Fire Management Strategy

NSW Wadbilliga and NATIONAL PARKS AND South East Forest WILDLIFE National Park SERVICE FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

WADBILLIGA AND SOUTH EAST FOREST NATIONAL PARK

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Far South Coast Region November, 2003

2 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author of this strategy was the Narooma Office of the Far South Coast Region of the N.S.W National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Published by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Far South Coast Region, June 2003. Contact: Fire Officer, PO Box 282, Narooma, NSW, 2546.

ISBN * **** **** *.

3 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION...... 5 1.1. Scope and Purpose...... 5 1.2. Fire Management Objectives...... 5 1.3. Description of the Reserves ...... 6 1.3.1 Location and Terrain...... 6 1.3.2 Fire History and Frequency ...... 8 1.3.3 Natural and Cultural Heritage ...... 9 1.3.4 Recreational use and facilities...... 10 1.3.5 Infrastructure ...... 10 1.3.6 Summary of key fire issues ...... 10

2. BUSHFIRE RISKS ...... 13 2.1. Introduction...... 13 2.2. Life and Property ...... 13 2.3. Cultural Heritage...... 14 2.4. Natural Heritage ...... 14

3. BUSHFIRE RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES...... 20 3.1. Introduction...... 20 3.2. Fire Management Zones ...... 20 3.2.1 Asset Protection Zones ...... 20 3.2.2 Strategic Wild Fire Control Zones...... 20 3.2.4 Fire Exclusion Zones...... 22 3.3. Radiation Zones and Strategic Fuel Breaks ...... 32 3.4. Fire Management Trails and Roads ...... 33 3.5. Other Fire Control Advantages...... 34 3.6. Education, Co-operation and Enforcement...... 34 3.7. Research and Monitoring ...... 34

4. REFFERENCES...... 35

4 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Scope and Purpose This strategy describes the strategies the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will implement to meet its fire management obligations under the Rural Fires Act 1997, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 in Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park (hereafter referred to as ‘the reserves’) between 2002 and 2007.

This strategy has been prepared in accordance with the policies and procedures detailed in the NPWS Fire Management Manual (NPWS, 2001), NPWS Fire Management Planning Strategy (NPWS, 2001) and the Wadbilliga and South East Forests National Park Draft Plan of Management (NPWS, 2001).

This strategy is supported by: • Fire Management Works Schedules which are prepared annually and list the fire management strategies to be implemented each year. • Bush fire Suppression Guidelines which are prepared annually and identify natural, cultural and capital assets to be protected from bush fire each year and fire control advantages. • Far South Coast Region Incident Response Procedures which are prepared annually and detail general bushfire preparedness and response procedures.

This strategy is also supported by hardcopy maps and a Geographic Information System (GIS) database maintained at the NPWS Far South Coast Regional Office, Narooma. Data used by this strategy to display mapped information has been burnt to a standard CD with working Arcview 3.2 and Spatial Analyst Project file (.apr) and can be run independently of the NPWS GIS database using the same GIS software.

1.2. Fire Management Objectives Consistent with the statutory obligations and policies of NPWS, as defined in the NPWS Fire Management Planning Strategy (NPWS, 2001), the fire management objectives defined for the reserves are to:

• Reduce the occurrence of human caused unplanned fires in the reserves. • Suppress unplanned fires occurring in the reserves. • Minimise the potential for the spread of bushfires within, from or into the reserves. • Protect from bushfires occurring in the reserves, persons and property in, or immediately adjacent to, the reserves. • Manage fire regimes to avoid the extinction of all species that are known to occur naturally within the reserves. • Protect from damage by bushfires all Aboriginal sites, historic places and culturally significant features which are known to exist within the reserves.

5 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 1.3. Description of the Reserves This strategy applies to the following National Parks: • (including recent Murrabrine, Wandella, Dampier and Badja additions), and • South East Forest National Park (previously Glenbog and State Forest).

In addition to the reserves, this strategy also considers fuels, assets and fire control advantages that are outside but continuous with, or adjacent to, those in the reserves.

1.3.1 Location and Terrain

The reserves are located within the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla and Cooma Local Government Areas (table 1) on the Far South Coast / Southern Tableland Escarpment of NSW approximately 350 km South of Sydney and 100 km South East of Canberra (Map 1).

The major land-use practices adjoining the Reserves are grazing (cattle and sheep), timber production (State Forests and private lands) and a variety of residential development on smaller-sized rural allotments.

The Reserves provide an almost contiguous expanse of hinterland on the NSW Far South Coast, from Narooma (in the north) to Bega (in the south). The total size of this area and that of each reserve is show in Table 1.

Table 1: Area of each reserve Reserve Hectares BVSC % ESC % CMSC% Wadbilliga National Park 95’072 67 9 9 South East Forests NP 17’437 15 0 0 (Bemboka & Glenbog sections) Total = 112’509 82% 9% 9%

Elevation within the Reserves extends from near sea level to over 1400 metres. The Reserves cover a range of topographical features, from tableland plateau in the west, through deeply dissected escarpment on the east of the tablelands, to gently undulating coastal foothills and plains east of the Reserves.

Table 2: Slope analysis in the Reserves Slope a % area Hectares 0 - 50 4% 4’896 5 - 100 8% 9’314 10 - 150 12% 13’082 15 - 180 8% 8’874 > 180 68% 76’131 a – slope categories for Planning for Bush Fire Protection.

6 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 1.3.2 Fire History and Frequency (see Maps 2 & 3)

Fire history records for the study area are available from 1938/39 to 1999/2000. From this information, significant fires occur every 6-8 years.

Figure 1: Hectares burnt within the Reserves by wildfire from 1938/39 to 1999/2000

40000

35000

30000

25000

20000

Hectares burned Hectares 15000

10000

500

0 1938/39 1968/69 1980/81 1988/89

Source: NPWS GIS records at time of writing Strategy

The risk of fire in the Reserves has been greatest during spring, and in January. Figure 2: Monthly occurrence of wildfire in the Reserves, 1970/71 to 1998/99

20 26% 18 % of fires in a year 16

14 16% 12 14% 10 19 8 9% 9% Number of fires 6 12 7% 7% 7% 10 4 4% 7 7 5 1% 5 5 2 3 00 1 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Lightning is the dominant cause of wildfire in the Reserves, closely followed by illegal ignitions as the next most common cause. Fires resulting from negligence or accident account for about 9% of fires each year, and are primarily escapes from burning off practices on surrounding lands.

The first record of prescribed burning within the Reserves is in 1974/75. Large areas, particularly in the 1970’s, were burned as a result of the broad area aerial ignition practices of that era.

8 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Small to moderate sized areas averaging around 4.5% of the Reserves were burned prior to each fire season. The majority of the recorded prescribed burning activities within the Reserves have been within the Wadbilliga National Park.

Figure 3: Hectares burned within the Reserves by prescribed fires from 1974/75 to 99/2000

60000 52671

50000

40000 36021

30000 27974 27266

20000 18380 Hectares burned 13230 9863 10000 9284 6812 5502 5431 3368 2466 1927 1905 1820 1738 1630 863 249 0 45 1974/75 1975/76 1976/77 1977/78 1978/79 1979/80 1980/81 1981/82 1982/83 1985/86 1987/88 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1999/00

1.3.3 Natural and Cultural Heritage

The Reserves’ natural heritage of regional significance includes: • their considerable area (hectares) and altitudinal range that provide opportunities for more natural ecological processes and the cohabitation of a wide range of species • provision of an expansive natural area that protects the full extent of habitat for species with very large home ranges such as the Powerful Owl • sub-alpine and swamp communities and dry and temperate rainforests • 21 species of plant and animal listed within the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and many other populations that are disjunct or isolated. About 5% of the known rare and threatened species of NSW are found in the Reserves

A significant portion of the Reserves is also declared wilderness. The Brogo Wilderness was originally declared in 1983 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (and later under the Wilderness Act 1987) and covers 32,000 hectares of Wadbilliga National Park.

Sixty-nine vegetation communities (CRA data) occur within the Reserves ranging from rainforests and moist forests through to woodlands and heathlands (Appendix 1). Thirty-nine plant species occurring within the Reserves are listed as Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (ROTAP - Briggs & Leigh 1995), of which six are listed on the schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Fifteen fauna species listed in the schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 are known to occur in the Reserves.

9 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park The recorded Aboriginal sites are generally on flat, well drained ground suitable for camping. Scatters of stone artefacts, made from riverbed stones, are the most common types of site. Quartz, quartzite, jasper, mudstone and silcrete artefacts are found on flats and low hill spurs next to watercourses and near swamps.

Small artefact scatters (mostly quartz from reef outcrops) also occur along ridgelines and in saddles on top of the ranges, indicating possible through routes to the coast. It is also likely that sites of cultural or religious significance exist within the Reserves.

The Reserves have 26 recorded historic sites and landscapes. These sites include original surveying, grazing, gold mining (and to a lesser degree mining for silver and other minerals) and the movement of stock between the coast and the tablelands.

Historic sites associated with the South East Forests National Park are known to include Finns Hut, Brown Mountain Power Station, Cochrane Dam and Pipers Lookout.

1.3.4 Recreational use and facilities

The Reserves offer outstanding wilderness and remote area recreational opportunities and provide a range of low-key recreational facilities. Visitor facilities include camping and picnic areas, walking tracks and public access roads and trails. These facilities provide access to various places of interest and are departure points into the wilderness and more remote areas of the Reserves.

Wilderness areas within the Reserves provide opportunities for solitude and self-reliant recreation that are not provided in more developed areas. These will be managed in accordance with the Wilderness Act 1987 and the relevant Service policies (NPWS 1989; 1996).

1.3.5 Infrastructure

Community assets potentially damaged by fire include human life, buildings and infrastructure, and economic assets, such as tourist destinations, agricultural assets and timber.

Rural allotments, farming infrastructure and isolated private dwellings constitute the majority of adjacent infrastructure assets potentially affected by wildfire.

1.3.6 Summary of key fire issues

• Protection of neighbouring properties to the east and south of the reserves. • Protection of remote properties (Brassknocker and Belowra Rd inholdings). • Reliance on neighbouring properties to implement and maintain appropriate asset protection zones as per Planning for Bushfire Protection Guidelines (NSW RFS 2001). • Implementation of Strategic Wildfire Control Zones to slow or impede the progression of fire from the north west/west to the east south-east. • Maintenance of Biodiversity where upper thresholds are shown to be exceeded.

