Mount York Reserve Plan of Management

Blue Mountains City Council

2008

1

Gondwana Consulting i Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

Mount York Reserve Plan of Management

Blue Mountains City Council

June 2008

Gondwana Consulting i Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

ISSUED JUNE 2008

Issued by: Alan Ginns Reviewed by: Andrew Ginns

This Plan of Management for Mount York Reserve was prepared by

Gondwana Consulting Pty Ltd 23 Sydney Road Warriewood Beach, NSW 2102 Tel: 9944 6263 or 9913 3720 Email: [email protected] and Blue Mountains City Council

ii Gondwana Consulting Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Executive Summary ix

1 Introduction 1 1.1 The Vision 1 1.2 Background 1 1.3 Purpose of the Plan of Management 1 1.4 Preparation of the Plan of Management 2 1.5 Structure of this Plan of Management 4 1.6 Research Methods and Community Consultation 4

2 Description of Mount York Reserve 9 2.1 Site Location and Description 9 2.2 History 14 2.3 Natural Environment 48 2.4 Existing Uses of Mount York Reserve 61

3 Legislation and Policy 83 3.1 Legislative Requirements 83 3.2 Environmental Planning Controls 87 3.3 Blue Mountains City Council Management Plan 93 3.4 Blue Mountains City Council’s 25-Year Strategy 94 3.5 Blue Mountains City Council Access and Equity Policy 95 3.6 Blue Mountains Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2005 – 2015 95

4 Basis for Management 99 4.1 Protection of Aboriginal Values 99 4.2 Protection of Non-Aboriginal Heritage Values 100 4.3 Visual and Residential Amenity 106 4.4 Recreational Use 107 4.5 Bushland Management 124 4.6 Fire Management 127 4.7 Reserve Administration 128

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5 Land Categorisation and Master Plans 131 5.1 Land Categorisation 131 5.2 Mount York Reserve Land Categorisation 131 5.3 Master Plans 137

6 Action Plan 147

References 185

Appendices

Appendix 1 – Floristic List for Mount York Reserve 187 Appendix 2 – Proposed Soil Conservation, Erosion Control and Drainage Works to be Undertaken Along the Four Historic Roads 193 Appendix 3 – Extract from Council’s Recreation Opportunity Spectrum 201

List of Tables

Table 1 – Summary of Major Management Actions xii Table 2 – Crown Land to Which the Mount York Reserve Plan of Management Applies 12 Table 3 – Type of Significance of Heritage Items in Mount York Reserve 47 Table 4 – Listed Heritage Items in Mount York Reserve 47 Table 5 – Rare, Threatened and Significant Plants of the Mount York Area 54 Table 6 – Threatened Species and Species of Conservation Concern Associated with Major Habitat Types of Mount York Reserve 56 Table 7 – Current Zoning of Mount York Reserve 88 Table 8 – Key Master Plan Elements for the Mount York Day Use Area, Barden’s Lookout, Lawson’s Long Alley and Berghofer’s Pass Trackhead, and Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead 110

List of Figures

Figure 1 – Land Management Under the Crown Lands Act 1989 2 Figure 2 – Location Plan 10 Figure 3 – Mount York Reserve 11 Figure 4 – Location of Historic Roads Within Mount York Reserve 20 Figure 5 – Cox’s Road, South-western Section 25 Figure 6 – Lawson’s Long Alley, Southern Section 30 iv Gondwana Consulting Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

Figure 7 – Lockyer’s Line of Road, Northern Section 35 Figure 8 – Berghofer’s Pass 40 Figure 9 – Location Plan (Approximate Only) of Monuments and Plaques at Mount York 44 Figure 10 – Vegetation Communities of Mount York Reserve 50 Figure 11 – Mount York and Barden’s Lookout Day Use Areas 62 Figure 12 – Cliff Recreation Sites, Mount York to Barden’s Lookout 66 Figure 13 – Mount York to Barden’s Lookout Proposed Loop Track, and Possible Future Camping Area Location 113 Figure 14 – Land Categorisation, Entire Mount York Reserve 132 Figure 15 – Land Categorisation, Mount York Precinct 133 Figure 16 – Mount York Day Use Area - Master Plan 139 Figure 17 – Mount York - Master Plan, Possible Cliff-top Treatments 140 Figure 18 – Mount York - Master Plan, Possible Cliff-bottom Treatments 141 Figure 19 – Mount York - Possible Future Camping Area Location 142 Figure 20 – Barden’s Lookout - Master Plan 142 Figure 21 – Lawson’s Long Alley and Berghofer’s Pass Trackhead - Master Plan 144 Figure 22 – Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead - Master Plan 145

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vi Gondwana Consulting Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

Foreword

This Plan of Management has been prepared by Gondwana Consulting Pty Ltd for Blue Mountains City Council and resolves the need to balance the protection of heritage and environmental values against the increasing demand for recreational use of the Mount York Reserve. This Plan of management has been prepared to comply with relevant legislation such as the Crown Lands Act 1989 and to protect and enhance the community, natural and cultural values associated with the Reserve.

The Plan of Management incorporates twenty eight parcels of reserved Crown Land. These parcels include areas reserved for a variety of purposes including public recreation, future public requirements, Crown road reserves, soil conservation, access and a quarry. In writing this Plan of Management, all these parcels of land are collectively referred to as “Mount York Reserve” or more simply the “Reserve”. These parcels, and hence the Reserve, are situated across the junction of the Blue Mountains City Council and City of Lithgow Council local government areas.

Mount York was named by Governor Macquarie in 1815 in honour of Frederick Duke of York, commander-in-chief of the British Army at the time.

The Plan of Management has been completed with funds provided by Blue Mountains City Council, grant funding from the Department of Lands and a Metropolitan Greenspace Grant from the Department of Planning. It is the first stage of a planning process that will see a plan of management in place for all the public lands of the western escarpment of the Blue Mountains.

Blue Mountains City Council would like to acknowledge the Department of Lands, City of Lithgow Council and those community members who participated in the process of preparing this Plan of Management.

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Executive Summary

Mount York Reserve comprises of twenty eight parcels of reserved Crown Land. It contains heritage values of State significance and significant natural values, including habitat for threatened species. The Reserve is also very popular recreationally, especially for appreciation of its heritage values and cliff recreation activities. The issues affecting the management of Mount York Reserve are multidimensional and overlapping. This plan of management seeks to preserve current uses of Mount York Reserve and allow improvements to facilities taking into account the heritage and natural values of the area.

The key issue for the planning and development of Mount York Reserve is to balance the protection of heritage and natural values with ongoing and increasing demand for recreational use.

Plan of Management and Master Plans

The Plan of Management, and accompanying Master Plans, has been prepared to:

• Guide current and future management of Mount York Reserve. • Provide for the ongoing protection and management of the heritage values of Mount York Reserve that are associated with the non-Aboriginal exploration of the Blue Mountains and are unique in Australia. • Guide the ongoing sustainable recreation use of Mount York Reserve and the conservation of its natural and cultural heritage. • Reflect community and major stakeholders' needs and expectations. • Ensure Mount York Reserve plays a role in improving the quality of life of the local community, Blue Mountains community and the people of New South Wales.

The Process

Preparation of this Plan of Management included extensive research and public consultation, including the following:

• Reviewing background files/studies and consultation with Council staff. • Reviewing background files/studies and consultation with Department of Lands staff. • Undertaking a limited flora survey effort, habitat modelling, a heritage assessment and an assessment of existing visitor use. • Consulting with other agencies including the Department of Environment and Climate Change (National Parks and Wildlife Service, RTA and Rural Fire Service. • General community consultation carried out throughout the process of preparing the Draft and Final versions of the Plan of Management centred on three community meetings and meetings or discussions with a number of stakeholder representatives.

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Summary of Issues

The process summarised above served to highlight a range of issues raised for consideration in the plan of management. A summary of the issues is given below.

Aboriginal Values • No Aboriginal sites have been recorded within the Reserve. • There is significant potential for uncovering sites which would contribute to a better understanding of Aboriginal use of the area. • There is a vibrant and active Aboriginal community in the Blue Mountains, including descendants of the Gundungurra and Darug people, whose traditional country incorporates land now within Mount York Reserve.

Non - Aboriginal Heritage Values • Cultural heritage values of Mount York Reserve are of both Local and State significance. • The heritage curtilage of the Mount York Reserve is defined in the Conservation Management Strategy for the Four Roads and is essentially the boundary of the reserve land parcels. • A Conservation Management Plan has been prepared for Walking Tracks of State Heritage Significance in the Blue Mountains, including those within Mount York Reserve. However, there is no Conservation Management Strategy or Plan for other heritage items within Mount York Reserve, or that considers the total complex of heritage items within the Reserve and their relationship to each other. • Lockyer’s Line of Road is the only historic Road wholly within the Reserve. The other three roads are located with Crown Road Reserve • At Mount York Day Use Area, the monuments have been assessed as significant both independently and through their relationships with each other. • The heritage values of the Reserve are part of its attraction for visitors and continue to contribute significantly to the experience of the place by users. • Inappropriate visitor use of the site is causing unacceptable impacts on heritage values. • Ongoing visitor use of Mount York Reserve requires the development of management strategies which allow activities to be undertaken in a way that minimises the impact on the heritage significance of the place.

Visual and Residential Amenity • Mount York Reserve contributes to the quiet bushland character of Mount Victoria township, particularly for residences located in neighbouring streets, or that are near neighbours. • There is resident concern that any increased provision of facilities and resultant increase in visitors to the Reserve will degrade the quiet bushland character of Mount Victoria township. • The altitude of the Mount York ridgeline and associated escarpments, and their relief from the adjoining Hartley Vale area make them highly visible natural features. • The view from Mount York to the northwest and west over the Hartley Valley is regarded as symbolic of the “opening of the interior” that resulted from the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans.

Recreational Use • Mount York Reserve contains a number of nodes via which the vast majority of visitors access the site. Complementing these nodes are a number of dispersed x Gondwana Consulting Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

uses, primarily associated with the shared tracks (usually located on historic roads) and areas suitable for cliff recreation. • The local Mount Victoria community has expressed a desire for the Reserve to continue to be managed as a largely undeveloped natural area with visitor numbers comparable to the present day. • A degree of development is necessary at the key visitor nodes to ensure environmental impacts are minimised and the visitor experience meets community expectations. • Over the past 20 years or more a range of visitor facilities have been provided at each of the key visitor destinations in the Reserve. The facilities have not always been maintained regularly and some are no longer functional. • Poorly maintained visitor destinations can lead to reduced visitor satisfaction and also result in environmental impacts through uncontrolled visitor use patterns. • The Reserve includes four shared use tracks that follow the alignment of the historic roads, are interconnected and provide visitors with the opportunity to undertake three loop walks, or mountain biking or horse riding circuits. • Each of these loops is of approximately the same length and duration (11-13 kilometres and 4-5 hours), offering limited opportunities for visitors who may not have the time or fitness to undertake the whole route. • The Shady Side area is receiving very high climbing use, very high commercial and other group use. There has been a marked increase in recent years in the use of the area by large groups, such as TAFE. • The Sunny Side area is subject to severe cliff top, cliff base and on-cliff impacts. These impacts include soil erosion, soil compaction, total removal of ground cover and shrub storey vegetation, installation of bolts and other material on the cliff face. • It is recognised that the installation of rock bolts is necessary for the maintenance of a range of climbing opportunities in the Reserve. There is a need to control the proliferation of recreational bolts in the Reserve and to remove those that have an unacceptable impact or which are no longer required. • The gradients and alignment of the historic roads are generally suitable for mountain bike and horse riding. • There is potential for collision between mountain bike riders and walkers or horse riders, although there have been few recorded incidences of such collisions or conflicts. • A number of recreation activities are causing unacceptable impacts on the historic roads. • There is informal camping occurring at a number of locations, most notably at Mount York Day Use Area. Camping is at present largely unregulated and no formal fire places or other facilities are provided specifically for camping use. • Mount York ridgeline has few broad level areas suitable for the establishment of a large camping area. • Pre-visit information about the Reserve’s values and recreation opportunities is not readily available. • Interpretive information is limited to small steel signs installed at a number of specific points of heritage interest.

Bushland Management • Limited flora surveys undertaken in Mount York Reserve have not recorded any significant vegetation, Endangered Ecological Communities or Endangered Species listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 in the Reserve. However, it does include habitat known to support threatened species. • Up to 34 flora species of significance have been recorded within 10 kilometres of the Reserve and with further survey effort may be recorded within Mount York Reserve.

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• The vast majority of bushland at Mount York Reserve is in good condition, with little disturbance or weed invasion. • Weeds are restricted to disturbed areas around car parks and along roads and tracks. • Mount York Reserve has not been subject to a detailed fauna survey. However, habitat modelling indicates that it provides suitable habitat for numerous significant animal species, some of which are threatened.

Fire Management • Past fire frequencies do not appear to have been consistent with thresholds for the vegetation communities in the Reserve, which has resulted in the disruption of life cycle processes. • Mount York Reserve is identified in the Blue Mountains Bush Fire Risk Management Plan as being subject to high bushfire risk. • The Reserve adjoins residential areas of St Georges Parade, Mount Victoria and there is the potential for fire within the Reserve to impact upon built assets in these and other areas outside of the Reserve, as well as the limited built structures within the Reserve. • Camping at Mount York does pose a fire risk to surrounding bushland and its location north-west of Mount Victoria township means the site poses significant fire risk to the township.

Reserve Administration • The parcels of land included in this plan of management are a variety Reserved and unreserved Crown land and are not formally gazetted as Mount York Reserve. • There are a variety of managers for the parcels included in this plan of management, including Blue Mountains City Council, the Department of Lands and a private licensee. • Lot 3 DP 82098 is presently licensed, on an annual basis, to an adjoining land owner and business colleague for the purpose of Environmental Protection. • A number of businesses, organisations and individuals are licensed to undertake commercial recreation tours or outdoor recreation educational training in Mount York Reserve. • A number of land parcels are within Lithgow Council Local Government Area.

Summary of Management Actions

Chapter 4 presents the policies and actions that will guide the future management, protection, development and use of Mount York Reserve under this Plan of Management. Chapter 6 presents an Action Plan for the Plan’s implementation, in terms of the key management actions.

Table 1 below presents an over view of this Plan’s key management actions, including the priority and indicative timing identified for each (given in brackets – priority, timing).

Table 1: Key Management Actions (Priority and Indicative Timing)

1. Protection of Aboriginal Heritage Values

1.1 Site Identification and Protection • Investigate funding to undertake a systematic survey of Aboriginal sites (3, medium term)

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• Undertake a systematic Archaeological survey (3, long term) • Formulate policies/actions for the protection and management of any Aboriginal heritage items/sites located within the Reserve (1, ongoing)

2. Management of Non-Aboriginal Heritage Values

2.1 General • Prepare a Site Interpretation Plan for the historic features of Mount York Reserve, with particularly reference to the historic roads (2, short term) • Develop and implement a monitoring program for significant historic places and cultural landscapes (2, ongoing). 2.2 Historic Roads • Undertake a condition survey and assessment of the 4 historic roads (2, short term). • Implement recommend works as outlined in the 2007 Soil Conservation and Drainage Plan for the 4 heritage roads (1, medium term). • Implement recommended conservation works along the summit section of Cox’s Road (1, medium term). • Document and develop Heritage Road Maintenance Plan (2, medium term). • Implement routine maintenance of 4 historic roads (annually to biannually, ongoing). • Carry out vegetation management along the 4 historic roads (2, biannually). 2.3 Historic Monuments • Prepare a Conservation Management Plan for the monuments, and other potential heritage features, in/around the Mount York Day Use Area (2, short term). • Undertake minor maintenance works at The Pavilion (2, short term). • Undertake minor maintenance works at The Obelisk (2, short term). • Investigate feasibility of undertaking minor maintenance works at the Footprints in Time Memorial (2, medium term). • Undertake a safety audit of the Explorers Arch and stabilise as required (1, short term). • Undertake minor maintenance works at the Watsford Memorial (2, short term). • Investigate feasibility of replacing the three missing heads at the Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth Memorial (3, short term).

3. Visual and Residential Amenity

3.1 Views • Ensure visual impacts are minimised in the design and construction of visitor facilities or other infrastructure near the cliff edge (1, ongoing). • Undertake maintenance of native vegetation to maintain historically significant views (2, biannually). 3.2 Residential Amenity • Use the proposed recreational settings for the Reserve to guide the level of facility provision, directly influence visitor numbers, and guide management responses to any future demands for additional visitor facilities (2, ongoing).

4. Recreational Use

4.1 Key Destinations - Mount York Day Use Area • Install cliff top access paths and revegetation areas in the area between Exhibition Wall and Galactic Gully, after liaison with the climbing community (1, short term). • Design and construct a visually unobtrusive safety barrier and signage at the

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popular viewing point west of “The Block” (1, short term). • Formalise the access track to “The Gully” climbing site (1, short term). • Formalise the existing de facto camping area (as a short term camping option) and provide an associated car parking area (2, short term). • Construct path network around the perimeter of the loop/car park, including terraced entry at the head of Cox’s Road (2, medium term). • Remove the existing two pit toilets and provide a hybrid waterless unisex toilet (1, short term). • Construct hard stand treatments at three cliff-base sites, following liaison with the climbing community to determine the preferred locations (3, short term). • Liaise with the climbing community regarding the identification and delineation of approved training areas (no facilities) and training use restrictions (2, short term). • Define the bus parking layby(s) (3, medium term). • Replace and provide additional park furniture (3, medium term). • Modify car park barrier fencing and revegetate/landscape the central area of loop/parking area (3, medium term). • Upgrade existing pathway to The Obelisk (to disabled access standards) and to Eddy Rock Lookout/Monument Gully (2, medium term). • Establish photo monitoring points at selected locations at the Sunny Side cliff top and bottom (ongoing, biannually). 4.2 Key Destinations – Barden’s Lookout • Undertake access control, soil conservation, drainage and revegetation works in degraded roadside area (2, medium term). • Seek funding and subsequently Define/seal short access road and car parking spaces (2, medium term). • Terrace the open lookout area and replace and extend the barrier fencing (2, medium term). • Provide a bus parking bay adjacent to Mount York Road and install linking pathway (3, long term). 4.3 Key Destinations – Lawson’s Long Alley and Berghofer’s Pass Trackhead • Upgrade intersection of Mount York Road and Berghofers Drive (1, medium term). • Formalise and define existing parking area (2, medium term). • Upgrade park furniture and stabilise picnic area (2, medium term). 4.4 Key Destinations – Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead • Seek funding and subsequently define the parallel parking area and upgrade with gravel surface (3, long term). • Widen trackhead and relocate signs, install fencing and gating to restrict vehicle access (3, long term). 4.5 Key Destinations – Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead, Hartley Vale • Prepare Master Plan to guide future management, and implement pending funding (3, long term). 4.6 Key Destinations – Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout • Prepare Master Plan to guide future management and seek funding for implementation (2, medium term). 4.7 Shared Use Tracks and Walking Track Network • Prepare a Walking/Shared Track Management Plan covering each existing walking or shared use track (2, medium term). • Seek funding and subsequently implement the Walking/Shared Track Management Plan (3, ongoing). • Undertake detailed planning and design of a “moderate” standard walking track at the cliff base from Cox’s Road at Mount York Day Use Area to Barden’s Lookout xiv Gondwana Consulting Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

(3, medium term). • Seek funding and subsequently construct the new cliff base walking track and other cliff base access tracks (3, long term). • Seek funding and subsequently develop Berghofer’s Pass as an “easy” standard short, one-way return interpretive walk (2, medium term). • Improve on-site orientation information at trackheads (1, short term). 4.8 Cliff Recreation • Promote the funding and preparation of an inter-agency Blue Mountains Cliff Recreation Strategy (2, short term). • Liaise with the climbing community regarding alternatives to strapping to trees between Galactic Gully and Echo Gully (1, short term). • Actively encourage and support the establishment of Cliffcare/Trackcare (2, ongoing). • Undertake regular monitoring of the heritage experience of visitors to the Sunny Side cliff top and Mount York Day Use Area (2, annually). • Apply photo monitoring points at a selection of Sunny Side and Shady Side cliff top/cliff base sites, and take impact remediation as necessary (1, short term). • Liaise with cliff recreation community to promote the exclusion of new bolts at both Sunny and Shady Side and encourage replacement of existing bolts only (2, ongoing). • Develop and promote a Blue Mountains Cliff Recreation Code, in conjunction with the cliff recreation community (1, short term). 4.9 Mountain Bike Riding and Horse Riding • Identify tracks where mountain bike and horse riding are not permitted in orientation information and on-site (1, short term). • Assess the need to Provide signs, at strategic locations as required, to reinforce shared use nature of tracks and the need to exercise caution (1, short term). • Pursue an adaptive management approach to addressing the impacts of mountain bike riding and horse riding (1, ongoing). • Implement an active programme of shared track monitoring (2, ongoing). • Promote the Horse Riding Minimal Impact Code (Australian Alps) (2, ongoing). • Promote the International Mountain Bike Association’s “rules of trail” (2, ongoing). 4.10 Camping • Formalise the short-term camping site and associated parking area (1, short term). • Seek funding, prepare a Master Plan, undertake pre-development assessments (as required), and construct the proposed camping area opposite Barden’s Lookout (3, long term). 4.11 Information and Education • Provide visitor safety signs near cliff edges at Mount York Day Use Area and Barden’s Lookout (1, short term). • Develop information and interpretive material (2, short term). • Liaise with NPWS, Blue Mountains Tourism and other organisations that provide information to visitors (2, short term). 4.12 Commercial Operations • Review licences and implement public notification process (1, annually). • Monitor licensed operator activities and maintain regular liaison (1, annually).

5. Bushland Management

5.1 Flora • Prepare a regeneration and revegetation program for the Reserve, focussing on disturbed areas (1, 2007-08).

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• Implement regeneration and revegetation program (1, ongoing). • Remove dumped rubbish as soon as possible after its detection (1, ongoing). • Remove seedlings of introduced pines at Mount York Day Use Area (1, ongoing). • Include neighbouring residences in the distribution of Council bushland management promotional material (2, ongoing). • Include bushland restoration and protection measures in provision of new or upgraded facilities (1, as needed). • Implement inspection programme for significant tree at Mount York Day Use Area, and identify and address trees causing danger to site users (1, biannually).

6. Fire Management

6.1 Asset Protection • Identify and maintain an Asset Protection Zone for residences in St Georges Parade (1, ongoing). • Identify and maintain Asset Protection Zones around relevant significant park infrastructure (1, ongoing). • Provide Total Fire Ban signs at major visitor nodes (1, 2007-08). • Identify evacuation collection points at Mount York Day Use Area and Barden’s Lookout and provide emergency telephone numbers (1, 2007-08). • Promote appropriate campfire practices (1, 2007-07 and ongoing). • Ensure that respective Councils and Bushfire Management Committees liaise closely to ensure a co-ordinated approach to fire management (1, ongoing). 6.2 Ecologically Sustainable Fire Management Practices • Develop a regime of ecologically sustainable prescribed burning (2, 2007-08). 6.3 Emergency Vehicle Access • Ensure emergency vehicular access to the Reserve, including the provision of appropriate gates and locking systems (dual locks) on trafficable parts of the historic roads (1, 2007-08).

7. Reserve Administration

7.1 Reserve Gazettal • Formally gazette all those parcels of land included in this Plan of Management as Mount York Reserve (1, 2007-08). • Reserve for “Heritage Purposes” those parcels of land containing areas categorised as Cultural Significance (1, 2007-08). • Reserve all other land parcels for “Public Recreation” and “Environmental Protection” (1, 2007-08). 7.2 Trust Management • Install Blue Mountains City Council as Reserve Trust Manager for Mount York Reserve, when gazetted (1, when gazetted). • Prepare annual report for the Lands Minister (1, annually). 7.3 Licences • Review the existing licence over Lot 3 DP 92098 and renew if appropriate (1, annually). • Monitor licensed activities in the Reserve and regulate such activities as appropriate (1, ongoing).

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Council Adopted Resolution

The recommended resolution put to The Council at the Ordinary meeting on Tuesday on 24 June 2008 was:

1. That the Council receive the public submission on the Draft Plan of Management

2. That the Council adopt the Plan of Management for Mount York Reserve in accordance with the provisions of the NSW Crown Lands Act 1989, and use it to guide the management and development of Mount York Reserve.

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1 Introduction

This chapter introduces the Mount York Reserve Plan of Management document, its purpose, how it was prepared and its structure.

1.1 The Vision

Mount York Reserve is a regionally important bushland open space area and will be managed to protect its unique heritage values and significant natural values while providing sustainable nature based public recreation opportunities to the Blue Mountains, Australian and international community.

1.2 Background

Mount York Reserve is situated to the north-west of the township of Mount Victoria on the western escarpment of the Blue Mountains. It is a major recreation resource for the communities of Mount Victoria and Hartley Vale, with a citywide focus and provides a wide range of nature based recreation activities. This plan of management aims to maintain a balance between the protection of the Reserve’s heritage and natural values and the ongoing recreational use of the area for a diversity of nature based activities.

A Reserve Trust has care, control and management of some of the Crown land parcels in the Reserve. Blue Mountains City Council manages the affairs of the Trust.

1.3 Purpose of the Plan of Management

Council has been appointed to manage the affairs of the Mount York Reserve Trust. As trust manager, Council’s aims for this Plan are to: • provide a framework for the effective and sustainable management and use of the natural and cultural heritage of Mount York Reserve, in accordance with the Crown Lands Act 1989; • reflect community values and aspirations for the land consistent with Blue Mountains City Council’s City Strategy – 25 Year Vision; • protect and enhance the significant natural and cultural heritage of Mount York Reserve; • provide for a range of recreational uses in a manner that does not significantly impact the natural and cultural values of the Reserve; and • provide a strategy for any future maintenance, capital works and provision of appropriate infrastructure.

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1.4 Preparation of the Plan of Management

Mount York Reserve comprises of twenty eight parcels of reseved Crown Land, and six Crown road reserves (refer Table 2). The plan of management covers Crown Land that is managed by the Department of Lands and one parcel of Crown land that is licensed by the Department of Lands to a number of individuals. The management direction and actions of the plan of management will not apply to the licensed land unless and until the licensed land is vested with the Reserve Trust or the Department of Lands. The affected parcels are included in the plan of management because they are considered integral with the rest of the Reserve and its values, and have been proposed by the State Government to be managed by Council in the future. Although the Reserve contains no Community Land (land that is owned by Council) it is Council’s intention that the Plan categorise the land consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993. This is to enable the management of the land to be consistent with the management of other Council managed public land in the Blue Mountains. The basic steps in land management under the Crown Lands Act 1989 are detailed below:

Figure 1: Land Management Under the Crown Lands Act 1989

Crown Lands Act 1989

Objects & Principles Organisation

Land assessment Identification

Land for sale, Reservation / lease or license dedication Status

Public purpose Use

Plans of Management

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The requirements of the Crown Land Act 1989 are summarised below:

Crown Lands Act 1989

Section 10 details the Objects of the Act, being to ensure that Crown Land is managed for the benefit of the people of New South Wales. The Department of Lands’ management philosophy directly relates to the principles of Crown Land Management which are outlined in section 11 of the Crown Lands Act 1989. These principles are: • that environmental protection principles be observed in relation to the management and administration of Crown Land; • that natural resources (including water, soil, flora, fauna and scenic quality) be conserved wherever possible; • that public use and enjoyment be encouraged; • that, where appropriate, multiple use of the land be encouraged; • that, where appropriate, land should be used and managed in such a way that both the land and its resources are sustained in perpetuity; and • that Crown Land be occupied, used, sold, leased, licensed or otherwise dealt with in the best interest of the state consistent with the above principles. Section 87 provides that the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, reserve any Crown Land from sale, lease or licence or for future public requirements or other public purpose. Section 92-95 provides for the establishment and naming of a reserve trust and its appointment as trustee of any one or more specified reserves or any one or more parts of a reserve. The reserve trust is charged with the care, control and management of the reserve(s) of which it is appointed trustee. The Minister may appoint a Council to manage the affairs of a reserve trust. A Council may not be appointed to manage a reserve trust if the reserve is wholly or partly within the area of another Council, except with the consent of the other Council. Section 102 details the process to be followed in regard to the sale or granting of a lease or license relating to all or part of a reserve. The intention to grant a lease over part or all of a reserve for a term of greater than 5 years (including options) must first be notified in a local newspaper. Section 106 provides that the Minister may direct how the proceeds of a lease, license or sale of all or part of a reserve shall be utilised. In the absence of such Ministerial direction the proceeds may be used for the general purposes of the reserve trust. Section 108 allows for a reserve trust to issue temporary licenses for grazing or any other prescribed purpose over the whole or part of a reserve. Section 112 to 116 details the preparation, referral, adoption and alteration of plans of management. Section 113 includes: • A Plan may be referred to any person for consideration; and • Copy of the draft Plan shall be placed on public display for not less than 28 days. Section 122 provides that a reserve trust furnish reports to the Minister at such times, concerning such matters, and specifying such information, as may be prescribed by the regulations (see Clause 33 of the Crown Lands Regulation 2000 as outlined below) or as may be required by the Minister by notice in writing to the reserve trust.

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Crown Lands Regulation 2000

Clause 32 outlines the purposes for which temporary licences can be issued. Clause 33 requires that the reserve trust must provide a report to the Minister for Lands each year which includes details of income, expenditure, assets, liabilities, improvements, leases and licences granted or in force, uses made of the reserve and any matters of pecuniary interest. Clause 35 states the requirements for notification and public comment on draft plans of management: • The Minister is required to cause notice of a plan of management to be published in: a) the Gazette; and b) a newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land concerned is situated or in a newspaper circulating generally in the State.

1.5 Structure of this Plan of Management

The plan of management is structured into six chapters. • Chapter 1 introduces the document; • Chapter 2 gives a description of the reserve outlining natural, cultural and recreational values and infrastructure; • Chapter 3 outlines the legislation and policies that give direction to the plan of management such as Council’s strategic documents, the Crown Lands Act 1989, Local Government Act 1993 and details the need to categorise land within the Reserve; • Chapter 4 examines the range of issues affecting the use and management of Mount York Reserve and provides the management direction for addressing them and any future issues; • Chapter 5 contains the Master Plans and land categorisation of Mount York Reserve, which indicates the physical distribution of management actions across the Reserve; and • Chapter 6 is the Action Plan for implementing the plan of management and indicating how performance will be measured.

1.6 Research Methods and Community Consultation

Community consultation plays an important role in the formulation of any plan of management. It provides Council with a sound understanding of the relevant issues from people who are familiar with and use the site in question.

The project to date has included extensive research and public consultation, including the following; • Reviewing background files/studies and consultation with Council staff. • Reviewing background files/studies and consultation with Department of Lands staff. • Undertaking a limited flora survey effort, habitat modelling, a heritage assessment and an assessment of existing visitor use.

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• Consulting with other agencies including the Department of Environment and Climate Change (National Parks and Wildlife Service), RTA and Rural Fire Service. • General community consultation carried out throughout the process of preparing of the Draft Plan of Management centred on two community meetings. • The first community meeting sought community input on values of the Reserve and management issues. The purpose and details of the meeting were promoted by the following means: - a letter was forwarded to 144 nearby residents and neighbours in Mount Victoria (within the Blue Mountains City Council area); - an email or letter was forwarded to 29 cultural heritage interest groups; - an email or letter was forwarded to 34 recreation and conservation interest groups; - an email was forwarded to each of the 11 commercial operators who are licensed to use the Reserve; - an article was included in Blue Mountains Tourism’s newsletter to 319 members; - an advertisement appeared in Council’s News and Public Information column in “The Blue Mountains Gazette ” on 12 and 19 April 2006; - an advertisement appeared in “The Lithgow Mercury” on 8, 11, 13, 15 and 18 April, 2006; - an A3 poster promoting the community meeting was distributed by Blue Mountains City Council at selected local community nodes (such as the local hotel and shops) as well as on-site; and - the weekly newsletter of Mount Victoria Public School carried an item promoting the community meeting. • The meeting was held from 7-9.30 pm on Wednesday 19 April 2006 at Mount Victoria Public School. The weather was favourable and did not serve as a deterrent for intending participants. Forty two people attended the evening and a further 26 were unable to attend but indicated a desire to be kept informed about the project. A diversity of views were represented at the meeting and a corresponding range of values, management issues and ideas for future management actions were put forward. • The second public meeting sought community comment on a number of Draft Master Plans prepared for each of Mount York, Barden’s Lookout, Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead and the combined Lawson’s Long Alley/Berghofer’s Pass Trackhead. The purpose and details of the meeting were promoted by the following means: - email or letter to those people who attended the initial public meeting; and - email or letter to those people who were informed of the initial meeting and, although unable to attend, indicated their interest in being kept informed of future opportunities for involvement in the process. • The second meeting was held from 7-9.30 pm on Wednesday 7 June 2006 at Mount Victoria Public School. The weather was favourable and did not serve as a deterrent for intending participants. Forty people attended the evening and a further 62 were unable to attend but indicated a desire to be kept informed about the project. A number of comments were provided at the meeting. Fourteen written submissions, using a submission form provided on the evening, were received after the meeting. The submissions provided comment on the Draft Master Plans. The comments were considered in preparing the revised Master Plans which appear in this Plan of Management.

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A preliminary draft of this plan of management was prepared during late 2006 and revised during early 2007. The plan’s preparation was then placed on hold while Council prepared a Conservation Management Strategy for the Reserve’s 4 historic roads, to contribute to the plan of management process as well as to provide important information and direction for the management of these major heritage features. This Strategy, and supporting studies, were completed in October 2007.

The preliminary draft plan of management was revised in December 2007 to incorporate the key findings and recommendations of the Conservation Management Strategy, and a Draft Plan of Management for Mount York Reserve was subsequently prepared in February 2008.

The Draft Plan of Management was exhibited for public comment and review under the provisions of both the Local Government Act and the Crown Lands Act. Blue Mountains City Council had primary carriage of the Draft Plan’s exhibition.

Blue Mountains City Council placed the Draft Plan on exhibition from 25 February to 4 April 2008. Copies of the Draft Plan were available for inspection at: • Council Libraries; • Katoomba and Springwood Council offices (business hours); • Council’s website; and • The Imperial Hotel, Mt Victoria.

The Draft Plan’s exhibition, and public meeting, was advertised in The Blue Mountains Gazette. The City of Lithgow Council also notified effected landholders, within the Lithgow Local Government Area, of the Draft Plan’s exhibition for public comment. Posters advising of the Draft Plan’s exhibition, availability and public meeting were placed on-site at the reserve, as well as other sites in Mt Victoria and the Blue Mountains. Known stakeholders, including those who had contributed to the Draft Plan’s preparation, were also directly notified - by letter, e-mail or telephone - of the Draft Plan’s exhibition for comment and review. Face-to-face, telephone and e-mail conversations were held with several stakeholders during the exhibition period and immediately afterwards to seek input on the Draft plan and/or elaborate submissions.

A public meeting regarding the Draft Plan was held on Wednesday 19th March 2008, at Mount Victoria Public School. This meeting was attended by 14 people, and lasted approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. Key points raised and comments offered by attendees were noted for consideration in revision of the Draft Plan.

The Draft Plan’s public exhibition under the Crown Lands Act was notified in the Government Gazette on 14 March 2008. The Department of Lands exhibited the Draft Plan for 28 days from 14 March to 11 April 2008.

Written comments on the Draft Plan, under both exhibition processes, were received by Blue Mountains City Council by post, hand delivery, facsimile and e-mail. A Submission Feedback Form was also prepared, and made available on-line and at various outlets where the Draft Plan was exhibited, to assist community members in making submissions - if they wished to use it.

