FIRE REHABILITATION PLAN
EASTERN VICTORIAN FIRES 2003
Fire 36 Bogong South Complex Fire 39 Bogong North Complex Fire 55 Eldorado Fire 56 Stanley
December 2003
Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
This plan is prepared without prejudice to any negotiations or litigated outcome of any native title determination applications covering land within the plan’s area. It is acknowledged that any future outcomes of native title determination applications may necessitate amendment of this plan; and the implementation of this plan may require further notifications under the procedures in Division 3 of Part 2 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth). The plan is also prepared without prejudice to any future negotiated outcomes between the Government/s and Victorian Aboriginal communities. It is acknowledged that such negotiated outcomes may necessitate amendment of this plan.
i Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan FOREWORD
South-eastern Australia is acknowledged to be one of the most fire-prone environments in the world. The widespread fires in the summer of 2002 and 2003 in the Mallee and in particular the Alpine area ranks - with Black Friday in 1939, Ash Wednesday in 1983, Big Desert in 1959 and Gippsland in 1965 and 1983 – among the largest and most significant fires experienced in Victoria. Over a period of nearly 60 days, the Alpine bushfires burnt through over 1 million hectares of land, including public land (92%) - National Parks, State forests, Wilderness Parks, and other parks and reserves - and farmland (8%).
Significant ecological impacts occurred, particularly in those parts of the public land that were burnt by high intensity fire. There are also long-term impacts on water supply, water quality and stream biota, particularly in the headwaters of relatively pristine streams as a result of overland flow and erosion. There were significant impacts on timber resources, heritage assets, visitor and tourism facilities, agricultural land, and public access to the fire-affected areas.
This Rehabilitation Plan has been prepared in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land. It addresses the four fires that comprise the ‘Eastern Victorian Fires’. These are Bogong North Complex (Ovens 39), Bogong South Complex (Upper Murray 36), Eldorado (Ovens 55) and Stanley (Ovens 56).
The Plan describes the management issues, and the actions and priorities that are necessary to assist the recovery of the issues listed above. It identifies the immediate measures and priority areas for the rehabilitation of disturbance resulting from firefighting operations, and the immediate and longer-term measures to address the impacts of the fires. Much of the immediate works have been implemented.
In February and April, the Government announced a rehabilitation funding package totalling $70.6m to address the fire impacts on public land and adjacent private land. This package forms the fund source for the rehabilitation actions outlined in this Plan.
This Plan represents the efforts of many teams and individuals in the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Parks Victoria (PV) and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The Plan draws heavily from a report detailing the ecological and cultural recovery rehabilitation requirements following the fires (Parks Victoria 2003).
The rehabilitation and recovery actions and priorities in this Plan are endorsed for implementation.
Kevin Love Deputy Secretary – Public Land Stewardship and Biodiversity, Department of Sustainability and Environment
Convenor, Bushfire Recovery Steering Committee
Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan ii CONTENTS
Foreword ii
1. Fire Description 1 Fire Location, land status and area burnt 1 Context 2 Suppression Activities 2
2. Purpose and Scope of the Rehabilitation Plan 4 Objectives 5 Scope 5 Planning Process 6 General Principles 7
3. Rehabilitation Strategies
10 3.1 Threatened Flora, Fauna and Vegetation Communities 10 3.2 Pest Plant and Animal Threats 12 3.3 Catchment and Waterways 15 3.4 Ecological Fire Management 19 3.5 Licensed Grazing 20 3.6 Indigenous Cultural Heritage 21 3.7 Cultural Heritage 22 3.8 Landscape, Wilderness and Other Values 24 3.9 Pathogens 25 3.10 Recreation, Tourism and Infrastructure Assets 25 3.11 Commercial Forest Resources 29 3.12 Agriculture 30
4. Implementation 33 Roles and responsibilities 33 Evaluation and Reporting 33 Research and Monitoring 34
5. References 35
Tables 1. Land status and areas burnt in the Victorian Alpine Fires 2003 1 iii Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 2. Major Plant species to be addressed in the Alpine Fire area 12 3. River Basin condition in Victoria and the Alpine Fire area 15 4. Fire severity areas (hectares) according to land category 18 5. Number and type of Indigenous sites in rehabilitation areas 21 6. Number and type of heritage places in rehabilitation areas 22 7. Extent of ‘overlay categories in the fire area 24 8. Assets damaged in parks 26 9. Agricultural loss assessment – 2002-03 fires 31
Appendices 1 Public land and overlaying areas with additional management requirements in the fire area 36 2 Key legislative obligations for rehabilitation of public land after fire 39 3 Australian threatened flora and fauna species in Rehabilitation Areas 41 4 Priority flora and fauna species and communities in Rehabilitation Areas 44 5 Fire Rehabilitation Projects 48
Figures 1 Fire Recovery Coordination arrangements 9
Maps 1 Eastern Victorian Fires - Fire Area and public land End of plan
Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan iv 1. FIRE DESCRIPTION
Fire location, land status and area burnt
On 7 and 8 January 2003, lightning caused over 80 fires across eastern Victoria and 40 in NSW and ACT. By 13 January, all but nine of the Victorian fires were contained despite often erratic and intense fire behaviour. These nine fires subsequently merged on 29 January to become the largest fire in Victoria in more than 60 years – termed the Victorian Alpine Fires (DSE 2003). The Bogong North Complex (Ovens No. 38) fires, which started on 8 January 2003, moved further into the Alpine area, subsequently merging with fires in NSW and ACT. The Bogong South Complex (Upper Murray No. 36) fires, which also started on 8 January 2003, moved progressively into East Gippsland (DSE 2003).
The Bogong North fires were first contained on 6 March 2003 only to be declared going again on 14 March and were not finally safe until 30 April 2003. The Bogong South fire was contained on 7 March but not considered safe until 30 April 2003. By the time these fires were finally declared contained, they had extended over approximately 1 million hectares of public land and private land, from Mount Buffalo in the west to near Bonang in the east and south to Swifts Creek.
On 21 January 2003, the Eldorado (Ovens No. 55) and Stanley (Ovens No. 56) fires both started from unknown causes, 5 km NW of Beechworth in the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park and 2 km SW of Beechworth in the Beechworth Historic Park respectively. The fires burnt over 11 000 ha, most of this in the first six days. Both fires were declared contained on 27 January but required ongoing surveillance until 15 March when they were declared safe.
The fires were contained by a sustained effort involving the Department of Sustainability and Environment as lead agency, supported by thousands of personnel from Parks Victoria and other government agencies, the Country Fire Authority, Shires, community organisations, private companies, and interstate and overseas land management agencies. The total area burnt in the eastern Victorian fire was 1 078 809 hectares, including parks, forest and freehold land (refer Map 1 and Table 1). The area of public land burnt was approximately 14% of Victoria’s 7.8 million hectares of public land.
Table 1 Land status and areas burnt in the Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Fire area Parks and State Forest Freehold (ha) Total Area Reserves (ha) (ha) burnt (ha) Victorian Alpine 470,200 507,300 90,000 1,067,500 Fire Eldorado Stanley 8,903 2,406 - 11,309 Total 479,103 509,706 90,000 1,078,809 % of total area 44.4% 47.2% 8.3% Source: Victorian Alpine Fires 2003 Maps – CD produced by the Department of Sustainability and Environment August 2003.
1 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan The fires burnt 81% of Mt Buffalo National Park, 68% of Wabba Wilderness Park, 62 % of Mount Mitta Mitta Regional Park, 60 % of the Alpine National Park, 27% of the Snowy River National Park, 33% of Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, all of 12 conservation reserves including Mount Wills and Mount Murphy Historic Areas, and 22% of State forest within the North East, Gippsland and East Gippsland Regional Forest Agreement areas. Appendix 1 provides greater detail of the land categories and areas burnt.
There are also categories or zones of public land that ‘overlay’ the burnt park and forest areas that have additional management objectives and rehabilitation requirements. These overlay categories are summarised in Table 7.
Context
In the summer of 2002-3 Victoria was in the grip of a severe and prolonged drought. To compound the effects of the drought, Victoria had experienced an extremely dry summer. Much of the state had received below average rainfall since 1996. The fires in Victoria in the summer of 2003-03 were the largest experienced in the State since the 1939 fires that burnt more than 1.5 million hectares. Firefighters had attended 470 fires before the outbreak of the Victorian Alpine fires on 8 January 2003. Victorian firefighting resources, under constant pressure prior to the Alpine fire, were stretched further with the outbreak of 84 fires on 7 and 8 January. The Eastern Victorian fires, the largest in that area since 1939, represent nine times more wildfires than the 20-year annual average. By 13 January all but nine of the 84 widely dispersed fires in eastern Victoria had been contained. During containment of the remaining fires other events stretched firefighting resources even further. For example, there were significant outbreaks at Glenrowan, Eldorado, Stanley, Woodend/Macedon, Lara, Wodonga, Hastings, Cerberus, Morwell and Carlisle River. A high volume water bombing aircraft scheduled for re-deployment to Victoria from NSW was re-allocated to the Canberra fire. The availability of NSW firefighters to assist Victoria was affected by the Kosciusko fires which extended from the Victorian border to west of Canberra in the north and the Canberra fires.
Suppression activities
Suppression methods for the Stanley and Eldorado fires involved indirect attack methods utilising air drops of water and aerial retardants. The indirect attack methods were combined with the use of tankers, dozers and slip on crews directed to protect, patrol and establish fire-breaks around assets.
In the Bogong Complex fires, control methods included a combination of direct and indirect attack using conventional methods. However, the remote nature and inaccessibility of the fires plus fire intensity dictated that much of the control effort was based on indirect attack.
In the North East and East Gippsland area, containment lines were often constructed at or near the forested edge using large dozers and graders. As the fire continued south into heavily forested and relatively remote public land, fire intensity was high and the head fire spotted considerable distances. Flanking control lines (Machinery
Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 2 constructed firebreaks and widening of existing roads and tracks) on the west and south west in valleys and ridges were most successful where a backing fire could be managed with backburning operations.
Fire behaviour was highly variable and abnormal at times. As fires in the complex merged and the fire front encroached on significant areas of freehold land, asset protection became the main focus. Machinery constructed firebreaks and widening of existing roads and tracks combined with backburning off these breaks well beyond the wildfire perimeter became the main contingencies against anticipated spread and threats. Aerial support was limited due to poor visibility caused by smoke and in some cases by strong winds.
Where machinery could not obtain access and on southern aspects where the fire edge was backing down slopes, hand trails were prepared by rakehoe crews. Despite rain in early March the fire continued to burn and cause problems in some areas. Following an increase in the fire area after 30 January and the spread toward Gippsland, control efforts continued until some 180 km of backburn was completed. The backburn controlled the spread of fire further south.
Control methods included: • machine constructed control lines (both on the fire edge and beyond the fire perimeter as contingencies against anticipated spread); • widening by machine of existing roads or tracks (as fall back control lines well beyond the fire perimeter or for the purposes of backburning); • surface scrapes across open areas (particularly adjoining private land around Mt Buffalo); • opening up of closed logging roads for crew access to the fire edge at Mt Buffalo; • hand trails prepared by rakehoe crews and Rappel crews (mainly on the fire edge); • aerial retardant and water drops; • backburning initiated by ground crews and by helicopters dropping incendiary capsules; • blacking out by rakehoe crews; • suppression using tankers and hose lines; • control lines on private property combined with back burning to protect assets.
New infrastructure to support the suppression effort was constructed where necessary and included: • temporary stream crossings; • fire breaks along existing roads or walking tracks; • new fire breaks / tracks; • water points.
3 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 2 . PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE REHABILITATION PLAN
This Rehabilitation Plan addresses the large wildfires known as the ‘Victorian Alpine Fires’ located in the Alpine area, the North East Ranges and East Gippsland during January, February and March of 2003. The Victorian Alpine Fires comprises four fires each with a different genesis.
Fire area DSE Region Fire district and number Eldorado North East Ovens 55 Stanley North East Ovens 56 Bogong North Complex North East Ovens 39 Bogong South Complex Gippsland Upper Murray 36
The Plan outlines the range of management measures that are required to address the impact of fire suppression activities and the impacts of a fire on the natural environment, infrastructure, catchments and water, cultural heritage, forest resources and agricultural values.
The Rehabilitation Plan♣ has been prepared in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land (NRE 1995) (the Code). The Code establishes minimum standards for fire management and applies to all public land in Victoria. The purpose of the Code is to ‘…promote the efficient, effective, and integrated management of fire and fire-related activities on public land for the purpose of protecting human life, property, assets and environmental values from the deleterious effects of wildfire or inappropriate fire regimes.’
The Code provides general principles for recovery after wildfire, stating that ‘measures will be taken, where practicable to assist the recovery of … the ecosystem from the adverse impacts of wildfire and fire suppression on public land’ These measures are to address - ‘the rehabilitation of disturbance resulting from firefighting operations’, and ‘…the amelioration of deleterious environmental and economic impacts of the wildfire’ (sections 330, 332 and 333 of the Code).
The Code requires the Department of Sustainability and Environment to assess the need for a Rehabilitation Plan taking into account the impact of the fire and the suppression activities on the recognised values of the area. It has been determined that a Plan is required, based on the considerable impact of the wildfire and suppression activities on the values of the fire area (refer sections 347 – 356 of the Code).