10 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 2. BUSHFIRE RISKS

2.1. Introduction The large number of assets within and around the reserves means it is not possible to implement active fire management strategies to protect all assets that could be damaged by fire or inappropriate fire regimes. Bushfire Risk Analysis has been undertaken to identify those assets most at risk and therefore most in need of the application of active fire management strategies.

For the purpose of this strategy, Bushfire Risk is defined as the chance of a bushfire or inappropriate fire regime occurring and causing damage to assets within or adjacent to the reserves. Assets include life and property, cultural heritage and natural heritage.

A Bushfire Risk Analysis method described in Appendix 1 has been applied to classify all assets within and adjacent to the reserves into one of the following 7 risk classes. These risk classes have been developed to be consistent with standard Assets Protection Zone requirements outlined by the revised Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2001. All building assets within and adjacent to the reserves that intersect a risk class of 3 or higher (immediately adjacent to the reserves) are illustrated in Map 6 and listed in the following sections.

2.2. Life and Property

Based on the criteria specified in appendix 1, there are 11 locations within and around the reserves where life and property is at an intermediate or higher Risk from Bushfire (Map 8, Table 3).

Table 3: Locations within and around the reserves where it is considered an intermediate or higher Bushfire Risk to life and property exists (see Map 8). Location Tenure Belowra Rd Inholdings PP BrassKnocker Ck Inholdings PP Yowrie River / Kooringa (Yowrie) PP Illawambra PP Murrabrine Mt PP Puen Buen (Upper Brogo) PP Brogo Dam PP Double Ck / Bronte PP Dessert Ck / Numbugga PP Yankees Gap PP Werrinook PP

13 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 2.3. Cultural Heritage

Although there are a large number of known Aboriginal Heritage sites within the reserves, there are none considered to be at significant risk from natural occurring bushfires. However, all Aboriginal Heritage Sites may be damaged by earthmoving machinery or hand line construction during bushfire suppression operations.

Fire suppression or mitigation operations undertaken within the Reserves will take into account all currently known Aboriginal Cultural Heritage sites, and further ensure new sites identified during such operations are protected as far as possible and appropriately recorded.

Locations of Aboriginal Sites are available through the NPWS Aboriginal and Historic Heritage Information Management System Database (AHIMS & HHIMS) or the local NPWS Aboriginal Sites Officer. Aboriginal Sites are not displayed within this strategy.

Recorded European heritage sites have been displayed on map 7 and will be taken account of during any proposed mitigation works or wildfire suppression operations.

2.4. Natural Heritage The Reserves contain large areas of significant natural heritage and features.

Stands of rare Eucalypts and Acacias exist throughout the Reserves and warrant additional consideration when undertaking fire suppression or mitigation operations. In most cases, the surrounding communities reflect the burning regime required to ecologically sustain such species.

Actions to influence the ecological sustainability of such species (as listed Table 4) will be considered based on those recommended in Table 5 and Appendix 1.

However important to note due to its extent and striking feature within the Reserves, Allocasuarina nana (Nana Heath), will be closely monitored for its sustainability. Areas of Nana heath calculated to be nearing upper biodiversity thresholds (ie. needing a wildfire to ensure its ecological sustainability) will be identified and considered for natural heritage burning.

Such remote burning of nana heath (or Heritage Management Zone Burning) will not be undertaken at the expense of adequately progressing the proposed Strategic Wildfire Control Zones outlined in this strategy.

14 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 3. BUSHFIRE RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

3.1. Introduction The fire management strategies illustrated in Map 9 and described in the following sections will be implemented over the life of this strategy and have been designed to reduce the Bushfire Risk to assets within and adjacent to the reserves (as identified in Section 2 of this strategy). A Fire Management Works Schedule (listing which of the strategies listed in this strategy will be implemented each year) will be prepared annually for the reserves.

3.2. Fire Management Zones The reserves and surrounding area have been divided into Fire Management Zones according to the zoning system described in the NPWS Fire Management Planning Strategy (NPWS, 2001). As far as possible, the boundaries of Fire Management Zones have been defined by fire control advantages including roads, water and areas of low bushfire behaviour potential. This has resulted in many Fire Management Zones extending beyond the boundaries of the reserves onto other land tenures. The strategies proposed for other land tenures are suggested only and are not binding on neighbouring land owners/occupiers. However, NPWS will pursue the implementation of these strategies with neighbours.

3.2.1 Asset Protection Zones

The primary fire management objective in Asset Protection Zones is the protection of life and property.

Apart from four small areas surrounding designated camping and picnic areas within the reserves, nil Asset Protection Zones have been defined around the reserves. Due to size and scale of the area being considered, accurate identification of asset protection zones is considered unfeasible and more appropriately developed through specific site or property protection measures.

The immediate surrounding vegetated areas abutting the Lake Creek & the Cascades picnic and camping grounds, and the Wadbilliga Crossing and Sutherland day use areas, are identified to be managed as per Inner Protection Area (IPA) standards as per Planning for Bushfire Protection Guidelines (NSW RFS 2001) or as otherwise appropriate to maintain reduced fuel levels.

Considering visitors to the reserves are invited to light open fires within these designated areas, the maintenance of any adjacent vegetation to IPA standards is necessary to assist in containing the potential escape of camp or picnic fires.