A total of 15 submissions were received – 7 were lodged by the due date of 4 April 2008, and a further 8 submissions were also accepted after this time by prior arrangement with Blue Mountains City Council. Submissions were received in the

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following formats – 9 letters, 3 e-mail submissions, and 3 completed submission feedback forms.

Submission were received from: • 6 individuals – 3 from Mt Victoria residents, 1 from elsewhere in the Blue Mountains/Lithgow area, 1 from the Sydney metropolitan area, and 1 location not- stated; • 4 user groups (recreation and commercial recreation/education) – 3 from the Blue Mountains/Lithgow area, and 1 from the Sydney metropolitan area; • interest groups – 1 from the Blue Mountains area (history group) and 1 from the Sydney metropolitan area (conservation group); and • 3 agencies – all from the Blue Mountains/Lithgow area (the City of Lithgow Council lodged 2 separate submissions).

All submissions received were analysed in detail, on an issues basis, and an “Analysis of Public Submissions Report” prepared for Blue Mountains City Council’s consideration in May 2008. This report included suggested amendments to the Draft Plan of Management in response to each issue raised. Council subsequently provided feedback and direction on the required amendments and additions to the Draft Plan.

This final Plan of Management for Mount York Reserve was prepared in June 2008.

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2 Description of Mount York Reserve

This chapter provides a description of Mount York Reserve and its natural, cultural and recreational values.

2.1 Site Location and Description

Mount York Reserve has a total area of approximately 653 hectares and is comprised entirely of reserved Crown Land. The parcels are reserved for a range of public purposes under the Crown Lands Act 1989 as indicated in Table 2 – including public recreation, future public requirements, Crown road reserves, soil conservation, access and a quarry.

Mount York Reserve is located in the western Blue Mountains, New South Wales and encompasses a portion of the western escarpment of the Blue Mountains and nearby slopes and gullies.

The Reserve is situated across the junction of the Blue Mountains City Council and City of Lithgow Council local government areas. Figure 2 indicates the regional location of Mount York Reserve in relation to the Sydney metropolitan area and the Blue Mountains.

The plateau areas within the Reserve are at an elevation of approximately 1,000 metres with the summit of Mount York being at an elevation of 1,061 metres. The lower western slopes of the study area in the Hartley Vale area are at an elevation of approximately 850 metres.

The long, rather thin plateau ridges terminate in the escarpment. Below the escarpment cliffs, steep talus slopes descend towards the valley floor. Butlers Creek drains the valley between Mount York and Mitchells Ridge. Kerosene Creek drains the valley along which Lawson’s Long Alley passes. Both Butlers and Kerosene Creeks are tributaries of the Lett River, which flows into the Coxs River at Hartley.

Mount York Reserve is primarily a natural area interspersed with a number of maintained roads (Mount York Road and the Great Western Highway) and historic roads (which also serve as shared use tracks).

The Reserve includes a number of recreational nodes such as Mount York Day Use Area, Barden’s Lookout and Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout where limited visitor facilities are located. These nodes are the key sites that the vast majority of visitors to the Reserve access to enjoy the recreational opportunities that the Reserve offers. Some of these sites serve as trackheads from which visitors access the numerous shared tracks in the Reserve.

Beyond these roads, shared use tracks and visitor nodes the remainder of the Reserve is dominated by natural bushland.

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Figure 2: Location Plan (Base plan source: Universal Business Directories)

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Figure 3: Mount York Reserve

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2.1.1 Lands to Which the Plan of Management Applies

This plan of management has been written to guide the management of the more than thirty parcels of land known as Mount York Reserve, as shown in the preceding Figure 3. It includes: • Reserved Crown Land managed by Council through a number of Reserve Trusts. • Reserved Crown land managed directly by the Department of Lands. • Crown land under license.

This plan also applies to several Crown road reserves, located within the Reserve or connected to it, along which several sections of the four historic roads are located.

Table 2: Crown Land to Which the Mount York Reserve Plan of Management Applies (Refer to Table 7 for the current land use zones that apply to Mount York Reserve)

Reserve Public Location Parcels Area Manager LGA Name and Purpose (ha) Number Mount York Public Mount York Lot 108 DP 751644 35.18 Mt York Blue Reserve. Recreation Rd. Lot 188 DP 751644 62.48 Reserve Mountains Trust - R52033 Lot 7015 DP 1028438 11.44 Blue Mountains Council appointed to manage reserve trust R1011448 Future Public West of Lot Unsurveyed Crown land 31.64 Dept of Blue Requirements 108 DP Lands Mountains 751644 Crown Road Road Reserve North of Lot Road Reserve (part 2.38 Dept of Lithgow Reserve 7015 Cox’s Rd) Lands DP1028438 Western Public South of Lot 1, DP 2941 ?? Dept of Lithgow Escarpment, Recreation Lot 108, DP Lot 2, DP 2941 Lands ?? Lithgow 751644 Pt B, DP 438013 LGA. R52033 Western Public South of Lot 99 DP 751644 115.30 Mt York Lithgow Escarpment, Recreation Lot 3 DP Reserve Lithgow 82098 Trust - LGA. Blue R52033 Mountains Council appointed to manage reserve trust Crown Road Road Reserve Inholdings Two Road Reserve 1.4 Dept of Lithgow Reserve of Lot 99 Lands DP 751644

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Reserve Public Location Parcels Area Manager LGA Name and Purpose (ha) Number Western Soil South of Lot 3 DP 82098 213.54 Dept of Lithgow Escarpment, Conservation Hartley Lands and Lithgow (R84969) and Vale Licensee LGA. Future Public R84969 and Requirements R95036 (R95036) R93921 Access North west Lot 370 DP 41332 1.3 Dept of Lithgow and Lands adjoining Lot 3 DP 820928 Crown and Road Reserve Divides the Road Reserve (Part 0.9 Dept of Lithgow Council north west Cox’s Rd Lands Road corner of (part) and Reserve Lot 3 DP City of 820928 Lithgow Council (part) R1011448 Future Public 21 Benson Unsurveyed Crown land 20.27 Dept of Blue Requirements Rd. Lands Mountains West of Lot 365 DP 751644 R1011448 Future Public East of Lot 365 DP 751644 33.09 Dept of Blue Requirements Unreserved Lands Mountains Crown land at 21 Benson Rd. Crown Road Road Reserve Inholding of Road Reserve 1.35 Dept of Blue Reserve Lot 365 DP Lands Mountains 751644 85 Mount Future Public 85 Mount Lot 213 DP 751644 6.83 Dept of Blue York Rd. Requirements York Rd. Lands Mountains R1011448 87 Mount Future Public 87 Mount Lot 212 DP 751644 9.30 Dept of Blue York Rd. Requirements York Rd. Lands Mountains R1011448 89 Mount Future Public 89 Mount Lot 330 DP 751644 6.68 Dept of Blue York Rd. Requirements York Rd. Lands Mountains R1011448 Crown Road Road Reserve West of Road Reserve 4.2 Dept of Blue Reserve Lots 193 Lands Mountains and 331, DP 751644 and to northern boundary of Lot 365 DP 751644 Lawson’s Future Public East of 85 Lot 193 DP 751644 30.42 Dept of Blue Long Alley. Requirements Mount York Lot 331 DP 751644 14.96 Lands Mountains R1011448 Rd Berghofer’s Public Between Lot 7023 DP 1059821 19.02 Mt Victoria Blue Pass Recreation Great Lot 7024 DP 1059821 9.10 Public Mountains Western Recreation R52037 Lot 7020 DP 1074350 2.72 Highway Reserve and Mount Trust - York Rd Blue Mountains Council appointed to manage reserve trust.

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Reserve Public Location Parcels Area Manager LGA Name and Purpose (ha) Number Western Public North and Lot 7019 DP 1074350 1.56 Mt Victoria Lithgow Escarpment Recreation south of Lot 7021 DP 1059823 13.99 Public Lithgow Great Recreation Lot 7045 DP 94010 1.27 LGA Western Reserve Unsurveyed Crown land 0.61 R52037 Highway Trust - (generally Blue west of Mountains Berghofer’s Council Pass appointed Reserve) to manage reserve trust. Mitchells Public Southern Lot 208 DP 751 644 3.1 BMCC Blue Ridge Recreation Side of Pt Lot 292 Mountains, Lookout Great Lithgow R53925 Western highway Western Quarry South of Lot 7042 DP 93985 0.31 Dept of Lithgow Escarpment Lot 7019 Lands Lithgow DP LGA 1074350 R1006524 Western Quarry North of Lot Lot 7043 DP 93985 0.19 Dept of Lithgow Escarpment 7019 DP Lands Lithgow 1074350 LGA R1006525

2.2 History

2.2.1 Aboriginal Historical Values

The Blue Mountains region, including Mount York Reserve, is traditionally the land of the Gundungurra and Darug Aboriginal People. It is difficult to be precise regarding the boundaries between lands occupied by these two groups, although it is generally accepted that the Darug occupied the Cumberland Plain and eastern and northern parts of the Blue Mountains while the Gundungurra occupied the southern and western parts (Breckell in Stockton et al, 1993, p114). The Gundungurra would have been the primary occupiers of the area of land now encompassed in Mount York Reserve. It is also possible that Wiradjuri people travelled to and through the area within Mount York Reserve.

The Archaeological Record

Although no comprehensive surveys have been undertaken across the Blue Mountains as a whole, a widespread and diverse sample of Aboriginal sites has been recorded in the Blue Mountains, generally as a result of opportunistic observations or site-specific studies associated with environmental impact studies or similar. Recorded sites include occupation shelters, stone arrangements, axe grinding grooves, rock engravings, cave paintings and open campsites. Of a total of 710 sites known in 1993 (Stockton, p 58) the most frequently recorded types of sites were axe grinding grooves (170), open campsites (159), and sheltered campsites (153).

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A May 2006 search of the Department of Environment and Climate Change’s Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System indicated that no Aboriginal objects or places have been recorded from lands within Mount York Reserve. It should be noted that the system only includes information on objects and places that has been provided to the Department.

It is highly likely that no systematic on-ground survey or recording of Aboriginal objects and places has been undertaken for Mount York Reserve. Given the undeveloped and essentially undisturbed nature of much of Mount York Reserve, and the limited or non- existent archaeological survey effort to date, there is significant potential for uncovering sites which would contribute to a better understanding of Aboriginal use of the area.

Council’s Draft Cultural Strategy (BMCC, 2006, p 48) acknowledges that “Council owns and/or manages many parcels of land including parks, reserves and gardens that have Aboriginal cultural heritage in the form of physical evidence such as campsites and art sites. The Council’s knowledge and understanding of the Aboriginal cultural heritage on land that it manages is patchy, with only some areas being well understood and studied.” Mount York Reserve is a clear example of this situation.

Land Use and Movement Patterns

The distribution of recorded sites provides some insight into traditional Aboriginal land use patterns in the Blue Mountains. Notwithstanding the opportunistic nature of the recording of sites, Stockton (1993, p 58) cautiously concludes that Aboriginal people favoured the ridges and the heads of valleys and made more limited use of the broad valley floors and narrow gorges. Secondary ridge lines played an important role in providing key access routes to the main ridges. Key Gundungurra access routes to the higher altitude areas suggested by Stockton include broad areas encompassing the Megalong Valley, the Bell Ridge and an area north-west of Mount Victoria incorporating the Mount York ridgeline.

Other land use and movement conclusions drawn by Stockton (1993, p 59) include that sheltered campsites appear to be numerous in the higher altitudes (possibly in response to the colder climate of these areas) and that open camp sites are more common in the plains and broad valleys (probably related to the topography precluding sheltered sites) and are less common in the mountain areas. Campsites close to water and with shelter from colder westerly winds seem to have been preferred. In the context of Mount York Reserve, the gullies on the eastern side of the Mount York Ridge and Kerosene Creek to the east of the ridge on which Lockyer’s Line of Road is located, at a broad level, would comply with the suggested position in the landscape of preferred campsites.

Apart from ceremonial activities, resource use and availability was a key determinant in how often and how far people moved around the landscape. Seasonal movements in the Blue Mountains may have involved relocating between high and low altitudes and between rivers and the central plateau and ridges (Merriman, in Stockton 1993, p 104).

The social organisation of Aboriginal people in the Blue Mountains is contended by Merriman (in Stockton, 1993, p 98) to primarily have involved family groups of between 2 and 12 people with several such family groups (with a combined size of around 50 people) utilising a certain area over which they could deny access by other people to food and other resources. A larger grouping, such as the Gundungurra and Darug, may have comprised up to 500 people.

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The size of groups is related to the carrying capacity of the land which itself would have changed throughout the year and also from year to year. It is generally accepted that over the long term populations were maintained at levels that could be supported by available food resources.

The Gundungurra Tribal Council’s website explains that “there is evidence that the Gundungurra people lived in small social or economic groupings probably originally based on local patrilineal totemic groups. These social or economic groups have been called bands, clans or kinship groups which took their name from the particular locality or country to which the group had obligations and responsibilities. These attachments to a particular country or clan estate did not preclude visits to other clan countries, visits to which were negotiated for particular purposes.”

The Gundungurra Tribal Council’s website includes various accounts of the number of clans that comprised the Gundungurra people - ranging from 7 to 14 clan groups. One of the clans is identified with the Middle Coxs River including the Kanimbla, Hartley and Megalong Valleys down to Kowmung River junction. This clan would appear to have incorporated the lands of Mount York Reserve.

Contemporary Associations

Today the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the Blue Mountains is 1.1% of the total population, proportionally less than in the NSW and Australian populations. Higher concentrations of Aboriginal people live in the upper mountains around Katoomba.

In 1995 members of well-known Gundungurra families came together to form the Gundungurra Tribal Council Aboriginal Corporation with the sole purpose “to act as a registered Native Title Body Corporate pursuant to the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993, as amended, on behalf of Gundungurra People.”

The Gundungurra Tribal Council’s website explains that “reminders in the landscape, whether they be scarred or modified trees, axe or spear grinding grooves, rock wells, rock peckings and engravings, hand print stencils, cave paintings, stone arrangements, hearths or camping places, tool manufacturing sites or artefact scatters, they are all highly valued by Gundungurra descendants as these artefacts and sites were created, used and maintained by their Gundungurra ancestors.”

The current “Mapping Country Project” being undertaken by Blue Mountains City Council, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute involves the research and improved documentation of Aboriginal cultural heritage values of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Blue Mountains local government area. The project includes Mount York Reserve.

2.2.2 European Historical Values

To inform the plan of management, a Heritage Report for Mount York Reserve was prepared by B Cubed Sustainability Pty Ltd. The report is not a Conservation Management Plan. Rather, it provides a description of known heritage values of the Reserve (based on existing documentation that was confirmed through on-ground investigation), confirmation of each item’s heritage significance and recommendations

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for appropriate maintenance work until a Conservation Management Plan can be prepared.

It was subsequently acknowledged that a more detailed heritage assessment, conservation and management study was required in relation to the four historic roads within the Reserve - Cox’s Road, Lawson’s Long Alley, Lockyer’s Line of Road and Berghofer’s Pass. Accordingly a Conservation Management Strategy for the four historic roads was prepared during 2007, by Blue Mountains City Council (Conservation Management Strategy for Cox’s Road (Mount York Precinct), Lawson’s Long Alley, Lockyer’s Line of Road and Berghofer’s Pass). This was supported by a structural and geotechnical assessment (Report on Structural and Geotechnical Conservation of Heritage Roads and Mount York, by Worley Parsons 2007) and the identification of possible low-key soil conservation and drainage works (Soil Conservation and Drainage Plan for the Historic Walking Tracks at Mount Victoria and Mount York, Soil Conservation Service, Department of Lands, 2007).

The Conservation Management Strategy provides a policy basis to undertake routine and restorative maintenance, manage recreational use, develop site interpretive information and undertake limited conservation works. Major restorative works - such as reconstruction of retaining walls, bridges and railings - are not addressed under the strategy. It includes a history and thematic analysis of the roads undertaken by S Rosen from Heritage Assessment and History, the structural and geotechnical aspects of the roads’ conversation, and a recommended low-key works programme and costings for each road from the soil conservation and drainage plan.

The Conservation Management Strategy is not intended to be developed into a Conservation Management Plan at some future date, but rather it recommends that future conservation planning work be directed into the preparation of a Maintenance Plan and Interpretation Plan for the historic roads.

The following sections, and the historical information presented elsewhere in this Plan of Management, are intended to provide an overview or summary of the Reserve’s history and historic heritage values only – particularly in relation to the four historic roads. People seeking more detailed historic information are referred to the 2007 Conservation Management Strategy or the numerous local histories available about the Blue Mountains region.

Historical Context

By 1813 it had become crucial for the development of the European colony that it expand past the coastal plain, west of the Great Dividing Range. The Great Dividing Range had become a hard impenetrable edge to development, with numerous attempts to cross failing. The demand for new agricultural land made the crossing a feat which had to be achieved. To the early explorers, the descent from the ridges of the Blue Mountains to the grazing lands beyond was as difficult as the ascent on the Eastern Escarpment.

The “first crossing” of the Blue Mountains was achieved in 1813 by Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth. The party consisted of the three explorers, four servants, four packhorses and dogs. They traversed the continuous ridge that runs between the Cox and Grose Rivers, from Emu Plains to Mount York. It was Lawson’s skills as a surveyor that enabled the route to be accurately mapped and re- traced by Assistant Surveyor George Evans toward the end of that year. Accompanied by five servants, Evans was able to confirm the route of this successful crossing.

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In July the next year, 1814, Governor Macquarie commissioned William Cox to build a road for passage over the Blue Mountains. The road was to follow this successful route and be suitable for drays and stock “at least 12 feet wide, so as to permit two carts or other wheeled carriages to pass each other with ease”. At Mount York Cox’s Road was the first pathway cut down the western escarpment. Here the road’s initial section remains as a very steep route east/south-east from the summit then winds down an east-facing escarpment or steep slope before turning northwards onto a less sloping terrain (off the Reserve). An alternative route was built to avoid the most precipitous section of the original descent from Mount York. The southern and portions of Cox’s Road including Cox’s Alternative Descent is located within the Reserve. The road’s northern end is within a Crown road reserve within or abutting the Reserve (and included within this plan of management). The central section of this historic road is approximately within a Crown road reserve across private lands, however the road’s actual on-ground alignment most likely strays from this corridor in places.

Sketch showing the different lines of roads descending from the Blue Mountains towards Bathurst.1830 (Colonel Sir T.L. Mitchell, Surveyor-General, Government Printer, Sydney, 1856)

Cox’s Road was to be the first European road over the Blue Mountains, a significant feat of that time. Its purpose was to provide access to the western plains agricultural lands and ensure the security of the convict colony. Unfortunately the majority of Cox’s Road across the mountains was buried or destroyed as the Great Western Highway was modified and upgraded form 1815 onwards.

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Mount York itself was named by Governor Macquarie in 1815 for the Duke of York.

The first known alternative to Cox’s Road was Lawson's Long Alley which was built during 1822 and 1823 and in use from about 1823. It was an attempt to avoid the difficulties presented by the very steep and winding descent from Mount York by following a longer but generally gentler grade, and offering a wider road, grading down the eastern side of a north-south valley some 2 kilometres east of Cox’s Road. Most of the southern half of Lawson’s Long Alley within the Reserve or along a Crown road reserve. The northern half of the road is a public road and cross’s private land before reconnecting to the Crown road at the foot of the escarpment. Numerous private properties are accessed by Lawson’s Long Alley from Hartley Vale.

A second alternative route, Lockyer’s Road, was partially constructed between 1828 and 1829 working from both the bottom and top of an shorter gentler alignment that branched from the base of Cox’s Road to climb the escarpment south towards the head of Lawson’s Long Alley. Lockyer’s Road is the only one of the four historic roads that is located entirely within the Reserve (exclusive of road reserves). This route was never completed and in 1829 Major Mitchell began the alternative route down Victoria Pass, south of the present Reserve, which finally opened in 1832.

Elsewhere in the mountains Archibald Bell had established the Bells Line of Road, following existing Aboriginal pathways. Although considered less hazardous than Cox’s Road its construction was not sufficiently advanced by the time the Victoria Pass route was opened in 1832, and it remained virtually unused until World War Two. Years later, early automobiles found the Victoria Pass route too steep and Berghofer's Pass was constructed from 1907 to 1912. This road, with its longer route and therefore easier grades, was in use between 1912 and 1920. However, with increasing motor power traffic reverted to Victoria Pass, which today remains the main descent off the western escarpment. All of Berghofer’s Pass, with the exception of a 150 metre section immediately south of the Mount York Road, is within the Reserve along a Crown road reserve (which is subject to this plan of management).

Cox’s Road, Lawson’s Long Alley, Lockyer’s Road and Berghofer’s Pass (as well as Victoria Pass and Bell’s Line of Road beyond the Reserve) form a suite of roads that have attempted to tackle the western descent of the Blue Mountains and that as a group are capable of demonstrating important aspects of NSW history. The location of these roads within, and adjacent to, the Reserve is shown on Figure 4.

Each road demonstrates a different response to the challenge of the descent by various transport modes. Each reflects changes in technology and understandings both of the terrain and the possible solutions and responses to it. Cox’s Road, Lawson’s Long Alley, Lockyer’s Line of Road and Victoria Pass are comparable and associated heritage items as surviving convict-built roads in the Mount York Precinct, constructed during the administration of four successive NSW Governors and two Surveyor-Generals. Evidence of the deeds performed by the convict workforce is embedded in the fabric of the road works at Cox’s Road, Lawson’s Long Alley, and Lockyer’s Line of Road (as well as at Victoria Pass and Bell’s Line). Berghofer’s Pass is another comparable item being a fifth alternative descent off the western escarpment, but is not a convict-built road being completed in 1912.

This complex of sites is of exceptional heritage significance in NSW and Australia. They are associated with the historic themes of technology and creative endeavour, transport and communications, convicts, labour, exploration, pastoralism, commerce, government

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Figure 4: Location of Historic Roads Within Mount York Reserve

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government and administration, people, environment. Together they form a significant cultural landscape. A comparable complex of historic roads, in the one vicinity, is not at present known anywhere else in Australia.

The roads, their history and significance must also be considered in reference to this broader landscape setting.

Firstly at the landscape setting encompassing all 6 of the western descents off the Blue Mountains and associated historic places and items - such as stockades and other infrastructure built to accommodate, sustain and control the convict workforce; the inns that were contemporaneously constructed at the foot of both Mt York and Mt Victoria to accommodate road users; and graveyards.

Secondly at the Reserve level, the setting of the four historic roads within the Mount York precinct. The first of many monuments at Mount York, to commemorate the initial European crossing of the Blue Mountains and the feats of the early road builders, was constructed in 1900. Today, the monuments and other structures at Mount York are also regarded as historically significant (the approximate locations of these heritage items at the Mount York day use area are indicated in Figure 9 on page 41).

Thirdly at the individual road level and their curtilage, or immediate surrounds, including the road alignment, earth and rock cuttings, retaining walls, earth embankments, drainage and culverts. It also includes any associated features of the road and its construction such as quarries, workers camps, and graffiti.

Together the Heritage Report for Mount York Reserve and Conservation Management Strategy for the four historic roads contain a detailed discussion of each historic road and monument, describes their present condition, and provides recommendations for appropriate maintenance works and future management.

The physical remains of the historic roads vary greatly in robustness and their ability to remain discernable for the long-term.

Dry stone walling, Lockyer’s Line of Road, Stone wall severely damaged by a land slip, intact after nearly 180 years. lower section of Lockyer’s Line of Road.

Convict-hewn cuttings and gutters are relatively robust, but are vulnerable to vandalism, and well meaning obliteration by signage or roadworks. Culverts and retaining walls made from rough-hewn stone range from being quite robust where well seated, to quite vulnerable when exposed to tree growth (and the excavating effects of tree-fall). The most fragile features are perhaps the earthworks, which form an excellent growth

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opportunity to small and large vegetation, erosion by water, sliding from destabilising water saturation, and reworking by wombats and mound-building insects.

To a greater or lesser extent all four historic routes are subject to the following impacts and threats (as identified by the 2007 structural and geotechnical assessment): • tree growth in earthworks, retaining walls and other features; • impact of bushfires on vegetation and structures; • geological processes including - erosion and other water-driven effects (including increased effects following bushfires), destabilisation of cuttings and fills due to water saturation undermining and destabilisation of rockforms above and below the roadways, earthquakes, and thermal effects causing exfoliation and weathering of rock surfaces; • human activities including vandalism, graffiti, soil displacement due to foot traffic and mountain bikes; and • animal impacts including wombat burrows, ant nests, etc.

A more detailed description of each of the main European heritage features within the Reserve follows (with emphasis on the four historic roads).

2.2.2.1 Historic Routes

Cox’s Road

History

William Cox, a former Captain in the NSW Corps, and a convict workforce of 30 commenced construction of this route, the first road across the Blue Mountains, in 1814. Cox’s Road roughly followed the same alignment as the route of the first crossing of the Mountains by Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson. The road was approximately 12 feet wide in most locations, and extended well over 100 miles. It was built in rapid time (less than 2 years) using axes crowbars, block and tackle, gunpowder, augers and irons. It was formed by blazing trees along the alignment, cutting and clearing and then grubbing stumps as well as by grading and building bridges and culverts where necessary. Cox’s Road typically exhibited features such as cuttings, low stone retaining walls, earthen embankments, drainage works such as gutters and culverts and evidence of early paving. Two types of cuttings are typical for Cox’s work, low stone kerbs and rough, uneven cuts.

The Mount York descent was constructed between 7 November and 15 December 1814. Cox described the descent as “... going down steep between immense large boulders, when it opens with a very steep gully in front, and towards the left it falls off so steep that it is with much difficulty that a person can get down it at all.” The road Cox constructed was “such as a cart can go down empty or with a very light load without a possibility of its being able to return with any sort of load whatever”, it was all that could be Part of Cox’s Pass, around 1819/20, as achieved with the resources available. Cox’s painted by Edward Purcell. diary recording this feat survives, providing (Source: NL: PIC S6475LOC2256) details of the construction process and the difficulties experienced by he and his men.

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Augustus Earle’s View from the summit of Mount York, looking towards the Bathurst Plains, convicts breaking stones, c.1826 gives an impression of the precipitousness of Cox’s descent and the vertigo that was experienced by many then, and which can be experienced today in approaching the descents and in travelling along Cox’s Line. Early travellers also left accounts of the “impossible” descent, such as Mrs Elizabeth Hawkins’ journey in 1822 with her husband, mother and eight children to take up residence in Bathurst. She wrote of gathering the “resolution” required to embark on the descent, something to eat and a “drop” of wine, and of the men cutting down trees to chain behind the drays. In walking down, the route appeared to be “impossible” a task made all the more daunting as Mrs Hawkins and her mother had to carry the youngest child while wearing long dresses which made keeping a footing difficult.

“View from the summit of Mount York, looking towards the Bathurst Plains, convicts breaking stones”, painting by Augustus Earle, around 1826. (Source: National Library of Australia)

The surviving evidence, both physical and documentary, enables the technical achievement of the road’s construction to be appreciated in detail (and in situ) with the working and living conditions of Cox and his convict labourers able to be readily evoked by the place. This work was undertaken before major developments in road building technology, which were emerging in Britain, had been imported into the colony. Within a few years major changes were to have a marked impact on the delineation of lines of road and their characteristic form.

The original road from the summit of Mount York was so steep that an “alternative descent”, extending for approximately 160 metres, was constructed around 1822 to avoid the more precipitous, rocky and jolting sections at the start of the route off the escarpment.

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Remaining Evidence

The section of Cox’s Road at Mount York is considered one of the most intact and significant precincts remaining along the entire 1814 route.

It retains an extensive display of Cox’s methods and approaches, and their results, as well as evidence of later attempts to improve the road. The alignment of the road, including the rock and earth cuttings, earth embankments, stone retaining walls, gutter and culverts as well as some smaller extant areas of paving are all clearly visible today and most remain in a generally good condition. The upper/western section of Cox’s Road, including Cox’s Alternative Descent, is shown on Figure 5.

The initial section of road east/south-east from the clifflines at Mount York is particularly steep, pinched between large sandstone boulders on a twisting and steeply inclined route. The “alternative descent” takes a more southerly route, cut into a steep side- slope in places, to rejoin the original alignment below this initial steep zig-zagging rocky section.

Below this junction, the road crosses a (generally dry) streambed and then continues angling across and down an east-facing escarpment, with gradients of up to 35°, in a large “switchback” alignment with a curving zig-zag towards the base of the slope. Where the hill slope reduces the road turns and changes from a side cut to a surface formation. A Crown road reserve approximates the route of Cox’s Road northwards across the lower terrain from the base of the escarpment, however the road’s actual on- ground alignment most likely strays from this corridor in places, until the northern end of the road again passes through the Reserve’s far north-western section.

The road’s original alignment finally becomes uncertain where it leaves the Reserve in the north to cross into private property.

The upper section of Cox’s Road initially Cutting on Cox’s Alternative Descent, descends steeply through large rock cuttings constructed in response to the steep grades on (the stone steps were added in the 1930s to the upper section of Cox’s Road. accommodate growing tourism interest).

Among the most obvious and striking of the road’s remaining fabric are the large rock cuttings near the start of the descent, approximately 30 metres downslope from where the alternative descent branches off from the main route. The cuttings are easily recognisable and contain pick marks dating from the original construction almost 200

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Figure 5: Cox’s Road, South-western Section

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years ago. Other lower, less well formed or rough and uneven, rock cuttings are evident in this area.

Also obvious on this site are three holes in a atural rock face that lies at a sharp turn in the road. The rectangular sockets are assumed to have held the rails of a short length of post and rail fence that was built to prevent deviation from the road at this point which is adjacent to the cliffline (and possibly to prevent stock from falling over the adjacent cliff). Obvious pick marks remaining on the upper rock cutting at Cox’s Road provide a direct and very visible link to the road’s convict work gangs. Approximately 30 metres below the lower junction of the alternative descent is the site of a land bridge, believed to have comprised a broad stone upper platform, sockets and trenches for timber superstructure and a rock-cut drain. However little evidence of this feature remains easily discernable. Below this the road continues as a cut and fill formation with remnants of retaining stone walls in places, clearly evident today, to the base of the slope. Evidence of road surface materials, sandstone flagging, is present in a number of locations along the road.

An extensive stone cutting below the land bridge site is believed to have been undertaken after the road’s initial construction. Several items of historic graffiti occur along the descent, such as the initials “WRP” which may possibly stand for “Western Roads Party”, but all are believed to post-date the original Post-and-rail fencing sockets on the construction and may date from the 1820s and 1830s. upper rocks cutting at Cox’s Road.

Small areas of original stone flagging remains in scattered locations along Cox’s Road.

Cut and fill formation on Cox’s Road, below the land bridge site.

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Steps have been cut into a section of the road near the summit, opposite the large curved slope cutting. These are likely to have been constructed as part of the development of the area as a tourist attraction in the 1930’s under government work programmes. Minor modifications include the installation of brass plaques directly on 2 significant rocks cutting near the Mount York summit – one attached adjacent to the pick marks in stone, a result of works undertaken to allow passage of Governor Macquarie’s vehicle in 1815. The date of these plaques is not known. Another plaque is located on the section road leading immediately from the Mount York day use area.

More recently sections of the surface of Cox’s Road, approximately 20 metres downslope from the car park at the Mount York day use area, have been subject to “box and fill” work to upgrade the walking track surface. Stone steps have also been established to make the road more useable for walkers. The original alignment of Cox’s road appears to be located 5-10 meters to the west of these improvements, and so they are unlikely to have impacted on the original road. A recent track condition and improvement report to Council recommended further possible track upgrading works in this area in recognition of the section’s high traffic levels and is further detailed in the CMS for the historic roads.

Over grown vegetation and particularly mature Recent upgrading work on the Eucalypts obscure the road’s original route, and upper section of Cox’s Road, prevent visitors gaining an appreciation of its full width immediately downslope of the day use area. and formation, in many places especially on the lower sloping sections. Trees also weaken cuttings and rock walls as well as damaging or disturbing these features and the original road surface when they fall. An area of active soil erosion, approximately 60 metres long, is evident along a section of the road in the middle of the descent.

Current visitor use of Cox’s Road is intense over the first few hundred metres. This section provides access to the popular cliffline and rope-sports area as well as to lookouts and the historic rock cuttings that have come to typify the descent for most short-stay visitors. Below this, visitor use levels decline with much less frequent use by day walkers/bushwalking, mountain biking and occasionally horse riding. Sections of Cox’s Road where a worked sandstone surface remains, such as the initial descent from Mount York, are subject to impacts from mountain bikes and horse riding including incisions into the rock surface, presumably from chain guards, pedals and cogs and horses’ shoes contacting the rock surface. Such impacts significantly degrade the heritage fabric of the site.

Heritage Significance

Cox’s Road is listed on the Register of the National Estate and as a heritage item in the Blue Mountains City Council Local Environmental Plan. It is considered to be of significance at the state level.

The remnants of Cox’s Road (between Faulconbridge and the western descent, and including Mount York collectively have historical significance at the State level as they are the oldest surviving sections of road in their original situation in NSW and are among

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the oldest European artefacts in inland Australia. They are rare physical records of the initial steps made towards the expansion of the colony west of Sydney. Cox’s Road had a high symbolic significance as evidence of the conquest of the Blue Mountains barrier in Governor Macquarie’s time. The surviving sections, such as at Mount York, show the minimalist and hurried construction techniques employed by Cox and provide rare evidence of road engineering styles and standards from the period of Macquarie’s Governorship.

The geography and importance of the Mount York descent makes it unique in heritage Cox’s “Pass”, as sketched by John Lewin in 1815. terms. This is enhanced by the capacity to supplement the in-situ physical remains with the documentary evidence at this site, which is also rare. The vast array of sources, letters, diaries, maps, plans and paintings all contribute to the understanding of the descent, and the wider route’s, associations and attributes.

Cox’s Road also has State significance for its association with the life and work of William Cox, an important person in the early 19th century NSW society. The road alignment also has associations with the explorers Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth, the surveyors George Evans and Cox’s overseer Thomas Hobby. The road also represents the endeavours of the other people - including the convict works gangs - who made, instigated and built the roads, leaving their mark on the road and the associated landscape.

The Mount York precinct has social significance at the State level as one of the most popular outdoor historical tourist attractions in NSW. The evocative road remains in this precinct, which can be studied in their relationship to the relatively unaltered original landscape, attract many bushwalkers, historical tour groups and educational excursions from across the state. Like many of the precincts of Cox’s Road, the Mount York area has technical/research value at the State level for its archaeological potential and for the possibilities offered for the study of materials and road designs used in the early 19th century NSW.

Lawson’s Long Alley

History

The difficulties presented by the precipitous Mount York descent, and the complaints and difficulties this created among travellers, resulted in an alternative route known as Lawson’s Long Alley being constructed by William Lawson between 1822 and 1823. As the Commandant of Bathurst from 1819 to 1824 one of Lawson’s responsibilities was to oversee maintenance of the “Western Road”. He carried out numerous improvements, upgrading and deviations to Cox’s Road. Lawson resurveyed the original 1814-15 road across the mountains, particularly the eastern and western ends, where easier graded descents were required. The western descent of Cox’s Road was too steep and dangerous and consequently Lawson oversaw the construction of a new descent, using a gap to the east of Mount York.

