Croajingolong National Park Management Plan
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National Parks Service Croajingolong National Park Management Plan June 1996 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT This Management Plan for Croajingolong National Park is approved for implementation. Its purpose is to direct all aspects of management in the Park until the Plan is reviewed. A Draft Management Plan was published in June 1993. A total of 36 submissions were received. Copies of the Plan can be obtained from: Cann River Information Centre Department of Natural Resources and Environment Princes Highway CANN RIVER VIC 3809 Information Centre Department of Natural Resources and Environment 240 Victoria Parade EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002 Further information on this Plan can be obtained from the NRE Cann River office (051) 586 370. CROAJINGOLONG NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN National Parks Service DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA JUNE 1996 ã Crown (State of Victoria) 1996 A Victorian Government Publication This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1986. Published June 1996 by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment 240 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Victoria. National Parks Service. Croajingolong National Park management plan. Bibliography. ISBN 0 7306 6137 7. 1. Croajingolong National Park (Vic.). 2. National parks and reserves - Victoria - Gippsland - Management. I. Victoria. Dept of Natural Resources and Environment. II. Title. 333.783099456 Note: In April 1996 the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (CNR) became part of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). Cover: Looking east from Rame Head (photograph K. Twyford). Printed on 100% recycled paper to help save our natural environment ii Croajingolong National Park FOREWORD Croajingolong National Park is one of the most As a result of the Plan’s implementation, I am significant coastal parks in Victoria. It has confident that the Park’s diverse environments outstanding conservation, recreation and and spectacular pristine coastal scenery will be wilderness values and has been designated by protected for future generations while still UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. providing outstanding enjoyment for nature- based tourism and recreation. The diverse and essentially pristine character of the Park, and the outstanding scenery of the I look forward to the community’s support for coastal fringe, attract those wanting to the management of this very important National experience a strikingly different part of Park, which is such a significant part of Victoria, particularly through camping, Victoria’s Park system. walking, canoeing, vehicle-based touring and nature study. Its proximity to Mallacoota and other popular tourist destinations makes the Park an increasingly valuable attraction for visitors to Far East Gippsland. This Approved Management Plan establishes the long-term management framework to protect the significant values of the Park while The Hon Marie Tehan MP ensuring that it plays an important role in MINISTER FOR CONSERVATION & nature-based tourism in East Gippsland. LAND MANAGEMENT Croajingolong National Park iii APPROVED MANAGEMENT PLAN This approved Management Plan has been The plan provides the basis for future prepared under the provisions of sections 17 management of the Croajingolong National and 17B of the National Parks Act 1975 (Vic.) Park. It was finalised following consideration and is approved for implementation. of 36 submissions received on the Draft Plan. Garry Squires Director, National Parks Service Interim Regional Manager, Gippsland iv Croajingolong National Park SUMMARY Croajingolong National Park (87 500 ha) is on Management directions for the Park are the coast in far eastern Victoria. It has very summarised below. high conservation values and two wilderness · Most of the Park will be maintained in a zones, four reference areas, a remote and largely undeveloped condition, and natural area, two natural catchment areas and significant natural features will be given part of a heritage river. Together with Nadgee special protection. Nature Reserve (NSW), the Park forms Croajingolong National Park Biosphere · Interstate liaison will continue on cross- Reserve, designated under UNESCO’s Man border issues, including park protection and the Biosphere Program. and visitor management. The Park’s diverse environments, unspoilt · The Park’s fire protection strategy will be coastal scenery and essentially undeveloped refined in the light of continuing research. character make it attractive for a range of · A pest plant and animal control strategy activities, including camping, canoeing and will be prepared, identifying key sites, boating, walking and vehicle touring. Its target species and methods of control. significant natural values make it an important area for nature study, and there is great · Visitor enjoyment of the Park will be potential for continued scientific research. enhanced by improved interpretation at Croajingolong