♣ The Code defines a Rehabilitation Plan as “A plan which details the activities (other than routine post-fire rehabilitation of temporary fire-access tracks and constructed control lines) which are considered necessary to assist the recovery of both infra-structure, other assets and environmental values from the impact of wildfire and fire suppression.” (Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land (NRE 1995)).
Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 4 Objectives
The objectives of the Plan are to: • provide an overview of the management issues associated with the process of post-fire recovery; • specifically address immediate and short-term rehabilitation of disturbance resulting from firefighting operations; • outline a range of immediate and longer-term measures to ameliorate the deleterious impacts of the wildfire on the natural environment, infrastructure, catchments and water, cultural heritage, forest resource and agricultural values; • establish appropriate management and reporting systems.
Scope
The Plan addresses the following themes across all public land categories – park, forest and alpine resort, and other public land management categories (except areas managed by Committees of Management): a) potential risks of erosion due to loss of vegetation cover, compaction, steep and inaccessible terrain and dry seasonal conditions; b) risks to water quality particularly in domestic water supply catchments; c) threat and potential impacts of pest plant and animal invasion through soil disturbance, loss of native vegetation cover and increased access; d) potential impact on a number of threatened species, communities and habitats restricted to the areas (Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic.)); e) potential impacts to areas in good condition (areas with low history of past disturbance and with low fragmentation in terms of density of tracks); f) potential loss of wilderness values (section 17C(3) of National Parks Act 1975 (Vic.), and potential loss of remote and natural values (section 21D(6) of National Parks Act 1975 (Vic.)); g) potential impacts to heritage river and natural catchment area values (Heritage Rivers Act 1992 (Vic.)); h) potential loss of high landscape values; i) loss or damage to historic and Indigenous cultural heritage values; j) Loss of public land assets including visitor facilities and infrastructure; k) potential impacts on recreation and tourism values and on lease or licence holders; l) loss of timber growing stock and the need for salvage of timber;
It also addresses the following impacts on fire-affected farmland: m) loss or damage to agricultural production; n) impacts described under (a) – (c) above.
This plan covers the entire fire-affected area as well as an additional perimeter area of public land in which fire control lines were constructed as a precaution against potential fire spread (the rehabilitation area). The additional area is extensive – more than 1 million hectares – although the impacts are widely dispersed (refer to Map 1 and Appendix 3). Rehabilitation activities described under (a) – (g) will be addressed in the additional area.
5 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan The rehabilitation components of the Plan are consistent with the legislation governing the management of public land, particularly that covering land-use categories with additional management requirements such as National Parks, Wilderness Parks, Reference Areas, Heritage Rivers and Prescribed Water Supply Catchment Areas. Appendix 1 identifies the legislative obligations and Table 3 identifies the areas burnt that have additional management requirements.
It should be noted that Sections 336-341 of the Code require public land managers, as soon as practicable after the fire is declared safe, to give particular attention to soil disturbance or exposure caused by suppression activities (such as construction of control lines, helipads or stream crossings) to close temporary fire access tracks, to drain temporary fire access tracks and constructed fire lines (to defined prescriptions) and remove soil and vegetation deposited in streams or wetlands by firefighting operations. This work has been completed.
In addition under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) new access tracks, control lines or helipads may extinguish native title unless closed and rehabilitated. Works did not have to be assessed for validity during the fire emergency. However, if the land manager intends to retain any of these new roads, control lines or other infrastructure the areas will need to be assessed for validity and any procedural rights will need to be followed.
The Planning Process
Planning for the rehabilitation of the fire-affected area commenced in January while the fires were being fought.
In January, the Government established a Ministerial Taskforce on Bushfire Recovery to assess the impacts of the fires and put in place a range of recovery measures. The Department of Sustainability and Environment established a high level Steering Committee, including membership from the Department of Primary Industry and Parks Victoria, to oversee the rehabilitation effort and respond to the Ministerial Task Force.
A series of multi-disciplinary and cross-agency planning teams were formed to assess fire impacts, develop rehabilitation strategies and coordinate a funding submission to facilitate the recovery of public land and adjacent farm land.
The teams were: Ecological and Cultural Rehabilitation Team Catchment and Water Rehabilitation Team Assets Replacement Team Agricultural Rehabilitation Team Organisational Health Team Tourism Team Salvage Harvesting Team Bushfire Recovery Project Team
Much of the material prepared by these planning teams has been used in the development of this Plan - in particular acknowledgment is made of the ‘Statewide
Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 6 Public Land Ecological and Cultural Rehabilitation Plan’ and the 7 sub-plans which underpin it (Parks Victoria 2003).
The relationships are identified in Figure 1.
In February and April, the Government announced a rehabilitation funding program totalling $70.6m♣ to address the fire impacts on public and adjacent private land (Government of Victoria 2003). The Program is to address: • Recovery of catchments and water resources ($23.9m), • Restoring Assets on parks, forests and alpine resorts ($24.9m), • Restoring ecological and cultural heritage ($13.2m), and • Support to farming communities ($8.6m).
This Program forms the fund source for the rehabilitation actions outlined in this Plan.
General Principles
In planning for and implementing rehabilitation and protection works the following general principles were applied:
• priorities for rehabilitation and recovery works are based on an objective assessment of the values of the areas, the extent and impact of fire suppression works and the risks to the values of the area; • the requirements of relevant legislation, guidelines and codes of practice that apply to the management of public land will be addressed (refer to Appendix 2) The Burra Charter of Australia ICOMOS guidelines relating to heritage sites, and existing Parks Victoria/Departmental standards will be adopted where these are relevant; • rehabilitation works will not, in themselves, lead to any further loss of values or significance ; • relevant local Indigenous communities will be involved in assessments of suppression works prior to any rehabilitation to prevent any further damage, and in assessments of damaged or unrecorded sites; • specialist advice will be sought where necessary with respect to matters involving flora and fauna values, cultural heritage, land protection, and catchment protection; • roads and tracks will be restored to their pre-fire status consistent with approved management plans; new tracks and other infrastructure established during fire suppression will be closed and rehabilitated as soon as practicable; • restrictions to public access will be minimised consistent with public safety, environmental impact and rehabilitation considerations, and potential impacts to exposed cultural sites; • species and provenances local to the area and characteristic of its vegetation type will be used, where necessary, for revegetation works; when using seedlings for revegetation, procedures will be adopted to prevent the introduction of diseases, insects or plant pests;
♣ Note: this amount subsequently revised to $68.69m
7 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan • agreement from the relevant landholder on the nature and timing of works will be obtained before any works are commenced on or adjacent to private land; • there will be subsequent monitoring for the purpose of evaluating the success of rehabilitation and recovery measures; • Rehabilitation works will take account of known infestations of Phytophthora cinnamomi sites and take appropriate precautions in undertaking earthworks and movement of machinery; • stabilisation and restoration works before winter on most of the many thousands of kilometres of control lines and other areas cleared during the fires, to reduce the risk of erosion and poor water quality (particularly in the erosion-prone high country water catchments). Initial priority will be given to the immediate surrounds of domestic water supply off-takes.
Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 8 Figure 1 Fire Recovery Coordination arrangements 1. Planning and Budget
Ministerial Taskforce
DSE Steering Committee L Neilson/K Love (DSE - Chair) M Stone (PV), G Vincent (PV) B Kefford (DPI), S Jacquinot (DSE), A Spall (DSE), K King (DSE), R Gowans (DSE), Ron Harris (DPI), Chris McRae (DSE)
Bushfire Recovery Project Team Manager - Janine Haddow
Agriculture Water & Ecological Salvage Tourism Asset R Harris (DPI) Catchments Recovery Harvesting G O’Neill (PV) Replacement J Backhouse C McRae G. Vincent (PV) R. Runnells DSE S.Bowe (DSE) G. O’Neill (PV) B. Thompson (DSE) T Jarvis I Miles (DSE) (DSE) J Burley (DSE)
2. Delivery – through Regional Managers, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Primary Industry, Parks Victoria; and Catchment Management Authorities, Water Authorities.
9 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 3. REHABILITATION STRATEGIES
This Chapter deals with the major values that have been affected by the fires and the threats to those values. – including threatened flora, fauna and vegetation communities, pest plants and animals, catchment and water, infrastructure, cultural heritage, forest resources and agriculture values. The rehabilitation strategies and the outcomes sought for each of the major values are described below. The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5.
For certain key values sets - biodiversity values, catchment values, Indigenous and heritage cultural values - a risk management approach was adopted by Parks Victoria in planning the management response (Parks Victoria 2003).
3.1 THREATENED FLORA, FAUNA AND VEGETATION COMMUNITIES
The natural environments affected by the fire include the Eucalypt forests of the upper and lower slopes and the alpine grassland, shrubland, heathland and sphagnum bog vegetation communities at higher altitudes. History shows that much of these High Plains grasslands and woodlands were very rarely burnt prior to European settlement and there is no evidence that Aboriginals used fire as a management tool in these environments (DSE 2003). The Alpine area within the fire area includes highly fire– sensitive species and habitats. The extent and severity of the fire and the degree of patchiness of the unburnt areas will determine the survival and recovery of these species and habitats.
Threatened flora There are records1 of over 1600 flora species in the fire area, including 342 flora species considered threatened in Victoria of which 44 species are considered a priority for rehabilitation treatments. Of the threatened flora species, 15 are classified as endangered in Victoria, 87 as vulnerable, 192 as rare and 26 as insufficiently known. A total of 33 of these flora species are listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic.) and 32 are classified as nationally threatened and listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (Appendix 3).
Threatened Fauna There are records2 of over 370 fauna species in the fire area, including 132 fauna species considered threatened in Victoria. of which 25 are considered a priority for rehabilitation treatments. Of these threatened fauna species, 7 are classified as critically endangered in Victoria, 18 as endangered, 26 as vulnerable, 24 as lower risk or rare or restricted, and 5 as insufficiently known. A total of 52 of these threatened flora species are listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, and 14 are classified as nationally threatened and listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Appendix 3).
1 Records within the last 30 years, Flora Information System, DSE, September 2002, fire boundary at 24 Feb 2003 2 Records within the last 30 years, Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, DSE, September 2002, fire boundary at 24 Feb 2003 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 10
Ecological Vegetation Classes A total of 52 Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) occur within eight bioregions in the rehabilitation areas in the Alpine fire area. The conservation status of EVCs is classified at the bioregional level and may vary between different bioregions. The EVC analysis has been undertaken at the bioregional level, hence there are 416 EVC in different bioregions in the fire-affected areas. A quarter have more than 50% of their total area in a bioregion in the fire-affected area, 27 of which have >85% in the fire- affected area. Seventy four EVCs are classified as endangered, or vulnerable in the relevant bioregion.
Alpine values The Australian Alps have outstanding natural beauty and are characterised by tall alpine herbfields, heaths and short tussock grasslands with many endemic and threatened species. Remote from other alpine areas in the world and globally unusual, they have communities that are diverse and rare in Australia as well as some of the best examples of remnants of the types of open, grassy landscapes that have largely been eliminated for agriculture over most of Australia (Kirkpatrick 2002).
For the purposes of rehabilitation planning, areas above 1200 m are assumed to be alpine areas. A total of 228 269 ha in the fire-affected area is above 1200 m, this represents over two-thirds of the total area above 1200 m in Victoria.
Major threatening processes that may occur as a consequence of the fire, and which may be exacerbated by the fire were identified and assessed. Assessment of priority values at most risk from these threatening process was completed at the local level with advice from relevant experts. Appendix 4 provides a listing of priority species and communities and the criteria for their selection.
Works to reduce the risks to a suite of threatened communities and species (such as alpine vegetation communities and Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby and Mountain Pygmy- possum) will include protection from soil erosion, predation, other pest animals and weeds. Threatened communities and species listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act and the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act will be given priority particularly where their population is restricted in distribution to the area burnt.
Outcomes sought: - Threatened Flora and Fauna and Vegetation Communities
Satisfactory post-fire recovery of high priority Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) and threatened plant species. This will be achieved by: • monitoring the status and recruitment of a range of rare and threatened plant species and EVCs; • identifying and implementing priority actions to mitigate any identified threats (e.g. post fire recovery of Marbled Daisy Bush at Bindi).
Satisfactory post-fire recovery of high priority fauna species. This will be achieved by: • Monitoring the status and recruitment of a range of threatened fauna species and habitats • Identifying and implementing priority actions to mitigate any identified threats 11 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan • Post-fire habitat/vegetation mapping and population assessment for Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby in Snowy River National Park; • Assessing the effects of the fire on Spotted Tree Frog.
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Project 11).
