Lower North Coast Region Achievement Report 2015-2016 J Spencer

WHERE WE OPERATE • National Park which WHO WE ARE ...... protects NSW’s largest coastal With World Heritage rainforest, Ramsar lake system and is listed under the The Lower North Coast Region manages Convention wetlands and extensive Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of around 287,000 hectares of land in 110 Aboriginal conservation lands, nature and International Importance. It also has the reserves: 28 national parks, 62 nature culture abounds in the Lower North Coast highest density of camping sites of any reserves, 17 state conservation areas, two Region. The region is diverse geologically, NSW national park historic sites and one regional park. topographically and ecologically. Coastal Our five management units are: Hunter dune ecosystems and estuaries in the east • Crowdy Bay National Park comprises Coast, Great Lakes, Manning/Hastings and give way to alluvial soils and then plateau an extensive freshwater wetland system Barrington Tops areas, and the Strategic country, and mountainous sub-alpine areas with wet and dry heath communities. Program and Administrative Team which is of Barrington Tops dominate our western Along with adjoining Dooragan National located in the regional office at Nelson Bay. boundary. Park and Kattang , it forms a spectacular and much loved From the Hunter River estuary, north to We also have offices and works depots visitor destination at , Pacific Palms and the (Port Macquarie) and Gloucester and works depots at Nelson Bay, inland to the top of Barrington Tops, our • Aboriginal-owned Worimi Conservation Boat Harbour, Dungog, Bombah Point and region includes the Port Stephens, Dungog, Lands protect the spectacular . Upper Hunter, Walcha, MidCoast and Port mobile dune systems of Stockton Macquarie-Hastings local government areas. Bight and their integral Aboriginal WHAT WE DO cultural heritage values. These lands ...... Parks in our region with outstanding natural play a key role in rebuilding Worimi and cultural conservation values include: Lower North Coast Region is responsible for connections to Country, providing the management of: • World Heritage listed Barrington significant employment and economic Tops National Park which protects opportunities for the Worimi people. • national parks and reserves ecologically isolated rainforest and sub • park assets alpine communities, and is an iconic Valley view, Barrington Tops National Park. • people in parks NSW recreation haven J Spencer • native plants and animals • fire and incidents • pests and weeds • Aboriginal cultural heritage • historic heritage • appropriate fire suppression, protection and management across the reserve system. Partnerships and co-management are a focus, particularly with Aboriginal communities, alongside conservation agreements with private landholders.

1 NPWS Region ! Lower North Coast

OXL EY H IGH WAY "

Oxley Wild Rivers NP O Boonanghi NR X L E Y r H e Kempsey IG Aps ! " v H ley i R W iver R A Y

d l North Coast

a

n o r Kumbatine NP d ive Willi Willi NP c h R a c wit M o arr W Y Werrikimbe NP ilson River

Limeburners Creek NP Mount Seaview NR Cottan-Bimbang NP Ha st Rawdon Creek NR Jasper NR ing s R ive r Port Macquarie! " The Cells SCA Wauchope " ! Sea Acres" NP Innes Ruins HS Ba ck R Bago Bluff NP Lake Innes NR iv Biriwal Bulga NP er Queens Lake SCA Weelah NR Bridal Veil Falls NR Manning-Hastings Queens Lake NR Curracabundi SCA Bugan NR Boorganna NR Barakee NP R ! o Kattang NR Curracabundi NP w Tapin Tops NP Killabakh NR Dooragan NP l Mernot NRMonkeycot NR Barrakee SCA e y s Middle Brother NP Watchimbark NR R Coxcomb NRCoorabakh NP " i v e Goonook NR Bretti NR r Woko NP Crowdy Bay NP Khatambuhl NR Lansdowne NR Camels Hump NR Brimbin NR Barrington Tops SCA Coneac SCA Wingham! "Taree ! Towibakh NR Coocumbac Island NR

Copeland Tops SCA Khappinghat NP !" Gloucester Talawahl SCAKhappinghat NR Lower North Coast " Talawahl NR

iver WAY llamba R IGH Wa IC H CIF Barrington Tops NP PA Darawank NR Barrington Tops Berrico NR Wallamba NR r Minimbah NR e The Glen NR v i !Forster R Coolongolook NR n Will o iam Mills Island NRWallis Island NR s s r Riv e e Booti Booti NP t r Ghin-Doo-Ee NP a P Black Bulga SCA K a Wallingat NP Killarney NR r "" u Pacific Palms a ! h

