AND YURAYGIR STATE CONSERVATION AREA PLAN OF MANAGEMENT

NSW NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

October 2003 This plan of management was adopted by the Minister for the Environment on 8th October 2003.

For additional information or enquiries on any aspect of this plan of management please contact: North Coast Regional Office National Parks and Wildlife Service 49 Victoria Street (PO Box 361) GRAFTON NSW 2460 Phone (02) 6641 1500

Acknowledgments: This plan of management was prepared by staff of North Coast Region of the National Parks and Wildlife Service with assistance from the Planning Unit of Head Office and Northern Directorate Planning Group.

Cover photo: Station Creek in southern Yuraygir National Park. Photo by Roly Paine.

Crown Copyright: Use permitted with appropriate acknowledgment. ISBN 0 7310 7663 X FOREWORD

Yuraygir National Park and State Conservation Area are located on the north coast of , less than an hour’s drive from Grafton, Maclean and Coffs Harbour. The park extends over 60 kilometres of coastline from Lake Wooloweyah, a tidal lake at the mouth of the Clarence River, to the Corindi River in the south. Yuraygir National Park and State Conservation Area are part of the traditional lands of the Gumbaingirr and Yaegl people. This area, together with Bundjalung and Broadwater National Parks and to the north, comprises a large conservation system that ranks in importance with only a handful of other conservation areas on the east coast of Australia. The park embraces one of the most scenically magnificent tracts of coastline on the east Australian seaboard. The main features of this coastline are its rocky headlands, sweeping beaches and diversity of natural environments which includes forests, heaths, freshwater streams, swamps, estuaries, coastal lagoons and lakes. This plan of management emphasises the importance and purpose of management programs relating to the protection of natural and cultural heritage and the control of fire, weeds and feral animals. The plan also emphasises the importance of maintaining liaison with the local community, particularly neighbours of the park. In particular, while ensuring the protection of life and property, priority is given to a reduction in the overall frequency of fire so as to provide for the rehabilitation of native vegetation communities that have become degraded from the too frequent occurrence of arson-lit wildfire during recent decades. The plan provides for the protection of all Aboriginal cultural heritage values, and opportunities for the Aboriginal community to be involved in the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage in the park. A wide range of recreation and environmental education opportunities based on maintaining a pattern of high standard access roads, walking tracks and visitor facilities as well as remote area recreation settings will continue to be provided. Opportunities for visitors to pursue recreation activities in the park in a quiet and restful natural setting will be protected. Recreation facilities will continue to be provided at sites along the park’s spectacular coastline.

This plan of management establishes the scheme of operations for Yuraygir National Park and Yuraygir State Conservation Area. In accordance with the provisions of Section 73(B) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, this plan of management is hereby adopted.

Bob Debus Minister for the Environment CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1

2 MANAGEMENT CONTEXT...... 1 2.1 NATIONAL PARKS IN NEW SOUTH WALES ...... 1 2.2 STATE CONSERVATION AREAS IN NEW SOUTH WALES...... 2 2.3 YURAYGIR NATIONAL PARK AND STATE CONSERVATION AREA...... 2 2.3.1 Location and Regional Setting...... 2 2.3.2 Landscape Context...... 3 2.3.3 Importance of the planning area...... 3 3 OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT ......