Leschenault Peninsula Management Plan 1998-2008
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LESCHENAULT PENINSULA MANAGEMENT PLAN 1998-2008 Department of Conservation and Land Management for The National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority Perth, Western Australia 1998 PREFACE This management plan proposes that Leschenault Peninsula be managed in accordance with the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) and in accordance with the criteria outlined in CALM's Central Forest Region's Regional Management Plan. Conservation parks are vested in the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority (NPNCA) and managed by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). The NPNCA is responsible for preparing management plans for all lands vested in it, including conservation parks. These plans are prepared by CALM for the NPNCA and released as management plans for public comment. With the agreement of the Leschenault Peninsula Community Advisory Committee and consistent with the CALM Act and the criteria for management of conservation parks, much of the recreation development work has commenced. This plan seeks community input and feedback to guide development of the Park from this point on. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The draft of this Management Plan (CALM, 1995) was prepared and written by Paul de Tores and Suzanne Rosier and edited by Richard Grant. It was prepared with significant contribution from the former Leschenault Peninsula Technical Committee, comprising Noel Ashcroft (DRD and Chairman), Milka Klobucar (DRD), Sir Donald Eckersley (LIMA), Eric Wright (LIMA), Roger Freeman (WRC), John Quilty (Quilty Environmental Consulting, formerly DRD and former chairman of the Technical Committee), Harry Walta (Environmental Field Services and formerly LIMA), Charles Lockwood (HSC), Bob Chandler, Paul de Tores and Scott Wood (CALM). Considerable advice and expertise were given by Bill Carr (former Chairman of the Technical Committee) and Jenna Brooker (formerly with Environmental Field Services and LIMA). Further advice was given by members of the Leschenault Peninsula Community Advisory Committee, comprising Don Spriggins (Chairman), Sir Donald Eckersley, Fred Robinson, Maurie Johansen, Steve Prosser, Emily Hill, Morgan Smith, Dr Ray George, Trevor Slater and Dr. Geoff Shannon. In preparing the draft and final versions of this plan, specialist expertise, advice and assistance have been provided by the following persons within CALM: Roger Armstrong, Ken Atkins, Andrew Burbidge, Bob Chandler, Ray Cranfield, Gary Davidson, Jeanette Gilmour, Richard Ford, Stuart Halse, Richard Hammond, David Hampton, Peter Henderson, Greg Keighery, Luisa Liddicoat, Peter Morris, Alex Moylett, Kate Orr, Chris Portlock, Robert Powell, Grant Revell, Alan Sands, Wayne Schmidt, Tony Start, Allana Stingemore, Neil Taylor, Kim Williams, Jim Williamson and Scott Wood. Angela Doust, Sue Howell, Toni Jones, Marie Michael and Jasmine Moylett assisted in preparing the numerous preliminary drafts of this plan. Maps and figures were produced by Rod Properjohn and Steve Jones of CALM's Land Information Branch. Much of the information on visitor use was collected with assistance from a team of volunteers comprising Jude Davidson, Anthony Garrett, Lisa Gilbee, Don Mason, Justine Morris, Suzanne Rosier, Maidee Smith, Morgan Smith, Nick Spackman, Dennis Sully, Meredith Sully, Sandra Swain and Tamara Swain. The preparation of this final plan was coordinated by Robert Powell, with advice from Chris Portlock, and the Planning Team, comprising Scott Wood, Peter Henderson and Peter Morris. The picture on the front cover, of the Western Ringtail Possum, was taken by Paul de Tores. NOMENCLATURE The names included on the maps or within the text of this publication have not necessarily been approved by the relevant nomenclature authority. ii CONTENTS Page PREFACE ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ii NOMENCLATURE ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ii ABBREVIATIONS ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... v SUMMARY AND KEY STRATEGIES...... ... ... ... ... ... … vi INTRODUCTION 1. Location... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 2. Values... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 PRINCIPAL MANAGEMENT DIRECTIONS 3. Goals ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 4. Purpose, Vesting and Tenure... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 5. Park Zoning... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 MANAGEMENT FOR CONSERVATION: THE PHYSICAL RESOURCES 6. Climate and Coastal Processes... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 7. Geology, Landforms and Soils... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 8. Hydrology... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 9. Landscape... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 MANAGEMENT FOR CONSERVATION: THE BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 10. Flora and Vegetation... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 11. Fauna... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 MANAGEMENT FOR CONSERVATION: PROTECTION 12. Introduced Plants... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 13. Introduced Animals... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 14. Fire... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 15. Disease... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 16. Rehabilitation... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 MANAGEMENT FOR CONSERVATION: THE CULTURAL RESOURCES 17. Aboriginal Sites... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 18. Colonial History... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 33 MANAGEMENT FOR VISITOR USE 19. General Recreation Philosophy... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 37 20. Recreational Sites and Facilities... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 37 21. Day Use and Bush Walks... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 43 22. Camping, Campfires and Group Activities... ... ... ... ... ... ... 43 23. Public Access... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 44 24. Domestic Pets and Horseriding... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 25. Public Safety... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 49 26. Information, Education and Interpretation... ... ... ... ... ... ... 49 27. Commercial Concessions... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 iii Page MANAGEMENT SUPPORT 28. Management Access and Infrastructure... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 51 29. Research and Monitoring... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 52 30. Interaction with Other Organisations... ... ... ... ... ... ... 53 31. Advisory Committee and Community Liaison... ... ... ... ... ... ... 53 32. Emergency Events...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 54 IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN 33. Funding and Staffing... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 55 34. Plan Review and Monitoring... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 56 35. Priorities... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 56 REFERENCES ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 57 APPENDICES 1. Vertebrate Fauna of Leschenault Peninsula... ... ... ... ... ... ... 59 2. The Walta Wheel... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 66 TABLES 1. Park Zoning — Criteria Guiding Management of Zones ... ... ... ... ... 7 FIGURES 1. Location... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 2. Land Tenure... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 3. Park Zoning... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 4. Geology... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 5. Soils and Landforms... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 6. Vegetation... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 7. Fire Management... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 8. Areas of Effluent Disposal and Rehabilitation... ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 9. Tuart Grove: Concept Plan for Site Development... ... ... ... ... ... 39 10. Belvidere: Concept Plan... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 11. Belvidere: Concept Plan for Site Development... ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 12. The Cut Picnic and Camping Area: Concept Plan for Site Development... ... ... 42 13. Existing Public Access... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 14. Proposed Access and Nomenclature... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 47 15. The Walta Wheel... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 67 iv ABBREVIATIONS AMIC: Australian Mining Industry Council CALM: Department of Conservation and Land Management CAMBA: Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People's Republic of China for the protection of Migratory Birds and their environment CLAG: Contiguous Local Authority Group DOLA: Department of Land Administration DRD: Department of Resources Development DSD: Department of Strategic Development HSC: Harvey Shire Council JAMBA: Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan for the protection of Migratory Birds in danger of extinction and their environment LIMA: Leschenault Inlet Management Authority LPCAC: Leschenault Peninsula Community Advisory Committee NPNCA: National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority ORV: Off-Road Vehicle PWD: Public Works Department VRM: Visual Resource Management WCWA: Water Corporation of Western Australia WRC: Water and Rivers Commission v SUMMARY AND KEY STRATEGIES KEY ISSUES All strategies proposed in this management plan have been formulated to protect and enhance all of the Leschenault Peninsula's significant values and features. The Peninsula is a prominent visual resource and provides a range of recreational experiences including camping and isolation even though it is quite close to urban and industrial centres. Highest priority has been given to resolving and managing the key issues listed below. Land Tenure The current diversity of vesting and interests reflect the range of use of the Peninsula