3.2 PEST PLANT AND ANIMAL THREATS
Pest plants Colonisation of burnt areas by pest plant species, including environmental weeds, is a very real risk to biodiversity, catchment, amenity and recreational values. Many pest plants respond readily to fire by germinating prolifically and growing rapidly in burnt areas that have enhanced nutrient status provided by the ashbed, and directly compete with native understorey species. Table 2 provides a summary of information on key established and emerging pest plants, which was used to guide management priorities for pest plants in the fire-affected area
Table 2 Major pest plant species to be addressed in the Alpine fire area
Common Scientific Fire response Values affected name name English Cytisus Responds very readily to fire: Biodiversity (strong competitor Broom*/ scoparisus EnglishBroom an early colonising against native understorey Cape species; massive seedling species, restricts regeneration Broom* recruitment from soil seedbank of forest trees); recreational post-fire; mosaic burn patterns values (restricts access to create ideal conditions for watercourses etc); amenity widespread English Broom values; catchment values germination and colonisation. (lowers pristine water catchment values) Blackberry* Rubus Responds readily to fire: widespread Significant impact on fruticosus agg. throughout fire-affected area; biodiversity, amenity and extensive regrowth will occur from recreational values. crowns and lateral roots post-fire; recruitment from soil seed bank may also occur. Himalayan Leycesteria Capable of withstanding repeated Biodiversity (known to be Honeysuckle formosa low-intensity burns; response to transferred by herbivores * intense wildfire is unclear. including deer). Orange Hieracium Known to be promoted by fire in Biodiversity - Highly invasive Hawkweed* aurantiacum USA; New or emerging threat with species, out-competing native enormous potential to spread. species in grassland communities. Current distribution is limited to Falls Creek, and one more recent incursion at Mount Buller (treated with herbicide). St John’s Hypericum Responds readily to fire: brief Wort perforatum exposure to temperatures of 100°C - 140°C significantly increases germination, hence there is a dense seedling growth following fires. Gorse Ulex Responds readily to fire: significant europaeus recruitment from the soil seed bank will occur post fire. Although high intensity fire may kill a proportion of the seed bank. 12 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Paterson’s Echium Seed remains dormant in the soil Curse/ plantagineum/ and while a high intensity fire may Vipers Echium kill off many seeds, lower intensity Bugloss vulgare fires may promote germination of seedlings. Vipers Bugloss is a new or emerging threat. Bridal Asparagus Not advantaged or disadvantaged: Creeper asparagoides high intensity fire event may effect the viability of the tuberous root mass. African Eragrostis New or emerging threat thought to Lovegrass curvula respond well to fire. Serrated Nassella 2. New or emerging threats that Tussock/ trichotoma/ respond well to fire. Chilean Nasella Needle nessiana Grass *priorities for consideration Source of data: adapted from information supplied by Kate McArthur, KTRI, DSE
Pest plants of particular concern are English and Cape Broom, Blackberry, Orange Hawkweed, and Honeysuckles. Other infestations will be targeted according to the threat and risk they pose to biodiversity values. A triage approach will be adopted. This approach is based on the premise that effective conservation planning must avoid the allocation of scarce resources to areas/assets that will fail to persist regardless of actions taken to protect or manage them. It assigns action to one of three categories: 1) Those which can be helped by action, 2) Those which will probably persist without action, 3) Those which are likely to continue to decline regardless of the amount of action. Implementation will focus on controlling emergent weeds prior to propagation in areas where they have the greatest potential to impact on biodiversity. In some instances, visitor and vehicle access may be restricted to prevent spread of pest plants to vulnerable sites.
Parks Victoria has established an Adaptive Experimental Management (AEM) project for weed control that will determine the efficiency, effectiveness and environmental outcome associated with specific weed control projects. The AEM approach allows for simultaneous trials of alternative control techniques to identify the most efficient and effective methods. The AEM project will be the cornerstone for continuous improvement of weed control outcomes in relation to biodiversity values.
Pest Animals Competition and predation by introduced animals can increase following passage of a fire. Loss of vegetation cover and reduced spatial distribution of species resulting from the fire may increase the potential for a suite of species, including Mountain Pygmy- possum, Long-footed Potoroo and Smoky Mouse, to be preyed on by predators such as foxes.
Anecdotal information suggests that fox populations would not have been greatly affected by the immediate effects of the fire due to their use of underground dens. However, populations may vary depending on prey species availability and ability to switch between prey species. Foxes are a particular threat to medium-sized mammals.The spatial distribution of selected vulnerable biodiversity assets was used to identify areas where significant threats due to pest animals were likely to act, and therefore, to identify priority areas for addressing those threats. For example, fox predation was identified as a high priority threatening process, so areas with high
13 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan priority species vulnerable to fox predation were identified and used to inform management priorities.
Other pest species including rabbits, deer, pigs and horses will also be controlled in areas where significant biodiversity values are at risk from these species. Collaborative partnerships will be established with the Victorian Brumby Running Association, New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Australian Alpine Liaison Committee to achieve reduction in pest animal populations.
Implementation of pest plant and animal programs will be consistent with Victoria’s statewide strategy for pest management, Victorian Pest Management: A Framework for Action and underlying documents on specific species and the Public Land Pest Management Strategy. The Framework provides a vision for a consistent and cooperative approach to cost effective and best practice pest management on public and private land and water.
Pest plant and animal control programs on private land are covered in section 3.11 Agriculture.
Outcomes sought: - Pest Plant and Animal Threats
Maintaining the ecological integrity of natural ecosystems: • in the Mitta Mitta River headwaters through a major program to contain and reduce English and Cape Broom; • at Mt Buffalo and surrounds through a major program to contain and reduce Himalayan Honeysuckle; • Targeted control of populations of Blackberry, English Broom, Cape Broom, St John’s Wort, Paterson’s Curse, Orange Hawkweed and Himalayan Honeysuckle in priority areas.
Threatened and critical weight range native fauna protected through targeted broadscale fox control programs in the following areas: • East Gippsland Southern Ark project area; • Humphrey /Riley Long-footed Potoroo Colony; • other areas indicated where ongoing benefits to key fauna species are identified (eg Spot-Tailed Quoll and Mountain Pygmy Possum).
Understanding of the ecology and grazing impacts of Sambar deer in the post- fire environment improved through research. Implement control measures where warranted. Significantly reduced impact of brumbies, rabbits and pigs on indigenous ecosystems in the Alpine National Park and State forest, through a program of control, monitoring and research.
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Project 11).
3.3 CATCHMENT AND WATERWAYS
Catchment and waterway values
14 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan The land impacted by the fires includes the headwaters of some of Victoria’s most important river systems and water supply catchments. These catchments contribute one quarter of the water supply to the Murray River, and also supply the Gippsland Lakes, and a range of irrigation districts and commercial and domestic water users. Many towns in East Gippsland and north-east Victoria, and the Mt Hotham and Falls Creek Alpine Resorts rely on these catchments for domestic water.
Within the fire boundary there are a high number of streams and rivers in a largely unmodified condition. Of the 29 river basins in Victoria, 8 basins occur in the fire area, including four that are in good or excellent condition (refer Table 10). The management principles outlined in the Victorian River Health Strategy place priority on the protection of ecologically healthy and high value rivers, and these principles will guide fire rehabilitation works. Additionally, the fire-affected areas contain high value recreational fisheries that may be impacted by the fires, refer to section 3.10 for specific details on recreational fisheries recovery.
Table 3 River Basin condition in Victoria and the Alpine fire area
Basin condition No. of basins in Victoria Basins included in the Alpine Fire area Excellent 2 Mitchell Good 4 Snowy Tambo Thomson Moderate 4 Upper Murray Ovens Poor 4 Kiewa Goulburn Very Poor 13 0 Not classified 2 0 Source of data: Basin condition is a data layer provided in the Index of Stream Condition (ISC) – DSE. Basin condition uses the percentage of streams in good or excellent condition to assign basin condition.
Twenty-four high-value potable water supply catchments were identified by the relevant Catchment Management Authorities (CMA) within the fire rehabilitation area. Of these, fifteen were contained within the fire area and were considered critical catchment values to protect. A total of 44% of the fire-affected area covers potable water supply catchments. These are Walwa; Dartmouth; Yakandandah; Buckland River; Ovens River; Buffalo Creek; Simmonds Creek; West Kiewa; Harrietville; Corryong; Bakers Gully; Mitchell River; Buchan River; Tambo River; Butchers Creek. However, due to high levels of fire control activities outside the fire boundary, there are additional potable water supplies at risk.
Catchment and waterway threats Fire directly impacts on catchment values and processes by altering vegetation cover, soil properties, stream flow and aquatic biota. Changes to vegetation may be short term when species are adapted to fire, or long term when fire regimes occur that do not suit some species. Any changes in vegetation structure and composition in turn significantly influence soil properties, and water quality and quantity.
15 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Soil may exhibit biological, chemical and physical changes from fire depending on the fire intensity. Soils also show a range of responses depending on soil type and structure. In general, soils become more hydrophobic after fire, which increases their risk to erosion. In some rare cases organic soils may even burn which results in highly modified soil types and hydrology.
Water quality and catchment values/processes face possible deleterious effects from a range of physical processes post fire–most notably erosion and sedimentation. These impacts may be experienced as soon as the first heavy rains fall in the fire-affected area and continue for months or even years. Several types of erosion may occur within the fire boundary each with varying geographical scales of impact and varying degrees of severity. The soil erosion itself degrades the immediate soil profile and releases nutrients.
Large-scale sediment and nutrient transport may occur within catchments and result in modified catchments with highly altered soils and water quality. Increased sediment input to rivers and streams due to soil erosion has an impact on aquatic ecosystems and may result in downstream turbidity and significant sediment deposition in river channels, water storages and wetlands. This is listed as a potentially threatening process under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (NRE 2001).
Transport of timber and other debris from fire ravaged area of catchments to waterways is likely to occur and combined with sediment deposition will impact on the flow carrying capacity of waterways causing localised flooding and erosion with potential for river breakaways. There is also the risk of damage from timber and other debris to assets of public authorities, including Catchment Management Authorities. Items such as bridges, rock chutes and other existing erosion control works may be impacted.
Altered catchment condition, particularly with regard to soil and vegetation characteristics, can lead to altered hydrology. In the short-term, peak flows are likely to increase because of increased run off and reduced adsorption, while in the medium to long-term, stream flows are expected to decrease because of rapidly growing regrowth. Any long-term changes depend on the extent and degree of change in soil and vegetation properties. Apart from the impact on already depleted water storages, this has implications for diversion licenses throughout eastern Victoria, particularly along the Murray River where as much as 40 per cent of the catchment has been burnt, and for the supply of water to meet requirements for environmental flows. Research into the likely impacts on catchment yield over the next five to ten years is required, and has been partially funded through the Bushfire Recovery Program.
In-stream aquatic environments may show no direct response to fire, however rainfall events and subsequent erosion and sedimentation can impact on aquatic communities and populations of sensitive species. Water quality changes, particularly high turbidity and low dissolved oxygen, can lead to fish kills, while increased nutrient concentrations may lead to eutrophication and subsequent algal blooms. Sediment deposition may affect habitat availability and breeding success. Long term decreases in flow may also affect habitat and other factors important for ecosystem health. The fire-affected rivers are home to a number of threatened and high value fish, invertebrates and recreational angling species.
Fire suppression activities such as control lines, helipads, and temporary stream crossings have localised but significant impacts. The clearing of land leaves soil exposed to erosion, pest invasion and fragments the environment. Any stream crossings or other physical barriers impact on stream flows and aquatic biota. While
16 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan impacts are generally short term (while the barrier exists), they have the potential to dramatically alter stream condition if left unchecked.
Stabilisation of Fire Control Lines Approximately 6,500♣ km of fire control lines were constructed on both private and public land as part of the fire suppression strategy. These lines were put in place both at the fire edge and in adjacent land to stop the fires and protect property. The lines were created through forests and parks as well as in private farmland. Many fire control lines were constructed in pubic land well outside the fire-affected area as contingency against anticipated fire spread.
Given the intensity of the fire and the extent of fire control lines, it was important to prioritise rehabilitation works to minimise risks to catchment values - particularly the minimisation of potential soil erosion associated with control lines constructed on steep slopes and/or highly erodible soils and minimisation of the loss of water quality caused by other fire control works.
Five priority zones were derived from combinations of overlays of map layers (including Catchment Values, Basin Condition, Catchment Vulnerability, Water Supply Catchments, Land Category and Significant Vegetation). These zones were used to guide rehabilitation priority. Rehabilitation of new and existing control lines and other areas damaged by suppression activities became the first priority for rehabilitation teams. A detailed list of the works required for restoration of fire control lines and other damage from suppression activities and the standards required to be met is provided in local area rehabilitation area plans (Parks Victoria 2003).
By 30 June 2003 this work was completed to the required standards.
Water Quality, Water Yield and River Ecosystems The threatening processes outlined in section 5.2 above will impact on the fire affected catchments with regard to water quality, water yield and river health.
Water quality will decrease as the turbidity, load of sediment and nutrients in watercourses, storages and lakes increases. As new and growing vegetation generally consumes greater quantities of water than mature forests, there is also likely to be a long-term reduction in water yield. In-stream ecosystems will be affected by the increase in turbidity, sediment and nutrient input to rivers and streams, increased stream bank scouring, changes to streambed characteristics and altered watercourse shape.
Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) are the ‘caretakers of river health’ and have responsibility for waterway management. It is essential that the results of the above monitoring and research projects are fed into the relevant regional planning processes.
Fire severity mapping Fire severity mapping has been undertaken to support land managers in planning and implementation of works. Satellite imagery and aerial photographs has been analysed and classified to determine fire severity across the fire areas.
