Albany coast draft management plan 2016 Albany coast draft management plan 2016 Conservation Commission of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife Department of Parks and Wildlife 17 Dick Perry Avenue KENSINGTON WA 6151 Phone: (08) 9219 9000 Fax: (08) 9334 0498 www.dpaw.wa.gov.au © State of Western Australia 2016 May 2016 This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Department of Parks and Wildlife. ISBN 978-1-921703-67-6 (print) ISBN 978-1-921703-68-3 (online) This management plan was prepared by the Conservation Commission of Western Australia through the agency of the Department of Parks and Wildlife. Questions regarding this management plan should be directed to: Planning Branch Department of Parks and Wildlife Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Phone: (08) 9219 9000 The recommended reference for this publication is: Department of Parks and Wildlife (2016) Albany coast draft management plan 2016. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth. This document is available in alternative formats on request. Please note: URLs in this document which conclude a sentence are followed by a full point. If copying the URL please do not include the full point. Front cover photos Main The new recreation facilities at The Gap in Torndirrup National Park. Photo – Parks and Wildlife Top left Gilbert’s potoroo or ngilgyte (Potorous gilberti). Photo – Dick Walker/Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group Top right Close-up view of scarlet banksia (Banksia coccinea). Photo – Farmstay at Denmark WA Header photo The new recreation facilities at The Gap in Torndirrup National Park. Photo – Parks and Wildlife ii INVITATION TO COMMENT This draft management plan has been released for a two month period to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on how the reserves covered by the plan are proposed to be managed during the next 10 years. To ensure your submission is as effective as possible: be clear and concise refer your points to the page numbers or specific sections in the plan say whether you agree or disagree with any or all of the management arrangements – clearly state your reasons, particularly if you disagree give sources of information where possible suggest alternatives for those aspects of the plan with which you disagree. The management plan will be reviewed in the light of the submissions, according to the criteria outlined below. A summary of public submissions will be made available along with the final management plan. The draft management plan may be amended if a submission: (a) provides additional information of direct relevance to management (b) indicates a change in (or clarifies) government legislation or management policy (c) proposes strategies that would better achieve management objectives (d) indicates omissions, inaccuracies or a lack of clarity. The draft management plan may not be amended if a submission: (a) clearly supports proposals in the plan or makes general or neutral statements (b) refers to issues beyond the scope of the plan (c) refers to issues that are already noted within the plan or already considered during its preparation (d) is one among several widely divergent viewpoints received on the topic but the approach in the plan is still considered the best option (e) contributes options that are not feasible (generally due to conflict with legislation or government policy) (f) is based on unclear or factually incorrect information. The plan can be viewed and submissions made online at www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/parks/management- plans/draft-plans-open-for-public-comment. Alternatively, you can write to: Planning Branch Department of Parks and Wildlife Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 i CONTENTS INVITATION TO COMMENT I CONTENTS II INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Overview 1 1.2 Management plan area 2 1.3 Key values and management issues 3 MANAGEMENT PURPOSE 5 2.1 Management direction 5 2.2 Legislative and policy framework 5 2.3 Performance assessment 6 2.4 Administration 7 2.5 Term of the plan 7 MANAGING CULTURAL VALUES 8 3.1 Noongar cultural heritage 8 3.2 Other cultural heritage 13 MANAGING NATURAL VALUES 17 4.1 Climate 17 4.2 Geology, landforms and soils 18 4.3 Hydrology 20 4.4 Biogeography 23 4.5 Native plants and plant communities 26 4.6 Native animals and habitats 32 4.7 Ecological communities 39 4.8 Weeds 41 4.9 Introduced and other problem animals 43 4.10 Diseases 45 4.11 Fire 48 MANAGING RECREATION, TOURISM AND COMMUNITY VALUES 55 5.1 Visitor planning 55 5.2 Visitor access 60 5.3 Visitor activities 62 5.4 Commercial operations and tourism 67 5.5 Involving the community 67 MANAGING ECONOMIC AND RESOURCE VALUES 71 6.1 Mineral and petroleum exploration and development 71 6.2 Water resources 72 6.3 Use of plants and animals 73 6.4 Utilities and services 76 RESEARCH AND MONITORING 77 REFERENCES 79 ii APPENDICES 96 Appendix 1. Existing reserves within the planning area. 96 Appendix 2. Proposed reserves and changes to existing reserves. 