MITCHELL RIVER SILT JETTIES
Conservation and Management Recommendations
Prepared by Landsmith Pty. Ltd. _ 1994 -9 JAN 1995 I The Mitchell River Silt Jetties I
V1ctcrian r;cNornment Library .=:er-vice MITCHELL RIVER SILT JETTIES VISION STATEMENT
The Mitchell River Silt Jetties are of National and International significance, fonning one of the finest examples of a digitate delta in the world. Since European settlement, the silt jetties have been substantially altered. The permanent entrance opening of the Gippsland Lakes, farming and recreational pursuits, have resulted in considerable modification of vegetation and landfonn. Management of the silt jetties will focus on stabilisation and enhancement of vegetation. Opportunities for interpretation and recreation will be provided. CONTENTS
1. A VISION FOR THE MITCHELL RIVER SILT JETTIES ......
Acknowledgements ......
2. BACKGROUND TO PLAN ......
3. DESCRIPTIVE REPORT ......
3.1 Geomorphology ...... 3.2 Pre History ...... 3.3 Flora and Fauna ...... 3.4 Hydrology ...... 3.5 Settlement H*astory and Present Use ...... 3.6 Land Tenure and Planning Controls ...... 3.7 Description of Processes acting on The Jetties ...... 3.7.1 Natural ...... 3.7.2 Man Induced ...... 3.8 Effectiveness of previous Restoration Works on The Silt Jetties ......
4. CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......
4.1 Policy Issues and Recommendations ...... 4.2 Area Based Issues and Recommendations ...... 4.2.1 Northern Jetty ...... 4.2.2 Southern Jetty ...... 4.2.3 Eagle Point Resenre (BJufl) ......
5. BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 6. APPENDICES
I. Vegetation Map including revegetation sites ......
2. Recreational Map showing access, facilities, fishing sites, picnic site ......
3. Signs Map ......
4. Hazards Map showing erosion sites, vermin and weed concentrations,.rock placement sections ......
5. Zoning Map ......
6. Planning Controls - Shire of Bairnsdale ......
7. 1973 Interdepartmental Committee Recommendations on preservation of the Mitchell River Silt Jetties .. : ......
8. Recreation Visitor Statistics ......
9. Jetty Zoning Plan ......
10. Wind Spectrum ......
11. Bir<£ List for Silt Jetties ......
12. Field work observations ...... The Mitchell River Silt Jetties Conservation and Management Project was carried out with the assistance of funds made available by the Commonwealth of Australia under the National Estate Grants Program. ACN 060 217 745 Office: 48 RI LEY STR EET BAIRNSDALE VIC 3875 Phone/Fax (051) 52 3632
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
The study team wishes to thank the following people who assisted· us and ·· ······ -- --·-- -- commented during the presentation of the plan:
Norma Earney, Isabelle Ross, Albert Kyle, Brian James, Vic Smythe, Helen Clothier (East Gippsland Historical Society), Robyn DuBlet (Port of Melbourne Authority) and all those who attended the "Afternoon on the Silt Jetties".
Members of the steering committee and agency staff.
John Hopkins (Shire ofBairnsdale), Alan Martin (Mitchell River Management Board), Rod Thomas (Port of Melbourne Authority), Peter Rennick and Dennis Matthews (Department of Conservation & Natural Resources).
IAN SMITH, KAYE THURBON, BRETT PETERS
(Members of the Planning Team). -4-
2. BACKGROUND TO THE PLAN
2.1 PREAMBLE ~
The Silt Jetties at the mouth of the Mitchell River within the Gippsland Lakes of Victoria have been a significant landmark and area of interest for generations of aboriginal people and the European settlers arriving in Gippsland. The activities of white settlement has markedly affected the jetties during the last hundred years. The rich silt lands of the jetties were thrown open for settlement in the 1890s and, about the same time, an artificial entrance to the Lakes system increased salinity within the waters of the Lakes system. Protective reed beds diminished: natural vegetation on the jetties was altered by grazing and horticulture. By 1971 the land area of the jetties had eroded to about half that surveyed in 1849, with the major loss on the outer shores along Jones' Bay and Eagle Point Bay. A major flood in 1919 also breached the northern jetty into Jones' Bay and now a significant flow of silt-laden water lost through that "Cut" rather than proceeding through the jetties.
The State Government has taken action to preserve the shorelines by rock placement and changes to land use. Major programs in the 1970s and 80s succeeded in rockwalling all the northern silt jetty outer face and bricking the tenuous island section near Pt Dawson. Tyre mattresses, wood retaining walls - and rocks were placed on the inner shores. The southern shores, apart from some sections of private property were also rocked. Private land on the jetties has been re-purchased wherever possible and the permissive occupancies for fishermen's huts at Pt Dawson are now phased out.
In 1986-88 tree planting of the northern jetty was largely completed, followed by removal of the connecting bridge at the Cut, due to teredo attack in the piles.
At present the jetties are stabilised at their much reduced area. There is no agricultural use of the northern jetty, which is returning to woodland. Apart from three sections, the southern jetty has reverted to public ownership and parts are re-vegetating.
The main public use of the jetties is now for recreational fishing from the southern jetty or from boat within the jetty channel. The road to Point Dawson provides numerous opportunities for bank fishing and when conditions are ideal, up to 400 persons may use these banks for fishing on a good day.
It is fortunate that over the past 30 (thirty) years growing public awareness of the value and fragility of the system has enabled Government Authorities to restrict land use and control access to some extent on the jetties. The issue now is how to manage the jetties including use for recreational purposes such as fishing, wrule conserving them for the enjoyment of future generations. On 14 May 1991 the Commonwealth Government under the Heritage Commission Act (1975) entered the Mitchell River Silt Jetties on the Register of the National Estate. -5-
2.2 PURPOSE
The Management Plan provides directions for the future management of the Mitchell River Silt Jetties, Eagle Point Bluff and surrounds, with particular emphasis on:
• identifying management actions that will need to be implemented during the period of the Management Plan;
• resolving potential conflicts between uses and protection of values along the silt jetties.
2.3 PLANNING AREA
The Mitchell River Silt Jetties are located south east of Bairnsdale (Victoria) and extend into Lake King. They are part of the Mitchell River delta which extends from just near Bairnsdale southwards along the western shoreline of the lake to Eagle Point Bluff and then eastwards for approximately 8 kilometres as low narrow fingers of sediment.
The Plan covers the land and waters of the Mitchell River Silt Jetties east of, _ and including the Eagle Point Bluff.
II 2.4 PLANNING PROCESS I
Preparation of the Plan commenced in August 1993. Key groups and individuals with a particular interest in the planning area were contacted with the aim of seeking information and input into key management issues.
"An afternoon on the Silt Jetties" was arranged by the team in January to assist public input to the Plan. About 40 persons, mostly local residents, attended and gave valuable input. BASS STRAIT
...... ___.• 100 WlMC1N$ A NORTH
0 10 20 km
Locality Map·
Mitchell River Silt Jetties-Locality Map -6-
The study team has consulted with:
• Port of Melbourne Authority (P.M.A.) - re: rockwalling programs, channel definition for navigation, depth sounding information, boat wake wave wash issues, Jones' Bay access.
• Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (CNR) - re: previous CEP works and concept plan, land tenure and Pt Dawson permissive occupancies, revegetation programs on both jetties,. recreational use and fisheries issues.
• Shire of Bairnsdale - re: planning scheme controls applying to freehold land on the jetties, road maintenance, boat ramp facilities.
• A group of expert local fishermen with many years experience of recreational fishing on the jetties. One member of this group spent his childhood on the jetties and has observed changes over some 60 years.
• Mitchell River Management Board (MRMB) - re: river dynamics, bank undercutting, the effect of the "Cut" in silt deposition and management responsibility matters. The success of :MR1Yffi works upstream were also discussed.
• Bairnsdale Historical Society and Koorie interests have also provided information for historical purposes and for the educational resource kit. EAGLE POINT
....
'JONES BAY
Mitchell River Silt Jetti.es looking west towards Eagle Point.
The silt deposits at the bottom ofthe photograph are an indication ofhow the jetties have receded with loss ofvegetation JONES BAY
Mitchell River Silt Jetties looking east.
The 'Cut' was formed in 1919 after a major flood breached the Northern Jetty. -7-
3. DESCRIPTIVE REPORT
3.1 NATURAL VALUES i
GEOMORPHOLOGY
The Gippsland Lakes catchment can be broadly divided into mountains and hills on consolidated rocks and relatively flat terrain at low elevation formed predominantly on marine, aeolian, lacustrine and fluvial sediments.
The uplands were formed over a period of 600 million years. Their complex geomorphology is the .. result of igneous intrusions, block uplifts and resulting fault lines and volcanic eruptions and deposits.
The lowland areas were initiated by down-warping some 65 million years ago. This resulted in the formation of an extensive trough. During the last 1.8 million years marine and fluvial sediments filled this trough.
The complex system of coastal sand barriers, lagoons and the flood pta:ins and deltas of the Gippsland Lakes area developed during the last million years as a - · result of continued changes in sea levels.
Over the last 10,000 years during the Holocene era flood plain deposits and deltas of sand, gravel, silt and clay have developed at the mouths of all the major streams entering the Gippsland Lakes, the largest of which is at the mouth of the Mitchell River.
The elongated simple digitate (birdsfoot) form of the jetties differs from the cuspate (tooth-like) fonn of most other river deltas in the region. This is partly due to the fact that the north west part of Lake King is sheltered from strong easterly and westerly winds. Similar formations occur in the Mississippi delta, the Volga, Tuross (in N.S.W.) and the Murray as it flows through Lake Alexandrina.
Delta development has depended on the presence of a shoreline reed swamp fringe to trap river sediments and offer protection against wave action.
The Mitchell Delta is unusual and has aroused some interest. JenkinC1> ( 1968) believes that it represents partially drowned levee remnants, but Bird<2> ( 1961, 1963, 1965) argues that reported sea level fluctuations would have led to recent emergence rather than submergence of the Silt Jetties. Over the last 150 years the impact of settlement on the Silt Jetties has been considerable. Bird and Rosengren who have made extensive studies of the jetties since 1960s estimate that the total area of the jetties is now about half of that it was in the 1870s. -8-
3.2 PRE IDSTORY k KOORIE SIGNIFICANCE
The Kurnai tribe inhabited the East Gippsland area. Three tribes inhabited the Lakes area, these being the Brabuwoolong occupying the area north of the Lakes between the Mitchell and Tambo Rivers, the Boul Boul Metung occupying the southern side of the lakes along the Ninety Mile Beach and the Tatungoloong which occupied the northern shore of Lake Victoria and Lake King. The Tatungoloong would have occupied the area covering the Silt Jetties, but these clans often mixed with each other.
Very little is known about the activities of these two clans. The most popular places were on the lakes and flat plains, \vith infrequent visits made to the heavily timbered country to the north. There are no known references. to use of the Silt Jetties by Koorie tribes.
There are records of four scarred trees. in or near the Eagle Point Resetve (V.A S. 1994).
In early 1845 native police stations had been established at Green Hills (Maffra), Narre Narre Warren and Tyers had moved his headquarters from Port Albert to Eagle Point Bluff.
On the 8th of March 1846 it was reported to Superintendent Charles LaTrobe in Melbourne that one of the native police thought he'd seen a white woman with a number of Aborigines. The Gippsland coastline was dangerous for shipping, with shipwrecks not unconunon. The survival of the travellers was unknown. After investigation Tyers was convinced the rumours were true and the native police made plans to find the white woman, to the extent of risking bloodshed. The approach to the exercise was to distress and destroy, without any effort for negotiations. This search led to the bloodshed of many family groups of the Kurnai.
Tyers found out that an Aboriginal named Bunjil-ee-nee possessed a white woman. Despite many attempts by Tyers and the native police, Bunjil-ee-nee succeeded in avoiding them until in early 1847, Christian De Villers heading a Gippsland expedition met Bunjil-ee-nee along the Tambo River. Here Bunjil ee-nee refused to give the "white woman" up.
In March 1847, Tyers met with and persuaded Bunjil-ee--nee to camp at Eagle Point and discuss the release of the 11 Whi.te Woman". After twice promising and reneging to bring the "White Woman" to Eagle Point, Bunjil-ee-nee escaped. Two days later Bunjil-ee-nee returned and was confined to the Eagle Point camp.
By mid 1848 Bunjil-ee-nee was still residing at Tyers Eagle Point camp, but still refused to give up the wyhite woman. In frustration Tyers sent Bunjil-ee-nee and his family to the Native Police Station at Dandenong. On the 21st of November 1848, Bunjil-ee-nee died, according to Protector Thomas, of grief -9-
3.3 FLORA AND FAUNA I
When the Silt Jetties were first mapped in 1848-49 by George Smythe (southern jetty) and John Wilkinson (northern jetty) they were covered in scrub vegetation • mainly Swamp Paperbark (Mela/euca ericifolia), occasional Red Gums (Eucalyptus tereticomis) and were fringed with Common Reed (Phragmites austra/is), which spread out into the bordering lake. The river mouth was also fiinged by reed swamp and shoals of silt and clay.
Significant areas of the Silt Jetties continue to be privately owned. Thus large areas of the jetties have little or no tree cover, having been cleared for agriculture.
Prior to clearing, the vegetation was probably shrubby open forest, with Eucalyptus tereticomis predominant. In the wetter areas Swamp Paperback closed forest would occur on the landward side of either Phragmites grassland or salt marsh.
