CONSERVATION POLICY ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING

Key outcome Sound policies, procedures, standards and guidelines, together with consistent resource assessment, planning and monitoring processes, provide the basis for the conservation of nature, Aboriginal heritage and historic heritage in . 1 15 CONSERVATION POLICY, ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE YEAR

• 119 new parks and reserves created • a 10 percent (479,000-hectare) increase in the total area of parks and reserves managed by the NPWS • creation of Lord Howe Island Marine Park, the third marine park in NSW • 15 plans of management adopted for 22 parks and reserves; 18 further plans put on public exhibition • the largest increase in declared wilderness in NSW in any one year — 520,264 hectares • 130,000 new records added to the Atlas of New South Wales Wildlife, bringing the total to 883,000

FOREST ISSUES 25,000 cubic metres of quota quality logs for the next five years, 24,000 cubic metres for Under the National Forest Policy Statement, the following 15 years, the development of a an agreed framework was established between new recovery mill, and a net job increase in the Commonwealth and State governments the timber industry. for the completion of comprehensive regional assessments (CRAs) and the development of a comprehensive, adequate and representative forest reserve system. The CRAs will be even- tually followed by regional forest agreements between the Commonwealth and NSW gov- ernments for each of four forest regions of New South Wales. This policy has been dri- ven by the commitment to the dual objectives of building a world-class reserve system and developing an efficient, value-added, ecologi- cally sustainable timber industry. The Department of Urban Affairs and Planning is the coordinating body for CRAs in NSW, while the National Parks and Wildlife Service has a major responsibility for FORESTS OF NSW STATE the biodiversity, old growth, wilderness, Protected … most of Coolangubra forest was endangered species and cultural heritage CRA transferred to NPWS management as part of the themes. To date the CRA process has resulted Eden CRA process. in more than three years of detailed scientific In Eden, the additions to the reserve system analysis and stakeholder and community con- flowing from the CRA process include all of sultation. As part of the process, the NPWS is the Tantawangalo forests, most of managing some forty projects worth over $8 Coolangubra, an additional 7750 hectares to million. the Brogo Wilderness and the new 15,950- The Eden CRA was the first completed in hectare Yowrie Wilderness. Following the pre- NSW and decisions based on the outcomes of vious addition of 72,000 hectares of new this process were announced by the NSW national parks and nature reserves in the Government in October 1998. These includ- Eden region since the current government ed the addition of 35,000 hectares of forest to came to office in 1995, the total area of parks the parks and reserve system and guaranteed and reserves in the region now totals 234,000 annual wood supply to the timber industry of hectares.

16 In the north-east region of the State (stretch- Sustainable Forest Management Working ing from the border to the edge of Group established for the CRA process. the basin), the key conservation out- The Service has been responsible for the come of the CRA process announced in management of the projects to develop cri- November 1998, was the addition of some teria and indicators for ecologically sustain- 387,000 hectares to the reserve system. This is able forest management and for reviewing on top of the 215,000 hectares previously the protective measures and practices declared in the region since 1995. More than applied in forests; 25,000 hectares of vacant Crown land was • development of preliminary assessment subsequently added to the reserve system in reports and providing advice on issues relat- March. ing to compartments proposed for logging In March a series of NSW forest agreements through the Regulatory and Public flowing from the Eden and north-east CRA Information Committee established under processes were signed. These agreements iden- the Timber Industry (Interim Protection) tified ongoing conservation planning processes Act 1992; • participating in Harvesting Advisory Board with potential to expand the forest conserva- meetings and providing input into the tion reserve network. development of harvesting codes; As a result, approximately 76,000 hectares of • continuing to work with State Forests on a high-conservation-value forests are to be con- koala management plan for Pine Creek sidered for inclusion in the reserve network State Forest; and after assessment of the impact on mineral • developing koala prescriptions for north interests and wood volumes (to be completed coast and south coast forests in conjunction by June 2000). As well, 50,538 hectares of with State Forests of NSW and conserva- vacant Crown lands are to be considered for tion groups. possible inclusion in the reserve system unless they are unsuitable for declaration (to be com- PARK AND RESERVE DEDICATION pleted by January 2003) or there are continu- ing major constraints. Major advances in park and reserve establish- ment were achieved in 1998–99. In all, 119 Conservation protocols new parks and reserves were created during the year, and over 479,000 additional hectares Throughout 1998–99, the NPWS played a incorporated into the NSW reserve system. central role in the implementation and con- Since March 1995, 171 new parks and tinued refinement of the protocols used for reserves have been established, with more managing conservation values within timber- than 1,004,000 hectares of new areas formally production areas. These protocols are an inte- gral part of the government’s forestry reforms protected. Many of the new areas resulted and reflect the increased importance being from negotiations concerning the eastern given to conserving biodiversity within state NSW forests, as part of the development of a forests. comprehensive forest reserve network. In addition to forest reserves in the south-east The management strategies adopted by the and north-east, several other important new protocols represent a shift towards protection reserves included: of landscape elements. Protection of landscape elements conserves habitat and biodiversity Giralang and Mullion Range for the fullest range of fauna possible while at State Recreation Area (1658 hectares). These the same time balancing other forest manage- reserves are 10 kilometres north east of ment demands. Throughout the year the Orange and include white box, yellow box NPWS worked closely with State Forests to and red gum woodlands, with river oak com- refine and structure the conservation proto- munities along the watercourses. Together cols so that they could form the basis of man- with other Crown reserves, they form a signifi- agement under the regional forest agreements. cant habitat corridor and protect prominent landscape features. The NPWS has participated in other issues during the past year, such as: Jagun Nature Reserve (100 hectares). Located immediately north of Valla Beach on the • representation on the Ecologically north coast, the reserve protects littoral