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William Lawson had a team of convicts construct this alternative line running along the western side of a north-south trending valley (now known as Kerosene Creek Valley) some 2 kilometres east of the Cox’s Road descent off Mount York. This route allowed a more gentle descent into the head of the valley. It was constructed much wider than the Cox’s Road descent, up to 9 metres wide in places with large passing bays on the corners, which allowed for drays to pass en-route. The original construction involved the road being “cut into the rocks of the Lawson’s Long Alley was constructed with a road formation of up to 9 metres wide in many places. mountainside while it has been supported by a retaining wall on the declivitous side”, as described by the Blue Mountains Historical Society. Although overall the grade was not considered to be an improvement on Cox’s Road, it provided a quicker and less challenging descent. Despite this, it is not known why Lawson’s Long Alley did not effectively succeed Cox’s Line, and the route was only heavily used for a period of ten years from the early 1820s to mid 1830s when “Mitchells Pass” was established and in use at Mount Victoria.

The road’s northern end curved westward to rejoin with Cox’s Road. Here Collits Inn, the oldest surviving building west of Parramatta, was constructed to service traffic on this alternative route.

“Titania’s Glen” was advertised as an attraction close to and accessed from the southern end of Lawson’s Long Alley from the 1890’s. While its exact location is unknown, this beauty spot remained on tourist maps until the 1960’s.

Lawson’s Long Alley was reopened as a walking track and multiple use route in 1979 and in 1991 the Department of Lands undertook a variety of major drainage and maintenance works, and minor interpretive measures, on the route’s upper/southern section.

Remaining Evidence

Lawson’s Long Alley leads north from the intersection of Berghofer’s Pass and Mount York Road, at a small carpark and day use area, and quickly descends into the Kerosene Creek valley. It then parallels Kerosene Creek along the western slope of the valley grading down onto flatter terrain before rejoining the alignment of the Cox’s Road west of Hartley Vale. The southern section of Lawson’s Long Alley is shown on Figure 6.

Most of the southern half of Lawson’s Long Alley Area of original stone flagged road within the Reserve (in the south) or along a Crown surface remaining on Lawson’s Long Alley. road reserve offset from, but connected to, the main body of the Reserve (refer Figure 3 and 4). However

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Figure 6: Lawson’s Long Alley, Southern Section

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the road’s actual on-ground alignment most likely strays from this narrow corridor in places. After briefly re-entering the Reserve, in a shallow 250 metre curve along its central section, the northern half (or more) of Lawson’s Long Alley is a dirt road, across private land adjacent to the Reserve’s eastern boundary, which is used for vehicular access to private properties. The private tenure of much of this road and the lack of a suitable gate or style to accommodate horses accessing this route are potential constraints to horse riding on Lawson’s Long Alley.

Almost all this route’s obvious heritage materials are located on the southern 1.5 kilometres of the road, the descent from the old Cox’s Road alignment into Kerosene Creek Valley.

The upper or southernmost section of the road has been resurfaced, for approximately 400 metres, with a mixed material containing reddish aggregates and broken bitumen dating from work by Department of Lands in 1991. This has formed a moderately erosion resistant surface. Parts of this section of road (as well as the adjacent parking area) are bordered with cement bags dating from this same time which, although not historically or aesthetically sympathetic, do at present effectively retain the road surface.

The stone retaining walls and cut stone gutters along this section are still evident and largely intact. Below this resurfaced section, the central section, approximately 400 metres long is steeper and the first 200 metre length of road is deeply eroded. Much of the original surface and fill up to 1 metre below the top of the retaining wall level removed. This damage may be a result of natural erosion associated with water or may have been exacerbated by machinery (such are Stone drain, with more recent clearing of a fire trail or roadworks). This first section intrusive elements of cement bags and re-surfacing material evident to of road was originally constructed using cut and fill, right. with a retaining embankment with large roughly placed boulders and fill supporting the lower side of the road. There are sections of isolated dry stone walls, up to 3 metres high in places but it is unclear if this top section has degraded to such an extent that only remnant sections of the walls remains or if it is was built as fill embankment with dry stone walls constructed only in selected sections.

The following 200 metres of road contains excellent examples of dry stone walls in very good condition. A quarry, with evidence of powder blast holes and rock splitting grooves, and a single stone culvert (not functional) also remain on this central section.

The lower 600 metre section of road follows a gentler grade and consists largely of an earthen formation with low earth embankments and table drains on one or both sides of the formation. Small sections of low stone retaining walls occur at the higher southern end, and are also in good condition. Minor areas of stone flagging remain in the road surface in places along this lower section, but are largely covered by silt and vegetation. A creek crossing at the bottom of this section currently has a contemporary timber decked footbridge, but there remains evidence of earlier stone abutment works, presumably part of a timber log girder bridge.

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Dry stone wall on the middle section of Stone culvert (no. 3) on the south section of Lawson’s Long Alley. Lawson’s Long Alley.

The 1991 works by the Department of Lands have introduced a number of intrusive elements into this southern section of road - notably the cement bags, concrete cross drains, surfacing materials and small timber footbridge described above.

The northern section of the road remains as, in part a public or private road and is used as to access private properties along the valley. Much of this 3.5 kilometre section is likely to have been regularly graded and maintained, Earth formation on the lower section of Lawson’s Long Alley. consequently the original fabric will have been substantially modified. The Conservation Management Strategy did not include a detailed assessment of this section.

Heritage Significance

Lawson’s Long Alley is listed on the Register of the National Estate, the NSW State Heritage Inventory and as a heritage item in the Blue Mountains City Council Local Environmental Plan. It is considered to be of significance at the state level.

Lawson’s Long Alley has historical significance at the State level because of its ability to provide evidence of early 19th century convict-era road design and construction techniques. The road’s massive excavations and hundreds of metres of dry stone walls make it one of the largest surviving convict-built structures in Australia and one of the oldest non-Aboriginal artefacts in inland Australia. The original alignment of the road, including the cutting and fill embankments are all largely intact and sections of dry stone wall remain in good condition. The intact sections of dry stone walling, drainage systems and other associated artefacts provide important evidence of 1820’s convict-era road construction work practices and technology. In particular the style of dry stone walling on Lawson’s Long Alley varies in design from the other convict built walls on the adjacent roads.

For a period of ten years Lawson’s Long Alley carried all road traffic from Sydney to the Western Plains. It is probably a unique example of a surviving section of road

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constructed during Thomas Brisbane’s governorship, Oxley’s period as Surveyor- general and Lawson’s period as Commandant of Bathurst with responsibility for the “Western Road” maintenance. Lawson’s Long Alley is a rare example of the type of road construction in NSW prior to Thomas Mitchell’s era as Surveyor-general and one which can still be studied in its relationship to the mostly unaltered surrounding terrain. The cultural landscape within which Lawson’s Long Alley is located is given added significance by the survival of Collits Inn, the oldest surviving building west of Parramatta, which was constructed to service traffic on this alternative route.

Lawson’s Long Alley has a special association with part of the life work of William Lawson, a person of importance in NSW’s cultural history. The road is one of two major surviving sections of road he created to deviate from Cox’s alignment, during his period as Commandant of Bathurst. Lawson’s Long Alley also has social significance at the local level as a popular tourist bushwalk and educational appreciation of a convict-built road. Lawson’s Long Alley (and to a lesser degree the Reserve’s other historic roads) and surrounding area are valued by mountain bike riders, providing some of the best "single track" mountain bike riding in the Blue Mountains.

Lockyer’s Line of Road

History

In the later half of the 1820s Governor Darling formed the Roads and Bridges Department to administer the establishment of a permanent road system extending from Sydney to the west, north and south. In response to a reward of a grant of land offered by Darling to the discoverer of an improved descent off the western escarpment, in 1827 Hamilton Hume recommended a new line of road from the mountains to Bathurst, via (later) Hartley Vale, off Bell’s Line. Investigating this proposal, Acting Surveyor-General Thomas Mitchell recommended another route which avoided Mount Blaxland and descended Mount York not far from Cox’s Road. Major Edmund Lockyer, the then Surveyor of Roads and Bridges, was set to the task of overseeing the construction of this new line. Work continued on this new route, which became known as Lockyer’s Line, during 1828 and 1829 with the route requiring “considerable cutting and infilling and heavy masonry retaining walls, side drains and culverts”.

However, in 1828 Thomas Mitchell succeeded Oxley as Surveyor-General and in 1829 official responsibility for road and bridge works, and convict road construction gangs, were transferred to him when Lockyer’s position was abolished after he refused to accept a reduced salary.

After an inspection of Lockyer’s Line at Mount York in early 1830 Governor Darling complained that there was “considerable deviation from the direction intended” and expressed his concern that the road was difficult for heavy drays. Mitchell was requested to correct the situation. However in April 1830 the focus of work on a western descent was still Mount York. In May, Mitchell, following Darling’s instruction of January, re-examined the route and decided on yet another line of road via the present Mount Victoria area “along the tongue southward of Mount York by which a gently inclined road could be made by lowering a narrow crest of loose rock which joins two parts of the ridge”.

Conflict within the fledgling colonial government over the management and administration of the Roads Department is an important background theme to the

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development of the Western Descents from the mid to late 1820s, and had a direct bearing on the partial construction of Lockyer’s Line of Road.

Despite being under instruction from the Governor to mark out the entire line of this new route, and to seek approval prior to commencing work, Mitchell ordered Assistant Surveyor Elliot, the surveyor responsible for supervision of the Western Road works, to immediately move convict gangs from Mount York to commence on the new descent at Mount Victoria. Mitchell himself continued marking this new line of road towards Bathurst. In this way work on Lockyer’s Line of Road progressively slowed then stopped in late 1829 as the convict work gangs were reassigned to construction of Mitchell’s preferred Mount Victoria route.

In a detailed report in June 1830 Mitchell informed Governor Darling of this alternative to the Mount York descent, which he had named Mount Victoria, and the new line of road continuing off the mountains to Bathurst. Mitchell also advised Darling that work had commenced on this Mount Victoria descent and sought his approval for the appointment of an overseer at Mount Victoria.

The change in plan came as a surprise to Darling and a bitter dispute arose, Darling insisted that the new descent from Mount York to Collitt’s Inn, Lockyer’s Line of Road, be completed and the work at Mount Victoria discontinued. He reminded Mitchell that he should have waited “for the necessary authority” before moving the convict gangs from Mount York. Mitchell quickly challenged the authority of Darling over areas that Mitchell considered to be part of his jurisdiction. In reply Mitchell argued that the new line of descent at Mount Victoria was superior to that down Mount York and would not be superseded. In defiance of the Governor, Mitchell continued the work at Mount Victoria and finally in September 1830 Darling capitulated and gave permission for the Mount Victoria descent. Despite Mitchell’s promises of its rapid construction the road down Victoria Pass proved problematic and it was not officially opened, by Governor Bourke, until 1832.

Remaining Evidence

Lockyer’s Line of Road is predominantly an unfinished route which was intended to provide a better alternative to Cox’s Road, by being less steep, and Lawson’s Long Alley, presumably by being shorter. Some local residents with an intimate knowledge of the area claim that Lockyer’s Line of Road is the superior route of all five descents from the Mount York ridge.

Branching off the Mt York Road between Lawson’s Long Alley and Cox’s Road, Lockyer’s Line of Road was intended to head northwards along a ridgeline before descending to join Cox’s Road and on to Hartley Vale. However, as work commenced at the bottom of the route, only the lowest or northern section of road was actually constructed - as shown on Figure 7. This remaining section of road branches east/south-east off the bottom end of Cox’s Lower, northern, section of Lockyer’s Line of Road Road, just inside the Reserve south of an with an earth formation, stone edging and low dry existing low-key parking and day-use area stone retaining wall,

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Figure 7: Lockyer’s Line of Road, Northern Section

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situated just outside the Reserve beside the Hartley Vale to Lithgow Road (approximately 500 metres west of Comet Inn).

The remaining constructed section of Lockyer’s Line of Road, approximately 450 metres in total, is quite a wide road formation leading through progressively steeper country. The road changes from being built up on both sides in on the flatter terrain to a cut and fill structure on the steeper country.

The lower section of road is an earthen formation, built up on both sides and with earth table drains either side, with remnant discontinuous lengths of low dry stone retaining walls up to 1.5 metres high and stone edging in places. A major landslip has damaged a large part of the northern/lower section of the road, with numerous dislodged stone blocks and retaining wall remnants.

The upper section of road, in steeper terrain, is constructed by a cut on the right and fill on the left arrangement. The best examples of the dry stone retaining walls are in the upper section, where they form the main retaining structure using large blocks in 5 and 6 courses creating stone walls up to 3.2 metres high and in good condition as the best examples of the dry stone retaining wall on the route. A single stone culvert is located on this upper section.

High dry stone wall in good condition, upper, Transition zone at the southern end of Lockyer’s southern, section of Lockyer’s Line of Road. Line of Road - with earth heaps, cutting and unfinished works. (Photo: Worley Parsons)

The constructed section of road terminates in numerous mixed earth heaps, presumably where the road was up to when its convict gang was relocated to work on Mitchells Pass and a testament to the constriction site being left uncompleted. A narrow cutting between 3 and 4 metres wides runs for approximately 100 metres beyond the road’s end, it is aligned with the base of the lower retaining wall and provides further evidence of the initial stage of the road’s cut and fill construction process that was never completed. This area is considered to have archaeological potential to reveal information on the road building process. No other site clues remain of the planned original alignment and it is unclear where the intended direction of the road was to go.

Beyond this point, Lockyer’s Line of Road is actually a typical narrow bush track, with timber log and natural stone steps and a generally narrow footpad maintained largely by use, which approximates the road’s original mapped alignment (the route was reopened as a walking track in 1979). This shared use track runs through to the southern

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trackhead and informal parking/layby area beside Mt York Road west of the Lawson’s Long Alley day-use area approximately 3.5 kilometres from Mount Victoria.

A 19th Century mine site, and associated access road and dry stone walling, is also found close to the southern end of Lockyer’s Line of Road.

The entire length of Lockyer’s Line of Road lies within Mount York Reserve. It is the only historic road that is entirely within the Reserve (exclusive of extended/isolated road reserve corridors). The road originally continued westward beyond the Reserve, but here the route passes onto private property and the alignment quickly becomes unclear.

The route receives generally low levels of use by bushwalkers and, very occasionally, by horse riders. Lockyer’s Line of Road is possibly the most popular and frequently used mountain biking route within the Reserve, notably as a descent for mountain bikers into the Hartley Valley.

Scenic views are obtained from rock outcrops and cliff edges above the route’s descent towards Hartley Vale, with views back to the escarpments of Mount York and over the surrounding cleared lowlands and valleys.

Heritage Significance

Lockyer’s Line of Road is listed on the Register of the National Estate, the NSW State Heritage Inventory and as a heritage item in both the Blue Mountains City Council and Greater Lithgow Council Local Environmental Plans. It is considered to be of significance at the state level.

Lockyer’s Line of Road has historical significance at the State level because of its ability to provide evidence of early 19th Century convict era road design and construction techniques. The road and its intact sections of dry stone walling, drainage systems and other associated artefacts is a very rare surviving example of a section of a convict-built road constructed during Darling’s period as Governor and Edmund Lockyer’s period as Surveyor of Roads and Bridges. In particular the dry stone walling on Lockyer’s Line of Road varies in design from the other convict built walls on the adjacent roads.

In its unfinished state it provides dramatic evidence of the rivalries and ambitions involved in public construction in the late 1820s in NSW. Its unfinished state is important evidence of the colonial politics of the late 1820s, including the personal ambitions and rivalries of Thomas Mitchell with the abandonment of Lockyer’s Line of Road marking the beginning of the rise of influence of Mitchell in the colony.

Lockyer’s Line of Road also has a special association with part of the life work of Edmund Lockyer, a person of importance in NSW’s cultural history. He carried out an important exploration of the Brisbane River (then in NSW), occupied the positions of Magistrate and Surveyor of Roads and Bridges from 1828 to 1830, and was later a member of the NSW Legislative Council. The road is a rarer surviving section of a road designed by Lockyer in precipitous country during his brief period as Surveyor of Roads and Bridges for NSW.

The road has contemporary social significance at the local level as a popular tourist and bushwalking attraction, a popular and regularly used mountain biking route, and a site for educational and heritage appreciation of a convict-built road.

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Berghofer’s Pass

History

Road construction became the responsibility of the Department of Public Works in 1857. From the late 1860s the Western Road became less used as the railway was extended across the mountains.

In the latter half of the 19th Century, particularly after the advent of rail transport improved access to the Blue Mountains and its scenic attractions, tourism became an important aspect of the local economy. Walking tracks began to be developed and the western descents began to be appreciated because of their historic associations with Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson and Cox - who by the end of the century had entered the pantheon of the “greats” in the European History of Australia. In 1895 a committee was established in Mount Victoria to raise funds to erect an obelisk on Mount York to mark the achievement. This monument was completed in 1900 (as described further below).

At the western escarpment the steepness of the grade of Mount Victoria Pass coupled with increasing traffic along the route, presented a challenge to early motor vehicles. Very often these early cars required the assistance of horses to make the ascent. An alternative ascent along the hillside at Mount Victoria was known (probably related to the time of construction of the original pass and linking the Mount Victoria convict stockade with works sites on the pass), however the expense of using this to develop a second route was a deterrent. John William Berghofer was a German immigrant and the first president of the Blaxland Shire (now Greater Lithgow) in 1906. It was his leadership of local agitation to improve the ascent, and proposal for the new road and pass at Mount Victoria, that led to the construction of Berghofer’s Pass from 1907 to 1912. It was initially a local government undertaking, with the work taken over by the Department of Public Works in 1911. Berghofer’s Pass ran roughly north-east/south-west across slope between Mount York Road and lower reaches of Victoria Pass. By almost doubling the length of the road the average grade was considerably reduced when compared with Victoria Pass, however the route included some very sharp turns.

Between 1912 and 1920 Mount Victoria Pass was neglected as Berghofer’s Pass became the main road up and down the western escarpment. However in 1920, with the development of more powerful motor vehicles that could manage the grade, its use dropped when Victoria Pass was re-opened to traffic. Both roads were used until Victoria Pass was upgraded by widening and reconstructed with a gravel pavement in 1933-1934. Berghofer’s Pass was closed to traffic in February 1935, however some local residents claim that trucks still used this alternative route into the 1950s.

The Coo-ee March was a recruitment drive for recruits to join the ranks of soldiers fighting with the Allies in the Dardanelles in World War I. The first of these marches was organised in Gilgandra by a local businessman W.T. Hitchen, as a means of addressing the declining enlistments for the war. The Coo-ee March passed over the Blue Mountains in November 1915 on its way to Sydney. Berghofer’s Pass was the main road in use at this time.

The photo (below) by Harry Philips shows the Cooee march ascending the western escarpment and the recently constructed cutting of the road.

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Remaining Evidence

Today the northernmost part of the original Berghofer’s Pass is still in use as a public road, called Berghofer’s Drive, and links Mount York Road and St Georges Parade at Mount Victoria.

Below its intersection with Mount York Road (opposite the Lawson’s Long Alley trackhead and day-use area), Berghofer’s Pass continues as winding road leading across and down slope to the intersection Coo-ees marching up Berghofer’s Pass to with the Great western Highway below Katoomba. Photo courtesy of Blue Mountains Victoria Pass – as shown on Figure 8. Historic Society. Almost all of this section of Berghofer’s Pass lies within Mount York Reserve, with the exception of approximately 150 metres at the road’s northern end.

This section of Berghofer’s Pass is at present used as a recreational route - used by walkers, mountain bikers and occasionally horse riders. Its slight gradient makes it suitable for less mobile people interested in experiencing the heritage values and bushland setting it offers. Local residents also regularly use Berghofer’s Pass as somewhere to walk their dogs.

Impressive dry stone walling on the lower section Overall Berghofer’s Pass is characterised by of Berghofer’s Pass. a more orderly style than the earlier convict- built crossings - with even grades, good drainage and culverts, and taller rock excavations to provide a stable roadbed on excavated rock along precipitous cliffs avoided by the earlier builders.

Dry stone walling is a feature of this remaining section of Berghofer’s Pass. On the uphill side of the road, there are many deep cuttings into the cliff face while on the downslope side the road is supported on hundreds of metres of dry stone walls. Most dry stone walls are on the central sections of the road where stone walls are typically up to 3 metres high. At the hairpin bend, known as Berghofer’s Corner, approximately one-third of the way in from the Mount York Road intersection there is dry stone walling on both sides of the road reaching up to 7 metres high in some sections. Two boxed stone culverts remain on the route as well as 11 culverts using either prefabricated cement or

ceramic pipes with upper and lower ends set Culvert No. 3 Berghofer’s Pass, typical of the in often elaborately designed and cemented more highly designed and finished drainage structures on this route..

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Figure 8: Berghofer’s Pass

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stone walls. A rock cut drain or drainage channel runs along most of the uphill side of the road.

Other features of heritage interest extant along this route include the remains of adzed bush timber poles (most protruding horizontally from the top of dry stone walls where they originally held diagonal reinforcing timbers supporting post-and-rail fences along the wall edge) and a single timber upright from the original post-and-rail fence at Berghofer’s Corner. Two rock engravings of significance occur on the route – a 1909 carving into the cliff face showing distances in miles to Sydney and “Berghofer” engraving, restored in 1977 after Bathurst as well as the word “Berghofer” being defaced during WWI. (which was vandalised during WWI but restored by family members in 1977), and a carved sign in the cliff below Berghofer’s Corner indicating the old boundary between the Blue Mountains and Lithgow Shires. Blasting powder and pick mark lines are also evident in the rockfaces adjacent to the road. Also carved into the cliff face beside the road, located above Berghofer’s Corner, is a horse trough and dog bowl which are filled by natural seepage.

Horse trough and dog bowl carved into the rock A landslip near Berghofer’s corner has narrowed face beside Berghofer’s Pass. the historic road surface.

The upper 400 metres of the road, from its junction with Mount York Road, has been modified by track development and conservation works carried out by the Department of Lands in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Concrete cross drains, and some sections of “bagged” cement blocks, have been installed to address surface drainage and erosion. Some sections of the road surface here have also been resheeted with a red shale and recycled bitumen material (similar to that evident along the top section of Lawson’s Long Alley immediately to the north and most likely done at the same time).

There are 7 brass information plaques on metal posts and wooden signs indicating some of the culverts at various points along the road.

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Heritage Significance

Berghofer’s Pass is listed on the Register of the National Estate and as a heritage item in the Blue Mountains City Council Local Environmental Plan. It is considered to be of significance at the state level. Although more recent than the 3 other convict-built roads, Berghofer’s Pass is an important element in the Mt York ridge roads complex, a cultural landscape dominated by evidence of early Australian road making technology.

Berghofer’s Pass has historical significance as one of the longest intact lengths of road constructed prior to the introduction of heavy machinery in road making. The road was built using methods similar to those used on nearby convict roads nearly a century earlier. After WWII, the use of machinery in road construction began to see the end of such techniques as the use of horse and carts, stonemasonry, hand-packed dry stone walls, and post- and-rail fences of local timber. The presence of a horse trough, dry stone walls, and prefabricated cement pipes as well as the grading of 1:15, designed for low-powered early cars, provide a rare juxtaposition of fabric and design that locate the construction of Berghofer’s Pass at a transitional phase between the era of handmade roads and those built by machinery and modern materials. As such Berghofer’s Pass provides important evidence of part of the history of road making and road transport in NSW.

The design and construction techniques demonstrated by Berghofer’s Pass exhibit a high degree of local Brass interpretive sign, Berghofer’s Pass. technical achievement. In particular, the road’s siting within the precipitous landscape, to achieve the desired low grades within the available budget, was a difficult achievement requiring a high level of planning. Part of the fabric of the road, the almost 7 metre high dry stone wall at Berghofer’s Corner, has local historical significance as among the tallest dry stone walls in the region (and the highest dry stone wall of this particular type). Berghofer’s Pass has local/regional research value offering the opportunity to study road making techniques used in the region just prior to WWI.

Berghofer’s Pass is locally significant through its association with the first Blaxland Shire President, John Berghofer, who designed the road and lobbied for its construction. The road also has local historical significance for the evidence it provides, in the form of the vandalised Berghofer name carving and the temporary change in the road’s official name, of local anti-German feeling during WWI. As described, the road also featured in the “Coo-ee Marches” during WWI.

Berghofer’s Pass has social significance at the local level as a popular bushwalk that is well interpreted in tourist literature and with on-ground signage for its historical associations, as well as being a popular mountain biking route.

It also offers the opportunity, valued by visitors, to safely view the striking stone walls of the adjacent Victoria Pass.

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2.2.2.1 Other Heritage Features

Numerous other heritage features, principally monuments and plaques are located in and around the Mount York Day Use area, as shown on Figure 9.

Mount York Obelisk

The obelisk is a masonry construction built in 1900 to commemorate the crossing of the Blue Mountains. It is located north-west from the central loop and facilities area at the Mount York Day Use Area. The 9.2 metres (30 feet) high obelisk has a square base with an inscription on each of its four faces. The inscriptions commemorate the first European crossing of the Blue Mountains, the construction of the first road overseen by Cox, the work of the surveyor Evans, and the life and work of Governor Macquarie.

Today, an iron picket fence originally surrounding the Obelisk is no longer in place. There is evidence of minimal graffiti on the plaques, some minor damage such as chipping of the concrete surface and weathering associated with exposure to the elements. Soil erosion and compaction has left the base Mount York Obelisk, built 1900. surrounds of the Obelisk proud from the natural surface.

Eddy Rock Memorial

The Eddy Rock is a natural rock feature in the area where in 1895 an address was presented to E.M.G Eddy, Chief Commissioner of the New South Wales Railways by members of the Mount Victoria Progress Association. A plaque is attached to the rock to commemorate this occasion and the site is also a look out point.

There is some minor scratching on the “The Eddy Rock” memorial plaque and natural weathering due to exposure to the elements is evident. Several names have been carved into the nearby rock, the most prominent being “R BOWIE 11 5 45” and “MAGUIRE 1932”.

Mount York Pavilion

The pavilion is a neo-Classical style with 8 columns, cupola (domed roof) and central tablet of polished trachyte. George McRae, the Government Architect during 1913 commented that:

“The design for the proposed memorial to be erected on Mount York shows a canopy carried on eight Doric columns resting on a base 6 ft high on which stands the memorial stone. The pavilion or canopy is placed in the centre of a courtyard 25 ft square, surrounded by a panelled parapet 4 ft high. The height of the top of the finial on the canopy is 19 ft 6 in. The monument will be constructed entirely of reinforced concrete and will therefore require only a small expenditure for maintenance.”

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Figure 9: Location Plan (Approximate Only) of Monuments and Plaques at Mount York (from Lavelle, 2004, Figure 19) (Note: Cox’s Alternative Descent is incorrectly shown. The Alternative Descent branches from Cox’s Road upslope of the two Cox’s Plaques as well as the Macquarie plaque.)

The pavilion was completed in December 1913. It was initially unpainted concrete before being painted white. It was painted its current cream, green and red colour scheme as part of the Bicentennial celebrations of 1988. (Lavelle, 2004, p 229).

The pavilion has three plaques attached to the north face and the remaining three sides have indentations for plaques to be attached in the future. There is a central

Mount York Pavilion. memorial stone within the monument in commemoration of Macquarie and Cox.

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There is no graffiti or significant damage to the pavilion, although the surrounding natural surface level has been eroded/trampled on the northern side of pavilion resulting in a significant (up to 600 mm) step up into pavilion. There are some scuff marks on the inner part of the Pavilion where people appear to have attempted to climb up to view the central tablet.

The pavilion is the dominant structure, physically and visually, at the Mount York Day Use Area.

Footprints in Time Memorial

The Footprints in Time Monument at Mount York is a small monument, 1.2 metres high, erected close to the traverse line of George William Evans in 1813-1814. The monument is located in the centre picnic area available for the public. The monument consists of concrete, "granolite" and sawn and roughcast sandstone and is one of a series of such monuments across the Blue Mountains. It is designed to be identical to the base of a trigonometrical survey pillar, as used throughout NSW for major surveys.

Originally the monument contained four plaques – one with details of the project, one with details of Evans and his work, one containing reproductions of relevant pages of his field book and extracts from his diary, and one providing details of the relevant unveiling ceremony. An engraved steel plate on top of the monument completes the design.

The Mount York “Footprints in Time” Monument has been severely vandalised so only one of the original four plaques remain. This remaining plaque outlines Evans and his work. It has minor scratches and weathering marks.

Blaxland, Wentworth, Lawson Memorial

This is another monument to the three well known explorers and is positioned at the start of Cox’s Road down the escarpment, adjacent to the road in the day use area. It comprises a large rectangular base on which stands a curved wall of approximately 1.5 metres that was originally topped by three busts of the explorers.

The memorial was completed in 1969 by W.F. Gilroy and R. Gilroy after a three year construction period. At the time W.F. Gilroy and R. Gilroy operated a kiosk and local museum from a building located within the Reserve. The busts atop the monument were sculpted by Josef Nesteriuk (Lavelle, 2004. p227). However all three busts are no longer in place. The concrete rectangular base is broken in places and the surrounding soil surface has eroded so the structure is proud of the existing natural The explorers’ busts no longer remain on the surface on the down slope side. Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson Memorial.

James Watsford Monument

The James Watsford Monument is a cairn like structure topped with a piece of uncut sandstone. The Plaque is attached to the uncut sandstone. It commemorates the initial coach run across the Blue Mountains in 1832 by James Watsford who is recognised as

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Australia’s first coachman. The memorial was officially unveiled on the 14th September 1974 by Alderman K. D. Dash, Mayor of the City of Blue Mountains.

Given that Lawson’s Lane was the main road in use from the early 1820’s to the mid 1830’s, this monument is arguably in the wrong place.

The monument has experienced no obvious vandalism or graffiti.

Explorers Chair and Stone Archway

In 1931 a rubblework stone archway with inbuilt ‘Explorers Wishing Chair’ was installed as a project of the Mount Victoria Auxiliary Committee to help raise funds for the Blue Mountains Anzac Memorial District Hospital. In the first year the chair raised nearly 50 pounds, totalling approximately 80% of their total fund raising effort.

The explorers chair is compiled from local sandstone, and cemented to form the shape of the chair. The stone archway and supporting uprights are made with local stone using a traditional rubble-work technique. The arch is reinforced with steel for structural stability.

The donation box has been removed from the explorers chair and some stones in the archway have been removed. The mortar in the archway is also coming loose. Large stones lay on the ground to the west of the archway and may have come from the archway.

Natural History Museum and Stone Wall

The Mount York Natural History Museum and Stone Wall were located within the core of the existing day use area. The building was a single storey timber weatherboard house, part museum and part residence. It was located in the central core area of the car park, and was edged by a low stone wall of rustic design. The building is no longer extant although a low stone wall runs along the northern side of the central core of the day use area and may be the stone wall once associated with the museum.

Mount York and Environs

Council’s LEP 1991 defines “Mount York and Environs” as comprising Lots 108 and 188 DP 751644. These two Lots incorporate an area of 97.5 hectares extending from south of Barden's Lookout to the base of the escarpment north of Mount York itself (see Figure 3). The area includes all of those monuments and memorials at Mount York Day Use Area as well as Barden's Lookout and a section of Cox’s Road. Each of these features is discussed separately above.

Memorial to the Road Pioneers

The Memorial to the Road Pioneers is at the Lawson’s Long Alley Track Head and comprises an approximately 8 feet high three-faced monolith. The monument is made from a solid block of granitis unearthed in the Hartley District. The three roads associated with the Memorial can be seen from the site of the Memorial.

The documented types of significance for certain monuments on Mount York Reserve are shown in Table 3 below. Table 4 indicates the heritage items within Mount York Reserve that are listed on National, State and Local Heritage registers.

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Table 3: Type of Significance of Heritage Items in Mount York Reserve

Item Social Historical Technological/Research Significance Significance Significance Mount York and √ Environs Mount York √ √ √ Obelisk Blaxland Lawson √ √ √ Wentworth Memorial James Watsford √ √ √ Monument The Pavilion √ √ Cox’s Road √ √ √ Eddy Rock √ √ √ Lookout and Mount York Lookout

Table 4: Listed Heritage Items in Mount York Reserve

Name Register of National Trust State LEP the National of Australia Heritage BMCC 1991 Estate * (NSW) Register CLC 1994 Mount York and Environs Mount York MY 8, LEP (Lots 108 and 188, DP included in the 1991 751644) Landscape Conservation Designated as Area of the a Heritage Hartley Valley. Conservation Area Mount York Conservation 18622 Precinct (comprised of the items below with Register of the National Estate Place ID of 18622)

Mount York Obelisk 18622 and MY 10, LEP 19709 1991 Blaxland Lawson and 18622 MY 12, LEP Wentworth Memorial 1991

Watsford Monument 18622 MY 11, LEP 1991 Mount York Pavilion 18622 MY 9, LEP 1991 Blue Mountains Walking Y Tracks Cox’s Road 18622 MY 4, LEP 1991 Lawson’s Long Alley 18622 MY 5, LEP 1991

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Name Register of National Trust State LEP the National of Australia Heritage BMCC 1991 Estate * (NSW) Register CLC 1994 Lockyer’s Line of Road 18622 MY 6, LEP 1991 LEP 1994 Berghofer’s Pass 18622 MY 1, LEP 1991 Barden's Lookout MY 2, LEP 1991 Eddy Rock and Mount York MY 3, LEP Lookout 1991

Rustic Arch, Chair and Seat MY 14, LEP 1991

* - The items shown as being on the Register of the National Estate are indicative listings only, meaning that data provided to or obtained by the Heritage Division has been entered into the database but a formal nomination has not been made and the Department of Environment and Heritage has not prepared all the data necessary for a nomination.

2.3 Natural Environment

2.3.1 Topography and Drainage

The plateau areas of Mount York Reserve are at an elevation of approximately 1,000 metres with the summit of Mount York being at an elevation of 1,061 m. The lower slopes of the study area in the Hartley Vale area are at an elevation of approximately 850 metres.

The long, rather thin plateau ridges terminate in the escarpment which is regularly incised by gullies. Below the escarpment cliffs, steep talus slopes descend towards the valley floor. Butlers Creek drains the valley between Mount York and Mitchells Ridge. Kerosene Creek drains the valley along which Lawson’s Long Alley passes. Both Butlers and Kerosene Creeks are tributaries of the Lett River which flows into the Coxs River at Hartley.

Triassic sandstones and shales of the Narrabeen group underlie the plateaux. Below the escarpment the geology of the talus slopes comprises beds of the Illawarra Coal Measures, with large sandstone boulders and rock derived from the Narrabeen sandstone plateau being a feature of the talus landscape. The Illawarra Coal Measures also underlie Kerosene Creek. Lower parts of the Reserve extend into areas underlain by Permian Berry Formation sediments.

2.3.2 Visual Amenity

Mount York Reserve includes a section of the western escarpment of the Blue Mountains extending from Mount Victoria to Mount York. The altitude of the Mount York

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ridgeline and associated escarpments, and their relief from the adjoining Hartley Vale area make them highly visible natural features.

Conversely, the view from Mount York to the northwest and west over the Hartley Valley towards the remainder of the Great Dividing Range and in particular to Mount Blaxland, (the terminal point of the 1813 crossing) is also significant. Historians contend that over time this view has come to symbolise the opening of the interior to white settlement. Although vastly different from what the three explorers would have set eyes upon, the current pastoral land outlook still evokes images of earlier times when pastoral industry was the dominant land use in Hartley Valley. Continued subdivision has the potential to alter the view and the attached symbolism may be lost with it.

The Reserve contributes to the quiet bushland character of Mount Victoria township, particularly for residences located in neighbouring streets, or that are near neighbours.

2.3.3 Vegetation

A flora assessment of Mount York Reserve (Mount York Plan of Management Flora Assessment) was undertaken by Roger Lembit of Gingra Ecological Surveys. No detailed base vegetation mapping was available for that part of the Reserve within the City of Lithgow LGA. A vegetation survey of the level of detail required to describe and identify the location of vegetation communities in this previously unmapped part of the Reserve was beyond the scope of resources available for the preparation of the plan of management.

