Lhere Mparntwe Management Strategy 2019 Protecting and enjoying the Todd and Charles rivers 1 Contents Background 1 Aims and objectives 2 A pragmatic approach to management 3 Management zones 4 Objectives 12 Acknowledgements Thank you to Max Rittner for his contribution of images Thank you to the following members of the Lhere Mparntwe Working Group: Ken Johnson - Chairperson Geoff Kenna Fiona Walsh Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation Alice Springs Landcare Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority Arid Lands Environment Centre Alice Springs Town Council Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics Department of Tourism Sport and Culture Department of Environment and Natural Resources Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Services Background The Todd and Charles Rivers form the allowing people to use and enjoy the environmental influences, the Todd and backbone along which the town of Alice peaceful beauty of the fringing river Charles River systems provide untapped Springs is both built and defined. The gums and open river beds. Occasionally opportunity for improving the amenity rivers are an integral part of the town’s the rivers burst forth in a flow that of the town, particularly in the central image and of how residents view their quickly turns community attention to an business district, and in promoting their community. excited and more active engagement. place as a defining part of the town’s image. The Todd River (Lhere Mparntwe) and Recreational use by local residents and Charles River (Anthelke Ulpeye) are visitors has expanded appreciably in Despite the place of the rivers in the sacred sites and central features in recent years following installation of town’s imagery there is a tendency for the cultural landscape of Mparntwe shared pedestrian and cycle pathways. businesses to avoid engagement with Aboriginal custodians, protected by the This network continues to expand or to “turn their backs” to the rivers. Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred providing attractive and convenient Similarly, and despite their widespread Sites Act 1989. Key features of these access for recreation, exercise, and as a use, the local community often lacks sacred sites are the majestic river red route for getting to and from school or respect for the health and integrity of the gums that mark the travels of caterpillar work. rivers. This is steadily changing. and other Dreaming ancestors through In March 2018 the Minister for the town. Respecting and caring for Environment and Natural Resources the rivers is a central part of cultural Majestic river red gums established the Lhere Mparntwe maintenance for Mparntwe custodians, Management Working Group tasked mark the travels of who regard these trees as their kin. with preparing a strategy to address The rivers intersect the town’s other key caterpillar and other management requirements. This formally iconic natural feature, The MacDonnell Dreaming ancestors established Committee comprised Ranges, at its gateway in Ntaripe representation from traditional Aboriginal (Heavitree Gap). through the town owners, representatives from both the Northern Territory Government and The MacDonnell Ranges is a timeless the Alice Springs Town Council, and and enduring geological feature, the The open sandy river beds are already community members of Alice Springs. rivers form a living ecosystem that widely used for recreation and events Establishment of the Committee requires care and management to sustain such as the Henley on Todd Regatta, and followed a summer period of major loss its ecological health and value to the the first Camel Cup. of large river red gums due to fire, and town’s community and visitors. If properly managed to mitigate the substantial community concern for this The rivers are normally dry and quiet destructive fires and other degrading loss. 1 Aims and objectives The Lhere Mparntwe Management Strategy 2019 (the Strategy) aims to have well managed, ecologically healthy rivers that are widely recognised as an iconic symbol of Alice Springs and which are enjoyed by locals and visitors as a natural urban space with significant Aboriginal cultural values. To achieve this, the Strategy identifies a series of actions grouped by the following: 1. Protect and enhance the natural and cultural values of the rivers. 2. Encourage more locals and visitors to use the rivers in culturally and ecologically appropriate ways for recreation and relaxation. 3. Local and Territory governments, traditional owners, business and the community to work collaboratively to care for the rivers. 