Snowy Monaro Regional Council Badja Reserve Plan of Management
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
Snowy Monaro Regional Council
81 Commissioner Street
PO Box 714
COOMA NSW 2630
Document Author Jane Kanowski Council Resolution No ADA113/17
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
Table of Contents
1 Introduction 5
2 Background 5
3 Rationale 7 3.1 Council's Land Management Goals 8 3.2 Principles of Crown Land Management 8 3.3 Snowy Monaro Regional Council Roles 9
4 Management Goals 10 4.1 Commentary on Community Consultation 10 4.2 Proposed Actions 11 4.3 Code of Conduct 13
5 ‘Leave No Trace Australia’ Principles 14
6 Desired Outcomes 14 6.1 NSW State Plan 14
7 Monitoring and Evaluation 15
8 Review 15
9 References 18
Berrima River Reserve Plan of Management – www.wsc.nsw.gov.au 18
Freedom Camping - www.doc.govt.nz/freedomcamping 18
Leave No Trace Australia – www.lnt.org.au 18
Pioneer Park Freedom Camping City of Ballarat – www.ballarat.vic.gov.au 18
NSW Government State Plan - www.nsw.gov.au/making-it-happen 18
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
Community consultation provides Council with a sound understanding of local issues from people who are familiar with and use the Badja Reserve and assists Council in providing facilities that are relevant to the needs of the population. Significantly, the future development of the reserve is based on the views expressed by the users. Public involvement and consultation generates an understanding of Council’s land management aims, fights misinformation and misunderstanding and gains support for Council’s programs and policies. The co-operation of the users of the Badja Reserve in the development of this Plan of Management assists in achieving the management goals and objectives and ensures that the needs of the community will be met.
Writing a Submission
Submissions give members of the public an opportunity to express their opinions, provide information and suggest alternatives to Council's proposed management strategies for the Badja Reserve over the next ten (10) years. All submissions will be considered fully by Council prior to the adoption of the Plan of Management.
To ensure submissions are as effective as possible:
• list all points according to the section and page number in the Badja Reserve Plan of Management 2016; • briefly describe each subject or issue you wish to discuss; • state which strategies you agree or disagree with, and give your reasons; • suggest alternatives to any issue with which you disagree.
Written submissions should be addressed to:
The General Manager
Snowy Monaro Regional Council
PO Box 714
COOMA NSW 2630
Phone: 1300 345 345
Facsimile: (02) 6455 1799
Email: [email protected]
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
1 Introduction The purpose of this Plan of Management is to establish the framework and operational basis for the Badja Reserve at Numeralla. The reserve is currently used for outdoor activities including fishing, swimming and picnics. It is also used for camping by the public on an informal basis. There are limited facilities in place to support these camping activities and in the past there have been no measures in place to monitor or register camping activities and usage.
The demand on free camping sites has increased significantly in recent times and it is important that there are strategies in place in order to prevent or minimise damage to the reserve and to the adjacent rivers. Historically, the reserve has been used by the local community and visitors for recreation activities, access to the river and bush camping. The annual Numeralla Folk Festival which is held on the Australia Day long weekend has traditionally seen the Reserve used intensively for camping for the duration of this event. The local community group, Numeralla District Activities Inc organise this event and provide additional toilet facilities during this period.
In recent years, some of the area has become subject to overuse –mainly through inappropriate lighting of campfires and over use of some sites. Continued uncontrolled use of the reserve will lead to long term environmental degradation.
This strategy will provide guidelines that will assist in the sustainable management of camping activities, effective management of environmental impacts including loss of vegetation cover, soil erosion, reduced water quality, reduced wildlife habitat and accumulation of rubbish and pollutants in the river.