The flora assessment involved a review of literature and relevant databases relating to the flora of the Mount York area, a field survey and assessment involving a combination of foot transects, quadrats and targeted searching and a synthesis of information obtained from the literature review and field sampling. Additional information on the flora assessment methodology is available in the Mount York Reserve Site Assessment Report that is a precursor to this plan of management.

The Reserve is valued for its vegetation by those who use the bushland areas for passive recreation and in general for its contribution to the character of Mount Victoria.

The area supports a diverse flora with species typical of the upper Blue Mountains. Species of the central tablelands and slopes occur within woodland areas on the lower slopes at the western edge of the study area.

In all, over 260 flora species have been recorded from the Mount York Reserve including over 220 native plant species and 37 weed species (see Appendix 1).

The description of vegetation types adopted for the purposes of this Plan of management seeks to ensure consistency with the vegetation map units described in Tindall et al (2005). Figure 10 (Gingra Ecological Surveys, 2006) illustrates the distribution of vegetation communities within Blue Mountains City Council Local Government Area.

Vegetation map units are described below. Vegetation map units 5 and 6 occur close to, but not within the study area. Their descriptions are included in this plan of management to give context and as small outliers may occur within the study area.

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Figure 10: Vegetation Communities of Mount York Reserve (Gingra Ecological Surveys, 2006)

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Map Unit 1. Blue Mountains Ridgetop Forest.

Ridge crests and mountain tops above approximately 1000 m elevation support an open-forest vegetation dominated by Silvertop Ash (Eucalyptus sieberi) and Sydney Peppermint (E. piperita). This vegetation map unit occurs on Triassic Narrabeen group sediments. Associated tree species include Narrow-leaved Peppermint (E. radiata), Blaxland’s Stringybark (E. blaxlandii), Blue Mountain Ash (E. oreades) and Brittle Gum (E. mannifera).

The shrub layer is variable. Some areas have a low shrub cover whilst in other areas shrub cover is medium. Common shrub species include Acacia obtusifolia, Brachyloma daphnoides, Paperbark Tea-tree (Leptospermum trinervium) and Eggs and Bacon (Dillwynia retorta).

The ground layer is of low to medium cover. Common ground layer plants include Red- anther Wallaby Grass (Joycea pallida), Snow Grass (Poa sieberiana), Wiry Panic (Entolasia stricta), Dianella revoluta, Lomandra filiformis ssp. coriacea, Bracken Fern (Pteridium esculentum) and Spiny Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia).

Map Unit 2. Moist Montane Sandstone Forest

Talus slopes below the cliff-lined plateau support open-forest vegetation dominated by Mountain Grey Gum (E. cypellocarpa), Blaxland’s Stringybark (E. blaxlandii) and Sydney

Peppermint (E. piperita). Associated tree species include Narrow-leaved Peppermint (E. radiata) and Brittle Gum (E. mannifera). On slopes below 950 m elevation, Thin-leaved Stringybark (E. eugenoides) replaces Blaxland’s Stringybark.

The shrub layer is of medium cover. Common shrub species include Leucopogon lanceolatus, Acacia obtusifolia, Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosa), Banksia cunninghamii, Mountain Holly (Podolobium ilicifolium), Blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa), Old Man Banksia (Banksia serrata), Crinkle Bush (Lomatia silaifolia), Epacris pulchella and Prickly Moses (Acacia ulicifolia).

The ground layer is of low to medium cover. On more open sites, grasses and herbs dominate, whilst in sheltered sites ferns are common. Typical ground layer species include Bracken Fern (Pteridium esculentum), Red-anther Wallaby Grass (Joycea pallida), Cutting Grass (Gahnia sieberiana), Lomandra longifolia ssp. coriacea, Dianella caerulea var. producta, Arrhenecthites mixta, Gonocarpus tetragynus, Hardenbergia violacea, Caustis flexulosa and Weeping Meadow Grass (Microlaena stipoides).

(There is a very small area of riparian habitat within Mount York Reserve (1.2ha within the Blue Mountains local government area - representing 0.3% of this Reserve with Blue Mountains local government area), and the vegetation community representing this habitat has been placed within the Moist Montane Sandstone Forest Vegetation Map Unit.)

Map Unit 3. Tableland Grassy Box Gum Woodland

Small areas of Tablelands Grassy Box Gum Woodland occur on lower slopes of westerly aspect around the base of Coxs Road and Lockyer’s Line of Road. Within the study area these areas are dominated by Mountain Gum (E. dalrympleana), Broad- leaved Peppermint (E. dives) and Red Stringybark (E. macrorhyncha). Associated tree species include Yellow Box (E. melliodora), Candlebark (E. rubida), Snow Gum (E.

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pauciflora), Black Sallee (E. stellulata), Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) and Acacia falciformis.

There is a sparse shrub layer and a ground layer of low to medium cover.

Common shrub species include Blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa), Daviesia latifolia, Dillwynia phylicoides, Native Cherry (Exocarpos cupressiformis), Acacia buxifolia, Hibbertia obtusifolia and Austral Indigo (Indigofera australis).

Common ground layer species include Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis), Wallaby Grass (Austrodanthonia sp.), Bracken Fern (Pteridium esculentum), Hydrocotyle laxiflora, Spiny Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia), Glycine clandestina and Yanganbil (Austrostipa bigeniculata).

Map Unit 4. Blue Mountains Heath.

Shallow soils associated with Triassic Narrabeen group sediments along the western side of the Darling Causeway support open-heath dominated by Blue Mountain Mallee (E. stricta) and Dwarf She-oak (Allocasuarina nana). Other common shrub species include Conesticks (Isopogon anemonifolius), Paperbark Tea-tree (Leptospermum trinervium), Drumsticks (Petrophile pulchella), Hakea laevipes, Heath-leaved Banksia (Banksia ericifolia) and Leptospermum arachnoides.

The ground layer is of low to medium density and includes grasses and sedges. Common ground layer species include Lepyrodia scariosa, Lepidosperma viscidum, Wiry Panic (Entolasia stricta) and Lomandra glauca.

Map 4 overstates the amount of Blue Mountains Heath in Mount York Reserve as the mapped area includes patches of Blue Mountains Ridgetop Forest with a heathy understorey. This reflects aerial photograph interpretation undertaken as part of the Blue Mountains City Council vegetation mapping of 2002.

Map Unit 5. Blue Mountains Hanging Swamp

A relatively flat section of a tributary of Kerosene Creek supports swamp vegetation dominated by sedges including Button Grass (Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus), Lepidosperma limicola and Xyris gracilis.

There are patches of shrubs with common species including Grevillea acanthifolia, Baeckea linifolia, Sprengelia incarnata, Heath-leaved Banksia (Banksia ericifolia) and Epacris paludosa.

This vegetation map unit occurs close to, but not within Mount York Reserve.

Map Unit 6. Ceratopetalum apetalum - Doryphora sassafras Rainforest

Sheltered south-facing talus slopes in the Sunset Rock area support patches of warm temperate rainforest dominated by Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum) and Sassafras (Doryphora sassafras). Other tree species present include Possumwood (Quintinia sieberi), Native Mulberry (Hedycarya angustifolia) and Lilly Pilly (Acmena smithii).

The mid layer consists of small rainforest trees and shrubs such as Pittosporum revolutum and Brush Muttonwood (Rapanea howittiana).

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The ground layer is of low to medium cover and dominated by ferns and herbs. Common ground layer plants include Gristle Fern (Blechnum cartilagineum), Sickle Fern (Pellaea falcata), Rasp Fern (Doodia aspera). Vines are also common and include Tylophora barabata, Old Man’s Beard (Clematis aristata) and Lawyer Vine (Smilax australis).

This vegetation map unit occurs close to, but not within Mount York Reserve.

Map Unit 7. Escarpment Complex

Locations where fine scale variation in plant species distribution make it difficult to depict particular vegetation types at the scale of mapping have been classed as the Escarpment Complex vegetation map unit. This area includes several plant communities in a strict sense. Escarpment Complex includes a combination of Blue Mountains Ridgetop Forest, Moist Montane Sandstone Forest and Blue Mountains Heath. There are also areas of open-scrub dominated by Blue Mountain Mallee (E. stricta) and other areas supporting rainforest elements including copses of Possumwood (Quintinia sieberi).

Escarpment complex occurs on the moderate to steep slopes along the western escarpment of the Blue Mountains.

Conservation Status of Mount York Reserve Vegetation Communities

Blue Mountains Ridgetop Forest - protected within Blue Mountains and Wollemi National Parks.

Moist Montane Sandstone Forest - some areas protected within Blue Mountains and Kanangra Boyd National Parks.

Tablelands Grassy Box Gum Woodland - widespread, but not well represented in reserve system. On more fertile soils subject to clearing and grazing.

Blue Mountains Heath - examples occur within Blue Mountains and Wollemi National Parks, supports many rare and endemic species.

Blue Mountains Hanging Swamp - endangered ecological community under Commonwealth EPBC Act, supports many rare and endemic species.

Ceratopetalum apetalum-Doryphora sassafras Rainforest - restricted in distribution, but protected in Blue Mountains National Park.

Escarpment Complex - restricted distribution, including many rare and endemic species, examples protected in Blue Mountains National Park.

Rare, Threatened and Significant Flora

In their “Flora and Fauna Assessment for Commercial Cliff Recreation Activities at Mount York”, Smith & Smith (2004) identified ten threatened flora species, seventeen rare flora species and seven species of regional conservation significance as having been recorded from within 10 km of Mount York Reserve.

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None of these species were located within the Mount York study area during fieldwork for the plan of management. Similarly, Smith & Smith (2004) did not record any of the species within their smaller study area around the areas at Mount York utilised for commercial cliff recreation activities.

Table 5: Rare, Threatened and Significant Plants of the Mount York Area

SPECIES STATUS HABITAT Acacia asparagoides 2R Eucalypt forest and heath Acacia bynoeana TSC – E Disturbed heath and forest Acacia flocktoniae TSC – V Forests Acacia hamiltoniana Reg. Sig. Forest and heath Acacia ptychoclada Reg. Sig. Swamps Adenochilus nortonii Reg. Sig. Wet cliffs and creeksides Almaleea incurvata 2RC- Swamps Asterolasia buxifolia TSC – E Creeksides Atkinsonia ligustrina 2RCa Heath and open-forest Blechnum gregsonii 2RCa Sheltered seepage zones Boronia deanei TSC – V Swamp margins Carex klaphakei TSC – E Swamps Darwinia fascicularis ssp. Reg. Sig. Heath oligantha Derwentia blakelyi TSC – V Eucalypt forest, sheltered slopes Dillwynia stipulifera 3RCa Swamps Diuris aequalis TSC – E Eucalypt forest Epcaris muelleri 3RC- Cliff faces and pagodas Eucalyptus cunninghamii 2RCa Cliff edges Eucalyptus moorei Reg. Sig. Swamps and wet heath Grevillea acanthifolia Reg. Sig. Swamps and creeksides Hakea constablei 2RCa Forest and heath Leptospermum rupicola 3RC- Cliffs Lissanthe sapida 3RCa Doubtful record – open-forest Notochloe microdon 2RC- Swamps and wet areas Olearia quercifolia 3RC- Swamps and creeks Persoonia acerosa TSC - V Forest and heath Philotheca obvovalis 3RCa Open-forest, heath and pagodas Pseudanthus divaricatissimus 3RCa Heath and pagodas Pultenaea echinula Reg. Sig. Eucalypt forest Pultenaea glabra TSC – V Swamps Rupicola apiculata 2RCa Cliffs Rupicola sprengelioides 2RC-t Cliffs Sprengelia monticola 2RC-t Cliffs Velleia perfoliata TSC – V Heath

Key: (from Briggs and Leigh, 1996)

TSC – E Endangered a > 1000 plants in reserves TSC – V Vulnerable - reserve population unknown 2 Range < 100km t total known population in 3 Range > 100 km reserves R Rare C Represented in Conservation Reserves Reg Sig – species that are regarded as regionally significant because they are either endemic within the region (i.e. found only within the region and nowhere else), at a limit of range within the study area, of low abundance or found in a restricted range of habitats within the region, the location of type specimens (the location where the species was first collected and described) or are disjunct populations. (From Gingra Ecological Surveys, 2006)

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Table 5 (above) lists the species, provides information on their conservation status and their preferred habitat.

2.3.4 Weed Infestation

Weeds are restricted to disturbed areas around car parks and along roads and tracks. Weed density is generally low throughout the study area with perhaps the highest populations around the car park at Mount York and at the Mitchells Ridge lookout, where dumping of domestic rubbish has contributed to their introduction.

Most weeds are grasses and herbs which are typically associated with disturbed sites with high light availability. Shrubby weeds are quite rare in comparison to bushland adjoining other urban areas across the Blue Mountains.

Weed species at Mount York Reserve include Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum), Paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum), Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Quaking Grass (Briza maxima), Velvet Pink (Petrorhagia velutina), Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata), Parramatta Grass (Sporobolus indicus ssp. capensis), Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata), Fleabane (Conyza sp.), Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon), Slender Pigeon Grass (Setaria gracilis), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Prairie Grass (Bromus catharticus), Winter Grass (Poa annua), Sheep Sorrel (Acetosella vulgaris), Black-berried Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) and Cobblers Peg (Bidens pilosa).

At Mitchells Ridge, there are a number of exotic species associated with the lookout (outside the Reserve) and the Great Western Highway. Weeds present in this area include Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera stricta), Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Sheep Sorrel (Acetosella vulgaris), Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius), Apple (Malus x domestica), Purple-top (Verbena bonariensis), Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster glaucophylla), Parramatta Grass (Sporobolus indicus ssp. capensis), Paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum), Fleabane (Conyza sp.), Common Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) and Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare).

The lower end of Lockyer’s Line of Road at Hartley Vale also has a low population of weeds normally associated with disturbed sites. Weed species present include Paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum), Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon) and Briar (Rosa rubiginosa). The noxious weed, Blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius) is also present.

There are approximately 15 mature introduced pines at Mount York Day Use Area which may be associated with the sites history. A number of seedlings are also present.

2.3.5 Fauna A fauna assessment and habitat modelling of Mount York Reserve (Plan of Management for Mount York - Fauna Issues) was undertaken by Martin Denny of Mount King Ecological Surveys.

Some information is available about the distribution of fauna within Mount York Reserve (e.g. P & J Smith Ecological Consultants 2004), but the database is not extensive. Consequently, in the absence of resources to undertake a detailed fauna survey of

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Mount York Reserve, habitat modelling was used to identify potential areas for threatened species and possible high fauna population numbers. (A detailed methodology for this habitat modelling process is provided in the Site Assessment Report prepared as a precursor to this Plan of Management.) It must also be recognised that “point-in-time” fauna surveys, notably for bird species, may not capture all species using the Reserve due to seasonality and migratory factors.

Fauna within the Reserve is highly valued with a number of species identified on the threatened species list. The Reserve is also considered important as a wildlife corridor for many of the fauna living within the Reserve.

Within the Mount York Reserve four major habitat types are recognised. These are: • Woodland; • Moist Tall Forest; • Dry Heath; and • Escarpment.

Threatened species and species of concern (protected species thought to be declining and those considered of cultural interest, particularly to the indigenous community) associated with each habitat type are listed in Table 6.

Table 6: Threatened Species and Species of Conservation Concern Associated with Major Habitat Types of Mount York Reserve

Habitat Types (component Vegetation Species Map Units) WOODLAND Threatened Species: Hooded Robin, Turquoise Parrot, Painted Button-quail, (Vegetation Map Unit 1 - Blue Mountains Glossy Black-cockatoo, Swift Parrot, Ridgetop Forest and Vegetation Map Unit Square-tailed Kite, Barking Owl, Masked 3 - Tablelands Grassy Box Gum Owl, Diamond Firetail, Speckled Woodland) Warbler, Regent Honeyeater, Black- chinned Honeyeater, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Squirrel Glider, Eastern Freetail Bat, Gang-gang Parrot, Powerful Owl, Sooty Owl, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Yellow-bellied Glider, Koala, Eastern False Pipistrelle, Eastern Bentwing Bat, Grey-headed Flying-fox, Greater Broad-nosed Bat, Square-tailed Kite

Species of Concern: Highlands Copperhead, Spotted Quail-thrush, Varied Sitella, Red-browed Tree- creeper, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Greater Glider, Superb Lyrebird, Red-browed Treecreeper, Eastern Grey Kangaroo. MOIST TALL FOREST Threatened Species: Black Bittern, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Powerful Owl, (Vegetation Map Unit 2 – Moist Montane Sooty Owl, Barking Owl, Masked Owl, Sandstone Forest including small areas of Square-tailed Kite, Hooded Robin, Blue Mountains Riparian Complex.) Glossy Black-cockatoo, Turquoise

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Habitat Types (component Vegetation Species Map Units) Parrot, Speckled Warbler, Regent Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Squirrel Glider, Koala, Yellow- bellied Glider, Eastern False Pipistrelle, Eastern Bentwing Bat, Large-footed Myotis, Greater Broad-nosed Bat, Greater Broad-nosed Bat, Grey-headed Flying-fox, Blue Mountains Water Skink, Green and Golden Bell Frog, Booroolong Frog, Stuttering Barred Frog, Red-crowned Toadlet, Littlejohn’s Tree Frog, Giant Burrowing Frog, Giant Dragonfly, Bathurst Copper Butterfly

Species of Concern: Bibron’s Toadlet, Beautiful Firetail, Southern Emu-wren, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Eastern Snake-necked Tortoise, Highlands Copperhead, Mainland Tiger Snake, Superb Lyrebird, Satin Bowerbird, Greater Glider , Spotted Quail-thrush, Varied Sitella, Red-browed Treecreeper, Long-nosed Bandicoot.

HEATH Threatened Species: Painted Button- quail, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Southern (Vegetation Map Unit 4 – Blue Mountains Brown Bandicoot, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Heath) Rosenberg’s Goanna.

Species of Concern: Southern Emu- wren, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Beautiful Firetail.

ESCARPMENT Threatened Species: Sooty Owl, Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, Large-eared (Vegetation Map Unit 7 – Escarpment Pied Bat, Eastern Bentwing Bat, Large- Complex) footed Myotis, Broad-headed Snake, Rosenberg’s Goanna.

Species of Concern: Rockwarbler, Superb Lyrebird.

There are some species that are difficult to relate to particular communities. For example, the relationship between the Glossy Black-Cockatoo and the presence of she- oak trees (Allocasuarina species) meant that the composition of each vegetation community needed to be inspected. In this case, Forest Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa – which is known to be an important feed tree for the Glossy Black-Cockatoo in the lower mountains) is found in the Blue Mountains Ridgetop Forest and in the Moist Montane Sandstone Forest, so this species could be related to two habitat types – Woodland and

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Moist Tall Forest. This species is also known to feed, perhaps more so in the upper Blue Mountains, on Allocasuarina littoralis and A. distyla which grow in a wide range of habitats from forest to heathland. So the distribution of these species, as well as the presence of large breeding hollows, is significant for Glossy Black-Cockatoo habitat values across the Reserve.

In the case of the Bathurst Copper Butterfly, its relationship with Blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa subs. lasiophylla) meant that only the presence of this plant dictated the distribution of the threatened butterfly. According to Gingra Ecological Surveys there is some of the Bursaria host plant in the Blue Mountains Ridgetop Forest at Mount York i.e. the Woodland habitat type.

Wildlife Corridors

The Mount York Reserve forms part of a narrow corridor that extends north-south along the western escarpment of the Blue Mountains. The corridor is located at the edge of Blue Mountains National Park and enters this conservation reserve at Bell. Thus, there is a movement corridor for fauna along the escarpment edge, plateaux tops and parts of the valley floor between Blue Mountains National Park at Bell to the same Park at Jenolan, via Megalong Valley and Coxs River.

Gullies formed from small drainage lines along the edge of the escarpment are also minor wildlife corridors between the valley floor formed by River Lett and the plateau at Mount York. Although most of the land at Hartley has been cleared, there are still some scattered remnants that could form a link between Blue Mountains National Park at Mount Victoria and extensive forested habitat near Lithgow (e.g. Newnes State Forest).

Hill Topping by Butterflies

It is possible that several hill-topping sites used by butterflies could be found within the Mount York Reserve. Many butterfly species, especially in the families Hesperiidae, Papilionidae and Lycaenidae appear to be obligatory hill-toppers and tend to congregate on hill or ridge tops that are usually higher than the surrounding countryside.

The following description of hill-topping is from the Final Determination of the NSW Scientific Committee 2001. Hill-topping by butterflies is a very complex behaviour that often facilitates meeting of the sexes for mating. Hill-tops can act as a focus for such behaviour. The nature of sites used varies - a site may be as small as a few square metres or may cover several hectares, or display minor or very marked topographic relief. The same sites are used year after year. Hill-top physiognomy is important to hill-topping butterfly species and small changes in the appearance of a site can result in males not recognising it as a suitable site. Disturbance of plants on, or topography of, the hill-top, or its slopes and immediate surroundings, may render it unsuitable to butterflies as a hill-topping site. Habitat alteration such as loss of vegetation, urban development, tourist development, communication towers or power lines may lead to loss of perching or patrolling sites for male butterflies, loss of focal points for mating and thus local extinctions.

A Key Threatening Process listed in Schedule 3 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act is “Loss and/or degradation of sites used for hill-topping by butterflies”.

It is possible that several hill-topping sites used by butterflies could be found within the Mount York Reserve. The contours were modelled to show those areas above 1,000m.

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The maximum contour elevation in the Mount York Reserve is 1,050 metre and it is assumed that any relatively level area within the 1,000 metre contour could be used by hill-topping butterflies. The majority of such areas have not been heavily modified and it is possible that they are used by breeding butterflies.

2.3.6 Bushfire Management Fire has always been a major factor in the Australian environment, with fires originating from both natural and human sources. The fire regime of an area (the mixture of fire frequency, intensity and season of occurrence) has been influenced by humans since before European settlement. Fire was used for a range of purposes by Aboriginal people, including to clear the undergrowth and make travelling easier, for hunting and to increase the abundance of certain types of plant food. As a result of natural and Aboriginal burning practices mosaic patterns of vegetation of different ages and structure were created in the landscape.

Fire regimes are a major determinant of the distribution and abundance of plants and animals in the park. Different vegetation communities are able to sustain certain fire frequencies (or thresholds) before the vegetation community is altered. The appropriate fire threshold varies from community to community.

Past fire frequencies do not appear to have been consistent with thresholds for the vegetation communities in the Reserve. Gingra Ecological Surveys has recommended fire management threshholds of 15-30 years for Blue Mountains Ridgetop Forest and Escarpment Complex, 20-50 years for Moist Montane Sandstone Forest and Tablelands Grassy Box Gum Woodlands, 10-30 years for Blue Mountains Heath and greater than 50 years for Ceratopetalum apetalum-Doryphora sassafras Rainforest.

The boundary between Blue Mountains City Council and City of Lithgow Council is also the boundary between the Lithgow and Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service Districts.

The Blue Mountains Bush Fire Management Committee includes representatives from the Rural Fires Service, Blue Mountains City Council and the NSW NPWS. The Committee endorses the District’s proposed hazard reduction program. A Council employee provides the environmental assessment of fire management activities including prescribed burning, mechanical fuel management works or firetrail construction on lands which it owns or manages. Council prepares environmental assessment documents, known as a Review of Environmental Factors, for fire management activities affecting Council managed land and private land in order to determine the significance of the activity on the environment, including threatened species. Council is the determining authority for fire management activities on Council-owned or managed lands.

Part of Mount York Reserve lies within the City of Lithgow Council Local Government Area. The Rural Fire Service Lithgow District is the determining authority for fire management activities in the City of Lithgow Council Local Government Area.

A sub-committee of the Blue Mountains Bush Fire Management Committee has been established to oversee improved inter-agency coordination as well as coordination across Blue Mountains and Lithgow fire districts. The sub-committee meets monthly.

Mount York Reserve is located in an area identified in the Blue Mountains Bush Fire Risk Management Plan as being subject to high bushfire risk. The Reserve adjoins the

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north western boundary of the Mount Victoria urban area. There is the potential for the Reserve to be affected by uninterrupted fire runs from other areas such as Hartley Vale. Fire could easily spot into the Reserve from adjacent but non-contiguous bushland areas or be the result of an ignition within the Reserve.

As the Reserve adjoins residential areas there is the potential for fire within the Reserve to impact upon built assets outside of the Reserve as well as the limited built structures within the Reserve. Systematic bushfire hazard inspections undertaken on an annual to biennial basis can be used to assess the need for the establishment and/or maintenance of fuel reduced asset protection zones.

The Blue Mountains Bush Fire Risk Management Plan has placed Mount York Reserve within the Land Management – Conservation and Strategic Fire Advantage bushfire management zones. The objectives of the Land Management – Conservation Zone are to meet relevant land management objectives, maintain a range of fire regimes so that fire biodiversity thresholds are not exceeded and maintain a strategic fire trail network. Objectives of the Strategic Fire Advantage Zone are to provide strategic areas of fire protection which will reduce the speed and intensity of bush fires, and reduce the potential for spot fire development. The Blue Mountains Bush Fire Risk Management Plan (p51) notes that:

“in the Strategic Fire Advantage Zone equal weight is placed on the protection of life and property and the protection of the natural environment (e.g. biodiversity). To achieve the protection of life and property, the average fine fuel load within the zone do not exceed 15 tonnes/hectare with no more than 5 tonnes/hectare in the shrub layer, unless otherwise specified within this plan. These loadings may and often are exceeded in sections of the zone containing plant communities of low flammability (e.g. rainforests, moist forests, certain exotic planting’s, wetlands etc.).

The natural environment is protected within the Strategic Fire Advantage Zone by creating fuel mosaics. Fuel mosaics are created by patch burning in a pattern that produces a sequence of differential fuel ages (loads) strategically aligned so as to buffer the Asset Protection zones, important wildlife refuges, threatened species, critical habitat, fire advantages, etc. from wildfire impacts. A well designed mosaic contains enough low-fuel areas to ameliorate the intensity of a wildfire, and be strategically designed to be of benefit to fire-fighters, as well as to the assets at risk, in reducing or limiting the intensity of bushfires in the area. The inter fire interval for any part of the mosaic is maintained above the critical threshold for community and species maintenance thus preventing species extinction even on a local scale.”

The 2005/06 hazard reduction program for the Blue Mountains District of the Rural Fire Service scheduled two hazard reduction burns for Mount York Reserve and/or surrounding areas. The first was scheduled for autumn of 2006 and involved an area bounded by Berghofer’s Pass, Great Western Highway, Mount York Road and Mount Victoria township. The second hazard reduction burn, scheduled for 2008 or 2009, incorporates an area defined by Lockyer’s Ridge Road, Cox’s Road, the boundary between the two Councils and Mount York Road in the south.

A major wildfire event in the western Blue Mountains in November 2006 impacted on a significant area of Mount York Reserve know as the Lawson’s Long Alley Fire.

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While the occurrence of malicious or accidental wildfire in the Reserve cannot be predicted, careful planning of prescribed burns is necessary to ensure that a balance between conservation and risk management is achieved. Leaf litter loads are high around Mount York and other locations in the Reserve.

Camping at Mount York does pose a fire risk to surrounding bushland and its location north-west of Mount Victoria township also means the site poses significant fire risk to the township. There is a history of camp fire escapes in recent years – four such incidences occurred in 2004/05 but none were recorded in 2005/06.

2.4 Existing Uses of Mount York Reserve

Mount York Reserve is a generally undeveloped setting offering the opportunity for a variety of passive and active nature based recreational activities in a mostly uncrowded social environment. Local residents of Mount Victoria value highly the undeveloped and uncrowded nature of the Reserve.

Access to the Reserve may be gained from either the Mount York ridge (using Mount York Road) or from Hartley Vale below (using the network of historic roads). In the Blue Mountains Local Government Area the majority of visitors access the Reserve from Mount York Road, a sealed two-wheel drive standard road that leads from Mount Victoria township to Mount York. Visitors to the Mitchell’s Ridge site access this area directly from the Great Western Highway.

The Lawson’s Long Alley and Lockyer’s Line of Road trackheads near Hartley Vale in the Lithgow Local Government Area are accessed by Browns Gap Road and Hartley Vale Road, both of which are sealed and of two-wheel drive standard. For visitors using the Browns Gap Road the Mid Hartley Road provides a short cut to Hartley Vale. The Mid Hartley Road is unsealed but is regularly maintained and is also of two-wheel drive standard.

Mount York Reserve contains a number of recreational nodes where visitor facilities are located and/or visitor use concentrated. These nodes are the key sites that the vast majority of visitors to the park access to enjoy the recreational opportunities that the Reserve offers. Some of these sites serve as trackheads from which visitors access the numerous shared tracks in the Reserve.

Mount York Reserve plays a significant regional role in satisfying the demand for sites for commercial cliff recreation tours and cliff recreation courses such as those provided by TAFE.

2.4.1 Mount York Day Use Area

The Mount York Day Use Area lies at the terminus of Mount York Road, approximately 6 kilometres from Mount Victoria township. The Mount York Day Use Area is depicted in Figure 11.

A turning circle for vehicles defines a central area and surrounds. Two vehicle parking bays are located either side of this central core area and another two parking bays occur on the eastern side of the turnaround area. These parking areas have a capacity for

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Figure 11: Mount York and Barden’s Lookout Day Use Areas (from Elanus Word, 2003)

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approximately 21 vehicles. Mini buses and coaches are able to park on the western side of the turning circle where a short lay-by area exists. There is capacity for only one coach.

The central area contains a concrete roofed picnic shelter with two tables. A concrete water tank is adjacent to the picnic shelter, but is not in use at present and there is no obvious means of obtaining water from the tank. The Pavilion lies at the southern end of this core area and is the dominant feature of this part of the Mount York site. The Evans Memorial lies at the northern end of the core area. There has been some recent, partially successful, efforts to revegetate parts of the core area.

The Mount York Day Use Area, a loop road with perimeter carparking and limited visitor facilties in the centre – as seen from the north (left) and west (right) sides.

To the north-west of the site the Stone Arch and Explorers Chair provide an entrance to a short unsealed walking track that leads to the Obelisk, the Eddy Rock and Mount York Lookout. A low steel fence provides an effective, if not aesthetic, safety barrier at the lookout. A steel destination plate atop a painted concrete stand lies a short distance from the obelisk. From this point, the walking track heads downslope to the Eddy Rock Lookout and Mount York Lookout – both lookouts are accessed by a series of steps and have a steel barrier fence around their perimeter. The lookout surface at the Eddy Rock is worn natural sandstone outcrop and ledges.

A shared use track follows the alignment of Cox’s Road and heads north-east of the car park toward the popular cliff recreation area. At the head of this track are a number of features including an information sign with a map of the broader Mount York area, the Watsford Monument and the Blaxland Lawson and Wentworth Memorial. The track itself is 2 to 3 metres in width and for the first 20 metres has a natural surface. From this point, approximately 50 metres of track has been formalised with compacted gravel and drainage channels as required. This material has been overlain on Cox’s Road, although it is not known if any of the original Cox’s Road was removed in the process. This track then accesses the clifftop area of the main rock climbing and abseiling zone of “Exhibition Wall” to “Galactic Gully”. A short “link” trail heads west from this part of Cox’s Road to connect with the more formalised track leading to the Eddy Rock and Mount York Lookout. Cox’s Alternative Descent also branches off here heading southwards, while the original Cox’s Road continues east/south-east squeezing between large sandstone boulders on a twisting and steeply inclined route. Parts of Cox’s Alternative Descent are badly eroded and entrenched. The two routes rejoin below this initial steep zig-zagging rocky section towards the lower eastern end of “The Gully”. Cox’s Road then continues generally northwards as a single track.

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Two steep access tracks have been formalised by Cliff Care to provide access between cliff top and bottom. The tracks are located at “Galactic Gully” and “Echo Gully” and are the major routes used by climbers and abseilers in moving between cliff top and bottom in this area. A third steep walking track, rougher rockier and less clearly defined (but also including steps cut into a sloping rock outcrop near its upper end), leads up the spur to Mount York Lookout but receives less usage.

To the east of the central loop, approximately 20 metres distant, are two pit toilets - one of which is locked and not in use. A walking track leads east of the car park downslope to a site known as “The Gully”. A small octagonal shelter is located at the head of the track and provides a wet weather refuge for park visitors. Approximately the first 30 metres of the track has been formalised and benched steps installed, but the lower section is severely degraded. Informal tracks and footpads connect “The Gully” with the lower part of Cox’s Alternative Descent.

Visitor Use

Although no long term systematic records of visitor numbers have been kept, the Mount York Day Use Area appears to receive the highest visitor use of any of the key visitor nodes. This area provides recreation opportunities for the broadest spectrum of activities and as a result receives the greatest diversity of users. Common activities undertaken at the site include sight-seeing at lookouts, heritage appreciation, cliff recreation, bushwalking, nature appreciation, picnicking and camping. The site is also visited by mountain bikers and horse riders accessing Cox’s Road and as part of longer routes through the Reserve and surrounding area.

Depending on the recreation activity being undertaken, visitors’ length of stay at the site varies considerably. Observations over several visits between March and June 2006 indicate that independent visitors to the site who are sight seeing or appreciating the heritage values stay for as little as 15 minutes or as long as 2 hours. In this time their experience of the site may be limited to simply strolling to Mount York Lookout or extend to viewing each of the monuments, lookouts and heritage fabric of Cox’s Road near “The Block” and enjoying lunch or a short snack at the picnic shelter.

Cliff-based recreation at The Block. Scenic-viewing at Eddy Rock Lookout.

People involved in cliff recreation may stay on site for several days or for one day only. Commercial cliff recreation groups generally stay for half a day, leaving the site after enjoying lunch in the day use area. TAFE training groups often camp on site for two

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nights and are well equipped with a trailer of necessary supplies and camping equipment.

The most intensively used area for cliff recreation is the area known as Sunny Side, extending along the north/north-east cliffline from Mount York Lookout east to Galactic Gully. Shady Side, the western cliffline from Mount York Lookout to Barden's Lookout, is also used but much less so than Sunny Side. The main cliff recreation locations are shown on Figure 12. Training groups and commercial tours also use the day use area for initial instruction and/or training. TAFE also use the Sunny Side to assess student ability to put into practice the skills taught on the course. For the 2006/07 licensing year, Council records indicate that 2,443 people visited Mount York as part of a cliff recreation commercial activity making up 51% of the total use for this activity by commercial operator on Council managed land.

The Elanus Word 2003 assessment of cliff recreation at Mount York concluded that the area is receiving very high climbing use, very high commercial and group use and very high bushwalking use. The area is assessed as providing both traditional and “sport” cliff recreation across basic, intermediate and expert skill levels. The area has a “medium” level of bolting and safety issues identified include walkers above and below the cliff face, tree fall, loose rock and walkers being misled into climbing areas. It includes 350 metres of formally constructed tracks and a further (at least) 1,300 metres of informal tracks established by visitor use patterns. The site is assessed as subject to severe cliff top, cliff base and on-cliff impacts.

Other users such as bushwalkers, horse riders and mountain bikers generally transit through the site as part of an extended route. However, these users (especially walkers) generally punctuate their activity with a visit to some or all of the lookouts, monuments and other heritage sites.

The site is regularly used for camping, by both independent visitors or large groups such as TAFE. Camping generally occurs within the central area of the site, on the eastern side of the car park or in an area to the east of a roadside shelter at the entrance to the site. Camping is at present largely unregulated and no formal fire places are provided.

Visitor Impacts

The significant environmental impacts to the site appear to be a result of the concentrated regular use of the Sunny Side area for cliff recreation. As noted above, the Elanus Word 2003 study of cliff recreation at the site concluded it is subject to severe cliff top, cliff base and on-cliff impacts. These impacts include soil erosion, soil compaction, total removal of ground cover and shrub storey vegetation and installation of bolts and other material on the cliff face. Impacts along the cliff base are exacerbated by the steep slopes encountered in many areas along the bottom of the cliffline.