3.2.2 Strategic Wild Fire Control Zones

18 Strategic Wild Fire Control Management Zones have been defined within and around the reserves (Map 9). The primary fire management objectives in Strategic Wild Fire Control Zones are to reduce the occurrence of unplanned fires in the reserves and to prevent the spread of fire within, from and into the reserves. Strategic Wild Fire Control Zones also contribute towards the maintenance of all species which are known to occur naturally within the reserves (conserving biodiversity) by affording some measure of control over the spread of unplanned fires which would otherwise result in fire regimes which may result in species extinction’s. This will be achieved by implementing the strategies prescribed in Table 4 in each Strategic Wild Fire Control Zone.

Dates for proposed hazard reduction burns shown in table 4 are indicative only and are subject to change dependant on weather conditions and resource availability.

20 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Table 4. The specific fire management objectives and strategies to be applied in each Strategic Wild Fire Control Zone (see Map 9).

Priority Year to be Zone Name Zone Area (ha) 1 Specific Objectives Prescribed Strategy carried out Inside Outside (see map 9) Reserves Reserves 1 03 Double Creek 2161.8 180.7 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Double Creek

2 03 Dessert Creek 2254.3 217.7 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Desert Creek 3 03 Brogo East 1926.0 11.6 Reduce available fine fuels to retard the rate of spread (ROS) of wildfire progressing from west to east / south-east. Mosaic Burn 50% or less of the 4 03 Werrinook 99.5 24.0 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Werrinook Identified Zone Area* 5 04 Yankees Gap 761.7 581.8 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Yankees Gap 6 04 Puen Buen 1018.8 467.9 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Puen Buen Aerial ignite ridgetop areas only, 7 04 Brogo Dam 154.3 21.6 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Brogo Dam as far as practicable.

8 04 Galoon Creek 1574.3 0 Reduce available fine fuels to retard the rate of spread (ROS) of wildfire progressing Lighting from zone boundary trails from west to east / south-east. only where AI work is considered 9 04 Murrabrine Mt 304.2 97.8 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Murrabrine Mt insufficient or as contingent to (West) contain prescribed burn. 10 05 Little Creek 139.8 415.5 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Little Creek 11 05 Illawambra 96.5 61.1 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Illawambra * Area excludes any FEZ 12 05 Yowrie West 4276.4 21.0 Reduce available fine fuels to retard the rate of spread (ROS) of wildfire progressing intersecting the SWCZ from west to east / south-east. Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around the Yowrie valley. 13 06 Belowra Rd Nth 336.9 55.2 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around private inholdings Strategies to be repeated after along Belowra Rd review. 14 06 Belowra Rd Sth 6.8 16.9 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around private inholdings along Belowra Rd 15 06 Barron Jumbo 935.8 63.6 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around private inholdings along BrassKnocker Ck 16 06 Murrabrine Mt 363.0 522.5 Provide protection to rural communities and assets in and around Murrabrine Mt (East) 17 06 Bemboka 1303.9 210.7 Reduce available fine fuels to retard the rate of spread (ROS) of wildfire progressing towards Bemboka rural properties and assets. 18 07 Spring Mountain 890.8 87.4 Reduce available fine fuels to retard the rate of spread (ROS) of wildfire progressing from west to east / south-east and also unplanned fires entering the Wadbilliga NP from the Belowra Valley - As required Cascades 3.3 0 Primarily to limit the escape of unattended campfires and potentially provide refuge Camping Area from wildfire. APZ - As required Lake Creek 5.2 0 Primarily to limit the escape of unattended campfires and potentially provide refuge As far as practicable, available Camping Area from wildfire. bushfire fuel removed or managed APZ to Inner Protection Area standards - As required Sutherland Day 1.4 0 Primarily to limit the escape of unattended campfires and potentially provide refuge as per PFBP guidelines. Use Area APZ from wildfire. - As required Wadbilliga 0.9 0 Primarily to limit the escape of unattended campfires and potentially provide refuge Crossing Day Use from wildfire. Area APZ

Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 3.2.3 Heritage Management Zones

All area outside identified Strategic Wildfire Control Zones are designated a Heritage Management Zone – Wadbilliga HAMZ (Map 9). The primary fire management objectives in a Heritage Management Zone is to prevent the extinction of all species which are known to occur naturally within the reserves (conserve biodiversity) and to protect known Aboriginal sites, Historic Heritage sites and other culturally significant features from fire (see Section 1.2). Except where noted otherwise, these objectives will be achieved by:

• Suppressing wildfire or monitoring naturally occurring wildfire and, where necessary, conducting prescribed burns to maintain fire regimes within the biodiversity thresholds specified in Table 6, and • Implementing the threatened species management guidelines specified in Tables 5 and 6 in locations where threatened are known or likely to occur.

Manipulating fire regimes (by suppressing bushfires, monitoring naturally occurring wildfire and conducting prescribed burns) to conserve biodiversity within Heritage Management Zones will take account of the state of fire regimes, in relation to biodiversity thresholds as specified in Table 5, across the heritage management zone within the reserves.

Appendix 2 outlines the proposed strategy for managing unplanned fires in the heritage area management zone.

