BUCKLEY FALLS PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT AUGUST 1991 33?·. 1: .$!) ~ t. i FOREWORD Buckley Falls Park is one of Geelong's prime conservation and recreation areas although this has not always been recognised. Despite its proximity to the centre of Geelong and its significant recreational potential only a relatively small proportion of local residents, let alone visitors to the region, are aware of the area. This Management Plan aims to raise the profile of Buckley Falls Park to ensure that its natural, cultural and recreational values are managed in a balanced way for the benefit of the community. Through the implementation of this Plan, the conservation and recreation corridor along the Barwon River will be extended thereby further enhancing Geelong's open space system. This Management Plan has been prepared by a number of organisations and individuals and I thank them for thetr efforts and a fine result. The Plan recognises and documents the great natural, historical, recreational and landscape values of the Park. It proposes detailed management actions of varying levels of priority for implementation. · The Plan provides a set of long-term guidelines for the management of all aspects of the Park. It is recommended that the existing Committees of Management and any future Committees with responsibility for the area adopt the Plan in principle to ensure that the Park is conserved while allowing for a balance of uses. There is much goodwill in the general community at an organisational, individual This Management Plan was prepared by: and corporate level for the management of the area. It is important that these community resources be harnessed in realising the full potential of the Buckley Falls Paul Dartnell Park. Landscape and Architectural Services Section Department of Conservation and Environment ~~·c:s--i-- Paul Mainey Regional Manager Department of Conservation and Environment JUL ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Management Plan has been prepared and funded by the Department of Conservation and Environment ( DCE ) under the Urban Nature Conservation Program. Preparation of the Plan and the Masterplan has been guided by a Steering Committee comprising: Richard Stone, DCE ( Chairperson ) Michael Sandford, DCB . Paul Dartnell, DCE Stuart Bowe, DCE Gary Kingsbury, Shire of Corio, and Andrew Buchanan, formerly with the Shire of Cono John Graham and Peter Byrnes, Geelong and District Water Board Ken Middleton, Shire of Bannockburn Trevor Schneider, City of South Barwon Robin Spragg, Geelong Regional Commission, and John Budd, formerly with the GRC Richard Whitting, formerly with the Department for Planning and Urban Growth David Smith and Kent Dodgshun, City of Newtown, and Susan Williamson, formerly with the City of Newtown Tony Woolford, Friends of Buckley Falls Special thanks are extended to the following individuals who have provided valuable contributions on specific subject areas: Geoff Carr, Ecological Horticulture Pty Ltd: botanical information John Holman, Geelong Bushwalking Club: canoeing and rockclimbing assessments Joan Lindros, Geelong Environment Council: revegetation and weed control Ken Middleton, Shire of Bannockburn: historic buildings and sites Trevor Pescott, Geelong Field Naturalists Club: fauna Chris Smith, Historic Places Branch, DCE: historic buildings and sites Iain Stewart, Victorian Archaeological Survey: historic buildings and sites Mark Trengove, Friends of Buckley Falls: vegetation and weed control Michael Vanderzee, Land Use Policy Section, DCE: committees of management Tony Woolford, Friends of Buckley Falls: revegetation Many other individuals and organisations provided useful comments on a working paper entitled "Management Zones"; their contributions are much appreciated. iii CONTENTS PART A: CONTEXT FOR THE MANAGEMENT PLAN 1 1. IN'IRODUCTION 1 1.1 Area Management 4 1.2 The Management Plan 7 1.3 Objectives 8 1.4 Policy Context 9 1.5 Socio-Economic Environment 10 PARTB: MANAGEMENT ISSUES, AIMS, CONSTRAINTS AND 12 ACTIONS 2. RESOURCE CONSERVATION 15 2.1 Adjacent Land Uses 15 2.2 Erosion Control 17 2.3 Fauna 20 2.4 Fire 24 2.5 Historic Values 26 2.6 Pest Animals and Domestic Pets 43 2.7 Stormwater 45 2.8 Vegetation 47 2.9 Visual Guidelines 53 2.10 Weeds 61 3. COMMUNITY AND VISITOR USE 68 3.1 Community Uses 68 3.2 Recreation Opportunities 70 3.2.1 Access : Pedestrian, Cycle and Vehicle 70 3.2.2 Canoeing 73 iv 3.2.3 Fishing 75 3.2.4 Horseriding 76 3.2.5 Nature Observation 77 3.2.6 Picnicking 78 3.2.7 Rock Climbing 80 3.2.8 Sightseeing 81 3.2.9 Swimming 82 3.3 Visitor Information and Education 83 4. CONCLUSION 86 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Areas Free of Development, for Low Density Development and for Medium Density Development 88 Appendix 2: Birds, Mammals and Reptiles 91 Appendix 3: Plantings at Buckley Falls, 1986-89 94 Appendix 4: Significant Plant Species Recorded at Buckley Falls on the Barwon River, near Geelong 97 Appendix 5: Larger Plant Species Suitable for Revegetation at Buckley Falls on the Barwon River near Geelong 102 