From 1986 to 1988 revegetation of the northern silt jetty was undertaken by Department of Conservation Forests & Lands. The revegetation plan's objective was to provide a vegetation variety between dense bushland and open woodland (Barry 1987). The main species used include:
Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Acacia mwmsii Black Wattle Acacia dealbata Silver Wattle Myoporum iJJSU/are Boobialla Bursaria spinosa Sweet Bursaria Melaleuca ericifolia Swamp Paperback
The fauna of the Silt Jetties is mostly limited to bird species. Over a hundred species of birds are found in the study area. Most are dependent on wetlands. Dabbling and wading species such as most ducks, herons and black swans prefer the shallow water of the jetties margins. The species that feed on fish {such as cormorants and pelicans), which prefer the deeper water, will be found resting on shorelines and stranded tree trunks offshore. As the revegetation areas mature the jetties will become attractive resting sites for smaller birds such as honeyeaters, parrots and flycatchers.
The northern jetty supports populations of Red-bellied Black Snakes and Tiger Snakes.
A bird list for the jetties area kindly supplied by local bird observer Mrs R Earney (who has lived on the jetties for 8 years) is included in Appendix 12. -10-
3.4 HYDROLOGY I
Before the fonnation of the Cut in 1919, the full flow of the Mitchell River progressed into Lake King via the Silt Jetty channel. At this time the jetties were "well timbered and fringed with reeds". (A. Howitt 1879)
The reed fringe and water ribbon fiinges impeded flow and the inner banks of the jetties were subject to silt deposition as the stream velocity slowed and the silt dropped out ofthe water stream.
The present day situation is fundamentally changed. The cross sectional area of the river channel via the Cut is much greater than the cross sectional area of the Silt Jetties channel (see Diagram I). The major water (and silt) flows are now through the Cut into Jones' Bay. The Silt Jetties channel just east of the Cut has shallowed to the extent that periodic dredging has been required to maintain a navigable water depth:-· This. dredged material, incidentally, was placed on the northern jetty close· to the bridge crossing and can now be seen covered with a vigorous stand of Black Wattle.
Comparison of depth charts (1878) with 1991 charts show little change in depths within the Silt Jetty channel generally (see Table 2) apart from the "Cut11 area where it is obvious periodic dredging has been required to maintain depth for larger boats.
An examination of cross sections in the "Cut" area before and after the 1990 floods show a further increase in the channel section area into Jones' Bay.
The flinging reed beds are returning in the Silt Jetty channel So also would be their capacity to retain silt from river flows.
Dredging activity to maintain a navigable Silt Jetty channel could also place spoil in the Cut opening, thus restoring the major flow to the Silt Jetty channel, and greater silt deposition on the inner silt jetty reed bed areas. -11-
DIAGRAM I
Comparison - cross sectional areas of "The Cut" and "The River" channels at the bifurcation point
Cross section 1988
"Cut"
w £
"River" s N ______...... :.
Cross section (post 1990 flood)
"Cut" w E
"River"
s N
Scale 1:2500
Source: PMA charts 1988, 1991 -12-
II 3.5 SETTLEMENT HISTORY AND PRESENT USE I
The first white explorers saw the lakes and river deltas of East Gippsland in the early 1840s. It is most probable that both the northern and southern silt jetties were grazed by stock owned by Frederick Jones who took up the Lucknow run in 1842. Grazing licences which allowed selectors to use the northern and southern jetty were issued under the various Land Acts from 1862 onwards. As a result some clearing of the original eucalypts, wattle and tea-tree scrub occurred. In 1873 the southern jetty was reserved pennanently for public purposes. This was an extension of the public park near the Bluff at Eagle Point.
During the 1850s through to the 1880s the area around Baimsdale provided a wide range of attractions for settlers: grazing and fanning land, gold prospecting, transportation provision by land, river, lake and sea, merchandising and general employment opportunities. The Mitchell River was alive with barges, steamers and schooners which travelled throughout the lakes. There was also a service to Melbourne and Sydney. By 1891 Bairnsdale Shire had a population of more than 7 ,500 people.
In the early 1880s a slipworks and dredge depot was established at Point Dawson. Silting at the mouth of the river was a major navigation problem.
When the amazing economic boom of the 1880s collapsed the Government of Victoria and local municipalities were faced with enormous unemployment rates. As one measure to address this problem, previously reserved Crown Land was made available under the Settlement On Lands Act of 1893. Of over 80 allocations in the State 6 were in the Bairnsdale area; of these the largest was at Eagle Point on the southern silt jetty east of the Bluff
As a result of this legislation small allocations of land on the Southern Jetty were made available to some 42 settlers in the last quarter of 1893. At its peak the area supported 39 settlers, their wives and families; a total of 220 residents in 1899. The local schoo~ established at the request of the settlers and their supporters, had 70 students on the roll and 40 regular attenders in 1895. For a variety of reasons, including better or improving economic conditions in the surrounding local area and in the State as a whole, most settlers had left the jetty by the early 1900s. They returned to Bairnsdale, took up land on Raymond Island, resided in Paynesville or Eagle Point settlement which had developed in the 1870s. During this time the slipworks at Point Dawson, located at the eastern end of the jetty, were aJso transferred to Paynesville. The settlers who remained usually did so on an increased land holding. The grazing of cattle on the northern jetty had continued throughout this period and into the 1980s.
During the I 920s and in the depression of the 1930s a fishing village of up to 40 residents developed near Point Dawson. ~13-
However it is important to note that during the 19th century the unique value of the jetties was recognised by town authorities reflected in their refusal to cut the southern jetty on the Paynesville side and regulations on the speed of shipping in the delta area. And in the early part of this century (1910-15) the importance of river bank protection was recognised, however misguided the planting of flax, willows, osiers, reeds and blackberries may be seen today!
From the appointment of the Mitchell River Improvement Trust through the efforts to construct protective walls in the 1960s and the reports of experts and Commissions in the 1970s and 1980s, growing public awareness of the value of the jetties has allowed government authorities to restrict their use and plan positively for the future.
Over the last 150 years the impact of settlement on the Silt Jetties has been considerable. Bird and Rosengren who have made extensive studies of the jetties since the 1960s estimate that the total area of the jetties is now only about half of what it was in the 1870s.
The opening of the artificial entrance to the lakes system in 1889 and its consequent impact on salinity levels and the destruction of the protective reed swamp around the shoreline and river banks are seen as the primary cause of erosion ofthe Silt Jetties. Secondary contributing causes are the clearing of the jetties for grazing and fanning. the introduction of exotic pests (rabbits), development of roads and boat swash especially from boats travelling at high - speed. The natural agents of erosion in the area being winds and waves especially from a south westerly direction.
ABORIGINAL SETILE.MENT
While it is difficult to estimate accurately the actual size and distribution of the aboriginal population in the mid nineteenth century (estimated by Alfred William Howitt to be about 1,000 in East Gippsland) their occupation of the Bairnsdale and Lakes area is well documented. They fiercely defended their territory and during the 1830s prevented explorers from the Monaro Plains in southern N.S.W. from reaching the lakes. One of C J Tyers, first Commissioner for Lands in the area, tasks was to protect white settlers from aboriginal raids. He complained that his initial police force was inadequate for the task. The main tribe was the Kurnai of which the Brabralung clan predominated. This clan was divided into several groups with specific territories. The Bunjil Baul a group of the Talungalung clan centred on the south side of Lake Victoria lived on Raymond Island. The aborigines had a complex and sophisticated culture. Fishing and hunting provided their basic food needs. -14-
WHI'IE EXPLORATION
When the Silt Jetties were first mapped in 1848-49 by George Smythe (southern jetty) and John Wilkinson (northern jetty) they were covered in scrub vegetation - mainly Swamp Paperbark (Melaleuca ericifo/ia), occasional Red Gums (Eucalyptus tereticomis) and were fringed with Common Reed (Phragmites austra/is), which spread out into the bordering lake. The river mouth was also fringed by reed swamp and shoals of silt and clay. These features were to provide a problem in the navigation of the river. At this time the jetties were longer, wider and simpler in outline than they are today. The reed swamp impeded the silt and clay brought down when the river was in flood. In this way the delta built up and extended. The reeds also protected the shoreline from wave attack. Even in 1901 after considerable changes in the use of the river, its drainage basin and the surrounding lakes and the building of the artificial entrance to the lakes the vast reed swamp was observed by the geographer J W Gregory on his visit to Gippsland.
The exploration of East Gippsland may be categorised in two ways: coastal exploration and overland exploration. Captain Cook's sighting of Point Hicks in 1770 and the landing of a shipwrecked crew at the point in the same year is of broad significance. As is the fact that Bass and Flinders established the existence of a strait between the southern extremity of the mainland and Van Dieman1s Land in 1798 and followed this up with further explorations in 1802. However more significant were the overland treks of Angus McMillan, on behalf of his employer Lachlan Macalister in the period 1839-41. He was seeking a passable route from the Monaro High Plains to what is now southern Victoria. On 3 June 1839 he viewed the rich country of East GippsJand from Mt McLeod and called it "Caledonia Australis". He named the Mitchell River after the Surveyor General of the colony ofN.S.W. In 1838 Andrew Hutton had trekked from Nungatta and Mallacoota Inlet west towards Lake King near the present site of Lakes Entrance, but he was driven back by aborigines who fiercely defended their territory.
In 1841 Count Strzelecki who was also exploring the area gave it the name Gippsland after the then Governor ofN.S.W. He wrote and published the first accounts of the potential of the hills and plains. Early visitors continued to write lyrical accounts of the beauty of the mountains, lakes and undulating plains. However early exploration from the west was hindered by the rugged forested terrain and deep marshes (for example near Moe).
In 1842 John Reeve discovered the opening to the lakes from the sea at the eastern end of the Cunninghame Arm. In 1844 C J Tyers investigated the entrance but thought the sand bars would impede navigation. He proved to be right for in later years ships could be delayed entry for weeks or months. EARLY SETILEMENT IN THE AREA OF THE SILT JETTIES
Frederick Jones was the first squatter to arrive in the Baimsdale area. He came from N.S.W. in 1842 in the company of Raymond, Stratford, Curlewis, Brodribb, Loughnan and Taylor who also took up runs in the adjacent country. In their quest for land south of the Monaro they had most probably been influenced by Strzelecki's accounts of his explorations.
Jones called his run Lucknow. He built a bark hut on the bank of the Mitchell River in what is now Robb Street (Bairnsdale). His land covered an area of 19,440 hectares. His run stretched westwards along the north bank of the Mitchell River and south to Jones' Bay and east to the Nicholson River and probably included both silt jetties. The land was cleared for grazing cattle, sheep and horses. In 1855 the property passed to Edward Crooke of Holey Plains.
In 1844 Archibald Macleod (like McMillan a native of Skye in Scotland) established the Bairnsdale run. This covered an area of 9,313 hectares and extended from the bend of the Mitchell River in the north along the banks of the river to Eagle Point (including the Macleod Morass). IBs daughter Arabella brought willow twigs in her saddle bag which she planted along the river bank. Their home, Bairnsdale House, was in what is now McMillan Street, Bairnsdale.
In 1843 a Commissioner for Crown Lands.was appointed for East Gippsland. This was Charles Joseph Tyers. He eventually reached Gippsland in 1844 travelling to the Baimsdale area via Port Albert and then overland. He established a police camp at Eagle Point and later in 1847 had a weatherboard cottage built on the Bluff. He lived there with his family for at least 5 years.
Tyers was appointed to Gippsland for three reasons: to discourage convicts from Tasmania from settling in the area; to protect white settlers from aboriginal raids~ and to fix the boundaries of squatters' holdings and settle disputes. Less worthy of record is the Gippsland Guardian report from 1 May 1863 that along with an orchard he had planted cactus, geraniums and French ivy "which have overgrown the whole place". It is not surprising he selected the Bluff at Eagle Point since it commands a magnificent, uninterrupted view of the surrounding mountains, plains and lakes.
ACCELERATED SETTLEMENT
In 1851 the colony of Victoria was officially separated from N.S.W. In the same year gold was discovered at Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrandyte and Omeo. By 1857 discoveries through East Gippsland were widespread including an area near Mt Taylor just north of the present city ofBairnsdale. During the 1860s and through to the tum of the century further rich discoveries were made in the surrounding hills. At first hundreds and then thousands of new settlers anived to try their luck at the diggings ot to set up stores, hotels, carting and other services. It was noted in 1915 that the Mitchell River was still adjusting to the ruthless land clearing associated with mining. By 1860 Lucknow was a thriving township. There was a twice weekly mail service and a coach service to Sale. The steamer Enterprise made a twice weekly run from Sale via Lucknow and Sarsfield. In 1860 Archibald Macleod established a punt service near the site of the present bridge over the Mitchell (at Baimsdale). A bridge was built in 1870. By the late 1880s Baimsdale township had extensive wharves, a post office, telegraph service, street lighting, some asphalted streets, a water supply and a garbage collection. There was a rail connection to Melbourne (established 1888) and shipping links to Melbourne and Sydney.
SETTLEMENT OF THE LAND
During the 19th century the idea of civilising the land through intensive cultivation persisted as an ideal. Agriculture was seen as a more suitable type of land use than grazing (pasturage). The hope that every man could have his garden and plant his own field persisted and was influential in the decision to use Crown Land for village settlements to alleviate the unemployment problem of the 1890s.
The earliest settlers in the Bairnsdale area were squatters. Their intention was to graze animals for meat, wool or to breed animals for sale. At the same time strong encouragement was given to selectors to develop land for agriculture initially to meet the need of the colony for staple foods such as wheat and oats. Farmers soon experimented with such crops as potatoes, beans, peas, turnips and marigolds. By the 1870s farmers in the area were producing a wide range of crops. The most economically significant being maize and hops (the latter being concentrated in the area from Picnic Point to Eagle Point along the river flats). By 1882 Bairnsdale farmers were producing one fifth of the colony's demand for hops. These crops in particular provided seasonal employment for large numbers of people. The Eagle Point School calendar took account of students participating in the hop harvest in February and March.