17 CONSERVATION POLICY, ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

rainforest, tall moist eucalypt forest and banksia forest on the foredune. It is an area of high habitat diversity and includes habitats associated with the picturesque Oyster Creek. (2505 hectares). The reserve is part of the spectacular Liverpool Range, south-west of Murrurundi. Habitats range from high-altitude tussock grassland to subtropical rainforest at the western margin of its range. There were also major additions to existing reserves, including: (6691 hectares added). Floodplain vegetation, including Coolibah woodland, and relic sand dunes. The addition samples two quite distinct bioregions. JOEL WINTER/NPWS

Now there are three … in February the waters around Lord Howe Island became NSW’s newest marine park. They contain the world’s southern-most barrier coral reef. Marine parks One new marine park was created during the year. The Lord Howe Island Marine Park (48,000 hectares) was declared on 26 February. There are now three marine parks — the other two being Solitary Islands (71,100 hectares) and Jervis Bay (21,450 hectares) — conserving a total of 140,550 hectares of sensitive marine environment. JOEL WINTER/NPWS Created under the Marine Parks Act 1997, these parks are managed by the Marine Parks Additions to parks and reserves during the year included another 581 hectares to Warrumbungle National Park, providing increased protection for the habitat of Authority with significant support, resources the threatened brush-tailed rock wallaby. and expertise contributed by the NPWS and NSW Fisheries. Severn River Nature Reserve (2343 hectares The Lord Howe Island Marine Park includes added) contains plateau woodland protecting all ocean waters contained between mean the catchment of the Severn River. high water mark and out to three nautical miles around Lord Howe Island, the Warrumbungle National Park (581 hectares Admiralty Islands and Balls Pyramid (approxi- added). The addition of lands associated with mately 23 kilometres south east of Lord Howe Mt Uringerie protects the largest area of habi- Island). The park includes the world’s south- tat for the brush-tailed rock wallaby in the ern-most barrier coral reef and is notable for area and includes white box woodlands, one its great species diversity and endemism. of the most threatened vegetation communi- There are over 300 species of algae (11 per- ties in the State. cent are endemic), over 1500 species of mol- (6,000 hectares added) luscs (several are endemic) and 433 species of now contains the near-pristine catchment for fish (six percent are endemic). The signifi- Mogo Creek and the large of St cance of Lord Howe Island and its surround- Albans Common. The area contains many ing waters led to it being listed as the first endangered species. World Heritage Site in NSW in 1982. 18 LAND-USE PLANNING consultation is undertaken with stake- holders and interested parties; In the past year, the NPWS has contributed • the plan and copies of all representations to the implementation of the new integrated are referred to the National Parks and development provisions included in Part 4 the Wildlife Advisory Council for considera- Environmental Planning and Assessment Act tion; 1979. These provisions allow for the linking • the Director-General submits the plan, of associated licences, permits and approvals together with the recommendations of the required under other environmental legisla- Advisory Council, to the Minister for the tion with a development consent. In anticipa- Environment; tion of the new provisions, the NPWS pro- • the Minister may adopt the plan after con- duced guidelines for councils and applicants sidering the recommendations of the on the implications of the provisions in rela- Advisory Council, or may refer the plan tion to known Aboriginal relics. back to the Director-General and council The NPWS has been participating in discus- for further consideration. sions with the Department of Urban Affairs Fifteen plans of management were adopted and Planning on the review of the during the year for the following 22 Environmental Planning and Assessment NPWS-managed areas: Regulation. The NPWS also prepared a com- prehensive submission to the department in • ; response to the discussion paper, Plan making • , Macquarie Pass in NSW: Opportunities for the future. The National Park, Barren Grounds Nature paper focuses on Part 3 of the Environmental Reserve and ; Planning and Assessment Act specifically relat- • Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve; ing to plan-making processes. • Mallee Cliffs National Park; • ; NSW Coastal Policy • Mount Imlay National Park; • Tinderry Nature Reserve; In 1997, the NSW Government released the NSW Coastal Policy as a whole-of-govern- ment approach to protect and manage the coastal zone of New South Wales. The NPWS is a member of the NSW Coastal Council which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the policy, and the Service has primary responsibility for the implementation of 23 strategic actions con- tained in the policy. The NPWS is monitor- ing the implementation of these strategic actions and will report late in 1999 to the

Coastal Council on its efforts. JOEL WINTER/NPWS

PLANS OF MANAGEMENT Bradleys Head in Sydney Harbour National Park. A plan of management for this park was one of 15 adopted during the year. The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 requires that a plan of management be pre- • Sydney Harbour National Park; pared for each national park, nature reserve • Cudgen Nature Reserve; and historic site. A plan of management is a • ; legal document outlining how the area will be • ; managed in the future. There is an established • Mimosa Rocks National Park; procedure in preparing plans of management: • , Muogamarra • the Director-General gives notice that a Nature Reserve and Maroota Historic Site; plan of management has been prepared; • Wallumatta Nature Reserve; • the plan is placed on public exhibition for • Castlereagh Nature Reserve, Agnes Banks at least one month to enable the public to Nature Reserve and Windsor Downs comment and to ensure that thorough Nature Reserve. 19 CONSERVATION POLICY, ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