♣ Initials estimate of 9,000km of control lines constructed on public and private land, has been revised to 6500km. 17 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Fire severity data, available for most of the fire area, will help guide recovery monitoring efforts. The percentage of rehabilitation areas burnt at different fire severity classes and the total area for each class are shown in Table 4.
Table 4 Fire severity areas (hectares) according to land category
Fire Severity Class Parks and State Forest Freehold Total Fire Reserves Severity Class
Forest - Crown Burnt 55,800 29,500 2,700 88,000 Forest - Severe Crown 217,200 202,700 19,200 439,100 Scorch Forest - Moderate Crown 75,000 107,000 8,200 190,200 Scorch Forest - Light Crown 114,500 166,000 11,400 291,900 Scorch Treeless - Burnt 4,200 800 21,900 26,900 Treeless – Unclassified 2,400 500 26,300 29,200 Unburnt/ Unclassified 1,100 800 300 2,200 Totals by land category 470,200 507,300 90,000 1,067,500 Source of data: Victorian Alpine Fires 2003 Maps – CD produced by the Department of Sustainability and Environment August 2003.
Outcomes sought: - Catchment and Water
Watercourses in the fire area protected from increased nutrient and sediment loads from roads and fire containment lines through: • containment lines on public land and private land stabilised and revegetated where appropriate (completed); • monitoring, maintenance and repair of tracks and drainage structures as the fire area revegetates; • spreading of logs, topsoil and debris on temporary breaks created during the fire; • road / water quality survey and implementation of priority works on stream crossings; • repairs to tracks, signs and gates where vehicles are illegally using control lines as access tracks, associated with appropriate enforcement activities.
Sensitive habitats protected from erosion, siltation and habitat fragmentation including: • monitoring, protection and restoration of alpine bogs;
Domestic water quality to surrounding towns and Alpine Resorts protected through: • urgent actions immediately post-fire to protect domestic water quality to towns and Alpine Resorts (completed); • longer-term capital works proposals for new water supply infrastructure.
Major waterways extending beyond the fire affected area rehabilitated following rainfall, including: • silt and debris location/removal; • river bank rehabilitation and protection works;
18 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan • Repair/rebuilding of CMA assets, including in-stream structures, frontage fencing and revegetation.
Burnt catchments monitored to provide information for ongoing and future management, including: • baseline and predicted changes to water yield and quality; • potential for altered flood risk; • impacts of sediments and nutrients entering waterways on river health and the potential for algal blooms; • impact on and recovery of threatened and high value aquatic species.
Improved understanding of fire severity, This will be achieved through: • including detailed mapping to support rehabilitation projects; • production of a range of digital, photographic and paper products.
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Projects 1(a), 1(b), 2, 3, 4(c), 13)
3.4 ECOLOGICAL FIRE MANAGEMENT
In Victoria DSE and PV are the agencies responsible for the management of wildfire and prescribed fire on all public land and have long recognised the need for a holistic approach to the management of fire. As such the role of fire for managing ecosystems to maintain biodiversity values is well recognised. The Interim Guidelines and Procedures for Ecological Burning on Public Land (NRE 1999) were developed to enable a scientifically-based approach to setting ecological objectives and developing ecologically appropriate fire regimes which could be monitored for their achievements of the desired biodiversity outcome. The approach is based on the life history characteristics (vital attributes) of plant species from which a biologically-appropriate fire cycle can be derived.
The collection of vital attribute data from across the fire-affected area and its inclusion on the Flora Information System, will form the key project in this program. The information will be used to inform future ecologically-based burn planning.
Outcomes sought: - Ecological Fire Management
Improved ability to develop and implement ecologically-based burning strategies by: • collecting vital attribute data to fill key gaps in the database for deriving fire cycles;
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Project 11)
3.5 LICENSED GRAZING
19 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Grazing of domestic stock under licence occurs across public land in both the Alpine National Park and State forest in the fire-affected area. There are approximately 176 licences across the fire area.
The grazing areas encompass a range of vegetation types, which were extensively burnt in the fires. Grazing and trampling by cattle pose risks to a range of ecological and cultural values. In the alpine environment in particular, grazing impacts include damage to alpine bog communities and soil structure, introduction and spread of weeds, increase in bare ground and modification to the composition of the native plants that are grazed.
Impacts of cattle grazing may be exacerbated following fire when stock concentrates on unburnt areas or on emergent growth in burnt areas. Alpine bog and moss-beds are highly susceptible to complete elimination following fire and consequent erosion to the underlying pavement.
In an effort to minimise impacts immediately after the fires, cattlemen were invited to remove stock from licensed grazing areas in the Alpine National Park and State forest which were more than 50% burnt. The return of cattle to alpine and State forest grazing areas in summer 2003-04 is being restricted in order to minimise environmental impacts.
Outcomes sought: - Management of Licensed Grazing
Maintenance of the integrity of ecosystems and catchments through: • Development of a grazing management strategy to protect conservation values on public land; • Rehabilitation of alpine bog and mossbed communities in alpine grazing runs and other fire affected areas; and • establishment of monitoring requirements to inform management decisions.
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Projects 1a, 11).
3.6 INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE
Although less than 1% of public land has been surveyed, a total of 392 Indigenous Cultural Sites that have been registered with Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) are known to occur within the area affected by the 2003 fires. Ten site types have been identified within the fire boundary, but the significance of these site types has not been identified. A summary of the number of sites for each site type is given in Table 5.
Table 5 Number and type of Indigenous sites in rehabilitation areas
Site Type Total
Aboriginal Place 1
20 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Artefact Scatter 339 Burial ground 1 Grinding Groove 1 Scarred Tree 35 Rock Wall 1 Stone Arrangement 2 Art Site 4 Soil Deposit 3 Fish/ Eel Trap 1 Quarry/stone source 4 Total 392 Source of data: Cultural Resource Management, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.
Threatening processes that may occur as a consequence of the fire, and which are likely to affect Indigenous cultural values within the fire area were identified, and will guide assessment and rehabilitation priorities. These threatening processes are - erosion, vandalism and pilfering, and inappropriate rehabilitation activity.
Planning and implementation of appropriate protection, conservation and restoration activities will be aimed at preserving values, or where determined to be appropriate, recovering affected values. The opportunities for more widespread assessment of the exposed ground will also be capitalised on.
An important component will be the establishment of cooperative relationships with Indigenous communities in assessment and rehabilitation works. This will also involve the engagement of site monitors and cultural officers to work with rehabilitation teams.
Outcomes sought: - Indigenous Cultural Heritage
Improved understanding and protection of Indigenous values in the fire affected regions through: • archaeological surveys based on ‘cultural sensitivity’ mapping and disturbances; • updating of the AAV Register, where appropriate, and provision of this information for fire suppression and rehabilitation; • work with relevant local Indigenous communities to establish protection measures for identified cultural values / artefacts; • bringing together all parties (archaeologists, community representatives, Indigenous land owners, and management personnel) to consolidate survey findings and recommendations for the fire area. • improved understanding of indigenous heritage across the community.
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Project 12).
3.7 CULTURAL HERITAGE
21 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan A total of 443 historic places are known to exist within the area affected by the 2003 fires. Places were grouped into one of three categories: Huts, Mining Sites or Other Sites. Assessment to determine whether the places were burnt and the extent of the damage is being carried out. Preliminary assessment indicates that of the total of 81 huts in the fire-affected area, 46 were burnt. The value or significance of places were identified from DSE and Parks Victoria heritage databases consistent with the Burra Charter. Four levels of significance are used: State, Regional, Local and Nil. A summary of the number and significance of historic places in each rehabilitation area is given in Table 6.
Table 6 Number and type of heritage places in rehabilitation areas
Category Significance Total Hut State 16 Regional 16 Local 33 Nil 16 Total 81 Mine Site State 41 Regional 65 Local 203 Nil 0 Total 309 Other Site State 2 Regional 19 Local 32 Nil 0 Total 53 Total 443 Source of data: Asset Management System (Parks Victoria), Heritage Inventory (Heritage Victoria), Australian Alps Mining Heritage Conservation and Preservation Strategy Database (Australian Alps Liaison Committee), DSE Historic Places Database.
Threatening processes that may occur as a consequence of the fire, and which are likely to affect heritage values in the fire area were identified based on the process for Heritage Conservation Risk Assessment outlined by Smith (2002). Six threatening processes thought to be exacerbated by the fire were identified: - Inappropriate Management/Rehabilitation Activity, Vandalism and Pilfering, Erosion, Structural Deterioration, Weathering, and Lack of Understanding.
Actions to protect what remains of a diminishing heritage resource are the main priority. This will include investigation and assessment of the nature and extent of damage, survey of huts and other selected areas of known previous historic activity now exposed through the stripping of ground cover by the wildfire.
Priority locations comprise the historic gold mining areas of Mt Wills, Oriental Claims, Cassilis and Dart River / Greens Creek in the east Alps, and the Nine Mile Creek, Buckland Valley and Monarch mine in the North West Alps, as well as historic Alpine huts largely concentrated in the Bogong area, but also at Mt Buffalo and the East Alps.
22 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Conservation projects aimed at preserving surviving values or where possible recovering compromised values and allowing opportunities for visitor access and tourism will be undertaken. Key sites include the Maude and Yellow Girl mine complex at Glen Wills, the Wallaby mine near Beechworth, the Monarch and Red Robin mines near Mt Hotham, and a range of hut sites.
Outcomes sought: - Cultural Heritage
Improved conservation of non-Indigenous heritage sites in the fire area by: • assessing the impact of the fire and the need for Heritage Action Plans or conservation works for huts (and hut sites) (including those previously unrecorded) and other heritage sites associated with settlements, sawmilling and tourism; • developing a Hut Strategy for all huts in the Alpine National Park; • preparing Heritage Action Plans, implementing conservation works and securing portable artefacts at priority sites including Mt Murphy, Mt Wills, Maude & Yellow Girl mine sites, Cassilis, and Mitta River Valley.
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Project 13).
3.8 LANDSCAPE, WILDERNESS AND OTHER VALUES
There are many landscapes identified as having high scenic values across the fire- affected area, some of national and arguably international significance. The vast rolling foothills and the higher Alpine areas have a range of altitudinally influenced landscapes from cleared farmland valley floors through forested mountain foothills and ranges to sup-alpine plateaux and peaks.
The duration of the impacts of the fire and suppression activities on landscape values will vary. Depending on fire severity, blackened or bare and scorched areas will revegetate relatively quickly. The impacts of control lines that were built by hand tools and existing roads and tracks that were temporarily widened, will be minimised by the early implementation of rehabilitation works. However, machine constructed control lines including fallback control lines, and areas burnt with such severity that tree death results, will leave a gap in the canopy for a considerable period. There are a number of major tourist routes and high value landscapes, visual corridors and visually prominent ridgelines and slopes where longer-term impacts will be evident.
The fires have impacted a range of park and State forest categories as identified in Table 1. Each category has a suite of legislated management objectives – some of which require the land manager to give specific attention to rehabilitation following wildfire. For example, in Wilderness Parks, ‘…the Secretary may carry out works and maintenance necessary to enable anything permitted under sub-section (2) [includes measures to prevent and control fire] to be done and, where degradation has occurred as a result of essential management activities, must undertake rehabilitation as soon as practicable’ (s17C(3) National Parks Act).
23 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Certain public land categories or zones ‘overlay’ park and forest areas. They have separate management objectives and may therefore have different rehabilitation requirements to the ‘underlying’ land use. Thus Remote and Natural Zones (RNZs) overlaying parks have legislated objectives to preserve the remote and natural character of the area. If degradation has resulted [eg from a fire], rehabilitation must be undertaken in RNZs to ‘…prevent loss or minimise loss or degradation of the natural condition or appearance’ of the area.’ (s21D(4)(d) National Parks Act). .
The type and extent of overlay categories in the fire area is summarised in Table 7. A list of the categories, and the legislated obligations that relate to rehabilitation following fire, is outlined in Appendix 1 and 2. It should be noted that management objectives for these areas should be carefully examined to determine priorities, as there may be two or three zones overlaying the same area of land (eg the Alpine National Park is overlain by the Snowy River Natural Catchment Area, which is part overlain by the Snowy River Heritage River.
Table 7 Extent of ‘overlay’ land categories in the fire area Reference Wilderness Remote Heritage Natural PWSC Area (ha) Zone (ha) and River Catchment Area* Natural Area (ha) Area (ha) (ha) Area (ha) 9 318 57 425 62 297 21 832 25 217 952 513 * PWSC area is Prescribed Water Supply Catchment area Source of data: GIS Park-bound layer (PV) and Public Land Management layer (PLM2000) (DSE)
Outcomes sought: - Landscape, Wilderness and other values
Rehabilitation projects take due account of landscape impacts and of the management objectives of the range of land-use and overlay categories.
3.9 PATHOGENS
Plant and animal pathogens, such as the Cinnamon Fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, and Chrytid Fungus, affecting amphibians such as the critically endangered Alpine Tree Frog (Litoria verreauxi alpina), occur within the fire-affected area.
Cinnamon Fungus has been listed as a Potentially Threatening Process under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (‘The spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi from infected sites into parks and reserves, including roadsides, under the control of a state or local government authority’), due to the potential for dieback of susceptible native plant species and consequent changes to plant community structure. It is primarily spread through drainage water run-off from infected sites, use of contaminated road- making material and from dispersal of contaminated soil adhering to vehicles and machinery. A Statewide Strategy is currently in preparation.
