Management Guidelines for Sites Acquired with the Open Space Preservation Levy (November 2004), which require that management plans for OSPL lands be prepared with community input.

2 Methodology A two phase consultation process was used to obtain both preliminary input to assist with the drafting of the plan and, subsequently, comments on the management strategies presented within the draft plan.

2.1 Phase one: preliminary input The initial consultation phase was conducted over a four week period, from 14 March to 14 April 2008. An information flyer and feedback form (Appendix 1) was distributed to approximately 1,300 residents living in the vicinity of the planning area. Consultation was opened to the broader Gold Coast community through an advertisement in the Gold Coast Sun newspaper. Flyers were also made available at all GCCC Libraries and Administration Centres, and were electronically available on the Have Your Say section of the GCCC website. Contact details of all respondents was recorded so that they could be advised of the phase two consultation process.


2.2 Phase two: comments on the draft Second phase community consultation was conducted over a five week period from 28 July to 31 August 2010. During the second phase members of the public were given the opportunity to comment on the issues and management strategies presented in the draft plan, including management of flora and fauna, cultural heritage, bushfire, pest plants and animals, nature-based recreation, infrastructure and reserve access. The community was advised that the draft plan was available for comment via the Have Your Say section of the GCCC website, advertisements/articles in the Gold Coast Sun newspaper, the August edition of the Division 9 Local Newsletter and the August 16 edition of GC Life eNews. A media release was also sent out to Gold Coast and Brisbane print, electronic and broadcast media. 82 letters or emails were sent out to those that had responded to the first phase consultation indicating they would like to be kept informed of subsequent consultation.

3 Results and discussion

3.1 Phase one: preliminary input A total of 72 responses were received from residents of the surrounding area and beyond. The majority of responses were received from residents in Lower Beechmont (18), Clagiraba (15), Mount Nathan (13) and Maudsland (11). Smaller numbers of responses were also received from residents in Advancetown (6), Helensvale (1), Molendinar (1), Nerang (1), Palm Beach (1), Robina (1), Surfers Paradise (1) and Coomera (1). The community response supported the development of a management plan, and in particular the protection of the flora, fauna, waterways and visual amenity provided by the reserves. The management plan sets out a detailed strategy for environmental protection, including guidelines for flora and fauna management, bushfire management, weed removal and restoration. Many submissions received also requested improved recreational access, and the management plan aims to deliver this through a series of track upgrades to allow access for walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers. An interpretation plan will be developed to enhance recreational access and connectivity with adjacent reserves, and to provide opportunities for visitors to learn more about the natural and cultural values of the reserves. Table 1 summarises the key issues raised during phase one consultation, and lists how these issues are addressed in the draft management plan. A more detailed summary of the comments received on the plan is available on request from the Natural Areas Management Unit. Table 1 Summary of key issues raised during Phase 1 consultation and their treatment in the

Draft Management Plan for Lower Beechmont Mount Nathan Reserves

Theme How this is addressed in the plan

Protection of native wildlife and habitat

The overall vision for the management plan is: ‘for a healthy, robust and sustainable reserve network to safeguard ecological processes, biodiversity, ecosystem services, cultural values and recreational amenity for the community in perpetuity’.



Specific management objectives for the reserves (Section 3.2) include: Maintain and enhance viable habitat corridors contributing to the

ecological richness of the region. Protect and enhance the diversity, integrity and viability of indigenous flora

and fauna communities, particularly those identified as significant or threatened.

Protect and monitor threatened and biogeographically significant species and their habitat.

Restore the ecological function of degraded ecosystems to the greatest possible extent.

Wildlife protection is specifically addressed in Sections 4.3 and 4.4 of the Management Plan, through a range of guidelines and actions including: Management consistent with Federal threatened species recovery planning processes; Coordinated management with State conservation agencies; Best-practice management of known threatening processes; Habitat restoration; Control of pest species including domestic animals; Protection of wildlife corridors; and Public education.

Protection of landscape character

Specific management objectives for the reserves (Section 3.2) include: Protect and enhance the planning area’s significant landscape values. Protect catchment values of Clagiraba Creek and the Coomera and

Nerang Rivers and tributaries – in particular the supply and purity of water associated with drinking water catchments.

Conserve geological and geomorphological features and maintain natural biophysical processes.

Develop recreational infrastructure that does not impact upon scenic values associated with intact vegetative cover along ridgelines visible from coastal areas.