2 Background The Badja Reserve covers a total area of 7.875 Hectares and is made up of Lots 7004 & 7005 DP 96533 and Lot 7006 DP96534. It is Crown Land of which Snowy Monaro Regional Council is the trustee. Lots 7004 & 7005 are located on Peak View Road and Lot 7006 is located on Warrens Corner Road, both in the village of Numeralla, NSW. It is Reserve number 85745 and its gazettal date was15 April 1966 and is reserved for the purpose of Public Recreation. This Pan of Management refers generally to Lots 7004 & 7005 DP96534 however the same objectives will apply to Lot 7006 if the same issues arise in the future.
The location of the reserve provides a bush setting along the banks of the Numeralla and Badja Rivers, adjacent to where the two streams meet. The reserve has basic picnic and toilet facilities and has been used as an informal/primitive camping site for a considerable period of time. There is no potable water supply or sewer connection within the village.
The Badja Reserve provides an important area for residents and visitors to access and enjoy the river environment. The Reserve has the following functions:
• To contribute to the character of the village of Numeralla by providing a recreational area and a place for tourists to stay as there is no accommodation available in the village • To provide for a range of recreational activities that is compatible with the natural values of the reserve and the preservation of the river environment
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
• To demonstrate a commitment to sustainable riparian management, including riverside protection, enhancement and habitat preservation on public land
Aerial photo of the Badja Reserve
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
3 Rationale
The objective of this Plan of Management is to provide a facility that is able to continue to be used for future generations. It is not intended to prevent people from camping in this area rather to limit the extent of damage that is currently occurring and to provide some form of barrier that enables Council to restrict or close off sections of the reserve to assist in the recovery and maintenance of vegetation.
View from the top area of the Badja Reserve to the lower area (dissected by Peak View Rd)
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
3.1 Council's Land Management Goals
The production of the Badja Reserve Plan of Management 2016 is closely linked with Council's overall Land Management Objectives, as set out in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council Management Plan.
Council's Land Management Objectives, as they relate to the Badja Reserve, are as follows:
• To provide and maintain attractive and safe landscaped areas and open space • To satisfy passive recreation requirements of the community • To protect environmentally significant areas
Confluence of the Numeralla and Badja Rivers at the lower area of the reserve
3.2 Principles of Crown Land Management
This Strategy also takes into account the principles of Crown Land Management, as set out in the Crown Lands Act, 1989.
The principles of Crown Land Management are as follows:
• To observe environmental protection principles in relation to the management and administration of Crown Land
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• To conserve, wherever possible, the natural resources of Crown Land (including water, soil, flora, fauna and scenic quality) • To encourage public use and enjoyment • To use and manage Crown Land in such a way that both the land and its resources are sustained for use forever • To deal with Crown Land in the best interests of the State
Crown Reserves are a key element in the provision of a diverse range of recreational opportunities. This Plan of Management aims to maintain a balanced range of recreational opportunities for the whole community while preserving the character of the reserves and protecting their environmental values for the enjoyment of future generations.
3.3 Snowy Monaro Regional Council Roles
The trustee of the Badja Reserve is the Snowy Monaro Regional Council Crown Reserves Reserve Trust. Snowy Monaro Regional Council is the manager of this Trust and therefore has a key role in the management of the Badja Reserve. This includes:
• Facility provision and maintenance • Risk management and safety standards • Accessibility for public recreational use • Community involvement and participation in the decision making process • Design principles that minimise vandalism and promote a safe environment • Design principles that promote sustainable environmental values • Allocation of adequate funding for ongoing maintenance
Lower Picnic area adjacent to the Badja River
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
4 Management Goals
There is an increased demand on a nationwide basis for free camping sites which is impacting on many reserves and roadside rest areas. The visitation rate at the Badja Reserve has increased dramatically and it is now subjected to almost constant use. The number of camp sites in use at any given time is generally limited to a few campervans however; this is having a detrimental impact on some areas of the reserve. The unauthorised lighting of campfires on the ground is one activity that needs to be addressed. Apart from the obvious fire hazard that it presents it also reduces the grassed area and groundcover which will then lead to erosion and sedimentation issues.