99 Appendix 3. Fire management area outcomes. 103 Appendix 4. Management settings for the Albany coast. 105 TABLES Table 1. Apiary sites within the planning area. 75 Table 2. Leases within the planning area. 76 FIGURES Figure 1. Visitation to the planning area in 2013–2014. 55 MAPS Map 1. Existing and proposed reserves. 89 Map 2. Biodiversity priorities. 90 Map 3. Proposed settings, access and recreation sites for Gull Rock National Park and Mount Martin reserve. 91 Map 4. Proposed settings, access and recreation sites for Torndirrup National Park. 92 Map 5. Proposed settings, access and recreation sites for Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. 93 Map 6. Proposed settings, access and recreation sites for Waychinicup National Park and nearby reserves. 94 Map 7. Proposed settings, access and recreation sites for West Cape Howe National Park. 95 iii Introduction \ 1.1 OVERVIEW Parks and reserves within the Albany coast (Map 1), while having immense importance for biodiversity, are also rich in Noongar and other cultural heritage, have spectacular coastal landforms and scenery that attract many visitors, and are an integral part of the greater Albany community. Located within the global biodiversity hot-spot of the South West Botanical Province, the Albany coast area has high conservation value based on the presence of several large, intact protected areas such as the Gull Rock, Torndirrup, Waychinicup and West Cape Howe national parks and Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve; areas of high plant species diversity and endemism; and important refuges for threatened fauna (including the critically endangered Gilbert’s potoroo or ngilgyte (Potorous gilbertii) and several endangered ground-dwelling birds), flora and ecological communities. Flinders Peninsula in Torndirrup National Park (looking eastwards). Note, Breaksea Island in the upper left and Mt Gardner in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve further behind. Photo – Parks and Wildlife The Minang1 people’s historical occupation of the land (boodja) around Albany (or ‘Kinjarling’ meaning ‘place where it rains a lot’2) has left a rich Noongar cultural heritage. Numerous sites of significance occur across the landscape including prominent locations such as Mt Manypeaks, Waychinicup, North and South Sisters, and Michaelmas and Breaksea Islands. This country continues to have cultural and spiritual significance for Minang people. Albany was the first official colonial settlement in Western Australia (WA), the first federal military 1 ‘Minang’ refers to Noongar people in the Albany area (see www.daa.wa.gov.au/globalassets/pdf- files/maps/state/tindale_daa.pdf, www.noongarculture.org.au/noongar). The spelling of ‘Minang’ should also be seen to encompass the Menang, Mineng, Mirnang, Mirnong and other spellings. 2 See www.noongarculture.org.au/language. 1 base, WA’s principal port before the development of Fremantle Harbour and was the last Australian port of call for the World War I ANZAC ships on their way to the battlefields of Gallipoli and the Western Front. The spectacular coastal bays, beaches, headlands and cliffs are recognised as some of the best scenic coastal locations in Australia. The coastal parks and reserves provide a range of popular recreational opportunities including the internationally-recognised long distance Bibbulmun Track, and breathtaking scenic destinations such as ‘The Gap’ or yorga warling3 and ‘Natural Bridge’. Together, the parks and reserves of the Albany coast make significant contributions to the conservation reserve system and are highly valued by the community, particularly the people of Albany. 1.2 MANAGEMENT PLAN AREA This management plan, prepared by the Conservation Commission of Western Australia (Conservation Commission) through the agency of the Department of Parks and Wildlife (the department), covers 56 existing terrestrial parks and reserves totalling 32,457ha (Map 1, Appendix 1). The lands covered by this management plan, referred to as the planning area, are mainly located in the City of Albany local government authority (LGA) area, as well as southern parts of the shires of Plantagenet and Jerramungup (Map 1). The planning area extends from Hay River in the west to the Pallinup River and Beaufort Inlet in the northeast, and inland largely to the City of Albany boundary (Map 1). It also includes nine island nature reserves and four small islands (Black Rock, Rock Dunder and Inner and Coffin islands) that are part of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Three statutory management plans have been prepared for parts of the planning area: South Coast Regional Management Plan 1992–2002 (CALM 1992a), Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve Management Plan 1995–2005 (CALM 1995a) and West Cape Howe National Park Management Plan 1995–2005 (CALM 1995b).