Visitor use, appreciation & enjoyment

South Para Parks Management Plan

Introduction Sandy Creek Conservation Parks and will replace an existing management plan for Para Wirra Recreation The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Park. Resources is seeking community views to help in the development of a management plan for the South Para Parks: Para Wirra Recreation Park, Hale Para Wirra Recreation Park

Conservation Park, Warren Conservation Park and Para Wirra Recreation Park is a well known park. It Sandy Creek Conservation Park. contains large areas of remnant vegetation amongst These parks are reserved under the National Parks and scenic rolling hills, plateaus and gorges. It is an Wildlife Act 1972. The development of a park accessible destination for people from Gawler, One management plan for the South Para Parks provides Tree Hill, Williamstown, Elizabeth, Golden Grove and an opportunity for members of the public to help set Munno Para, and is only one hour from Adelaide. directions for the management of these parks. Family groups have always been attracted to the park The South Para Parks are located 40km north east of for walking, picnics and barbecues. Groups such as Adelaide and they play a vital role in conserving scouts, orienteers and schools utilise the park for remnant vegetation in the Northern Mount Lofty activities and camping (particularly Gawler View and Ranges and the Barossa Valley. These parks also Wirra picnic areas). Outdoor and environmental provide natural places for a diverse range of recreation education has long been a focus and an education activities and opportunities to connect with nature centre was built in the northern part of the park in the that are close to Adelaide. 1970s.

The management plan will outline how these parks will Para Wirra Recreation Park was initially protected as a protect and enhance the things that make them Park in 1962. One of the aims of the park was to special and will set strategic directions for future provide a recreational resource in the north, management. equivalent to that offered by in the south. Originally, facilities included tennis courts, Once adopted the South Para Management Plan will ovals, picnic areas, gas barbecues and a kiosk (at the be the first management plan for Hale, Warren and park office). During the late 1980s and 1990s visitor

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numbers declined and many services such as the kiosk Hale Conservation Park contains the Hale Bush Hike, and tennis courts were removed. Speculation over listed in ’s 40 Great Short Walks. reasons for this decline has ranged from changes in people’s recreation choices, the park not being easily Issues for consideration accessible or promoted, or facilities not matching People and Parks Strategy: In 2012, the Minister for people’s expectations. Sustainability, Environment and Conservation released Bushwalking has remained a popular activity with 11 the People and Parks strategy. It aims to encourage walking trails of varying difficulties that take visitors to people to visit parks and become involved in some spectacular places including the South Para conservation activities. Key actions in the strategy to River, lookouts and historic sites. Devils Nose Hike and achieve this are: Victoria Hill Hike are listed in South Australia’s 40  Establish Mt Lofty Ranges as a nationally Great Short Walks. Other activities that occur in the recognised cycling destination. park include horse riding and dog walking.  Expand the suite of distinctive, broadly appealing The number of visits to the park is around 30,000 per trails in the that are suitable for annum and there is strong volunteer support in the people with limited mobility. park through groups such as the Friends of Para Wirra and the Barossa Goldfields Historical Society. Linking Adelaide with Nature Strategy: This strategy was released in 2012 to guide the sustainable Hale, Warren and Sandy Creek development of trails in the parks of the Mount Lofty Conservation Parks Ranges.

Sandy Creek Conservation Park is in the Barossa Valley Changing trends in outdoor recreation: visitor facilities - a nationally recognised tourism destination. Hale and services are provided so that people can enjoy the Conservation Park and Warren Conservation Park are park. The provision of facilities needs to match current situated in the Northern Mount Lofty Ranges, between and future visitor needs as well as the long term the Barossa Valley and Adelaide conservation goals for the parks.

Nearby residents and visitors specifically interested in Legal framework: Access for recreational activities nature, bushwalking and bird watching are the main including vehicle use, rock-climbing, swimming, fishing visitors to these parks. The parks provide tranquil and cycling are managed in accordance with the natural settings and spectacular views across the South National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Para gorge without substantial visitor facilities. The Regulations 2001. As necessary, management plans visitation and the type of activities undertaken by may provide guidance for specific recreation activities visitors has not changed considerably over time. in line with these regulations.

Management of these parks has focused on Horse riding: A horse riding circuit was designated in biodiversity conservation because demand for Para Wirra Recreation Park during the 1990s. It recreation has been minimal. There are no public incorporates Bassnet Rd, Frank Barker Rd, fire tracks roads inside these parks but the entrances to the parks adjacent to Humbug Scrub Rd and a management have car parking and information signs. The Heysen track near ‘orchid dam’. There are few alternative Trail traverses Warren Conservation Park and horse riding opportunities close by. Management campsites are available in Forestry SA land outside the challenges associated with horse riding in parks park. The Vale Homestead (a leased accommodation include avoiding the spread of Phytophthora and facility) is located in Sandy Creek Conservation Park.