3.2.3.1 Heritage Area Management Zones - IFB (Identified for Burning)

Two additional areas, being the upper parts of the Brogo and catchments have been identified as priority areas for potential burning to sustain their ecological health. In addition to the biodiversity benefits, these burns also have the potential to reduce high intensity fires in the upper catchments of these .

Based on available fire history records, the majority of these areas appear to have not been burnt for a significant period of time (ie. > 30 years).

Given the above, it is likely vegetation community types A & B associated with the above areas may be exceeding their upper biodiversity threshold.

As time, weather and resources permit, and where undertaking the HAMZ burns would not adversely affect any undertaking to complete scheduled SWCZ burns, these areas will be targeted in the first instance for ecological burning within HAMZ.

3.2.4 Fire Exclusion Zones

The primary fire management objective in Fire Exclusion Zones (FEZ) is to exclude fire from entering or burning within these areas, for at least the life of this strategy.

FEZ’s are generally areas of fire intolerant assets for which it is appropriate to exclude fire (eg. rainforests, fire intolerant vegetation communities, fire sensitive cultural / historic heritage sites, pine plantation, commercial crops).

Where a FEZ has been identified within a SWCZ, fire suppression or hazard reduction activities will be undertaken to avoid introducing fire into Fire Exclusion Zones.

Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Table 5. The biodiversity thresholds to be applied in the reserves (adapted from Bradstock et al. 1995 and Keith, 1996). These thresholds define a domain of acceptable fire regimes. Fire regimes outside this domain are predicted to cause significant declines in species populations, particularly if they prevail over > 50% of the area of each community.

Class Vegetation Biodiversity Thresholds ID Communities a Dry Sclerophyll Avoid 3 or more consecutive fires, with each of the fires < 5 Forest years apart. Avoid inter-fire periods of > 30 years. Woodland Avoid 2 or more successive fires that totally scorch or consume the tree canopy. Avoid 3 or more consecutive fires of low intensity. b Heathland / Avoid 3 or more consecutive fires, with each of the fires < 8 Scrubland years apart. Avoid 3 or more consecutive fires, with each of the fires > 15 Swamp Sclerophyll years apart. Forest Avoid inter-fire periods of > 30 years. Avoid 2 or more successive fires that consume < 10 t/ha of Wet Heath surface fuel. c Wet Sclerophyll Avoid more than 1 fire every 30 years. Forest Avoid inter-fire periods of > 200 years. d Rainforest Any fire occurrence (a limited recovery ability exists).

Sedgeland / Rushland

Riparian Forest na Cleared Not applicable. Sand/Rock/Bare Ground/Water

Within the Reserves, sites with a concentration of significant plant or animal species and sites dominated by a single significant species are, wherever possible, to be provided with special fire management appropriate to the species.

However, it is often difficult to provide special fire management attention to the significant species found in small, localised populations, and obviously those as yet unrecorded populations. As a general rule, these are to be provided a fire regime similar to the surrounding vegetation group (see Table 6). Application of this strategy will nevertheless consider the recorded locations of threatened species by reference to the relevant GIS database and will adopt fire management strategies that minimise threat to these species (see Appendix 1).

26 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Table 6. Threatened or significant species management strategies to be applied in the reserves (see Maps 9 – 10). ID Fire Management Strategies Species Status1 Flora: fl1 • Exclude prescribed fire Acacia georgensis Vulnerable

• Fire regime type ‘b’ most appropriate

fl2 • No more than one fire every 100 years Eucalyptus parvula Vulnerable fl3 • Fire regime type ‘b’ most appropriate Allocasuarina nana Rare fl4 • Manage for fire regime similar to the surrounding Acacia blayana Rare vegetation biodiversity threshold Acacia kydrensis Rare Acacia lucasii Rare Acacia subtilinervis Rare Baeckea denticulata Rare Daviesia suaveolens Rare Dodonaea rhombifolia Rare Eucalyptus badjensis Rare Eucalyptus baeuerlenii Rare Eucalyptus latiuscula Rare Eucalyptus olsenii Rare Eucalyptus paliformis Rare Eucalyptus spectatrix Rare Eucalyptus wilcoxii Rare

Grevillea acanthifolia Endangered subsp. paludosa

Haloragodendron Rare baeuerlenii Haloragodendron Rare monospermum

Hibbertia hermanniifolia Rare Nematolepis elliptica Rare Pomaderris brogoensis Rare Pomaderris pallida Vulnerable Pomaderris parrisiae Vulnerable Pomaderris virgata Rare Pultenaea parrisiae Vulnerable subsp. parrisiae Pultenaea villifera var. Rare villifera

Rulingia hermanniifolia Rare Westringia kydrensis Westringia lucida Rare

29 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Fauna: fa1 • Protect large and hollow bearing trees in locations Phascogale tapoatafa Vulnerable where these species are known to occur. Brush-tailed Phascogale Tyto novaehollandiae Vulnerable Masked Owl Scoteanax rueppellii Vulnerable Greater Broad-nosed Bat Petaurus australis Vulnerable Yellow-bellied Glider fa2 • Protect large and hollow bearing trees in locations Calyptorhynchus lathami Vulnerable where these species are known to occur. Glossy Black Cockatoo • Avoid interfire intervals of < 10 years in locations where Tyto tenebricosa Vulnerable these species are known to occur. Sooty Owl • Avoid high intensity fires that consume canopies and Dasyurus maculatus Vulnerable fallen logs in locations where these species are known Spotted-tailed (Tiger) to occur. Quoll Ninox strenua Vulnerable Powerful Owl

fa3 • Avoid constructing major control lines within 100m of Myotis adversus Vulnerable known roost sites. Large Footed Myotis • Avoid placing other infrastructure within 200m of known roost sites.