The Cinnamon Fungus has been identified from the Alpine National Park and the Snowy River National Park and various areas of State forest. Many areas affected by the fires in 2003 fall into localities considered to be of low hazard to Phytophthora
24 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan cinnamomi due to the cold winter temperatures. Also, the adherence to a policy that ensures weed species are not introduced will also contribute to preventing any accidental introduction of the pathogen.
‘Infection of amphibians with Chytrid Fungus, resulting in chytridiomycosis’ has been nominated for listing under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1998 (Vic).
Outcomes sought: - Pathogens
To keep areas free of harmful pathogens by maintaining a high level of hygiene and thereby reducing the risk of spread. Rehabilitation works will take account of known infestations of Phytophthora cinnamomi sites and take appropriate precautions, particularly in undertaking earthworks and in movement of machinery.
3.10 RECREATION, TOURISM AND INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS
The fire-affected areas encompass significant recreation, and tourism destinations in 36 parks and reserves, extensive areas of State forest and the Mt Hotham and Falls Creek Alpine Resorts. These areas attract approximately 800 000 visitors per annum. Of the wide variety of recreational activities occurring within the area, the most popular include camping, fishing, bushwalking, skiing, horseriding, photography, four-wheel driving, and visiting notable features such as viewing points and historic sites.
Within this area there are extensive road and track networks used by through traffic, visitors, commercial users as well as for land management activities. This network has been variously affected by the fires (fallen trees and debris) and as part of fire suppression efforts, and is currently being repaired.
Visitor facilities Facilities in 12 parks have suffered extensive damage, including bridges, buildings, camping grounds, car parks, fencing, general facilities, furniture, paths, trails and walking tracks, roads, roofed accommodation (including alpine huts), shelter, signage, snow poles, toilets, viewing lookouts and water access structures. Damage to infrastructure assets in Alpine Resorts included roads and carparks, ski-poles, fencing and skier bridges. The extent of damaged assets in parks is summarised in Table 8.
Table 8 Assets damaged in parks
Asset Class No. in Parks
Access Structures 12 Bridges 32 Camping Grounds 23 Carparks 19 Fencing 10 General Facilities 46 Park Furniture 76 Paths, Trails & Walking Track 236 25 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Roads 352 Shelter 9 Signage 500 Snow Poles 265 Toilets 16 Viewing Lookouts 7
Source of data: Asset Management System (Parks Victoria).
Roads and Tracks Most main roads in the fire-affected area were re-opened during February 2003 and asset assessments and risk control works have focused on sites and tracks along these main travel routes as the highest priority.
Basic repairs and risk control such as hazardous tree removal and removal of hazardous residues such as treated pine ash were effected at these priority locations in time for the key peak use periods of March Labour Day long weekend and the Easter School Holiday period. Mt Buffalo Chalet re-opened for overnight guests in early March. Overall about 90 (70%) of the major sites in parks were re-opened to the public prior to winter, most in time for Easter. A major program of temporary signage was implemented to warn visitors of risks and identify closed and open tracks and sites.
Normal seasonal road closures, due to wet weather, came into force as in other years after the Queens Birthday weekend (12 June) and will be accompanied by the continued closure of additional roads and tracks due to fire damage. Re-opening of remote four-wheel drive tracks, and remote walking and riding tracks used by recreational groups and tourism operators remains a key priority.
In State forest areas the main challenge is re-opening the very extensive road and four- wheel-drive track network with a number of camping and picnic areas and huts to be repaired.
Licensed Tour Operators Parks Victoria has been working closely with the Victorian Tourism Operators Association (VTOA), Tourism Victoria, regional tourism organisations and other government agencies to lead the delivery of timely and accurate information regarding access and a co coordinated return and recovery strategy.
Of the 220 tour operators licensed by Parks Victoria to gain access to public land, 64 were licensed to use areas affected by the Alpine fires.
Parks Victoria has maintained a regular dialogue with both VTOA and Tourism Victoria and has facilitated workshops with licensed tour operators (LTOs) and tourism industry stakeholders at both Bright and Omeo during February. Parks Victoria also commissioned VTOA to deliver a report summarising the impact the Alpine fires had on Parks Victoria LTOs.
The Parks Victoria website (Parkweb) has maintained a detailed section dedicated to the latest available information regarding access to fire affected areas to assist LTOs, local tourism and customers. Parks Victoria and DSE sponsored a 4-page liftout in the Herald Sun on 9 April highlighting reasons to return to North East Victoria and Gippsland. 26 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Tourism businesses are now focused on their summer programs with a clear expectation of access to fire-affected areas.
Asset Replacement Program Sites are currently being surveyed to finalaise detailed damage reports following the fire. The first priority is to complete the assessment of assets; sites, paths and trails across the fire-affected areas. Government assets damaged or destroyed in the fires are insured through the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, and rebates will fund the replacement of assets to a large extent.
Parks Victoria have developed a rolling three-year works program based on results of the assessments to date. Implementation of the Bushfire Recovery Program will require a significant effort across Parks Victoria, DSE, DPI and other agencies including CMA’s, Water Authorities and Municipal Councils. Where appropriate, joint delivery of works is being established to ensure efficient and effective delivery of program objectives.
Where possible, projects will be grouped for economies of scale and preferred suppliers sought for routine work items such as tree risk works and signage. Local contractors, trades and suppliers will be encouraged to tender for the recovery works to help stimulate local economies and aid the regional recovery process. Where possible, partnerships will be developed with the local community and other interest groups to assist in the recovery process.
There has been ongoing communication with the public and stakeholders by both DSE and PV as to the status of visitor access in the fire-affected area and this will continue.
Recreational fishing Recreational fishing is a popular activity in the rivers, headwater streams and impoundments within the fire-affected area, and contributes significant tourism revenue to surrounding towns. The fires have impacted streamside vegetation and have resulted in the entry of sediments and debris into watercourses. There has been an unquantified impact on in-stream habitats, and on the fish species valued by recreational anglers.
Recreational fish populations and fish habitat will be assessed to determine where restocking is required to restore the recreational fishery. Assessments of river fish populations will be undertaken to evaluate the success of stocking programs where they are undertaken. The recovery of resident fish populations, and any of those that are stocked, will be accompanied by surveys to determine angler success and satisfaction.
Outcomes sought: - Recreation, Tourism and Infrastructure Assets
Restore safe visitor access to sites damaged by the fires. This will be achieved through a staged work program that will include:
27 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan • Specialist assessment of structures and public risk , ie: engineering assessments of damaged assets and Arborist assessment of trees; • assessment of risk of flood or landslip on tracks and roads; assessment of risk to visitors due to missing signs, snow poles, presence of treated pine ash; • Demolition of unsafe structures; Progressive reopening of roads and tracks following clearing of debris and removal of hazards; • Provision of appropriate and targeted information to tour operators and visitors to parks, forests and alpine resorts; • Assistance for affected Licensed Tour Operators (LTOs)
Restoration or replacement of required visitor and infrastructure assets. This will be achieved through a 3 year staged recovery program in parks that will include: • Identification of required assets through use of Levels of Service, site importance scores, and local knowledge. Sites will be ranked using this existing system and sites with very high and high levels of service will be deemed as Priority Works;
Repair or replacement of assets subsequently damaged by future flash flooding. (Because of the extensive fire area there is a potential for damage to roads and stream crossings from runoff and localised flash flooding and storm events over the coming winter and spring.) This will be addressed by: • Specialist assessment of structures and public risk; • Repair and replacement as required.
Re-establish recreational fisheries in appropriate locations through: • Assessment of in-stream habitat recovery and current fish stocks; • Undertake restocking with game species where appropriate.
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Projects 5, 7, 8, 14).
3.11 COMMERCIAL FOREST RESOURCES
More than 400,000ha of State forest were burnt in the fires. The impact on commercial timber species varies with the species of Eucalypt and the intensity of the fire. Ash eucalypt species (eg Eucalyptus delegatensis) are very sensitive to the effects of fire, and trees that have lost foliage or have scorched foliage are unlikely to survive. Most other mixed or stringybark species are less fire sensitive and will regenerate, but will incur some timber degrade.
Approximately 9000 ha of E delegatensis of harvestable age has been killed.
Assessments have revealed that 3,551 ha of young regrowth E delegatensis forests were killed by the fires. These trees have no mature seed, and therefore are unable to regenerate. Some of these regrowth forests occur in the Alpine National Park (in stands that were logged prior to creation of the park, or arise from once-only logging in the park), and most occur in State forest. A further 2,150 ha survived the fires, being unburnt or lightly burnt.
28 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Salvage Harvesting Up to 500,000 cubic meters of sawlogs and one million cubic metres of residual timber will be harvested from fire-killed E. delegatensis forests in a salvage operation over the next two seasons, to ensure the timber can be utilised before it degrades. These forests are identified as available for harvesting under the North-East and East Gippsland Regional Forest Agreements, and were earmarked for logging over coming years. The operations will be subject to independent audits from the Environment Protection Authority and the salvage operation will be managed under new salvage prescriptions with tight conservation guidelines to ensure best practice in environmental performance.
Reseeding operations Following harvesting, these areas will be regenerated with seed endemic to the region. It is also intended to regenerate young regrowth E delegatensis forests killed by the fires, around Corryong, Mitta Mitta and Ovens in the North East and around Swifts Creek, Omeo, and the Nunnett district in East Gippsland, using seed collected from nearby unburnt stands.
A major effort was mounted to collect and sow Alpine Ash seed before the first heavy snowfalls of 2003. Most of the required seed was obtained and areas sown prior to winter 2003. The process involved professional climbers who scale tall mature trees and de-limb sections of the crown to allow ground crew to gather the seed capsules. These are then bagged and sent to special extraction units, where they are heated and rotated to release the seed. Some seed has been collected from the Alpine National Park (under special arrangements and protocols) to provide for re-seeding in the park (should this be required), and in nearby State forest.
Outcomes sought:- Commercial Forest Resources
Fire-killed immature stands of E delegatensis are regenerated in State Forest: • Using seed collected from the nearest unburnt stands (including from parks where approved); • Maximising opportunities for reseeding onto receptive seedbeds prior to Winter 2003 (completed); • Undertaking reseeding onto remaining sites using mechanical disturbance techniques, post winter 2003; • Evaluating requirement to reseed immature E. delegatensis stands in parks (areas that have been previously logged).
Fire-killed stands on suitable sites are salvaged harvested and reseeded following harvesting: • Within a two-year timeframe to minimise loss of valuable timber resources; • Under conservation guidelines that that ensure best environmental performance during the salvage; • Using seed collected from the nearest unburnt stands (including from parks where approved).
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Project 9).
29 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 3.11 AGRICULTURE
A number of townships, small settlements and agricultural lands border the fire area, particularly on the northern and southern flanks. Townships such as Suggan Buggan, Gelantipy, Wugulmerang, Benambra, Omeo, Swifts Creek, Mitta Mitta, Corryong, Mount Beauty, Bright, Wandiligong, Beechworth, Yackandandah and Eldorado were affected by the fires.
Approximately 90,000 hectares of farmland and 26 houses, covering 364 farms, were burnt in the fires. Many farms suffered loss of livestock, farm buildings, fencing, fodder and pasture, with resultant serious impacts on the sustainability of farm enterprises.
An estimated 1,700 km of fencing bordering Crown lands was damaged or destroyed. Approximately 13,000 stock were lost and more than 150,000 sheep and cattle survived the fires but were faced with little or no feed. In many areas, fire control lines were constructed through farmland as part of the fire suppression strategy. An assessment of the impacts of the fires on adjoining landholders is summarised in Table 9.
Table 9 Agricultural Loss Assessment – 2002-03 fires
Assets impacted Eldorado Stanley NE Alpine / East Total Alpine Omeo Alpine/ Gelantipy No. of farms assessed 26 14 47 124 20 231 - Commercial No. of farms assessed 37 10 16 48 22 133 - Hobby Area burnt (ha) 2,640 238 5,150 43,575 7,644 59,247* Farm houses burnt 1 1 0 18 6 26 Farm buildings lost 42 4 8 155 41 250 Sheep lost 14 0 5 7,063 2,103 9,185 Beef cattle lost 17 0 180 2,438 1,050 3,685 Dairy cattle lost 4 0 0 0 0 4 Horses lost 0 0 0 8 5 13 Other stock lost 58 32 42 62 2 196 Crown boundary 156 25 175 1,130 201 1,687 fencing destroyed Internal boundary 89 23 84 1,191 264 1,651 fencing destroyed Fodder lost - square 11,659 500 1,950 115,775 37,999 167,883 bale equivalents Source: Department of Primary Industry – from a primary survey of landowners immediately post-fire. *This figure has been updated to 90,000 ha, using LANDSAT and SPOT photography.
As well as the economic and social impacts on farms and communities, there are risks of damage to catchments and water supply arising from erosion, land slips and flooding on private property following significant rainfall events.
Specific risks to on-farm recovery include further impacts on stock from loss of feed supply and from wild dog attack, pasture recovery and weed management.