Landscape protection is specifically addressed in Section 4.1, which provides guidelines for appropriate location and construction of infrastructure, in addition to providing support for the protection of landscape character during development assessment.

Provision of recreational access, including horse riding, bush walking and mountain biking.

One of the management objectives for the reserves (Section 3.2) is to: Provide opportunities for safe, minimal-impact and sustainable nature-

based recreation consistent with the protection of natural and cultural values.

One of the key features of the Management Plan is consolidation of the existing recreational network and provision of new and upgraded trails for safe recreational access. The proposed trail network is shown on Figure 2 of the Management Plan, and includes: 5.5km of shared walking, horse-riding and mountain bike tracks through

Mount Nathan Reserve, plus additional 2km walking track; 3km shared walking/mountain bike track through Clagiraba Reserve; 2.7km shared walking/horse riding track linking Lower Beechmont

Conservation Area with riding trails in Nerang Conservation Park; Horse exercise area near Barcoo Court entrance to Lower Beechmont

Conservation Area. Walker access to fire trail network within Lower Beechmont Conservation

Area; Numerous short walking tracks in smaller reserves within the planning

area, including Freemans Lookout, John Wayne Close Drainage Reserve, Lakeview Downs Parklands, Lookout Place Reserve and Oval Drive Parklands.



Section 4.10.3.1 provides guidelines for safe track construction.

Exclude trail bikes and 4 wheel drive vehicles

Trail bikes can cause significant damage to the environmental values of the reserves, as well as being a danger to other recreational users. The management plan does not permit trail bikes (Guideline 10.16) and access points into the reserves will be managed, where possible, to discourage trail bike access, through vehicle exclusion barriers, ranger patrols and enforcement by Council local law officers (Actions 12.5 and 12.7).

Location of recreational facilities at entrances to reserves.

The proposed horse exercise area in Lower Beechmont Conservation Area will be located immediately within the Barcoo Court entrance to the reserve (Section 14.10.1.3).

Weed control and community education regarding weed management.

Control of pest plant and animal species is one of the specific management objectives for the planning area (Section 3.2). Weed management is addressed in detail in Section 4.6, which provides guidelines for coordinated pest management and comprehensive restoration planning including the development of an Ecological Restoration Plan, Site Action Plan or Contractor Specifications for restoration of all reserves within the planning area. Provision of adequate resourcing for follow up management at existing restoration sites is also a key feature of the plan. Community education is also an important component of the Management Plan, which supports public environmental education initiatives including community bushcare/landcare groups, Weedbuster Week, the Naturally GC program and a planned good neighbour program (Section 4.14).

Prohibit domestic animals from entering the reserves / allow on-leash dog walking at Freeman Family Park.

The connectivity, habitat diversity and structural integrity of the reserves provide habitat for a rich diversity of native animals, which use the reserves for breeding and as a corridor between adjacent areas of habitat. Notably, Lower Beechmont Conservation Area contains large tracts of eucalypt forest and has been identified as a translocation site for regionally vulnerable Koalas(Phascolarctos cinereus) displaced from extensive land clearing occurring in association with the development of the Coomera Town Centre (Section 4.4.1). Because of this, dog walking is not considered an appropriate use of the higher conservation value reserves within the planning area. Action 7.9 of the Management Plan recommends that the following reserves are identified as Dog Prohibited Areas under Local Law 12 Part 9 (55): Clagiraba Reserve, Coolbunbin Creek Reserve, Elimbah Court Reserve, Freeman Family Park, Little Beechmont Road Reserve, Lower Beechmont Conservation Area, Mirani Street Reserve, Mount Nathan Reserve, Parkway Drive Reserve, Parma Court Reserve and Scenic Reserve. The remainder of the reserves will remain on-leash areas unless evidence becomes available that warrants a reassessment of the situation and subsequent additional protection.

Concern about the impact of pest animal baiting/poisoning on native fauna.

1080 baiting is not carried out within the planning area due to the small lot sizes and peri-urban nature of the surrounds.

Opportunities for overnight camping in Lower Beechmont Conservation Area

Overnight camping was not considered an appropriate use of Lower Beechmont Conservation Area because of the importance of the site for fauna habitat, including use as a koala translocation site (see above), and because of safety issues associated with camping in a peri-urban environment. Hinterland camping opportunities are provided elsewhere in the vicinity of the planning area, including at Springbrook, Binna Burra and Canungra.

Opportunities to dedicate trails for the Kokoda Challenge and promote this historical legacy.