Monkerai NR R i v e " r Bulahdelah SCA Smiths Lake NR ! Dungog Great Lakes Myall Lakes NP Seal Rocks NR

AY " HW IG H IC IF C er PA iv ll R ya Columbey NP Karuah NP M Stormpetrel NR Columbey SCAWallaroo NP Little Broughton Island NR Branxton Karuah NR ! Seaham Swamp NRMedowie NR NEW ENG Corrie Island NR LAND HIG John Gould NR HWAY Medowie SCA Nelson Bay Hunter Coast Gir-um-bit NP "! Boondelbah NR Maitland ! Raymond! Terrace Tilligerry NRTomaree NP Tilligerry SCA " H Worimi NP un Cessnock ter Worimi RP ! Riv er Worimi SCA " Central Coast Hunter"

" Newcastle Y A ! W " R O T O M IC IF 0 40 C A P I Kilometres

! Major towns Motorway

" NPWS work locations Primary road

NPWS areas Arterial roads

NPWS estate Major rivers

2 ...... KEY ACHIEVEMENTS 2015/16

RESERVE ESTABLISHMENT AND ACQUISITION ......

The region supported the Worimi Conservation Lands Board of Management to purchase land adjoining the park for a works depot.

RESERVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE ......

Management trail upgrades

Myall Lakes, Ghin-Doo-Ee, Wallingat, and Crowdy Bay National Parks, and Berrico Nature Reserve all benefited from $343,030 in funding through the Rural Fire Service Fire Mitigation Works for fire trail upgrades to improve our capacity to conduct hazard reduction burning and respond to wildfire.

The fire trail upgrades, specifically the Coorabakh National Park. J Spencer Harrington Fire Trail, Jackson Pine Fire Trail, Grass Tree Fire Trail and the Sand Track, required an enormous effort by NPWS staff COMMUNITIES AND RESERVES The region’s other activities included: and local contractors to handle challenging ...... • planning and consultation for the Dark environmental conditions including poor We consulted with key stakeholders and the Point Dune Sheet project to address weather, swamps and wetlands. community about the strategy to manage the threat of an encroaching dune on Since 2013, more than $500,000 has been horse riding, involving plans of management Mungo Brush road secured to help repair and strengthen fire for Bago Bluff National Park and Coorabakh trails in the southern section of Crowdy Bay National Park. • using an unmanned aerial vehicle National Park to improve fire protection for to monitor the Worimi Conservation the villages of Harrington and Coralville. Lands, focussing in particular on frontal dune condition and the impacts of camping.

NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS ......

Threatened Species

The Region has active management programs for a number of threatened species and significant ecological communities. Key examples include Gould’s petrel, which is known to breed only on John Gould (Cabbage Tree) Island and nearby nature reserves, as well as endangered shorebirds including little tern, pied oystercatcher and beach-stone curlew in the Manning and Port Stephens estuaries.

Successful fox control was the key to sustaining threatened populations of brush- tailed rock-wallaby in the Curracabundi National Park, and the broad-toothed rat in Barrington Tops National Park.

Weed control and active restoration is helping protect the remnants of Subtropical Floodplain rainforest in Coocumbac Island, Wingham Brush and Lansdowne Nature reserves, representing over 95% of this endangered ecological community remaining in the Manning Valley.

ABOVE: Before and after photos of Crowdy Bay National Park fire trails

3 Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. J Spencer

Sugarloaf Point lighthouse. J Spencer HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND ABORIGINAL JOINT CONNECTING COMMUNITIES MANAGEMENT ...... Shining the light - Sugarloaf Point We support the aspirations of Aboriginal Lighthouse 140th Anniversary Worimi Conservation Lands people to protect their cultural heritage, The historic lighthouse at Seal Rocks The region helped the Worimi Conservation to be involved in the management of their celebrated 140 years with an open day on Lands Board of Management to finalise traditional lands and to improve connection the weekend of 5-6 December 2015. and launch its first plan of management. to country and community wellbeing. The 10-year plan is to improve awareness, The Australian Maritime Safety Authority Aboriginal Green Teams from Karuah, understanding and protection of Worimi conducted lighthouse tours, showcasing Forster and Taree worked with us to culture and to guide conservation, the colourful stories of lighthouse keepers’ undertake strategic weed programs in sustainable recreation and tourism on lives and the tasks required to keep the light the Great Lakes and Taree areas, building Aboriginal-owned lands in the area. It was burning and seas safer for mariners. Visitors capacity and economic opportunity for local unveiled on 15 November 2015. were also able to look inside the restored Aboriginal communities. assistant keeper’s cottage on site, and talk The first management plan for such an Aboriginal employees accounted for over to ranger Rachel Kempers about the site, its important Aboriginal cultural landscape is a 30% of full time equivalent positions across history and local wildlife. significant achievement for the board. The the region. traditional owners and the public celebrated its launch with a formal ceremony and a variety of Worimi cultural activities in the park.