Dumping of rubbish and other waste is currently managed to an acceptable level. However if the number of people camping in the area continues to increase Council will need to monitor waste disposal to ensure that it does not impact on the reserves.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council at present has some measures in place to restrict the camping on the reserve. It is becoming imperative that strategies are developed for camping in order to retain the amenity of the reserve for both visitors and residents.
Unauthorised campfire sites
4.1 Commentary on Community Consultation
Council is appreciative of the comments received from the members of the Numeralla community and respects that people have differing views on the use and management of the reserve. However it is Council’s role to ensure that the Badja Reserve is maintained for the future so that new generations are able to continue to use it. With the increasing numbers of people visiting the site it is important that strategies are implemented to protect this area. It is
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council also important to retain the area for primitive camping activities as this is part of the attraction of such reserves – to create the sense of connecting with nature.
Late comments were received following a significant rain event by a local resident who had previously sent in a submission that recommended the use and promotion of vacant land adjacent to the Tennis Court Park for camping during events. This recommendation was withdrawn after the area was flooded. It was suggested that the Sportsground area be promoted as an alternative area for camping during large events such as the Numeralla Folk Festival. The major constraint with this proposal is the lack of toilet facilities.
While it is great that people have access to the facilities and are able to enjoy areas such as the Badja Reserve there is ultimately a cost to the community. In order to promote additional areas such as the Tennis Courts Park the ongoing cost of supplying water and the additional maintenance of the amenities needs to be considered and may well exceed the practical benefits. Many visitors have campervans that are self-contained and do not rely on resources such as toilets and electrical supply. Additional areas should be promoted for self-contained vehicles only and also the principle of ‘Take out what you bring in’ should also be applied to avoid the extra costs associated with waste disposal.
Council acknowledges that events such as the Numeralla Folk Festival do provide financial benefit to the local community organisations through their support. Other visitors that camp at the reserve are generally self-sufficient and do not provide any direct financial contribution to the local community or towards the upkeep or maintenance of facilities. This statement is not to be misconstrued to in any way suggest that Council does not support tourism in all forms but rather to outline that it does have an acceptable level of service that is able to be provided to the community within budgetary constraints. Council resources are not unlimited and significant increases in the level of service will ultimately impact on rate payers and residents.
To continue to allow camping as in the past will undoubtedly lead to degradation of the reserve that will then result in higher costs to repair. There were several comments that suggested the installation of fire-pits would eliminate the damage caused by unauthorised lighting of campfires in both areas of the reserve. This is a concept that will require some investigation and consideration as it does have merit - given that lighting a campfire while camping is an accepted part of the experience – if there are no fire restrictions in place. The fire danger rating must be followed and signage must indicate that no fires are to be lit during times as set out by the Rural Fire Service.
The timeframe for these actions will be determined/restricted by budgetary constraints. Council will endeavour to apply for additional grant funding in order to ensure that improvements are made to the reserve so that it can continue to be a place that people gather, socialise and enjoy recreational pursuits.
4.2 Proposed Actions
Council received a number of comments regarding the draft PoM with very different ideas and perspectives about the management and future of the reserve. It is, however, not
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council possible to accommodate all requests and Council, being the manager of the reserve must apply actions that will ensure that the integrity of the reserve is maintained for the future.
• Apply for funding opportunities that will allow improvements to the reserve • Place barriers/bollards to an area on the lower/western side of the reserve to provide a designated picnic area along the river banks that excludes vehicles and camping • Undertake community consultation to determine the placement of barriers • Landscaping to ensure that the upper/eastern side of the reserve is safe for camping • Landscaping of part of the existing road on the lower part of the reserve to improve the area for picnic and BBQ’s • Erect signage to include information, prohibited activities, warnings • Install additional picnic facilities including electric BBQ’s on the lower/western area • Improve the link between both areas with a pedestrian walking path and improve access to the river and to the amenities • Install purpose built fire pits on both the upper and lower parts of the reserve • Lobby for the speed zone on the section of Peak View Road that dissects the reserve to be reduced to a 50km zone • Monitor usage of the reserve • Regular review of the Plan of Management
Peak river flows during June 2016 have demonstrated the need for the creation of a buffer zone that is restricted to day activities only between the rivers’ edge and camping areas as the water levels can rise considerably over a short period of time.