CROWN LAND SALES AND RESERVATIONS
Various land acts passed by the Victorian Parliament from 1860-1869 assisted selectors to gain access to the huge areas originally leased by squatters (note the size of Jones• and Macleod's runs). In particular the Duffy Act of 1862 and Grants Acts of 1865 and 1869 were instrumental in opening up Broadlands and the Silt Jetties. From 1852 onwards some Crown Lands had been auctioned in the colony. The first subdivision of land on the northern silt jetty occurred in 1868 (21 February). The 1869 Land Act included provision for unoccupied pastoral land to be divided into blocks and offered for sale. It also allowed a much wider range of people to select land such as labourers and shepherds. Rent of 2 shillings an acre was credited to the purchaser who paid 1 pound per acre. The purchase price could be paid over a period of 7 years. By I 878 all available land had been purchased.
In 1873 the southern jetty was included in the reservation. of the Eagle Point Recreation and Public Park.
In 1881 the frontage to the Mitchell River and Jones' Bay was excluded from available land and permanently reserved for public purpose. -17-
SHIPPING : IMPACT ON THE SILT JETTIES
During the 1840s mapping of the lake system occurred and as early as 1842 knowledge of a natural entrance from the lakes to the sea existed. But it was not until 1889 after much debate and delay that the artificial entrance to the lakes system was opened. This had a dramatic impact on the movement of imports and exports in the area. Refiigeration, a process developed from the 1850s onwards. enabled local producers to have access to the Melbourne and Sydney markets.
Charles Marshall and Thomas Chapman had made the first entry to the lakes from the sea in 1854. In 1855 William Dawson (Gippsland surveyor) was asked to inspect the lakes and report on the entrance. He proposed that a channel could be cut through from Lake Reeve or the Cunninghame Arm to LakeBunga.
In 1858 the surveyor and squatter, Malcolm Campbell in the 70 tonne "Georgina Smith" made the first serious attempt to enter the lake system through the natural entrance at the eastern end of the Cunningbame Arm. He had brought the first shipment of cargo to the local goldfields in April 1854. Also in 1858 Phillip Macarthur used the steamer "Enterprise" within the lake system for carting timber.
After 1862 schooners came through the natural entrance. In 1882 a tourist R S Broome described the main problem associated with the entrance:
"At present the entrance is almost in a direct line .... immediately in front of Laughton's Hotel. A year ago it was a good deal eastwards. 15 years ago it was near the Red Bluff about 3 miles (4.8 kms) east along the coast"
By 1864 "The Lady of the Lakes" was trading between Bairnsdale and Sale. This steamer also catered for tourists. In that year the Gippsland Lakes Navigation and North Gippsland Stearn Navigation Companies were formed.
By 1878 the paddle steamer the "Tanjil" (36 metres, 438 tonnes, able to carry 190 passengers} and later the 11Dargo11 from about 1883 (a screw steamer able to carry 160 passengers) sailed between Baimsdale and Sale on alternate days. The steam.er "Baimsdale" made a daily round trip from Lakes Entrance to Baimsdale and back.
Other vessels of note were:
No. of Name Vessel type Weight Lemrth 1>assen2ers Tambo Steamer 1020 tons 20 Omeo Screw Steamer 85 tons 30 327 Ethel Jackson Paddle Steamer 271 tons 400 JCD Steamer 71.5 tons 31 metres -18-
Most vessels had a draught of between 2 and 3 metres.
With regard to navigation in addition to the problems associated with negotiating the natural entrance there were problems nearer to the Port of Bairnsdale. Silting at the mouth of the Mitchell, the perceived impact of boat swash on the banks of the river, fires caused by sparks from the funnels of ships and the length of time it took to reach the port via the Silt Jetties and levees of the delta. The perceived need to regulate the speed of boats and to protect the river banks from erosion was recognised quite early ("Baimsdale Courier" 6 March 1878).
In the 1880s land at Point Dawson (at the mouth of the Mitchell) had been temporarily reseived for the Public Works Department to establish a slipworks for ship repairs. It also served as the home port for the dredgers "Wombat" and "Mystery" and later for the "Pioneer" (1905-1914) which could shift 50 tons of silt per hour. The shipwrights lived in Paynesville and were ferried to work daily in the "Blowfly". In 1911 the slipyards were transferred to Paynesville.
Discussion of opening a cut in the river channel in the southern jetty was eventually abandoned when arguments against this action on the basis that the jetties were a unique geological site were accepted.
IMPACT OF 1890s DEPRESSION : SETI'LEl\fENT ON LANDS ACT 1893
The 1880s in Victoria were a period of great prosperity. But in the early 1890s this spell of apparently endless good fortune broke. In Victoria in 1893 unemployment was estimated at 50,000 out of a total population of 1,133,000. During the prosperous preceding 20 years the population had grown rapidly; this was also the case in the Baimsdale area:
Population Year Shire Town Victoria 1871 2,195 900 723,000 1881 7,544 1,204 858,000 1891 7,546 3,435 1,133,000 1901 8,178 3,074 1,196.000 1911 8,190 3,412 1,307,000
Major causes of the depression included: recurring droughts, restriction of credit as a result of loss of confidence in business ventures, cessation of large public works programs, an abrupt drop in the flow of British capital In addition at Baimsdale the hop crop failed owing to an attack of the Red Spider Mite (1892). -19-
The movement to make small allocations of Crown Land available to the unemployed and families had considerable support in Baimsdale. The Baimsdale Council employed the largest group of unemployed persons of any municipality. Local charities could not meet the total need. It was thought that local settlement would allow people to keep their connections with the town and help them maintain their dignity and independence. The Rev. Donald Campbell was a prime mover in urging the Govenunent to make land available near Baimsdale. In deciding to make Crown Land available to relieve the unemployment crisis members of the Victorian Government and Opposition were to some extent influenced by the utopian movement which had prevailed throughout the 19th century. This was despite the fact that the small size of the allotments contemplated (1-20 acres) were known to be unsuitable even for subsistence farming.
In July 1892 the Settlement On Land Bill was presented by the Shields Government. It was temporarily put on hold during the election campaign in that year. In the following year, with some modifications, it was proclaimed by the Patterson Government on l September (1893). The Act provided for settlement on areas of Crown Land in small blocks for the:
• registered unemployed and their families • setting up of homestead associations • village settlements.
By 1896 there were 83 settlements in Victoria~ 6 of these were in the Bairnsdale area. The largest of these was at Eagle Point on the southern silt jetty.
John Lardner, District Officer for Lands, moved quickly in allocating blocks to 42 applicants. He did this on 30 September 1893, before the official date on which land could be allocated (3 October 1893) and before the Act was gazetted (6 November 1893).
The conditions to be met by applicants were:
• applicants to be 18 years or more and the land to be applied for individually • could not be an owner or lessee of more than 2 acres • size of allotment 1-20 acres • cost £ 1 per acre payable at 2 shillings per annum • improvements to value £ 1 in first 6 years • repayment of all aid and survey costs.
In the Baimsdale area preference was given to local applicants with large families. Because the needs of the settlers had not been carefully thought through, problems such as small blocks of land, lack of readily available fresh water for domestic use and for stock and the unsuitability of several blocks due to constant (for example allotment 45 near the eastern end of the jetty) or irregular flooding of the whole jetty area in 1893, required amendments to be made to the Act in I 895. -20-
The amended Act allowed the Land Board, which administered the schemes to resume possession of land required for public purposes such as roads and water supply. Settlers whose land (or part of whose land) was revoked were compensated, usually by the allocation of additional land.
It should be noted that in order to allocate land on the southern silt jetty the earlier legislation of 1873 had to be revoked, wider the Crown Lands Reserve Act November 1893. Four areas were excluded: the permanent reservation at Eagle Point, 54 hectares at the base of the Bluff: land at Point Dawson on a temporary basis for the Public Works Department to conduct ship building repairs and as the home port for the dredges "Wombat" and "Mysteryn. Allotments 9 and 10 were also reserved as being perceived as wlnerable to flooding and Allotment 12 was finally reserved for the school site.
The settlers built weatherboard cottages, with bark roofs. They usually consisted of· 4 ·rooms which were lined with-hessian or paper. The bark roofs did not allow them to store water. · They cleared and fenced their land to keep out rabbits, grew crops and supplemented their income with employment on public works, seasonal harvesting or fishing.
In 1895 280 acres ( l \ 3 hectares) were being cultivated with maize, potatoes, onions, peas and hay. Some home orchards were established. The settlers were responsive to new ideas, for example when silkworm cultivation advocated by a local Bairnsdale worthy, in April/May 1895 the settlers applied to the Department of Agriculture for cuttings of white mulberries. However an oil seed program never eventuated. Some of their enthusiasm may have been generated as a response to the letters and broadsheets sent to local newspapers and the "Hints for Village Settlers" published by the Government printer in 1894; both these ventures were instigated by the Minister for Lands.
Land Acts passed in 1898 and 1901 enabled settlers who stayed on at the settlement to increase their land holding or surrender their holding in exchange for a grazing licence. The 1911 Land Act spelt the end of village settlements. 1915 was the last year in which detailed records regarding the settlement were kept.
The table below summarises the history of this period:
Number of Number of Year "Settlers" Residents (total) 1894 35 149 1895 39 218 1900 33 200 1915 5 19 -21-
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENT ON THE SOUTHERN SILT JETIY
The advantages may be summarised as follows:
• The land was lightly timbered and of reasonable fertility. • Settlers were given an initial allowance of £15. • The Land Board was lenient with regard to non-payment of rent. • Mr Lardner was instructed to allocate seed potatoes to the value of £1-10/- to each settler who applied. • On revocation of allotment or if land proved unsuitable alternative land could be issued (see D Haylock who moved to Raymond Island). • The settlement was close to the town of Baimsdale. • There was a road and river transport network. • Supplementary work opportunities existed, eg hop hanrest, _public works programs. • There was a plentiful supply of game and fish_ • A school was established in 1894.
The disadvantages of the village settlement scheme may be summarised also:
• The Minister for Lands (McLean) did not provide a purchase clause in the 1893 Act. • The inadequacy of the land allocated (less than 20 acres). • The fact that land was low lying and subject to flooding. 1893 flood destroyed all crops and covered all land with silt • The lack of an adequate water supply. Settlers had to go to the spring in the Park Reserve_ Bores sunk for cattle were brackish (see the letter of John Alexander). Land salinity was a problem (see D Haylock). o Age of the settlers. Because preference was given to settlers with large families_ Many of the older sons and daughters had to move elsewhere to seek work. Also there was a problem concerning how many people had to be fed from one small allotment. • Lack of adequate roads on the silt jetty e Lack of privacy - many settlers complained of people walking across their land. o Actual employment opportunities were scarce_ The only ongoing employment was in public works programs_
A NOTE ON THE SCHOOL ON THE SOUTHERN SILT JETIY
Eagle Point School No_ 3215 was opened on 1 October 1894. It was a substantial weatherboard building of 4 rooms, a verandah and porch. There was a large schoolroom. The rest of the building was the residence of the head teacher. The school was located on Allotment 12. On the advice of the school inspector the floor was raised 18 inches above the ground to avoid floods which he calculated could regularly rise to 12 inches. -22-
Thomas Pedlow was the first teacher and he stayed until 1898. He had previously been head teacher at the Mitchell River School. This school was closed when many of the families in Broadlands moved to the Silt Jetties or Eagle Point township. In 1895 there were 70 children on the roll and 40 regular attenders. (Some children still came from Broadlands)
The next teacher was William McBriar. His first task was to apply for a shelter shed to provide shade for his students. He planted pine trees which made the site a landmark for many years.
By 1913 school attendance was down to 7 from the allotments and I from the northern jetty. Many of the settlers had moved to Paynesville or Eagle Point. In 1916 the school was moved to Eagle Point township on a site opposite the park.
SETTLEMENT 1913 AND BEYOND
In 1913 allotments at Eagle Point settlement were rented to single men. Some contemporaries complained that one or two Baimsdale landowners had secured much of the land. Evidence suggests that this was so, but improving economic conditions and new opportunities for employment lured most settlers away soon after 1900.
In 1914 the dredge works and slipyards at Point Dawson were transferred to Paynesville where there were already other boat building and ship repair facilities. In 1915 only S settlers and their families remained on the southern jetty.
Evidence that many original settlers remained in the Eagle Point area is reflected in the names on the Honour Roll of those who enlisted for the 1914-18 war (Eagle Point School 3215).
In 1916 three fishennen erected camps at Point Dawson.
In 1919 the massive flood which broke through the bank of the northern silt jetty (near the Bluff) and formed the "Cut" into Jones1 Bay. This remained a peon.anent feature of the river's morphology. It also washed away the road in front of Allotment 7, Mrs Tait's holding.
During 1926 the Shire of Baimsdale reserved land and the Department of Crown Lands granted permissive occupancy to several families. Up to 40 residents were engaged in professional fishing at one stage. -23-
MORE RECENT IDSTORY
As late as 1901 the original fringe of reed swamp noted by the early explorers and travellers was still present. In 1916 the Red Spider Mite attacked the reed swamp. Bird and Rosengren are satisfied that increased salinity of the lake due to the opening of the artificial entrance has been a major cause of the continued exponential loss of the reed swamp. This more than anything else has exposed the shoreline to wind and wave attack. However other authorities also note the disappearance of eel grass in the period 1922-1923. This grass which grew 80 to I 00 feet out from the shoreline of the jetties was attacked by the red crab which entered the lakes in plague proportions in those years. The reeds were exposed to wind and wave attack without the protection of the eel grass.