2 A pragmatic approach to management There is a broad and disparate range river health and it forms a major Growth of the grassy fuel loads Investment in river maintenance needs of parties with formal and informal component of the Strategy. Effective depends on good summer rains varying to be directed to activities that are responsibilities and interests in management of fuel loads will have a from year to year. Consequently, sustainable over the long term. As there the rivers. These parties include positive effect on the ecological health flexibility in the way that resources are are portions of the Strategy area that government agencies, local government, of the river, maintain its cultural value, needed and used to manage the fire risk have not been actively managed for traditional Aboriginal owners, business, protect the large red gums of advanced is required. fuel loads for some time, there will be a non-government organisations, age, enhance the visual beauty of this requirement for increased initial effort, Formal responsibility for management river users and the general public. iconic asset, improve both the amenity with reduced resources required for in the Strategy area is shared across the Coordination of effort among these of the town and its value to tourism, maintenance of effort. Parks, Wildlife and Heritage Division of interest groups is critical if the rivers actively demonstrate to the community the Department of Tourism, Sport and The Strategy is a first and overarching are to be effectively and efficiently that the rivers are a valuable resource, Culture, the Alice Springs Town Council step towards effective management managed. and will contribute to the management and the Department of Infrastructure, of the rivers. The next steps will be for of issues of antisocial behaviour in the The Strategy provides a way for the Planning and Logistics. The Strategy stakeholder development of specific rivers. activities of these interest groups to be provides guidance to these authorities plans designed to address each key co-ordinated to achieve the shared aim The 3 management zones are proposed and includes actions that address the management requirement. of ecologically healthy rivers. with recommendation for the more broader responsibility of the community intensive management of fuel loads in of Alice Springs to respect and care for The committee identified fire the town area where there is highest the rivers for our shared benefit. management as a key element affecting public use. 3 Management Zone 1 – Town area Zone 2 – Rural area Zone 3 – Telegraph station The zone receives the highest level of The Rural Area south of Heavitree Gap The Telegraph station zone receives public use and thus the highest level of has a low intensity of use but has high high public use and receives fire zones human impact, including the incidence visibility from the Stuart Highway that management by the Parks and Wildlife of destructive fire. has a high level of public use. operations based at the Alice Springs The Strategy area has been split into Telegraph Station. It is important It is the most visible portion of the river, This area generated significant public 3 zones, with a scaled approach to to ensure that the management of both for residents and tourists, and feedback in response to the major loss management. fire in this reserve is integrated with includes the ‘entrance’ to Alice Springs of large river red gums from fire during management of the river in the 2 zones (for rail, road and air visitors) at Ntharipe the summer of 2017-18. to the south. (Heavitree Gap). Management focus for this zone is Protection of large river red gums on minimising further loss of trees by (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in this zone is reducing fuel loads in their near vicinity. of critical importance and management Extended grassy areas with few trees must focus on reduction of fuel loads are of lower priority and as a first step, across this entire zone. Together with should have fire risk mitigation through planting operations, fuel management, the use of fire breaks. over time, will lead to a resurgence of attractive native vegetation along the river banks and on the many river islands. 4 Legend . Railway Roads Sewage Ponds STUART HIGHWAY Arunga Park Recreation Facility DALGETY Speedway ROAD SARGENT STREET DIXON ROAD DIXON ROAD Telegraph Station Management Zone HEAD STREET STUART HIGHWAYSTUART HIGHWAY Arunga ArungaPark Park WOODSDALGETY Speedway Town Area Management Zone TERRACEROAD DALGETY Speedway SARGENTROAD SARGENT STREET STREET DIXON DIXON ROAD ROAD DIXONSt ROADPhilipDIXON 's ROAD ALBRECHT DRIVE SMITH STREET HEADCollege STREET HEAD STREET Rural Area Management Zone LYNDAVALE LYNDAVALE DRIVE STURT TERRACE ELDER STREET Anzac Hi ll DRIVE WOODS WOODS Ross LARAPINTA DRIVE TERRACE TERRACE CIRCUIT TMARA Anzac Oval Park MARA UNDOOLYA ROAD CIRCUIT Albrecht Oval TMARA MARA Charles Darwin St Philip's LOVEGROVE DRIVE STUART St Philip's