Environmental impacts are also evident at “The Gully” – a site that is being used for cliff recreation training Impacts from climbing and training use are increasing in the area known and commercial tours. Again, impacts include soil as “The Gully”. erosion and compaction and vegetation removal. The size of the area being impacted is actively expanding.

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Figure 12: Cliff Recreation Sites, Mount York to Barden’s Lookout

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Recreational use – primarily commercial cliff recreation group use, some individual cliff recreation users, but also mountain biking and horse riding – is also impacting on the heritage fabric of Cox’s Road. This is most obvious in the vicinity of “The Block” and a prominent cutting in Cox’s Road where the heritage fabric is being subject to pedestrian, bicycle and horse traffic. Obvious impacts of mountain bike use include incisions to the rock surface, presumably from chain guards, pedals or cogs. While no impacts from horse riding were obvious, it is highly likely Cliff recreation activities are adversely impacting the Reserve’s more heavily used locations, that continued passage of horses with metal particularly the cliff top and bottom in the “shoes” would impact on the soft sandstone Exhibition Wall to Galactic Gully area. surface of Cox’s Road at Mount York, causing removal of pieces of sandstone and/or enhancing the erosion process. Such impacts significantly degrade the heritage fabric of this section of Cox’s Road.

The small size of the Mount York site and the proximity of a number of the key visitor attractions has led to conflict between different users. This is most obvious at Cox’s Road near the cutting. This area is very popular for visitors to appreciate the obvious and unique heritage fabric associated with the construction and use of Cox’s Road. A cliff recreation group training in the central This is also a relatively narrow area that is picnic area at Mt York. an access way for all users. Additionally, the area is also extremely popular for cliff recreation and is at the top of an abseiling route, frequently used by commercial operators and training groups. Consequently, the cliff top at this site is a gathering point for users of this abseiling route and associated cliff recreation “infrastructure” such as strapping is usually very obvious. The congregation of groups in this area and the associated noise and activity has significant potential to impact the heritage experience of other users.

There is also potential for conflicts between both mountain bike riders and/or horse riders and other users of Cox’s Road such as people undertaking cliff recreation, walkers and day use visitors. The speed of mountain bike riders when travelling down hill in this area, and the potential for congestion at times, significantly increases the risk of collision with other users, particularly when a family or other group is using the track. Horses, primarily due to their size and potential for unpredictable behaviour (real or otherwise, as well as in the perceptions of other users), can also impact on the experience of other track users.

Some of the other activities occurring at Mount York may also result in users being displaced. Camping in the day use area and the potential monopolisation of visitor facilities by campers can alienate picnickers and other day visitors. The use of the day use area for cliff recreation training and education may also displace other day use visitors from the site.

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2.4.2 Barden's Lookout

Barden’s Lookout lies to the west of Mount York Road, approximately 5 kilometres from Mount Victoria township. During 2007 remediation was carried out involving soil conservation and revegetation work. Vehicle access was restricted with installation of boulders, and car parking spaces were define and the main access road resurfaced. The layout of the car parking was in keeping with the draft master plan for the site.

Visitor facilities provided at the site are still limited. A low steel fence provides an effective safety barrier at the lookout. A small steel information sign near the cliff edge highlights the historic features of Berghofer’s and Mitchell’s Pass that are visible to the south-east. A small directional sign indicates the alignment of a walking track heading to Mount York/Lawson’s Long Alley.

A steep informal walking track leads from near the lookout down Barden’s Gully to the cliff base and provides access for climbers and abseilers. Members of the climbing community have commenced stabilising this access track with support from Council though the Blue Mountains Track Care Programs.

Visitor Use

Barden's Lookout is generally a day use site only, primarily to appreciate the view and observe the distant heritage features of Berghofer’s Pass and Mitchell’s Pass. The almost complete lack of visitor facilities generally does not encourage visitors to stay for longer periods. Observations during site visits between March and June 2006 indicate that, with the exception of people using it as a trackhead for access to the nearby “Shady Side” cliffs, most visitors stay for less than 15 minutes. Barden’s Lookout is a short stay scenic viewing point easily accessed off Mount York Road. The remnants of a number of fireplaces to the north and south of the lookout indicate that the site may also be infrequently used for camping, perhaps when desirable camping locations at Mount York are in use.

Visitor Impacts

The definition of car parking and restriction of vehicle access has minimized visitor impacts. Standard soil conservation drainage has been installed however further formalisation will be required to prevent the continued sheet flow and associated soil erosion. The large cleared area beside Mount York Road adjacent to the lookout has been brush matted and vehicle access restricted, however the site continues to attract rubbish dumping.

These measures were put in place by Council during 2007 as an interim measure to improve the condition of the site. The site is still prone to dumping and further formalisation of visitor facilities is required.

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2.4.3 Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead

Lockyer’s Line of Road Track Head is a small roadside vehicle lay by on the northern side of Mount York Road approximately 3.5 kilometres from Mount Victoria. The car park is presently undefined and has a capacity of less than 6 vehicles. A number of directional signs indicate tracks leading to Lockyer’s Line of Road, Lawson’s Long Alley and Mount York.

Visitor Use

Lockyer’s Line of Road trackhead is an undeveloped This trackhead is used by walkers and roadside lay by. mountain bike riders utilising Lockyer’s Line of Road as a starting or finishing point on a route through Mount York Reserve. The site appears to receive generally limited use, despite Lockyer’s Line of Road being possibly the most popular and frequently used mountain biking route within the Reserve.

Visitor Impacts

Environmental impacts at the site are limited and this is directly related to the low numbers of visitors and the low frequency of use. There has been some vegetation removal and soil compaction in the immediate vicinity of the lay by but this does not appear to be expanding in area or severity.

2.4.4 Lawson’s Long Alley Trackhead

This site lies approximately 2 kilometres from Mount Victoria and is to the north of Mount York Road. The site serves as an access point for walkers, bike riders and other visitors to Lawson’s Long Alley and Berghofer’s Pass.

Vehicle access to the site is via Mount York Road or via Berghofer Drive - a public road linking Mount York Road and St Georges Parade on the western side of Mount Victoria. Berghofer Drive follows the original alignment of Berghofer’s Pass. A turnoff from Berghofer Drive approximately 25 metres from Mount York Road provides vehicle access to a compacted gravel informal car park that caters for 8-10 vehicles. Low timber barriers have been used to define the roadside edge of the Lawson’s Long Alley Trackhead area and Lawson’s Long Alley trackhead also services the first 20 metres of Berghofer Drive leading the northern entry to Berghofer’s Pass on the opposite side of Mount York Road to the informal car park. There is no definition of the car park perimeter.

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A walking track with natural surface leads from the car park to a small picnic area adjacent to Mount York Road. The picnic area contains an orientation information sign, one picnic table, a barbecue and a Memorial to the Road Pioneers. A number of routed timber directional signs indicate the location of Lawson’s Long Alley that adjoins the picnic area, as well as a nearby link to Cox’s Road Track. There is a low stone wall near the picnic area that may be associated with the original Cox’s Road or Lawson’s Long Alley.

The original alignment of Berghofer’s Pass continues to the south of Mount York Road, directly opposite the turnoff to the Lawson’s Long Alley Track Head. A locked gate prevents vehicular access. There is no defined pedestrian crossing of Mount York Road.

Visitor Use

Lawson’s Long Alley Trackhead services visitors using the shared tracks on Berghofer’s Pass, Cox’s Road or Lawson’s Long Alley. This position at the head of three shared use tracks makes it a reasonably well used site, as evidenced by the size of the informal car park. The length of stay on the site itself is generally short, but varies according to the shared track options enjoyed. Depending on the route selected, vehicles may be parked on site for much of the day or as little as 1 -2 hours in the case of users of Berghofer’s Pass.

Visitor Impacts

The most obvious environmental impact at the site is the gravel expanse created by vehicle access to the car park. The informal nature of both the access and car park has resulted in a relatively large area being cleared of vegetation and the soil being compacted. As with Lockyer’s Road Track Head this does not appear to be expanding in area or severity.

2.4.5 Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead (Hartley Vale)

A formal trackhead area has been established at the northern end of Lockyer’s Line of Road in Hartley Vale. The site is south of Hartley Vale Road approximately 500 metres west of Comet Inn and is presently managed by the Department of Lands. This site serves as a major access point to the Reserve from the Hartley Vale district.

The site incorporates an informal gravel vehicle access and a number of informal vehicle loop tracks on a gentle slope among scattered trees. A stock fence defines the boundary of the site.

An orientation sign at the entrance to the site and routed timber directional signs indicate the location of the Lockyer’s Line of Road track that leads from the south-western corner of the site. Three picnic tables, one barbecue and a pit toilet have been Lockyer’s Line of Road Hartley Vale trackhead provided. An old concrete water tank is receives probably the least use of all the situated upslope of the area and appears to Reserve’s visitor nodes.

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have been used to provide water for visitors. A small length of water pipe protrudes above ground on the southern edge of the site - there is no tap on the water pipe and the tank and tap appear to no longer be in use.

Beyond the fenced area of the site a number of signs have been erected on trees indicating the adjoining area is private land, despite it being Crown land.

Visitor Use

The Hartley Vale Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead is the second largest of the visitor nodes providing access to the Reserve. The vehicle access and parking area is comprised of compacted soil. Visitor use is primarily associated with walkers or riders utilising the Lockyer’s Line of Road track as a starting or finishing point on a route through Mount York Reserve. The site appears to receive a low and infrequent level of use.

The remnants of a number of fireplaces indicate that the site may also be infrequently used for camping. It offers a more remote and undisturbed setting for camping than sites on the Mount York ridgeline.

Visitor Impacts

Environmental impact is limited and this is directly related to the low numbers of visitors and the low frequency of use. There has been some vegetation removal and soil compaction and a number of the informal vehicle access tracks are exhibiting small erosion gullies as a result of the lack of drainage works.

Some soil conservation work was carried out by Council during 2007 in the access track to Lockyer’s Road and bare areas of the track head were ripped and mulched to reduce runoff and continuous erosion.

2.4.6 Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout

Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout lies to the south of the Great Western Highway approximately 200 metres from the western outskirts of Mount Victoria.

Mount York Reserve does not incorporate the entire extent of Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout. There is no on ground delineation of the boundary between Mount York Reserve and the land parcel adjoining to the east. Analysis of aerial photography and topographical maps indicate that as little as the western 25 metres of the site lies within the Reserve.

Access to the site is gained via a gravel track leading directly from the Great Western Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout offers impressive Highway. The track parallels the views south, but is separated from the bulk of escarpment before looping back to the north the Reserve by the Great Western Highway. and the highway turnoff. The site contains a number of basic facilities including a lookout

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with low barrier fencing, three shelters, and an obelisk commemorating Mitchells Pass (as well as, originally, some old playground equipment which has been removed during this plan’s preparation).

Visitor Use

Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout is primarily used for short stay sightseeing and scenic viewing and overnight or short stay camping. The lookout offer views over the valley below and on to distant ridgelines, as well as a vantage point for observing some of the road building achievements at nearby Victoria Pass.

The site is also used as a free overnight camping area, and rest stop, for travellers on the Great Western Highway. This includes use by caravans, campervans and mobile homes. From observations during this plan’s preparation the site appears to be well known, and fairly well patronised, by “grey nomads” (older/retired, travellers).

Visitor Impacts

The usage impacts at Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout are typical of those at a short stay destination with a low management presence. These include soil compaction, vehicle intrusion, vegetation damage, fire refuse, toilet waste, and litter and rubbish dumping.

2.4.7 Shared Use Tracks

Mount York Reserve incorporates a network of shared use tracks, the majority of which follow the alignments of the historic roads in the area. They are used primarily by walkers as well as for mountain biking and horse riding. Motorbikes can also access these routes, but do so only infrequently and have not proven a major management issue to-date.

The Department of Lands has undertaken regular maintenance work on the shared tracks in the Reserve including a programme of track upgrading, maintenance, direction marking and signposting in the late 1980s. More recent work has also been done on the upper section of Cox’s Road leading downslope form the Mount York Day Use area during the late 1990s.

Cox’s Road Shared Track

Cox’s Road Shared Track extends from Lawson’s Long Alley Track Head to Mount York Day Use Area, and continues via Cox’s Descent before terminating at Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead in Hartley Vale.

The ridgetop section of Cox’s Road Track presently parallels Mount York Road. From Lawson’s Long Alley, the track lies on the northern side of and parallels Mount York Road before crossing in the vicinity of two historic wells. From this point the track lies on the southern side of and parallels Mount York Road, passes through the Barden's Lookout area before continuing to Mount York Day Use Area. These sections are well- defined tracks or footpads but with few surface improvements or drainage control, and only parts of this ridgetop section of the road are located within the Reserve (refer Figures 3 and 4). It may be possible to provide an alternative route in a more natural setting at the base of the escarpment between Barden’s Lookout and Monument Point.

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From Mount York Day Use Area the track follows either of Cox’s descents to the base of the escarpment. As discussed above, the first approximately 400 metres of Cox’s Road east from the Mount York Day Use Area (as well as part of Cox’s Alternative Descent) is the most constructed and heavily used sections of the entire route and follows this original alignment of the road. From below this sharp descent Cox Road continues on private land. The track follows a Crown road reserve and continues as a well-defined track to the Lockyer’s Line of Road Track Head in Hartley Vale. A Crown road reserve approximates the route of the track northwards across the lower terrain from the base of the escarpment, however the road’s actual on-ground alignment is on private land.

Lockyer’s Line of Road Shared Track

This track extends from the trackhead adjacent to Mount York Road along a ridge line before descending into Hartley Vale and terminating at the lower day use area adjacent to Hartley Vale Road. It is a formed track for the majority of its length, but with little drainage control or other built elements until the descent into the Hartley Vale Valley. It is the only historic road shared use track and recreation route that is entirely within the Reserve (exclusive of extended/isolated road reserve corridors). Lockyer’s Line of Road is the Reserve’s most frequently used mountain biking route, being an especially popular descent.

Lawson’s Long Alley Shared Track

The Lawson’s Long Alley Shared Track commences adjacent to Mount York Road before descending into the valley of Kerosene Creek. Most of the southern half of the route is a roadway or defined track that is either within the Reserve (in the south) or along a Crown road reserve offset from, but connected to, the main body of the Reserve (refer Figures 3 and 4). Again the track’s actual on-ground alignment most likely strays from this narrow road reserve in places. The northern section of Lawson’s Long Alley Shared Track is a dirt road, across private land adjacent to the reserve’s eastern boundary, which provides vehicular access to private properties. As at the writing of this report, the current owners of this private land do not restrict or object to public access along their private access road. They do not mind if people continue along their private road, with signage in place asking users to stay on the road and other appropriate behaviour messages.

Berghofer’s Pass Shared Track

Berghofer’s Pass leads from Mount York Road to the Great Western Highway. The track, which presents to users as a firetrail or dirt road for most of its length, is at a gentle grade. The easy grade of Berghofer’s Pass provides an opportunity to provide a short heritage related walk for less mobile visitors. With the exception of the first 150 metres (approximately) south of Mount York Road, all of Berghofer’s Pass lies within Mount York Reserve.

Other tracks

There are several informal tracks that have been established by ongoing visitor use rather than as a result of any planning process or as initiatives of the cliff recreation community. Foremost of these is a walking track that extends from Galactic Gully to Monument Point that provides cliff base access for climbers and abseilers. The section of this track between Galactic Gully and Echo Gully receives the heaviest use by virtue of two steep access tracks to the cliff top that traverse these gullies. The track between Echo Gully and Monument Point is also frequently used, but becomes increasingly more

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poorly defined to the west. The steep access track up and down at Monument Point is rocky and poorly defined, but an old set of stone steps cut into a sloping sandstone outcrop are found near the top of this informal access route (just below the existing metal/wire barrier fencing) indicating possible higher levels of usage in the past.

A further track extends along the cliff base from Monument Point to the base of Barden's Lookout. At present this track receives the least amount of use of all the A steep access track between cliff top and tracks in the Reserve. bottom near Galactic Gully, catering for the needs of clff recreators and initially installed by An appealing feature of the waking tracks in “Cliffcare”. Mount York Reserve is their interconnectedness and the ability to use the network of tracks to provide a variety of walking or riding options. The historic roads may be used as loop tracks with the duration and degree of difficulty selected by the user, or may be used on their own as a simple “there-and-back” return walk or ride.

2.4.8 Specific Visitor Activities

Mount York Reserve caters for a number of classes of visitor, including:

• Locals - residents of Mount Victoria, Hartley Vale and environs have a strong affiliation with the site and some visit very frequently as part of a regular walking or cycling regime. • Blue Mountains residents - the site is also well known throughout the Blue Mountains and people from this broader area also use it, often bringing friends and relatives who are visiting the Blue Mountains. • Independent tourists - a proportion of users are independent tourists to the site, coming to the area to undertake their chosen recreational activity. Users of this type can participate across the full range of the activities the site offers. • Patrons of commercial tours - either on a specific heritage tour, horse riding tours, a scenic tour of the Blue Mountains or tours that are simply passing through the Blue Mountains. • Patrons of commercial cliff recreation tours – licensed operators with groups of up to fifteen participants regularly use Mount York Reserve. It is common for several or more groups to be on site at Mount York at the one time, particularly on weekends and other periods of peak use such as school holidays. During the twelve months to October 2006, 1,435 people visited Mont York Reserve as part of a commercial cliff recreation activity. It is the most frequently used site for licensed cliff recreation in the Blue Mountains. • Training groups – Police and defence forces occasionally use Mount York for cliff recreation training purposes. By far the largest cliff recreation training user of the site is TAFE NSW with 888 people visiting Mount York Reserve as part of a TAFE course in the twelve months to October 2006. Three campuses regularly use the site.

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Day Visits

Mount York Reserve presently offers a diversity of sites for day use visitors. Barden’s Lookout, Mount York Day Use Area, Lawson’s Long Alley and Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout are most frequently used by day use or other short stay visitors. These sites are easily accessed and offer a variety of recreational opportunities including heritage appreciation, nature appreciation, short walks and expansive views.

Heritage Appreciation

The unique heritage values of Mount York Reserve make it attractive for both dedicated heritage enthusiasts and people with only a passing historic interest. These values/attractions also provide an additional point of interest for people who visit primarily for other purposes. The remnants of the heritage roads, their close proximity to each other and the range of monuments commemorating various aspects of the history of the area are the key heritage attractions. As noted earlier, these items have been assessed as significant both independently and through their relationships with each other. The structures on the site have a geographical relationship, as well as links through their shared narrative of the events that have occurred at the location.

The remnants of Cox’s Road, the multitude of monuments, as well as the view to the plains below combine to make Mount York Day Use Area the primary heritage destination in the Reserve. The Blue Mountains Branch of the National Trust holds a popular annual guided heritage walk along Cox’s Road which is, reportedly, well-patronised by 30 to 50 people each year.

Barden's Lookout is also popular for its easily accessible views to Berghofer’s and Mitchell’s Pass.

While no empirical data is available, it is probable that only a minority of visitors with a heritage interest walk part or all of the tracks along the historic roads. The age demographic of many visitors interested in the Heritage appreciation is part of the site’s heritage may be an influencing factor. Cox’s Reserve experience for many Road at Mount York therefore takes on a more visitors, even though it may not be the original attraction that drew significant role in offering an easily accessible glimpse them to the site. of the heritage roads that exist in the Reserve. Berghofer’s Pass, with its ease of accessibility and gentle grade is well placed to also provide an insight into the historic roads of the Reserve for less mobile or confident visitors.

Nature Appreciation

The Reserve provides many opportunities for people, including both nearby residents and visitors/tourists, to quietly enjoy the area’s bushland setting and natural values as well as the scenic views from the Reserve’s several vantage points.

Mount York is also becoming an increasingly popular birdwatching destination, with a suite of uncommon species that can be readily seen within the area (such as the Spotted Quail-thrush and Rockwarbler).

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Cliff Recreation

The Blue Mountains are today a very popular rock climbing precinct in NSW and the site of most commercial cliff recreation and rope sport activity. Over 5,000 thousand customers participated in a licensed cliff recreation activity in the Blue Mountains LGA during the twelve months to October 2006, with 40% of this use being within Mount York Reserve.

The physical structure of the cliff faces at Mount York Reserve provides climbing routes with a wide range of degree of difficulty. The most intensively used area for cliff recreation is the area known as Sunny Side, extending from Mount York Lookout east to Galactic Gully. Shady Side, Mount York Lookout to Barden’s Lookout, is also used but much less so than Sunny Side. In recent years a group of isolated rock outcrops to the east of Mount York Day Use Area, referred to as

Mount York is one of the most popular and diverse cliff recreation destinations in the Blue Mountains.

“The Gully”, has become a popular site for commercial operators and other organised training groups such as TAFE.

By their nature, cliff recreation activities expose participants to a degree of risks, such as falling. It is necessary for participants in hazardous cliff recreation activities to accept full responsibility for their own safety.

The Elanus Word report (Blue Mountains Cliff Recreation Site Assessment, 2003) concluded that the Sunny Side area is receiving very high climbing use and very high commercial and group use. The area provides both traditional and “sport” cliff recreation across basic, intermediate and expert skill levels. The Cliff recreation activities have the potential to impact on or detract area has a “medium” level of bolting. The safety from appreciation of the Reserve’s issues identified in this earlier report include walkers heritage fabric, such as here at “The Block”.

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above and below the cliff face, tree fall, loose rock and walkers being misled into climbing areas.

As noted in section 2.4.1, the Elanus Word 2003 study of cliff recreation at Sunny Side concluded it is subject to severe cliff top, cliff base and on-cliff impacts. These impacts include soil erosion, soil compaction, total removal of ground cover and shrub storey vegetation, installation of bolts and other material on the cliff face.

Environmental impacts are also evident at “The Gully” including soil erosion, compaction and vegetation removal. The size of the area being impacted is actively expanding.

Training groups and commercial tours use the Mount York Day Use Area for initial instruction and/or training. Council has recently implemented a licensing system to improve management of cliff recreation at Mount York Reserve.

Three TAFE campuses also use Sunny Side to assess student ability to apply the skills taught on the course. TAFE groups of up to 30 students spend up to three days on site as part of their coursework. Three to four such groups could use the site each month.

At the Sunny Side cliff top, there is potential for conflicts between cliff recreation participants and other park visitors seeking to appreciate the heritage values of this area. This conflict is most evident in the vicinity of the historic cutting and an area known as “The Block” where there is only a small distance from Cox’s Road Shared Track to the cliff edge. This area is very popular for visitors wanting to appreciate the obvious and unique heritage fabric

associated with the construction and use of The crowding of differing user groups, and other Cox’s Road. Additionally, the site is also issues such as climbing equipment and ropes, extremely popular for cliff recreation and is can generate conflict and potential hazards between user groups at heavily used locations. at the top of an abseiling route frequently used by commercial operators and training groups. Consequently, the cliff top at this site is a gathering point for users of this abseiling route and associated cliff recreation “infrastructure” such as strapping is usually very obvious – with risks to both cliff users and track users or scenic viewers. The congregation of groups in this area and the associated noise and activity has significant potential to impact the heritage experience of other users.

Bolting, and to a lesser extent climb/route marking, are additional issues associated with cliff recreation activities within the reserve. Gondwana Consulting 77 Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

The management of bolts and hold fast points on the cliff face and at the cliff top has not been regulated. The cliff faces at Mount York contain a variety of bolts, some dating back decades while others are recent additions. There appears to be differing opinions in the climbing community about the placement and management of bolts on climbs. A member of the climbing community is regularly rebolting some of the climbs at the site although no formal approval has been provided. This activity and the subsequent promotion of the rebolted climbs through websites and climbing community networks has the potential to impact on cliff recreation use patterns. Climbs that have recently been receiving minimal use could quickly become popular, resulting in environmental impacts increasing at these sites, particularly if no visitor facilities such as walking tracks or top and bottom access are in place.

Walking

As described above, there are a number of tracks in the Reserve catering for walkers, from short strolls to full day walks. The links between the tracks provides a small network of walks and enables users to select a route suited to the time available and desired degree of difficulty.

The number of shared tracks in the Reserve, combined with the number of existing trackhead access points, gives flexibility in offering walks of different lengths, difficulty and with varying natural and heritage features of interest.

Walkers’ impacts are generally minimal, but can include issues such as erosion of steeper or less stable slopes, litter, weed spread and increased fire risks.

Mountain Bike Riding

The network of shared use tracks in the Reserve also strongly appeals to mountain bike riders. As for walkers, the links between the shared tracks and loop options provides an inter-connected network of routes which enables users to select a route suited to the time available, desired degree of difficulty, environmental setting, and attractions en-route.

The mountain biking opportunities available within the Reserve are well-known and widely promoted among the mountain biking The reserve offers a number of route options for mountain biking. community. The Reserve is both a mountain biking destination in its own right, attracting riders from the Blue Mountains/Lithgow and Sydney Metropolitan areas and beyond, and part of longer cycling routes through the mountains. A well-established popular route for mountain bike riders is to descend from the Mount York ridgeline by one of Cox’s Road, Lockyer’s Line of Road or Lawson’s Long Alley, use existing roads in Hartley Vale and Little Hartley to reach the Great Western Highway and return to the starting point via Berghofer’s Pass and Mount York Road. Lockyer’s Line of Road is an especially popular and frequently used route, notably as a descent, for mountain bikers.

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Sections of Cox’s Road contain a sandstone rock surface shaped by the original road makers while other sections are simply a track with natural soil surface materials. The sections comprised of worked sandstone surface, such as at Cox’s descent at Mount York, are subject to impacts from mountain bike use including incisions into the rock surface, presumably from chain guards, pedals or cogs contacting the rock surface. Such impacts significantly degrade the heritage fabric of the site.

Sections of historic roads comprised of natural soil surface, which in itself has little heritage value, are able to sustain ongoing mountain bike use without significantly impacting the heritage values of Cox’s Road, or other historic roads in the Reserve. Ongoing

Mountain bikes have the potential mountain bike use does however, have the potential to to damage rock surfaces, including cause rutting of the road surface, altering drainage heritage fabric. flow from the track surface and resulting in channel erosion along routes. Monitoring of such impacts would allow early detection of any channelling and permit corrective maintenance action to be taken.

The speed of mountain bike riders when travelling down hill or on flat sections of track increases the risk of collision with other users, particularly when a family or other group is using the track. This danger is greater when sight lines along the track ahead are limited.

Horse Riding

The Reserve’s tracks also offer an access network for horse riders. The majority of horse riding use originates in Hartley Vale and uses the three historic descents to form a return loop. One commercial operator is licensed to use the Reserve for guided rides. Levels of horse riding usage are less than mountain bike riding (or walking) but it is not insignificant given the proportionally greater impact this activity can generate.

As is the case for mountain bike use, horse riding has potential to impact those sections of the historic roads of Mount York Reserve where a worked sandstone or other rock surface is in evidence. While no impacts were immediately obvious during numerous site visits, it is highly likely that continued passage of horses with metal “shoes” would impact on sections of historic roads where the original worked soft sandstone surface is evident, causing removal of pieces of sandstone and/or enhancing the erosion process. Such impacts significantly degrade the heritage fabric of those sections of historic roads.

While horse riding on tracks with a natural soil surface material may increase soil erosion, the soil surface itself has little heritage value and is better able to sustain an ongoing level of horse riding use. Ongoing horse riding use does however, have the potential to cause rutting of the road surface, altering drainage flow from the track surface and resulting in channel erosion along the track. These impacts are much greater under wet conditions. Monitoring of such impacts would allow early detection of any channelling and permit corrective maintenance action to be taken. Horses can also introduce and spread weeds within bushland areas.

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Horses, primarily due to their size and potential (real or otherwise) for unpredictable behaviour, can also impact on the experience of other track users.

Camping

There is substantial evidence of camping in the Reserve. As discussed above, Mount York Day Use Area is a popular site and receives regular use, both mid week and on weekends and holidays. The central part of the Mount York Day Use Area is popular, as is the eastern side of the car park and an area located to the east of a roadside shelter at the entrance to the site.

The Hartley Vale Lockyer’s Road Trackhead, and to a lesser extent, Barden's Camping in the main day use are at Mount York Lookout are also used for camping. has the potential to displace or other users. Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout is a regularly used overnight stop or campsite, especially for caravanners or campervans.

It appears that the vast majority of campers at Mount York (and probably also Barden's Lookout) are people involved in cliff recreation. Most independent visitors are likely to stay for one or two nights only.

Students of NSW TAFE, in groups of up to 20 to 30 people, camp at Mount York during the field work component of their course. Discussion with TAFE teachers indicate that the site is used for approximately 6 days per month.

At all sites, camping is at present largely unregulated and no formal fire places or other facilities are provided specifically for camping use.

2.4.9 Licensed Activities

Eleven companies and organisations are licensed to use the Reserve for recreational purposes. Nine licensees conduct cliff recreation activities, one provides guided bush walks and another takes guided horse rides through the Reserve. Three of the licensed organisations conducting cliff recreation are TAFEs.

Mount York Reserve receives 40% of the total licensed cliff recreation activity within the Blue Mountains City Council Local Government Area. In the twelve months to October 2006, 2323 people undertook cliff recreation activities at Mount York as part of a licensed operation. Two operators accounted for 55% of licensed cliff recreation users while the three TAFE’s accounted for 38% of the total licensed cliff recreation use of the Reserve. Licensed cliff recreational use is reasonably evenly distributed throughout the year with use levels ranging from 322 people in September to 663 people in November. The four most popular months are November to February, accounting for 45% of the total yearly use.

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A licensee currently manages Lot 3, DP 82098 in the northern part of the Reserve. The license is for environmental protection purposes and is presently issued annually by the Department of Lands.

2.4.10 Information and Interpretation

Generally, there is little information available regarding the recreation activities on offer at Mount York Reserve.

There is no pre-visit information readily available to inform visitors about the site prior to their coming to the area. The exception to this is information relating to cliff recreation opportunities available at the Reserve. The climbing and abseiling communities are well organised and networked with up-to-date web pages highlighting the climbing and abseiling opportunities the area offers. In addition, the Blue Mountains is a renowned climbing region and Mount York generally features heavily in published material about the area.

Once on site, information is generally limited to a series of mostly directional signs installed by the Department of Lands as part of 1988 celebrations associated with the Bicentenary and the 175 year anniversary of the European crossing of the Blue Mountains. These basic routed timber signs have been provided at each of the visitor nodes and shared use tracks within the Reserve.

Orientation and information/interpretive signage within the Reserve is generally limited and dated.

Orientation information is limited to a generic sign that was installed at the main visitor nodes, also as part of the 1988 celebrations. The information provided is limited to a map of the Reserve and its historic roads and is not tailored to the specifics of each site.

Small steel signs have also been installed at a number of specific points of heritage interest such as at Cox’s Road and Barden’s Lookout. Three small plaques also highlight heritage features on the upper section of Cox’s Road descent – all three are in the vicinity of the very obvious and interesting rock cutting constructed in 1815. Several brass interpretive signs on metal posts are in place at points of interest along Lockyer’s

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Line of Road and Berghofer’s Pass, dating from the Department of Lands’ upgrading works in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The provision of updated orientation and interpretive information throughout the Reserve would significantly improve visitor appreciation and enjoyment of the natural and cultural features of the area.

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3 Legislation and Policy

This chapter outlines the legislative framework for the plan of management (particularly direction provided by the Crown Lands Act 1989), describes the value in categorising land within the Reserve and summarises relevant Council strategic documents.

3.1 Legislative Requirements

As all of the land covered by this plan of management is Crown land this document has been prepared and structured in accordance with the requirements of the Crown Lands Act 1989. To ensure consistency with existing Council plans of management the lands within the Reserve will be categorised consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993. The relevant sections of each of these Acts and associated Regulations are summarised below.

3.1.1 Crown Lands Act 1989 Section 10 details the Objects of the Act, being to ensure that Crown land is managed for the benefit of the people of New South Wales. The Department of Lands’ management philosophy directly relates to the principles of Crown Land Management which are outlined in section 11 of the Crown Lands Act 1989. These principles are: • that environmental protection principles be observed in relation to the management and administration of Crown land; • that natural resources (including water, soil, flora, fauna and scenic quality) be conserved wherever possible; • that public use and enjoyment be encouraged; • that, where appropriate, multiple use of the land be encouraged; • that, where appropriate, land should be used and managed in such a way that both the land and its resources are sustained in perpetuity; and • that Crown land be occupied, used, sold, leased, licensed or otherwise dealt with in the best interest of the state consistent with the above principles. Section 87 provides that the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, reserve any Crown land from sale, lease or licence or for future public requirements or other public purpose. The public purpose determines the range of uses of a reserve. Section 92 – 95 provides for the establishment and naming of a reserve trust and it’s appointment as trustee of any one or more specified reserves or any one or more parts of a reserve. The reserve trust is charged with the care, control and management of the reserve(s) of which it is appointed trustee. The Minister may appoint a Council to manage the affairs of a reserve trust. A council may not be appointed to manage a reserve trust if the reserve is wholly or partly within the area of another council, except with the consent of the other council. Section 102 details the process to be followed in regard to the sale or granting of a lease or license relating to all or part of a reserve. The intention to grant a lease over part or all of a reserve for a term of greater than 5 years (including options) must first be notified in a local newspaper.

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Section 106 provides that the Minister may direct how the proceeds of a lease, license or sale of all or part of a reserve shall be utilised. In the absence of such Ministerial direction the proceeds may be used for the general purposes of the reserve trust. Section 108 allows for a reserve trust to issue temporary licenses for grazing or any other prescribed purpose over the whole or part of a reserve. Section 112 to 116 details the preparation, referral, adoption and alteration of plans of management. Section 113 includes: • A Plan may be referred to any person for consideration; and • Copy of the draft Plan shall be placed on public display for not less than 28 days. Section 122 provides that a reserve trust furnish reports to the Minister at such times, concerning such matters, and specifying such information, as may be prescribed by the regulations (see Clause 33 of the Crown Lands Regulation 2000 as outlined below) or as may be required by the Minister by notice in writing to the reserve trust.

3.1.2 Crown Lands Regulation 2000 The Crown Lands Regulation applies to Mount York Reserve. Clause 32 outlines the purposes for which temporary licences can be issued. Clause 33 requires that the reserve trust must provide a report to the Minister for Lands each year which includes details of income, expenditure, assets, liabilities, improvements, leases and licences granted or in force, uses made of the reserve and any matters of pecuniary interest. Clause 35 states the requirements for notification and public comment on draft plans of management: • The Minister is required to cause notice of a plan of management to be published in: a) the Gazette; and b) a newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land concerned is situated or in a newspaper circulating generally in the State.

3.1.3 Local Government Act 1993 The Local Government Act 1993 does not apply to Mount York Reserve as it is entirely Crown land.

Whilst the lands covered by this plan of management are not community land owned by Council and administered under the Local Government Act 1993, they have been categorised to provide additional information and consistency with plans of management that have been prepared by Council for community land. The categorisations, while not legislatively supported by the Local Government Act 1993 in this instance, provide a clear management direction for Mount York Reserve for the benefit of Council and the community.

Land Categorisation and Core Objectives

A land categorisation broadly defines the management and permissible uses of that land. Land is to be categorised as one or more of the following:

• A natural area; • A sportsground; • A park;

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• An area of cultural significance; and • General community use.

Land that is categorised, as a natural area, is to be further categorised as one or more of the following:

• Bushland; • Wetland; • Escarpment; • Watercourse; and • Foreshore.

The application of these categories to Mount York Reserve is discussed in detail in Chapter 4 of this document.