30 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Assistance to Landowners In the immediate aftermath of the fires, Department of Primary Industries staff assisted affected farmers deal with injured and surviving stock, and provided technical support on a range of issues. Additional assistance was provided in the form of - • Livestock assistance package with funds provided to the VFF to assist their efforts in leading the response for the provision of emergency hay and fodder for livestock that had survived the fires. • Rural finance loan assistance - Concessional loans were made available to primary producers and small businesses whose properties have suffered loss of damage as a result of the direct impact of bushfire. • Home and Contents assistance - provided to householders whose principle residence was destroyed by fire, including a $900 emergency grant and up to $7,300 of living costs (for 6 months), structural repairs and appliance replacement. This assistance of up to $22,800 is delivered by the Department of Human Services.
Agriculture is a key economic contributor to the small communities affected by the fires. The recovery effort has been geared to a range of programs designed to assist farmers regain farm productivity, recognising that support to individual landowners is a key contributor to regional recovery efforts.
Recovery components include: • rehabilitation of fire control lines constructed through private property at the height of the fires (these works have been completed); • financial assistance with clearing of debris from fencelines and construction of wild dog fencing on property boundaries; • establishment of temporary stock containment areas; • enhancement of wild dog management through additional dog trapping effort and community consultation; • establishment of a grants program aimed at ensuring catchment protection works are put in place. This includes strategic revegetation, soil stabilisation works, protective fencing, protection of farm water supplies and waterways, control of weeds and pasture re-establishment; • supporting landholder efforts to rehabilitate their farms in a whole farm planning context, through additional information and extension support.
Outcomes sought:- Agriculture
Urgent response to immediate farming community needs in accordance with the State Emergency Response/Recovery Plan including: • Coordination, assessment and destruction of affected livestock (completed); • Coordination (with the VFF) of emergency hay and fodder distribution(completed); • Connecting landholders with other urgent support services/assistance (completed).
Recovery of farming enterprises through appropriate support, including: • Assistance with boundary fenceline clearing and replacement of wild dog fencing; • Additional wild dog control trapping effort; • Support for whole-farm planning, including assistance with pasture re- establishment, weed control and livestock management.
Protection of catchments, including:
31 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan • Establishment of a Bushfire Environmental Recovery Program - BERP - on private land, providing grants to landholders to undertake catchment protection works on their land.
The specific projects that have been established to achieve these outcomes are listed in Appendix 5 (refer Projects 1b, 6, 15, 16).
32 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 4. IMPLEMENTATION
Roles and Responsibilities
Arising from the management issues and rehabilitation outcomes identified in the preceding chapter, a cross-agency works program has been established and approved by the Bushfire Recovery Steering Committee. The projects are listed in Appendix 5. The overall costs for implementing this plan are met from within the $70.6m♣ program announced by the Government in April 2003.
Implementation of this rehabilitation plan is the accountability of: a) for public land: i) Department of Sustainability and Environment (State forest and other reserves) ii) Parks Victoria (parks and conservation reserves); iii) North East Catchment Management Authority, East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (catchment recovery programs, waterway management);
b) for private land iv) the Department of Primary Industries (agricultural land programs; supporting catchment recovery programs); v) North East Water Authority; Gippsland Water Authority (water supply matters).
The implementation of regional projects on public land is overseen by the Regional Managers for DSE and Parks Victoria. This group is responsible for ensuring all works on public land are implemented in accordance with this Plan and are consistent with existing policy and legislative requirements. They will also maximise the extent of shared planning and implementation across park and forest boundaries to optimise the use of government funds.
Evaluation and Reporting
The Bushfire Recovery Steering Committee will monitor the Program and undertake regular reporting to the Minister for Environment and the Minister for Agriculture. It will also input to Quarterly Reporting to the Department of Treasury and Finance. Use of standard monitoring procedures across all public land will be important.
Progress of all projects will be reported monthly to the Steering Committee. All activities will also be recorded and reported on using the business systems of the organisations responsible for the implementation of the program. Activity monitoring will be reported in existing statewide databases including the Pest Management Information System, Environmental Information System, Wildlife Atlas, Flora
♣ Note: this amount subsequently revised to $68.69m 33 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Information System and the Victorian Rare and Threatened Population database as required. These will be aggregated each year to demonstrate activity over time.
The evaluation of the effectiveness and success of works undertaken to rehabilitate the disturbance from firefighting operations and assist in the recovery of the ecosystems will be undertaken by relevant Parks Victoria and DSE staff.
A framework to form the basis for monitoring performance in relation to the fire recovery program as applied to Natural Values Management (NVM) is being developed (Parks Victoria 2003). The framework establishes a three-tier approach recognising that the environmental outcomes will not be realised for at least 5 to 10 years after works are implemented.
The establishment of an Adaptive Experimental Management (AEM) project for weed control will determine the efficiency, effectiveness and environmental outcome associated with weed control projects in parks.
Existing programs including Parks Victoria’s Fox Adaptive Experimental Management Program will be expanded to reduce the risk to known values. In addition, work undertaken by Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Management and Parks Victoria has identified areas of high priority for fox control based on the distribution of fauna and fauna assemblages at risk of predation in relation to fox distribution. These areas will form the basis of control programs and ideally be established at a broad landscape scale, where feasible to benefit a suite of species.
Research and monitoring
All projects have incorporated the required level of resources to achieve performance assessment and monitoring requirements.
Parks Victoria have developed a framework that identifies for Natural Values Management, assessment and monitoring requirements to understand the impacts of the fire and related suppression works and, most importantly, to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation works (Parks Victoria 2003). The bulk of the assessment effort will underpin the development and implementation of on-ground rehabilitation and protection strategies and then evaluate their success.
Assessment and monitoring will be conducted in collaboration between Victorian Government agencies (including research institutions and management agencies), Commonwealth-funded institutions e.g. CSIRO, Co-operative Research Centres, and Tertiary institutions such as The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and the University of Ballarat.
34 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan
5. REFERENCES
DSE 2003 The Victorian Alpine Fires January – March, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne. Government of Victoria 2003 Final Report from the Ministerial Taskforce on Bushfire Recovery, Melbourne. Kirkpatrick, J. 2002 The Natural Significance of the Australian Alps, Celebrating Mountains Proceedings of an International Year of Mountains Conference, Jindabyne, Australia, November 2002. NRE 1995 Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. NRE 1999 The Interim Guidelines and Procedures for Ecological Burning on Public Land, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. NRE 2001 Increase in sediment input to rivers and streams due to human activities, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Action Statement, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. Parks Victoria 2003 Statewide Public Land Ecological and Cultural Rehabilitation Plan. Parks Victoria, Melbourne. Smith, C. 2002 Heritage Conservation Risk Assessment, Historic Environment,16: 21-23.
35 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 1 Public land and overlaying areas with additional management requirements in the fire area
Public land areas Land Public land type Size Burnt Area % Burnt Manager (ha) (ha) Park Mount Buffalo NP Parks Victoria National Park - Schedule 2, 31 000 25 220 81% National Parks Act Wabba WP Parks Victoria Wilderness Park - Schedule 20 100 13 749 68% 2A, National Parks Act Alpine NP Parks Victoria National Park - Schedule 2, 660 550 395 930 60% National Parks Act Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP Parks Victoria National Park - Schedule 2, 21 565 7 166 33% National Parks Act Snowy River NP Parks Victoria National Park - Schedule 2, 98 700 26 447 27% National Parks Act Beechworth HP Parks Victoria Other Park - Schedule 3, 1 080 51 5% National Parks Act Regional Park Mount Mitta Mitta Parks Victoria Regional Park - not scheduled 3 923 2 447 62% RP under National Parks Act Conservation Reserve Porepunkah J17 Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 2 2 100% SSR Streamside Reserve Mount Cravensville Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 601 601 100% NFSR Natural Features and Scenic Reserve Mount Murphy HA Parks Victoria Historic Reserve 618 618 100% Mount Wills HA Parks Victoria Historic Reserve 8 775 8 778 100% Omeo BR Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 23 23 100% Bushland Reserve Wild Boar Range Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 377 377 100% NFSR Natural Features and Scenic Reserve Goodwin Creek BR Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 10 10 100% Bushland Reserve Oriental Claims HA Parks Victoria Historic Reserve 68 68 100% Terlite-Munjie BR Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 15 15 100% Bushland Reserve Bald Hills Road BR Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 18 18 100% Bushland Reserve Wulgulmerang Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 40 40 100% Creek BR Bushland Reserve Mount Tambo NFSR Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 2 766 2 679 97% Natural Features and Scenic Reserve Macfarlane Lookout Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 309 285 92% NFSR Natural Features and Scenic Reserve Victoria Falls HA Parks Victoria Historic Reserve 247 209 85% Nine Mile Creek HA Parks Victoria Historic Reserve 554 339 61% Mount Gibbo NFSR Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve - 1 493 899 60% Natural Features and Scenic Reserve
36 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 1 contd. Public land areas Land Public land type Size Burnt Area % Burnt Manager (ha) (ha) Park Nunnett Plain NFSR Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve – 1 256 480 38% Natural Features and Scenic Reserve Tawonga Gap SR Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve – 44 17 38% Scenic Reserve Mount Sarah NFSR Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve – 963 350 36% Natural Features and Scenic Reserve Livingstone Creek Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve – 513 171 33% NFSR Natural Features and Scenic Reserve Nunniong Plain Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve – 2 349 707 30% NFSR Natural Features and Scenic Reserve Mount Mitta Mitta FR Parks Victoria Nature Conservation Reserve 158 45 28% – Flora Reserve Cassilis HA Parks Victoria Historic Reserve 4 352 1 170 27% Grant HA Parks Victoria Historic Reserve 7 434 193 3% Mount Stewart Parks Victoria Natural Features Reserve – 288 4 1% NFSR Natural Features and Scenic Reserve State Forests North East RFA DSE State Forest, Forest Act 718,700 263 715 37% Gippsland RFA DSE State Forest, Forest Act 806,000 189 527 24% East Gippsland RFA DSE State Forest, Forest Act 637,000 26 653 4%
Overlaying areas Land Manager Size (ha) Burnt area % Burnt (ha) Reference Area Blue Rag Reference Area Parks Victoria 714 714 100% Boiler Plain Reference Area Parks Victoria 827 827 100% Buenba Reference Area Parks Victoria 370 370 100% Burnside Reference Area Parks Victoria 1 207 1 207 100% Lagoon Plateau Reference Area Parks Victoria 1 046 1 046 100% Lightwood Reference Area DSE 531 531 100% Porphyry Hill Reference Area Parks Victoria 222 222 100% Shepherds Creek Reference Area Parks Victoria 684 684 100% Spring Creek Reference Area DSE 683 683 100% Whiterock Creek Reference Area Parks Victoria 222 222 100% Wombat Creek Reference Area Parks Victoria 309 309 100% Beehive Creek Reference Area Parks Victoria 795 664 84% Forest Hill Reference Area Parks Victoria 361 361 100% Hollands Knob Reference Area Parks Victoria 358 358 100% Mount Buffalo Reference Area Parks Victoria 1 167 1 167 100% Tom Groggin Reference Area Parks Victoria 897 897 100% Gelantipy Plateau Reference Area Parks Victoria 431 399 93% Mountain Creek Reference Area Parks Victoria 1 514 990 65% Mitta Mitta Reference Area DSE 678 36 5% Cudgewa Creek Reference Area DSE 803 19 2% Burbibyong Creek Reference Area DSE 1 322 7 1%
37 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 1 contd. Overlaying areas Land Manager Size (ha) Burnt area % Burnt (ha) Wilderness Zone Buchan Headwaters Wilderness Zone Parks Victoria 30 796 30 796 100% Indi Wilderness Zone Parks Victoria 13 430 13 289 99% Cobberas Wilderness Zone Parks Victoria 9 943 9 769 98% Tingaringy Wilderness Zone Parks Victoria 7 982 6 282 79% Bowen Wilderness Zone Parks Victoria 17 668 5 248 30% Snowy River Wilderness Zone Parks Victoria 26 331 7 409 28% Remote and Natural Area Davies Plain Remote and Natural Area Parks Victoria 10 469 10 460 100% North Buffalo Remote and Natural Area Parks Victoria 6 525 6 525 100% Suggan Buggan Remote and Natural Area Parks Victoria 17 985 17 913 100% Bogong Remote and Natural Area Parks Victoria 16 531 16 301 99% Bundara – Cobungra Remote and Natural Area Parks Victoria 13 577 11 282 83% Upper Snowy Area Remote and Natural Area Parks Victoria 11 952 8 075 68% Dandongadale Remote and Natural Area Parks Victoria 3 543 39 1% Heritage River Mitta Mitta River Heritage River Parks Victoria 2 319 2 319 100% Upper Buchan River Heritage River Parks Victoria 1 981 1 981 100% Suggan Buggan and Berrima Rivers Heritage Parks Victoria 1 621 1 610 99% River Snowy River Heritage River Parks Victoria 35 235 17 122 49% Natural Catchment Area Banimboola Creek Natural Catchment Area Parks Victoria 2 351 2 351 100% Log Bridge Ck – East Branch Natural Catchment Parks Victoria 2 574 2 571 100% Area Mt Tabor Creek Natural Catchment Area DSE 831 831 100% Yarrarabula Creek Natural Catchment Area Parks Victoria 3 146 3 146 100% Mt Gelantipy Creek Natural Catchment Area Parks Victoria 1 877 1 875 100% Blue Rag Creek Natural Catchment Area Parks Victoria 1 259 1 259 100% Wongungurra River headwaters Natural Parks Victoria 1 702 1 702 100% Catchment Area Stony Creek Natural Catchment Area Parks Victoria 1 105 1 088 98% Wallaby Creek Natural Catchment Area Parks Victoria 2 663 2 589 97% Gattamurh Creek Natural Catchment Area Parks Victoria 1 030 568 55% Rodger River and Mountain Ck Natural Parks Victoria 32 741 6 292 19% Catchment Area Source of data: GIS Park-bound layer (PV) and Public Land Management layer (PLM2000) (DSE), fire boundary at 24 February 2003. Note that GIS-calculated areas do not always agree precisely with area statements listed in the schedules to the National Parks Act 1975 and other documents.
