Strzelecki National Park Management Plan 2000 Parks and Wildlife Service Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment Strzelecki National Park Management Plan 2000 STRZELECKI NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN 2000 This Management Plan for Strzelecki National Park has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Part IV of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970. In accordance with S.23(1) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970, the managing authority for the park, in this case the Director of National Parks and Wildlife, shall carry out his or her duties in relation to the park and the reserve for the purpose of giving effect to, and in accordance with the provisions of, this Management Plan. A draft of this plan was released for public comment in accordance with statutory requirements from 15 April until 9 June 2000. This plan is a modified version of that draft, having been varied to take account of public input during that period and the views of the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council. APPROVAL This management plan was approved by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor-in- Council on 4 December 2000 and took effect on 27 December 2000, being seven days after publication of that approval in the Government Gazette. ISBN 0 7246 2146 6 © Parks and Wildlife Service Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, 2000 Published by Parks and Wildlife Service Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment GPO Box 44A Hobart, Tasmania 7001 ii Strzelecki National Park Management Plan 2000 Summary Strzelecki National Park (4216 hectares) is located in the south-western corner of Flinders Island, the largest of the Bass Strait Islands. The park protects highly significant and diverse ecosystems as well as spectacular coastal and mountain landscapes. The park’s native vegetation consists of a range of different communities which provide habitat suitable for native fauna occurring on Flinders Island. The park has important biogeographic significance in that it forms an area where plant and animal species found on mainland Australia and Tasmania overlap. The park also plays an important role in the protection of the restricted Flinder’s heath (Epacris paludosa) which known to be susceptible to the cinnamon fungus disease (Phytophthora cinnamomi). The park holds considerable scientific interest due to the high number of endemic species, rare flora and fauna and significant vegetation communities. The park is the type locality for two invertebrate species, a cave cricket (Parvotettix rangaensis) and a rare species of burrowing crayfish (Engaeus martigener). There are also a number of interesting geological features including the granite massif that forms the Strzelecki Range and coastal calcarenite formations that support unique vegetation communities. Most of the park is on the Register of the National Estate in recognition of its natural values. The park also contains features of Aboriginal and historic heritage significance. One of these Aboriginal sites has been listed on the Register of the National Estate. The scenic values of the park are outstanding and provide settings for a range of recreational opportunities, including camping, bushwalking, nature studies and scenic driving. There are areas of unallocated Crown land adjoining and contiguous with the park. The future tenure of these areas are currently being considered in a land-use inquiry being conducted by the Resource Planning and Development Commission. The outcomes of this inquiry will recommend future tenure and land use. These areas are an important component in the management of the park and for the integrity of the park as a whole. The major management initiatives for the park are summarised below. • Improved facilities and information for visitors will be provided at the Trousers Point Visitor Service Zone. • Access to the the Strzelecki Peaks walking track will be secured and improved interpretation for walkers will be provided at the base of the track. • A short walk along the Trousers Point coastline will be developed. • Walking access from the coast through the park to Big River Road using existing tracks will be stabilised and sign posted. • Basic fire protection strategies for private land and environmental assets will be implemented. • Measures will be implemented to control the spread of the cinnamon fungus disease (Phytophthora cinnamomi) into unaffected areas of the park. • Feral pig numbers in the park will be reduced to manageable levels through the implementation of control strategies identified in a feral pig management plan developed for the park. iii Strzelecki National Park Management Plan 2000 Contents 1 Overview ...........................................................................1 1.1 Location, Reservation and Regional Context....................................... 1 1.2 Importance of the Park ......................................................................... 1 1.3 Threats to Park Values.......................................................................... 3 2 Vision and Objectives ......................................................5 2.1 The Vision for the Park ........................................................................ 5 2.1.1 The Vision................................................................................. 5 2.1.2 Achieving the Vision................................................................. 5 2.2 Purposes and Objectives of National Parks.......................................... 5 2.3 Management Zones............................................................................... 6 3 Conservation...................................................................11 3.1 Topography and Climate .................................................................... 11 3.2 Geodiversity........................................................................................ 11 3.3 Water Quality ..................................................................................... 12 3.4 Flora.................................................................................................... 12 3.5 Fauna .................................................................................................. 14 3.6 Aboriginal and Historic Heritage ....................................................... 16 3.6.1 Aboriginal Heritage................................................................. 16 3.6.2 Historic Heritage ..................................................................... 17 4 Protection........................................................................19 4.1 Fire Management................................................................................ 19 4.2 Pests, Weeds, and Diseases ................................................................ 20 4.2.1 Introduced Fauna..................................................................... 20 4.2.2 Weeds ...................................................................................... 21 4.2.3 Cinnamon Fungus.................................................................... 22 4.3 Soil Conservation and Erosion Control.............................................. 23 4.4 Managing Development Works.......................................................... 24 5 Tourism and Recreation................................................26 5.1 The Park Visit..................................................................................... 26 5.2 Promoting the Park ............................................................................. 26 5.3 Interpretation and Education .............................................................. 27 5.4 Managing Visitor Impacts .................................................................. 28 5.5 Access................................................................................................. 28 5.5.1 Boating .................................................................................... 29 5.5.2 Aircraft .................................................................................... 29 5.5.3 Vehicles................................................................................... 29 5.5.4 Walking ................................................................................... 30 5.5.5 Bicycles ................................................................................... 31 5.5.6 Horses...................................................................................... 32 5.6 Developing Facilities and Services..................................................... 32 5.6.1 Trousers Point Visitor Services Zone...................................... 33 5.6.2 The Recreation Zone ............................................................... 34 5.6.3 The Nature 1 Zone................................................................... 35 5.6.4 The Nature 2 Zone................................................................... 35 5.6.5 Special Use Zone..................................................................... 36 5.6.6 Special Flora Management Area ............................................. 36 5.6.7 Assessing Development Proposals.......................................... 36 6 Involving the Community..............................................38 6.1 Community Support ........................................................................... 38 6.2 Working with Neighbours .................................................................. 38 7 Other Issues ....................................................................39