3.1.4 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 applies to all parcels of land. The objects of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 are to: a) encourage:

i) the proper management, development and conservation of natural and artificial resources, including agricultural land, natural areas, forest, minerals, water, cities, towns and villages for the purpose of promoting the social and economic welfare of the community and a better environment; ii) the promotion and coordination of the orderly and economic use and development of land; iii) the protection, provision and co-ordination of communication and utility services; iv) the provision of land for public purposes; v) the provision and co-ordination of community services and facilities; vi) the protection of the environment, including the protection and conservation of native animals and plants, including threatened species, populations and ecological communities, and their habitats; and vii) ecologically sustainable development. b) promote the sharing of the responsibility for environmental planning between the different levels of government in the State; and c) provide increased opportunity for public involvement and participation in environmental planning and assessment.

The environmental planning controls of both Blue Mountains City Council and Lithgow City Council, prepared consistent with this Act, are described below in section 3.2.

3.1.5 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 Part 6 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 provides the principal mechanisms for the protection and management of Aboriginal objects and Aboriginal places throughout the State.

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The NPW Act defines an Aboriginal Object as “any deposit, object or material evidence (not being a handicraft made for sale) relating to the Aboriginal habitation of the area that comprises New South Wales, being habitation before or concurrent with (or both) the occupation of that area by persons of non-Aboriginal extraction, and includes Aboriginal remains”.

Key sections in the NPW Act which are of more relevance for Aboriginal heritage management in a local government context include the following:

• section 84 – providing for the protection of especially significant Aboriginal sites by the Minister for the Environment as gazetted Aboriginal Places; • section 90 – providing legal protection for all Aboriginal objects/sites; • sections 86 and 87 – regulating archaeological activity around Aboriginal objects/sites; • section 91AAA – enabling the Director of the DEC to issue stop-work orders against actions likely to significantly affect an Aboriginal object/site or place; and • section 90 – requiring the Director of the DEC to be notified of any newly located Aboriginal objects.

3.1.6 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 covers all threatened species and their habitat. Sections 2.3.3 and 2.3.5 of this plan of management describe the vegetation found in the Mount York Reserve and fauna species that may reasonably be expected to occur within the Reserve.

The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) provides clear guidelines that make the protection of the plant communities and flora and fauna species a priority. To disturb threatened species in any way, Council must satisfy itself that no significant impact will occur and also obtain Department of Environment and Climate Change approval.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) sets out a seven- part test that may be applied prior to any works near threatened communities or species. The result of this test indicates whether or not a significant impact is likely to occur. Where a significant impact is identified as likely to occur, a Species Impact Statement must be prepared and permission from the Department of Environment and Climate Change must be sought for such works to proceed.

3.1.7 Heritage Act 1977 The Heritage Act 1977 includes references to the “cultural” value and “archaeological” value of items or places, both of which may include Aboriginal heritage values, in the assessment of both state and local heritage significance (section 4A(1)). Items listed on the State Heritage Register, or subject to an Interim Heritage Order, are afforded protection from a range of damaging or disruptive activities - except with the prior approval of the NSW Heritage Office.

An excavation permit, issued by the NSW Heritage Council, is required where there is reasonable knowledge or likelihood that disturbance of the land will result in archaeological relics being discovered, exposed, moved, damaged or destroyed. The NSW Heritage Act defines ‘relic’ as –

“Any deposit, object or material evidence

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a) Which relates to the settlement of the area that comprises NSW, not being an Aboriginal settlement, and b) Which is more than 50 years old.”

3.1.8 Registers of the National Estate and National Trust The National Estate and National Trust listings are recognised as being indicative of heritage values of a site or place, and are included here for completeness.

National Estate listing does not bind state or local government agencies. It does, however, obligate the Commonwealth Government and its agencies to avoid adversely affecting a listed place. Classification by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) carries no statutory implications but provides recognition of a place’s heritage significance and should be taken into consideration in the management of the place.

3.2 Environmental Planning Controls A Local Environment Plan (LEP) is a planning tool that sets legal controls over development in the area to which it applies. It contains zoning controls as well as controls for precincts, heritage conservation areas and protected areas. These controls are applied to land within the LEP 1991 area, depending on the characteristics of that land. Together, these controls will determine where and to what extent development may occur.

It should be noted that uses permissible under an LEP do not override the public purpose for a reserve.

3.2.1 Current Zoning in Blue Mountains City Council and City of Lithgow Council LEPs Parcels of land within Mount York Reserve are covered by the Blue Mountains LEP 1991 and Lithgow City Council Local Environmental Plan 1994.

The zoning scheme of the more recent Blue Mountains City Council LEP 2005 does not extend to lands within Mount York Reserve - LEP 2005 covers the urban areas of the Blue Mountains LGA previously under the control of LEP No. 4. LEP 1991 applies generally to the non-urban areas and is anticipated to be reviewed progressively over a number of years to provide consistency with the land management framework established under LEP 2005.

Table 7 below indicates the zones from Blue Mountains City Council LEP 1991 and City of Lithgow Council LEP 1994 that apply to the lands within Mount York Reserve. The relevant provisions of each of the land use zones in the above table are provided below.

Blue Mountains LEP 1991

Bushland Conservation

(a) To conserve the natural bushland character of the landscape surrounding the existing urban areas of the City and minimise the visual impact of development on the landscape, particularly when viewed from the Blue Mountains National Park.

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Table 7: Current Zoning of Mount York Reserve

Reserve Public Location Parcels Blue City of Area Name and Purpose Mountains Lithgow (ha) Number CC LEP 1991 Council Zoning LEP 1994 Zoning Mount York Public Mount York Lot 108 DP 751644 Recreation NA 35.18 Environmental Reserve. Recreation Rd. Lot 188 DP 751644 62.48 Protection. R52033 Lot 7015 DP 1028438 11.44 Escarpment

Area. R1011448 Future Public West of Lot Unsurveyed Crown Environmental NA 31.64 Requirements 108 DP land Protection. 751644 Rural Conservation. Crown Road Road Reserve North of Lot Road Reserve NA 1 (a) Rural 2.38 Reserve 7015 General DP1028438 Western Public South of Lot 1, DP 2941 NA 1 (a) Rural ?? Escarpment, Recreation Lot 108, DP Lot 2, DP 2941 General Lithgow 751644 Pt B, DP 438013 LGA. R52033 Western Public South of Lot 99 DP 751644 NA 1 (a) Rural 115.30 Escarpment, Recreation Lot 3 DP General Lithgow 82098 LGA. R52033 Crown Road Road Reserve Inholdings Two Road Reserve NA 1 (a) Rural 1.4 Reserve of Lot 99 General DP 751644 Western Soil South of Lot 3 DP 82098 NA 1 (a) Rural 213.54 Escarpment, Conservation Hartley General Lithgow (R84969) and Vale LGA. Future Public R84969 and Requirements R95036 (R95036) R93921 Access North west Lot 370 DP 41332 NA 1 (a) Rural 1.3 and General adjoining Lot 3 DP 820928 Crown and Road Reserve Divides the Road Reserve NA 1 (a) Rural 0.9 Council north west General Road corner of Reserve Lot 3 DP 820928 R1011448 Future Public 21 Benson Unsurveyed Crown Environmental NA 20.27 Requirements Rd. land Protection. Bushland West of Lot Conservation. 365 DP 751644 Escarpment Area. R1011448 Future Public East of Lot 365 DP 751644 Environmental NA 33.09 Requirements Unreserved Protection. Crown land Bushland at 21 Conservation. Benson Rd. Escarpment Area.

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Reserve Public Location Parcels Blue City of Area Name and Purpose Mountains Lithgow (ha) Number CC LEP 1991 Council Zoning LEP 1994 Zoning Crown Road Road Reserve Inholding of Road Reserve Environmental NA 1.35 Reserve Lot 365 DP Protection. 751644 Bushland Conservation. Escarpment Area.

85 Mount Future Public 85 Mount Lot 213 DP 751644 Environmental NA 6.83 York Rd. Requirements York Rd. Protection. R1011448 Bushland Conservation. Escarpment Area.

87 Mount Future Public 87 Mount Lot 212 DP 751644 Environmental NA 9.30 York Rd. Requirements York Rd. Protection. R1011448 Bushland Conservation. Escarpment Area.

89 Mount Future Public 89 Mount Lot 330 DP 751644 Environmental NA 6.68 York Rd. Requirements York Rd. Protection. R1011448 Bushland Conservation. Escarpment Area.

Crown Road Road Reserve West of Road Reserve Environmental NA 4.2 Reserve Lots 193 Protection. and 331, Bushland DP 751644 Conservation. and to northern boundary of Lot 365 DP 751644 Lawson’s Future Public East of 85 Lot 193 DP 751644 Environmental NA 30.42 Long Alley. Requirements Mount York Lot 331 DP 751644 Protection. 14.96 R1011448 Rd Bushland Conservation. Escarpment Area. Environmental Constraint Area. Berghofer’s Public Between Lot 7023 DP 1059821 Recreation NA 19.02 Pass Recreation Great Lot 7024 DP 1059821 Environmental 9.10 Western Protection. R52037 Lot 7020 DP 1074350 2.72 Highway Escarpment and Mount Area. York Rd Western Public North and Lot 7019 DP 1074350 NA 1 (a) Rural 1.56 Escarpment Recreation south of Lot 7021 DP 1059823 General 83.73 Lithgow Great Lot 7045 DP 94010 13.99 LGA Western Unsurveyed Crown 1.27 R52037 Highway (generally land 0.61 west of Berghofer’s Pass Reserve)

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Reserve Public Location Parcels Blue City of Area Name and Purpose Mountains Lithgow (ha) Number CC LEP 1991 Council Zoning LEP 1994 Zoning Mitchells Public Southern Lot 208 DP 751 644 Rec- EP Blue 3.1 Ridge Recreation Side of Pt Lot 292 Escarpment Mountains, Lookout Great Area Lithgow R53925 Western highway Western Quarry South of Lot 7042 DP 93985 NA 1 (a) Rural 0.31 Escarpment Lot 7019 General Lithgow DP LGA 1074350 R1006524 Western Quarry North of Lot Lot 7043 DP 93985 NA 1 (a) Rural 0.19 Escarpment 7019 DP General Lithgow 1074350 LGA R1006525

(b) To protect the natural bushland buffer zones between towns, to avoid ribbon development and to conserve and enhance the views and vistas of natural bushland obtained from the Great Western Highway and the Great Western Railway, public places, lookouts and areas within the Blue Mountains National Park. (c) To ensure that the form and siting of buildings, colours, landscaping and building materials are appropriate for, and harmonise with, the bushland character of the areas. (d) To provide only for development that utilises and retains the natural bushland on the site as an important feature of the development. (e) To ensure that development in bushfire prone areas is carried out so that effective bushfire management can be implemented within the property boundaries with appropriate environmental controls.

Environmental Protection

(a) To protect environmentally sensitive land and areas of high scenic value in the City from development. (b) To provide a buffer around areas of natural ecological significance. (c) To restrict development on land that is inappropriate by reason of physical characteristics or high bushfire hazard. (d) To encourage the restoration of disturbed bushland areas.

Recreation - Environmental Protection

(a) To ensure protection of environmentally sensitive land and areas of high scenic value in the City. (b) To provide a buffer around areas of natural ecological significance. (c) To restrict development on land that is inappropriate by reason of physical characteristics or high bushfire hazard. (d) To encourage the restoration of disturbed bushland areas. (e) To provide for passive recreational activities that are compatible with the land's environmental characteristics.

Rural Conservation

(a) To ensure that development is compatible with the rural and natural landscape and heritage of the locality.

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(b) To avoid further fragmentation and loss of usable rural land; to encourage consolidation of small lots and resubdivision of existing holdings where the existing subdivision pattern is not appropriate or is unrelated to existing topography and natural constraints. (c) To retain the low density of rural settlement and ensure that development does not create unreasonable, uneconomic or environmentally damaging demands for the provision of services. (d) To maintain safety and convenience along main roads by discouraging uses that are likely to generate traffic volumes that disrupt traffic flow. (e) To avoid ribbon development. (f) To provide for the requirements of the rural community.

Protected Area – Environmental Constraint Area

(a) To protect environmentally sensitive land and areas of high scenic value in the City. (b) To provide a buffer around areas of ecological significance. (c) To restrict development on land that is inappropriate by reason of its physical characteristics or bushfire risk.

The Council shall not consent to development in a Protected Area – Environmental Constraint Area, unless it is satisfied, by means of a detailed environmental assessment, that the development complies with the objectives of the Protected Area that are relevant to the development.

Protected Area - Escarpment Area

(a) To preserve and enhance the natural environmental and visual significance of the escarpment system of the Blue Mountains. (b) To limit the presence of buildings and works in the escarpment area and to limit the impact of buildings on the perception of the escarpment as significant natural feature. (c) To limit the proportion of hard surfaces in the escarpment area and to provide for the restoration of all degraded areas and their return to a natural habitat.

The Council shall not consent to any development involving the clearing of vegetation in an area designated as Protected Area - Escarpment Area, unless it is satisfied, by means of an assessment of the landscape and environmental impact of the proposed development, that the visual and ecological effects of the proposed clearing will not compromise the Protected Area – Escarpment Area objective.

No building, other than of single storey construction, shall be erected in a Protected Area - Escarpment Area if it protrudes above the vegetation canopy of the immediate locality, or the height of adjacent buildings.

Lithgow Council LEP 1994 1(a) Rural (General) zone The objective of the zone is to promote the proper management and utilisation of natural resources by: (a) protecting, enhancing and conserving: (v) trees and other vegetation in environmentally sensitive areas, where the conservation of the vegetation is significant for scenic amenity or natural wildlife habitat or is likely to control land degradation,

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(vii) localities of significance for nature conservation, including places with rare plants, wetlands and significant wildlife habitat, and (viii) items of heritage significance. Any development is permitted with consent except that permitted without consent or that is prohibited. Development for the purpose of agriculture (other than intensive livestock keeping establishments or ancillary dwellings); bushfire hazard reduction; forestry (other than ancillary dwellings); home based child care is permitted without development consent. Prohibited development is development for the purpose of boarding houses; bulky goods salesrooms and showrooms; commercial premises; motor showrooms; residential units; shops (other than general stores).

3.2.2 Current Heritage Provisions of Blue Mountains City Council and City of Lithgow Council LEPs Both LEPs contain heritage protection provisions that are relevant to the lands within Mount York Reserve.

Blue Mountains LEP 1991

Clause 25 – Heritage Conservation

This clause of LEP 1991 provides that in regard to a building, work, relic, place or tree that is a heritage item a person shall not, without the consent of the Council:

(a) demolish or alter the building or work; or (b) damage or move the relic, or excavate for the purpose of exposing or moving the relic; or (c) damage or despoil the place or tree; or (d) damage or remove any tree or horticultural features on the land on which the building, work, or relic is situated or on the land which comprises the place.

The same restrictions apply to a building, work, relic, place or tree within a Heritage Conservation Area.

The Council shall not grant consent to a development application in respect of a heritage item, development likely to affect a heritage item or development in a Heritage Conservation Area unless it has assessed the effect that the development would have on the heritage significance of the heritage item or Heritage Conservation Area.

The Council shall refer any development application for the demolition of a heritage item or a building, work, relic or place in a Heritage Conservation Area to the Heritage Council and shall have regard to any written views of the Heritage Council received by the Council within 28 days of the referral.

Table 4 in Section 2.2.2 outlines those heritage items and a heritage Conservation Area within Mount York Reserve that are listed within the LEP.

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Lithgow LEP 1994

Clauses 40 – 42

In respect of a building, work, place, tree, relic or land that is a heritage item, a person must not, except with the consent of the Council: (a) demolish or alter the building or work, (b) damage, despoil or destroy the place, tree, or relic, (c) erect a building on, or subdivide, the land.

Before granting consent to the demolishing, defacing or damaging of a heritage item, the Heritage Council must be notified by the Council of the application and the Council must take into consideration any comments by the Heritage Council received within 28 days after the notice is sent. Before granting such a consent, the Council must consider the impact of the development on the heritage significance of the item. Development consent is not required if the Council considers the proposed development would not adversely affect the heritage significance of the item concerned.

The Council may decline to determine a development application required by this clause unless it has considered a conservation plan explaining the heritage significance of the item and the impact of the proposed development on the significance of the item and its setting.

The Council must not grant consent to development on land in the vicinity of a heritage item unless it has made an assessment of the effect the carrying out of that development will have on the heritage significance of the item and its setting.

The Council may grant consent to development on a known potential archaeological site:

(a) that has European heritage significance, only if the Council is satisfied that any necessary excavation permit under the Heritage Act 1977 has been granted, or

(b) that is the location of a relic or an Aboriginal place, within the meaning of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, only if the Council has notified the Director- General of National Parks and Wildlife of its intention to do so and the Council has taken into consideration any comments received from the Director-General within 28 days after the notice was sent.

The Council may decline to determine a development application relating to a known or potential archaeological site unless it has considered an assessment of how the site would be affected by the proposed development and how the site could be conserved.

Schedule 1 of the LEP lists heritage items within the LGA. The only heritage item listed for the study area is “Hartley Vale Road – Lockyer’s Pass” (see Table 4). The location and extent of the item is not defined in the written LEP.

3.3 Blue Mountains City Council Management Plan In setting out the framework for the use and management of Mount York Reserve, it is desirable that the Mount York Reserve Plan of Management accords with Council’s vision, mission and key directions. These are contained in Council’s four-year management plan and are outlined below.

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Vision

“The city within a National Park with distinctive places and communities, carefully planned to enhance the quality of life for present and future generations, respecting our heritage and safeguarding our fragile environment.”

Mission

“Working in partnership with our diverse communities to ensure local needs and wider responsibilities are met through effective leadership, efficient provision of high quality services and facilities and sound environmental management.”

Key Directions

• To enhance community life in all towns and villages across the mountains; • To preserve the character, heritage and amenity of our built environment; • To protect, restore and enhance our natural environment; • To promote local sustainable economic development so that more people have the opportunity to work locally; and • To ensure that Council services best meet community needs and are continuously improved.

This plan of management seeks to address these key directions by:

• Providing a framework for the effective and sustainable management and use of the natural and cultural heritage of Mount York Reserve; • Reflecting community visions, and aspirations for the land, associated natural and heritage values and recreational opportunities consistent with the City Strategy – 25 year vision; • Protecting and enhancing the significant natural and cultural heritage of Mount York Reserve; • Providing a strategy for any future maintenance, capital works and appropriate infrastructure.

3.4 Blue Mountains City Council’s 25-Year Strategy In July 2003, Council adopted the community endorsed 25-year strategy for the City. The strategy was developed to generate outcomes, objectives and priority actions for moving towards a more sustainable future. The key motto of the strategy is: ‘Blue Mountains people living sustainability in a City within a World Heritage environment’.

Since its completion, the Strategy is the key direction setting document that influences Council’s annual management planning process to determine what major activities Council will undertake each financial year. Commencing the preparation of a plan of management for Mount York is recognised as an important activity in Council’s 2005/06 Management Plan.

The outcomes for each of the five key directions are listed below:

Key Direction 1: Looking After the Environment

The Blue Mountains natural environment is protected and conserved;

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The impact of existing and new development on the environment is reduced; and Blue Mountains people living sustainably in harmony with the environment.

Key Direction 2: Looking after People

The health and well being of Blue Mountains people are improved; Services and facilities are accessible and fairly distributed; and Blue Mountains communities are safe, caring and inclusive.

Key Direction 3: Using Land for Living

A strong sense of local identity and place is created; Well managed infrastructure supports sustainable living; and The liveability and vibrancy of our towns and villages are strengthened.

Key Direction 4: Moving Around

Safe environmentally friendly transport choices promote healthy lifestyles; The main Transport Corridor is a safe and beautiful space that adds to our local amenity and World Heritage identity; and The ability of people to connect with each other and access services is improved.

Key Direction 5: Working and Learning

The local economy is strengthened and diversified; The Blue Mountains is a model for sustainable business and industry; and A culture of life long learning is nurtured in the Blue Mountains.

3.5 Blue Mountains City Council Access and Equity Policy Council adopted the Access and Equity Policy in January 2000. The policy aims to ensure that Council services and facilities are accessible and that they are provided on an equitable basis. It provides a framework to support a “whole of Council” approach to the achievement of access and equity in service provision throughout the organisation. The statements, which direct the Access and Equity Policy, include:

Statement 1: Blue Mountains City Council will work to eliminate barriers of access to services, facilities and resources within the Local Government Area, which meet community needs and improve quality of life for residents of the Blue Mountains.

Statement 2: Blue Mountains City Council is committed to supporting events, local community diversity, participation and harmony.

Statement 3: Blue Mountains City Council is committed to the principle of equity of service provision and will work to ensure that program development and service delivery incorporates this principle.

3.6 Blue Mountains Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2005 – 2015 The Strategy is intended to guide management of recreation in natural area on public lands and support land use planning policy for public and private lands in the City.

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The Strategy identifies five key outcome areas for action in coming years to improve management of nature based recreation. These outcomes and some of the actions relevant to the Mount York Plan of Management are listed below.

Outcome 1 – An integrated framework for sustainable management of recreation in natural areas. Relevant Actions: • Prepare Plans of Management for public lands, including Mount York Historic Precinct. • Develop Walking Track Guidelines. • Develop site plans for key destinations and commercial recreations sites. • Develop a licensing process for commercial and group nature based recreation. • Coordinate with TAFE, Tourism and industry bodies regarding training in low impact tourism. Outcome 2 – provide a range of dynamic recreation experiences for visitors and residents. Relevant Actions: • Review the regional scale provision of recreation opportunities. • Monitor visitor use and satisfaction. Outcome 3 – Impacts of nature based recreation are controlled and remediated and users are educated about best practice to mitigate impacts. Relevant Actions: • Develop a comprehensive information and interpretive program and introduce information on minimal impact and cultural heritage. • Develop environmental education programs. • Implement risk management and sign guidelines from Walking Track Management Strategy with emphasis on heritage walking tracks and cliff recreation access tracks. • Review multiple use and mountain bike tracks. • Survey recreation sites for environmental, cultural, historic and aesthetic significance for consideration in Plans of Management. • Monitor recreation impacts to identify and mitigate adverse impacts. • Identify suitable thresholds for impacts on recreation sites. Outcome 4 – Management of nature based recreation is implemented cooperatively with the three tiers of government, the tourism industry, recreation providers and participants. Relevant Actions: • Consult with traditional owners of areas of cultural significance managed by Council. • Maintain consistency with regional, state and national commercial licensing policy and processes. • Encourage the active involvement of recreational and commercial users in the management, maintenance and repair of sites.

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• Encourage the reformation of Blue Mountains Cliffcare. • Engage walking and mountain bike clubs to scope opportunities to establish volunteer programs for stewardship of key sites. • Engage the recreation community in the management of natural recreation sites. Outcome 5 – Recognition of World Heritage Area responsibilities.

The Strategy also has a series of appendices that provide supporting information. Of most relevance is Appendix 3 that espouses the use of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum as a means of defining recreation settings for use in nature based recreation planning exercises. (The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum is provided as Appendix 2 of this plan of management).

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4 Basis for Management

This chapter examines the range of issues affecting the use and management of Mount York Reserve and how this plan of management seeks to address them. For each broad topic area, this chapter provides:

• OBJECTIVES: What do we wish to achieve ? • ISSUES: What are the issues that need to be considered ? • OPPORTUNITIES: What potential opportunities exist that need to be considered ? • POLICIES: The management strategies that address the issues and opportunities and that provide guidelines to achieve the plan of management’s Vision and Objectives.

This plan of management aims to give direction to any issues that arise during the life of the plan. In addressing issues, it is important to refer back to the values to the community of the Reserve. The management directions provided seek to ensure that values are protected and enhanced each time a management response is required.

The following broad topic areas are relevant to the management of Mount York Reserve.

• Protection of Aboriginal Heritage • Protection of Non-Aboriginal Heritage • Visual Amenity • Bushland Management • Recreational Use • Fire Management • Reserve Administration

The above broad issues are discussed in more detail below. The related actions appear in the Action Table in Chapter 6.

4.1 Protection of Aboriginal Values

Objectives

• To protect Aboriginal values and promote active measures to investigate and protect Aboriginal items in the area from potential disturbance. • To involve the Aboriginal community in the management of Aboriginal items and other values.

Issues

• No sites of Aboriginal significance have been recorded within the Reserve. This however is most likely a reflection of the lack of any systematic survey effort. • Much of Mount York Reserve is undeveloped and essentially undisturbed and there has been limited archaeological survey effort to date. It is therefore considered possible that sites or objects of archaeological value (Potential Archaeological

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Deposit – PAD) may occur in Mount York Reserve, particularly in parts of the landscape offering favourable campsites (see section 2.2.1). • There is a vibrant and active Aboriginal and Darug community in the Blue Mountains, including descendants of the Gundungurra people, whose traditional country incorporates land now within Mount York Reserve.

Opportunities

• The “Mapping Country Project” covering the Blue Mountains local government area and Blue Mountains World Heritage Area is presently being undertaken by the Blue Mountains City Council, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute. The project may locate Aboriginal heritage items and/or occupation sites within Mount York Reserve. • Should Aboriginal heritage items be located in the Reserve, a collaborative and co- operative management approach with relevant Aboriginal people and organisations could be utilised.

Policies

• Sites of Aboriginal significance will be protected and managed in accordance with National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and the Heritage Act 1977. • Sites of Aboriginal significance will be protected and managed in accordance with Section 36DA of the Local Government Act 1993 which allows for the location of places and items of Aboriginal significance to be kept confidential. • Archaeological investigations to ensure that any Aboriginal heritage sites/values are identified and appropriately managed, will be undertaken where required in relation to any major redevelopment or new development works carried out within the Reserve. Any such investigations will involve collaboration with relevant Aboriginal people/organisations associated with the Reserve. • Should Aboriginal heritage items be located in the Reserve a policy for their management will be formulated in conjunction with relevant Aboriginal people/organisations and consistent with the provisions of the relevant legislation. Such a policy may include, for example, ensuring any works do not impact on the setting and fabric of items, informing relevant Aboriginal people and organisations of any works in proximity to Aboriginal heritage items and inviting such people to be involved in preparing and monitoring the implementation of constraints and conditions associated with works. • The development of an Interpretative Plan for the Reserve will include feedback from consultation with representatives from the Gundungurra Tribal Council, Darug Tribal Aboriginal Corporation and the Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation as well as the wider Aboriginal community.

4.2 Protection of Non-Aboriginal Heritage Values

Objectives

• To protect non-Aboriginal heritage values and actively protect heritage items from deterioration and potential disturbance. • To protect and preserve the four historic roads’ fabric and heritage values, and to protect and maintain the natural settings of the roads.

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• To reduce deterioration of the road alignment and all associated fabric though the implementation of a maintenance programme addressing structural stability, vegetation management and drainage works. • To promote and provide for a range of sustainable recreational activities and accommodate a range of user groups, where such activities do not unacceptably impact the heritage fabric of the roads. • To promote the four historic roads as an educational resource and to actively interpret the site’s cultural heritage values and conservation requirements to visitors, users and the community. • To promote an understanding and appreciation of the site’s heritage values and conservation requirements among user groups, through a range of methods such as interpretation, information and joint project partnerships.

Issues

• Mount York Reserve’s cultural heritage values are assessed as being of State significance. • The four historic roads and the Mount York precinct are not currently listed on the State Heritage Register, nor are they subject to any Interim Heritage Order. However all roads are listed in the Blue Mountains City Council’s 1991 LEP as locally significant heritage items, and all are also listed on the Register of National Estate. All four roads have also been included in the Conservation Management Plan for Walking Tracks of State Heritage Significance, and consequently are recognised as being of State heritage significance. • A Conservation Management Plan has been prepared for the Blue Mountains Walking Tracks and incorporates all of the historic roads within Mount York Reserve. While providing some direction on management priorities the document recommends that a Conservation Management Plan is prepared for the Mount York Roads Complex before any major track works are undertaken. • A Conservation Management Strategy has been prepared for the historic roads to provide direction for the future conservation planning of the roads. The preparation of a detailed Maintenance Plan and Interpretation Plan for the historic roads is yet to be developed. • The Conservation Management Strategy for the four historic roads provides a policy basis to undertake routine and restorative maintenance, manage recreational use, develop site interpretive information and undertake limited conservation works. However Council’s available budget is quite modest and large-scale remedial works are not possible. Therefore the Strategy does not address major restorative works - such as reconstruction of retaining walls, bridges and railings. • Routine and restorative maintenance plays an essential role in the preservation of the historic road alignments and associated formations and structures. Drainage and erosion control will be a critical element in the protection and maintenance of the historic roads. • Appropriate heritage and/or archaeological assessment and approval processes may still be required for any proposed works that will, or have the potential to, significantly impact known or likely heritage features or values. • There are numerous monuments that have been assessed as having heritage significance, at both Local and State levels. • At Mount York Day Use Area, the monuments have been assessed as significant both independently and through their relationships with each other. The structures on the site have a geographical relationship, as well as links through their shared narrative of the events that have occurred at the site.

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• A Conservation Management Plan has not been prepared for the historic items and surrounds, within Mount York Reserve. • Relics may be associated with the Mount York Reserve, particularly in regard to the historic roads in the area. The Conservation Management Plan prepared for the Blue Mountains Walking Tracks assesses the Mount York Ridge Roads Complex as having high potential for the location of important archaeological sites. • The heritage values of the Reserve are part of its attraction for visitors and continue to contribute significantly to the experience of the place by users. • The heritage values of Mount York Reserve, their background and significance is not well explained to visitors. • Recreational use of Mount York Reserve requires the development of management strategies which allow activities to be undertaken in a way that minimises the impact on the heritage significance of the place. • Visitor use of Mount York Reserve brings with it the potential for vandalism. Presently, vandalism does not appear to be a major issue although some monuments (e.g. The Obelisk) and other features (e.g. plaques at the cutting on Cox’s Road) have been damaged. • Inappropriate visitor use of the site (probably unintentionally in most cases), is causing unacceptable impacts on heritage values - such as the use of historic cuttings of Cox’s Road and monuments at Mount York Day Use Area for cliff recreation training and commercial tours. • The historic roads generally have a surface of either worked sandstone shaped by the original road makers while other sections are simply a track surface with natural soil surface materials. In places where the road surface had to be built up above natural ground level; dry stone walls have been constructed. • Mountain bike and horse riding use on Cox’s Road is causing impacts on the heritage fabric of the historic road. • Sections of historic roads comprised of natural soil surface, which in itself has little heritage value, are more able to sustain ongoing mountain bike and horse riding use without significantly impacting heritage values. • Ongoing mountain bike and horse riding use does however, have the potential to cause rutting of the road surface, altering drainage flows and resulting in channel erosion which in turn has the potential to impact on the structural integrity of the historic roads.

Opportunities

• A Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) prepared by Blue Mountains City Council in 2007 for the four historic roads builds on the work in the Blue Mountains Walking Tracks Conservation Management Plan prepared by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in 2004. Outlines for management of the historic roads. Management of the historic roads should be in accordance with the management recommendations found in these documents. • The 2007 Soil Conservation and Drainage Plan prepared as part of the The management of drainage, erosion and land CMS for the historic roads identifies a movement will be critical to long-term protection suite of low-key and low-cost drainage, of the historic roads.

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erosion control and other track protection measures. The proposed structures are designed to minimise impact and disturbance associated with construction while maintaining an acceptable level of protection against soil erosion. Recommended works include – the construction of cross drains (above the historic road surface as far as possible) using in-situ materials (such as stones and logs), earth cross drains (using imported fill, or in-situ excavation and banking), timber steps with cross- drains, and culvert and channel reinstatement or maintenance. • The 2007 Soil Conservation and Drainage Plan recommends more elaborate works are recommended for Berghofer’s Pass – including extending the concrete flumes draining from the Great Western Highway to cross the historic road and discharge further downslope, reinforced concrete causeways, and unreinforced concrete-lined channels. • The 2007 Structural and Geotechnical report also completed as part of the CMS identifies measures for the management of trees on adjacent to the roads (including on or in retaining walls), retaining wall stability, culvert maintenance, maintenance of the road formation generally, the treatment and prevention of landslips, and damage by fauna impacts.

The impacts of unmanaged tree growth with the historic road corridors can range from compromising dry stone walls to obscuring the road alignment (Photo source (left): Soil conservation Service)

• All four historic roads are considered to have significant archaeological potential. The possibility of sub-surface or, at present, unknown fabric and values will need consideration in the planning, design and implementation of maintenance and restorative works. • The upper section of Cox’s Road between the Mount York Day Use Area and cliff recreation zone and historic rock cutting receives the highest levels of use of all the Reserve’s shared use tracks. This section has been the subject of past improvement works that may have impacted the route’s historic fabric. Further improvement works in this high use zone are warranted. • With appropriate management strategies, most recreation activities can compliment the heritage values of Mount York Reserve and offer exceptional opportunities for the sharing of highly significant heritage items and places with the community. • Sections of historic roads comprised of natural soil surface, are able to sustain on- going mountain bike and horse riding use without significantly impacting heritage values. • Improved interpretation will increase understanding and appreciation of the heritage significance of Mount York Reserve and the overall experience of visitors. This may

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also assist in reducing the already low incidences of vandalism and inappropriate recreation activities. • Increased management input and presence at Mount York Reserve may assist in reducing the incidence of vandalism and other behaviours impacting on heritage values.

Policies

• It is Council’s intention that the four historic are listed on the State Heritage Register at a future time, and that current management policy and practices are consistent with those prescribed as state heritage items. • Historic heritage within the Reserve will be managed in accordance with the provisions of the Burra Charter (ICOMOS 1988). • The cultural heritage value of these historic roads - including their remaining fabric, setting, inter-relationships, and archaeological sensitivity - will be a primary consideration in their management. Accordingly the four historic roads will be managed primarily for the protection of the road alignment and their heritage fabric, protection of the surrounding natural environment, and the prevention of further deterioration. The four historic roads will also be managed, as a supporting objective, for heritage appreciation, public recreation, education and interpretation (as further detailed below). • A detailed condition survey and assessment of the four historic roads will be undertaken by a suitably qualified heritage or archaeological specialist - to identify, refine and guide future conservation and maintenance works. • The items and fabric of all four historic roads to be conserved include - the original alignment and formation of the road (incorporating the road cutting [rock and earth], embankment [fill slopes], retaining walls or earth/rubble fill, drainage structures including culverts and gutters, other structural features including creek crossing, bridge abutments), items and associated features of each road (including road surface and pavements, quarry sites and borrow pits, blasting powder holes, railings and barricades, work camps [if/when identified], archaeological sites, and historic graffiti); and the natural setting and curtilage of the road (the surrounding natural bushland). • Preservation of road alignment and associated fabric will aim to - prevent further deterioration of the road alignment (from excessive vegetation growth, rock falls and land slips); and assess and regularly review the structural stability of the roads. • Management of the natural setting will aim to - maintain native bushland through bush regeneration and weed control programmes and rehabilitation of degraded land through conservation earth works and revegetation works; and provide defined entry points to the roads, and ensure any upgrade of visitor facilities are compatible with the natural setting and the heritage roads’ values and appearance. • Maintenance work on the roads to prevent deterioration and accommodate current and future uses will aim to - implement routine cyclic and reactionary maintenance programmes to prevent deterioration of the road fabric; and address vegetation, drainage and preservation of road structures. • The four historic roads will be managed as a public recreational facility and as an educational and interpretive resource to assist the understanding Australia’s history. • Management of recreational activities will aim to - promote and direct a range of recreational uses including walking, mountain bike riding, horse riding, commercial tours and access to climbing and abseiling sites; prevent and enforce non- permissible uses including all motor vehicles from the roads; and monitor levels of use to prevent conflict and impacts on heritage values.