38 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 2 Key legislative obligations for rehabilitation of public land after fire
Legislation Relevant Obligations public land National Parks National, Section 17(2)(b) and 18(2)(b) require the Secretary must ensure that appropriate Act 1975 (Vic.) state and and sufficient measures are undertaken to protect each national park and State other parks park from injury by fire. Section 23 allows for permanent protection works to be carried out. National Parks Wilderness Section 17C(2)(f) allows for prevention and control of fires. 17C(3) requires that Act parks 'In a wilderness park, the Secretary may carry out works and maintenance Wilderness necessary to enable anything permitted under sub-section (2) (includes zones measures to prevent and control fire) to be done and, where degradation has occurred as a result of essential management activities, must undertake rehabilitation as soon as practicable.' 22 (4) provides for Wilderness zones within a park to be managed as if it were a wilderness park, and provisions of the Act apply as if it were a wilderness park. National Parks Remote Section 21D(4)(d) allows for prevention and control of fires. 21D(6) requires that Act and Natural ‘the Secretary must undertake, or cause to be undertake, rehabilitation work or Areas any other measures that the Secretary considers necessary to prevent or minimise loss or degradation of the natural condition or appearance of a remote and natural area if…. a) loss or degradation has resulted or is likely to result from activities under this section there is evidence of increasing disturbance of the natural condition or appearance of the area, however caused.’ Reference Areas Reference Reference areas proclaimed under the Reference Areas Act are areas of Act 1978 (Vic.) Areas particular ecological and scientific interest that can serve as a reference for comparative assessment of impacts on land uses elsewhere. Human interference in reference areas is restricted to the minimum essential. Section 7(2) The same provisions relating to prevention and suppression of fire in section 62(2) of the Forests Act 1958 apply to all State forest, national park and protected public land in a reference area. Ministerial directive for Management of reference areas (PV Policy- 12.1W): • No new tracks will be constructed in reference areas. Existing tracks will be closed to the public and, except in exceptional circumstances, rehabilitated. • Fire suppression works will only be undertaken in a reference area if life or assets are threatened. Preferred methods of fire control are: backburns, aerial attack with retardant, foam or water, ground crews with hand tools. • Bulldozers and other earth moving equipment should only be used as a last resort - where fire line construction is critical for safety or success of overall fire suppression effort • Where a fire or fire suppression works occur in a reference area, the Reference Areas Advisory Committee (RAAC) must be consulted for advice on possible restoration works. • Control of introduced species - all management efforts must minimise the impact on the natural condition of the area. The RAAC must be consulted on appropriate control methods. • Buffer - wildfire suppression, fire prevention may be appropriate, bearing in mind their possible impacts on the reference areas. Catchment and Prescribed 20. General duties of land owners: Land Protection water (1) In relation to his or her land a land owner must take all reasonable steps to— Act 1994 (Vic.) supply (a) void causing or contributing to land degradation which causes or may cause catchment damage to land of another land owner; and area (b) conserve soil; and (‘Special (c) protect water resources; and areas’) (d) eradicate regionally prohibited weeds; and (e) prevent the growth and spread of regionally controlled weeds; and (f) prevent the spread of, and as far as possible eradicate, established pest animals.
Appendix 2 contd.
39 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Legislation Relevant Obligations public land Heritage Rivers Heritage River The Heritage Rivers Act overlays but does not alter existing land tenure, Act 1992 (Vic.) Area although it may require changed management goals for maximum protection of special values. Draft Management Plans Management aims for Heritage River Areas include: • maintain existing water quality or improve where degraded • to manage activities which prevent revegetation of banks or cause bank erosion, degradation of water quality and sedimentation Fire – promote preferred fire suppression methods to help retain the heritage river in as natural condition as possible. Heritage Rivers Natural As above for Heritage Rivers Act Catchment Certain activities are not allowed in Natural Catchment Areas, and include Areas clearing of indigenous vegetation, making of new roads or upgrading existing roads – except in an emergency. Water quality – maintain existing water quality or where degraded, progressively improved Fire: ‘The greatest potential disturbance to natural catchments is through fire suppression techniques that create new tracks or areas of bare earth. Use least disturbance fire suppression strategies wherever practicable including fireline construction using hand crews, air attack, back burning from existing roads, tracks or breaks. Forests Act 1958 State Forest Sections 20 and 62(2) require the Secretary to plan and carry out proper (Vic.) and protected and sufficient works for the prevention and suppression of fire within State public land forests, national parks and protected public land, not withstanding anything in any other Act. Section 63 details the restrictions placed on the lighting of fires in certain areas. Section 64(1) prohibits the use of fire when acute fire danger exists. Protected public land – defined as any lands of the Crown not being within a State forest or a national park declared to be protected public land under provisions of the Forests Act. Environment All public land Sections 18(1) and 20(1) specify that a person must not take action that Protection and has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on nationally Biodiversity threatened species or communities or migratory species listed under the Conservation Act Act. 1999 (Cwlth) Flora and Fauna All public land Section 4 lists the flora and fauna conservation and management Guarantee Act objectives. One objective is to manage potentially threatening processes 1988 (Vic.) such as inappropriate fire regimes, and increase in sediment input to rivers and streams due to human activities (NRE 2001). Aboriginal and Indigenous Sections 21U(1) and (4) provides that a person shall not wilfully deface, Torres Strait cultural sites - damage, otherwise interfere with or do any act likely to endanger an Islander Heritage all public land Aboriginal object or Aboriginal place unless the person has written Protection Act permission of a local Aboriginal community. 1984 (Cwlth) Archaeological Indigenous Sections 21(1) and (2) provides that a person who wilfully or negligently and Aboriginal cultural sites- defaces or damages or otherwise interferes with a relic or carries out an act Relics all public land likely to endanger a relic be guilty of an offence, unless the person has Preservation Act written consent of the Minister. 1972 (Vic.) Native Title Act All public land The Act requires that any ‘future acts’ must be assessed for validity and 1993 (Cwlth) any procedural right requirements be followed. Heritage Act Heritage Protects all places of significance and specifies permit requirements for 1995 (Vic.) places - all disturbance of registered places and all archaeological sites. public land
40 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 3 Australian threatened flora and fauna species in Rehabilitation Areas♣
Common Name Scientific Name Status Eldorado & Stanley Mt Buffalo Mt Beauty Corryong Orbost Omeo/Swifts Ck Dargo/Heyfield Flora Alpine Blown-grass Lachnagrostis meionectes Rr 9 9 9 Alpine Holy-grass Hierochloe submutica Rv 9 9 Austral Toad-flax Thesium australe VLv 9 9 Australian Anchor Plant Discaria pubescens RLr 9 9 Bassian Pomaderris Pomaderris oraria Rr 9 Bogong Daisy-bush Olearia frostii Rr 9 9 Bogong Eyebright Euphrasia eichleri Vv 9 Branched Caraway Oreomyrrhis brevipes Rv 9 9 Brittle Bladder-fern Cystopteris tasmanica Rr 9 9 9 9 9 Broad-leaf Hop-bush Dodonaea rhombifolia Rr 9 9 Buchan River Grevillea Grevillea pachylostyla Rr 9 Buffalo Mint-bush Prostanthera monticola Rr 9 Buffalo Sallee Eucalyptus mitchelliana Rr 9 Buffalo Sallow-wattle Acacia phlebophylla RrL 9 Carpet Willow-herb Epilobium willisii RL 9 Catkin Wattle Acacia dallachiana Rr 9 9 9 9 9 Clover Glycine Glycine latrobeana VLv 9 Crimson Spider-orchid Arachnorchis concolor VLe 9 Dwarf Sedge Carex paupera VLv 9 9 9 Eichler's Buttercup Ranunculus eichlerianus Rr 9 9 9 Elusive Cress Irenepharsus magicus Rr 9 Enigmatic Greenhood Pterostylis X aenigma ELe 9 Erect Midge-orchid Corunastylis arrecta Rr 9 9 Errinundra Pepper Tasmannia xerophila ssp. Rr 9 robusta Hair Sedge Carex capillacea Rr 9 9 9 9 Kelleria Kelleria laxa VLv 9 Leafy Greenhood Pterostylis cucullata VLv 9 Limestone Pomaderris Pomaderris oraria ssp. Rr 9 calcicola Lowan Phebalium Phebalium lowanense Vv Marble Daisy-bush Olearia astroloba VLv 9 Maroon Leek-orchid Prasophyllum frenchii ELe 9 9 Mignonette Leek-orchid Prasophyllum morganii VLe 9 Milfoil Speedwell Derwentia nivea Rr 9 Monkey Mint-bush Prostanthera walteri Rr 9 Mountain Bertya Bertya findlayi Rv 9 9 Mountain Cress Drabastrum alpestre RLv 9 Mountain Dandelion Taraxacum aristum Rr 9 9 9 9 9 Mountain Leek-orchid Prasophyllum montanum Rr 9 Mountain Pomaderris Pomaderris pauciflora Rr 9 Narrow-leaf Bent-grass Deyeuxia pungens Vv 9
♣ Rehabilitation areas cover the areas directly affected by the fires and an additional perimeter. Refer Section 2 and Map 1. 41 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 3 contd.
Common Name Scientific Name Status Eldorado& Stanley Mt Buffalo Mt Beauty Corryong Orbost Omeo/Swifts Ck Dargo/Heyfield
Olive Mallee Eucalyptus elaeophloia Rv 9 Omeo Gum Eucalyptus neglecta Rr 9 9 Outcrop Guinea-flower Hibbertia hermanniifolia Rr 9 Parantennaria Parantennaria uniceps Rv 9 Purple Eyebright Euphrasia collina ssp. ELe 9 muelleri Raleigh Sedge Carex raleighii Rr 9 9 9 9 Rock Daisy Brachyscome petrophila Rr 9 Rock Grevillea Grevillea willisii Rr 9 Rock Guinea-flower Hibbertia spathulata Rr 9 Rough Eyebright Euphrasia scabra KLe 9 9 Scented Daisy-bush Olearia adenophora Rr 9 9 Sharp Midge-orchid Corunastylis despectans K 9 Shining Anchor Plant Discaria nitida RLe 9 Shining Cudweed Euchiton nitidulus Vv 9 9 Shining Westringia Westringia lucida Rv 9 Shrubby Raspwort Haloragodendron Rr 9 baeuerlenii Silky Snow-daisy Celmisia sericophylla RLv 9 9 Skirted Bent-grass Deyeuxia talariata Rv 9 9 Slender Myoporum Myoporum floribundum RLe 9 Slender Parrot-pea Almaleea capitata RLv 9 9 Snow Pratia Lobelia gelida VLv 9 Snow-wort Abrotanella nivigena Rv 9 Soft Ledge-grass Poa hothamensis var. Rr 9 9 9 9 parviflora Tall Snow-gentian Chionogentias cunninghamii Kk 9 ssp. major Thick Eyebright Euphrasia crassiuscula ssp. Vv 9 glandulifera Trailing Monotoca Monotoca rotundifolia Rv 9 Warby Range Swamp- Eucalyptus cadens Vv 9 gum Wedge Oschatzia Oschatzia cuneifolia Rr 9 9 White Billy-buttons Craspedia alba Rv 9 9 9 9 9 Winged Everlasting Ozothamnus adnatus Kv 9 9 Wire-head Sedge Carex cephalotes RLv 9 Woolly-bear Wattle Acacia lucasii Rv 9 Fauna Alpine Tree Frog Litoria verreauxii alpina VLce 9 9 9 9 9 Australian Grayling Prototroctes maraena VLv 9 9 9 Bluenose(Trout) Cod Maccullochella ELce 9 9 macquariensis Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata VLce 9 9 Green & Golden Grass Litoria aurea Vlr 9 Frog Macquarie Perch Macquaria australasica CELe 9 9 9 Mountain Pygmy-possum Burramys parvus ELe 9 9 Potorous longipes Potorous longipes ELe 9 9 9 Appendix 3 contd.