Eighteen plans of management were placed Number of NPWS-managed areas for which on public exhibition during the year covering there is an adopted plan of management or a the following 11 national parks and 14 nature draft plan finalised for public exhibition reserves: Adopted Exhibition * • Bongil Bongil National Park; National parks 43 31 • ; Historic sites 6 3 • Kajuligah Nature Reserve; Nature reserves 44 19 • and Budawang State recreation areas 7 5 National Park; Aboriginal areas 1 - • Demon Nature Reserve; • and Bournda Total 101 58 Nature Reserve; *includes 4 new plans to replace existing plans of • Queanbeyan Nature Reserve; management • Narran Lake Nature Reserve; • ; INVESTIGATION OF LAND • Brigalow Nature Reserve and the proposed Apart from the assessment of conservation Claremont Nature Reserve; values of forest lands as part of the compre- • Billinudgel Nature Reserve; hensive regional assessment process (see Forest issues above), NPWS land investiga- tions have focused on the poorly reserved bioregions in the central-west and west of the State. This has led to the identification of areas which fulfil the criteria of the National Reserve System program, administered by Environment . The NPWS has successfully attracted Commonwealth funds to assist with the pur- chase of lands for addition to Culgoa National Park, Warrumbungle National Park, Mulgoa Nature Reserve and New England National Park, as well as several major proposed new

STUART COHEN/NPWS STUART reserves. These include areas north-east of Bourke, north of Glen Innes and on the A draft plan of management was put on public exhibition for south-west slopes. Eurobodalla National Park. The local community and interested The outstanding Peery Lake area, on the groups have been encouraged to comment on the plan before it is overflow, was also investigated considered for adoption. and the core of a major new reserve has been • Eurobodalla National Park; identified, with acquisition well advanced. • The Rock Nature Reserve; • Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Lion POLICY DEVELOPMENT Island Nature Reserve, Long Island Nature Over the past year, the NPWS has continued Reserve and Spectacle Island Nature to respond to policy issues and develop policy Reserve; on a range of matters relevant to natural and • National Park; cultural heritage conservation. • Popran National Park; • and Pitt Town The NPWS prepared its response to the 1997 Nature Reserve; findings of the Parliamentary Joint Select • . Committee on the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, taking the opportunity In addition, the NPWS assisted the Jenolan to address implementation issues which have Caves Reserve Trust to prepare and exhibit a arisen since the introduction of the Act. plan for Wombeyan Karst Conservation Area. Amendments to the Act are expected to be This was the first plan of management for a put to Parliament in the near future. karst conservation area under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. The NPWS is currently formulating a policy 20 position in relation to the government’s including the draft National Greenhouse framework agreement with the NSW Response Strategy and implementation Aboriginal Land Council and the implica- plans for state responsibilities under the tions of the agreement for future considera- strategy; Commonwealth legislative and tion of native title and park management policy initiatives affecting cultural and nat- issues. The agreement provides a structure for ural heritage and the environment; and the negotiation of Indigenous Land Use matters considered by the Ministerial Agreements, predominantly over land Council on World Heritage, and the reserved after January 1994. Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council; Under the auspices of the Marine Parks • advising the Minister for the Environment Authority, and in conjunction with NSW on a number of issues including the gov- Fisheries, the NPWS has continued with the ernment’s reform of the planning and man- implementation of policy and operations agement of water resources and native veg- related to the Marine Parks Act 1997. The etation, and on the referencing and negoti- NPWS, together with NSW Fisheries, com- ation processes with other agencies in the pleted the development of the Marine Parks purchase of land and the declaration of Regulation which was gazetted in 1999. The new reserves; and Marine Parks Advisory Council and local • examination of issues arising from NPWS advisory committees have also been estab- involvement in the management of Crown lished. Reserves. Other policy initiatives during the year included: Policy issues associated with environmental economics developed during the year • park management policies relating to included: cycling, filming and photography, commer- cial trade in protected fauna, rehabilitation • assisting internal and intergovernmental of native animals, vessel operations (Cape committees in investigating nature-based Byron) and entanglement of marine tourism and recreation opportunities; mammals; • finalising guidelines for economic and social assessments for the preparation of recovery plans, as required under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995; • commencement of a National Competition Policy review of activities under the Lord Howe Island Act 1953, and an eco- nomic assessment of the efficiency of cur- rent NPWS aviation service provision; • provision of economic and social technical input to the joint Commonwealth/NSW JOEL WINTER/NPWS regional forest agreement process; • an economic assessment of the proposed Got wheels … cycling in national parks was one of a number of park management policy issues examined Wolli Creek regional park; during 1998–99. • provision of economic advice on proposed commercial activities within national parks • completion of the development stage for including specific NPWS-managed the State of the Parks report; heritage sites and visitor centres. • finalisation of the NSW Biodiversity Strategy (launched in March), and coordi- ABORIGINAL HERITAGE nation of the strategy’s across-government The NPWS funded an oral history project for implementation via the Biodiversity Jibbon Point within , Strategy Implementation Group; undertaken by the Service with the permis- • advice to the government on a number of sion and assistance of the Dharawal elders. intergovernmental policy issues on natural and Aboriginal heritage conservation The Gamilaroi Women’s Heritage Project 21 CONSERVATION POLICY, ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

