Interim Management Guidelines for the Nullarbor Caves and Selected Karst Features
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Interim Management Guidelines for the Nullarbor Caves and Selected Karst Features Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation and the Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group i Geoscene International Division of Scenic Spectrums Pty Ltd WPDOCS: Nullarbor/FinRpt/NullarborIMG_310109 Interim Management Guidelines for the Nullarbor Caves and Selected Karst Features Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation and the Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group i Geoscene International Division of Scenic Spectrums Pty Ltd WPDOCS: Nullarbor/FinRpt/NullarborIMG_310109 Interim Management Guidelines for the Nullarbor Caves and Selected Karst Features Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation and the Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group Acknowledgements The Nullarbor Karst IMG Project was initiated during March, 2007. During that time, a wide range of persons have been involved in the project, volunteering contributions through the Steering Committee or through consultations and other assistance. The time and contributions of these people has been greatly appreciated and is acknowledged with thanks. Steering Committee Members have included: Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia: • Alan Danks (South Coast Regional Nature Conservation Leader, Albany) • Julie Patten (Esperance District Nature Conservation Coordinator) • Klaus Tiedemann (Esperance District Manager) Australian Government Natural Resource Management Team: • Neil Riches (NRM Facilitator – Biodiversity, Western Australian Team) Rangelands NRM Team: • Sylvia Clarke (Southern Rangelands Biodiversity Coordinator, Kalgoorlie) • Renee Berry ( Southern Rangelands Biodiversity Coordinator, Kalgoorlie) Department of Indigenous Affairs, Western Australia: • Kymberley Russell (Senior Projects Officer, Kalgoorlie) Goldfields Land and Sea Council: • Dennis Forrest (Project Officer, Kalgoorlie) • Phil Drayson (Land Unit Coordinator, Perth) Western Australia Museum: • Dr. Bill Humphreys (WA Museum) Pastoralists: • Peter Brown AM and Barbara Brown (Pastoral Leaseholders – Arubiddy Station); • Colin and Bree Campbell (Pastoral Leaseholders – Mundrabilla Station) Speleologists, Cave Divers and Cave Researchers: • Jay Anderson (Caver; Representing the ASF /former Australian Speleological Federation President); • Paul Hosie (Cave diver; Representing Cave Exploration Group of South Australia – CEGSA -, who are the key custodians of Nullarbor Karst identification and location information); • Dr. Stefan Eberhard (Caver, researcher, co-author of the Subterranean Biodiversity of the Nullarbor Karst Desktop Study, caving consultant - Subterranean Ecology) • Ann Marie Meredith (Caver; WA Speleological Group member); • Norman Poulter OAM (ASF member, caver; researcher) • Eve Taylor (Speleological Research Group WA / caver, researcher) • Paul Devine (Speleological Research Group WA / caver, researcher) • Rauleigh Webb (ASF member, caver; researcher). ii Geoscene International Division of Scenic Spectrums Pty Ltd WPDOCS: Nullarbor/FinRpt/NullarborIMG_310109 Interim Management Guidelines for the Nullarbor Caves and Selected Karst Features Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation and the Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group Other individuals who have been consulted, assisted the preparation of the report or provided photography have included: Mirning and Ngadju Traditional Owners Consulted: • Eddie McKenzie – Goldfields Land & Sea Council and Ngadju Aboriginal People • Clem Lawrie –Mirning Aboriginal People • Michael Laing –Mirning Aboriginal People • Johnny Graham – Ngadju Aboriginal People • Rule Wicker– Ngadju Aboriginal People Australian Speleological Federation and Australian Cave and Karst Management Association members: • Peter Ackroyd (ASF, caver, researcher) • Fr. Ken Boland (ASF, caver, researcher) • Peter Dykes (member of Australian Speleological Federation, Convenor of ASF Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Cultural Matters, botanist) • Professor Elery Hamilton-Smith AM (Chairman IUCN Cave and Karst Management Committee) • Professor Julia James (ASF, karst researcher, University of Sydney) • Graham Pilkington (CEGSA President, caver, researcher) Government personnel: • Vanessa Bray (Land Unit Management Assistant, Perth) • Sarah Comer (Regional Ecologist, South Coast Region, Albany) • Penny O’Conner, Manager Assessment & Registration, Heritage Council of Western Australia) • Kathryn Przywolnik (Archaeologist, Dept. of Indigenous Affairs, WA) • Dr. John Watson (South Coast Strategic Land Use Planner, previously the DEC South Coast Regional Manager) Photographers: • Chris Bradley (National University Caving Club) • Olaf Theden (National University Caving