Appendix 6: Serious, Potentially Serious, or Visually Deleterious Weed Species at Buckley Falls on the Barwon River near Geelong 104 MAPS Map 1 : Locality Map 2 Map 2: Land Tenure and Control 3 Map 3 : Vegetation and Soils 19 Map 4 : Access, Recreation and Historic Features 28 Map 5: Topography, Viewshed and Landscape Features 55 Map 6: Concentration of Weeds 63 v MASTERPLAN 14 TABLES Table 1 : Register Listings 29 BIBLIOGRAPHY 108 1 PART A : CONTEXT FOR THE MANAGEMENT PLAN Part A of this Management Plan provides the broad context which has guided the determination of management aims and proposed actions. A brief history of area management to date is offered, followed by a statement of the main purpose of the Plan. The overall objectives for the development of the Buckley Falls area are set out together with some relevant policy considerations concerning riverine environments, and the findings of a report by the Geelong Regional Commission which provides relevant social and economic background. 1. INTRODUCTION The area addressed by this Management Plan, henceforth referred to as Buckley Falls Park, includes the linear corridor of the Barwon River extending downstream from the boundary between the Shire of Barrabool and the City of South Barwon to the aqueduct bridge over the Barwon River adjacent to Queens Park Golf Course; and the linear corridor of the Moorabool River extending from a point two hundred metres upstream of the old Fyansford Bridge downstream to the junction with the Barwon River. ( See Map 1 ). While Queens Park itself does not lie within the boundaries of Buckley Falls Park, it does fall within the general study area and has some features which are important to the management of Buckley Falls Park proper. The area has a number of significant natural values including geological features, diverse landforms and waterfonns, and native flora and fauna. Sites and buildings of historical significance are also an important part of the landscape; this is recognised in listings on various heritage re$isters. Despite these values the area at present does not have a high profile in recreation terms with either Geelong residents or visitors from outside the region. Much of the land along the river corridors is owned by the Crown and has been reserved for public park and recreation purposes. There are also significant parcels of private holdings. Apart from the residential development on freehold title, industrial, extractive and agricultural uses adjacent to and within the study area are significant elements of the landscape. ( See Map 2 ) The study area crosses the boundaries of four local municipalities including the Shires of Bannockburn and Corio, and the Cities of Newtown and South Barwon. The Minister for Conservation and Environment is responsible for the Crown Land Reserves and has delegated responsibility for management of particular reserves to the respective Councils. The Department of Conservation and Environment liaises between the Minister and the Committees of Management. The Geelong and District Water Board is responsible for the management of the waters, beds and banks of the Barwon River. The Geelong Regional Commission is the planning authority responsible for the area. 2 COlllOIAY IEl.MONT ..- BUCKLEY... .FALLS GEELONG REGION -- LOCAUTY MM1 ~:i."° ,- .......-. io11111~ ,....,._., ~ --- I I -- MAPI l.Hltli#ff '"'Atdtlf-.1 tM'll# .. ..._. ,,_.,,_,,...Glti)lhl r.... _. 3 LEGEND LAND TENURE . D. D. OU1H ~UCKLEY FALLS ·.FALLS GEELONG REGION GJON TENURE & CONTROL --__ .............. _...._ __ LA.'ID '·... I ' .-- ·- !... PJl>f.. ···-. - •• ~ ... - ._-: : -- . /' . -- ....r.~ 4 1.1 AREA MANAGEMENT For many years the values of the study area were not recognised or satisfactorily managed, rartly reflecting the low priority accorded to its location on the western outskirts o the City of Geelong. Increasing recosnition of these values in recent years, both with greater awareness of environmental issues and with urban growth to the west and south-west has focussed attention on the opportunities the area presents in terms of recreation, natural, historic and landscape significance. While there are no statistics on visitor numbers, the use of the area has in general been relatively low compared with other areas displaying a similar range of assets. However, the lookout on the southern side of the Barwon River seems to attract a steady flow of short-term visitors, and picnickers are common at the lower carpark on the same side of the river. The main visitors to the area as a whole comprise local residents who are primarily interested in walking and jogging,. those attracted to the view of the Falls and specific groups such as picnickers, canoeists, anglers and naturalists. The main management pressures do not arise so much from the pressure of visitor numbers but from visitor activities and land uses on both Crown and private land. The challenge is to promote the area to both Geelong residents and visitors to the region while ensuring that visitor numbers do not degrade the values which are the key to the area's significance.