begun in 1997–98 is in its final stages. The helped clarify the occupation sequence; oral history part of the project has been com- • ongoing conservation works at Fort pleted and post production of the video docu- Denison in Sydney Harbour National Park menting the history of the participants will be including desalination of stonework, completed by the end of October. The launch archaeological investigation of sub-floor of the video is planned for November. deposits and further recording and conser- vation treatments of significant fabric; and The first women’s heritage newsletter is cur- • stabilisation works at Newnes Shale Oil rently being developed. The newsletter will mine site. be circulated quarterly and is aimed to pro- vide current information relating to Changes to the Heritage Act 1977 came into Aboriginal women’s heritage and to develop effect in April. These changes have had a sig- women’s networks around the State. nificant impact on the management of his- toric heritage by the NPWS. To date, 35 A poster promoting women’s heritage and the items of state significance on the NPWS sec- Women’s Heritage Program is being devel- tion 170 Heritage and Conservation Register oped. The poster will raise the profile and have been included on the State Heritage significance of women’s heritage. Register, including Bare Island Fort in Botany The first local women’s heritage committee Bay National Park; Kinchega Woolshed in has been established in Wellington and is ; and Cattai known as the Wellington Wiradjuri Women’s Homestead in . Over the Heritage Committee. coming year the NPWS will nominate addi- tional items as significance assessments and In the Glen Innes district, facilities were conservation plans are completed. upgraded at the Tingha Stone Woman in cooperation with the local Aboriginal community. The project included upgrade of the walking track and installation of an interpretive display HISTORIC HERITAGE Conservation and management of historic heritage in New South Wales has continued to benefit from a growing recognition of the advantages of an integrated ‘big-picture’ land- scape approach that considers cultural values of historic and Aboriginal heritage within their natural context. A total of 29 conservation projects were undertaken as part of the Historic Assets Maintenance Program which has now com- pleted its fourth successful year. Maintenance works completed included: • stabilisation works to Willandra Homestead in . As part of this project conservation work was undertaken on the meat house, laundry, schoolhouse and jackeroo quarters; • stabilisation works to Lake Innes House ruins at ; JOEL WINTER/NPWS • stonemasonry to wall and gateway, roofing repairs of the main building on Goat Standing tall … Point Stephens lighthouse in is one of nine lighthouses managed by Island, Sydney Harbour National Park. the NPWS. A draft Conservation Management and Clearing of 1830s-era drains and excava- Cultural Tourism Plan for the lighthouses was produced tion of archaeological sub-floor deposits during the year. 22 A further result of these legislative changes is A holistic emphasis has been taken with the the requirement for adoption and endorse- development of this project to explore new ment of conservation management plans for and innovative ways and means of telling sto- those places listed on the State Heritage ries to interpret and explain or challenge visi- Register. Six conservation management plans tors to the place. These stories are not only were adopted and endorsed by the NPWS and multi-layered but relate to the landscape and the NSW Heritage Council this year includ- environment and its occupation and use by ing plans covering Fort Denison, Sydney Aboriginal and later European settlers. Harbour National Park; the draft NPWS Lighthouses Conservation Management and The Towarri: Remembering Country research Cultural Tourism Plan for nine lighthouses; project is recording the memories of families Old Great North Road in Dharug National of graziers in the upper Hunter Valley who Park; and Ackermann Cottage, Dennington formerly lived in what has recently become Cottage and the hospital at Hill End Historic Towarri National Park. Through the use of Site. oral histories, parks and reserves such as this can be understood as cultural entities and a The NPWS took part in cultural heritage wider view of the environment gained to assessments for the upper north-east, lower emphasise the historical and cultural dimen- north-east and southern regions of the State sions of places. This research is to be made as part of the Service’s continued involve- publicly available on the NPWS website. ment in the whole-of-government compre- hensive regional assessment process. The use Oral histories were also undertaken at the his- of GIS computer mapping technology has toric East Kunderang Homestead in Oxley greatly assisted the visual recording and acces- Wild Rivers National Park, gathering valuable sibility and management of information in information about pastoral settlement in the relation to the several thousand cultural her- Macleay Gorges. itage sites identified. A successful archaeological survey for historic Ongoing historic heritage planning projects whaling sites was undertaken at Twofold Bay, by the NPWS include conservation manage- Eden in partnership with La Trobe University. ment plans, heritage assessments, new park Sites identified included triworks, locations of surveys, schedules of building works, archaeo- whalers’ camps and boat stations. A parallel logical surveys and other projects that have project included a study of Aboriginal assisted with planning and management of involvement in whaling. historic heritage places. New park surveys included a comprehensive Research cultural heritage survey at Torrington State Recreation Area with a historical archaeologi- The Cultural Heritage Research program cal survey to assist in better integration of cul- completed its second year. This program is tural sites in the park’s plan of management. overseen by the Cultural Heritage Research Surveys were also undertaken at Guy Fawkes Advisory Committee whose membership National Park, Gibraltar Ranges National includes internal and external heritage profes- Park, and Demon sionals providing essential input in research Nature Reserve. design and methodologies. Several building conservation works projects The Archaeology of Social Diversity project were undertaken in has focused on archaeological excavations and in partnership with the Kosciuszko Huts investigations of use by different ethnic Association at Happys Hut, Goandra, Long groups at Ackermann Cottage at Hill End Plain Hut, Townsend, Pockets, Oldfields, Historic Site and unemployed camps from the Love Nest, Old Currango Homestead, 1930s Great Depression around Sydney at La Circuits Hut and Collinbil. Perouse in Botany Bay National Park. Other reports and activities instigated or Interpretation of the cultural and natural val- completed for historic heritage included an ues of Middle Head and Georges Head fortifi- assessment of conservation options for cations has provided the ideal location for the Kiandra Courthouse/Chalet, development development of a model interpretation plan. of a museum plan for Montague Island 23 CONSERVATION POLICY, ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