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maintaining the satisfaction of visitors conducting areas will increase by approximately 169 000 people. activities other than horse riding. Planning for Para Wirra Recreation Park in particular, should consider the implications and opportunities Vehicle and pedestrian access: As in most parks vehicle associated with expected longer term changes in access and car parking is restricted to the network of Adelaide’s demographics. roads and formal car parks. Walking is not restricted, however people are encouraged to use walking trails Public awareness: Focus group surveys conducted in publicised in park brochures. 2012 highlight that that the barriers to going to parks in the Mt Lofty Ranges include: lack of information, Cycling: Over recent years significant public demand difficulty getting to parks, entry fees, feeling unsafe, has developed for mountain bike riding in natural lack of wheelchair access and the perception that areas. A park management plan may provide for there is nothing to do. There are many recreational cycling on purpose built trails or existing tracks. opportunities that are similar to these parks, some of which are free or closer to home. Visitor facilities: Some of the infrastructure at Para Wirra Recreation Park is ageing and may no longer Regional goals for public open space: People seek meet the needs of visitors. Consideration needs to be suitable places for a range of outdoor recreation given to the future management arrangements for activities. This demand is met through access to a Mack Creek Hut and the education centre (both of network of public open spaces in the broader region. which have been used for accommodation in Para While the South Para Parks are a part of this public Wirra Recreation Park) and the Vale Homestead in open space network, they have a limited capability to Sandy Creek Conservation Park which has been leased support many forms of recreation and offer a distinctly for youth hostel accommodation. different experience to other public spaces such as suburban playgrounds, picnic areas and sporting Water supplies: Untreated rainwater is provided at facilities. Planning for recreation within these parks some visitor sites in Para Wirra Recreation Park and should focus on gaps in the provision of opportunities the toilets are serviced by dam water. The park does for nature based outdoor recreation that can not be not have a mains water supply and the existing addressed at alternative sites outside the protected infrastructure such as pipes and pumps is ageing. area network. As is the case within the parks, restrictions on recreation activities apply to land Phytophthora: Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil- adjacent to the parks (South Para Reservoir catchment borne disease and has been identified in and around and native forest managed by Forestry SA). A the parks. The long-term impacts or the movement of coordinated approach to the communication of Phytophthora is not fully known. Managing this threat permitted recreational activities and appropriate is particularly challenging. Any change to the way that behaviour is required across all public land areas. people, horses and vehicles move within the parks requires careful planning to ensure that the spread of Historic sites: Historic sites require special protection Phytophthora is not in avertedly exacerbated. and have potential to contribute to the visitor Phytophthora is causing dieback in areas in and experience. In Para Wirra Recreation Park there is a adjacent to the ‘Mack Creek’ section of Para Wirra considerable amount of information and artefacts and Recreation Park, an area which has been identified as ruins associated with the Lady Alice Mine (restricted having high priority for the protection of threatened access) and the Barossa Goldfields. species.

30-year Plan for Greater Adelaide: This plan anticipates that the population of Adelaide’s northern suburban

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Discussion Points Contact

The discussion points have been prepared to prompt Please write or email your comments to: people’s thinking about the parks. Your opinions, knowledge and ideas will help in preparing a draft Jessica Wilson, Policy and Planning Officer management plan. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources 1. What is special about each park? What should GPO Box 1047, ADELAIDE SA 5001 the visitor experience be in 10 years time (what T: (08) 8124 4836 is your vision for the parks)? E: [email protected]

2. What recreation activities are appropriate in Fore more information about the planning process the parks? please visit: www.environment.sa.gov.au/parkmanagement 3. Are there areas in the parks that should enable activities such as cycling that are not currently allowed?

4. Do the current walking trails meet visitors’ needs? Front Cover: Para Wirra Recreation Park, Photo courtesy of Darren Williams. 5. Is it important to provide trail linkages between the parks and other adjoining areas?

6. Do the facilities provided in the parks meet visitor’s needs? Are there any other facilities that should be provided, changed or removed?

7. Should the historic sites at Para Wirra Recreation Park be accessible for visitors? What are the opportunities for these sites?

8. How can park information be improved?

9. Is park based accommodation important in Para Wirra Recreation Park?

10. What are the opportunities for the Vale Homestead in Sandy Creek Conservation Park?