SOUTH EAST FOREST NATIONAL PARK AND EGAN PEAKS NATURE RESERVE PLAN OF MANAGEMENT NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Part of the Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) August 2006 This plan of management was adopted by the Minister for the Environment on 3rd August 2006. Acknowledgments This plan of management is based on a draft plan prepared by staff of the Far South Coast Region and Conservation Management Unit with the assistance of specialists in Southern Directorate and community representatives from the former Eden and Narooma District Advisory Committees on the steering committee. The plan draws heavily on a number of documents prepared for the Eden Comprehensive Regional Assessment (CRA) process which lead to the Eden Regional Forest Agreement. Extensive consultation was undertaken with community organisations and individuals during development of the plan. The NPWS gratefully acknowledges the information and ideas contributed by these people. Cover photograph: Carters Creek by M. van Ewijk. © DEC and M. van Ewijk. For additional information or enquiries about this plan, contact the NPWS Far South Coast Regional Office, Corner Merimbula & Sapphire Coast Drives, Merimbula phone (02) 6495 5001. © Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) 2006: Use permitted with appropriate acknowledgment ISBN 1 7412 101 3 FOREWORD South East Forest National Park and Egan Peaks Nature Reserve are adjoining reserves that together cover 117,644ha of rugged escarpment country west of Bega and Eden in south-eastern NSW. The two areas are part of a system of conservation reserves along the great eastern escarpment and are linked to other reserves that protect the coastline and coastal hinterland. The park and reserve are significant for their diverse native forests, large number of threatened or rare plant species and restricted plant communities including significant areas of old growth forest, high habitat value for a diverse range of native animal species and populations of a large number of threatened fauna including the very rare long-footed potoroo, evidence of substantial and extensive Aboriginal occupation and features remaining from European use, high water catchment values, high scenic values, wilderness and remote areas which allow natural processes to continue undisturbed; and a range of education, tourism and recreation opportunities. This plan of management sets out strategies for protection of the significant natural and cultural values of the South East Forest National Park and Egan Peaks Nature Reserve, while providing for sustainable public use. Because much of the national park has been subject to logging in recent years, there is a strong emphasis on promoting regeneration of degraded vegetation ecosystems. The National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 requires a plan of management to be prepared for each national park and nature reserve. A plan of management is a legal document that outlines how a park will be managed in the years ahead. A draft plan of management for South East Forest National Park and Egan Peaks Nature Reserve was placed on public exhibition from 14 January until 22 April 2005. The exhibition of the draft plan attracted 74 submissions that raised 18 issues. All submissions received were carefully considered before adopting this plan. This plan of management establishes the scheme of operations for South East Forest National Park and Egan Peaks Nature Reserve. In accordance with Section 73B of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, this plan of management is hereby adopted. Bob Debus Minister for the Environment CONTENTS 1. MANAGEMENT CONTEXT......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................... 1 1.2 NATIONAL PARKS, NATURE RESERVES, WILDERNESS AREAS AND REGIONAL FOREST AGREEMENTS................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2.1 National Parks..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.2 Nature Reserves................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.3 Wilderness Areas................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.4 Regional Forest Agreements ............................................................................................................... 3 2.2 SOUTH EAST FOREST NATIONAL PARK AND EGAN PEAKS NATURE RESERVE .................... 4 2.2.1 Location, Gazettal and Regional Setting............................................................................................. 4 2.2.2 Importance of South East Forest National Park and Egan Peaks Nature Reserve............................. 5 2.3 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANCE ............................................................................................................. 8 3. OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT............................................................................................................. 9 3.1 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES FOR SOUTH EAST FOREST NATIONAL PARK AND EGAN PEAKS NATURE RESERVE......................................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 OVERALL STRATEGY ............................................................................................................................ 9 4. POLICIES AND FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGEMENT........................................................................ 11 4.1 NATURE CONSERVATION .................................................................................................................. 11 4.1.1 Geology, Soils, Catchment and Landscape ....................................................................................... 11 4.1.2 Native Vegetation .............................................................................................................................. 14 4.1.3 Native Animals .................................................................................................................................. 23 4.1.4 Introduced Species ............................................................................................................................ 32 4.1.5 Fire Management .............................................................................................................................. 34 4.2 CULTURAL HERITAGE ........................................................................................................................ 37 4.2.1 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage............................................................................................................ 37 4.2.2 Post-1770 History.............................................................................................................................. 38 4.3 USE OF THE AREA ................................................................................................................................ 41 4.3.1 Promotion and Interpretation ........................................................................................................... 41 4.3.2 Recreation and Tourism Opportunities............................................................................................. 43 4.3.3 Vehicle Access and Maintenance of Roads and Trails...................................................................... 49 4.3.4 Community Liaison............................................................................................................................ 53 4.3.5 Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management, Research and Monitoring....................................... 54 4.3.6 Inholdings, Leases and Licences ....................................................................................................... 55 5. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION........................................................................................................................ 57 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................................... 60 APPENDIX 1 : DESCRIPTION OF SEFNP VEGETATION ECOSYSTEMS........................................... 63 APPENDIX 2: VEHICLE ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND TRAILS...................... 65 SOUTH EAST FOREST NATIONAL PARK ACCESS STRATEGY MAPS.............................................. 69 1. MANAGEMENT CONTEXT 1.1 LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK The management of national parks and nature reserves in NSW is in the context of a legislative and policy framework, primarily the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act), the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act), and the statewide policies of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Other legislation, international agreements and charters may also apply to management of the area. In particular, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act) requires the assessment and mitigation of the environmental impacts of any works proposed in this plan. A plan of management is a statutory document under the NPW Act. Once a plan has been adopted by the Minister, no operations may be undertaken within the national park or