Cooperative arrangements for Saltwater National Park

An agreement was reached with the Saltwater Tribal Council to cover cooperative planning, management, liaison and camping fee collection at Saltwater National Park.

The Worimi Conservation Lands Board celebrating the launch. Worimi boys, proud of the achievement.

4 RESERVE COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS ......

We continued to support commercial tourism in national parks, including an increase in commercial visitor numbers at the Worimi Conservation Lands.

A two year project commenced this year to deliver major heritage conservation and restoration works, and interpretive signage upgrades, at Roto House and Innes Ruins at Port Macquarie. Roto House. J Spencer

LEFT: Karamea Homestead in Curracabundi National Park was opened for holiday accommodation in March 2016. ABOVE: Volunteers from the Gloucester Visitor Information Centre were keen to inspect the new accommodation. T Hilleard

VISITOR FACILITIES Opening of Karamea Homestead Gloucester Falls walking track upgrade ...... In March 2016 we celebrated the opening Barrington Tops National Park rainforests NPWS provides a range of visitor facilities of historic Karamea Homestead, by the are of international significance, forming part for the recreational use of parks, including in Curracabundi National of the Gondwana Rainforests of visitor centres, toilets, camping and picnic Park, for short term holiday accommodation. World Heritage Area and attracting visitors grounds, services and infrastructure, Tucked away on an old grazing property, this from around the globe. During the year, we lookouts and walking trails. The following federation-style timber homestead sleeps repaired and re-opened the Gloucester Falls visitor facility upgrades were completed in up to 10 guests. The secluded rural setting walking track at Gloucester Tops, reinstating 2015-16: makes Karamea Homestead the perfect access to its waterfall views and scenic • upgrade of the Anna Bay 4WD entry to place for those looking to unplug and soak rainforest lookouts. the Worimi Conservation Lands, and up the natural beauty of the park. New and improved signage was also the construction of a new vehicle entry installed at the Williams River precinct near and walking track at Fern Bay Dungog, where easy walks lead through • bridge upgrades on roads and rainforests and past crystal-clear streams. management trails in Myall Lakes Sections of boardwalk were also upgraded National Park. in Wingham Brush Nature Reserve, • upgrade of campground caretaker enhancing this wheelchair friendly rainforest facilities at Crowdy Bay National Park. experience near Wingham.

• major maintenance works on Diamond Head road, which is the key visitor LEFT and BELOW: Gloucester Falls walking access road through Crowdy Bay track reapired after damage from storms, National Park. and new bridge. P Beard

• new interpretive signs at Broughton Island.

LEFT: Broughton Island. J Spencer

5 National Parks Discovery in the region offered holiday tours and school education programs in collaboration with the NPWS Customer Experience Division. WilderQuest guided tours and a spooky spotlighting tour attracted children at and Boat Harbour at Nelson Bay, in the January school holidays. WilderQuest adventures are designed to help kids to discover the hidden mysteries of nature for themselves and the activities include exploring rockpools, enjoying the breath- taking views from atop Tomaree Head and listening out for the eerie sounds of the bush at twilight. Discovery tours also ran at Crowdy Bay National Park and Innes Ruins Nature Reserve.

Volunteer Rainforest Guide Greg Croft hosts a tour at Sea Acres Rainforest Centre. J Spencer

VISITOR EXPERIENCE ......

