Management Plan Draft Amendments 2016
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Management plan draft amendments 2016 Onkaparinga River Reserve Management Plan 2004 Morialta and Black Hill Conservation Parks Management Plan 2001 Hallett Cove and Marino Conservation Parks Management Plan 2010 Anstey Hill Recreation Park Management Plan 2006 O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park Management Plan 2008 2 Contents Your views are important 4 Why are these amendments proposed? 5 1 Establishing the Mount Lofty Ranges as an international mountain biking destination. 7 2 Providing a safer and more enjoyable alignment for horse riding on the Tom Roberts Trail. 11 3 Creating bush camping areas in national parks close to Adelaide. 13 4 Encouraging more people to walk in parks. 15 Invitation to contribute 17 References 17 Management plan draft amendments 2016 3 Your views are important Adelaide is blessed with a network of 29 parks that surround the public consultation. This ensures that the community’s views about city. They are essential for the conservation of South Australia’s proposed changes to park management plans are understood unique natural environment. They are also valuable community before any changes are considered. assets – providing places for nature based tourism, recreation, learning, relaxation and recuperation. This document has been prepared to seek the community’s views about proposed amendments to five park management plans: People have expressed a desire to enjoy a broader range of Onkaparinga River Reserve Management Plan 2004, Morialta and recreational activities in seven parks around Adelaide: Black Hill Conservation Parks Management Plan 2001, Hallett Cove Onkaparinga River National Park; Morialta, Black Hill and Hallett and Marino Conservation Parks Management Plan 2010, Anstey Hill Cove Conservation Parks; and Onkaparinga River, Anstey Hill Recreation Park Management Plan 2006 and O’Halloran Hill and O’Halloran Hill Recreation Parks. Recreation Park Management Plan 2008. The management of these parks is guided by five park Feedback on these draft amendments will help in the development management plans: Onkaparinga River Reserve Management Plan of final amendments. Once developed, the final amendments will 2004, Morialta and Black Hill Conservation Parks Management Plan be submitted to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and 2001, Hallett Cove and Marino Conservation Parks Management Conservation for adoption under Section 38 of the National Parks Plan 2010, Anstey Hill Recreation Park Management Plan 2006 and and Wildlife Act 1972. O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park Management Plan 2008. These park management plans set out our how parks will be managed and I encourage you to make a submission on these draft amendments. specify what type of activities will be allowed They are available at Guidance for making a submission can be found on page 17. http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parkmanagement Currently, some of the activities that people have proposed cannot be undertaken because they are prohibited by a park management plan. Park management plans may be revised and amended to ensure that they reflect the community’s aspirations. A key part of John Schutz the amendment process is the release of a draft amendment for Director of National Parks and Wildlife 4 Why are these amendments proposed? During 2015, over 11,000 people participated in a series of discussions, workshops, surveys, and park discovery days to identify and discuss ways to generate greater use, appreciation and enjoyment of Adelaide’s national parks. Enjoying Adelaide’s National Parks – Co-designing our future park improvements, summarises the outcomes of this process (DEWNR 2015 a). National parks already support a broad range of recreational Providing a safer and more enjoyable alignment for horse riding on activities, however cycling, horse riding, camping, and dog walking the Tom Roberts Trail. This can be achieved by permitting horse are currently prohibited in some parks. riding on a designated route through Onkaparinga River National Park. To reflect the community’s aspirations for the enjoyment of parks, a Creating bush camping areas in national parks close to Adelaide. suite of amendment to five park management plans are proposed. This can be achieved by designating areas for camping in Anstey These amendment are proposed to achieve the following Hill Recreation Park and Onkaparinga River National Park. outcomes: Encouraging more people to walk in parks. This can be achieved by Establishing the Mount Lofty Ranges as an international mountain enabling the designation of tracks or trails for walking with dogs biking destination. This can be achieved by providing scope for the on a lead in Morialta Conservation Park, Black Hill Conservation construction of