fa4 • Habitat unlikely to be effected by fire. Falsistrellus Vulnerable • Protect large and hollow bearing trees in locations tasmaniensis where these species are known to occur. Eastern False Pipistrelle • Maintain a 50m wide vegetation buffer around roosting sites when establishing new infrastructure (eg. temporary utilities, re-routing trails, etc.)

fa5 • Avoid burning areas of known populations (generally Pachycephala olivacea Vulnerable nesting in shrub layer) during the breeding season Olive Whistler (September to January).

fa6 • Avoid burning known or potential habitat in breeding Heleioporus australiacus Vulnerable season (summer and autumn). Giant Burrowing Frog • Avoid the use of earth moving machinery in areas where these species are known to occur. fa7 • As far as possible, exclude all fire from wetland habitats Mixophyes balbus Vulnerable where these species are known to occur. Stuttering Frog • Avoid the use of earth moving machinery from wetland habitats where these species are known to occur. • Avoid the use of retardant in wetland habitats where these species are known to occur. fa8 • Avoid high intensity fires that consume tree canopies. Phascolarctos cinereus Vulnerable Koala Miniopterus schreibersii Vulnerable Common Bent-wing Bat

fa9 • As far as possible, exclude all fire from locations where Kerivoula papuensis Vulnerable these species are known to occur. Golden-tipped Bat • Avoid the use of earth moving machinery in locations where these species are known to occur. 1. As per the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

30 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Table 7 provides a description of each SWC and HAM Zone and specifies the strategies to be applied in each zone.

Table 7. The fire management strategies to be applied in each SWC and HAM Zone (see Map 9). Zone Zone Name Zone Area (ha) 1 Area (%) by Biodiversity Threshold Threatened Threatened Strategies Class1 (Table 5) Flora Fauna Inside Outside a b c d na (Table 6) (Table 6) Reserves Reserves

SWCZ Double Creek 2161.8 180.7 5953600 SWCZ Dessert Creek 2254.3 217.7 4515301 • Suppress or monitor bushfires SWCZ Yankees Gap 761.7 581.8 5713606 and conduct prescribed burns SWCZ Werrinook 99.5 24.0 1508500 as appropriate to maintain fire SWCZ Puen Buen 1018.8 467.9 4215700 regimes within the biodiversity SWCZ Brogo Dam 154.3 21.6 1807903 thresholds specified in Table 6. SWCZ Murrabrine Mt 363.0 522.5 5403268 (East) • Implement the threatened species SWCZ Little Creek 139.8 415.5 40145014 management strategies SWCZ Illawambra 96.5 61.1 7702300 specified in Table 7 as SWCZ Belowra Rd Nth 336.9 55.2 7202800 raphic Information System required. SWCZ Belowra Rd Sth 6.8 16.9 99 0 1 0 0 • Implement cultural heritage SWCZ Barron Jumbo 935.8 63.6 8811100 Database management strategies SWCZ Brogo East 1926.0 11.6 6492700 consistent with the NPWS Fire SWCZ Yowrie West 4276.4 21.0 60.6 7.1 32.3 0 0 Management Manual SWCZ Spring 890.8 87.4 8101900 Mountain SWCZ Murrabrine Mt 304.2 97.8 5704201 (West) SWCZ Galoon Creek 1563.6 0 5293900 SWCZ Bemboka 1303.9 210.7 5464000 HAMZ Wadbilliga 267’981 0 6173101 Refer to Current NPWS Geog

1 All areas generated by GIS and hence may differ slightly from gazetted areas

Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 3.3. Radiation Zones and Strategic Fuel Breaks Due to large area covered by the Reserves and the many and varied examples of existing boundary / fencing protection or cleared areas designed to reduce the impact of running fire, it is impractical to comprehensively identify all such areas or predict the placement of those in the future.

This strategy advocates the importance of property and building protection principles, including cleared/reduced setback areas and building standards, as outlined in Planning for Bush Fire Protection (PFBP).

Bush fire hazard potential modelling undertaken as part of this strategy has been done so to incorporate the respective slope and vegetation classifications consistent with PFBP. Apart from providing the basis for estimating potential fire risk or intensity, this method will also provide the strategy’s practioners, Local Council or adjacent neighbouring property owners with a quick guide to recommended asset protection setback distances for their specific properties.

However, the setback estimates outlined in this strategy are based on broad scale data and 25m resolution terrain models. Individual site assessments should still be undertaken to verify estimated distances.

For the purpose of this strategy, Inner Protection and Outer Protection Zones described by Planning for Bushfire Protection are equivalent to Radiation zones and Strategic Fuel breaks respectively.

Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 3.4. Fire Management Trails and Roads Table 8 lists the fire management trails and roads that will be maintained or constructed during the life of this strategy. Roads and trails classified as ‘Category 1’ will be maintained to a standard sufficient to allow the passage of Category 1 fire tankers (4wd Heavy Tanker up to 3500 litre capacity) while roads and trails classified as ‘Category 9’ will only be maintained to a standard sufficient to allow the passage of Category 9 fire tankers (4wd Ute/Cab Chassis with up to 400 litre capacity).