Sea Acres Rainforest Centre open days

Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is a popular attraction for visitors to Port Macquarie, and supports a large team of local volunteers with a passion for rainforest and wildlife. Mungo Brush campground, Myall Lakes National Park. J Spencer An open day was held in September, giving locals and visitors the opportunity to meet local wildlife carers and learn how their On-line campsite booking system work benefits wildlife including koalas, On-line campsite booking at Mungo Brush birds, marine turtles and even native bees. camping area, Myall Lakes National Park, It supported FAWNA (For Australian Wildlife and Diamond Head camping area, Crowdy Needing Aid), a wildlife rescue group that Sea Acres Rainforest Centre also hosted Bay National Park has proved successful in operates in Port Macquarie-Hastings, 12 volunteer guides from Gloucester and its second year of operation. Greater Taree, Kempsey, Gloucester, Dungog in November thanking them for Northern Great Lakes, Stroud and Dungog. volunteering in the Barrington Tops Area ENABLING PARTICIPATION ...... Not only were people able to see the since 2011. They enjoyed a guided walk dedication, skills and experience of these on the magnificent boardwalk through the NPWS engages with its communities wildlife carers and could volunteer to join, rainforest, and sampled the Spirit of the and stakeholders to discuss a range of there was music, face painting, colouring-in Land exhibition. The trip also enabled the management issues, leading to better and boardwalk tours, and rainforest plants volunteers to gain a better insight into roles decisions for our national parks taking into to buy. of volunteers in other NPWS areas. account the various interests, values, needs and perspectives of the people our decisions affect.

Worimi Conservation Lands

During the year we worked with the Board of Management and interested stakeholders to introduce sustainable camping in the Worimi Conservation Lands using an adaptive management framework.

Establishing sand-based camping on Worimi Conservation Lands is complicated and challenging because of the large number of Worimi cultural sites scattered across the landscape, and the constantly changing environment. Several workshops have been held to consider all of the possibilities and constraints of establishing sand-based camping, and the stakeholder group will continue to meet to identify a sustainable Volunteer guides from Barrington Tops Area, pictured here with Ranger Coralie De Angelis, solution. enjoyed a day out at Sea Acres Rainforest Centre in November.

6 LEFT and ABOVE: Enthusiastic volunteers are the mainstay of weed programs at Seal Rocks to protect the Endangered Ecological Communities of littoral rainforest PEST AND WEED MANAGEMENT FIRE MANAGEMENT and Themeda grasslands on Treachery and ...... Sugarloaf headlands. Implementation of the regional pest Lower North Coast Region completed 28 management strategy is a top priority and prescribed burn operations and treated 148 achievements this year include: per cent (9600 hectares) of the Region’s • ongoing participation in strategic and annual burning target for 2015/16, achieving reactive wild dog control programs, the region’s five-year cumulative target including formal recognition of our (32,580ha) for the Enhanced Bushfire ongoing commitment to programs Management Program. in the Bulahdelah area by local Ranger Sean Thompson was deployed to landholders Alberta, Canada, as part of an international • ongoing implementation of the region’s contingent assisting Canadian firefighters. aquatic weeds program, targeting key Lower North Coast Region staff also ecological weeds in Crowdy Bay and travelled to Tasmania over summer to Myall Lakes national parks support fire crews there. • continued reduction in the size of coastal areas infested with bitou bush through targeted aerial spraying RIGHT: Controlled burn at Marks Strategic programs allowing recolonisation by Fire Advantage Zone in Wallamba Nature native plant species Reserve. • continuation of a coordinated works BELOW LEFT: NSW and Tasmanian NPWS program with the Hunter Local Land fire crews, with NSW RFS on the Pipeline Services, Great Lakes Council and Fire in Tasmania. K Bisley Aboriginal communities for strategic BELOW: Hazard reduction burn at Yagon weed control in Myall Lakes and Booti in Myall Lakes National Park, August 2015. Booti national parks B Cann • ongoing mapping and implementation of a control program for the highly invasive Watsonia lily • participation in the Weeds Committee • working with volunteer groups to target weeds and restore native vegetation at a number of sites across the region (see Appendix 3 Volunteer Groups).