mountain biking trails in Anstey Hill Recreation Park and Hallett Cove Conservation Park. Park, Morialta Conservation Park, Black Hill Conservation Park, Onkaparinga River National Park, and O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park. South Australia’s vision for mountain biking in the Mount Lofty Ranges is set out in Establishing the Mount Lofty Ranges as an International Mountain Biking Destination (DEWNR 2015 b). Management plan draft amendments 2016 5 6 1. Establishing the Mount Lofty Ranges as an international mountain biking destination The Mount Lofty Ranges has potential to become an international To enable cycling to be authorised on designated trails, an mountain biking destination. The South Australian Government amendment will be required to the following park management is working with cyclists, local government and stakeholders to plans: realise this opportunity. South Australia’s vision for mountain biking in the Mount Lofty Ranges is set out in Establishing the Mount • Morialta and Black Hill Conservation Parks Management Plan Lofty Ranges as an International Mountain Biking Destination 2001 (DEWNR 2015 b). • Onkaparinga River Reserve Management Plan 2004 A key strategy towards this vision is to expand the existing network • O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park Management Plan 2008 of trails into Onkaparinga River National Park, Morialta • Anstey Hill Recreation Park Management Plan 2006 Conservation Park, Black Hill Conservation Park, Anstey Hill Recreation Park, and O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park. Cycling in parks is confined to designated trails which are located and constructed in line with best practice principles. This ensures that cycling is environmentally sustainable and compatible with other recreational activities. Morialta and Black Hill Conservation Parks Management Plan 2001 Existing text Proposed Text 1.1 Recreation and Tourism - Where appropriate, mountain biking may be allowed on Background (page 22) designated trails. In recent years, an increasing number of visitors are utilising the more remote walking trails within the parks for mountain bike riding. This activity often conflicts with the enjoyment and safety of walkers and can lead to accelerated track erosion. While mountain bike riding is prohibited within the park, it is difficult to monitor and a comprehensive solution may lie in making other nearby locations available to the sport. 1.2 Zoning – Conservation zone (page 23) Within this zone, public motor vehicle access is confined to tracks and carparks that are open to the public. Rock climbing, Management in conservation zones principally cycling and dog walking on a lead, may be authorised in addresses the need to prevent the occurrence of weed designated areas. species, soil pathogens, and the processes of erosion. Bushwalking, nature study and rock climbing in approved sites are suitable activities within these zones, as impact is considered to be minimal. Detailed vegetation and habitat audits will be conducted prior to any developments, consistent with passive use, to ensure species of significance are conserved. Activities involving use of 4WD vehicles, trail bikes, mountain bikes and horse riding remain prohibited within conservation zones. Management plan draft amendments 2016 7 Onkaparinga River Reserve Management Plan 2004 Existing text Proposed Text 1.3 Zoning (page 13) Within this zone public motor vehicle access is confined to tracks and carparks that are open to the public. Where appropriate, dog Walking trails and direction and interpretive signs are walking, cycling and horse riding may be authorised on permitted. Works undertaken for the provision and designated trails. maintenance of a fire access track system and to improve or achieve conservation goals are permitted. The use of the area by visitors with dogs, horses, private motor vehicles or cycles (including mountain bikes) is prohibited. Special permits for exceptional circumstances may be granted by the District Ranger. 1.4 4.6 Recreation and Tourism, Mountain-bike riding: Appropriate on designated tracks and trails 4.6.1 Visitor Use (page 32) Mountain-bike riding: Not appropriate 1.5 4.6 Recreation and Tourism, Private motor vehicle use (including cycling) is confined to 4.6.2 Vehicle Access (page 33) designated tracks and carparks that are open to the public. Public vehicles are excluded from reserve tracks for several reasons, including; dangerous, highly variable track conditions, fragile soils, steep terrain, to reduce the spread of weeds and soil pathogens, to limit noise intrusion, to improve public safety on steep trails (particularly walkers threatened by speeding motor bikes and mountain bikes), to limit the risk, frequency and possible consequences of fires and to maximise visitors’ experience of natural conditions. 1.6 4.6 Recreation and Tourism,