Lighthouse, and procurement of museum of a new GIS mapping package, Arcview, was pieces with the assistance of the National successfully implemented. Over 150 staff were Trust. trained in Arcview during the year. As part of the interpretation of Hill End The NPWS took part in the development of Historic Site, 400 photos from the the Integrated Community Mapping Holtermann Collection dating from the late Information Support System and the Natural 19th century, were scanned using geographic Resources Data Directory. These are whole-of- information system (GIS) technology. These government initiatives to make NPWS estate photos have been linked to historical layered boundaries and other mapped information maps and early site plans of Hill End, thus available to the community via the Internet. enabling a reconstructed picture of the town During the year, 61 data license agreements settlement and development at this time. were granted to government, researchers and community groups, 114 to environmental consultants, and 27 to local government. Requests for data were provided to environ- mental consultants (549), local government (31) and others (105). Some 138 species lists were requested, for such purposes as land clearance applications. Approximately 130,000 records, including survey records from the comprehensive regional assessment process, were added to the Atlas of New South Wales Wildlife, bringing the total num- ber of records in the Atlas to 883,000. More than 500 requests for spatial data were processed for both external and internal clients. DENIS GOJAK/NPWS WILDERNESS Successful survey … old whalers’ camps and boat stations were The Wilderness Act 1987 provides for the some of the finds from an archeological study by the NPWS of identification, declaration and management whaling sites at Twofold Bay. of wilderness and promotes public education on wilderness. The Act requires the Director- GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION General to report on the status of areas iden- SYSTEMS tified as wilderness and on matters relating to wilderness. Wilderness is a large natural area The NPWS continued to provide geographic of land which, together with its native plant information system support to the compre- and animal communities is in a relatively nat- hensive regional assessment (CRA) process ural state and has not been substantially mod- through the preparation and provision of ified by non-indigenous human activity, or is NPWS data, as well as the development of capable of restoration. advanced species modelling techniques. The data will be used during the upcoming negoti- Declared wilderness areas ations and integration phases of the CRA Wilderness protection is achieved by declar- process for each regional forest agreement. ing as wilderness those areas formally identi- A tenure project is underway checking exist- fied as wilderness by the NPWS over national ing and historical NPWS boundaries in rela- parks, nature reserves and state recreation tion to other cadastral information such as areas; other public lands covered by wilder- State Forest boundaries. This project will pro- ness protection agreements; and private vide input to the Indigenous Land Use land covered by voluntary conservation Agreement process being carried out by the agreements. NPWS. During 1998–99, 520,264 hectares were A roll-out to over 100 sites within the NPWS declared as wilderness — the largest increase 24 in declared wilderness in NSW in one year. either under wilderness assessment or may Wollemi Wilderness, the largest declared contain wilderness values. This means that wilderness in NSW at 361,000 hectares, no more than between 3.6 and 4 million accounts for the bulk of this increase. hectares, or between 4.5 and 5 percent of In addition to Wollemi, the new wilderness NSW, is likely to remain in a wilderness areas established during the year were condition. Kunderang, Willi Willi and Yowrie wilder- During 1998–99, the proportion of wilder- nesses. Additions were also made to Bindery- ness-identified lands that were declared as Mann, Brogo, Budawang, Guy Fawkes, wilderness increased from 53 percent to 76 Kanangra-Boyd, Macleay Gorges, Nattai, New percent. Eighty-four percent of lands meeting England, Washpool and Werrikimbe wilder- the wilderness criteria are protected within ness areas. As at 30 June, a total of 1,547,120 formal conservation reserves, such as national hectares of NPWS-managed lands in 29 parks and nature reserves. Less than 34 per- national parks and nature reserves and one cent of the total area of formal conservation state recreation area — 31 percent of the reserves have been found to meet the wilder- total NPWS estate and 1.9 percent of the ness criteria. land area of New South Wales — are declared wilderness. Several areas approved for wilderness declara- tion by government are pending. This Apart from NPWS-managed lands, no wilder- includes land purchased by the Dunphy ness protection agreements over other public Wilderness Fund awaiting national park reser- lands presently exist, although a small area of vation. A 7700-hectare area of vacant Crown freehold land in the Budawang Wilderness is land east of Ettrema Wilderness covering being managed as wilderness as part of a vol- Yarramunmun Creek awaits the determina- untary conservation agreement. A list of tion of an Aboriginal Land Claim. declared wilderness areas and additions over the past year appears in Appendix A. Wilderness proposals and assessments Declaration of the Yowrie Wilderness and Any person, body or organisation may submit additions to Brogo Wilderness were the result a written proposal that an area of land in of government decision on the Eden compre- NSW be identified or declared as wilderness. hensive regional assessment in October 1998. Assessment of wilderness is the responsibility Wollemi Wilderness was declared following a of the NPWS, and the Director-General is government decision in January 1999, and required to provide advice to the Minister for remaining declarations were either pending the Environment on a proposal within two declarations from the government's interim years. Such public proposals are subject to ini- forestry assessment decisions in September tial rapid evaluation and, if accepted, the 1996, or due to purchases by the Dunphy NPWS undertakes a full and comprehensive Wilderness Fund. The addition of Yerranderie wilderness assessment. State Recreation Area to Kanangra-Boyd Wilderness was made possible by the The NPWS investigates proposals to deter- removal of Department of Mineral Resources mine if any part is capable for identification objections. as wilderness. The NPWS can also assess an area for wilderness values independent of any Identified wilderness proposal. The assessment reports are placed on public exhibition before a decision is made Before an area is declared as wilderness it by the Minister. needs to be formally identified as wilderness. During the year, 99,000 hectares were newly In 1997, the government endorsed a process identified and added to the Wollemi whereby wilderness proposals received either Identified Wilderness. This brings to just before or after commencement of the 2,025,810 hectares, or 2.5 percent of the land comprehensive regional assessment (CRA) area of NSW, identified as meeting the process would be integrated into the develop- wilderness criteria. ment of CRA options and included in the deliberations for each regional forest agree- In addition to identified wilderness areas, ment (RFA) region. The Wollemi, Grose another 1.6 to 2 million hectares of NSW are and Levers proposals, received before the 25 CONSERVATION POLICY, ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