7 Patricia Meconi was an individual award Fiona developed an Aboriginal Green winner in the Excellence in Innovation Team, ‘working on country’, to deliver or Process Improvement Award for her environmental outcomes through Aboriginal exemplary customer service, and for training and employment. She also set up providing leadership, support and guidance The Great Lakes Aboriginal Partners Group to a wide range of staff. to build government and non-government partnerships. As a result of the program, Patricia manages the Region’s administrative some sections of coastline previously requirements with a minimum of fuss and heavily infested with bitou bush have seen in a way that reduces the load and stress the weed’s density fall from well over 50 on other staff members. She consistently per cent to now less than one per cent delivers outstanding customer service, and the native species response has been well above and beyond the normal level of Patricia Meconi receiving her Outstanding remarkable. Professional Service Award responsibility to meet tight deadlines. She leads by example and has had a positive WORKPLACE PEOPLE, influence on the way other staff approach CULTURE AND CAPABILITY administrative functions...... Fiona Miller was highly commended for Award-winning regional staff members her outstanding success since 2008 in The Office of Environment and Heritage developing an extensive and innovative Outstanding Professional Service Awards externally funded weed management acknowledge the excellent work that is program that supports local Aboriginal performed across our organisation. On employment within Great Lakes Area. 4 November 2015 two of our regional Her successful ‘landscape scale’, cross- staff members were recognised for their tenure annual weed management program outstanding and exceptional work. targeted weeds of national significance such as bitou bush and asparagus species, along with other environmental weeds. Bitou bush - a nationally signiicant weed.

PRIORITIES FOR 2016/17 • Work with OEH partners to investigate • Participate in cross tenure wild dog ...... and implement short and long term management programs. Our key priorities for delivery in 2016/17 solutions to maintain through access Native Plants and Animals relate to park experiences, environment and of Mungo Brush road which, if left heritage asset activation and protected area unchecked, will be cut due to the • Implement funded Saving Our Species management. We will continue to deliver encroachment of the Dark Point dune programs, for Gould’s petrel and on core business including fire and incident sheet in Myall Lakes National Park Manning endangered shorebirds management, priority pest and weed • Achieve further improvement to our • Implement critical pest management management, conservation of threatened Asset Management System, and programs to protect identified native plants and animals, providing visitor increase our focus on the strategic and threatened species and endangered facilities and experiences, and existing cyclic management of our extensive ecological communities. Aboriginal joint management commitments. asset portfolio. Aboriginal Joint Management Park Experiences Fire Management • Implement the adopted Plan of • Promote Karamea Homestead for The Region has a strong commitment to Management for Worimi Conservation visitor accommodation, and facilitate a focus on the implementation of the reserve Lands Wilderness Horse riding route trial fire management strategies, and meeting • Continue Aboriginal community • Reintroduce camping at the Worimi the planned targets for strategic hazard involvement in the management Conservation Lands using an adaptive reduction burning. of Saltwater National Park and management approach Khappinghat Nature Reserve Pest and Weed Management • Roll-out of NPWS online booking • Support Seal Rocks Agreement with system at identified sites in Myall Lakes • Fox control to protect the brush-tailed Forster Local Aboriginal Land Council, and Crowdy Bay national parks. rock-wallaby and broad-toothed rat as which fosters increased opportunities well as the endangered shorebirds of Protected Area Management for Aboriginal contracting. the Manning estuary • Complete capital projects including • Restoration programs in the the design of a new Hunter Coast Area endangered subtropical floodplain depot, realignment of Diamond Head CONTACTS rainforest communities in the Manning ...... beach vehicle access, and upgrades to Valley the Ruins campground to enable online NPWS LOWER NORTH COAST REGION booking • Implement the Bitou Bush Threat Level 1, 12B Teramby Road, Abatement Plan across 17 sites in the (Locked Mail Bag 99 ) • Support the progress of identified plans region Nelson Bay NSW 2315 of management (and amendments) Phone: 02 4984 8200 Fax: 02 4981 5913 to assist the long term conservation • Continue review and implementation of Email: npws.lowernorthcoast@ management and provision of visitor the Phytophthora management strategy environment.nsw.gov.au opportunities in the region’s reserves in the Barrington Tops