National Park will be managed key sites. Opportunities for a variety of as a world-class protected area for conservation driving and walking experiences will be and appropriate recreation. Protecting and maintained. enhancing the Park’s largely undisturbed · The involvement of Friends groups and environments will be an important management volunteers in relevant aspects of Park goal, as will maintaining its distinctive unspoilt management will be supported and character and the sense of remoteness that are encouraged. key attractions to visitors. The majority of car-based visitors enjoy the Park from day visitor and camping areas along the coast, while self-reliant recreationalists explore remote sections of the ‘wilderness’ walk. The Park makes important contributions to nature-based tourism in East Gippsland. Croajingolong National Park v vi Croajingolong National Park CONTENTS SUMMARY v 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Location and planning area 1 1.2 Regional context 1 1.3 Significance of the Park 2 1.4 Creation of the Park 3 1.5 Legislation, LCC recommendations and guidelines 4 1.6 Park management aims 4 2 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 6 2.1 Park vision 6 2.2 Management directions 6 2.3 Zoning 7 3 RESOURCE CONSERVATION 10 3.1 Geological and landform features 10 3.2 Rivers and catchments 10 3.3 Vegetation 11 3.4 Fauna 12 3.5 Landscape 13 3.6 Cultural heritage 14 4 PARK PROTECTION 16 4.1 Fire management 16 4.2 Pest plants and animals, and diseases 17 5 THE PARK VISIT 19 5.1 The Park visitor 19 5.2 Visitor recreation activities and facilities 20 5.2.1 Vehicle access 20 5.2.2 Day visits 21 5.2.3 Camping 24 5.2.4 Bushwalking 24 5.2.5 Fishing 26 5.2.6 Boating 28 5.2.7 Jetties 28 5.2.8 Canoeing and sea kayaking 29 5.2.9 Other activities 29 5.3 Visitor information, interpretation and education 30 5.4 Commercial tourism operations 31 5.5 Public safety 32 Croajingolong National Park vii 6 COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT 33 6.1 Friends and volunteers 33 6.2 Community awareness and Park neighbours 33 7 OTHER ISSUES 35 7.1 Authorised uses 35 7.2 Boundaries and adjacent land use 37 8 IMPLEMENTATION 38 REFERENCES 39 TABLES 1 Management zones and overlays 8 2 Summary of recreation activities 21 3 Road and track management 22 4 Proposed and existing day visitor facilities 25 5 Camping opportunities 25 6 Walking track management 27 7 Priority management strategies 38 APPENDICES 1 Details of special protection areas 41 2 Threatened flora 43 3 Threatened fauna 45 FIGURES 1 Regional locality plan End of plan 2 Management zones " 3 Fire pre-suppression strategy " 4 Recreation management and resource utilisation " 5 Access management and adjacent land tenure " viii Croajingolong National Park Introduction 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Location and planning area Mallacoota township (including a surrounding buffer of State forest) and Tamboon South Croajingolong National Park is in Far East township are outside, but entirely surrounded Gippsland. Situated 430 km east of Melbourne by, the Park. The waters of Mallacoota Inlet and 530 km south of Sydney, it extends as a are also excluded. wide tract of land along some 100 km of coast from Sydenham Inlet in the west to the New 1.2 Regional context South Wales border in the east (figure 1). Croajingolong National Park, together with the This management plan covers Croajingolong proposed Cape Conran Coastal Park and the National Park (87 500 ha) which includes the Nadgee Nature Reserve (NSW), forms the following areas: largest continuous coastal reserve on the south- · Sandpatch (15 600 ha) and Cape Howe eastern Australian mainland, encompassing (7100 ha) Wilderness Zones; more than 115 000 ha and some 150 km of coastline. · Rame Head Remote and Natural Area (9800 ha); Far East Gippsland is a region that is attracting an increasing number of visitors who wish to · Barga (1030 ha), Baawang (600 ha), experience the area’s diverse natural Benedore River (1130 ha) and Seal Creek attractions. The Park complements a number (905 ha) Reference Areas; of other areas throughout East Gippsland which · Mallacoota Education Area (49 ha); have a similar remote character, and contrasts · the East Gippsland Coastal Streams Natural with a variety of more developed visitor Catchment Area, (12 030 ha covering the settings. catchments of the Red and Benedore Rivers, Townships such as Mallacoota, Cann River and and Shipwreck, Easby and Seal Creeks), Orbost are strategically located and will play and the Double Creek Natural Catchment increasingly important roles in the development Area (1590 ha); of nature-based tourism in the region. · part of the Bemm, Goolengook, Arte and Other popular destinations in the region Errinundra Heritage River Area (the area include: immediately east of Sydenham Inlet) · Snowy River National Park - accessible to covering about 340 ha. visitors seeking remote experiences in some Most of the Park boundary follows natural of the most spectacular mountain and gorge features (figure 2). The mean low water mark country in the State; of the coastline forms the southern boundary.