R M Perry, an officer of the Ports and Harbours Branch of the Public Works Department noted that Phragmites (reed) survived in sheltered areas of the lakes such as Box's Creek and Chinaman1s Creek at Metung (19 July 1962)~ While spasmodic flooding is probably a normal part of the river regime, excessive felling of timber, stream modification for mining and cattle grazing on the river banks. has increased the load of silt which has been deposited at the mouth of the river and since 1919 in Jones' Bay near the Cut. Similarly the driftwood pushed against river banks and shoreline by wind driven waves has also increased significantly since the begirutlng of white settlement.
Clearing of scrub on the jetties for cattle grazing and the impact of boat swash are regarded by most authorities as secondary causes of deterioration. Bird estimates that the jetties are only about half their size compared with estimates in the 1840s and at the tum of the century.
References
Cameron L., Mitchell River Silt Jetties : Impact of Settlement, Land Use and Subsequent Protection Strategies, Unpublished Thesis Nov 1992.
Scott B., The Ideal and the Actual : A Study of a Village Settlement., Unpublished MA Thesis 1976.
Adams J., Path Among the Years 1968.
Synan P., Highways of Water.
Broome RS., Our Trip to the Gippsland Lakes.
Bird E.F., The Silt Jetties of U1e Mitchell River, Gippsla.nd Studies No. 1, 1972.
Budcll A (Ed), Yesterday's Daughters. -24-
II 3.6 LAND TENURE AND PLANNING CONTROLS
In 1973 an Inter-departmental Committee made recommendations on the silt jetty situation to the Minister for Lands (The Hon W. Borthwick MP).
After adoption of these recommendations (see Appendix 7) government planning policy has focused on:
• re-purchase of some freehold allotments on the southern silt jetty and of the entire northern jetty with the objective of restoring original vegetation and preventing erosion.
• phasing out of permissive occupancies at Point Dawson
• rationalisation of private jetty licences and removal of derelict jetty structures on the southern jetty
• resistance to further subdivision pressure on the southern jetty.
In 1983 the Land Conservation Council made recommendations for the jetties in the Gippsland Lakes Hinterland Area recommendationsf4>.
The general recommendation was for inclusion of the jetties in the Gippsland Lakes Reserve as shown below:
A6 Gippsland Lakes Reserve
That the area ofapproximately 10,200 ha shown on the map be used to:
• provide opportunities for recreation and education associated with the enjoyment and understanding ofnatural environments e conserve and protect natural ecosystems and geomorphological and historical features • ensure the conservation of both aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna -25-
that
any measures necessary to ensure the stability of the land be undertaken • legal access continue to be available to freehold land located within the reserve • existing navigation aids be retained • honey production be permitted • existing water-frontage grazing licences continue where this does not conflict with the primary aims ofthe reserve • existing legal occupation by private individuals or organisations continue until and unless they conflict with public use of the reserve • any further areas of land purchased by the Crown on the Mitchell River Silt Jetties be added to the reserve o residential permissive -occupancies be phased out by 1980, in accordance with Govennent policy
and that it be reserved under Section 4 of the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 and managed jointly by the National Parks Service and the Fisheries and Wildlife Division.
Council further recommends that a management plan be prepared for the reserve based on the following suggested zones {which are shown on Maps 9a and9b).
Zone 1 should be used primarily to conserve and enhance the habitat of wildlife, especially waterbirds. Appropriate forms of recreation should be pennitted, as should the seasonal hunting ofgame (except on Raymond lslari.d, Maringa Creek and Point Fullarton).
This zone includes important wetlands around lAke Wellington, on Rosencath peninsula north west of Lake Victoria and north of Lake King, and at Point Fu/larton, some of which are existing State game reserves.
Zone V should be used primarily for maintaining the stability of the fragile river deltas. Public access should be regulated, consistent with this primary aim. This zone includes the deltas of the Latrobe, Avon, and Tambo Rivers, and the renowned Mitchell Rilver Silt Jetties. Fishing is a popular pastime on the southern silt jetty and should be allowed to continue.
In 1991 the Gippsland Lakes Strategy Plan (1990) and the Gippsland Lakes Management Plan (1 991) both reconunended protection of the Silt Jetties as a site of international geomorphological significance. By 1993 many of the freehold allotments on the southern jetty (especially those ones without houses) had been re-purchased by CNR. As at 1994 there are sixteen private allotment owners on the southern silt jetty. -26-
Planning controls at a local government level have also applied since 1971, initially via the Shire of Baimsdale Interim Development Order 1971 and 1977 and latterlyvia Bairnsdale Shire Planning Scheme 1987.
At present all freehold land on the jetties is classed as "Rural A" which generally allows agricultural use and prevents further fragmentation by subdivision. An overlay control "Coastal and River Environs Policy Area 11 also applies which more specifically recognises the unique character of the Silt Jetties. Building size and colour, vegetation removal and landscaping and approval from CNR in panicular are necessary conditions for pennit approval.
For more detail see excerpts from these controls in Appendix 6.
We believe these present planning controls are adequate for protection of the Silt Jetties and environs.
The standard of landscaping on freehold allotments on the southern jetty is quite high and buildings are less obtrusive amongst this treed landscape. There is a diminishing rationale for a vigorous government re-purchasing program, especially if the issue of shoreline protection of the remaining unrocked sections is resolved. (See Policy Section 1.2) 3. 7 DESCRIPTION OF PROCESSES ACTING ON THE SILT JETTIES
3.7.1. NATURAL PROCESSES
The Mitchell River below Bairnsdale is characterised by sizeable natural levees. Upstream from the Silt Jetties, these levee banks have isolated the waters of Macleod Morass from the river.
Silt deposition fonning levees continued downstream to Lake King, where, coupled with the slowing effect of reed fringes in this originally fresh water lake, the levees continued to build and extenci jntq Lake King. The protection from lake wave action then given by these levees allowed the process to continue until by the early 1900s there was conjecture that the Silt Jetties may eventually extend to the northern shore of Lake King, making Jones' Bay an enclosed bay.
The alternate view of natural process relies more on falling sea levels. 30,000-40,000 years ago the sea level was lower and rivers traversed the bed of the present lake system to beyond the present coast. When the sea level rose only the Mitchell River levees and Silt Jetties stayed above water, covered with vegetation and reed fringe and continued to accrue silt through the processes outlined above.
The major silt flow now fonns a delta into Jones' Bay at the Cut. Continued deposition here will encourage the river to cut a course elsewhere. This is .likely to be just downstream on the right bank There are also the continuing processes of river and estuarine dynamics, flood and drought. (a) Floods - apart from major floods in 193 6, I 952 and 1990 the Mitchell River floods regularly every year. On these occasions the flow via the silt jetty channel increases, logs and driftwood deposit along inner banks and, where the banks are unprotected, further slumping may occur. The southern jetty road becomes waterlogged and the river almost overtops the bank towards Point Dawson. High lake levels test rocked shorelines. (b) Wind - the wind spectrum is shown in Appendix 10. The wind direction depends on season but west/south west winds fonn the highest fraction and the greatest strength. The winds generate quite high waves on the Jones' Bay shoreline of the jetties and blow driftwood from the Cut along that shore. Most of the previous erosion has occurred along that sector. Winds with a southerly component act similarly on the Eagle Point bay waters and shoreline. ( c) Drought ~ during periods of drought the lake conditions become more saline, but in the fom1 of a saline wedge beneath the fresh river flow because saline water is heavier than fresh water. If mixing occurs due to high wind then surface waters also rise in salinity. Plants that are intolerant of salinity, such as phragmites, become stressed. A prolonged drought may cause widespread dieback of these species. Salt tolerant biota such as zostera are not affected and may flourish if the water is clear allowing good light penetration. In 1983 the saline wedge penetrated to above Bairnsdale. Carp (Cyprinus carpiof which are intolerant of high salinity, congregated at this up-river point. About 200 tonne of fish were removed during this event. Drought also affects fish movement and abundance and changes the "catch mix" on the jetties. On land areas of the jetties, vegetation may also suffer drought stress. Over-grazing in the past during such periods probably contributed to erosion. River bank grazing intensifies in drought periods. (d) Algal blooms· Jones' Bay is especially prone to blue green algae blooms, due ta shallowness and high nutrient levels. Eagle Point Bay also suffers to a lesser extent. These blooms are toxic to mammals and can cause fish deaths during the closing stages of the bloom due to lack of oxygen. From a recreational viewpoint the jetty area loses attractiveness due to smell and fouled shorelines. Blooms may last up to three months, and occur usually during summer. 3.7.2 MAN INDUCED PROCESSES By the 1870s, the Silt Jetties were recognised for their very fertile soils, of good structure for agriculture, adjacent to an abundant water supply, with the Mitchell River also providing convenient and cheap access for transport by boat of any produce to nearby markets in the Lakes system or to rail head. By 1900, clearing of the native forest on the jetties was almost complete, followed by intensive market gardening and dairying activity. Rabbits became a major problem. In parallel with this agricultural development on the jetties the natural entrance to the Lakes system was replaced by a man made entrance. The original ebb, flow and sanding up of the natural entrance with the attendant low salinity levels in Lake King was replaced by one of constant connection to the sea water salinities of Bass Strait. This changed water regime had· profound effects on the biota and bottom vegetation in the Lakes system. The plants which couJd not tolerate high salinity began to disappear. -29- The new entrance also had a general effect of reducing water level by 60 cm. The natural entrance had previously allowed wide variation in lake level, depending on river floods to re-open the entrance should it be closed for some time. The reed fiinge began to disappear from the Silt Jetties. In 1919 a major flood breached the northern jetty at "The Cut". The supply of river silt began to divert through the Cut to Jones' Bay - starting a second small levee system. The inner banks of the jetties, damaged by agricultural use and also by waves from river traffic, became unstable. The outer banks of the jetties facing the waves generated by wind on Lake King now lacked a reed fringe to dissipate these forces and receded even more swiftly. By 1970 the land area ofjetties had reduced to about half that of the original survey in 1891. There is dispute amongst scientists about the effect of the inan made entrance on salinity. The converse view is that natural droughts coupled with increasing abstraction of river flows for water supply have caused the salinity to increase during these periods and creating such stress that the fiinging vegetation dies and once removed, does not re-establish. This report has been compiled at a time of good rainfall. The last major drought was almost ten years ago. According to local people who have lived and observed the area for up to forty years, the reed fringes are now showing the healthiest recovery in their memory. Many equate the retum of the reed fringe with the removal of grazing pressure in the early 1980s. We may now be in a cycle of natural regeneration, assisted by good river flows, some years of lower salinity, and lack of grazing pressure. It appears the actions of man in the last decade have largely reversed (or at least arrested) the degradation caused during the early part of this century. -30- Future processes which would jeopardise the integrity of the Jetties include: • Rising sea levels due to Greenhouse effect. To quote from the Victorian Coastal Vulnerability Study 1992 (PMA/EP A)'-6>. "In summary large areas of the Gipps/and Lakes are potentially vulnerable to flooding as a result ofgreenhouse changes. This will be C011ffJOunded at times ofhigh river discharge. These areas include ...... the Mitchell River Silt Jetties." • A more pennanent high salinity regime which would degrade the reed fringe and bank vegetation. • A major flood event causing a further breach on the jetty, or into Jones' Bay from further upstream. -31- 3.8 EFFECTIVENESS OF PREVIOUS RESTORATION WORKS ON THE SILT JETIIES In 1973 an inter-departmental committee comprising representatives of Lands Department, Soil Conservation Authority and Ports and Harbours Division (PWD) examined the reasons for Silt Jetty erosion and recommended action to arrest erosion. (See copy of conclusions/recommendations, Appendix 7). The actions taken and an assessment of effectiveness are listed in the table below. Responsible Cost Assessment of Period Action taken Agency estimate eft'ectiveneu 1973-94 Lands Dept Land acquisition/survey $350,000 Program almost compete...... ·---·-·-··-·----·· (CNR) boundaries/rescind P. o.