commencement of the CRA process, have As at 30 June, the NPWS is still to complete been finalised independent of the CRA as its assessment on 11 proposals. Seven of these will the Pilliga proposal. were submitted more than two years earlier. The status of both CRA and non-CRA During 1998–99, the NPWS received three wilderness assessments, and the proposals proposals for identification and declaration as being considered, is as follows: wilderness: • public exhibition of the Levers Wilderness Assessment Report and determination of boundaries for declaration will occur during the latter half of 1999 in conjunction with the north-east CRA wilderness assessment project. This report considers the Levers proposal submitted in 1992; • the Grose Wilderness Assessment Report was publicly exhibited over a three-month period ending in June. This report assessed the Grose Wilderness proposal submitted in 1996; • the Pilliga Wilderness Assessment Report will be finalised during the latter half of 1999. A decision on public exhibition of the report is still to be made. This report considers the Kamilaroi proposal submitted in 1994. As part of the Upper North East and Lower North East CRAs, a wilderness assessment project was undertaken across north-east NSW. Eleven areas (four new areas and additions to nine existing areas) totalling 198,870 hectares were delineated as provisionally identified

ANDREW COX wilderness, meeting a 15,000-hectare CRA size criterion. A further six areas totalling 55,570 hectares (all new areas) were also The 16,000-hectare Yowrie Wilderness in determined to be capable for identification as was one of four new wilderness areas declared during the year. wilderness in accordance with the Wilderness Act. All 17 areas were provided to assist the development of a comprehensive, adequate • the Timbarra Plateau; and representative reserve system as part of • 17 areas in the upper and lower north-east the CRA. forest regions: Mt Ballow, Timbarra, Billilimbra, Banyabba, Bundjalung, As a result of decisions following the Upper Bindery, Mann, Chandlers Creek, North East and Lower North East CRAs, for- Cathedral Rock, Styx River (South), mer state forest areas were reserved as part of Stockyard Creek, Doyles River, Brittle the NPWS estate on 1 January 1999. These Gum Forest, Mummel Gulf, Limeburners totalled 23,800 hectares in the eleven delin- Creek, Barrington and Yengo. These were eated provisionally identified wilderness areas the same areas determined by the NPWS and 12,080 hectares in the six areas deter- as capable of meeting the wilderness crite- mined to be capable for identification as ria during the north-east CRAs; and wilderness. • additions to the existing Jagungal As part of the Southern CRA, a wilderness Wilderness. assessment project was undertaken across All proposals have been accepted for further south-east NSW involving 17 study areas assessment as part of their respective CRAs. totalling 336,000 hectares. In May 1999, all 26 landholders and major stakeholders were noti- from the NPWS, the Foundation for National fied and asked to provide comments. More Parks and Wildlife and the Nature extensive public consultation on areas recom- Conservation Council. The group first met in mended for declaration following completion February and provides continuing advice on of the assessment will take place during the acquisition criteria, development and imple- second half of 1999 or early 2000. The gov- mentation of a public awareness campaign for ernment will then consider public comments the fund, and reviews performance on both and decide on areas for declaration. the acquisition program and level of public donations. A wilderness proposal was received in 1996 for parts of and The Budawang Committee donated $72,600 adjacent waters. Field assessments have been during the year to the NPWS to offset the completed for the terrestrial component of purchase of an inholding at Corang Peak in the proposal and the result will be incorporat- Budawang Wilderness. ed into the Upper North East CRA wilder- As at 30 June, 18 properties encompassing ness assessment. The marine component of some 25,000 hectares have been acquired by the proposal is still being assessed. the NPWS at a cost of $2.9 million through the fund. In addition, some forty parcels of Public exhibition and consultation land covering approximately 33,000 hectares The NPWS has a continuing commitment to are being considered for purchase. wide-reaching public consultation regarding Acquisitions to 30 June include inholdings wilderness identifications and assisting gov- within Wollemi, Kanangra-Boyd, Nattai, ernment with decisions on areas for wilder- Budawang, Guy Fawkes, and Macleay Gorges ness declaration. declared wilderness areas, and the Tuross pro- Apart from remaining non-CRA wilderness visionally identified and Deua identified proposals, the assessment of all other propos- wilderness areas. als falling within the Eden, Southern, Upper In addition, a specific allocation of $3.7 mil- North East and Lower North East CRA lion was made from the Environmental Trusts regions is integrated with the CRA process. in 1997 for the acquisition of residual lands The CRA negotiation phase provides input associated with terminated occupation per- into the wilderness assessment process in con- mits. Fifteen properties in the north-east of sidering whether an area of land can be iden- the State were listed for acquisition. At 30 tified as wilderness. Hence wilderness areas June, four properties costing $715,000 and are provisionally identified by the NPWS totalling 1840 hectares have been acquired. prior to CRA negotiations. This ensures an integrated and transparent process that Other wilderness projects acknowledges the potential for wilderness The NPWS is currently finalising the wilder- areas to contribute towards other conserva- ness-related NSW River Disturbance Project. tion objectives, such as biodiversity, old Funded by Environment Australia, this pro- growth and threatened species. ject forms a component of the draft National Wild Rivers Inventory and has identified a Acquisition of wilderness areas provisional list of ‘least-disturbed’ river seg- The Dunphy Wilderness Fund was initially ments in the State. Further verification will established in 1996 with a funding commit- be undertaken through a multi-agency ment of $1 million each year for five years. approach involving the NPWS, Department Funding for an extended period was commit- of Land and Water Conservation, and State ted by the government in March 1999. Forests. Established in memory of Milo Dunphy and A second project, also funded by his father Myles, the fund's purpose is the pur- Environment Australia, reviewed remaining chase of freehold and leasehold lands within areas of high wilderness quality in the identified wilderness for addition to existing Western Division of the State. The final wilderness areas. report released in December, documented 14 A reference group for the Dunphy Wilderness areas of high-quality wilderness as candidates Fund was established with representatives for more detailed study and assessment. 27 CONSERVATION POLICY, ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