Table 8. The fire management trails and roads that will be maintained or constructed in and around the reserves. Reserve Trail Name Tenure Shire Category Access SEF Rd Bega Valley 1 SEF Cochrane Dam SEF/Glenbog Bega Valley 1 SEF Fastigata Rd SEF/Glenbog Bega Valley 1 SEF Fraxinoides Rd Glenbog State Bega Valley 1 Forest SEF Jumping Ck Tk Glenbog State Bega Valley 1 Forest SEF Nitens Rd SEF/Glenbog Bega Valley 1 SEF Xi Rd SEF/Glenbog Bega Valley 1 WNP Back Creek Link Rd Cooma-Monaro 9-7 WNP Bandy Ck WNP Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Barren Jumbo WNP/Private Eurobodalla 9-7 WNP Barren Jumbo WNP/Private Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Belowra West WNP Eurobodalla 9-7 WNP Bemboka Peak SEF/Bemboka Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Brassknocker WNP Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Brogo WNP Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Brogo Dam Bega Valley Shire Bega Valley 1 WNP Bumbery CK WNP Bega Valley 1 WNP Bumbery CK WNP Cooma-Monaro 1 WNP Green Hills WNP/Private Eurobodalla 9-7 WNP Green Hills WNP/Private Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Jillicambra WNP/Private Eurobodalla 9 WNP Jillicambra WNP Bega Valley 9 WNP Kybean Dog Fence WNP Cooma-Monaro 1 WNP Kydra WNP Cooma-Monaro 9-7 WNP Mistake SEF/Bemboka Bega Valley 9 WNP Murrabrine Rd WNP Bega Valley 1 WNP Nambugga Walls SEF/Bemboka/ Bega Valley 9 Private WNP Nelson Ck WNP Bega Valley 9 WNP New Englnad WNP Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Ooranook SEF/Bemboka/ Bega Valley 9 Private WNP Razorback WNP Bega Valley 9 WNP Razorback WNP Cooma-Monaro 9 WNP Smith's SEF/Bemboka Bega Valley 9 WNP Tin Hut SEF/Bemboka Bega Valley 9 WNP Tuross Falls Rd Badja State Forest Cooma-Monaro 1 WNP Wadbilliga Rd WNP/Private Cooma-Monaro 1 WNP Wadbilliga Rd WNP/Private Bega Valley 1

33 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park WNP Warrigal SEF/Bemboka Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Werri Berri SEF/Glenbog Bega Valley 9 WNP White Rock WNP/Private Bega Valley 9 WNP Yankee's Flat WNP Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Yankee's Gap WNP Bega Valley 9-7 WNP Yowrie West WNP Bega Valley 1

3.5. Other Fire Control Advantages Other fire control advantages are features that may be used to support bushfire suppression operations and include water points (both helicopter and vehicle accessible), helipads, landing grounds, refuge areas or lookouts.

3.6. Education, Co-operation and Enforcement NPWS will undertake the following during the life of this strategy: • Support the Rural Fire Service to establish Community Fireguard Groups or Fire Protection Plans in the following communities / locations to increase awareness of fire: − Bemboka − Numbugga − Brogo − Murabrine − BrassKnocker Ck − Yowrie, and − Belowra Rd Inholdings. • Assist landholders/occupiers to undertake prescribed burns on private property adjacent to the reserves where this burning will help protect assets on neighbouring property from bushfires that may exit the reserves or will help prevent fires entering the reserves from adjacent land. • Develop Memorandums of Understanding for all jointly maintained fuel breaks and fire trails as specified in Table 8. • Erect signs at major camping and picnic areas advising reserve visitors of the actions they should undertake in the event of bushfire. • Investigate all fires believed to have been deliberately lit and actively pursue legal action against those responsible where evidence permits.

3.7. Research and Monitoring NPWS will undertake the following during the life of this strategy: • Establish sites in all Strategic Fire Management Zones to monitor Overall Fuel Hazard (McCarthy et al. 1999) to identify the need for prescribed burning. • Establish sites in major vegetation communities to monitor the effect of implemented fire regimes on biodiversity.

34 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park 4. REFFERENCES

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38 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

43 Bridge Street Hurstville NSW Australia 2220

39 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Appendix 1 – Bush Fire Hazard Analysis

Bush Fire Potential Hazard Analysis for the Reserves was developed using the below model / matrix incorporating slope and vegetation categories consistent with Planning for Bushfire Protection, Planning NSW (2001).