Club) • Norman Poulter OAM (ASF member, caver; researcher) • Klaus Tiedemann (District Manager, DEC Esperance) Organisations consulted and surveyed during 2007 by DEC: • Australian Speleological Federation (ASF) • Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA) • Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) • Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) • Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) • Fire & Emergency Services Authority (FESA) • Goldfields and Esperance Development Commission (GEDC) • Shaw Horizons (Tourism Operators) • Shire of Dundas • Speleological Research Group of Western Australia (SRGWA) • Tourism Western Australia iii Geoscene International Division of Scenic Spectrums Pty Ltd WPDOCS: Nullarbor/FinRpt/NullarborIMG_310109 Interim Management Guidelines for the Nullarbor Caves and Selected Karst Features Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation and the Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group Acronyms ACKMA Australian Cave and Karst Management Association ARTC Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd ASF Australian Speleological Federation CAC Caves Access Committee CALM former Dept. of Conservation and Land Management CDAA Cave Divers Association of Australia CEGSA Cave Exploration Group (South Australia) Inc. CLAP Cave Leader Assessment Panel CLMR Conservation and Land Management Regulations 2002 CMAC Caves Management Advisory Committee DEC Dept. of Environment and Conservation DEWHA Dept. of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts DIA Dept. of Indigenous Affairs DIR Dept of Industry and Resources DOLA former Dept. of Lands and Agriculture DMPR Dept. of Mineral and Petroleum Resources DPI Dept. of Planning and Infrastructure DWR Dept. of Water Resources EPA Environment Protection Authority EPBA Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 FESA Fire and Emergency Services Authority GEDC Goldfields & Esperance Development Commission GLSC Goldfields Land and Sea Council HREOC Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission IBRA Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation for Australia IMG Interim Management Guideline(s) IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature KIDSA Karst Index Database – South Australia LAA Land Administration Act 1997 LAC Limits of Acceptable Change LCDC Land Conservation District Committees MATs Management Action Targets NCKMAC Nullarbor Caves and Karst Management Advisory Committee NHT Natural Heritage Trust NLP National Landcare Program NRM Natural Resource Management NRS National Reserve System NUCC National University Caving Club PGA Pastoralists and Graziers Association PLB Pastoral Lands Board SEIG Statutory Exploration Information Group SRGWA Speleological Research Group of Western Australia SLS State Land Services TOMM Tourism Optimisation Management Model RAOU Royal Australian Ornithologists Union UNESCO RAS Register of Aboriginal Sites RATIS Recreation and Tourism Information System RCTs Resource Condition Targets ROS Recreation Opportunity Spectrum VAMP Visitor Activity Management Process VERP Visitor Experience Resource Protection VIM Visitor Impact Management WAFF Western Australian Farmers Federation WAHC Western Australian Heritage Council WAM Western Australian Museum WARMS Western Australian Rangeland Monitoring System WASG Western Australian Speleological Group WCPA World Commission on Protected Areas ZCA Zone Control Authorities iv Geoscene International Division of Scenic Spectrums Pty Ltd WPDOCS: Nullarbor/FinRpt/NullarborIMG_310109 Interim Management Guidelines for the Nullarbor Caves and Selected Karst Features Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation and the Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group CONTENTS Acknowledgements ii Acronyms iii 1. Executive Summary and Key Recommendations 1 2. Project Background 3 2.1 Project Aims and Objectives 3 2.2 Key Focus Attributes and Assets Addressed 4 2.3 Potential Uses Considered 4 2.4 Key Management Activities 5 2.5 Funding Agencies and Steering Committee 5 2.5.1 A Joint Initiative 5 2.5.2 Project Management and Consultations 5 2.6 Project Area and Overview Description 5 2.6.1 Geographic Area 5 2.6.2 Physiographic Units, Biogeographic Subregions and Vegetation 8 2.6.3 Climate 13 2.6.4 Caves and Karst Features of the Nullarbor 13 2.6.5 Coastal Features 15 2.6.6 Transportation Routes, Settlements and Facilities 15 2.6.7 Indigenous Heritage 15 2.6.8 Non-Indigenous Heritage 16 2.6.9 Land Use and Economic Sectors 17 2.7 Overall Significance 17 3. Land Tenure, Legislative and Management Framework 20 3.1 Land Tenure 20 3.2 Conservation Estate 22 3.3 Legislative and Management Framework 22 4 Key Focus Features, Values and Significance 22 4.1 Focus Cave and Karst Features 22 4.2 Extremely High Overall Environmental and Cultural Significance 25 4.3 Key Values of Geologic, Hydrologic and Karst Features 25 v