ASSESSING AND SURVEYING the inventory and monitoring of biodiversity. NATURAL RESOURCES The program is producing guidelines for the survey and ecological assessment of fauna and A major project this year involved detailed flora to provide technical standards for research and extension work to determine, NPWS staff and survey consultants, and to and then communicate to scientists, managers assist local government and government agen- and the community, the habitat needs of birds cies which commission and assess the quality in woodland remnants, especially the needs of of such work. Separate guidelines are being bird species whose numbers are declining in produced for small-scale survey work focused central NSW. on threatened species, and for large-scale bio- A report was produced identifying 20 species diversity survey aimed at informing regional of woodland birds declining in the planning. The latter is part of a suite of pro- wheat/sheep belt as well as management rec- jects with a bioregional planning focus that ommendations to reverse these declines. have been initiated throughout the NPWS Work continued on the conservation manage- this year. ment of woodland fauna at landscape and The program furthered its commitment to local scales, including management actions community involvement in biodiversity work with community groups and agencies to con- when the Minister for the Environment serve woodland fauna in the NSW launched the Community Biodiversity Survey wheat/sheep belt. Manual. A joint project with the NSW A report was produced investigating interac- National Parks Association (NPA), the man- tions between visitors to Montague Island ual is a resource for community groups look- Nature Reserve, and seals and other wildlife ing to conduct their own fauna and flora sur- on the island, and providing management rec- veys, and ensures that the data is gathered ommendations to minimise visitor impacts on the island’s wildlife. A successful bid for Natural Heritage Trust funds allowed the upgrade of the aerial photo interpretation of the Cobar, Nyngan and Gilgandra vegetation sheets and classification of the newly defined vegetation. This infor- mation was captured digitally and will be veri- fied in the field early next financial year. The extent and location of native vegetation clearance for the areas covered by the St George, Goondiwindi, Angledool, Moree, Inverell, Bourke, Walgett, Narrabri, Cargelligo and Forbes 1:250,000 map sheets was identified from 1998 satellite imagery. The accuracy of using remotely sensed infor- mation to detect change in vegetation cover has been investigated. The accuracy assess- ment of this work has so far indicated a 90 percent or greater reliability in detecting clearing, and that in areas where clearing has been identified, native woody vegetation has actually been removed.

Biodiversity survey The Biodiversity Survey Program, a whole-of- government initiative with representatives G CROFT/NPWS from the NPWS, Department of Land and … research during 1998–99 identified Water Conservation, and Department of the damaging effects of changing river flows on nesting Urban Affairs and Planning, aims to facilitate waterbirds. 28 with sufficient technical rigour to be useful to Ramsar sites conservation decision-makers and scientists. The manual has been trialed by the NPA in In 1998, the NPWS secured funding through its own community biodiversity surveys. the National Program for a three- year project to designate additional Ramsar Wetlands wetlands in NSW in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Projects during the year included: National Parks Association.

• a survey of wetlands in north-west New Three new sites have been nominated to the South Wales (funded by Environment Ramsar Convention — the Narran Lakes Australia); Nature Reserve, , and wetlands on • the Wetland Information System for the the Lower Gwydir and Gingham watercours- Environment (WISE) — development of es. The Gwydir nomination, which will be user-friendly databases available on CD for Australia’s 50th Ramsar site, is particularly the Namoi and Gwydir, Hacking and significant as it is the first voluntary listing of Macquarie catchments (funded by the wetlands on private land in Australia and is Natural Heritage Trust); the product of a collaborative working rela- • state wide mapping of wetlands (funded by tionship between the NPWS, non-govern- the Natural Heritage Trust); ment organisations and the landholders. • a GIS database of wetlands in the Murray- Negotiations are under way with another Darling Basin (funded by the Natural landholder to nominate further privately Resource Management Strategy through owned wetlands to the Ramsar estate and Murray-Darling Basin Commission); additional listings are also being negotiated • a research project aimed at understanding on Crown and leasehold land. the effects of changing river flows on colo- nially nesting waterbirds such as ibis and Not only will this project encourage a more egrets and focusing on waterbirds in the strategic approach to future Ramsar nomina- Macquarie Marshes (a joint project with tions in NSW, but it will promote the con- Macquarie Marshes Catchment Committee vention across the community. It will also and funded by Natural Heritage Trust); facilitate the implementation of sustainable • research on long-term flooding patterns management practices at listed sites. and the biological responses of waterbird and plant communities at Lake Altibouka Wetland directory in north-west NSW; A review of the NSW section of the • satellite tracking of black swans in the Directory of Important Wetlands was com- Murray River Irrigation Area. A critical pleted this year. The report was prepared in issue for management of waterbirds and consultation with the Department of Land wetlands is bird mobility, and the aim of and Water Conservation, World Wide Fund this project is to examine movements of for Nature, Birds Australia, CSIRO, NSW swans between protected wetland areas and Fisheries and the Coast and Wetland Society, irrigated cropland for a period of six and has now been submitted to Environment months. Black swans may damage rice Australia. Over 100 sites were proposed by crops in south-west NSW and it is believed more than 22 government agencies, and com- that they spend daylight hours on a wet munity and professional groups. These sites land reserve and then feed at night on rice and the sites recorded in the previous edition crops nearby. This research will use satel- of the directory were comprehensively lite tracking devices on wild swans to reviewed and data assessed and updated. Some determine whether this pattern occurs and 40 additional wetlands were listed. how much time the swans spend on crops relative to wetland habitats; Ecosystem management • an aerial survey of waterbirds in eastern A final draft report for the Bioregional Australia. This project has been monitor Strategy for NSW research project has been ing changes in waterbird populations each submitted to the funding agency, October since 1983, providing valuable Environment Australia. This project identi- advice to wildlife managers within the fied different land classes in the State in order NPWS and interstate; to provide a basis for comparisons of statewide 29 CONSERVATION POLICY, ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