The planning area forms part of the route for the annual Kokoda Challenge – a cross-country team bushwalking event in which up to 300 teams of 4 people participate. The designated route extends along fire management tracksthrough Lower Beechmont Conservation Area, Clagiraba Reserve and Mount Nathan Reserve. In addition to the race itself, teams for the event often train within the planning area for a number of months prior to the event (Section



4.10.1.6). Although no adverse impacts have been observed, this intensive usage of the planning area has the potential to impact upon the natural values of the reserves and the condition of important fire management tracks on which the event occurs. As such, monitoring will be required to ensure that participants are utilising established tracks only and that problems such as erosion are not exacerbated. Action 10.14 requires Council to maintain ongoing liaison with the Kokoda Challenge Association to ensure that the Kokoda Challenge continues to be compatible with the management of the planning area.

A small number of concerns were also raised on the following issues which are outside the scope of the management plan: Proliferation of small block and small acreage developments Traffic speed along Clagiraba Road; Burn-offs on private property; and Extension of Freemans Road to Canungra Gorge Road.

3.2 Phase two: comments on the draft management plan Two responses were received on the draft plan. Table two details how the key points from these submissions are addressed in the final management plan. Both submissions were supportive of the plan and the balance achieved between preserving natural values and catering for the needs of the public for nature-based recreation. Issues raised related to horse-rider access, preservation of European heritage and community involvement. This low level of public interest was somewhat surprising given the number of responses received from the first public consultation phase, the large size of the planning area and its proximity to large residential areas, but possibly reflects the fact that the management plan comprehensively addresses issues raised during the first phase (see Table 1, above). Table 2 Summary of key issues raised during Phase 2 consultation and their treatment in the

Draft Management Plan for Lower Beechmont Mount Nathan Reserves

Issue How this is addressed in the plan/through Council operations

Concern regarding type, height and placement of horse step-overs.

There is currently no standard design for horse step-overs. However, the design of those used in Council-managed reserves has been approved by representatives of the Hinterland Riding Club and local ATHRA branch, and NAMU will continue to liaise with these groups regarding design and development of horse step-overs. The ability to pass through a horse step-over depends on the skill and experience of both horse and rider and it is recognised that not all users will be able to negotiate step-overs provided in Council reserves. However, trails within the planning area all require a reasonable level of skills and experience and, if a rider is unable to cross the horse step-over, it is likely the track is unsuitable for their level of skills.

Will the horse exercise area at Barcoo Court include a fenced dressage arena and horse float

The intent for the horse exercise area at Barcoo Court is to provide a ride-in facility for local riders. Drive in and dressage facilities are provided at local pony clubs, eg. at Nerang and Advancetown.


Issue How this is addressed in the plan/through Council operations

parking?

When will Track 19 be opened?

Council cannot confirm dates for the installation of recreational infrastructure as all new infrastructure is subject to funding availability.

Importance of preserving on-site European cultural heritage, including cream sheds and banana sheds

Section 4.9 of the management plan summarises what is known regarding the significance of European cultural heritage features. Guidelines 9.1-9.2 and Actions 9.1-9.4 address the preservation of these features.

Reference to the Burra Charter, for the management and preservation of cultural and natural heritage

Section 4.9.1 has been updated to include reference to the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter, 1999 and Guideline 9.1 has been amended to read:

G9.1 Ensure all operations are carried out in accordance with the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 and the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter, 1999.

Reserve users should be encouraged to assist in appropriate ways in the management of areas they use.

Section 4.14.1 of the management plan discusses the importance of the local community in management plan stewardship: Encouraging community and neighbour interest in the values of the planning area and raising community awareness of management issues may be a critical factor in the success of land management activities. Community groups and volunteers can contribute to natural area management through involvement in conservation and monitoring projects, public education, community development, and the promotion of Council’s conservation objectives.

Relevant guidelines and actions include: G14.1 Continue to support community groups in the delivery of management plan objectives. G14.2 Continue to support systematic bird surveys within the planning area that are carried out by established natural history groups/societies working in conjunction with Council conservation officers and in accordance with the objectives of this management plan. A14.9 Develop and evaluate a long-term volunteer strategy that incorporates the skills and interests of volunteer groups in a range of management activities. A14.10 Provide education and training to new community bushcare and other volunteer groups about operating effectively with minimal Council supervision.

Appendices


Appendix 1. Have your say flyer for first phase consultation.


Appendix 1 Have Your Say flyer for first phase consultation

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