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• Promotion and interpretation of the historic roads and their heritage values will aim to - develop appropriate interpretive material for each road based on its unique histories and characteristics; target interpretive material and information to all user groups; and actively seek and develop partnerships with all user groups in the co- operative management of the heritage roads. • There are no significant alterations or adaptations proposed for any of the historic roads, their curtilage and associated fabric. • Proposed conservation works relate to treatment of road drainage and soil conservation works mainly on the road surface and cuttings, and minor restoration or reconstruction of road structures (such as some retaining walls and culverts). The 2007 Structural and Geotechnical report, and the 2007 Soil Conservation and Drainage Plan, provide the initial directions for these works pending the more detailed condition survey and assessment of the four historic roads (as described above). The initial soil conservation, erosion control and drainage works recommended by these reports, to be implemented as medium term actions, are further detailed in Appendix 2. • The upper section of Cox’s Road, between the Mount York Day Use Area and cliff recreation zone and historic rock cutting, will be further improved to cater for high visitor use levels. These works will be designed and undertaken to minimise impact on any extant heritage fabric and will be subject to the necessary approvals under the NSW Heritage Act 1977. • A detailed Roads Maintenance Plan will be prepared to guide routine and restorative maintenance on the historic roads – including vegetation management and removal, cleaning drains and culverts, erosion control and stabilisation, inspection cycles, and so on. • Proposed works likely to disturb the surface of the historic roads, or their surrounds, will be discussed with a heritage advisor prior to any such disturbance or excavation work to determine the archaeological significance of the site and the impact of the proposed works. Any works likely to impact adversely on the heritage or archaeological significance of the roads should be subject to an archaeological assessment in accordance with the NSW Heritage Act 1977 and archaeological resources must be managed in accordance with the recommendations arising from the archaeological assessment and any permit issued by the NSW Heritage Council. • Archaeological investigations to ensure that any historic heritage sites/values are identified and appropriately managed, will be undertaken where required in relation to any major redevelopment or new development works carried out within other areas of the Reserve. • There will be no vehicular use of the trafficable parts of closed historic roads within Mount York Reserve, except for essential maintenance and where required in an emergency situation. • Management of sections of the historic roads that lie outside of Mount York Reserve should be complimentary to the management of the roads that are within the Reserve. • Any new structures proposed in the vicinity of the historic roads will be designed and located to ensure they do not impact negatively on the heritage significance of the roads - including their visual amenity, viewshed and presentation. • A Conservation Management Plan will be prepared for the monuments located in and around the Mount York Day Use Area - this will include addressing the retention, restoration, relocation or other management treatment of all existing monuments. The Conservation Management Plan will also encompass other features in this area of known or potential heritage interest in this area – notably the concrete picnic shelter/tables/tank, octagonal “tin shed” shelter and the Mount Blaxland Lookout.

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• Until the preparation of a Conservation Management Plan for the monument, works should focus on cleaning and/or minor maintenance and be based upon the precautionary principle. That is, it is essential that if there is a possibility that maintenance/cleaning work may damage the item, the work should not be carried out. • All works on heritage assets will be undertaken by appropriately skilled, trained or supervised persons. • Maintenance work, restoration or repairs will not have a negative impact on significant heritage fabric. • Visitor use of the Reserve should be managed in a way that minimises deterioration of the heritage fabric, for example by ensuring an area is not subject to inappropriate activities.

4.3 Visual and Residential Amenity

Objectives

• To ensure that Mount York Reserve continues to contribute to the visual and residential amenity of the Mount Victoria and Hartley Vale areas.

Issues

• Mount York Reserve contributes to the quiet bushland character of Mount Victoria township, particularly for residences located in neighbouring streets, or that are near neighbours. • There is a lack of certainty among Mount Victoria residents about the future of the Reserve. • There is resident concern that any increased provision of facilities and resultant increase in visitors to the Reserve will degrade the quiet bushland character of Mount Victoria township. • Mount York Reserve is Crown land owned by the people of NSW for the enjoyment of all of the people of NSW. • The altitude of the Mount York ridgeline and associated escarpments, and their relief from the adjoining Hartley Vale area make them highly visible natural features. • Park developments that lead to the disturbance and removal of the natural line of vegetation on the escarpment will result in a prominent landscape scar. • The view from Mount York to the northwest and west View over the Hartley Valley, from “The Block”, at the top of over the Hartley Valley is regarded as symbolic of Cox’s Descent. the “opening of the interior” that resulted from the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans.

Opportunities

• The undeveloped bushland nature of much of Mount York Reserve can continue to contribute to the visual amenity of Mount Victoria.

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Policies

• Maintain existing natural vegetation along the escarpment and do not construct prominent visitor facilities on or near the escarpment edge or where they would disrupt the skyline. • Ensure materials used to upgrade or maintain existing visitor facilities at the escarpment (such as lookouts and associated fencing and signs) are non-reflective and have minimal visual impact. • Vegetation management measures - including judicious clearing or trimming - may be undertaken to restore or retain historically significant viewlines.

4.4 Recreational Use

4.4.1 Recreation Setting

Objectives

• To provide a range of nature based recreation settings in the “Semi-Developed“ and “Semi-remote non-motorised” categories of Council’s Recreation Opportunity Spectrum - as defined in Appendix 3 of Council’s Nature Based Recreation Strategy. (Appendix 3 of this Plan of Management provides details of these two recreation settings.) • To encourage, promote and facilitate recreational, cultural, social and educational pastimes and activities. • To promote the sustainable recreational use of the natural and cultural assets and attractions within Mount York Reserve.

Issues

• Mount York Reserve contains a number of nodes via which the vast majority of visitors access the site. • Complementing these nodes are a number of dispersed uses, primarily associated with the shared use tracks (most located on the historic roads) and areas suitable for cliff recreation. • The local Mount Victoria community has expressed a desire for the Reserve to continue to be managed as a largely undeveloped natural area with visitor numbers comparable to the present day. • In general, the built and cultural assets within the Reserve are in a declining state, reflecting both an increasing level of visitor use and limited management input in recent years. • A degree of development is necessary at the key visitor nodes to ensure environmental impacts are minimised and the visitor experience meets community expectations. • Over use and uncontrolled use of some areas of the Reserve is leading to land degradation. • Visitor safety is an issue, especially in more hazardous parts of the reserve (such as cliff edges) and along the more remote sections of the historic roads. • Risks associated with the access and use of the historic roads fall into three broad categories - natural environment and landscape (e.g. cliff edge, snake bites and tree

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falls), built structures (e.g. unstable cuttings, rock falls, uneven road surfaces), and use activity and user conflict (e.g. horse riding and abseiling at one location). These risks are combined and exacerbated in certain locations, such as the busy upper section of Cox’s Road. • Excessive vehicle speeds within the Reserve, and potential conflicts between pedestrian and vehicle traffic (notably in the Mount York Day Use Area), present hazards for visitors. Speed, and occasional inappropriate activities (such as street racing and “burnouts”), can be issues on that section of Mount York Road leading to the Reserve.

Opportunities

• The natural and cultural features of Mount York Reserve provide opportunities for a wide range of recreational activities. • The identification of suitable recreational opportunity settings serves to define an appropriate level of development (access and facilities), social interaction and management regulation for defined areas. This process also provides parameters to guide future management actions and responses, particularly in regard to unanticipated demands for facility upgrade and expansion.

Policies

• No significant change to the current types of activities is proposed. It is anticipated that all current site use can be accommodated, although there will be delineation of site use and restriction of some activities in certain locations. • The key visitor nodes of Mount York Day Use Area, Barden’s Lookout, Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead, Lawson’s Long Alley Trackhead, Lockyer’s Trackhead in Hartley Vale, and Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout will be managed in a manner consistent with the Semi-developed category of the Council’s Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. Mount York Road is also incorporated in this category. • The remaining areas of the Reserve will be managed consistent with the Semi- remote non-motorised category of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. • Management responses to any future demands for additional visitor facilities will be guided by the provisions of the appropriate Recreation Opportunity Spectrum category. • Management responses to land degradation that is arising from increasing visitor levels will be consistent with guidelines for the relevant category of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. That is, infrastructure and development proposed in response to increasing visitor use will be consistent with guidelines for the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum category. • Install appropriate speed, road safety and high pedestrian traffic area waring signs or other road safety infrastructure along Mount York Road at the entry to the Reserve, and elsewhere within the Reserve, as required. Council will continue to manage road safety issues along Mount York Existing cliff safety warning sign at Road, including that section leading to the Mitchel’ls Ridge Lookout. Reserve, as part of its wider regional road safety/management measures.

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• A site based risk assessment will be undertaken for factors associated with the natural environment, built structures and site use. This will guide risk management activities – such as partitioning users group, monitoring of site use, on-site signage, area closures and enforcement. Participants in cliff recreation activities will be required to take responsibly for their own safety at all times.

4.4.2 Key Visitor Nodes

Objectives • To ensure the visitor nodes within the Reserve are managed to provide ongoing visitor use and access in a manner that minimises impacts on their natural and heritage values as well as catering for, and reducing conflicts between, competing visitor demands. • Provide well maintained facilities and access appropriate to the desired recreational setting of each visitor node, as defined above.

Issues

• Over the past 20 years or more a range of visitor facilities have been provided at each of the key visitor destinations in the Reserve. The facilities have not always been maintained regularly and some are no longer functional. • Poorly maintained visitor destinations can lead to reduced visitor satisfaction and result in environmental impacts through uncontrolled visitor use patterns. • Lack of management presence can encourage vandalism of facilities and other prominent features, such as historical monuments.

Facilities that are damaged, poorly maintained, past their effective lifespan or simply out of place can detract from visitors’ experience, reduce respect for a site and encourage further damage, and in some instances present a hazard for users.

• Every person coming to the Reserve would visit at least one of the major destinations on offer. Aged and poorly maintained facilities and infrastructure can leave visitors with an unfavourable impression of the Reserve and the management authority. • Specific issues associated with each of the main visitor destinations in Mount York Reserve are discussed in detail in sections 2.4.1 to 2.4.6.

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Opportunities

• Landscape Master Plans can be used to clearly illustrate the layout of a visitor use area and management actions required. • Improved recreational facilities and management presence at the key visitor nodes can significantly enhance the recreational experience available, if planned appropriately and with regard to competing visitor demands.

Policies

• Mount York Day Use Area, Barden’s Lookout, Lawson’s Long Alley Trackhead and Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead will be managed consistent with the directions presented in the Master Plans for each site (see section 5.3 of this Plan of Management). The key elements of each of these Master Plans are outlined in Table 8 below. • Master Plans will be developed and implemented in the future for the Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead and Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout visitor use nodes.

Table 8: Key Master Plan Elements for the Mount York Day Use Area, Barden’s Lookout, Lawson’s Long Alley and Berghofer’s Pass Trackhead, and Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead

Mount York Day Use Area Masterplan (refer Figure 16)

Short Term Actions/Options • Terrace trackhead/entry to Cox’s Road. • Upgrade Mount Blaxland Lookout and restore heritage viewlines. • Manage monuments, and other heritage items, as per Conservation Management Plan (to be prepared). • Conduct safety audit on the Rustic Arch • Remove existing toilet facilities and access track, and rehabilitate area. • Upgrade park furniture (in keeping with setting) and improve signage. • Formalise existing informal camping area immediately south of day use area, and develop track to main usage area. • Construct new hybrid waterless unisex disabled access toilet near entry to carpark, to service both day use area and short-term camping area. • Expand, formalise and define car parking bays including provision of additional disabled parking bays. • Define single bus parking layby on western side of loop/parking area and multi-use layby (capable of accommodating one bus) on northern side of loop/parking area.

Medium Term Actions/Options • Construct perimeter path network around loop/parking area. • Upgrade central area, revegetation and landscaping. Modify/upgrade car parking barriers. • Manage monuments, and other heritage items, as per Conservation Management Plan (to be prepared). • Upgrade park furniture (in keeping with setting) and improve signage. • Upgrade disabled access to The Obelisk, and upgrade walking track from The Obelisk to Eddy Rock Lookout/Monument Gully.

Long Term Actions/Options • Manage monuments, and other heritage items, as per Conservation Management Plan (to be prepared). • Replace concrete shelter, picnic tables and water tanks with new centralised group-use facilities (if consistent with Conservation Management Plan, to be prepared). • Redevelop short-term camping area as bus facilities/day-use area (dependent on provision of alternative camping area), and modify bus parking in loop/parking area.

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Barden’s Lookout Masterplan (refer Figure 20)

Short Term Actions/Options • Reduce extent of cleared roadside area and undertake bush regeneration and stormwater management.

Medium Term Actions/Options • Terrace, upgrade and landscape lookout area including formalisation of disabled access. • Formalise, seal and define parking area (cars only, including one disabled parking bay). • Install minor park/picnic furniture and upgrade signage. • Undertake bush regeneration and stormwater management.

Long Term Actions/Options • Provide bus parking layby, access path and signage. • Undertake bush regeneration and stormwater management.

Lawson's Long Alley and Berghofer’s Pass Trackhead (refer Figure 21)

Medium Term Actions/Options • Upgrade/rationalise intersection with Mount York Road and Berghofers Drive. • Formalise, sheet and define parking area (cars only). • Provide car parking and movement barriers to protect picnic zone, landscape and reduce expansive open space areas in picnic zone. • Install park/picnic furniture and upgrade signage. • Restore Lawson’s Long Alley Monument. • Undertake bush regeneration and native species landscaping.

Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead (refer Figure 22)

Long Term Actions/Options • Define parallel parking area and control vehicle access/entry with bollards. • Upgrade signage.

4.4.3 Shared Use Tracks and Walking Track Network

Objectives • To provide a network of shared use tracks and walking tracks of varying lengths and standards. • To manage and maintain the shared use tracks and walking tracks in a manner sensitive to the heritage values of the historic roads on which most are based. • To minimise conflicts between different users of the Reserve’s track network. • To promote the natural and cultural values of the Reserve through interpretative signage and material on designated tracks.

Issues • The Reserve includes four shared use tracks that follow the alignment of the historic roads. • Cox’s Road, Lawson’s Long Alley and Lockyer’s Line of Road are interconnected and provide visitors with the opportunity to undertake three extended loop walks or rides of half day to full day duration. • However each of these loops is of approximately the same length and duration (3-11 kilometres and 4-5 hours), offering limited loop walking or riding opportunities for visitors who may not have the time or fitness to undertake a whole route. • Berghofer’s Pass is the only formal short return track in the Reserve, being 3.2 kilometres and 1-2 hours return. The grades of Berghofer’s Pass make this walk more suitable for people of lesser fitness or mobility.

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• The numerous trackheads in the Reserve provide the opportunity for longer one way walks or rides (5-6 kilometres, 2 hours) if visitors are able to co-ordinate vehicle pick up or drop off connections (which is made difficult due to the extended road distances between top and bottom trackheads). This is however a less preferred situation than providing short return walk/ride options. • There is sometimes conflict between different users of the shared track network. This is particularly so on the upper section Cox’s Road near Mount York Day Use Area - where cliff recreation, sight-seeing, heritage appreciation, bushwalking, mountain biking and on occasion horse riding uses all come together along the same section of track. Elsewhere on the track network walkers can clash with, or be intimidated by, high speed mountain bikers and horses - although there have been few recorded incidences of collisions or injury. • Lockyer’s Line of Road is the only historic road wholly within the Reserve without relying on extended isolated Crown Road Reserves, as described in section 2.2.2. • There are a number of other short walking tracks in the Reserve that provide access from cliff top to bottom and along the cliff base, such as at the base of Shady Side and Barden's Gully. These tracks are primarily used by climbers and abseilers. Short walks also occur around the main visitor use nodes, Lockyer’s Line of Road is the only route notably the Mount York Day Use Area, entirely within the Reserve. accessing individual features of interest. • There is limited orientation and interpretive information provided on the shared use tracks in the Reserve. • The Draft Blue Mountains Walking Track Management Strategy (BMWTS) provides guidelines for the classification, signage and construction and maintenance standards for walking tracks throughout the Blue Mountains (including those in National Parks, Crown lands and Council Lands). • The Draft BMWTS proposes the preparation of individual track management plans, addressing classification and assessing track conditions, provision of infrastructure and guiding future works. • Council’s Draft Walking Track and Lookout Assets Management Plan provides generic direction on the maintenance of walking tracks, based on their classification and function. • The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Conservation Management Plan for Walking Tracks of State Heritage Significance in the Blue Mountains incorporates the tracks in Mount York Reserve and provides guidance on the maintenance of historic tracks.

Opportunities

• There is an opportunity to provide a short return walk between Mount York Day Use Area and Barden’s Lookout, incorporating the cliff top and cliff base environments. The loop walk would commence at Mount York Day Use Area, descend Cox’s Road, parallel the cliff base before ascending Barden's Gully and return via Cox’s Road on the ridge line – as shown on Figure 13. The walk would be approximately 2.5-3 kilometres long and 1-1.5 hours duration. Importantly, it would incorporate a sample of the historic features of the Reserve, its vegetation communities and provide

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Figure 13: Mount York to Barden’s Lookout Proposed Loop Track, and Possible Future Camping Area Location (base plan from Elanus Word, 2003)

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visitors with the opportunity to observe climbing and abseiling. For safety purposes, and to reduce conflicts between walkers and climbers, the track would need to be located downslope from the cliff base. • The gradient and short distance of Berghofer’s Pass make it well suited for development as a short interpretive walk. • There is potential to develop interpretive material and signage on designated shared use tracks and walking tracks to communicate

the heritage, natural and recreation values of the Reserve to the public. The easier grade, shorter distance and greater width of Berghofer’s Pass make it • Shared use and walking tracks, and other suited to a wider range of walkers, including recreation or visitor access/use trails, require those with less experience or ability. regular/periodic inspection and maintenance to ensure they are consistent with the usage, experience and safety standard intended as well as remaining within acceptable impacts limits.

Policies

• Existing shared use routes, walking tracks and track infrastructure will form the basis for the provision of a range of walking opportunities. No significant change to the current site usage is proposed, with the exception of the upper section of Cox’s Road (as described below). • Unless otherwise specified, shared tracks will be managed for multiple recreational uses - chiefly by walkers, bicycle riders and horse riders. However walkers will have the “right of way” on most routes - with the exception of Lockyer’s Line of Road and Berghofer’s Pass, where walkers will be required to give way to mountain bike riders heading uphill (as further described below) - and this will be identified on pre-visit, orientation and interpretive material as appropriate as well as in any codes of conduct developed for other track-based activities. • If walking and other track-based recreation activities clash in a particular location the preferred management response will be to collaborate with the users or user groups involved to negotiate a suitable behaviour management or self-regulation solution, or to identify other management measures to modify the visitor behaviour(s) generating the conflicts. If the conflict issues persist other management measures that will be pursued to resolve usage conflicts will – in an approximate sequence of implementation – include site design or redesign or re-routing options; user separation (spatially and/or temporally); infrastructure and/or site hardening options; regulation and enforcement; and Walking will be the preferred use of the Reserve’s exclusion. Preference will generally be historic roads and track networks should conflicts given to walking as the activity to arise with other uses of the trail network and other management solutions to conflict resolution fail. accommodate should these other possible solutions be ineffective.

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• Access will be maintained for sight-seeing, short walks, bushwalking, dog walking (on-leash), and heritage interpretation along Cox’s Road (including Cox’s Alternative Descent), Lawson’s Long Alley, Lockyer’s Line of Road and Berghofer’s Pass. • Access will be maintained exclusively for walkers - for short walks, sight-seeing, heritage appreciation, and for walk-in access to climbing sites and abseiling activities for both independent tourists and organised or commercial tours - along the upper section of for Cox’s Road. Mountain bike riding and horse riding will be excluded from this upper section of the main Cox’s Road descent (with Cox’s Alternative Descent as the available route for these users) – as described further in section 4.4.5 below. • Both Berghofer’s Pass and that section of Cox’s Road between Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead and Mount York Day Use Area are classified as “Easy Walks” (using the Draft Blue Mountains Walking Track Management Strategy classification system). The tracks will be maintained at this standard with the provision of appropriate infrastructure, as set out in the Walking Track Management Strategy. • Lawson’s Long Alley, Lockyer’s Line of Road, Cox’s Road and the proposed Mount York to Barden’s Lookout loop track (as described below) are classified as “Moderate Tracks” (using the Draft Blue Mountains Walking Track Management Strategy classification system). These tracks will be maintained at, or upgraded to (in the case of the proposed loop track), this standard with the provision of appropriate infrastructure. • Investigate options for improving visitor safety, especially cliff edge safety, at the popular vantage point near “The Block”. Design and construct a visually unobtrusive safety barrier and/or install warning signs, having a minimum of impact on the area’s historic fabric, if warranted. • Develop a walking track at the base of the escarpment from Cox’s Road at Mount York Day Use Area to Barden's Lookout (via the base of Monument Gully) as a means of establishing a short loop walk. This route will not be a shard track, and is intended for foot traffic only. The lower sections of this track will be located downslope from the cliff base, to reduce possible conflicts between walkers and climbers, and signage will be installed where required to exclude non-climbers/abseilers from the cliff base. This walk will be developed once existing shared use and walking tracks have been maintained and/or upgraded. • Level of track use by walkers, riders and associated activities will be monitored, through the installation of track counters, commercial licensing reporting,

site inspections and complaints. Assessments will A walking track is proposed along then be made on current impact of walkers and the base of the cliffline, offset as management responses - in terms of activity required and with warning signs, at regulation or site manipulation - made accordingly. Mount York from Galactic Gully to • For the purpose of maintaining the structural, Barden’s Lookout historical and aesthetic integrity of the shared use tracks on historic roads, any repair, restoration or reconstruction work will be consistent with the original construction techniques of the track and consistent with all heritage conservation guidelines, requirements or specifications. • All work on shared use or walking tracks along historic routes will also be guided by the Conservation Management Strategy for the heritage roads, the Draft Blue Mountains Walking Track Strategy and the Draft Walking Track and Lookout Assets Management Plan. Appropriate track management measures may also be sourced

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from other references – such as the International Mountain Bike Association’s trail construction and maintenance handbook Trail Solutions – Building Sweet Single Track. • In the absence of a detailed Roads Maintenance Plan or conservation guidelines for the historic roads, any emergency or interim shared track or walking track works will be maintenance focussed only and reversible.

4.4.4 Cliff Recreation

Objectives

• To provide for the ongoing sustainable use of Mount York Reserve for a variety of cliff recreation activities, in a manner that minimises environmental and heritage impacts and conflicts with other visitors. • To provide for the ongoing use of the Reserve by independent climbers as well as those in groups and on commercial tours. • To involve the commercial and recreation climbing community in cliff management and maintenance decisions and activities. • To encourage safe and environmentally sensitive cliff recreation practices.

Issues

• By their nature, cliff recreation activities expose participants to a degree of risk - such as falls, equipment failure (including fixed features such as bolts or chains), loose rocks/edges, entanglement, and so on. It is necessary for participants in hazardous cliff recreation activities to accept full responsibility for their own safety. Council takes no responsibility for any health and safety issues associated with bolts or cliff recreation activities. • The most intensively used area for cliff recreation is Sunny Side, extending from Mount York Lookout east to Galactic Gully. Shady Side (Mount York Lookout to Barden's Lookout) is also used, but much less so than Sunny Side. • The Sunny Side area is receiving very high climbing use, very high commercial and other group use. There has been a marked increase in recent years in the use of the area by large groups, such as TAFE. • The Sunny Side area is subject to severe cliff top, cliff base and on-cliff impacts. These impacts include soil erosion, soil compaction, total removal of ground cover and shrub storey vegetation, installation of bolts and other material on the cliff face. Cliff top access to abseiling points and the top of climbs is poorly defined. • Cliff recreation at Mount York is impacting on the heritage fabric of Cox’s Road. • The management of bolts and hold fast points on the cliff face and at the cliff top has not been regulated and has been undertaken by the climbing community. • It is recognised that the installation of rock bolts is necessary for the maintenance of a range of climbing opportunities in the Reserve. There is a need to control the proliferation of recreational bolts in the Reserve and to remove those that have an unacceptable visual impact or which are no longer required. • It is not practical or appropriate for Council to carry out installation or certification of bolts. There is a need for participants in cliff recreation activities to ensure the safety of fixed anchor points prior to use. • Strapping practices are impacting tree health and appearance along clifftops. Straps, roles and other climbing equipment can also present a hazard for other users and other climbers in heavily used locations or where different user groups interact.

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• Increasing regulation and the control/prohibition of cliff recreation at other sites across the Blue Mountains, such as within National Parks, may focus more rock climbing and abseiling use on the Mount York area.

Opportunities

• Mount York Reserve is able to play a significant regional role in satisfying the demand for sites for commercial cliff recreation tours and cliff recreation courses such as those provided by TAFE. However, commercial cliff recreation at Mount York Reserve will need to be managed so that impacts are minimised. • Council’s licensing system provides a mechanism to regulate commercial and training group use of Mount York Reserve, including which sites are used, group size, frequency of use of a site and the total visitor numbers for a site over a given period of time. • The licensing system also provides a formal communication channel between Council and commercial operators. • It is difficult for Council to regulate independent cliff recreation users at Mount York. • Rebolting of climbs and their subsequent promotion through websites and climbing community networks has the potential to significantly impact on cliff recreation use patterns. • Blue Mountains Cliffcare has undertaken a range of management works at Sunny Side, including walking track construction. Such groups play an important role in involving stakeholders in site management and maintaining open communication with Council.

Policies

• Council will encourage and promote the preparation of a Blue Mountains Cliff Recreation Strategy to relevant State Government land management agencies and the climbing community. The Strategy will incorporate all public land tenures (Community Land, Crown Land and National Parks) to provide an agreed regional direction for the locations and management of cliff recreation. • Ongoing decisions regarding the management of cliff recreation will be formulated in consultation with the climbing community. Council will maintain open communication with the full diversity of users in the climbing community including representatives of individual climbers, TAFE and commercial operators. • Cliff recreation is permitted at Mount York Reserve between Galactic Gully and a site just south of Barden’s Lookout known as Rod’s Ravine (refer Figure 12). • Council will attempt to ensure additional demand for cliff recreation at Mount York is satisfied through increased use of existing climbs at Shady Side and Sunny Side, rather than at presently unused cliff faces. • "Bouldering" and abseiling is not permitted at the site known as “The Block” and other small cliff top crags in the vicinity of Cox’s Road, especially in and around the historic cutting area. • Strapping to trees is not permitted at the top of the Sunny Side cliff between Galactic Gully and Echo Gully (refer Figure 12). Climber supplied bolts will be promoted as an alternative in this area. • Council will not certify bolts and other anchor points on cliff faces or cliff tops. Participants in cliff recreation activities will be required to ensure the safety of fixed anchor points prior to use, and to take responsibility for their own safety at all times. • Training areas for rope-sports participants, notably group users and commercial operators, will only be permitted at the following locations – an existing open area beside (south of) the upper section of Cox’s Road approximately 40 metres

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downslope from the Mount York Day Use Area, and immediate cliff top and cliff bottom areas where not in conflict with other users (including cliff top rock pavement areas located cliffside of the proposed native vegetation revegetation/reinstatement beds, such as above and west of Echo Gully). No special facilities or infrastructure will be provided at these locations to support training activities. • Rope-sports training, especially by group users, will not be permitted on any tracks or trails nor in and around the Mount York Day Use Area or other visitor use nodes. Rope-sports training groups will be required to keep Cox’s Road, and other heritage routes, clear at all times. • The limitations on cliff recreation activities detailed in this plan of management will be implemented in consultation with the climbing community. Council will use communication and collaboration with the climbing community as an important management tool. • Council will liaise with the climbing community to promote the exclusion of new bolts at both Sunny and Shady Side and encourage replacement of existing bolts only as well as using the provision of bolted climbs as an impact management tool and means of dispersing/managing cliff recreation activity loads. • Commercial operators and training groups will be discouraged, through the licensing system, from using the Sunny Side cliff between Galactic Gully and Echo Gully. Commercial operators and training groups use will be directed to “The Gully” and a site already in use immediately west of Echo Gully, consistent with the above restrictions on rope-sports training activities. The introduction of this restriction will be staged subject to regular reviews of the use of the site. Council will liaise with the climbing community, notably commercial users, regarding their needs for suitable training and training progression locations both within the Reserve and in a regional context. • Council will promote the development of a Blue Mountains Cliff Recreation Code of conduct to encourage environmental and social impact minimisation and adherence to restraints on use of some sites. • Encourage the revitalisation of Blue Mountains Cliffcare. • Utilise existing (Elanus 2003) photo monitoring points to bi-annually record disturbances, impacts or regeneration at sites. Establish photo monitoring points at low use sites on Shady Side as a base- line record of site condition. • Use Council’s licensing system to monitor the commercial and training group use of climbing and abseiling sites including the frequency of use of each site, group sizes and total visitor numbers for each site. As The involvement of user groups will be site impacts dictate, use the licensing encouraged to assist in the management of cliff system to regulate use levels and/or group recreation at Mount York. sizes. • Monitor the promotion of climbing and abseiling routes on web sites and in publications and through regular liaison with the climbing community. Encourage such promotional material to reflect the desired cliff recreation use patterns detailed in this plan of management, proposed Code of Conduct and other impact management measures.

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4.4.5 Mountain Bike and Horse Riding

Objectives

• To provide opportunities for mountain bike and horse riding in a manner that minimises environmental and heritage impacts and conflicts with other visitors.

Issues

• Mount York Reserve provides a number of opportunities for mountain bike and horse riding. • The gradients and alignment of the historic roads are generally very favourable for mountain bike riding. • Mountain bike riding and horse riding currently occurs on all four historic roads at low levels of use. The current levels of use is considered to have negligible impact on the heritage fabric. However mountain bike and horse riding both have the potential to impact on the heritage values of historic roads where sections of the road are comprised of a worked sandstone surface and impact monitoring is warranted. • In sections of tracks with limited sight lines there is potential for collision between mountain bike riders and walkers or horse riders. Similarly, in locations where mountain bike riders can gain speed there is also potential for collision with other users. While this risk is a real one, few incidents of actual collisions have been reported to Council. • Due to generally low speed horse riding poses less risk of collision, however some visitors may be intimidated by horses. • There are some possible constraints to horse riding on Lawson’s Long Alley due to the private ownership of the road’s northern half and the lack, at present, of an adequate gate or style to accommodate horses on this route. • Both activities can cause erosion of track surfaces and result in substantial loss of soil material. The altering of drainage lines may have implications for the stability of historic roads, particularly where built structures such as dry stone retaining walls are present. • Wet conditions can exacerbate the environmental impacts of these activities and track surface damage. Skidding significantly increases mountain bike impacts. • Track design, construction and maintenance can significantly reduce the adverse impacts arsing from mountain biking and, to a lesser degree, horse riding. Track condition monitoring, allowing the early detection of impacts and speedy corrective maintenance, will assist in managing the impacts of mountain biking and horse riding. • In sections of track with constructed steps it will be necessary for mountain bike riders to dismount and horse riders to exercise caution (or use alternative routes if/where available).

Opportunities

• Mount York Reserve is well placed to provide opportunities for mountain bike and horse riding in a natural and historic setting.

Policies

• Mountain bike and horse riding will be permitted on Lawson’s Long Alley, Lockyer’s Line of Road, Berghofer’s Pass and the lower section of Cox’s Road

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(downslope/north of the junction of the original Cox’s Road and Cox’s Alternative Descent). • Mountain bike and horse riding will not permitted on the upper section of Cox’s Road at Mount York (upslope of the lower junction of the original Cox’s Road and Cox’s Alternative Descent, through “The Block” area and above). Cox’s Alternative Descent will be available as an alternative connection through most of this area, however bike riders and horse riders will be required to dismount and walk the final section of Cox’s Road between the Mount York Day Use Area and the upper junction of Cox’s Road and the Alternative Descent. Suitable low-key infrastructure, such as stiles or “pinch points”, may be installed to support this management regime – and sited so as not to adversely impact the area’s heritage values or visual quality, intrude on the experiences of other users, or present a safety hazard. The impacts of mountain bike and horse riding on this upper section of Cox’s Road, especially the impacts on the area’s heritage values and the experiences of other users, will be closely monitored. • Mountain bike and horse riding will be not be permitted on other walking tracks, including the proposed walk paralleling the cliff base between Cox’s Road and Barden’s Gully (as described above in section 4.4.3), other cliff top and cliff base tracks used by climbers and abseilers, and walkers only tracks around major visitor use nodes. • Mountain biking and horse riding are not permitted in steep gully areas where tracks have been constructed to provide access between cliff top and bottom. • Mountain bikers travelling uphill will have “right of way” on Lockyer’s Line of Road and Berghofer’s Pass, and walkers and horse riders will be required to give way to mountain bike riders (uphill riders only). On all other approved routes mountain bikes will be required to give way to walkers. • Horse riders will be required to give way to all other shared track users on all approved routes. • “Right of way”, or “give way”, information will be identified on pre-visit, orientation and interpretive material as appropriate as well as in any codes of conduct developed for other track-based activities. • An adaptive management approach will be adopted to managing any adverse impacts of mountain biking and horse riding on the Reserve’s heritage values (notably the remaining fabric of the historic roads), track surfaces and the surrounding environment, on other Reserve users, and for Reserve neighbours. The preferred management response will be to collaborate with the mountain biking or horse riding users/groups (or other users) to negotiate a suitable behaviour management or self-regulation solution, or to identify other management measures to modify the actions or behaviour(s) generating the impacts. If the adverse effects persist other management measures that will be pursued will – in an approximate sequence of implementation – include site design or redesign or re-routing options; infrastructure and/or site hardening options; temporary closures and activity “rotation”; user separation (spatially and/or temporally); regulation and enforcement; and exclusion. • Council will promote the adoption and use of appropriate codes of conduct among mountain bike riders and horse riders – such the International Mountain Bike Association’s “rules of trail” and the Horse Riding Minimal Impact Code (Australian Alps). • The exclusion of mountain biking and horse riding from some areas due to impacts on heritage values will be implemented in consultation with user groups.

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4.4.6 Camping

Objective

• To provide a “primitive” standard (limited facilities) camping site in a natural setting that caters for individual and group use.

Issues

• There are limited places for bush camping in the Blue Mountains. • Previous visitor use patterns have established an informal camping area at Mount York, just south of the day use area (refer Figure 11). Vehicle access to this site is unrestricted. This area has expanded rapidly in recent years and significant areas of bushland have been cleared and soil compaction is becoming evident. • There is evidence of camping in picnic areas, at scattered locations around the perimeter as well as in the central part of the Mount York Day Use Area. Camping in these areas has the potential to displace day visitors and can leave unsightly fire piles/scars and other impacts. • TAFE often have groups of up to 30 students camping at Mount York for 1-3 nights. • The Hartley Vale Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead, and to a lesser extent, Barden’s Lookout are also used for camping. • Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout is regularly used by overnight or short-stay caravanners and campervanners as a free and convenient stop along the Great Western Highway, with little relevance to the Reserve’s core values or attractions. • Informal camping often results in a proliferation of fire places. In day use areas such remnants of fire places have an aesthetic impact and also discourage day visitors from using the immediate area for picnics and other passive recreation activities. • Throughout Mount York Reserve, camping is at present largely unregulated and no formal fire places or other facilities are provided specifically for camping use. • Council’s Draft Camping Strategy recognises Mount York as an important “primitive” standard camping area in the Blue Mountains. • Camping at Mount York brings with it a bushfire risk from campfire escapes. In recent years there Unsightly campfire remains in the have been several such escapes, but no major central day use are at Mount York. incidents have resulted. • Mount York ridge line has few broad level areas suitable for the establishment of a large camping area. • There is a commercial caravan and camping area at Browns Gap Road, Hartley Vale.