High River flows in the Badja River June 2016 (Photo courtesy David Constance)
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
View towards the amenities and the top area of the reserve (from Peak View Rd)
4.3 Code of Conduct
Signage to display the Code of Conduct for campers will be erected.
• Restrict camping to a maximum stay of 48 hours • Camp only in designated areas • No Camp Fires • No rubbish is to be left on site • No Dumping of waste – nearest dump point – Cooma • Take care of the natural environment • No cutting of vegetation for firewood • Clean up after any pets • Respect other campers and residents – ensure that activities do not unreasonably impact on other campers or visitors or on nearby residents
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5 ‘Leave No Trace Australia’ Principles
The number of campers who frequent free camping sites has over the past few years increased significantly which has impacted on communities throughout Australia. There has been some opposition to people using free sites and in order to allow these practices to continue the Leave No Trace Australia principles were developed. They assist in the promotion of a code of behavior that reduces the environmental and economic cost for communities. These principles should be widely and consistently promoted to reduce the impact on the environment at a national level.
Additional information regarding this organization and its principles can be found at www.lnt.org.au
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimise Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Your Hosts and Other Visitors
6 Desired Outcomes
The desired outcome of this Plan of Management is to reduce the impact that is occurring due to constant use of the reserve for camping. Restricting the areas available for camping at any given time will alleviate some of the issues. This will give areas time to recover so that the vegetation cover is maintained which will reduce the impact of erosion.
• Sustainable use and management of all environmental assets. • Minimal impact on natural and environmental values by camping activity. • Effective communication of environmental sustainability message. • Local heritage of the Reserve is managed and communicated for future generations.
6.1 NSW State Plan
There are two priority areas within the NSW State Plan 2010 which have strong links to the recommendations of this Strategy. They are:
• Green State – Protect our native vegetation, biodiversity, land, rivers and coastal waterways, and • Stronger communities – Promote our parks and increase participation in recreational and sporting activities
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7 Monitoring and Evaluation
To ensure that the objectives of this Plan of Management are being achieved Snowy Monaro Regional Council will monitor the usage of the reserve and carry out regular inspections of the reserve. The success or otherwise of the objectives will be determined by the outcome of the inspections and this will indicate whether further strategies are required in order to protect the integrity of the reserve. 8 Review
This Plan of Management will be reviewed on a bi-annual basis to determine the effectiveness of the actions that have been implemented and to ensure that it remains relevant to the needs of the community. Ongoing monitoring of usage of the reserve and the impact on the environment will be undertaken to ensure that the measures put in place are appropriate.
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PRINCIPLES, IMPLEMENTATION & KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Principle Objective Action Priority Key Performance Indicators Management Manage the reserve to Ongoing Well maintained reserve. Regular To liaise with the facilitate a range of inspection and maintenance. community in order to recreation opportunities for a Community feedback and reach agreement for the variety of users. reporting of damage. future of the reserve. Maintenance To provide well maintained Inspections and Ongoing Well maintained areas within the and safe areas for camping maintenance carried out reserve. Regular inspections and for recreational pursuits. as per Council’s policies carried out and repairs carried out and procedures. promptly. Undertake emergency repairs as required. Risk Management The timely identification, Risk Assessments High Maintaining a low level of injuries. measurement and conducted and identified Maintenance is carried out management of potential hazards are dealt with regularly and any damage is hazards to minimise promptly. repaired promptly. Council's exposure to Install barriers where Barriers installed as identified and criticism, compensation required to protect the included as part of the planning claims and litigation. riparian area. Lobby to process. have the speed zone reduce on the adjoining road. Safe area for picnic and family activities. Diversity of Provide an area that Planning and design of Medium Positive feedback from facility recreational use accommodates a diverse the reserve that is users. Increased number of range of recreational appropriate and will campers using the top section of experiences. provide diversity. the reserve. Installation of barriers to exclude camping and vehicle access along the river banks. Groundwork
