GOOGONG FORESHORES LAND AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN 2020 FRONT COVER: BUTTON WRINKLEWORT (E COOK) AND WATER RELEASE FROM GOOGONG DAM (M JEKABSONS) Vision Googong Foreshores is an attractive and biologically diverse area that protects a source of raw water for ACT and Queanbeyan communities, protects natural and cultural heritage, and is valued for its low impact recreational opportunities. (A TATNELL) ENVIRONMENT.ACT.GOV.AU | C Acknowledgement of Country We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the ACT, the Ngunnawal people. We recognise the special relationship and connection that they have with this Country. Ngunnawal people are a thriving community whose life and culture are intrinsically connected to this land in a way that is core to their physical and spiritual wellbeing their cultural practices, and continuation of their law and lore. © Australian Capital Territory, Canberra 2020 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from: Director-General, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, ACT Government, GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601. Telephone: 02 6207 1923 Website: www.environment.act.gov.au Produced by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate Accessibility The ACT Government is committed to making its information, services, events and venues as accessible as possible. If you have difficulty reading a standard printed document and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, such as large print, please phone Access Canberra on 13 22 81 or email the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate at [email protected] If English is not your first language and you require a translating and interpreting service, please phone 13 14 50. 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For more information on these services visit http://www.relayservice.com.au CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................5 Googong Foreshores ............................................................................6 Purpose and scope of this Plan .............................................................7 Implementation ..................................................................................7 Review .................................................................................................7 Management responsibilities ...............................................................8 CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND ......................................................................9 A brief history of the area ...................................................................10 Regional setting .................................................................................10 Land use ............................................................................................10 Landscape features ............................................................................12 Significance of the area ......................................................................12 CHAPTER 3: WATER RESOURCES ................................................................... 15 Googong Dam ....................................................................................16 Water resource management .............................................................16 Potential contaminants ......................................................................17 CHAPTER 4: NATURAL VALUES ....................................................................... 21 Geodiversity .......................................................................................22 Landscape and ecological connectivity ..............................................23 Native vegetation ...............................................................................23 Native animals ...................................................................................26 Threats to natural values ....................................................................30 CHAPTER 5: CULTURAL HERITAGE ..........................................................37 Cultural heritage places .....................................................................38 Aboriginal cultural heritage ................................................................39 Contemporary Aboriginal connection to Country ...............................39 Historic cultural heritage ....................................................................40 ENVIRONMENT.ACT.GOV.AU | 1 CHAPTER 6: FIRE ...................................................................................43 Background .......................................................................................44 Fire ecology ........................................................................................44 Fire history .........................................................................................45 Legislative basis for fire management ................................................45 Managing fire .....................................................................................45 Key bushfire management concepts for Googong Foreshores ............47 CHAPTER 7: VISITOR EXPERIENCE .........................................................49 Encouraging visitor experience ..........................................................50 Monitoring and managing recreational use ........................................51 Recreation Management Zones ..........................................................51 Permitted recreational activities ........................................................54 Other activities ..................................................................................56 Access and facilities ............................................................................57 Visitor safety ......................................................................................59 CHAPTER 8: EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT .....................61 Education ...........................................................................................62 Community engagement ....................................................................63 APPENDICES .........................................................................................65 1. Collated actions ..............................................................................66 2. Primary Commonwealth, NSW and ACT legislation applicable to Googong Foreshores ......................................................................70 3. Primary Commonwealth, NSW and ACT strategies and guidelines applicable to Googong Foreshores .................................................74 4. Commonwealth Heritage Listing ....................................................79 REFERENCES .........................................................................................89 2 | GOOGONG FORESHORE LAND AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN 2020 Tables and Figures TABLE 1. THE VALUES AND SIGNIFICANCE OF GOOGONG FORESHORES, AND CORRESPONDING MANAGEMENT GOALS ........................................13 TABLE 2. THREATENED NATIVE PLANT SPECIES OF GOOGONG FORESHORES ........................................................................................25 TABLE 3. THREATENED AND MIGRATORY NATIVE ANIMAL SPECIES RECORDED WITHIN GOOGONG FORESHORES ........................................28 TABLE 4. INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES FOR PRIORITY CONTROL WITHIN GOOGONG FORESHORES, INCLUDING WONS (BOLDED) AND EMERGING SPECIES ...............................................................................31 TABLE 5. PEST ANIMAL SPECIES RECORDED WITHIN GOOGONG FORESHORES ........................................................................................32 TABLE 6. RECREATION MANAGEMENT ZONES WITHIN GOOGONG FORESHORES ........................................................................................52 TABLE 7. RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES PERMITTED, PROHIBITED OR NOT APPLICABLE WITHIN EACH RECREATION MANAGEMENT ZONE .......54 FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF GOOGONG FORESHORES ...................................6 FIGURE 2. GOOGONG FORESHORES AND SURROUNDING REGION .........11 FIGURE 3. RECREATION MANAGEMENT ZONES ......................................53 FIGURE 4. GOOGONG FORESHORES RECREATION FACILITIES AND PLACES OF INTEREST ............................................................................58 ENVIRONMENT.ACT.GOV.AU | 3 CHAPTER 1 Introduction FISHING JETTY AT GOOGONG DAM (M JEKABSONS) ENVIRONMENT.ACT.GOV.AU | 5 INTRODUCTION Googong Foreshores Googong Foreshores is located in New South Wales (NSW), south-east of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and approximately 13 kilometres by road from Queanbeyan (see Figure 1). Googong Foreshores is the area defined in the The primary purpose of Googong Foreshores Canberra Water Supply (Googong Dam) Act 1974 is to protect a source of raw water for ACT and (Cwlth) (Googong Dam Act) as the Googong Dam Queanbeyan communities. Googong Foreshores is Area. The Foreshores covers an area of 5,089 hectares. also valued for its natural and cultural heritage and It encompasses Googong Dam and adjoining land, provides opportunities for education and community and sections of the Queanbeyan