· approx. licences (1977) 1975-87 Ports & Harbours Bridge constmction/access $509,000 Entirely successful in Division (PMA) road N.Jetty arresting erosion. Rock placement N.Jetty Minor section (20 m) 1980-86 near Pt Dawson not Rock placement S.Jetty successful due to smaller 1983-87 rock size. 1981-87 Department CNR • Revegetation ofN.Jetty $75,000 • Successful - trees (S.CA) approx. now 5 m height • Tyre mattress pl.ac.ement • Successful - no (river edge N.Jetty) erosion evident a Trial rush planting N.Jetty • Successful - vigorous rush growth in tyres • Phragmite.s planting • Success more variable N.Jetty s Concept plan, re-veget'n • Lack of funds has S.Jctty restricted works since • Pt Dawson area fencL11g, o Successful - natural parking area vegetation regen. o Rock placement S.Jetty • Successful, but areas fishing sites between road 1111d rock also need hardening • View point - Bluff • View lines need Lookout - Eagle Point clearing of vegetation c.onstruction -32- In summary: • Rock placement has been very effective in preventing erosion. The wracks of driftwood on the Jones' Bay shoreline which once constituted a major cause of erosion through abrasion of the shore during wave action are now fonning wave barriers outwards of the rock wall. • Small driftwood (up to 20 cm diam) is a major cause of bank erosion on the inner banks of the jetties, coupled with wave action. Large logs, on the other hand, have a stabilising effect. • Riverside replantings with rush (Juncus kraussii) has been more successful than Phragmites replanting. • Phragmites fringes on the inner banks are healthy and increasing in area at present, without any revegetation assistance. -33- 4. CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS The basic objectives of this plan are to: • Ensure long term protection of geomorphological values. • Maintain and enhance ecological landscape and recreational values where appropriate. • Promote public awareness and appreciation of the Jetties through presenting infonnation in a form suitable for the public, including education gro_ups. Management issues which impinge on the objectives have been listed on both a policy basis (where for instance responsibility for road access may be an issue) and on an area basis (where the standard, or location of road access is an issue). Often the issues interlock and recommendations may address both policy and area considerations. -34- 4.1 POLICY ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1.1 MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SILT JE'ITIES ROAD The number of Shire of Baimsdale ratepayers on the Silt Jetties has decreased with the re-purchase of land into public ownership and the phase out of pennissive occupancies. The Shire is reluctant to maintain the full length of road to a high standard without subsidy for the heavy use by non-ratepayers. There would be issues of public safety in the event of fire or emergency were the road to be partially closed or downgraded. however. When the last lots of-private land at Point Dawson are purchased, the Shire has no legal responsibility for the road past Crown Allotment 36B ("The Shack"). Our community consultation showed unanimous support for continued access to Point Dawson by vehicles for recreation and safety reasons. Recommendation • That Shire of Baimsdale maintain and upgrade the road as far as the Pines, preferably to bitumen standard in the long term. • That CNR assume maintenance of the track from Pines to Point Dawson and aim to upgrade drainage and raise pavement height and width in lower sections. • That both agencies seek special funding for the road, from the 11 Fisheries licence fund" and from the Tourist road fund, given the high usage by non-ratepayers. 4.1.2 ROCKWALLING OF THE EAGLE POINT BAY SHORELINE BEHIND PRIVATE PROPERTY Some sections still require walling if the erosion of private property is to be prevented. The Government is reluctant to do walling on private land and requires land owners to cede a frontage for public purposes. P.M.A. are unlikely to allot funds for rockwalling from within that agency's budget. -35- In the past, landowners have borne the cost of rock placement and chosen the receded shoreline as the line for erosion control. In some earlier instances when government was acquiring property on the jetty a new public frontage was located on the receded shoreline and rock placed there. In all cases of freehold ownership the title boundary still extends into the water and owners could, if they wished, reclaim land out to that point. From a geomorphological viewpoint the smoother the shoreline the less the erosion hazard. Any embayment or a protrusion will cause erosion on adjacent shoreline. Since virtually all the shoreline is now rocked at the "receded" boundary the remaining portions should be likewise located. The integrity of the southern jetty is in jeopardy until these sections ~e protected. Recommendation That CNR negotiate with landowners owning unprotected shoreline to reach agreement on a rock placement program for these sections at owners cost. Incentives for funding this work could include: (a) Subsidy for materials. (b) Assistance in fonn oflow interest loans. (c) Special grant. A covenant type agreement would be useful to control future land reclamation proposals to boundary of individual allotments. NB. Crown Allotment 36A, recently purchased by CNR also requires rock placement on shoreline. 4.1.3 . CLARIFICATION OF AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE SILT JETTIES The agencies have worked co-operatively on jetty restoration projects for twenty years. During that time agencies have changed according to State Government restructuring. Some have amalgamated, (CNR is a good example) and new agencies (such as the Mitchell River Management Board) have been created. Fortunately the local officers of each agency have provided continuity of management at a local level. Areas of responsibility are outlined below: -36- Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (CNR) Northern silt jetties • Shoreline maintenance and revegetation (in conjunction with M.RM.B.) • Ground area revegetation and flora and fauna management, including on surrounding waters. • Control of recreational activities and access. • Fire control, weed and vennin control. • Management of conservation matters • flora and fauna and fisheries. -Silt jetty channel and waters of Jones' Bay and Lake King • Management of"bed·oflak:e" and aquatic flora values. • Management of fisheries and control of recreational and commercial fishing and other provisions such as hunting, wildlife management. • Management and licensing ofjetty structures. • Assistance with controls under Motor Boating Act, where officers are authorised. Southern silt jetty (public land areas only) • Shoreline maintenance and revegetation in conjunction with MR.MB (except for private shoreline). e Ground area flora and fauna management on public land. • Control of public land based recreational activities and signage. • Control and maintenance of access tracks on public land. • Fire, weed, vermin control on public land plus enforcement of relevant Acts on private land. • Licensing of occupancies on public land. Port of Melbourne Authority (PMA) • Maintenance of navigable channels - depth maintenance, hazard removal. • Maintenance of beacons and navigation aids and signage. • Control of recreational boating - speeds/safety/mooring standards. • Provision of technical advice on shoreline stabilisation. • Collections of channel depth data - all water areas adjacent to jetties. • Control of water pollution - all water adjacent to jetties. Shire ofBaimsdale • Control and maintenance of boat ramp, parking area, toilet block and revegetation works on public reserve, Rivermouth Road. • Control and maintenance of southern jetty access road to the limit of private property. including surface, speed restrictions and traffic signage. • Control of local planning scheme provisions on public and private land. • Approval of service provision - SEC, Telecom, water supply, sewerage to private land. Mitchell River Management Board lMRMBl • Maintenance of Mitchell River channel and bank stability upstream from Point Dawson. • Technical advice on river channel management issues. The major "gaps" in management responsibility are those areas where the responsible agency lacks capability and expertise in some technical aspect, eg CNR has responsibility for inner jetty revegetation but relies on MRMB and PMA to execute rock works. Apart from funding considerations the present interlocking responsibilities are handled by · good inter-agency liaison and to date this has worked well. In recent years CNR has tended to assume responsibility for bank stabilisation works on the inner banks. Legally this is the responsibility of :MR1vIB (being within the .MIDv1B district). A re-statement of agency responsibilities is now required both for changes in agency staff and operations and to also make clear to the general public which agency is responsible. Recommendations • That a more formalised inter-agency committee system be adopted, with a mandatory "once a year" meeting to decide funding options and to discuss agency proposals for Silt Jetty works. • That a Silt Jetty resident representative be included in the committee. • That the responsibilities listed in the table above be ratified by the agencies concerned. • That the small areas of Crown Land and frontage between Eagle Point Bluff Reserve and the boat ramp area on the jetties be included under Shire of Baimsdale control. These areas all abut private property and management is mainly about residential amenity. -38- 4.1.4 LACK OF INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC The public are not well informed about the jetties either by sign or printed material. There are only three brief road sign references: at Baimsdale (Paynesville turnoff) at the Eagle Point junction and near the Eagle Point Caravan Park. The Bluff Lookout has no directional sign to indicate where the Silt Jetties lie in the field of view. At the boat ramp on the southern jetties a plethora of regulatory signs give no indication of the extent or location of the jetties and a poorly presented generalised river poster bears little relationship to the unique nature of this land form. Victorian Eastern Development Association (VEDA) have a one page sheet on the jetties which relies heavily on the situation in the 1970s indicating that the jetties will.disappear by.2000. Public awareness of the current improved situation is a major tenet of this Plan. Recommendation • That preliminary information on the Silt Jetties be included in new signage proposed west ofBaimsdale. • That an updated CNR fact sheet be prepared to replace the dated VEDA sheet for the Silt jetties. • That directional signs using a Silt Jetty theme colour scheme be used for all road intersections between Paynesville and Bairnsdale. • That a major interpretative sign be located at the Bluff Lookout and a leaflet box for printed material be incorporated with this facility. • That all visitor information signage on the jetties be painted in the same theme. • That the numerous regulatory signs at the boat ramp be collected and located on one board. • That all recreational facilities on the jetties be painted in the Silt Jetty colour scheme. c That a detailed signs plan be prepared for the entire study area. See also recommendations for Eagle Point Reserve. A detailed resource information .lcit is part of this Plan. This infonnation should preferably be available in leaflet or book form for the general public as a saleable item. -39- L4.1.5 BOAT SPEED The inner jetty banks are affected by boat wash. The wave energy impacting on shore is a factor of boat hull type and speed. PMA have just concluded boat wake studies and are likely to apply speed regulations according to hull type so as to create least wake. In essence, boat speed limits are likely to increase for planing hulls (runabouts, outboard boats) to planing speed (15-20 knots) and low speeds will only apply on comers where sight distance is restricted. This logical approach to wake generation should reduce wash erosion and improve conditions for bank fishermen and recreationalists. Recommendation • That the new boat speed regulations pe introduced as soon __ ~ possible. ----- • That adequate signage be placed along the Silt Jetties waterway to ensure boat operators are aware of the correct speed zone. 4.1.6 ROAD SPEED LIMITS There are no speed restrictions on sections of the Silt Jetty road. Residents and recreational users complain of speeding vehicles and dust. Road width in many places is inadequate for passing. Many tourists have no concept of the distance and time taken to reach Point Dawson and return. Recommendation • That a 60 km limit be placed on the bitumen section of road. • That a 40 km limit with some sections to 20 km/hr be placed on the gravel sections. • That advisory sign~ge be improved east of the boat ramp to indicate these restrictions and to give an indication of distance and time to Point Dawson and return. -40- ~ 4.2 AREA BASED ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS I 4.2.1 NORTHERN Sll.T JETTIES 4.2.1.1 Bank instability and erosion There is virtually no instability on the Jones' Bay shoreline now that rock placement has been completed. The wracks of driftwood which were once a major cause of bank instability due to their grinding against the shoreline during wave action are now fonning a wave banier and silt trap in some locations outside the rock wall. · The inner banks are also generally stable at this time and the reed fringe is increasing. About 800 · metres app.ear-s- -··· - ····· · unstable, usually in sections of 15-20 metres and this may increase ifreed growth declines in future droughts. A major cause of bank instability on the inner jetty banks is driftwood grinding into the silt banks where the reed barrier is sparse or the bank is overhung by tea-tree or boobialla. The driftwood congregates in small embayments and wave wash - activates the abrasion. Pieces up to 20 cm diam. are the problem. Large logs and trees appear to have a stabilising effect. Recommendations • Remove driftwood from water along inner banks. e Place rock spalls at erosion points. e Monitor reed growth. • Plant reed or rush on sparse sections within tyre mattresses. 4.2.1.2 Weed infestation There are minor infestations of Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Yukka (Yucca gloriensis), Ipomaea and Box:thorn (Lycium) usually on the top of the ilUler jetty banks. Tree plantings have now suppressed most pasture weeds on the broad acre areas of the silt jetty. Blackberries are liable to spread down banks to water level making control more difficult and enhancing spread downstream. Recommendation • Attempt complete eradication while problems are minor and the access track is still trafficable. -41- 4.2.1.3 Fire hazard The old farm land areas have a heavy grass cover. The ten year old tree plantings are still fire sensitive. Tree canopy closure will reduce the grass cover within the nexi three years. Boat owners lighting fires for cooking or wannth could provide ignition points for fires. Fuel reduction burning of grass areas may increase weed infestation from dormant seeds at this stage. A wildfire or fuel reduction burn that penetrates into peat areas on the jetty will take some days effort to extinguish (P Rennick pers. comm.). Recommendation • Prevent fires until tree canopy closes. A plan for initial attack on northern silt jetty fires should be developed and incorporated in the CNR Regional Fire Plan. In the interim, the access track on the jetty should be maintained by slashing and a suitable vehicle landing site should be selected. • Control the lighting of fires on the jetty by regulation and s1gnage. 4.2.1.4 Restricted access The only access is by boat or helicopter which makes management work difficult. On the other hand, the lack of access reduces recreational pressures on the jetty during the revegetation phase. Public access is not advisable for at least five years. Recommendation ~ Delay establishment of access until tree cover is more mature and able to withstand fire and recreational pressure. Given that the cost of bridging The Cut would be costly, consider other means of public access such as a ferry service or a guided tour schedule which includes landing on the northern jetty. A walkers bridge of the suspended cable type is another option in the long term. 4.2.1.5 Vermin control There is evidence of rabbits on the jetty but not of any vegetation damage. The thick grass cover indicates low grazing pressure. It is likely foxes and cats are on the jetty, although no evidence was noted. If the long term objective is to establish native wildlife, these predators must be eradicated. -42- Recommendation • Regular inspection and control program if necessary. 