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to improve the top section of the reserve so that it is more suitable for camping. Community Promotion of the rationale of Encourage ownership of High Comments from the community. Consultation this PoM and the provision the reserve by local Reduction in the occurrence of for comments from the community groups. practices that contribute community. To foster a Placement of barriers environmental degradation. sense of community within the reserve is Reduced conflict within the ownership of the reserve. determined by community. consultation with the local community in order to reach a workable compromise that will reduce conflict Accessibility Increase accessibility to the Ensure and improve Medium Improved access. Linkage river. access pathways. possibilities identified. Ensure access for Opportunities to create emergency vehicles is linkage between areas of adequate. the reserve identified. Landscaping Tree planting for the Incorporate landscaping Ongoing Landscaping elements included. provision of shade and as part of the design Positive feedback from users. landscaping. process. Infrastructure To provide Picnic facilities Seating, BBQ’s and other Ongoing Appropriate infrastructure and other infrastructure infrastructure to be installed. within the areas that meets installed. Feedback from the community. user needs. Increased level of use. Monitoring and The Badja Reserve PoM is Review period is identified Ongoing Reviews carried out on a regular review reviewed and updated as to ensure that the PoM is basis. Relevancy of the PoM is required. relevant to the needs of retained. the Community.
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9 References
Berrima River Reserve Plan of Management – www.wsc.nsw.gov.au
Freedom Camping - www.doc.govt.nz/freedomcamping
Leave No Trace Australia – www.lnt.org.au
Pioneer Park Freedom Camping City of Ballarat – www.ballarat.vic.gov.au
NSW Government State Plan - www.nsw.gov.au/making-it-happen
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council
Appendix 1
BADJA RESERVE PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
COLLATION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS
PUBLIC COMMENT COUNCIL Designate the Tennis Court grounds & Ongoing cost to the other areas for camping community for water supply to the amenities Erect signage for the purpose of each Completed – update as part of the reserve required Rehabilitate Lot 7004 – particularly the Some landscaping required road area Toilet is located on lot 7005 – speed Lobby traffic committee and limit of 100km in that section RMS to change the speed zone Make Lot 7005 more accessible – Some ground work required to requires levelling for campervans. provide some informal Plant/landscape Lot 7005 – make it designated camp sites more appealing Dumping of waste and rubbish – cost to Serviceable at this stage – the community and environment –Trial possibility to trial removal of removing all bins?? bins Free camping site – regulations?? Acts??? Close Lot 7004 to camping at all times – Compromise on the area – promote use of other areas for Folk provide a designated picnic Festival weekend – Oval, tennis courts area where vehicles and & vacant land adjacent to tennis courts - camping not allowed Purpose built fire pits in both upper and Provision of fire pits lower areas Block off Lot 7004 for campers Compromise on the area that (including for the Folk Festival) as traffic is closed to traffic and will only increase in years to come campers and assess the use of other areas for large events Barriers discourage use and could Emergency services have a endanger lives if emergency services key to open locks are unable to access the area Barriers make it more difficult to access Consideration in design of the river for disabled, elderly or frail picnic facilities. Frail and disabled unlikely to access the river
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Provide additional picnic tables and Source funding for additional facilities picnic facilities such as electric BBQ’s and tables Provide a walking track to link the two Investigate areas Outline Council process for booking Not necessary to book other camping areas and maintenance than for large events regime
Review date for the PoM
Revegetate the existing track on Lot Part of landscape plans for the 7004 –lower side of reserve reserve. Barriers make it safer for pedestrians and picnicking Unrestrained dogs - waste not being Signage picked up – killing of livestock Restrict access to river banks Provide accessible/designated area for access to river that will reduce the impact in other areas Extend picnic areas and provide free Seek funding opportunities BBQ’s Designate camping sites – define sites Informal camping – improve areas on top section
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