UNIVERSITY of NSW Council Resolved CL96/60

Item No. INCLUSION of UNIVERSITY BUSHLAND RESERVES into BEELIAR REGIONAL PARK Report to Senate meeting of 5 July 2004 From: Environmental Committee meeting of 19 May 2004

Purpose To seek Senate approval for the inclusion of the Banksia Woodland Reserve, Chelodina Reserve and Melaleuca Swamp at the South Street Campus within the Beeliar Regional Park. To seek Senate approval to participate in the finalisation of the Beeliar Regional Park Management Plan.

Background The Beeliar Regional Park (BRP) stretches from Blue Gum Lake in Mt Pleasant to the Spectacles Swamps in Kwinana. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) manages the Park in cooperation with the Cities of Melville and Cockburn and the Town of Kwinana. Alcoa owns part of the Spectacles and also participates in the management of the Park. The core of the BRP is vested in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia, which has overall responsibility for the preparation of the management plan. The Chair of the Conservation Commission is presently Assoc Prof John Bailey who is a member of the School of Environmental Science, Assoc Prof Jenny Davis from the same School is a member of the Commission. The name and composition of the BRP were recommended by Professor Peter Newman, as part of the Cockburn Wetlands Study he coordinated in 1975-6. The original planning study for the BRP was launched at Murdoch University in 1992 and it was welcomed by the Vice Chancellor (Peter Boyce), who spoke at the launch, along with the Minister for Planning. Murdoch University was originally part of the Park, but by the time the BRP was formally established in 1998 Murdoch was no longer officially involved in the Park, although two staff members are on the Advisory Committee in voluntary roles. The Park’s Community Advisory Committee has been considering public comments on the draft management plan. The current Chair of the Beeliar Regional Park Community Advisory Committee, Professor Phillip Jennings (a member of Murdoch staff) has informed Murdoch University’s Environmental Committee that during the Advisory Committee’s activities and meetings, it has been asked "Why did Murdoch University withdraw from the Beeliar Regional Park and will it reconsider this decision?"

The University lies in the heart of the Beeliar wetlands. The 1992 planning study recommended that the two campus wetlands (Chelodina Reserve and the Melaleuca Swamp), which are a part of the eastern chain of the Beeliar wetland system, should be included in the Park. Subsequently, it seems appropriate that the Banksia Woodland Reserve also be included in the BRP, as it also has significant conservation value and is contiguous with the North Lake Reserve. Regional Parks are a planning concept that provides the opportunity for a consortium of land management agencies and private landowners to manage all their lands in a coordinated and integrated way. Generally all lands that comprise regional parks are reserved for Parks and Recreation in the Metropolitan Region Scheme, however exceptions are made (e.g. Blue Gum and Booragoon Lakes which are zoned as Urban).

Proposal It is proposed that the Banksia Woodland Reserve, Chelodina Reserve and Melaleuca Swamp be included within the Beeliar Regional Park. It is also proposed that the University become involved in the finalisation of the management plan.

Environmental Committee has reviewed and supports both proposals. Resources Committee was involved in setting the scope of this submission. 2

Issues (Benefits and Challenges) Few costs and considerable benefits would be associated with Murdoch participating in the BRP. Firstly, a number of courses within the Division of Science and Engineering utilize the bushland reserves for practical work. Hence, there is considerable benefit to the University in managing the reserves appropriately, as the areas can then continue to be used for teaching purposes. Additionally, there has been the intention that the three reserves be set aside for conservation, research and educational purposes by the University, so few planning implications stem from any inclusion.

Issues (Benefits and Challenges) (continued) No change in the University’s ownership and management authority should occur with inclusion of the reserves within the BRP, given the three reserves are due to stay under their current MRS zoning.

The inclusion of the three reserves within the BPR before finalisation of the Park’s management plan would ensure the University had an appropriate level of involvement in and endorsement of the final plan. Also inclusion of the reserves within the BRP prior to the release of the Park’s management plan would offer the University some marketing and public relations opportunities, additional to any general benefits of inclusion. Generally membership of the Regional Park would offer the following benefits: 1. Close working relationship with CALM, various land management bodies and community groups concerned about flora and fauna conservation; 2. Access to extensive expertise in environmental management; 3. Opportunities for staff and students to participate in projects within the Park, creating linkages that are likely to enhance our educational and research work; 4. Access to CALM Regional Park funding for projects within the Park; 5. Free advertising through CALM and local government publications about the Park; and 6. Enhancement of Murdoch's image as an environmentally-friendly University.

Furthermore, CALM has indicated that it would like the University to participate in the Regional Park.

Nevertheless, although there would be no statutory obligation on the University to comply with the management plan, there would be an expectation by the community and other stakeholders that if the University’s reserves become included within the Park, it would manage those reserves in accordance with the Beeliar Regional Park Management Plan, with technical assistance from CALM if Murdoch required.

Linkage to the University’s Strategic Plan This proposal supports the following Mission and values statement within the 2003-2007 Strategic Plan. a) “Sustainability - focus on sustainable long term solutions and aim to meet the needs of current and future generations through the integration of environmental protection, social advancement and economic prosperity”.

Risk management The major identified risk is legal, on which external legal advice has been obtained. See attached confidential summary.

Who has been consulted Vice Chancellor, PVC Resource Management, PVC Academic, PVC Strategy, all three Executive Deans, Director Policy and Planning, Director of Audit & Risk Management, General Counsel, Executive Manager VC’s Office, Environmental Committee and Resources Committee.

Attachments 1. Confidential summary of legal interpretation from University’s General Counsel on external legal advice. 2. Murdoch Campus map showing (shaded) the three areas of retained bushland to be included within the Beeliar Regional Park: Banksia Woodland Reserve, Chelodina Reserve, Melaleuca Swamp.

Person to contact if a Senator wishes to obtain further information or to discuss the matter before the meeting Name Position Telephone number Email address John McGowan Manager, Environmental Planning 9360 7540 [email protected] 3

Recommendation 1. Senate approve the inclusion of the Banksia Woodland Reserve, Chelodina Reserve and Melaleuca Swamp within the Beeliar Regional Park.

2. Senate approve the University’s participation in the finalisation of the Beeliar Regional Park Management Plan.