This Management Plan for Grampians National Park is approved for implementation. Its purpose is to direct all aspects of management in the park until the plan is reviewed. A Draft Management Plan for the park was published in May 1998. One hundred and sixty-eight submissions, including one supported by 648 signatories, received on the Draft Plan have been considered in developing this approved Management Plan. This plan may be downloaded from the Parks Victoria website 'www.parkweb.vic.gov.au'. Copies of the plan may be purchased for $8.80 (including GST) from: Parks Victoria Information Centre Level 10, 535 Bourke Street MELBOURNE 3000 VIC 13 1963 Information Centre Department of Sustainability and Environment 8 Nicholson Street EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002 Grampians National Park Visitor Centre Grampians Tourist Road HALLS GAP VIC 3381 For further information on this plan, please contact: Ranger in Charge Grampians National Park PO Box 18 HALLS GAP VIC 3381 03 5356 4381 ii Grampians National Park GRAMPIANS NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN MARCH 2003 Published in March 2003 by Parks Victoria Level 10, 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 This Plan is based on a draft plan compiled by the Centre for Environmental Management, University of Ballarat under contract to Parks Victoria. Disclaimers This plan is prepared without prejudice to any negotiated or litigated outcome of any native title determination applications covering land or waters within the plan’s area. It is acknowledged that any future outcomes of native title determination applications may necessitate amendment of this plan and the implementation of this plan may require further notification under the procedures in Division 3 or Part 2 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth). Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this report is accurate. Parks Victoria does not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from anyone relying on any information in the publication. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Parks Victoria Grampians National Park management plan Bibliography. ISBN 0 7311 3131 2 1. National parks and reserves - Victoria - Management. 2. Grampians National Park (Vic.). Management. I. Title. 333.783099458 Cover: Cathedral Rock and the Serra Range (Photo: Parks Victoria collection) Printed on recycled paper to help save our natural environment ii Grampians National Park FOREWORD The Grampians National Park is a dominant help make the park more widely known and feature in the landscape of western Victoria, appreciated, and ensure visitors both enjoy and renowned for its spectacular natural scenery respect its importance for both current and and wildflowers, diversity of flora and fauna, future generations. Aboriginal rock art and significant post– The Government recognises the value and settlement heritage sites. importance of involving the community in the Grampians–Gariwerd has long been important park’s management and I welcome the to people. The diverse Aboriginal cultural initiative to adopt working partnerships with heritage of the park is evidence of Aboriginal the community. The strategy to manage the occupation dating from many thousands of park in a working partnership with the years before the last ice-age. The Dreamtime Indigenous Nations, Brambuk Incorporated and culture of the Grampians–Gariwerd is and Gariwerd Enterprises Pty Ltd (Brambuk), integral to the dreaming of the Gournditch– out of respect for their perspectives of Mara, Kirrae Wurrung and Wotjobaluk landscape and tradition, aspirations for the Nations. park, and interests and rights in the land, is particularly welcome. From the 19th century the Grampians– Gariwerd has also come to occupy an The proposal to create a new Brambuk: The important place in the lives of many more National Park and Cultural Centre in recent arrivals, particularly the European partnership with Gariwerd Enterprises Pty Ltd families who cleared and settled the is an important initiative that will greatly surrounding plains, and generations of other enhance opportunities for all Victorians to Australians who have spent holidays there, gain access to Aboriginal tradition and culture enjoying the area’s natural and cultural and, I trust, foster the process of reconciliation features. with Aboriginal peoples. Since its declaration in 1984, the National I am pleased to take this opportunity to thank Park has been one of Victoria’s largest and those many individuals and organisations who most popular parks, attracting increasing contributed to this plan by responding to numbers of interstate and overseas visitors, requests for information or views, or by and many Victorians have continued to have a making submissions on the Draft Plan. I look closer involvement with its management. forward to continuing and broadening community support in helping to conserve this Implementation of this Approved Plan will unique natural and cultural landscape. help protect and conserve the park’s natural environments and range of cultural features, Grampians National Park iii APPROVED MANAGEMENT PLAN This Approved Management Plan has been The plan provides the basis for the future prepared under section 17 of the National management of Grampians National Park. It Parks Act 1975 (Vic.) and is approved for was finalised following consideration of the implementation. 168 individual submissions, including one supported by 648 signatories, received on the Draft Plan. iv Grampians National Park SUMMARY Grampians National Park (167 219 ha) is the the Grampians National Park Visitor fourth largest national park in Victoria. It Centre, and management of the Centre in protects a diverse range of ecosystems, partnership with Gariwerd Enterprises Pty outstanding geological formations, spectacular Ltd (Brambuk). landscapes and a rich Indigenous and post- • Development of a Gariwerd/Grampians settlement cultural heritage. Importantly, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Strategy with approximately 74% of the park is designated the Indigenous Nations, Gariwerd as a Special Water Supply Catchment Area. Enterprises Pty Ltd and Brambuk Almost one third of the State’s indigenous Incorporated, relevant Government flora is found in the park, which is renowned agencies and other community groups. for its spectacular spring wildflower displays. The park is of major importance for 167 • Maintenance of the structure and diversity species of threatened flora and fauna, of which of vegetation communities and existing 24 are endemic to the park. The park is of populations of threatened species, with major importance for the Heath Mouse. restoration of disturbed communities in The park contains highly significant the long term. Aboriginal cultural sites, including the largest • Protection of stream ecosystems from the concentration of rock art sites in the State. impact of water harvesting. The park is integral to the dreaming of the • Promotion and management of the Gournditch–Mara, Kirrae Wurrung and Wonderland Range and sites along the Mt Wotjobaluk Nations (Indigenous Nations) who Victory Road as the primary areas for have maintained a strong association with the tours where various groups can enjoy a park since its declaration, including through range of park experiences. Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre. • Traditional names for rock art sites open to the Provision of visitor information that public have been adopted and are in current emphasises the park’s natural and cultural use. Dual names have been adopted for some values and experiences, and is supportive other features in the park. of park visitor management strategies. The park will be managed in accordance with • Enhancement of recreation opportunities the National Parks Act 1975 (Vic.) to protect by improving facilities to appropriate its outstanding natural and cultural values, and standards and closing and redirecting provide for a range of recreation opportunities resources from little-used sites. including scenic driving, camping, • Coordination of the management of bushwalking and rock climbing. High-quality walking and cycling routes within the park visitor facilities and services will enhance with the availability of camping and visitor experiences in the park. accommodation facilities located in key Major management directions for the park are: tourism areas around the park. • Adoption of a working partnership • Development of integrated orientation and approach to managing the park with the advisory information, and interpretation community, particularly the Indigenous facilities and services. Nations and major interest groups. • Cooperation with agencies with tourism • Respect for the Indigenous Nations’ responsibilities in promoting and aspirations for the park, perspectives of orientating visitors to the new Brambuk: landscape, tradition, and interests and The National Park and Cultural Centre and rights in the land. the park. • Establishment of Brambuk: The National Park and Cultural Centre by integrating Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Grampians National Park v CONTENTS FOREWORD iii SUMMARY v 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Location and planning area 1 1.2 Creation of the park 1 1.3 Developing the management plan 1 2 BASIS 2 2.1 Regional context 2 2.2 Park values and significance 2 2.3 Past land use 4 2.4 The park visitor 5 2.5 Legislation, LCC recommendations and guidelines 6 3 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 8 3.1 Park vision 8 3.2 Zoning 8