8 Appendix 1 Lower North Coast Region parks and reserves (May 2016)

Reserve Area Hectares

Manning- Lower No. Reserve name Reserve No. Barrington Great Lakes Hunter Hastings North Coast Tops Area Area Coast Area Area Region 1 Bago Bluff NP N0114 3976.67 3976.67 2 Bandicoot Island NR N0512 28.71 28.71 3 Barakee NP N0115 4989.36 4989.36 4 Barakee SCA N1040 177.5 177.5 5 Barrington Tops NP N0002 57280.81 57280.81 6 Barrington Tops SCA N0266 699.89 699.89 7 Berrico NR N0728 893.36 893.36 8 Biriwal Bulga NP N0118 6488.25 6488.25 9 Black Bulga SCA N0692 1549.41 1549.41 10 Boondelbah NR N0409 19.36 19.36 11 Boorganna NR N0410 376.21 376.21 12 Booti Booti NP N0081 1537.14 1537.14 13 Bretti NR N0740 2899.96 2899.96 14 Bridal Veil Falls NR N0923 218.4 218.4 15 Brimbin NR N0774 50.8 50.8 16 Bugan NR N0732 1518.45 1518.45 17 Bulahdelah SCA N1042 125.6 125.6 18 Bull Island NR N0927 0.68 0.68 19 Bushy Island NR N0906 0.29 0.29 20 Camels Hump NR N0538 513.73 513.73 21 Columbey NP N1100 860.05 860.05 22 Columbey SCA N1179 246.72 246.72 23 Comboyne NR N0924 22.88 22.88 24 Coneac SCA N0648 798.15 798.15 25 Coocumbac Island NR N0542 9.2 9.2 26 Coolongolook NR N0518 202.45 202.45 27 Coorabakh NP N0117 1805.32 1805.32 28 Copeland Tops SCA N0694 2385.77 2385.77 29 Corrie Island NR N0778 178.46 178.46 30 Cottan-Bimbang NP N0123 14667.53 14667.53 31 Coxcomb NR N0780 73.19 73.19 32 Crowdy Bay NP N0009 10698.14 10698.14 33 Curracabundi NP N1097 11633.98 11633.98 34 Curracabundi SCA N0683 734.52 734.52 35 Darawank NR N0783 1201.78 1201.78 36 Dooragan NP N0108 1094.61 1094.61 37 Durands Island NR N0925 7.36 7.36 38 Flat Island NR N0926 9.04 9.04 39 Ghin-Doo-Ee NP N0125 4793.56 4793.56 40 Gir-um-bit NP N1102 612.38 612.38 41 Gir-um-bit SCA N1103 181.15 181.15 42 Goonook NR N0741 986.56 986.56 43 Innes Ruins HS N0219 440.05 40.05 44 Jasper NR N0557 356.14 356.14 45 John Gould NR N0440 30.78 30.78 46 Karuah NP N1101 3521.21 3521.21 47 Karuah NR N0744 824.25 824.25 48 Karuah SCA N0657 70.7 70.7 49 Kattang NR N0561 69.01 69.01 50 Khappinghat NR N0710 3505.99 3505.99 51 Khatambuhl NR N0789 802.46 802.46 52 Killabakh NR N0746 2643.64 2643.64 53 Killarney NR N0760 435.01 435.01 54 Koorebang NR N0724 480.69 480.69 55 Lake Innes NR N0559 3361.9 3361.9

