Megalong Reserve Plan of Management
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Megalong Reserve Plan of Management January 2008 Community and Corporate Group Megalong Reserve Plan of Management i January 2008 Megalong Reserve Plan of Management ii January 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary.......................................................................................2 1.0 Introduction.........................................................................................3 1.1 Background .......................................................................................3 1.2 Purpose of the Plan of Management .................................................3 1.3 Relationship to Legislation, Local Environmental Planning Instruments and Council’s Strategic Plans...................................................3 1.4 Community Consultation ...................................................................5 2.0 Description of Megalong Reserve .....................................................6 2.1 Site Location......................................................................................6 2.2 Land to which this Plan applies .........................................................6 2.3 Tenure and Zoning ............................................................................6 3.0 Physical Environment ........................................................................9 3.1 Climate ..............................................................................................9 3.2 Landscape and Topography..............................................................9 3.3 Geology and Soils .............................................................................9 3.4 Vegetation Community ....................................................................11 3.5 Flora Values ....................................................................................12 3.5 Fauna Values ..................................................................................14 3.6 Cultural Values ................................................................................14 3.7 Stream Health .................................................................................14 4.0 Management Issues..........................................................................16 4.1 Tenure and Management Strategy..................................................16 4.2 Facilities at Megalong Sportsground ...............................................17 4.3 Cultural Heritage .............................................................................18 4.4 Natural Heritage ..............................................................................19 4.5 Water Quality...................................................................................20 4.6 Invasive Weeds ...............................................................................20 4.7 Nature Studies.................................................................................21 4.8 Horse Riding, Cycling, Bushwalking and Trail Management ...........21 4.9 Bush Fire Management ...................................................................25 4.10 Licensing and Bookings ..................................................................27 4.11 Management Action Plan ................................................................28 References ...................................................................................................37 Megalong Reserve Plan of Management 1 January 2008 Appendix 1: Plan of Management Figures ............................................. 39 Appendix 2: Flora List for Megalong Reserve........................................ 47 Appendix 3: Potential Fauna Species at Megalong Reserve ................ 63 Appendix 4: Built Assets Inventory ........................................................ 70 Appendix 5: Annexure “A” – Local Environment Plan 1991................. 78 List of Tables Table 1: Megalong Reserve tenure and management responsibility........................6 Table 2: Zoning and Protected Areas .......................................................................7 Table 3: Erodibility of soil types in the study area...................................................10 Table 4: Erosion hazard of soil types in the study area ..........................................10 Table 5: Vegetation communities at Megalong Reserve ........................................12 Table 6: Potential rare or threatened plants of the Reserve ...................................13 Table 7: Streamwatch results for Back Creek.........................................................15 Table 8: Management Action Plan..........................................................................29 Table 9: Flora list for Megalong Reserve................................................................48 Table 10: Fauna species that may potentially occur at Megalong Reserve............64 Table 11: Built Assets Inventory for Megalong Reserve.........................................71 List of Figures (Appendix 1) Figure 1: Location of Megalong Reserve................................................................39 Figure 2: Air photo of Megalong Reserves and surrounds .....................................40 Figure 3: Local Environment Plan 1991 Zonings and Environmental Constraints..41 Figure 4: Soil landscapes within Megalong Reserve ..............................................43 Figure 5: Vegetation communities of Megalong Reserve .......................................44 Figure 6: Megalong Reserve Management Areas ..................................................45 Figure 7: Primary and secondary trails in Megalong Reserve ................................46 Megalong Reserve Plan of Management 2 January 2008 Megalong Reserve Plan of Management 1 January 2008 Executive Summary The Megalong Reserve is an important local and regional public open space that includes community assets such as Megalong Hall, a sports/gymkhana ground, and a large tract of environmentally significant bushland. The Reserve consists of four parcels of land that cover an area of 208 ha, and is located on the eastern slope of the Megalong Valley being approximately 6 km east of Katoomba. Council’s objectives for this Plan of Management are to: • Ensure the 4 reserves are managed in accordance with the NSW Crown Lands Act 1989; • Provide a framework for the effective and sustainable management of the land, its natural and cultural heritage values, and existing and future infrastructure; • Reflect the community vision for the buildings and sporting infrastructure; • Incorporate measures to protect and enhance the significant natural heritage values of the Reserve; • Ensure consistency with the City Strategy – 25 year Vision; and • Provide a strategy for any future maintenance, capital works and infrastructure. The Plan of Management has been prepared in accordance with statutory requirements and Council policy directions identified in the NSW Crown Lands Act 1989, and Crown Lands Regulation 2000, and Council’s Local Environmental Plan 1991, Management Plan and 25 Year Vision Strategy, Strategic Bush Fire Management Plan, Fire Trail Sustainable Asset Management Plan and Nature Based Recreation Strategy. Preparation of the Plan of Management included field assessment, research and stakeholder consultation. This process identified management issues relevant to the Reserve, which have been discussed in detail. Management issues considered by this Plan include: z Tenure and Management Strategy z Cultural Heritage z Facilities at Megalong Sportsground z Natural Heritage z Bush Fire Management z Invasive Weeds z Licensing and Booking z Water Quality z Nature Studies z Horse Riding, Cycling, Bushwalking and Trail Management Consideration of these management issues has led to the development of Management Action Plan, which has been included in this Plan of Management (refer to S.4.11). The Management Action Plan identifies the actions Council intends to implement to address management issues relevant to the Reserve. The Management Action Plan identifies the action, time frame for implementation, estimated cost, proposed funding sources, and monitoring and evaluation techniques. The implementation of this Plan of Management over a five year period will cost $31,000-$40,000, which is expected to be funded through Council’s budget, the Reserve Trust Fund, and through other external grants. Megalong Reserve Plan of Management 2 January 2008 1.0 Introduction This section provides a background on the reason a Plan of Management (PoM) is being prepared and its relationship to statutory and policy documents. 1.1 Background The Megalong Reserve is an important local and regional public open space that includes community assets such as Megalong Hall, a sports/gymkhana ground, and a large tract of environmentally significant bushland. This Plan of Management will identify Council’s strategy for achieving a continuation of existing services, and will consider the issues associated with the provision of new services, with a desired goal of maintaining a sustainable balance between the provision of social and environmental amenities. 1.2 Purpose of the Plan of Management Council’s objectives for this Plan are to: • Provide a framework for the effective and sustainable management of the land, its natural and cultural heritage values, and existing and future infrastructure; • To assist and support formal and nature based recreation opportunities; • Reflect the community vision for the buildings and sporting infrastructure; • Incorporate measures