Kosciuszko National Park Fire Management Strategy 2008–2013 Acknowledgment The Kosciuszko National Park Fire Management Strategy 2008 - 2013 recognises that the Park is within landscape that gives identity to Aboriginal people, who have traditional and historical connections to this land. Aboriginal people are recognised and respected as the original custodians of the lands, waters, animals and plants now within the Park. Their living and spiritual connections with the land through traditional laws, customs and beliefs passed on from their ancestors are also recognised. NPWS will continue to be committed to actively engage traditional custodians and relevant Aboriginal organisations, in protecting managing and interpreting the needs of Kosciuszko National Park. The landscapes of Kosciuszko National Park are the sum total of the interactions between the basic natural elements of water, air, rocks, soils, fire, plants and animals. Each of these living and non-living attributes have been altered by thousands of years of human habitation and use which have left behind layers of human artefacts, memories, stories and meanings. The management of these attributes, and the values bestowed upon them, is a complex task and will not always be based upon a complete understanding of the implications of individual management decisions. A precautionary and adaptive approach to management is required - one that appreciates the interconnective and inseparable nature of the elements of the landscape. (NPWS, 2006c pg 37) Kosciusko National Park Fire Management Strategy 2008 - 2013 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This Fire Management Strategy was prepared by Jamie Molloy with the assistance of staff from the Snowy Mountains and South West Slopes Regions of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, staff from the Threatened Species Unit, the Reserve Conservation Planning & Performance Unit, and the Public Affairs Division of the Department of Environment and Climate Change. A scientific advisory group consisting of Jim Gould, Malcolm Gill, Geoff Cary and Liz Tasker met on four occasions, on a voluntary basis, to discuss some of the scientific issues raised in the development of this Fire Management Strategy. The contribution of this group is gratefully acknowledged however the views expressed in this strategy are not necessarily those of the individual scientists or of the group as a whole. The assistance of the following is acknowledged; David Keith (DECC), Michael Doherty (CSIRO), NPWS Advisory Committee members, the Bombala, Snowy Monaro, and Riverina Highlands Bush Fire Management Committees, various staff of the Rural Fire Service, neighbours and members of the public who provided valuable input for the development of the strategy. Cover Photos: Background Photo-Jamie Molloy Mountain Pygmy Possum-Linda Broome Epicormic regrowth-Jamie Molloy Mountains panorama-Ian Dicker This document is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Contact: Regional Manager, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, South West Slopes Region, PO Box 472, Tumut, NSW 2720, OR Regional Manager, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Snowy Mountains Region, PO Box 2228 Jindabyne NSW 2627. Published by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Parks and Wildlife Group, July 2008. ISBN: 978 1 74122 861 8 DEC No: 2008/321 Page i Kosciusko National Park Fire Management Strategy 2008 - 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Fire Management Strategy provides direction for fire management activities within Kosciuszko National Park (the Park) to fulfil the Service’s obligations under various legislation and Government policy. The specific fire management strategies developed to protect the significant natural and cultural heritage values, and the built assets, both within and adjacent to the Park, have a strong scientific basis utilising the latest available science. NPWS is both a fire fighting authority and a public authority and therefore has dual responsibilities for fire fighting and land management. The NPWS is seeking the cooperation of all fire authorities in adopting the management guidelines contained within this strategy to fulfil our obligations under S.38 (4) of the Rural Fires Act, 1997. The Park covers an area of approximately 688,846 hectares and is located in the south-eastern corner of the Australian mainland between latitudes 35°30s and 37°02’S and longitudes 148°10’E and 148°53’E. The Park straddles the Great Dividing Range, known in this region as the Snowy Mountains. The Park forms part of the interstate Australian Alps National Parks system and part of a significant natural corridor that includes the Alpine National Park in Victoria north to Bimberi Nature Reserve and Brindabella National Park in NSW, and Namadgi National Park in the ACT. The Park contains vast tracts of naturally vegetated areas, a range of threatened species and rare vegetation communities and habitats, has the most significant Alpine areas within NSW and contains large areas gazetted as wilderness. The Park also contains significant Aboriginal and historic heritage and many local communities identify strongly with historic connections to prior use of the Park. Catchments within the Park provide clean water for major irrigation schemes on the Murray River system, for hydroelectric electricity generation, and drinking water. This strategy identifies the primary objectives of fire management operations, the characteristics of the bush fire environment, and the key values of the Park. The Strategy includes a risk assessment of fire threats to assets, including natural and cultural heritage assets, and provides a range of fire management guidelines to facilitate fire management planning and fire suppression operations. The Park has been divided into fire management zones commensurate with the management objectives of the Park, and is consistent with the approach used in the cross tenure Bush Fire Risk Management Plans (RMPs). The key bush fire risk management strategies in this section include: • Ongoing commitment to Bush Fire Management Committees as the key vehicle for coordinated fire management in the region including the Park; • Maintenance of bush fire management zones to identified standards; • Continued early detection and rapid suppression of unplanned fires; • Ongoing commitment to trail maintenance; • A new series of operations maps detailing assets requiring protection, cultural and natural heritage values, fire advantages, topography, trails etc; • Proposed development of Village Protection Plans for built up residential areas within the Park e.g. Alpine Resort Areas, and Waste Point; • Proposed prescribed burning schedule to minimise fires leaving the Park and to protect built and environmental assets; and • Continuation of a broad area ridge top burning strategy to manage fuels in remote areas, frequent ignition areas, and to reduce spotting potential; • Development of detailed prescribed burn plans and implementation of suppression operations guidelines to protect threatened species, threatened communities and priority habitats. Page ii Kosciusko National Park Fire Management Strategy 2008 - 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...............................................................................................................................ii 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Scope, Term and Purpose .............................................................................................................1 1.2 The Fire Management and Planning Framework ..........................................................................2 1.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................2 1.2.2 Fire management operational framework ..............................................................................2 1.2.3 Coordinated fire management ...............................................................................................2 1.2.4 Legislation ..............................................................................................................................3 1.2.5 Fire management policies of NPWS .....................................................................................3 1.2.6 Fire management objectives for the Park ..............................................................................4 1.2.7 Local & Regional Environmental Plans and SEPPs ..............................................................5 1.2.8 NSW Biodiversity Strategy .....................................................................................................6 1.3 Description of the Park ..................................................................................................................6 1.3.1 Location .................................................................................................................................6 1.3.2 Terrain ...................................................................................................................................8 1.3.3 Natural Heritage .....................................................................................................................8