Bush Fire Potential Veg. Slope* APZ IPA OPA Hazard Level Category 1 - Negligible 3 - 20 - - 2 - Minor 2 0-5 35 25 10 3 - Intermediate 1 0-5 40 30 10 2 5-10403010 4 - Significant 1 5-10504010 2 10-15 50 40 10 5 - Major 1 10-15 60 50 10 2 15-18 60 50 10 6 - Extreme 1 15-18 70 60 10 7 - Catastrophic 1&2 >18 N/A N/A N/A

* Model assumes all potential hazard areas down slope of asset

Vegetation Description – Category Table

Vegetation Type Vegetation Vegetation Biodiversity Structure Category Threshold Acacia Scrub Open Scrub 2 b Basalt Wet Herb Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Bega Dry Grass Forest Open Forest 1 a Bega Wet Shrub Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Brogo Wet Vine Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Candelo Dry Grass Forest Open Forest 1 a Central Tablelands / ACT Montane Dry Shrub Low Open 1a Forest Forest Cleared / Pasture / Non-Forested Sown Pasture 3 n/a Coastal Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Coastal Escarpment and Hinterland Dry Shrub / Open Forest 1 a Fern Forest Coastal Foothills Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Coastal Gully Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Coastal Hinterland ecotonal Gully Rainforset Closed Forest 3 d Coastal Lowlands Riparian erb / Grass Forest - Open Forest 1 a various eucalypts Coastal Range Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Coastal Shrub / Grass Forest Open Forest 1 a Coastal Warm Temperate RF Closed Forest 3 d Cool Temperate Rainforest Closed Forest 3 d Dry Rainforest Closed Forest 3 d Eastern Tableland Dry Shrub / Grass Forest Open Forest 1 a Eastern Tableland Fern / Herb / Grass Moist Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Eastern Tableland and Escarpment Shrub / Fern Open Forest 1 a Dry Forest Eastern Tablelands Acacia / Herb / Grass Forest Woodland 2 a Eastern Tablelands Dry Heath Open Heath 2 b Eastern Tablelands Shrub / Grass Moist Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Eden Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a 40 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Escarpment Dry Grass Forest Open Forest 1 a Estuarine Wetland Scrub Open Heath 2 b Floodplain Wetlands Closed 3n/a Sedgeland High Mountain Wet Layered Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Hinterland Dry Grass Forest Open Forest 1 a Hinterland Warm Temperate RF Closed Forest 3 d Hinterland Wet Fern Forest Closed Forest 1 c Hinterland Wet Shrub Forest Closed Forest 1 c Inland Intermediate Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Kydra Flats Grass Forest Woodland 2 a Lowland Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Lowland Gully Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Monaro Basalt Grass Woodland Woodland 2 a Montane Heath Closed Heath 2 b Montane Wet Heath / Bog and Montane Wet Closed Heath 2 b Sedgeland Mountain Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Mountain Intermediate Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Mountain Rock Scrub Open Forest 1 a Mountain Wet Fern Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Mountain Wet Herb Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Mountain Wet Layered Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Mumbulla Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a North East Tablelands Shrub / Herb / Grass Dry Open Forest 1 a Forest Northern Riparian Scrub Open Forest 1 a Numeralla Dry Shrub Woodland Woodland 2 a Rainshadow Dry Shrub / Tussock Grass Forest Open Forest 1 a Riparian Acacia Shrub / Grass / Herb Forest Open Forest 1 a Riverine Forest Open Forest 1 a Rock 0 n/a South Coast and Byadbo Acacia Scrubs Open Scrub 2 b South Eastern Tablelands Dry Shrub / Grass / Herb Open Forest 1 a Forest South East Tablelands Dry Shrub / Tussock Grass Open Forest 1 a Forest Southern Coastal Foothills Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Southern Coastal Hind Dune / Headland Scrub and Closed Heath 2 b Southern Coastal Dune Scrub Complex Southern Coastal Hinterland Dry Gully Rainforest Closed Forest 3 d Southern Coastal Hinterland Moist Shrub / Vine / Tall Open Forest 1 c Grass Forest Southern Coastal Hinterland Shrub / Tussock Grass Open Forest 1 a Dry Forest - E. agglomerata - E. muelleriana Southern Coastal Lowlands Shrub / Grass Dry Open Forest 1 a Forest Southern East Tableland Edge Shrub / Grass / Dry Open Forest 1 a Forest Southern Escarpment (Wadbilliga) Moist Heath Closed Heath 2 b Southern Escarpment Cool / Warm Temperate Closed Forest 3 d Rainforest Southern Escarpment Edge Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Southern Escarpment Edge Moist Shrub / Fern Tall Open Forest 1 c Forest Southern Escarpment Herb / Grass Dry Forest Open Forest 1 a Southern Escarpment Herb / Grass Moist Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Southern Escarpment Shrub / Fern / Herb Moist Tall Open Forest 1 c Forest 41 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Southern Hinterland Shrub / Herb / Grass Riparian Open Forest 1 a Forest Southern Numeralla Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Southern Riparian Scrub Open Scrub 2 d Sub-Alpine Bog Sedgeland 3 n/a Subalpine Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Tableland Dry Herb / Grass Woodland Woodland 2 a Tableland Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Tableland and Escarpment Moist Herb / Fern Grass Tall Open Forest 1 c Forest Tableland and Escarpment Wet Layered Shrub Tall Open Forest 1 c Forest Tablelands Acacia Moist Herb Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Tablelands Dry Shrub / Grass Forest Open Forest 1 a Tablelands Shrub / Tussock Grass Fores Open Forest 1 a Tantawangalo Wet Shrub Forest Tall Open Forest 1 c Wadbilliga Dry Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Wadbilliga Gorge Dry Forest Open Forest 1 a Wadbilliga Heath Forest Closed Scrub 2 b Wadbilliga Range Shrub Forest Open Forest 1 a Valley Forest Open Forest 1 a

42 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park Appendix 2 – Remote Area Fire Management

43 Fire Management Strategy for Wadbilliga and South East Forest National Park