9 Lower North Coast Region parks and reserves (May 2016) - continued

Reserve Area Hectares

Manning- Lower No. Reserve name Reserve No. Barrington Great Lakes Hunter Hastings North Coast Tops Area Area Coast Area Area Region 56 Lake Innes SCA N0697 321.82 321.82 57 Lansdowne NR N0939 14.57 14.57 58 Little Broughton Island NR N0446 20.53 20.53 59 Macquarie NR N0448 8.51 8.51 60 Medowie NR N0930 223.32 223.32 61 Medowie SCA N0658 2830.89 2830.89 62 Mernot NR N0792 319.83 319.83 63 Middle Brother NP N0128 1820.11 1820.11 64 Mills Island NR N0511 57.53 57.53 65 Minimbah NR N0934 358.92 358.92 66 Moffats Swamp NR N0519 143.09 143.09 67 Monkerai NR N0747 860.45 860.45 68 Monkeycot NR N0807 1606.58 1606.58 69 Mount Seaview NR N0453 1762.53 1762.53 70 Myall Lakes NP N0026 47858.65 130.07 47988.72 71 One Tree Island NR N0907 0.58 0.58 72 Oxley Wild Rivers NP N0043 0 0 73 Queens Lake NR N0749 1391.83 1391.83 74 Queens Lake SCA N0698 1002.3 1002.3 75 Rawdon Creek NR N0730 553.8 553.8 76 Regatta Island NR N0521 111.46 111.46 77 Roto House HS N0221 3.73 3.73 78 Saltwater NP N0197 33.03 33.03 79 Sea Acres NP N1151 70.88 70.88 80 Seaham Swamp NR N0501 11.07 11.07 81 Seal Rocks NR N0472 1.63 1.63 82 Shark Island NR N0921 1.54 1.54 83 Smiths Lake NR N0928 24.32 24.32 84 Snapper Island NR N0547 10.6 10.6 85 Stormpetrel NR N0507 4.06 4.06 86 Talawahl NR N0753 3120.46 3120.46 87 Talawahl SCA N0663 136.48 136.48 88 Tapin Tops NP N0122 10882.43 10882.43 89 The Cells SCA N0664 4679.72 4679.72 90 The Glen NR N0734 2723.13 0 2723.13 91 Tilligerry NP N1107 141.12 141.12 92 Tilligerry NR N0798 508.48 508.48 93 Tilligerry SCA N1108 4819.68 4819.68 94 Tomaree NP N0065 2321.96 2321.96 95 Towibakh NR N0737 60.6 60.6 96 Wallamba NR N0758 1146.97 1146.97 97 Wallaroo NP N1099 0 2780.33 2780.33 98 Wallingat NP N0132 6479.84 6479.84 99 Wallis Island NR N0554 586.41 586.41 100 Watchimbark NR N0929 740.37 740.37 101 Weelah NR N0488 35.17 35.17 102 Werrikimbe NP N0042 19149.73 19149.73 103 Willi Willi NP N0102 0.01 0.01 104 Wingham Brush NR N0815 7.59 7.59 105 Woko NP N0057 8225.72 8225.72 106 Woregore NR N1043 85.03 85.03 107 Worimi NP N1111 1866.47 1866.47 108 Worimi RP N1110 1336.44 1336.44 109 Worimi SCA N1112 880.91 880.91 110 Yahoo Island NR N0558 51.21 51.21 Grand Total 95407.44 63436.29 23469.72 105100.25 287413.7

Abbreviations: AA = Aboriginal Area, CCAZ = Community Conservation Area Zone, KCR = Karst Conservation Reserve, HS = Historic Site, NP = National Park, NR = Nature Reserve, OEH = Office of Environment & Heritage, RP = Regional Park, SCA = State Conservation Area 10 Appendix 2 Government electorate boundaries in the Lower North Coast (May 2016)

Local Government areas within the Lower North Coast Region

Barrington Tops Great Lakes Hunter Coast Mannings- No. Local Government Area Area Area Area Hastings Area

1 Dungog x x

2 Mid-Coast x x x x

3 Port Macquarie-Hastings x

4 Port Stephens x x

5 Upper Hunter x

6 Walcha x

NSW electorates within the Lower North Coast Region

Barrington Tops Great Lakes Hunter Coast Mannings- No. State electorate Area Area Area Hastings Area

1 Myall Lakes x x

2 Newcastle x

3 Oxley x

4 Port Macquarie x

5 Port Stephens x x x

6 Tamworth x

7 Upper Hunter x x x x

Federal electorates within the Lower North Coast Region

Barrington Tops Great Lakes Hunter Coast Mannings- No. Federal electorate Area Area Area Hastings Area

1 Cowper x

2 Lyne x x x x

3 New England x x

4 Paterson x

11 Appendix 3 Volunteer groups active in the Lower North Coast Region

Barrington Great Hunter Mannings- No. Group name Type of work Tops Lakes Coast Hastings

1 Regional Advisory Committee Community engagement - planning x x x x and advice 2 Assistance with ArcGI and Weeds x x x x PWIS data entry 3 Broughton Island Volunteer Group On park ecological conservation x 4 Centrelink Participant Visitor infrastructure x Engagement - Groundsman 5 Corrie Island Clean Up Community programs and education x 6 Friends of Booti Booti NP On park ecological conservation x 7 Gondwana Rainforests Long Term On park ecological conservation x Ecological Research Network 8 John Gould Nature Reserve Threatened species x - Gould Petrel monitoring program 9 LNC Environmental Management On park ecological conservation x x x x 10 Manning Endangered Shorebird Threatened species x Program 11 National Parks Association Weeds x Bitou Bashers 12 Port Stephens Community Community programs and education x Dolphin Census 13 Sea Acres Rainforest Centre Visitor services & interpretation x Volunteer Rainforest Discovery Guides 14 Stockton Beach Clean Up Day Community programs and education x

15 Volunteer Guided Tours Visitor services & interpretation x Barrington Tops National Park

12