4.2.1.6 Sawfly infestation The tree plantings are severely attacked by sawfly each year, reducing growth rate and causing tree loss. The problem will diminish as the tree canopy closes and with the introduction of fuel reduction burning. Recommendation • No action at this stage. Some re-planting may be necessary ··- iidilture years. 4.2.1.7 Re-colonisation with native fauna While this is probably desirable, well established habitat will take some years to develop. Premature release would be unwise. Recommendation .. Re-consider situation in 5 years. -43- 4.2.2 SOUTHERN SILT JETTIES 4.2.2.1 Vehicular access A gravel road runs the full length of the southern jetty from the boat ramp to Point Dawson, providing direct access to the channel's inner bank. Some access points are degrading because of vehicle parking and bank trampling. The gravel road is poorly drained and low in places, causing pools of water in the table drains very close to river banks (which are prone to slumping when moisture content is high). The road width is insufficient for passing vehicles in many places and there are few turning ·points.· · Large tour:ist buses and caravans use this road occasionally. Residents on the gravel section complain of excessive speed and dust during high use periods. Many vehicles drive aimlessly to Point Dawson and return. Recommendation • As a policy, attempt to satisfy most visitor needs towards the western end of the road. Make the Eagle Point Bluff lookout such .an attractive viewing point for travellers and bus groups that trips along the jetty are less necessary. Focus 11on jetty" use towards a destination at the Pines/Pt Fester area and provide facilities there. Maintain the travel road from the Pines to Point Dawson to a reasonable standard, concentrating on drainage/passing points and "hardened" river side access points for fishennen. Consider re-alignment of the road at places indicated on Map 2 to reduce river bank pressure. Use the old sections of road for parking. See also Section I. I. 4.2.2.2 Flood levels The height of the jetties above high water mark decreases towards Point Dawson. The road at this eastern extremity can become water logged and vehicle traffic through these sections further degrades the road surface and edge. Flood waters only rarely prevent 2 WD access and then only for short periods. See Map 5. Recommendation • Raise the road surface level to provide better drainage and construct major drains away from the river bank where possible. Consider temporary road closure during flood events with closure at the Pines area. -44- 4.2.2.3 Lack of protection by rock walling on some private land frontages to Eagle Point Bay About 590 metres out of a total length of 6.4 km remains unprotected (about 9%). The foreshore on these sections is actively eroding, in some instances the landowners have realigned fences to allow for the encroachment on their land. Most landowners have either placed rock at their expense, or ceded to the Crown a frontage section in which case the cost of rock placement was borne by government. The cost of rock placement to P.M.A specification is $165 per metre. The total cost of placement on private land is over $100,000. See Map 3 for locations. If-erosion on these unprotected .sections continues the adjacent rocked sections will be isolated by erosion from· the ·rear··and· further protection work will be required. Recommendation • See policy Section 1.2. • Rock placement should be to PMA specifications. 4.2.2.4 Lack of tree cover ·j Many sections of the public land lack tree cover. Most private land has been re-vegetated and these private sections now form the significant treed landscape feature on the southern jetty. Although dense swards of kilruyu, phragmites and other grass species have stabilised the public land areas, these areas need enhancing to provide better habitat for native birds and animals. Wind breaks such as tea-tree and boobialla thickets are eagerly sought by fishermen on windy days. Additional plantings of trees and shrubs would spread recreationaJ use when plantings mature. The present recreational focus on the Pines area is, we believe, solely due to the presence of shade trees at this site. Recommendation • A vigorous tree and shrub planting program should be developed for all tree-less public land are.as on the jetty, with adequate fire breaks free of vegetation near private properties on the jetty. (See Map 1 Revegetation areas) -45- 4.2.2.5 Adverse impact from recreational activities The southern jetty is heavily used for recreation, mainly bank fishing. CNR traffic figures for 1989-90 and 1990-91 from a counter installed on the Silt Jetty road are shown in Appendix 8. They indicate peak month usage of 10,00D+ visitors and a yearly total of 60,000 to 75,000 visitors. In the peak months of January this indicates about 330 persons/day. Further data from a Shire of Baimsdale roadside interview survey, January I 988 indicated about 20% of use was property access, 60% fishing and 20% sightseeing. The way the public appreciates and uses the Silt Jetties varies: • Many people (and buses) drive to the Bluff Lookout and view the Silt Jetties from that · distance. There ·IS' ~·ve!y little interpretive sigilage at this point and the view is deteriorating due to tree growth. A smaller percentage of these sightseers may drive further to the actual jetties, but most are satisfied with the view alone, • Fishermen drive along the Silt Jetty seeking a good fishing spot on the bank. There are two groups of amateur fishermen - the "experts" who locate themselves according to where the fish are biting with the intention of catching fish and the "Few days a year" tourist fishermen who look more for a suitable place in the sun, with a clear casting radius and few entanglements. This second group probably values the experience and "sense of place" more than their success at catching fish. • Non-fishing sightseers may continue to Point Dawson, basically to see what is there. Bird watchers are also significant in this category. • The southern silt jetty faces north • the area is open to warm winter sun coupled with wind shelter in many places. On any scale the recreational use is heavy (compare with Buchan Caves 120,000 visitor days/year and Nyerimilang Park 45,000 vis days per year) and focused on the road and jetty bank. The road is poorly formed and the river bank fishing spots (49 in a 5.3 km length of road) have been randomly developed. The impacts of this use are: • Littering - no facilities for rubbish except at boat ramp. • Vegetation removal and trampling to gain better access to the bank and, during cold periods, to maintain fires. • Discarded bait, bait boxes and fishing tackle. • Uncontrolled toilet use. • Road surface deterioration. -46- Considering the recreational pressure these impacts appear surprisingly minor but this is mainly due to litter collection on a regular basis by CNR staff and local residents and maintenance grading by Shire of Bairnsdale. There are some signs for "no campingh and regeneration areas but generally the public is not directed in any sense as to correct behaviour. The most sensitive (and lowest) sections of the jetties are towards Point Dawson. The pressure needs to be taken off this section. Refer also to Section 1.2. 1. re access track. Recommendation • Manage the southern jetty recreational use to reduce vehicle numbers travelling the full length of the road to Point Dawson and return. Do this by: (a) Improving the view and irifonnation sources at the Bluff Lookout - make this the major point for Silt Jetty interpretation facilities and including information on road conditions. (b) Improving the road surface as far as "the Pines" and developing a first class picnic area at that location (shelter, tables, barbecue facilities, water supply). ( c) Harden and improve the 20 fishing sites between the Pines and the boat ramp, including adequate off road parking. ( d) Develop the recent regeneration plantings in the Point Foster/Pines areas for nature observation. Provide a walking track from the Pines along the Eagle Point Bay shoreline and through the regeneration area. (e) Make the road into a circular loop at the Pines: re-align the track to Point Dawson some distance inland from the present location. (f) Maintain the track from the Pines to Point Dawson to present standard, but with better surface drainage and more parking spaces off road. In this scenario recreational users will: (a) View the jetties from Bluff Lookout, receiving good information at that point. Many will go no further. (b) Those that do proceed will travel to the boat ramp or the Pines if they perceive that this section gives them the essence of the Silt Jetties. ( c) The "few days a year11 fishermen are likely to be satisfied with the upgraded facilities between the boat ramp and the Pines. The Pines will provide a. focus for non fishing sightseers and the families offishermen. (d) The "expert" fishermen and the keen sightseers who wish to reach Point Dawson will continue further past the Pines in the knowledge that the track standard is lower and that some travel time is involved. More detailed recommendations for recreation are shown on Map2. 4.2.2.6 Vermin and weed infestation There are ·minor occurrences of blackberry, boxthorn and yukka on public land (see map). Rabbits are a problem east of the Pines. The Point Dawson area contains a number of weed species (some garden escapes) and boxthom. This area seems also to be a rabbit concentration. Foxes are also evident. Recommendation e An eradication program for the weed infestations is high priority (see also 1.1.2) given the small areas requiring treatment. Once the harbour of boxthom is removed near Point Dawson, a rabbit control program is also required. The "cleaning up" of Point Dawson weeds will also provide clean area opportunities for better recreational use and better landscape treatment (see 1. 2. 8). More detailed recommendations for general vermin and weed control are shown on Map 3. 4.2.2.7 Privatisation of the foreshore This vexed question is not confined to the Silt Jetties. Landowners are often driven to maintaining the foreshore where foreshore vegetation encroaches on their properties or forms a hazard of some sort. Very often this work also preserves a view and maintains a neatness similar to their own front lawn. When owners start including barbecue facilities, boat storage, flower planting or hard surfacing the foreshore becomes privatised. The general public perceive they have no right to be there, or to stop and use that section of foreshore. There are some cases where this has occurred on the Silt Jetties. The effects are not necessarily bad, but public equity and access should be maintained as well. Recommendation That CNR staff discuss foreshore maintenance with the owners in each case and draw limits as to the level of development and maintenance which will be tolerated. See also agency responsibility section. 4.2.2.8 Unlicensed jetty structures There are a number of old private jetties in the western section which are not licensed. These should be removed. Any future jetties should accord with the Gippsland Lakes Jetty Zoning Plan (CNR). See Appendix 9. 4.2.2.9 Point Dawson This is an important site in the history of the Gi.ppsland Lakes (see "Impact of Settlement" paper). CNR policy is that all permissive occupancies will be removed. Negotiations by CNR for the purchase of two small freehold blocks back in to public ownership will end an era of settlement here that lasted for a hundred years. There is a task of restoration to natural surroundings on the site, involving removal of tanks, car bodies and outbuildings. Eradication of boxthorn and other weeds will also open up new vistas and areas to the public. We suggest that not all traces should be removed, and those that remain be used to tell people and especially students, the history of Point Dawson. -49- Recommendation • Eradicate all noxious weeds, especially boxthorn. • Re-develop the parking arrangements by providing more parking further west. Construct a better roundabout to the west. • Preserve the remains of the burnt down hut (concrete paving, fireplace). • Preserve the small cottage as an example of the original types of dwelling at Point Dawson. Use the interior for shelter. • Remove all other buildings (except Boltons). After purchase by CNR, use the interior for display (maybe also as a base for Friends Group activities). • Develop a history trail brochure (leaflet box .type) which describes the site. \ OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT OF ROAD SECTIONS TOO CLOSE TO RIVER BANK Revegetation planting Original road pavement Realigned road pavement TYPICAL FISHING SITE SHOWING WORK REQUIRED -~ . Ill -·-·-·---- Existing rocks Add flat rocks to top of bank I Add gravel to road edge and between flat rocks THE PINES PICNIC AREA Suggestions for development \ . ""' I ...... - ....~. Present road alignment .. 0 \ Fishing Site ,; ' ~Signpost-To PT. DAWSON (20 minutes return) ". . · Barbecue/toilet/table facilities 0 To Eagle Point I 4.2.3 EAGLE POINT RESERVE (BLUFF SECTION) I Background This Crown land reserve adjoins the Silt Jetties and provides best view of the surrounding countryside. The reservatio~ for "recreation and public park" is managed by the Shire ofBairnsdale as committee of management. A leased caravan park, a wildlife enclosure and the lookout point are the main features. This plan concerns only the Lookout Point and the steep eroding bluff. Developments during 1986-7 as part of the CFL Mitchell River PlanC3> included: • A formalised lookout mound at the highest point on the bluff. --·------• Re-location and improvements to the fence restricting access to the top of the steep eroding bluff above the river, to improve public safety. • Bitumising the access road and formation of a turning circle/parking area at the lookout. • Revegetation works - infills with native trees and shrubs on the eastern slope. • Prevention of random access down this slope by forming a walking track and barriers to prevent trail bike use. • Interpretative sign at the lookout. These works have lasted well but the site still lacks interpretative signs and the view has become obscured by tree regrowth. The view from the Bluff has an important historical link being the site of the first Victorian Government presence in the Lakes area. Commissioner C I Tyers resided at the Bluff during the 1840s and members of the Native Police Corps were located there during the early years of settlement. Management issues I 4.2.3.1. Erosion of bluff on river side • The base of the bluff is being eroded at a rate of 1 metre per year<5> by river current. The consequent slumping and surface water erosion of the face has created a landscape feature but also a safety hazard for those who venture too close to the top and for those walking the river beach below, should a large slab of earth break away. The top of the bluff is well fenced: the base is not. It is neither practicable or advisable to revegetate this cliff face. If the cliff base was hardened with rock, the current forces would act downstream and eventually erode the opposite bank near the Cut. -51- Recommendation • Prevent access to top and base of bluff from both ends. • Examine surface water sources at the top of the bluff and divert away ifpossible. • Monitor rate of erosion and bluff profile. 