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Draft Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve Management Plan

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Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve Draft Management Plan 2017 - 2027 © Sunshine Coast Regional Council 2009-current. Sunshine Coast Council™ is a registered trademark of Sunshine Coast Regional Council. www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au [email protected] T 07 5475 7272 F 07 5475 7277 Locked Bag 72 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Qld 4560 Acknowledgements Council wishes to thank all contributors and stakeholders involved in the development of this document. Disclaimer Information contained in this document is based on available information at the time of writing. All figures and diagrams are indicative only and should be referred to as such. While the Sunshine Coast Regional Council has exercised reasonable care in preparing this document it does not warrant or represent that it is accurate or complete. Council or its officers accept no responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting in reliance upon any material contained in this document. Contents Executive Summary.................................................................................. 4 1 Introduction............................................................................................ 5 1.1 Purpose of the management plan.................................................... 5 1.2 Management intent ......................................................................... 5 2 Description of the reserve ..................................................................... 6 2.1 Location and description ................................................................. 6 2.2 History and landuse ........................................................................ 7 3 Establishment Works .......................................................................... 10 4. Reserve Values ................................................................................... 13 4.1 Ecological Values .......................................................................... 13 4.2 Cultural and Social Values ............................................................ 20 4.3 Economic Values .......................................................................... 21 4.4 Condition of the Values ................................................................. 22 5. Bioregional landscape Context ......................................................... 26 5.1 IBRA ............................................................................................. 26 5.2 Catchment ..................................................................................... 26 5.3 Local Planning Context ................................................................. 26 5.3 CAR Contribution .......................................................................... 26 6. Management Issues ............................................................................ 27 6.1 Regional Background .................................................................... 27 6.2 Preliminary Threat Analysis ........................................................... 27 6.3 Restricted Matters and Locally Significant species ........................ 28 6.4 Plant Pathogens ............................................................................ 29 6.5 Fire ................................................................................................ 29 6.6 Erosion .......................................................................................... 30 6.7 Acidity/Salinity ............................................................................... 30 6.8 Historical Land Use ....................................................................... 31 6.9 Climate Change ............................................................................ 32 6.10 Visitor Use ................................................................................... 32 7. Implementation Plan ........................................................................... 33 7.1 Purpose of the Protected Area ...................................................... 33 7.2 Management Objectives ................................................................ 33 7.3 Restoration Goals.......................................................................... 33 7.5 Management Actions ..................................................................... 34 7.6 Finance and Resourcing ............................................................... 41 7.7 Comminaction Plan ....................................................................... 41 7.8 Monitoring and Plan Review Schedule .......................................... 41 Appendices ............................................................................................. 45 3 Executive Summary food trees, such as Swamp Mahogany and Forest Red Gum. Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve The site is a birdwatchers paradise with over protects a key link in the Maroochy Noosa 125 different species identified including wallum corridor—one of the most important many migratory birds that are dependent on coastal habitat areas on the Sunshine Coast. the food and shelter resources found here. The majority of the reserve (252ha) was Some of the migratory birds which can be acquired through Council’s environment levy seen include the storm bird (Koel) and the land acquisition program in 2013, creating a channel billed Cuckoo, arriving in summer total protected area of 334hectares of diverse each year from as far away as New Guinea habitat ranging from iconic coastal heath, and South East Asia. During the winter scribbly gum forest to melaleuca wetlands. months other species such as the scarlet honeyeater fly from the south during their The reserve is located within the traditional east coast migration. Many local bird species boundaries identified for the Kabi Kabi people that depend on this site also migrate from the and the name Doonan comes from an hinterland to the coast in winter. The brightly Aboriginal word meaning “leaf of a tree”. The coloured noisy pitta that is found at Mary whole reserve and surrounding landscape has Cairncross Scenic Reserve through the evidence of past activities of the Kabi Kabi summer months can be found foraging for traditional owners making this area culturally land snails at Doonan Environmental reserve and historically significant. in winter. Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve is The reserve contains areas of open space situated to the west of Peregian Springs within and ecotone which add to the complexity and the Doonan Creek drainage basin which flows diversity of the site as well as providing into Coolum Creek. opportunities for community access and There are thirteen confirmed regional enjoyment. In particular this site is ecosystems (RE) within the entire reserve distinctively located in close proximity to both area, including critically endangered (EPBC high density and peri-urban populations. Act 1999) subtropical lowland rainforest (RE Therefore the reserve is categorised as a 12.3.1) found within the new levy acquisition “bushland” environmental reserve in which component. the management intent is to protect and 208 terrestrial and 84 aquatic/wetland plant enhance the sites terrestrial, riparian and species have been identified in the reserve, aquatic habitats while also allowing for including the ‘endangered’ Emu Mountain She- opportunities in sustainable nature based oak (Allocasuarina emuina) and Sunshine activities where public access is guided by Coast Myrtle (Lenwebbia sp blackall range). the development of a landscape design. Fauna surveys identified 10 frog species, 13 Planning will incorporate technologies in open reptile species, 24 different mammals, and 7 data, explore the rich cultural knowledge of freshwater fish species, including the the area, provide sustainable access for ‘vulnerable’ Wallum Froglet which was found in enjoyment and learning and build on the open area drains, flooded pasture and in partnersips with the community. the Melaleuca forest. This plan guides future management of the Koalas which are listed as ‘vulnerable’ were reserve over the next 10 years to ensure the also recorded in the reserve during fauna significant ecological values are protected surveys and the site contains areas of Koala and maintained. 4 1 Introduction social and economic values and express the associated management actions required to This management plan supports Sunshine maintain or enhance these values. Coast Councils corporate vision “to be Australia’s most sustainable region – healthy, 1.2 Management intent smart, and creative”. The reserve category for this site is “Bushland” environmetal reserve. Under this In order to achieve this, council’s Sunshine category the management intent is to ensure Coast Environment and Liveability strategy the significant ecological values are protected focuses on the preservation and enhancement and maintained, whilst allowing for sustainable of the natural environment and the liveability of public access that is managed through the the region—ensuring native plants, animals, development of a reserve landscape design and habitats are healthy, resilient and valued and associated signage and purpose built by the community. A key policy position to infrastructure. delivering on this outcome is that priority habitat areas are protected, enhanced, connected and responsive to changing environmental conditions. This is supported through the environment levy land acquisition program. Under the land acquisition program, 252 hectares of the Doonan Creek Environmental
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