STRATEGY Part
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Part One STRATEGY Upper Goulburn Catchment Recreational Waterway Strategy Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Recreational Waterway Strategy Contents About this document ...............................................................................................1 Acknowledgements..................................................................................................2 Foreword ...................................................................................................................3 Executive Summary .................................................................................................4 Background............................................................................................................................... 4 Critical Issues ........................................................................................................................... 4 Key Actions............................................................................................................................... 5 The Challenge .......................................................................................................................... 5 The Strategy ............................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction ..............................................................................................................7 Relationship to other plans ....................................................................................................... 7 Vision and Objectives for Recreation on Waterways............................................8 The Vision................................................................................................................................. 8 Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 8 Recreational Issues..................................................................................................9 Community................................................................................................................................ 9 Agency.................................................................................................................................... 10 Managing Recreation Demand..............................................................................12 Current and future demand .................................................................................................... 12 Protecting the environment.....................................................................................................14 Codes of conduct.................................................................................................................... 14 Acts and Regulations.............................................................................................................. 15 Information Management.......................................................................................16 A Partnership Approach ........................................................................................17 Agency communication .......................................................................................................... 17 Sharing the costs.................................................................................................................... 17 Roles and Responsibilities .....................................................................................................18 Methodology for Assessing Recreation Development............................................................ 22 Priorities for Sustainable Recreation Along Waterways ....................................23 Water Quality.......................................................................................................................... 23 Stream Health......................................................................................................................... 25 Public Access ......................................................................................................................... 26 Public access strategies ......................................................................................................... 27 Monitoring and Evaluation ....................................................................................28 ID&A with Jeavons RTP Page i Recreational Waterway Strategy About this document There are four parts to the project documentation: • Part 1 The Catchment Strategy This outlines the vision, key issues and strategies and catchment wide priorities. It contains a CD attached to the back cover that contains Parts 1- 4. • Part 2 Site Specific Action Plans This contains action plans for six specific areas where the methodology has been applied. This information includes a catchment map showing sites known to be subject to recreational use. The mapping will be built on as further reaches are assessed. This information is contained on the CD. The maps can be upgraded as additional recreation sites are identified or developed and additional site attributes developed. • Part 3 Assessment Methodology This outlines the methodology, guidelines and kits to assist in assessment of recreation impacts. This information is on the CD and can be added to as further reach assessments occur or for individual new recreation developments. • Part 4 Appendices This includes a literature review, community consultation outcomes and the demand analysis. This information is available on the CD. As new information becomes available it is possible to add it to this section, so there is a central depository for all recreational waterway knowledge that would assist in further reviews of the strategy or work programs implementation. This document is Part 1. Strategy. ID&A with Jeavons RTP Page 1 Recreational Waterway Strategy Acknowledgements The contribution of the following Steering Committee members is acknowledged. • Robert Dare Steering Committee Chair, Member of Upper Goulburn Implementation Committee • Murray Chapman Project Manager - Rural Plan • Peter Howarth Upper Goulburn Implementation Committee • Russell Wealands Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority • Ron Taylor Landholder – Victorian Farmers Federation • Rocky Barca Parks Victoria • Andy Miller Parks Victoria • Stuart Bowe Department of Natural Resources & Environment (Recreation & Tourism) • Brian Doolan Department of Natural Resources & Environment (Recreation & Tourism) • Paul Coghlan Department of Natural Resources & Environment (Lands Vic) • John Steer Department of Natural Resources & Environment (Forests) • Ian Ada Department of Natural Resources & Environment (CAS) • Maurie Susnig Murrindindi Shire • Ian Geer Delatite Shire • Brendan McGrath Mitchell Shire • Graeme Wilkinson Goulburn Murray Water The authors also acknowledge the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and Riparian Australia for the use of VROT and CWF mapping. Page 2 ID&A with Jeavons RTP Recreational Waterway Strategy Foreword The upper Goulburn River Catchment provides us with some of Australia’s most spectacular, rugged, pristine and beautiful waterways. The area has become very popular for recreation due in part to these special features and the area’s close proximity to Melbourne. This strategy has been prepared to ensure the natural values of the area are adequately protected, long-term recreation use is sustainable and stream health is maintained or improved. It has been developed using information obtained through community consultation, research and on ground assessment under the direction of a steering committee consisting of community representatives, government organisations, local government authorities and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA). Wide consultation and healthy debate has led to a commitment by Government agencies to adopt a partnership approach to existing and new developments. The Upper Goulburn Implementation Committee will establish partnerships with agencies, land managers and Local Government to progressively apply the methodology developed through this study to: • identify and promote sustainable levels of recreation • implement projects that enhance recreation activities along waterways in the catchment. I trust that this strategy will become a valuable planning tool and reference guide long into the future. Robert Dare Chair, Steering Committee ID&A with Jeavons RTP Page 3 Recreational Waterway Strategy Executive Summary Background The upper reaches of the Goulburn River catchment are home to some of Victoria’s most scenic waterways, popular for recreational pursuits such as fishing, canoeing, bush walking, camping and horse riding and also providing some of the highest quality water and native habitat in Victoria. The need to protect and improve the health of waterways and their surrounding environment is cited in the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority’s (GBCMA) Regional Catchment Strategy and various sub-strategies and action plans. The Steering Committee has developed: • a broad strategy for managing recreational development along waterways in the upper Goulburn catchment. (Part 1) • key actions for six stream reaches in the catchment and identified recreational sites throughout the catchment. (Part 2) • a methodology using a stream health indicator (Index of Stream Condition), established environmental standards