4.l.3.2. Improvement of recreational facilities at lookout Although the road to this point is suitable for buses, the present view is not interpreted and is obscured by vegetation to the· north east and south west. Previous studies, Mitchell River Management Plan (CFL 1987) and Lower Mitchell River Management Strategy (Tract Consultants 1992) have suggested better facilities and a possible interpretation centre. There is sufficient room on the bluff: but siting too close to the cliff should be avoided. The cost of construction could be substantial. Some private sector equity may be required. The complexities of the natural processes within this view are best explained/discussed over a cup of coffee or a meal. The facility should setve good information with the meal. Recommendation That CNR and Shire of Bairnsdale invite expressions of interest for development of a restaurant/lookout facility on the bluff. The development should: (a) Provide a lookout tower about 10 metres high. (b) Allow views from the restaurant area. (c) Incorporate a comprehensive display area to increase public awareness and appreciation of the Silt Jetties, the Mitchell River system and the Gippsland Lakes. ( d) Restaurant staff should be trained in interpretation of the natural values of the surrounding area. -52- 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Jenkin J.J. - 1968 - The geomorphology and Upper Cainozoic geology of South East Gippsland. Geol Surv. Vic. Memoir 27. 2. Bird E.C.F. - 1978 - The geomorphology of the Gippsland Lakes region. Ministry for Conservation Environmental Studies Series Publication 186. 3. Barry C. - 1987 - Mitchell River Management Plan. Dept of Conservation Forests & Lands. 4. Land Conservation Council - 1982 - Report on the Gippsland Lakes Hinterland Area, also Final Recommendations, Hinterland Area - 1983. 5. 'Erskine W., Rutherford I, Tilleard J. - 1990 - Pluvial Geomorphology of tributaries to the Gippsland Lakes. (I. Drummond and Assoc. for Department of C.N.R) 6. Coastal Investigations Unit P.M.A - 1992 - Victorian Coastal Vulnerability Study. 7. Tract Consultants - 1992 - Lower Mitchell River Management Strategy Vols 1and2. 8. Dept of Planning//Dept ofC.N.R. - 1990 - Gippsland Lakes Strategy. 9. Dept of C.N.R. - 1991 - Gippsland Lakes Management Plan. 1O. Dept of C.N.R. - 1992 - A Study of land in the catchment of the Gippsland Lakes. Vols 1 and 2. Appendix 6 BAIRNSDALE (SHIRE) LOCAL SECTION 62 RURAL A ZONE. Planning Scheme Map Marked: Fl. Purpose • Encourage the use of land for agriculture and maintain and protect land suitable for such use. • Prevent the unnecessary fragmentation of such land by subdivision. ------· ------·- • Prevent - residential or other development likely to be incompatible with the use of land for farming and related purposes. e Maintain the aesthetic qualities of the landscape and protect the environment. • Discourage buildings or works likely to detract from the visual amenity of major roads and inland water frontage. 62-1 Use of land 62-1.1 Permit not required - Section 1 USE CONDIDON Detached House Must be on a vacant lot with an area of at least 30 ha. Farming Forestry Passive Recreation Road Works or buildings Ancillary to any other use in this (other than a dwelling)_ section. Appendix 6 (continued) 62-1.2 Permit required - Section 2 USE CONDIDON Camping Area Lot is at least 2 ha. Commercial Premises subject to subclause 62-3. (other than in the Coastal and Rivers Environs Policy Area) Detached House Extractive Industry For road making Hotel Lot is at least 2 ha Motel" Lot is ..· at"least 2 ha. Tourist Residential Lot is ai least 4 ha. accommodation (other than· in the Coastal and Rivers Environs Policy Area) Any other use not in Section 1 or 3. 62-1.3 Prohibited - Section 3 USE CONDIDON Detached House. 62-2 Subdivision 62-2.1 Requirements Subject to clauses 15 and 16, a permit is required to subdivide land. An application must he referred to a referral authority listed in clause 17. Every lot created must be at least 30 hectares in area. Appendix 6 (continued) f2-2.2 Smaller Lots A pennit may be granted for a subdivision which creates one lot less than 30 ha. in area, if the purpose of the subdivision is to increase the area of an existing lot and any of the following apply: • The balance of the land is not less than 30 hectares in area. • The balance of the land is to be consolidated with an adjoining lot by the approval of a plan of subdivision under the Subdivision Act 1988. A permit may be granted for a subdivision which creates one lot less than 30 ha in area if the· purpose of the subdivision is to provide a site of not less than. 2 hectares .in .area for ..a ..house where: • There is not more than one house on the existing lot of which the proposed lot forms part and, • The balance of the land is not less than 30 hectares in area, and, • The proposed house is for the owner of the land, a member of the owner's family, a share farmer or other employee actively engaged in work on the subject land. A pennit ·may be granted for a subdivision which creates one lot less than 30 ha in area if the purpose of the subdivision is to provide a site of not less than 2 hectares in area for an existing house where: • The balance of the land is not less than 30 hectares in area, and, • The house is for the owner of the land, a member of the owner's family, a share fanner or other employee actively engaged in work on the subject land. A permit is required for a subdivision which creates one or more lots less than 30 hectares in area where: • The purpose of the subdivision is to excise land which is required for public purposes by the Crown, a Public Authority or a municipality. • The purpose of the subdivision is to provide a site for a use or development (other than a dwelling) for which a permit has been granted. Appendix 6 (continued) 62-3 Detached Bouse 62-3.1 Requirements A permit may only be granted for: o The construction of one house on a lot on which no dwelling exists, where the lot was a tenement on 18th May, 1977. • The construction of one house on a lot on which no dwelling exists where the lot was created by a subdivision for which a permit has been granted by the Responsible Authority under either of the following: - this Local Section, - the Baimsdale (Shire) Planning Scheme 1987, - the Shire of Bairnsdale Interim Development Order 1977, or - the Shire of Baimsdale Planning Scheme Interim Development Order 1971. • The construction of one house where part of a lot on which no dwelling exists has been acquired for public purposes after the approval date, the house is to be constructed on the part .. not so acquired and the lot was either: - a tenement on 18th May, 1977, or, - not less than 30 hectares in area, .o The construction of one house on a lot on which one dwelling exists, where the lot was a tenement on 18th May, 1977, but the Responsible Authority shall not grant a pennit where: - the number of dwellings (including dwellings other than existing dwellings, for which permits have been granted) on all land which fonned that tenement on the date is greater than one for each 3 0 hectares of the area of the tenement on that date. - the Responsible Authority may, in addition to any other condition, require consolidation of titles or allotments by the approval of a plan of consolidation under the ·Transfer of Land Act 1958, as a condition of consent under this clause. 62-4 Building Setbacks A permit is required to construct a building or carry out works: • Within 60 metres from the alignment of any declared highway. • Within 40 metres from the aligrunent of any road other than a declared highway. • Within 40 metres from the mean water mark of any inland waterway or watercourse. Appendix 6 (continued) 62-5 Site Specific Exemption Regardless of sub-clause 62-1.2, land described as Part Crown Allotment I IA. Section 25, Parish of Goon Nure being the whole of the land contained in Certificate of Title Volume 3082 Folio 367 may be used and developed for the purpose of "tourist residential accommodation" generally in accordance with the plans shown on Schedule 4 and in accordance with an agreement pursuant to Section 173 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 between the owner and the responsible authority". Note: Other controls may also apply. These c:an be found under Particular Area, Development and Use Controls, Overlay Controls, and Exempt Proposals in the State and Local Sections. Some controls (eg. Home Occupation) apply to all zones and others to specific areas or uses. 70 CROWN LAND WNE. Planning Scheme Map Marked : CL Purpose To identify land reserved under the Crown Land Reserves Act 1978 and mcluding protected forest, national parks, crown land, and land controlled by the Department of Conservation and Environment. Appendix 6 (continued) 70-1 Use of Land 70-1.1 Permit not required - Section 1 USE CONDffiON Minor Utility Installation Public Open Space Road Any use for which the land is reserved_.tinder the Crown ····-··-···· Land Reserves Act 1978. In the case of land reserved for National Estate or Wtldemess Park, uses allowed under the National Parks Act 1975 for National, State and Wilderness Parks listed in Schedule 2 and 3 of that Act. Any use in accordance with an approved recommendation of the Land Conservation Council. 70-1.2 Permit required - Section 2 USE CONDITION Extractive Industry For road making 70-1.3 Prohibited - Section 3. USE CONDffiON Extractive Industry (except as in Section 2) Any other use not in Section 1 or 2. Appendix 6 (continued} Note: Other controls may also apply. These can be found under Particular Area, Development and Use Controls, Overlay Controls, and Exempt Proposals in the State and Local Sections. Some controls (eg Home Occupation) apply to all zones and other to specific areas or uses. 100 COASTAL AND RIVER ENVIRONS POLICY AREA Planning Scheme Map Marked: Hatched Purpose • To Conserve and enhance the unique character and to regulate devclopment that may be-" detrimen~~i-io -ihe enviroriinent, or likely to spoil the ecological stability or visual significance of the identified areas. • Recognise the special character, scientific value, natural beauty and ecologically sensitive structure of the Silt Jetties and the Mitchell River south ofBairnsdale; o Recognise the natural beauty of the scenic cliffs and shoreline west of Paynesville; • Recognise the natural beauty of the escarpment west of Eagle Point and fronting Macleod Morass. • Recognise the natural beauty of the river valley along the lower Nicholson River south of Sarsfield. • Recognise the special character of the Broadlands Plains and their relationship to Jones' Bay. • Prevent detriment to sites of scientific interest or significance. o Control the construction of buildings and works near sites of the scientific interest or significance. • Encourage development that is compatible and in keeping with the interest, character and appearance of sites of scientific interest or significance. • Protect the amenity and character of land abutting or adjacent to sites of scientific interest or significance. 100-1 Building Works and Subdivision A pennit is required to: • Construct any building with a reflective exterior finish. • Construct a building in excess of l 00 square metres in area. o Construct a building with a height in excess of 5 metres. • Carry out works in excess of 150 square metres in area. • Subdivide land. This does not apply to repairs and routine maintenance to buildings and works that do not change their external appearance. Appendix 6 (continued) Vegetation A pennit is required to remove or destroy any vegetation. 100-3 Guiddines for Permit Before deciding on an application, the Responsible Authority must consider: • The purpose of this clause. • The sensitive nature of coastal and river environs, including plants, soils and the general aesthetic quality of such areas. • The use of appropriate colours, building rlesign and heights for all buildings within the Polfoy Area. -· · - ----·-· ·· • The protection and maintenance of existing vegetation, and the desirability of requiring landscaping around proposed development. • The undertaking of subdivision and building in a maruter sensitive to the aesthetic and physical environmental characteristics of the area. • The need for repair and maintenance of river bank areas. • The provision of public access ways to river reserve areas. • The proper control of domestic waste. • The strategies and policies of Government agencies responsible for coastal and river environs: - Department of Conservation & Environment. - Rural Water Commission. - Department of Planning & Housing. - Department of Agriculture & Rural Affairs. - Country Fire Authority. • The views of the Department of Conservation and Environment. Appendix 6 (continued) 100-4 Approval of Plans Before a building or works is constructed or carried out within the Policy Area a landscaping plan must be prepared to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority. The plan(s) must show: • The location and type of all existing native vegetation on the land. • The identification of the native vegetation which is proposed to be removed, destroyed or lopped. • Details of any proposed landscaping or replanting including a schedule of proposed plant speeies. • Any other landscape features to be included in the development. • Details of the treatment of any earthwork rehabilitation to be carried out. Appendix 7 CONCLUSIONS - 1973 Interdepartmental Committee Report on Mitchell River Silt Jetties to the Hon W. Borthwick MP (Minister for Lands) The Committee concluded that: 1. The Mitchell River Silt Jetties are eroding at an average rate of approximately 0.3 metres-per annum ofwidth oflake shoreline. 2. The prediction by Bird (ref.) and others that these unique and world f amaus jetties will erode into a series ofislands within the next 100 years unless protected is wellfounded 3. Stability ofthe jetties along the existing shorelines would be a significant achievement for the State of Victoria. 4. The restoration of eroded private or Crown land back to their original form when first surveyed is unwarranted 5. The filling in of the existing breach in the jetties at "The Cut" is neither - desirable nor necessary. LikeWise, the joining up of the existing outer islands is unwarranted 6. There is no evidence to indicate that the existing ecological conditions or the rate of erosion of the jetties will change significantly in the foreseeable future by natural means. 7. The causes oferosion are a combination offactors involving primarily: (a) Clearing; (b) An increase in the upper limits ofsalinity and temperature range of the lake waters; (c) Wave action; (d) Flooding; (e) Grazing and trampling ofshoreline vegetation by livestock; (/) Fluctuations in lake level; (g) Wind and spray. 8. (a) The revegetation methods of erosion control tried previously have not been successful in overcoming or greatly slowing the erosion on the lake shorelines. (b) With the additional assistance of fencing to exclude livestock, certain species of grasses and reeds have been successfully established on and are stabilising the river shorelines. 9. Protective fencing should be erected along the private property boundaries on the river side ofthe northern jetty. Appendix 7 (contim1ed) JO. The use of wooden or other groynes for sand deposition has proved ineffective. 