Canberra Nature Park Management Plan
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MANAGEMENT PLAN 1999 Canberra Nature Park Department of Urban Services Conservation Series No. 14 Australian Capital Territory Government CANBERRA NATURE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN OCTOBER 1999 NOTES This management plan has been prepared in accordance with section 197 of the Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991. It also fulfils the requirement for a plan of management for Designated Areas as specified in the National Capital Plan. ISBN: 0 642 60030 9 Australian Capital Territory, Canberra 1999 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the Manager, Library and Information Management, Department of Urban Services, ACT Government, GPO Box 158, Canberra City, ACT 2601. Published by Publishing Services for Environment ACT (BDM 99/0428). 500 A4, 9/99 (99/5753) Environment ACT Home Page: http://www.act.gov.au/environ Environment ACT Helpline: 02 6207 9777 Printed on recycled paper iv MINISTERIAL FOREWORD Canberra Nature Park (CNP) is Canberra’s ‘bush at our back door’. Made up of series of remnant bush areas often associated with the suburb-fringing hills and ridges dotted around our city, CNP contributes to the character of Canberra as the ‘bush capital’ and provides an easily accessible escape from the rigours of city living. A feature of CNP is its wonderful diversity. From forested slopes to grassy plains, CNP contains many and varied landscapes and ecological communities. CNP provides habitat for several threatened plant and animal species including two significant endangered ecological communities, Natural temperate Grassland and Yellow Box/ Red Gum Grassy Woodland. This diversity is also what makes it attractive for a range of recreational activities such as walking, cycling and horse riding that need to be balanced with conservation of the natural environmental values. As a responsible land manager, I consider it paramount for the ACT Government to exercise stewardship over CNP which is both environmentally sustainable and in tune with community expectations. The natural, cultural, recreational, aesthetic and educational values of the Park, which so many of us have discovered and prize so highly, can only be fostered within the context of a clear management framework. This Plan provides that framework while balancing the many demands for visitor use. The Plan puts in place sound, scientifically based management regimes that will allow continued access for future generations to the recreational, natural and cultural resources that we all enjoy. We are fortunate to inherit such a significant asset that I feel sure will continue to be enjoyed by generations of Canberrans and visitors alike. Brendan Smyth MLA Minister for Urban Services v CONTENTS NOTES .....................................................................................................................III MINISTERIAL FOREWORD .................................................................................... V CONTENTS............................................................................................................. VI PREFACE ............................................................................................................... IX ACRONYMS............................................................................................................. X VISION .................................................................................................................... XI SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. XII 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................1 1.1 background............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Management context.............................................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Overall Management OBJECTIVES................................................................................................... 9 2. MANAGEMENT ZONES...................................................................................10 2.2 Management zones and related management ................................................................................... 10 2.3 Zone overlays........................................................................................................................................ 11 3. MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ................................................14 3.1 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................. 14 3.2 SPECIFIC RESERVE MANAGEMENT.......................................................................................... 15 3.3 Vegetation............................................................................................................................................. 15 3.4 NATIVE ANIMALS............................................................................................................................ 18 3.5 GEOLOGY/geomorphology ............................................................................................................... 19 3.6 landscape .............................................................................................................................................. 20 4. MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES..............................................22 4.1 background........................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2 PROTECTION AND interpretation OF CULTURAL HERITAGE.............................................. 22 vi 5. MANAGEMENT FOR PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT......................24 5.1 FIRE MANAGEMENT....................................................................................................................... 24 5.2 soil conservation................................................................................................................................... 28 5.3 Grazing ................................................................................................................................................. 30 5.4 Exotic Animals..................................................................................................................................... 31 5.5 EUROPEAN HONEYBEES ............................................................................................................... 34 5.6 Exotic plants......................................................................................................................................... 34 5.7 Pollution control and waste management.......................................................................................... 37 6. PROMOTION AND MANAGEMENT OF VISITOR USE..................................39 6.1 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................. 39 6.2 ACCESS AND FACILITIES.............................................................................................................. 40 6.3 SPECIFIC ISSUES.............................................................................................................................. 42 6.4 visitors with dogs.................................................................................................................................. 42 6.5 visitor safety......................................................................................................................................... 45 6.6 REcreation............................................................................................................................................ 45 6.7 LAW ENFORCEMENT..................................................................................................................... 51 6.8 FEES AND FUND RAISING.............................................................................................................. 52 7. COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION ......................................55 7.1 COMMUNICATION........................................................................................................................... 55 7.2 orientation, environmentAL education and interpretation ............................................................ 56 7.3 Community participation.................................................................................................................... 59 7.4 ParkCare .............................................................................................................................................. 60 8. USES REQUIRING APPROVAL ......................................................................62 8.1 Research activities................................................................................................................................ 62 8.2 concessions and related activities ....................................................................................................... 64 8.3 CAPITAL AND OTHER WORKS .................................................................................................... 66 9. URBAN RELATED ISSUES .............................................................................72