• a systematic process for identification of key areas for conservation planning; • fauna survey reports; both a technical report and one directed at the wider com- munity; • reports prepared and designed with the Aboriginal community on fauna and flora of significance to Aboriginal communities on the Cobar Peneplain. The Bioregional Conservation Strategy for the project report has been complet- ed and submitted to the funding agency Environment Australia for review. This project has collated and integrated the available natural and cultural heritage data for the Riverina bioregion in a geographic information system (GIS). The project collated a vegetation map for the Riverina — the first complete vegetation map for a NSW bioregion. Unlike the Cobar Peneplain study, this pro-

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION OF LAND AND WATER DEPARTMENT ject was directed primarily at trialing conservation planning software developed by Historic agreement … the nomination this year of part of the Gwydir the NPWS for use in fragmented landscapes wetlands (shown here) as Australia’s 50th Ramsar site, was the first such as the Riverina, where native vegetation in this country involving a voluntary agreement on private land. is largely cleared. When used interactively with the database, the software identified areas of high conservation value, thereby protection measures across environments. assisting community consideration of Analysis included the identification of gaps in available conservation options. the environments protected within the NSW reserve system. A subsequent project, The The project outcomes identify several State Conservation Monitoring Project, has scenarios for vegetation management in the been initiated as part of the State Biodiversity bioregion. During the latter stages of the Strategy to expand the analyses of this data- project, a presentation was made to the base and to make it more widely accessible to Native Vegetation Committee. Copies of the other agencies. report will be distributed on receipt of Final reporting for the Bioregional Environment Australia approval. Conservation Strategy for the Cobar During the year a Preliminary Coastal Peneplain project is underway. This project Inventory for the NSW Coast was completed, has used available environmental data, sup- as part of the Service’s commitment to the plemented by new land systems mapping, and NSW Coastal Policy. fauna surveys to develop an environmental database for the Cobar bioregion. In addition, Undertaken over a six-month period and the project undertook a number of surveys in focusing on terrestrial environments, the conjunction with the local Aboriginal com- inventory demonstrated the extent of protec- munity. tion and disturbance due to clearing of broad land classes. It will also provide a foundation Analyses of the information and reports will for finer-scale investigation of coastal conser- include: vation values and recommends refinement or • an analysis of the conservation status of completion of high-priority data sets for future environments across the bioregion, which work. Although the inventory does not will be of use to planners, particularly those include definitive, map-based areas of high involved in the native vegetation planning conservation value across the whole study process; area, it does explain the guiding principles 30 and requirements for a more comprehensive Advisory Council and its subcommittees assessment of the NSW coast. including leading the development of a Native Vegetation Conservation Strategy as Assessment of a marine park proposal for the required by the Act. marine bioregion at was undertak- en and a report prepared and submitted to the Marine Park Authority, the agency coordinat- Water reform ing this Commonwealth-funded project. In The NPWS has continued its involvement in conducting the assessment, the project: the implementation of the government’s • developed and implemented a method for water reform package. The Service is mapping marine ecosystems for the Tweed- represented on river management committees Morton bioregion, using the best available where it provides advice and information on data; conservation and biodiversity issues for inclu- • applied ‘reserve gap’ analysis, which identi- sion in river and groundwater management fied gaps in the representation of ecosys- plans. tems in the existing marine park system NPWS staff are also involved in a number of within the Tweed-Morton bioregion; and river planning exercises which devised flow • identified and assessed several threatening rules in regulated rivers and determine processes to marine environments in the water-sharing arrangements in unregulated bioregion. rivers. The NPWS is involved in discussions that will determine environmental flow Native vegetation conservation regimes and sustainable water management in The NPWS has continued its participation in all the State’s major rivers. The Service is also the implementation of the government’s represented on the key interagency native vegetation reforms and is represented committees overseeing the implementation of on all 18 regional vegetation committees pro- the reforms and setting statewide policy viding advice and information on the Native directions. Vegetation Conservation Act 1997. The NPWS The NPWS is also contributing to the devel- reviews applications to clear native vegetation opment of the government’s response to the where referred by the Minister for Land and Snowy Water Inquiry which reported, in Water Conservation, identifies vegetation October 1998, on options for the restoration communities of high conservation value and of the environments of the Snowy and associ- ensures that threatened species issues are ade- ated rivers which are currently diverted for quately considered in the planning process. electricity generation and irrigation purposes. The Service is also represented on the key Increased flows in these rivers could result interagency committees overseeing the imple- in significant improvements in riverine mentation of the reforms and setting state- habitat and biodiversity values both within wide policy directions. The NPWS provides a Kosciuszko National Park and the surrounding representative to the Native Vegetation areas.

31