11. Extensive trial granite rubble walling has successfully stabilised part of the lake shoreline on the southem jetty. 12. Further protective works are essential on both southern and northem jetties to halt the erosion. 13. The re-purchase ofall of the freehold land on the jetties is unjustified to achieve the permanent protection of the jetties. 14. (a) The re-purchase of the freehold land on the outer 2 km (J. 3 miles) ofboth ]iitties is an important requirement in the pubic interest; (b) The re-purchase of sufficient private land along both northern and svuthern jetties to enable the re-establishment of a public reserve along the lake shores, 30 m wide, is also most desirable. (c) The re-purchase and establishment ofpublic reserves at selected locations (narrow allotments) is also important). 15. All existing permissive occupancy tenures on the Point Dawson Reserve shvuld be terminated and the buildings removed 16. The values of the jetties for agriculture is not high. 17. The tvurist potential of the jetties is evident but careful management of any tourist activities will be necessary. 18. The existing road access along the southern jetty is unsuitable for any large scale increase tn traffic orfor use by heavy vehicles. 19. lhe Cvunci/ of the Shire of Baimsdale would be an appropriate authority to manage the proposedpublic reserves on the Silt Jetties. Appendix 7 (continued) RECOMMENDATIONS The Committee therefore recommends: 1. Protection of the lake foreshores of both the northern and southern silt jetties with granite rubble walling be completed in the manner already used in trials by the Public Works Department. The extent and specifications for such work, which involved walling along approximately 9 km of lake shoreline, is shown on the plan labelledAppendixD, Drawing No. 73.2157. ·- ··"it is estimated that thisprotection work-1nC!udi,1g land purchase will cost approximately $395, 000 plus on costs and should be carried out by the Public Works Department. 2. Species of reeds, grasses and other vegetation already found to be suitable for establishment on the river frontages along the silt jetties in previous trials be re-planted along such frontages where erosion ts evident and that protective fencing be erected to exclude livestock where _ necessary. The work should be supervised by the Soil Conservation Authority and is estimated to cost approximately $10,000. 3. (a) The .freehold land comprising the outer 2.1 km of the southern silt jetty as indicated on the plan labelled Appendix C be purchased or acquired by the Crawn and reserved f or public purposes. Cost has been included in (J) above. (b) A Crown foreshore reserve of at least 30 m be established by re purchasing.freehold land along the lake shorelines of both jetties as indicated on the plan Appendix C, and then reserving such land for public purposes. The cost has been included in (a) above. {c) The re-purchase of land be carried out under the provisions of Part 7 of the Land Act (Section 331-333) if necessary and the Council of the Shire of Bairnsdale be appointed as a Committee of Management pursuant to Section 222 of the Land Act 1958 over any Crown land reserved/or public purposes. 4. & tensive survey work will be necessary to establish freehold boundaries and proposed reserves and this work should be carried out by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey. It is estimated that the cost will be approximately $5, 000. 5. All Crown la"nd tenures on the Point Dawson reserve be terminated and the existing water frontage licence along the northern jetty he withdrawn upon the erection offen cing. Appendix 8 Recreational use on Silt Jetties A. Traffic counter figures taken by Department of Conservation & Natural Resources on Silt Jetty road (west of boat ramp) Period - 1989/1990 1990/91 Month Vehicles I Passengers Month Vehicles I Passengers ({ti), 2.5 per car) (~ 2.5 per car) July 4,120 10,300 Julv 1,572 3,930 Aug 2,005 5 012 Aug 1,141 2,852 No data Sept 2,676 6,690 Sept (cst)2,676 (est) 6,690 ··- · - . • ••• oa-• • • ····- ----·· -··--· ··-· -··· - ·-· Oct 2,334 5,835 Oct 3 836 9,590 Nov 1,590 3.975 Nov 1,450 3,625 Dec l,603 4,007 Dec 980 2,450 Jan 4.358 10.895 Jan 1,840 4,600 Feb 3,062 7,655 Total 13.489 33.737 Mar 1,364 3.410 Average per month over 19 months April 2,208 5,520 5,568 visitors/month Mav 2,108 5.270 Noda!& June (est) 1,400 (est) 3,500 Yearly visitors 28,828 72,069 60,000 - 75,000 estimated Total vehicles visitors B. Excerpt from letter: Shire of Baimsdale to Vic Tourism Commission 1989 requesting funds for road improvement on the Silt Jetties "A roadside interview survey was carried out on this section of road over a 12 hour period on 22nd January, 1988. During this period 88 traffic movements were recorded. The breakdown of the "purpose of the trip" is as follows:- Sightseeing (7) 16.3% Fishing (26) 60.5% Property Access (9) 20.9% Other (1) 2.3% Total interviewed fill 100.0% This survey was not earned out at a particularly busy time and therefore the traffic volumes would clearly be expected to increase during the height of the tourist season and periods of peak fishing activity. Jetty Zoning Plan (Draft) Appendix 9 Showing Department of Conservation and Natural Resources policy zones for private jetty licensing on the Silt Jetties 0 500m A For detail ofjetty zoning see enlargements. 4 Enlargement A POINT LARDNER POINT FOSFER Enlargement B 7 POINT DAWSON Enlargement C LEGEND Jetty Zones 1 MARINA Class 1 6 PRIVATE JETTIES Low Density Class 2 2 COMJ\.fERCIAL ZONE 7 NO JETTY ZONE 3 PUBLIC JETTIES . 8 SWING MOORINGS 4 PRIVATE JETTIES High Density 9 SPECIAL PURPOSES SUB ZONE 5 PRIVATE JETTIES Medium Density Appendix 10 Wind spectrum AVERAGE WIND SPEED (m/s) DIR CALM 0.861 2.15 3.65 5.80 8.16 10.52 13.09 15.88 TOTAL NNE 2.34 0.98 1.70 1.09 0.36 0.04 0.02 0.00 0.00 6.54 NE 0.76 0.71 1.23 1.07 0.42 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 4.24 ENE 0.31 0.69 0.94 0.94 0.83 0.16 0.16 0.00 0.00 4.02 E 0.22 0.78 1.36 1.72 2.30 0.78 0.54 0.09 0.00 7.79 ESE 0.18 0.25 0.31 0.69 0.89 0.31 0.09 0.00 0.00 2.72 SE 0.22 0.31 0.54 1.00 0.67 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.79 SSE 0.11 0.31 0.56 0.69 0.56 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.30 s 0.11 0.58 0.67 0.78 0.71 0.29 0.18 0.02 0.00 3.35 SSW 0.16 0.18 0.36 0.40 0.51 0.25 0.16 0.02 0.00 2.03 SW .. 0~31 0.56 0.67 0.85 1.09 0.60 0.27 0.16 0.02 ·· .. 4.53 WSW . 0.45 1.30 1.43 1.88 2.84 1.30 0.71 0.31 0.04 . 10.25 w 0.56 2.10 3.15 2.95 3.35 1.63 0.71 0.27 0.07 14.78 WNW 0.47 1.18 2. 14 1.63 1.16 0.33 0.11 0.04 0.00 7.08 NW. 0.42 1.32 3. 13 2.84 1.25 0.56 0.20 0.02 0.00 9.74 NNW 0.36 1.38 2.52 1.97 1.56 0.58 0.27 0.02 0.00 8.66 N 0.47 1.76 2.43 2.39 1.30 0.51 0.25 0.04 0.00 9.16 I 7.46 I 14.40: 23.141 22.89 19.81 7.48; 3.68 1.00 0.13 100.00 jsuMl I ! I Frequency of occurrence of wind speed and direction expressed as percentage of hours within a year. SYNTHESISED WIND SPECTRUM Appendix 11 Birds found along the Mitchell River Silt Jetties Scientific name Common name Perchini birds Acanthiza chryso"hoa Yellow-rumped Thornhill Acanthiza lineata Striated Thornhill Acanthiza nana Yellow Thornhill Acanthiza pusilla Brown Thornhill Acanthorhynclms tenuirostris Eastern Spinebill Anthochaera carunculata 'Red Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera Little Wattlebird Anthus novaeseelandiae -- Richard's Pipit Carduelis carduelis European Goldfinch Cisticola exi/is Golden-headed Cisticola Col/uricincla 'harmonica Grey Shrike-thrush Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Corvus coronoides Australian Raven Cracticus torquatus Grey Butcherbird Eopsaltria australis Eastern Yellow Robin Ephthianura albifrons White-fronted Chat Gra/lina cyanoleuca Australian Magpie Lark Gymnorhina tibicen Australian Magpie Lichenostomus leucotis White-eared Honeyeater Malurus cyaneus Superb Fairy-wren Meliphaga lewinii Lewin's Honeyeater Mirajra javanica Singing Bushlark Orio/us sagittatus Olive-backed Oriole Pardalotus striatus Striated Pardalote Pachycephala rufiventris Rufous Whistler Passer domesticus House Sparrow Phyhdonyris novaehollan.d.iae New Holland Honeyeater Rhipidura .fuliginosa Grey Fantail Rhipidura leucophrys Willie Wagtail Sericomis jrontalis White-browed Scrubwren Smicromis brevirostris Weebill Strepera graculina Pied Currawong Strepera versicolor Grey Currawong Streptope/ia chincnsis Spotted Turtle·Dove Stumus vulgaris Common Starling Turdus merula Blackbird Zoothera dauma White's Thrush Zosterops lateralis Silvereye Appendix 11 (continued) Scientific name Common name Birds of prey Accipiterf asciatus Brown Goshawk Aquila audax Wedge-tailed Eagle Circus aeruginosus Marsh Harrier Elanus notatus Black-shouldered Kite Falco cenchroides Australian Kestral Haliaeetus /eucogaster White-bellied Sea-Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides Little Eagle Waders and gulls - Charadrius melanops Black-fronted Plover Charadrius ruficapi/lus Red-capped Plover Gal/inago hardwickii Latham's Snipe Haematopus longirostris Pied Oystercatcher . Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern Larus novaehollandiae Silver Gull Larus paci.ficus Pacific Gull Stemia a/bifrons Little Tern Stema bergii Crested Tern Stema nereis Fairy Tern Tringsa hypole11cos Common Sandpiper Vanel/us miles Masked Lapwing Duck-like birds Anas castanea Chestnut Teal Anas superci/iosa Pacific Black Duck Anas gibberifrons Grey Teal Bi:t:iura lobata Musk Duck Cygnus atratus Black Swan Fulicaatra Eurasian Coot Tadoma tadomoides Australian Shelduck Appendix 11 (continued) Scientific name Common name Kingfishers Cayxazurea Azure Kingfisher Dace/o novaeKUJneae Lau~g Kookaburra Herons and allies Ardea novaeho/landiae White-faced Heron Ardeo/a ibis Cattle Egret Egretta alba Great Egret Egretta garzetta Little Egret __ -····· Egretta intermedia Intermediate Egret Plata/ea regia Royal Spoonbill Threskiomis aethiopica Sacred Ibis Threskiomis svinicol/is Straw-necked Ibis Cockatoos and parrots Cacatua ga/erita Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua roseicapilla Galah Platycercus elegans Crimson Rosella Platycercus eximius Eastern Rosella Tricho~lossus haematodus Rainbow Lorikeet Cuckoos Chrysococcyx basalis Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo Button quails and allies Gal/inula tenebrosa Dusky Moorhen Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen Swifts Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow Appendix 11 (continued) Scientific name Common name Pelicans and allies Pe/ecanus conspicil/atus Australian Pelican Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant Pha/acrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant Grebes Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe Poliocepha/us poliocephalus Hoary-headed Grebe Tachvbaptus novaehollandiae Australasian Grebe Owls Tytoalba Barn Owl This list was compiled with the help of Mrs Norma Earney (resident of the Silt Jetties for many years) and member of the East Gippsland Bird Observers Club. Appendix 12 Observations from field work for this study The study team spent a total of sixteen days in the field including: (1) Detailed inspection - Southern silt jetty (2) Inspection of Northern jetty - The Cut to Pt Lardner both shorelines (3) Inspection and classification of erosion hazard for entire lengths of both inner banks (4) A day in a canoe looking closely at banks from the Cut to Pt Dawson (5) Inspection of the southern shoreline rock placement and private property. The field infonnation has been absorbed into the recommendation process, but there are a number of observations that should also be placed on record. • Contrary to our perception there is a good deal of shallow water within the Silt Jetties. Apart from some erosion points on shore, one could wade most of the inner banks, especially the western sections. Rock placement and other works could be carried out while standing in these shallow sections. • Water Rat burrows are evident in some sections. Local people report significant numbers of these animals are seen at night. • The shading effect of eucalypts, boobialla and melaleuca patches seems to prevent reed growth and banks are often unstable beneath these areas. • Boat jetties appear to have little or no effect on growth of river bank vegetation. The jetties, especially where rock placement has also occurred may actually be assisting reed establishment. • The reed beds grow strongest on the northern jetty (southerly protected aspect) and appear to tluive best in full sunlight. - ZONE PURPOSE LEGEND Rural 'A' Freehold Land, Shire of Bairnsdale Planning Scheme D Conservation To maintain and restore existing vegetation, restricted public access D Conservation and Recreation To maintain and restore existing m vegetation, provide for recreational use w To maintain and restore existing Closed scrub vegetation, provide intensive recreational use with construction of recreational facilities where appropriate I 1 5 ZONING . . . Note: AREAS LEGEND Erosion sections noted in survey 11 /1993 (inner shoreline) Swamp paperbark fringe fMela/eucaJ l2} North jetty: 780m on total shore length 5.6km (14%) South jetty: 905m on total shore length 5.8km (16%) Reed fringe 0 Erosion hazard section l2l Undercut (check at low river level) Weed infestation sites (generalised I ~ Eroding and undercutting Undercut below Me/aleuca fringe Rock replacement section ~ Melaleuca thicket - heavily used by roosting birds Washing above rock Failed rock placement Cutting above rock Private frontage 4 HAZARD AREAS SHOWING EROSION SITES, WEED CONCENTRATION AND ROCK REPLACEMENT SECTIONS CONSIDER: Explanatory sign re 'The Cut' at this point explaining how this has occurred SUGGESTIONS: Five - 'Please take your rubbish away with you' signs along southern jetties at main usage points ..... Erect small signs at fishing sites Temporary 'Closed for Repair' as required 'Revegetation Area' signs as required here Standard 'Private Property' signs • Large entry signs 'Point Dawson' at each property boundary Use existing large boards under shelter Standard 'Private Property' signs • Leaflet box Show: at each property boundary * Silt jetties location map • Large signs for Pines Picnic Area • Regulatory signs (explaining revegetation work area) .. Leaflet box information • Road information to Dawson Point * Regulatory directions (especially fire and rubbish) • Regulatory signs • Rationalise signage to one location and use cohesive colour scheme • Large entry sign 'Mitchell River Silt Jetties' 3 SIGNS ( Proposed) AREAS KEY Fishing sites • Water point w Public Jetty p Sealed road - two lane ----- Unsealed road - one lane ------ Linle Cut SEC power to this point Public Jeny End of sealed road Car park The Pines Eagle Point Jeny .- 2 RECREATION SHOWING ACCESS, FACILITIES AND FISHING SITES (Ex 1st1n g) (Ex isting) STRUCTURE COMMON SPECIES KEY Grassland Introduced rass and cro s G Urban woodland Native and introduced Eucalypts and shrubs. Non W indi enous trees and scrubs Open forests Mainly replanted Eucalyptus tereticornis and OF Acacia mesrnsii. Some mature Eucal tus Closed scrub cs Saline herbfield SH Jones Bav Reed swam Phra mites australis Juncus s . 'I' RS 'I' Lake King Note: Area recommended for revegetation denoted as For species and revegetation specification refer to CFL plan 1987 fC Barry! v . . . . 1 VEGETATION NORTH Mitchell River Silt Jetties SCALE , :10 000 Management Recommendations ~ 1994 CONSERVATION AND 0 0 .5 1 km Aerial photoo0raphy base · March 1994 NATURAL RESOURCES Prepared in the Gippslend Area, Bairnsdale