NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT 2010 SUMMARY Summary of the Namadgi National Park PLAN OF MANAGEMENT 2010 Namadgi’s values Namadgi National Park is the largest conservation reserve in the ACT covering approximately 46% (106 095 ha) of the Territory. The park includes the rugged mountain ranges and broad grassy valleys in the western and southern parts of the ACT. Namadgi protects the Cotter River Catchment, Canberra’s main supply of water and is important for conserving biodiversity. The park’s snow gum woodlands, subalpine fens and bogs, grasslands and montane forest communities provide habitat for a diverse range of species. Namadgi has a rich heritage of human history with evidence of Aboriginal use of the land and remnants of early European pastoral activity. The park is popular for low key recreation including bushwalking, camping, cycling, rock climbing and abseiling. In addition, the Bimberi Wilderness provides a place of solitude for inspiration and wellbeing. Namadgi is one of eleven national parks and reserves in the Australian Alps that are collectively known as the Australian Alps national parks. These parks are managed cooperatively to provide protection for much of the alpine, subalpine and montane environments of mainland Australia. This summary of the Namadgi National Park Plan of Management 2010 provides a brief overview. For more comprehensive information please refer to the full plan of management. Page 1 2034 - NNP Summary.indd 1 11/08/10 11:12 AM NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT 2010 SUMMARY Namadgi National Park Management Zones Page 2 2034 - NNP Summary.indd 2 11/08/10 11:12 AM NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT 2010 SUMMARY Why have a plan of management for Namadgi? The Namadgi National Park Plan of Management 2010 is a legal document which identifies the values of the park and how they can be protected. The plan provides guidance to the ACT Government’s park management agency and indicates to the ACT community and park visitors the primary objectives in managing the park. A review of the plan is required every ten years. ACT Legislative and Planning Framework Namadgi National Park is defined as Public Land under the Territory Plan (the key statutory planning Park zones document in the ACT) and the Planning and Management zones have been developed for Development Act 2007 requires that each area of Namadgi based on natural and cultural heritage reserved Public Land has a plan of management. The values. These are shown on the map on page 2. Key Act identifies the primary management objectives issues considered in developing the zones include: for Namadgi as: • the need to protect Canberra’s urban water Wilderness area supply 1. To conserve the natural environment in a • protection of biodiversity, ecological processes, manner ensuring that disturbance to that cultural heritage and scenic landscapes environment is minimal. • protection of areas that are highly ecologically 2. To provide for the use of the area (other than significant where threatened species, ecological by vehicles or other mechanised equipment) communities and geological features occur that for recreation by limited numbers of people, so are sensitive to disturbance as to ensure that opportunities for solitude are • protection of Namadgi’s ‘wilderness’ and provided. ‘remote areas’ values National park • the ACT legislative and planning framework. 1. To conserve the natural environment. The zones provide a gradation from remote areas 2. To provide for public use of the area for (wilderness and water catchment) which has the recreation, education and research. most restrictive access policies, to areas accessible by vehicle with more ‘developed’ recreational opportunities. Management policies for each zone What is in the plan? are outlined in Table 1. Recreation policies for each zone are outlined in Table 2. The plan identifies objectives for management of the park’s values and includes background information that has been considered in developing policies and actions. Park values are addressed under: • Water • Natural Heritage • Cultural Heritage • Fire • Recreation • Learning • Community • A protected and managed resource. Page 3 2034 - NNP Summary.indd 3 11/08/10 11:13 AM NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT 2010 SUMMARY Table 1. Management policies See map for management zones on page 2. Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Remote Area Semi-Remote Area Roaded Natural Core Conservation and Catchment Area Conservation and Recreation Area Recreation Area Zone 1A Zone 1B Zone 2A Zone 2B Zone 3 Bimberi Wilderness Middle Cotter Wild Semi-Remote Conservation Roaded Natural including Upper Catchment Booth Range and and Recreation Areas and Road Cotter Catchment and Adjacent Areas Blue Gum Creek Area Corridors Access Access on foot. Vehicle access to Vehicle access Vehicle access to Access via 2WD Motorised or track heads around to track heads track heads around roads to periphery of mechanised access periphery of zone. around periphery periphery of zone. other zones. All roads strictly controlled and No motorised of zone. Motorised Motorised access in Zone 3 are public only for management access except access limited for management roads. purposes. for management to management purposes; special purposes. Tour vehicles. circumstances and cycling can occur on licensed operators. formed roads and Tour cycling on fire trails north of Mt formed roads. Horse Ginini car park. riding on designated formed roads. Management No new management No new management No new management No new management No new management vehicle trails trails. trails unless there is a trails unless there is a trails unless there is a trails unless there is a Management trails demonstrated need demonstrated need demonstrated need demonstrated need may be redesigned for fire or catchment for fire protection for fire protection for fire protection and constructed to protection purposes. purposes. purposes. purposes. improved standards. Management trails Management trails Management trails Management trails may be redesigned may be redesigned may be redesigned may be redesigned and constructed to and constructed to and constructed to and constructed to improved standards. improved standards. improved standards. improved standards. Facilities Public facilities rarely Public facilities rarely Public facilities rarely Low-key facilities Low-key facilities found and only for found and only for found and only for consistent with at picnic areas. natural and cultural natural and cultural natural and cultural existing network of Campgrounds with heritage protection. heritage protection. heritage protection. historic huts, toilets limited facilities and and interpretive opportunities for trails. Dispersed remote style bush camping. On-site camping. Toilets to interpretation. Toilets be provided in high- to be provided in use areas. high-use areas. Aboriginal Subject to Subject to Permitted subject to Permitted subject to Permitted subject to cultural camps negotiation and negotiation and protocols. protocols. protocols. protocols. protocols. Disabled access N/A All new facilities to N/A All new facilities to All new facilities to and facilities provide for disabled provide for disabled provide for disabled access as far as access as far as access as far as practicable. practicable. practicable. Social Extremely low level of Low level of Generally a low level Low to medium Relatively frequent interaction interaction with other interaction with other of interaction with level of interaction. interaction with other users. Predominant users. other users. Medium opportunity visitors. Perception perception of to escape the of travelling a road isolation and urban environment, through a remote remoteness from enjoy solitude or area. urban centres. participate in group Restriction on group events. size and overall numbers at any one time. Walking tracks No new overnight No overnight walking No new walking Potential for new Potential for new walking tracks. tracks. tracks. walking tracks, walking tracks Existing routes may Has potential for new particularly to link particularly short be redefined for walking tracks for day to existing walking circular routes better environmental walks. tracks to create suitable for all outcomes. circular routes. abilities. Campground No designated No designated No designated Designated bush Camping in campgrounds. campgrounds or campgrounds. camps on overnight designated Dispersed camping dispersed camping. Dispersed camping walking tracks campgrounds only. only. only. permitted. Dispersed camping permitted. Page 4 2034 - NNP Summary.indd 4 11/08/10 11:13 AM NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK PLAN OF MANAGEMENT 2010 SUMMARY Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Remote Area Semi-Remote Area Roaded Natural Core Conservation and Catchment Area Conservation and Recreation Area Recreation Area Zone 1A Zone 1B Zone 2A Zone 2B Zone 3 Bimberi Wilderness Middle Cotter Wild Semi-Remote Conservation Roaded Natural including Upper Catchment Booth Range and and Recreation Areas and Road Cotter Catchment and Adjacent Areas Blue Gum Creek Corridors Area Walking tracks No new overnight No overnight walking No new walking Potential for new Potential for new walking tracks. tracks. tracks. walking tracks, walking tracks Existing routes may Has potential for particularly to link particularly short be redefined for new walking tracks to existing walking circular routes better environmental for day walks. tracks to create suitable for all outcomes. circular routes. abilities. Campground No designated