Parks and Reserves of Yanchep and Neerabup Draft Management Plan 2010
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Parks and Reserves of Yanchep and Neerabup Draft Management Plan 2010 R N V E M E O N G T E O H F T W A E I Our environment, our future S L T A E R R N A U S T PARKS AND RESERVES OF YANCHEP AND NEERABUP Draft Management Plan 2010 Department of Environment and Conservation Conservation Commission of Western Australia VISION Yanchep and Neerabup parks and reserves will be recognised as an important biodiversity stronghold of the Perth Metropolitan area on the Swan Coastal Plain where natural values, such as tuart and banksia woodlands, wetlands, caves and karst features, and threatened flora, fauna and ecological communities, and our knowledge of them, will be conserved and enhanced for future generations. This historic landscape, known as ‘Perth’s natural and cultural meeting place’, will be recognised for its great aesthetic appeal and recreational legacy that is unique amongst national parks of today, and for its rich Indigenous heritage and stewardship, which will be encouraged through involvement of Nyoongar people in managing ‘country’ as they have done in the past. A unique collection of 1930s buildings and activities such as rowing boats, viewing koalas and visiting caves will remind visitors of our early 20th century heritage, which was a driving force in establishing this area as a healthy recreational oasis within the Perth Metropolitan area. People will gain enjoyment from, and an appreciation, awareness and understanding of, the natural, cultural and social environment of the parks and reserves. They will provide visitors with a range of safe nature-based recreation opportunities, facilities and services that are compatible with conservation and recreation requirements. These will enrich visitor experiences dependent upon natural, cultural and recreational values and, reflecting a custodial spirit that will benefit future generations. The parks and reserves will provide a range of educational and interpretation opportunities that are set within, and reach out to, metropolitan communities beyond the parks and reserves. The parks and reserves will be managed in partnership with the community to nurture appreciation and understanding of the importance of the area’s natural, cultural and social values and their protection. They will promote community ownership through volunteers and clubs using the area, and boost conservation efforts and resources available for the protection of the environment. In turn, the planning area will be responsive to the community’s evolving needs. ii INVITATION TO COMMENT This Draft Management Plan is an opportunity to provide information, express your opinion, suggest alternatives and have your say on how the Parks and Reserve of Yanchep and Neerabup will be managed over the next 10 years. MAKE YOUR COMMENTS COUNT What to Consider In making your submission, it is important to understand that legislation and policy imposes certain obligations on the Department to manage lands and waters vested with the Conservation Commission and that there may be little room to manage some issues outside of these constraints and responsibilities. Nevertheless, it is important to hear from the public about the management of these issues. There are also some issues which may have a number of management options over the life of the plan, or where the Department has developed a proposal and wants to gauge public opinion about management. Issues that the Department and the Conservation Commission would particularly like to seek feedback on during the public comment period of this draft management plan include the proposed: Key Performance Indicators mentioned through various sections of the plan; Strategies identified for sections of interest; Outsourcing of the golf course as outlined in sections 30.2 Golf and 31 Commercial Tourism Operations; Retention of koalas (see Section 30.4 Wildlife Viewing and Interaction); and Provision of camping (see sections 30.8 Overnight Stays and 31 Commercial Tourism Operations). How to Make Effective Comments It is important to indicate those strategies and recommendations you agree with as well as those with which you disagree. Each submission is important, but those that give reasons for concerns, give support where appropriate and offer information and constructive suggestions are most useful. If you prefer not to write your own submission you could make a joint submission with others. To ensure your submission is as effective as possible: make it clear and concise; list your points according to the subject sections and page numbers in the Plan; describe briefly each subject or issue you wish to discuss; say whether you agree or disagree with any or all of the aims or strategies within each subject or just those of specific interest to you - clearly state your reasons (particularly if you disagree) and provide supportive information where possible; and suggest alternatives to deal with issues with which you disagree. WHERE TO SEND YOUR COMMENTS Submissions are welcome for two months after the release date of the draft management plan and can be made online at: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/haveyoursay or by writing to: Planning Coordinator Parks and Reserve of Yanchep and Neerabup Draft Management Plan Department of Environment and Conservation Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre BENTLEY WA 6983 Alternatively, submissions can be sent to: [email protected] iii HOW YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED All submissions will be summarised according to topics discussed. The Management Plan will then be reviewed in the light of submissions, according to established criteria (see below). A summary of the submissions will be prepared along with the Final Management Plan, including an indication of how the Plan was amended or not amended in response to the submissions: 1. The draft management plan will be amended if a submission: (a) provides additional information of direct relevance to management; (b) provides additional information on affected user groups of direct relevance to management; (c) indicates a change in (or clarifies) Government legislation, management commitment or management policy; (d) proposes strategies that would better achieve management objectives; or (e) indicates omissions, inaccuracies or a lack of clarity. 2. The draft management plan will not be amended if a submission: (a) clearly supports proposals in the plan; (b) makes general statements and no change is sought; (c) makes statements already in the plan or were considered during the plan preparation; (d) addresses issues beyond the scope of the plan; (e) is one amongst several widely divergent viewpoints received on the topic but the text/strategies in the plan are still considered the preferred option; (f) contributes options that are not feasible (generally due to conflict with existing legislation, Government policy, lack of resource capacity or lack of research knowledge to make decisions); (g) is based on unclear, factually incorrect information; or (h) provides details that are not appropriate or necessary for inclusion in a document aimed at providing management direction over the long term. iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY All national parks, conservation parks and nature reserves in Western Australia are vested in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia (Conservation Commission), a community based body, and managed by the Department of the Environment and Conservation (the Department or DEC) under provisions of the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act). The Parks and Reserves of Yanchep and Neerabup draft Management Plan 2010 has been prepared by the Department on behalf of the Conservation Commission and provides a statement of policies and guidelines proposed to be followed and a summary of operations proposed to be undertaken in the management plan area as specified under the CALM Act. The term of the final management plan will be 10 years once approved by the Minister for Environment, or until the plan is superseded by a new management plan. This draft management plan provides some background information to provide context to the planning area’s values, issues and subsequent management decisions. The Parks and Reserves of Yanchep and Neerabup planning area will in the future form part of a new, larger sub-regional planning area and subsequent plans will be consistent with the approach being considered for such regional planning areas. The final management plan will be reduced in size and will only have an emphasis on the objectives and strategies. This draft management plan covers Yanchep National Park, Neerabup National Park, Neerabup Nature Reserve, proposed addition known as Ridges and smaller reserves adjacent to Neerabup National Park (a total area of 6371 ha). Collectively, these are known as the planning area and are located in the northwest sector of the Perth Metropolitan area within the local government area of the City of Wanneroo. The planning area is an important conservation area set within an urban context, containing unique cave and karst features, a relatively undisturbed freshwater wetland system, diverse and undisturbed remnant vegetation and rich diversity of native fauna. Yanchep National Park features a wetland of national importance, supporting a diverse range of flora and fauna including migratory waterbirds. The planning area also contains Threatened Ecological Communities such as the root mat communities within the caves of Yanchep National Park, which have been found to support relictual endemic fauna species. The diverse and relatively