42 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Common Name Scientific Name Status Eldorado& Stanley Mt Buffalo Mt Beauty Corryong Orbost Omeo/Swifts Ck Dargo/Heyfield Pseudomys fumeus Pseudomys fumeus ELe 9 9 9 Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia ELce 9 9 9 9 Spot-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus VLe 9 9 9 9 Spotted Tree Frog Litoria spenceri ELce 9 9 9 9 9 Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor ELe 9 9 Warty Bell Frog Litoria raniformis VLe 9
______Status – Flora: Status – Fauna E Endangered in Australia CE Critically Endangered in Australia V Vulnerable in Australia E Endangered in Australia R Rare in Australia V Vulnerable in Australia K Data deficient R Rare in Australia L Listed under the FFG Act L Listed under the FFG Act e Endangered in Victoria ce Critically Endangered in Victoria v Vulnerable in Victoria e Endangered in Victoria r Rare in Victoria v Vulnerable in Victoria k Data deficient lr Lower risk in Victoria
43 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 4 Priority flora and fauna species, and communities in Rehabilitation Areas and criteria for establishing priorities
Common Name Scientific Name Status Eldorado& Stanley Mt Buffalo Mt Beauty Corryong Orbost Omeo/Swifts Ck Dargo/Heyfield Priority flora Alpine Stork's-bill Pelargonium helmsii v 9 Austral Toad-flax Thesium australe Vv 9 Bogong Apple-moss Bartramia bogongia Vv 9 Bogong Eyebright Euphrasia eichleri Rr 9 Buchan River Grevillea Grevillea pachylostyla R 9 Buffalo Grevillea Grevillea alpivaga Rr 9 Buffalo Sallee Eucalyptus mitchelliana Rr 9 Buffalo Sallow-wattle Acacia phlebophylla Rr 9 Carpet Willow-herb Epilobium willisii Rx 9 Clover Glycine Glycine latrobeana Vv 9 Coast Myall Acacia binervia e Crimson Spider-orchid Arachnorchis concolor Ve 9 Dwarf Sedge Carex paupera Vv 9 9 9 Enigmatic Greenhood Pterostylis X aenigma Ee 9 Fern-leaf Baeckea Babingtonia crenulata Vv 9 Kelleria Kelleria laxa Vv 9 Little Kooka Wattle Acacia nanopravissima ms. v 9 Marble Daisy-bush Olearia astroloba Vv 9 Marsh Leek-orchid Prasophyllum niphopedium e 9 9 Marsh Tree-moss Climacium dendroides v 9 Mignonette Leek-orchid Prasophyllum morganii Ve Mountain Bertya Bertya findlayi Rv 9 9 Narrow-leaf Bent-grass Deyeuxia pungens Vv 9 Native Wintercress Barbarea grayi v 9 9 Olive Mallee Eucalyptus elaeophloia Rv 9 Parantennaria Parantennaria uniceps Rv Purple Eyebright Euphrasia collina ssp. Ee 9 muelleri Rough Eyebright Euphrasia scabra Ke 9 9 Shining Anchor Plant Discaria nitida Re 9 Shining Westringia Westringia lucida Rv 9 Silky Snow-daisy Celmisia sericophylla Rv 9 Slender Gingidia Gingidia harveyana v 9 9 9 9 Slender Myoporum Myoporum floribundum Re 9 Slender Parrot-pea Almaleea capitata Rv 9 9 Snow Aciphyll Aciphylla glacialis v 9 9 9 9 Snow Pratia Lobelia gelida Vv 9 Snow-wort Abrotanella nivigena Rv 9 Star Sedge Carex echinata v 9 9 Tall Snow-gentian Chionogentias cunninghamii Kk 9 ssp. major Thick Eyebright Euphrasia crassiuscula ssp. r 9 9 crassiuscula Thick Eyebright Euphrasia crassiuscula ssp. r 9 eglandulosa Appendix 4 contd.
44 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Common Name Scientific Name Status Eldorado& Stanley Mt Buffalo Mt Beauty Corryong Orbost Omeo/Swifts Ck Dargo/Heyfield Thick Eyebright Euphrasia crassiuscula ssp. Vv 9 glandulifera White Billy-buttons Craspedia alba Rv 9 9 9 9 9 Wire-head Sedge Carex cephalotes Rv 9 Priority fauna Alpine She-oak Skink Cyclodomorphus praealtus e 9 9 9 Alpine Spiny Cray Euastacus crassus r/r 9 9 Alpine Tree Frog Litoria verreauxii alpina Vce 9 9 9 9 9 Alpine Water Skink Eulamprus kosciuskoi ce 9 9 Australian Grayling Prototroctes maraena Vv 9 9 9 Bluenose(Trout) Cod Maccullochella Ece 9 9 macquariensis Broadfin Galaxias Galaxias brevipinnis 9 9 9 9 Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata Vce 9 9 Eastern Wallaroo Macropus robustus robustus ce 9 Harpactacoid copepod Canthocamptus longipes 9 Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia ce 9 Long-footed Potoroo Potorous longipes Ee 9 9 Macquarie Perch Macquaria australasica CEe 9 9 Mountain Galaxias Galaxias olidus 9 9 9 9 9 9 Mountain Pygmy-possum Burramys parvus Ee 9 9 Planarian Planarian sp2 (RSC) 9 9 9 Planarian Planarian sp3 (RSC) 9 9 Planarian Reynoldsonia reynoldsoni 9 9 Planarian Spathula agelaea 9 9 Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia Ece 9 9 9 9 Smoky Mouse Pseudomys fumeus Ee 9 9 9 Spot-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus Ve 9 9 Spotted Tree Frog Litoria spenceri Ece 9 9 9 9 9 Stonefly Riekoperla intermedia v 9 Stonefly Thaumatoperla alpina r/r 9 Swift Parrot Prototroctes maraena Ee 9 9 9 ______Status – Flora: Status – Fauna E Endangered in Australia CE Critically Endangered in Australia V Vulnerable in Australia E Endangered in Australia R Rare in Australia V Vulnerable in Australia K Data deficient R Rare in Australia L Listed under the FFG Act L Listed under the FFG Act e Endangered in Victoria ce Critically Endangered in Victoria v Vulnerable in Victoria e Endangered in Victoria r Rare in Victoria v Vulnerable in Victoria k Data deficient lr Lower risk in Victoria
Appendix 4 contd.
45 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Name Eldorado& Stanley Mt Buffalo Mt Beauty Corryong Orbost Omeo/Swifts Ck Dargo/Heyfield
Priority communities (EVC) Cool Temperate Rainforest 9 9 9 Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland 9 Dry Valley Forest 9 Grassy Woodland 9 9 9 9 Limestone Pomaderris Shrubland 9 Montane Grassy Woodland 9 9 9 9 Montane Riparian Thicket 9 9 9 9 9 9 Montane Riparian Woodland 9 9 9 9 9 Montane Swamp 9 Plains Grassy Woodland/Floodplain Riparian Woodland 9 9 Complex Riparian Forest/Swampy Riparian Woodland Mosaic 9 9 9 9 Riparian Forest/Swampy Riparian Woodland/Riparian 9 Shrubland/Riverine Escarpment Scrub/Disturbed Mosaic Riparian Shrubland 9 9 9 9 9 Riverine Escarpment Shrub 9 9 9 9 Sub-alpine Grassland 9 9 9 9 9 Sub-alpine Grassy Shrubland 9 Sub-alpine Shrubland 9 9 9 Sub-alpine Wet Heathland 9 9 9 9 9 Sub-alpine Wet Heathland/Sub-alpine Grassland Mosaic 9 9 9 Sub-alpine Woodland 9 9 9 9 9 9 Swampy Riparian Woodland 9 9 9 9 9 9 Treeless Sub-alpine Mosaic 9 9 9 9 9 Warm Temperate Rainforest 9 9
Criteria for establishing priority species and communities Value Attribute Category Score EVC Representation Contribution of fire-area EVCs (ha) to statewide 85-100% 1 distribution 70-84% 0.66 50-69 0.33 0-49% 0 Conservation status EVC status (bioregional) Endangered 1 Vulnerable 0.75 Depleted 0.5 Rare 0.25 least concern 0 Communities Conservation Status FFG Listed listed 1 not listed 0
46 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 4 contd. Value Attribute Category Score Flora and fauna Representation Contribution of fire-area records to statewide 75-100% 1 distribution 50-74% 0.66 25-49% 0.33 0-24% 0 Total number of statewide records 1-5 1 6-10 0.5 >10 0 Conservation status National threatened status – flora (AROT) Endangered 1 Vulnerable 0.75 Rare 0.5 Poorly known 0.25 Not listed 0 National threatened status – Fauna (ESP) Endangered 1 Vulnerable 0.5 Not listed 0
Victorian threatened status – Flora (VROT) endangered 1 vulnerable 0.75 rare 0.5 Poorly known 0.25 not listed 0 Victorian threatened status – Fauna (TWV) Critically 1 endangered Endangered 0.75 Vulnerable 0.5 Lower risk 0.25 Insufficiently 0.25 known Restricted roosting 0.25 Restricted colonial 0.25 breeding not listed 0 JAMBA/CAMBA or Bonn Listed 1 not listed 0 FFG Listed listed 1 not listed 0
Source of data: DSE Flora Information System, Atlas of Victorian Wildlife and EVC layer. Results were verified and amended by DSE experts.
47 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 5 – Fire Rehabilitation Projects
No Project Name Sub-projects (funds allocated) 1a Soil Erosion Control and Catchment rehabilitation on Public Land ($3.720m) Rehabilitate fire control lines in parks and State forest (complete) Rehabilitate creek crossings and control sediment and nutrient inputs Rehabilitate Alpine Bogs 1b Soil Erosion Control and Catchment rehabilitation on farming land ($4.605m) Rehabilitate fire control lines constructed on farm land (complete) Undertake soil conservation/stabilisation works on farmland via a grants program Undertake weed control on private land 2 Rehabilitation of waterway ecosystems and rebuilding damaged CMA assets ($3.50m) Undertake emergency waterway works following the fire (debris relocation, removal of sand blockages) Undertake on-going assessment of damage to CMA assets and waterways from bushfire and suppression activities and rainfall events Rehabilitate waterways and rebuild damaged assets (including revegetation, frontage fencing, and weed control). 3 Assessment of Water Quality, Water Yield and River Ecosystems ($1.545m) Report on fate and effect of key contaminants entering Gippsland Lakes and Dartmouth Report on modelling of impacts on mean annual yield across entire burn area Prepare prelim modelling of sediment and nutrient yields to identify impacts on water quality and ecosystems Assess and report on potential impacts of fire on flood yield Assess/report on river health using macroinvertebrates as indicator Report on status of high value aquatic species and identify remedial action. Monitor threatened aquatic species over time and provide management advice 4c Water Storage and Treatment Plants for North East towns Review plan for program of capital works to be undertaken by North East Water
48 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan Appendix 5 – Fire Rehabilitation Projects (cont)
5 Recreational Fisheries Recovery ($0.312m) Assess fish populations and habitats over 3 years, communicate with anglers & evaluate anglers satisfaction with program Restock with recreational species 6 Wild Dog Management (($0.850m) Undertake increased trapping and baiting program Undertake increased public awareness and education on wild dog management post-bushfire. Acquire and deploy rubber-jawed steel traps 7a/b Repair and Replacement of Park Infrastructure Assets damaged by fire ($13.12m) Undertake assessments of damaged structures and risk issues. Progressive reinstatement of park assets according to priority schedule. 8a/b Repair and Replacement of Forest Infrastructure Assets damaged by fire ($5.49m) Complete assessments and works schedule Re-open roads and tracks for public access, Reinstate visitor facilities and other structures Repair roads and stream crossings damaged by accelerated runoff as a result of fire (as required) 9 Regeneration of fire-killed immature mountain ash ($3.0m) Survey fire killed sites, prioritise sites for sowing
Collect 1000kg Alpine Ash seed. Maximise aerial sowing onto receptive seed bed areas pre winter 2003 Prepare sites, collect and sow 3000kg of seed post winter 2003 11 Natural Values Management ($10.078m) Plan, implement and monitor pest plant programs to minimise threats to key conservation values Plan, implement and monitor pest animal programs to minimise threats to key conservation values Report on fire disturbance analysis Develop and implement a grazing management strategy to protect conservation values on public land Undertake planning, implement works and monitoring to protect threatened species/communities
Appendix 5 – Fire Rehabilitation Projects (cont)
49 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan 12 Cultural Values Management ($1.8m) Engage site monitors to identify newly revealed indigenous sites, survey and rehabilitate priority sites Inspect, protect and conserve damaged cultural heritage assets 13 Fire severity mapping to aid monitoring and land management ($1.320m) Acquire before and after satellite imagery and aerial photography of fire areas. Register, analyse, classify and map fire severity, produce a range of digital, photographic and paper products for land managers 14 Ecological Workshops for Licensed Tour Operators ($0.05m) Conduct two workshops with tour operators to enhance knowledge of recovery processes and tools to enhance tourist product 15 Supporting the farming Community ($5.45m) Construct Wild Dog fences - through grants process. Remove debris from fence lines Facilitate volunteers to support rebuilding efforts (complete) Establish stock containment areas (complete) 16 Supporting Agricultural Recovery ($1.421m) Implement responsibilities under State Emergency Response Plan (complete) Provide support for emergency fodder supply (complete) Provide advice to farmers on restoration of properties to a productive condition
50 Eastern Victorian Fires 2003 Rehabilitation Plan