Opportunities

• Mount York Reserve can play an important regional role in providing for bush camping.

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• There is a reasonably level area east of Mount York Road that could accommodate a camping area. The area extends from approximately 100 metres south to 300 metres north of the Barden’s Lookout access road and is up to 80 metres wide. It is of sufficient size to develop a linear camping area and cater for group and individual camping. It is within walking distance of the popular Sunny Side cliff recreation site. This area is at present open understorey bushland with some scattered rock. • The use of camping areas by TAFE students can be managed through Council’s nature based recreation licensing system.

Policies

• In the short term, the area at Mount York Day Use Area presently being used for camping will be formalised with fireplaces, perimeter fencing and vehicle barriers provided. Camping will continue to be prohibited within the central part of the day use area. • In the long term, a primitive bush camping area will be provided at the site described above, opposite Barden’s Lookout. It will include a gravel access road, group camping sites, individual camping sites (some of which may be “walk-in” sites) and a centrally located toilet. An information shelter will be provided and explain the responsible use of campfires and identify an emergency evacuation point. Fireplaces will be provided, however water will not be provided. • Prior to construction of the primitive bush Part of the proposed future bush camping site camping area - opposite Barden’s opposite Barden’s Lookout. Lookout - the proposed site will be subject to archaeological (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal), historic heritage, and flora and fauna assessments. The proposed development may be modified or relocated should significant adverse impacts be identified as potentially arising from its development and use. • When the new camping area is constructed, the camping site at Mount York day use area will be reconfigured as a picnic area for bus groups (as shown in Figure 19). • The management of camping at Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout will be addressed in the preparation of a Master Plan for this site. However camping will continue to be permitted at this location. • Camping will continue to be permitted at Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead in Hartley Vale however, no further upgrades to these facilities will be provided. • Open fires will be prohibited in all camping areas within the Reserve during the fire danger period from November to March, with these sites restricted to “Fuel Stove Only” areas at this time.

4.4.7 Information and Interpretation

Objectives

• To provide accurate pre-visit information outlining the values and recreation opportunities available in the Reserve.

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• To provide high quality orientation and interpretive material to enhance visitor movement and safety within the Reserve and visitor understanding and appreciation of the Reserve’s natural, cultural and recreation values.

Issues

• Pre-visit information about the Reserve’s values and recreation opportunities on offer is not readily available. • Accurate pre-visit information is important in ensuring visitors do not form unrealistic expectations of recreation, cultural heritage or educational opportunities available at the Reserve. • The climbing and abseiling communities are well organised and networked with up- to-date web pages highlighting the climbing and abseiling opportunities the area offers. Numerous books also highlight the climbs available at Mount York. • On site orientation information is limited to a generic sign that was installed at the main visitor nodes as part of the 1988 Bicentennial celebrations. The information provided is limited to a map of the Reserve and its historic roads. • Basic routed timber signs have been provided at each of the major visitor destinations and trackheads and in some locations along the tracks. • Interpretive information is limited to small steel signs installed at a number of specific points of heritage interest. • The Draft Blue Mountains Walking Track Management Strategy: Visitor Information and Interpretation Guidelines give guidance on the provision of information and directional signs for walking tracks (many of which are also applicable to shared use tracks). Interpretive signs are only considered in broad terms. The Draft Visitor Information and Interpretation Guideline 2006 (a component of the Draft Blue Mountains Walking Track Management Strategy) provides the basis for development of interpretive material and signage. • Improved orientation and interpretative signs and materials play an important role in ensuring public safety and improving visitor experiences.

Opportunities

• The provision of updated orientation and interpretive material and information throughout the Reserve would significantly improve visitor appreciation and enjoyment of natural and cultural features. • Council’s website and Blue Mountains Tourism are two existing avenues through which pre-visit information can be made available. • The well organised and networked cliff climbing community provides a further mechanism to distribute information on park management regulations to this user group. • The Reserve is rich with heritage and natural values that provide extensive interpretive opportunities. • An existing network of visitor destination/access, walking and shared use tracks provide a range of locations for the provision of interpretive material. • The Draft Blue Mountains Walking Track Management Strategy: Visitor Information and Interpretation Guidelines provide clear direction on establishing consistent, high standard orientation signs and interpretive material for walking tracks (and shared use routes) in natural areas of the Blue Mountains.

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Policies

• Information and interpretive material will be developed to address the provision of accurate pre-visit information, on site orientation and safety information to improve visitor movement to and within the Reserve and will deliver interpretive themes, specific topics and messages to visitors. • Interpretation of the historic roads will be based on their historical themes and key/obvious attributes. An Interpretive Plan will be developed for the four historic roads which will aim to - expand on the interpretive themes for each road, identify key sites and messages for interpretation, identify and detail interpretive media, identify target audiences, review the suitability of existing on-site and off-site information, guide content development (including text, graphic and sculptural material for interpretation) and develop design and layout and format for differing interpretive products (including track head signage, on-site signage, sculpture and brochures for self guided tours, and so on), and include an implementation plan with costings and priorities. • An information shelter, at a suitable location within the Reserve, may be considered as part of the Interpretive Plan. • Development of interpretation material could commence with collating existing accessible information and formatting this into a low-cost easily producible medium (such as an A4 leaflet of brochure) which can be easily changed, updated and built upon. • The undesirable physical and visual impacts of large or frequent information signs within the landscape, and especially a heritage landscape, will be considered in the Reserve’s interpretation. • The provision of information will consider opportunities to work with existing stakeholder and user group networks to distribute information and will look beyond the simple provision of signs to communicate interpretive messages. • The provision of information signs will be consistent with the guidelines of the Draft Blue Mountains Walking Track Management Strategy signage guidelines. • Reserve interpretive programmes will particularly target park neighbours, local communities and high impact users. • Council will liaise with other organisations that provide information to visitors to ensure all information is consistent, up-to-date and promotes appropriate visitor expectations and behaviour.

4.5 Bushland Management

Objectives

• To ensure natural ecological processes continue within Mount York Reserve. • To comply with the core-objectives applying to the ‘Land Categorisation’ of Natural Area – Bushland, – Watercourse and escarpment, as prescribed in the Local Government Act 1993. • To minimise the impacts of recreational and other activities on the bushland of Mount York Reserve.

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Issues

• There are a number of core objectives for the management and restoration of the Natural Area - Bushland as outlined in Section 5.2 – Mount York Land Categorisation. • The limited flora surveys undertaken in Mount York Reserve have not recorded any significant vegetation, Endangered Ecological Communities or Endangered Species listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 in the Reserve. • The Endangered Ecological Community of Blue Mountains Hanging Swamp occurs just outside the Reserve. Small outliers may exist in the Reserve, but none have as yet been identified. • The majority of vegetation communities within Mount York Reserve are listed as significant within Schedule 5 of the Blue Mountain Local Environment Plan 2005. • Up to 34 flora species of significance have been recorded within 10 kilometres of the Reserve, and with further survey effort some of these species may be recorded within Mount York Reserve. • The vast majority of bushland at Mount York Reserve is in good condition, with little disturbance or weed invasion. • Weeds are restricted to disturbed areas around car parks and along roads and tracks. • Weed density is generally low throughout the Reserve, with the highest populations around the car park at Mount York and at Mitchells Ridge (where dumping of domestic rubbish has contributed to the introduction of weeds). . • There are approximately 15 mature introduced pines at Mount York Day Use Area which are thought to be associated with the site’s history. A number of seedlings are also present. • Recreational climbing within the Mount York Reserve is impacting on vegetation. • Mount York Reserve has not been subject to a detailed fauna survey. However, habitat modelling indicates that it provides suitable habitat for numerous significant animal species. • It is possible that sites important for butterfly hill-topping could be found within the Reserve. • Mount York Reserve forms part of a narrow wildlife corridor that extends north-south along the western escarpment of the Blue Mountains. Minor wildlife corridors extend from the valley floor formed by River Lett and the plateau at Mount York. • There are very limited Council and grant resources for bushland regeneration works.

Opportunities

• Vegetation mapping of the Lithgow LGA part of the Reserve is important to ensure complete assessment of its values. • Gates should be provided across trafficable historic roads (such as Berghofer’s Pass) to prevent vehicular access to bushland. • Appropriate management of the recreational climbing areas within the Mount York Reserve can limit the impacts on vegetation of trampling and general use of the area. • Clearing of the “view line” to Mount Blaxland from the lookout at Mount York could be considered as part of interpretation of Mount York Reserve. • Weed invasion and disturbance to vegetation is generally localised. The majority of native vegetation can be kept in good condition with minimal investment in weed control and revegetation work. • Revegetation works should be incorporated into site planning and landscaping works associated with the site Master Plans.

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• Vegetation management should form a key component of all track maintenance and site hardening of visitor nodes, e.g. removal of overgrown vegetation from tracks are a source of material for brushmatting and erosion control works. • Vehicle barriers at the major visitor nodes within Mount York area, as well as at the Lockyer’s Line of Road trackhead at Hartley Vale, Barden’s Lookout and Mitchells Ridge Lookout, need to be provided and properly maintained to avoid vegetation damage and compaction of the root zone of trees resulting from uncontrolled vehicle access. • Roadsides need to be regularly inspected to enable early detection of invasive grasses such as African Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) and Coolatai Grass (Hyparrhenia hirta). • Roadside weeds within the Reserve need to be controlled and sediment supporting weed populations needs to be removed. • New instances of rubbish dumping need to be cleaned up quickly to prevent the development of a “dumping culture”. • A large E. dalrympleana close to the Mount York pavilion is a significant tree. It requires better management of its root zone, and reduction of the parking area adjacent to the tree could be considered. The estimated age of the tree predates construction of the pavilion in 1913. • There is the potential for butterfly “hill-topping” areas to occur within the Reserve, and this potential should be investigated prior to development of undisturbed bushland at high altitude flatter land. • More detailed information on fauna will be necessary before development of the proposed camping area. • Regular contact with adjoining neighbours can discourage inappropriate behaviours, such as rubbish or garden waste dumping in the Reserve.

Policies

• Plant and animal diversity and distribution in Mount York Reserve will be retained through the maintenance of natural processes, the mitigation of human impacts and specific conservation programs where necessary. • Vegetation mapping of the area within City of Lithgow Council will be undertaken as resources allow. • In order to retain ecological integrity of Mount York Reserve no new areas of the Reserve will be used for park developments, with the exception of the proposed camping area opposite Barden’s Lookout and new walking track between Mount York Day Use Area and Barden’s Lookout. • Bushland restoration and protection measures will be included in all works to provide new or upgraded facilities in the Reserve. • Vegetation management measures - including judicious clearing or trimming - may be undertaken to restore or retain historically significant viewlines, such as the view to Mount Blaxland from the Mount York Day Use Area. • The sealing of car parks (such as proposed at Barden’s Lookout) or provision of new vehicle tracks (as would be required within the proposed camping area) will incorporate designs to address stormwater disposal, including consideration of surface type and structures to control runoff and prevent erosion and sedimentation. • Mature introduced pines at Mount York Day Use Area will be removed at the end of their natural life. Introduced pines seedlings will be removed as a high priority. • Minimal recreational use of gullies is permitted, with only those walking or shared use tracks discussed in section 4.4.3 and ongoing use of the area known as “The Gully” permitted.

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• The land associated with Lockyer’s Line of Road is considered of relatively high fauna value and no further development of this area will be undertaken, beyond the use of the existing trail for bushwalking, mountain biking and horse riding. • Bush regeneration and revegetation programs will be established and resourced within the limits of Council’s annual budgets and environmental levy. • Fire management will be consistent with conservation of vegetation structure/diversity, and species habitat values. • Any areas identified as containing endangered vegetation under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 should be included for protection in the future revision of the relevant Local Environmental Plans through the application of appropriate zoning or other measures. • Council will continue to undertake educational, responsible behaviour, control and enforcement measures - for both neighbours/residents and visitors - regarding the impacts and management of domestic pets in and adjacent to natural areas such as the Reserve.

4.6 Fire Management

Objectives

• To provide protection to life, property and cultural heritage consistent with Council’s broader policies while preserving the surrounding bushland environment, the landscape qualities and the built assets of the park.

Issues

• The majority of the Reserve is mapped as containing Category 1 bushfire prone vegetation, as per the definition contained within the NSW Rural Fire Service’s Guidelines for Bushfire Prone Land Mapping. Category 1 bushfire prone vegetation is classified as forests, woodlands, heath or wetlands with a contiguous area of greater than one hectare. As such, the naturally vegetated areas within the Reserve can be expected to be subject to wildfire at some time, and will require fire at certain intervals to maintain biodiversity. • Mount York Reserve is identified in the Blue Mountains Bush Fire Risk Management Plan as being subject to high bushfire risk. • Past fire frequencies do not appear to have been consistent with thresholds for the ecological communities in the Reserve, which may have resulted in the disruption of life cycle processes or loss of biodiversity. High fire frequency is considered a “threatening process” by the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. • The Reserve adjoins residential areas of St Georges Parade, Mount Victoria and there is the potential for fire within the Reserve to impact upon built assets in these and other areas outside of the Reserve, as well as the limited built structures within the Reserve. • Camping at Mt York does pose a fire risk to surrounding bushland, and its location north-west of Mount Victoria township means the site poses significant fire risk to the township. • A permanent fire ban at Mt York would be resource intensive to police and enforce. • The Lithgow District Bushfire Management Committee will retain the responsibility for fire management (including the assessment and issuing of approvals in relation to

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fire use and management) for that part of the Mount York Reserve that is within the City of Lithgow Council Local Government Area.

Opportunities

• Carefully planned and executed prescribed burning can achieve an ecologically sustainable balance between conservation and risk management. • Appropriate Asset Protection Zones, consistent with Rural Fire Service guidelines, will be established at the boundary between the Reserve and adjoining residential areas of St Georges Parade, Mount Victoria. • Management of camping within Mount York Reserve can use an approach based on information and education to ensure the risk of campfire escape is minimised.

Policies

• The Blue Mountains City Council and Council of the City of Lithgow, and respective Bushfire Management Committees, will liaise closely to ensure a co-ordinated approach to fire management across the Reserve. • Ensure fire management activities are consistent with conservation of biodiversity and threatened species habitat. • Systematic bushfire hazard inspections will be undertaken on an annual to biennial basis to assess the need for the establishment and/or maintenance of fuel reduced Asset Protection Zones. • Establish and maintain fuel reduced Asset Protection Zones in specific areas of the Reserve consistent with required Rural Fire Service standards. • Any prescribed burning within the Reserve is to be undertaken in accordance with the respective Councils’ Strategic Bush Fire Management Plan and the Bush Fire Environmental Assessment Code. • To ensure access is maintained for emergency vehicles. • Open fires will be prohibited in all camping areas within the Reserve during the fire danger period from November to March, with these sites restricted to “Fuel Stove Only” areas at this time.

4.7 Reserve Administration

Objectives

• To ensure Mount York Reserve is managed in a coordinated and integrated manner in accordance with the Crown Lands Act 1989. • To provide for the issue of licences for appropriate commercial and land management purposes.

Issues

• The parcels of land included in this plan of management are reserved Crown Land. • Management direction and guidelines need to reflect the reservation purpose. • The parcels of land included in this plan of management are not formally gazetted as Mount York Reserve.

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• There are a variety of managers for the parcels included in this plan of management, including Blue Mountains City Council, the Department of Lands and a private licensee. • At present, the public perception of Mount York Reserve is generally restricted to the Mount York Day Use Area and its immediate surrounds. The full extent of the area of identified as the Mount York Reserve is largely unknown to most neighbours and members of the wider community. • Lot 3 DP 82098 is presently licenced, on an annual basis, to an adjoining land owner and their business colleague for the purpose of Environmental Protection. • At the time of writing this report, eleven businesses, organisations and individuals are licensed to undertake recreation tours or outdoor recreation educational training in Mount York Reserve. • A Reserve Trust is required to annually prepare a report to the Minister, as stipulated in the Crown Lands Act 1989 and associated Regulation.

Opportunities

• Manage the whole Reserve through a single plan of management by gazetting all parcels as a single Reserve. • Appointment of a single reserve trust for the Reserve will assist in providing co- ordinated management and implementation of this plan of management. The Council of the City of Lithgow has advised that they support the appointment of Blue Mountains City Council as the manger of a trust for the entire reserve. • The reservation purpose of some of the Crown land reserves could be altered to include “heritage purpose” in order to better reflect the values of the land. • Management direction and guidelines need to reflect the reservation purpose of an area of Crown land. • A Reserve Trust may issue a license to allow for multiple and non-exclusive use of an area. A license may be necessary where short term or intermittent control of all or part of the land is required. A number of licenses for different or overlapping users can apply to the same area at the same time provided there is no conflict of interest or intent. • A license may permit the use or occupation of Crown Land for either a specified or unspecified period of time. Under section 108 of the Crown Lands Act 1989 the reserve trust may issue a temporary licence for activities on the Reserve.

Policies

• Seek formal gazettal of all land parcels in this plan of management as Mount York Reserve with a single reserve trust appointed. The reserve trust will be charged with care control and management and the affairs of the trust will be managed by Blue Mountains City Council. • The reservation purpose of all parcels within Mount York Reserve will be amended to “heritage purposes”, “environmental protection” and “public recreation”. • Use Council’s licensing system to monitor the commercial and training group use of climbing and abseiling sites - including the frequency of use of each site, group sizes and total visitor numbers for each site. As site impacts dictate, use the licensing system to regulate use levels and/or group sizes. • Annually review the licence over Lot 3 DP 82098 and renew as appropriate. • This plan of management allows for license agreements on its land, under the following terms and conditions: ¾ compliance with the core objectives and vision for Mount York Reserve; ¾ public input;

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¾ options for use by other groups and the community generally, and ¾ measures to protect residential amenity.

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5 Land Categorisation and Master Plans

This chapter presents two mechanisms to guide the physical distribution of functions and assets within the Reserve: Land Categorisation and a series of Master Plans.

5.1 Land Categorisation

Land categorisation defines how Council will manage certain parcels of land. Each categorisation lists a clear set of objectives for land under its category.

Whilst the lands covered by this plan of management are not Community Lands administered under the Local Government Act 1993, they have been categorised to provide consistency with Community Land managed by the two relevant Councils. The categorisations, while not legislatively supported by the Local Government Act 1993 in this instance, provide a clear management direction for Council and the community.

A land categorisation broadly defines the management and permissible uses of that land. Land is to be categorised as one or more of the following: • a natural area; • a sportsground; • a park; • an area of cultural significance; or • general community use.

Land categorised as Natural Area, is further categorised as one or more of the following: • bushland; • wetland; • escarpment; • watercourse; or • foreshore.

5.2 Mount York Reserve Land Categorisation

The categories for Mount York Reserve are shown on Figures 14 and 15. The objectives for each category give a broad strategic direction for management of this land, which is the same for all categories across NSW. Policies relating specifically to Mount York Reserve have been developed in accordance with core objectives of the Crown Lands Act 1989, Local Government Act 1993, Council’s vision and corporate goals for the future direction of the Blue Mountains, and in response to the values of the Reserve.

This Plan of management applies the following 4 land categories to the Reserve: • Area of Cultural Significance; • Natural Area – Escarpment; • Natural Area – Bushland; and • Natural Area – Watercourse.

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Figure 14: Land Categorisation, Entire Mount York Reserve

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Figure 15: Land Categorisation, Mount York Precinct

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The objectives of each of these categorises are detailed below.

AREA OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Guideline for Categorisation Land should be categorised as an area of cultural significance under section 36 (4) of the Act if the land is: (a) an area of Aboriginal significance, because the land: (i) has been declared an Aboriginal place under section 84 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, or (ii) whether or not in an undisturbed state, is significant to Aboriginal people in terms of their traditional or contemporary cultures, or (iii) is of significance or interest because of Aboriginal associations, or (iv) displays physical evidence of Aboriginal occupation (for example, items or artefacts such as stone tools, weapons, engraving sites, sacred trees, sharpening grooves or other deposits, and objects or materials that relate to the settlement of the land or place), or (v) is associated with Aboriginal stories, or (vi) contains heritage items dating after European settlement that help to explain the relationship between Aboriginal people and later settlers, or (b) an area of aesthetic significance, by virtue of: (i) having strong visual or sensory appeal or cohesion, or (ii) including a significant landmark, or (iii) having creative or technical qualities, such as architectural excellence, or ( c) an area of archaeological significance, because the area contains: (i) evidence of past human activity (for example, below-ground features such as building foundations, occupation deposits, features or artefacts or above-ground features such as buildings, works, industrial structures, and relics, whether intact or ruined), or (ii) any other deposit, object or material that relates to the settlement of the land, or (d) an area of historical significance, because of the importance of an association or position of the land in the evolving pattern of Australian cultural history, or (e) an area of technical or research significance, because of the area's contribution to an understanding of Australia's cultural history or environment, or (f) an area of social significance, because of the area's association with Aboriginal life after 1788 or the area's association with a contemporary community for social, spiritual or other reasons. Core Objectives The core objectives for management of community land categorised as an area of cultural significance are to retain and enhance the cultural significance of the area (namely its Aboriginal, aesthetic, archaeological, historical, technical or research or social significance) for past, present or future generations by the active use of conservation methods. Those conservation methods may include any or all of the following methods: (a) the continuous protective care and maintenance of the physical material of the land or of the context and setting of the area of cultural significance, (b) the restoration of the land, that is, the returning of the existing physical material of the land to a known earlier state by removing accretions or by reassembling existing components without the introduction of new material, ( c) the reconstruction of the land, that is, the returning of the land as nearly as possible to a known earlier state,

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(d) the adaptive reuse of the land, that is, the enhancement or reinforcement of the cultural significance of the land by the introduction of sympathetic alterations or additions to allow compatible uses (that is, uses that involve no changes to the cultural significance of the physical material of the area, or uses that involve changes that are substantially reversible or changes that require a minimum impact), (e) the preservation of the land, that is, the maintenance of the physical material of the land in its existing state and the retardation of deterioration of the land. A reference in subsection (2) to land includes a reference to any buildings erected on the land. NATURAL AREA Guideline for Categorisation The land (whether in an undisturbed state or not) possesses a significant geological feature, geomorphological feature, landform, representative system or other natural feature or attribute that would be sufficient to further categorise the land as: • Bushland; • Wetland; • Escarpment; • Watercourse; or • Foreshore Core Objectives • to conserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem function in respect of the land, or the future or habitat in respect of which the land has been categorised; • to maintain the land, or that feature or habitat, in its natural state/ setting; • to provide for the restoration and regeneration of the land; • to provide for the community use of and access to the land in such a manner as will minimise and mitigate any disturbance caused by human intrusion; • to assist in and facilitate the implementation of any provisions restricting the use and management of the land that are set out in a recovery plan or threat abatement plan prepared under the Threatened Species Act 1995 or the Fisheries Management Act 1994. NATURAL AREA – ESCARPMENT Guideline for Categorisation Land that is categorised as a natural area should be further categorised as an escarpment under section 36 (5) of the Act if: (a) the land includes such features as a long cliff-like ridge or rock, and (b) the land includes significant or unusual geological, geomorphological or scenic qualities. Core Objectives The core objectives for management of community land categorised as an escarpment are: (a) to protect any important geological, geomorphological or scenic features of the escarpment, and (b) to facilitate safe community use and enjoyment of the escarpment. NATURAL AREA – BUSHLAND Guideline for Categorisation (1) Land that is categorised as a natural area should be further categorised as bushland under section 36 (5) of the Act if the land contains primarily native vegetation and that vegetation: (a) is the natural vegetation or a remainder of the natural vegetation of the land, or (b) although not the natural vegetation of the land, is still representative of the structure or floristics, or structure and floristics, of the natural vegetation in the locality. (2) Such land includes:

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(a) bushland that is mostly undisturbed with a good mix of tree ages, and natural regeneration, where the understorey is comprised of native grasses and herbs or native shrubs, and which contains a range of habitats for native fauna (such as logs, shrubs, tree hollows and leaf litter), or (b) moderately disturbed bushland with some regeneration of trees and shrubs, where there may be a regrowth area with trees of even age, where native shrubs and grasses are present in the understorey even though there may be some weed invasion, or (c) highly disturbed bushland where the native understorey has been removed, where there may be significant weed invasion and where dead and dying trees are present, where there is no natural regeneration of trees or shrubs, but where the land is still capable of being rehabilitated. Core Objectives • to ensure the ongoing ecological viability of the land by protecting the ecological biodiversity and habitat values of the land, the flora and fauna (including invertebrates, fungi and micro-organisms) of the land and other ecological values of the land, and • to protect the aesthetic, heritage, recreational, educational and scientific values of the land, and • to promote the management of the land in a manner that protects and enhances the values and quality of the land and facilitates public enjoyment of the land, and to implement measures directed to minimising or mitigating any disturbance caused by human intrusion, and • to restore degraded bushland, and • to protect existing landforms such as natural drainage lines, watercourses and foreshores, and • to retain bushland in parcels of a size and configuration that will enable the existing plant and animal communities to survive in the long term, and • to protect bushland as a natural stabiliser of the soil surface. NATURAL AREA – WATER COURSE Guideline for Categorisation Land that is categorised as a natural area should be further categorised as a watercourse under section 36 (5) of the Act if the land includes: a) Any stream of water, whether perennial or intermittent flowing in a natural channel, a natural channel that has been artificially improved, or in an artificial channel that has changed its course, and any other stream of water into or from which it flows; b) Associated riparian land or vegetation, including land that is protected land for the purposes of the Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act 1948 or State protected land identified in an order under section 7 of the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997. Core Objectives • to manage watercourses so as to protect the biodiversity and ecological values of the instream environment, particularly in relation to water quality and water flow, and • to manage watercourses so as to protect the riparian environment, particularly in relation to riparian vegetation and habitats and bank stability, and • to restore degraded watercourses, and • to promote community education, and community access to and use of the watercourse, without compromising the other core objectives of the category.

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5.3 Master Plans

A number of Master Plans have been developed to outline how the competing functions at the four major visitor destinations in Mount York Reserve are proposed to be managed. A Master Plan has been prepared for each of: • Mount York Day Use Area (Figures 16 to 19); • Barden’s Lookout (Figure 20); • Lawson’s Long Alley and Berghofer’s Pass Trackhead (Figure 21); and • Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead (Figure 22).

Given the complexity of issues at Mount York Day Use Area 4 individual drawings comprise the Master Plan for this location (Figures 16 to 19) including management options for the main Mount York Day use area, top and bottom cliff zones, and a possible new camping area site (in both the short and long term).

Council did not consider that Master Plans were warranted, at this stage for, the Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead at Hartley Vale or Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout. Master Plans are recommended for preparation in the future for these sites.

The Master Plans include more detail than the categorisation maps and provide direction to the placement of any changes or development at each of the four key destinations. The Master Plans should be read in conjunction with the management objectives and policies in Chapter 4 and actions in Chapter 6.

The Master Plans for Mount York Reserve were shaped with reference to community identified values, relevant legislation, public safety and Council policies.

5.3.1 Community Values

The Master Plans maintain the elements of the Reserve which are valued by the community, including the following. • Retention of the generally less intensively developed nature of the Reserve, with opportunities for nature based recreational activities in a largely uncrowded social environment. • Continued access and use of the existing visitor nodes. • The upgrade and improvement of visitor facilities to improve visitor movement to and within key destinations with measures proposed to minimise environmental impacts. • The provision of improved visitor information and interpretation to improve the visitor experience and understanding of the Reserve’s values. • Management sympathetic to the heritage values of the Reserve.

5.3.2 Cultural Heritage

The Master Plans aim to maintain the cultural heritage values of the Reserve by ensuring the location and extent of visitor facilities and activities are sensitive to significant heritage sites. At each of the major visitor nodes, the protection of heritage values has been a primary consideration and restrictions on visitor activities have been introduced in some places. For example, it is recommended that cliff recreation activity is reduced in the vicinity of Cox’s Road at Mount York Day Use Area and mountain bike and horse riding will no longer be permitted on the upper section of Cox’s Road. Minor

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maintenance works on the heritage fabric of the Reserve have been suggested until detailed heritage conservation/management and/or archaeological input is prepared.

5.3.3 Public Safety

The Master Plans also aim to ensure public safety. This is reflected in the provision for the following. • Improved notification of “climber only” areas at cliff top and bottom to ensure visitors that are not climbing or abseiling do not venture close to the cliff edge. This also offers protection to climbers by minimising the potential for material to be inadvertently dislodged over the cliff edge. • Spatial separation of user groups that have the potential to impact on other users. For example, mountain bike and horse riders will no longer be permitted to use the heavy pedestrian traffic area of the main descent at Cox’s Road at Mount York, but rather will be directed to use Cox’s Alternative Descent. • Traffic control devices along Mount York Road in the vicinity of visitor destinations. • Provision of improved orientation information, particularly in relation to the shared track network, to ensure visitors are informed and able to select the walk or ride most suitable for their abilities and desired experience.

As previously described, participants in cliff recreation activities will be required to take responsibly for their own safety at all times.

5.3.4 Bushland Values

The Master Plans also respond to the flora and fauna values of the Reserve by maintaining a low level of development in the Reserve. The existing visitor nodes will be maintained and facilities either upgraded or rationalised to improve visitor movement throughout each area. Measures will be implemented to revegetate and rehabilitate degraded and eroded areas at each of the visitor nodes. An additional camping area is proposed on the eastern side of Mount York Road approximately opposite Barden’s Lookout (as previously described in section 4.4.6) (refer to Figure 19).

A range of bushland management measures are also proposed in the Plan of Management, to maintain and enhance the ecological integrity of the Reserve’s bushland.

5.3.5 Master Plan Limitations

It is important to recognise that the Master Plans provide an overview of the future development of each of the four visitor nodes. The Master Plans are essentially a conceptual vision for the future provision of visitor facilities and infrastructure at the subject sites. Further detailed design will be required as elements (or key features) of each Master Plan are introduced into the landscape.

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Figure 16: Mount York Day Use Area – Master Plan

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Figure 17: Mount York – Master Plan, Possible Cliff-topTreatments

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Figure 18: Mount York – Master Plan, Possible Cliff-bottom Treatments

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Figure 19: Mount York – Possible Future Camping Area Location

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Figure 20: Barden’s Lookout – Master Plan

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Figure 21: Lawson’s Long Alley and Berghofer’s Pass Trackhead – Master Plan

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Figure 22: Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead – Master Plan

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6 Action Plan

Chapter 6 outlines the means by which the Council proposes to achieve the Plan of management’s objectives and policies. It tables a variety of actions that arise from the Management Direction provided in Chapter 4. For each proposed action it indicates a priority, resource availability, indicative cost, possible funding source, monitoring technique and evaluation measure. Actions are grouped under the subject areas as previously applied in this plan.

Action and Action Number

A brief description of the proposed management action, and coding (numeric and letter) for easy reference.

Priorities

This column in the Action Plan reflects the relative importance of each action.

Priorities are indicated in the Action Plan as follows:

Priority 1: These actions address issues where there is: potential for the public being exposed to an unacceptable level of risk; and/or potential of a serious threat to the environment.

Priority 2:. These actions address issues that meet a significant community need.

Priority 3: These actions address issues that have longer-term impacts, such as meeting less urgent community needs, improving inefficient services, or providing policy guidance for Council’s services.

Resource Availability

This column in the Action Plan provides an indication of when the action is likely to be implemented. The timeframe indicates when Council aims to apply for funds, which may be the first step in delivering an on-ground outcome. These applications may be for funds from Council’s Captial Works Program (CWP) or for grant funds external to Council. The time frame is categorised as short term, medium term and long term or on- going – with these categories broadly defined as follows: • short term term - 1-2 years; • medium term - 3-5 years; • long-term - 6 years and beyond; and • on-going – as required throughout the life of this plan.

However these time periods should be considered indicative only, as implementation of this Plan of Management’s various actions will be very much dependant on Council’s budgetary cycles, grant funding, available resources and competing priorites or demands.

By way of background, applications for funds from Council’s 2004/5 - 2008/9 four year Capital Works Program totalled $60 million with available funding of $12.6 million. That is, applications were made for funds equal to approximately five times that which is

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available. Applications, assessments and decisions upon which projects are funded are made annually as part of Council’s budgetry processes.

In some cases, the resources to deliver a Priority 2 or 3 may be available before a Priority 1. This may be due to the amount of money required, or the project being funded from resources other than Council funds, or factors outside of Council’s control.

Indicative Cost

This column provides an indicative cost for undertaking the action. The costing excludes staff time and vehicle operating costs. It is largely an estimate of the cost of materials required.

Funding Sources

This column identifies some possible sources of funding, both internal and external, to achieve the relevant management action.

Monitoring Technique

Possible measures to use to track progress towards implementing or achieving the management action.

Evaluation

Possible measures to use to assess the effectiveness or success of the management action.

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Action 1. Protection of Aboriginal Heritage Values Action Potential Indicative Funding Monitoring Actions Priority Resource Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Technique

1.1 Site Identification and Protection Investigate funding to Survey completed and undertake a systematic items recorded in the survey to identify and Department of Staff time Feedback from the A record Aboriginal sites 3 Medium Term BMCC Environment and Climate (1 day). Aboriginal community. involving the local Change’s Aboriginal Aboriginal community in Heritage Information the process. Management System. Undertake a systematic Archaeological survey to Review by Council identify and record heritage officer and Survey completed and Aboriginal sites. compliance with items recorded in the B (Archaeological survey to 3 Long Term $30,000 Grant relevant NSW relevant listings and incorporate Non- Heritage Office, databases. Aboriginal heritage NPWS and best associated with early road practice guidelines. construction) Formulate policies/actions for the protection and Aboriginal heritage management of any Site-specific items/sites appropriately Aboriginal heritage Ongoing management managed consistent with items/sites located within BMCC and C 1 (as/when Staff time guidelines/actions Aboriginal people’s and /or the Reserve in conjunction Grant required) formulated and being organisations’ wishes and with relevant Aboriginal followed/implemented. relevant legislative people/organisations and requirements. consistent with relevant legislative requirements.

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Action 2. Management of Non-Aboriginal Heritage Values Action Potential Indicative Funding Monitoring Actions Priority Resource Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Technique

2.1 General

Prepare a Site Increased visitor Grant Interpretation Plan for the awareness, obtained historic features of Mount knowledge, Interpretive measures through A York Reserve, with 2 Short Term $20,000 appropriate behaviour identified and progressively Metropolitan particularly reference to and support. implemented. Greenspace the historic roads and key Feedback from user program. visitor nodes and activity groups. areas.

Staff time (up to four Deterioration of historic A monitoring program will days per road structures and/or Feedback from user B be developed and 2 Ongoing year BMCC surface and damage to groups. implemented for significant dependent monuments detected and historic places and cultural on extent of addressed. landscapes. program).

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Monitoring Actions Priority Resource Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Technique

2.2 Historic Roads A condition survey and assessment of the 4 historic roads will be prepared. To include a Compliance with condition assessments of NSW Heritage Office Grant each item, establish and best practice obtained Works required to conservation policies and guidelines. through remediate poor condition of A provide detailed guidance 2 Short Term $20,000 Comparability with Metropolitan historic roads identified and on their future other heritage road Greenspace undertaken. management and required documentation (such program. works. A suitably qualified as the Great North heritage Road) professional/archaeologist should be involved in this process. Implement recommend works as outlined in the 2007 Soil Conservation Reduced extent and rates BMCC. and Drainage Plan for the of deterioration and Grant (through four heritage roads, as damage to historic road Metropolitan detailed in Appendix 2, Medium Feedback from user surfaces, alignment, other B 1 $94,000 Greenspace subject to heritage Term groups. fabric and setting. Length program)/ approvals. To address of time that historic roads Heritage areas currently in a poor are closed to public access Grants condition and prevent due to unstable conditions. further degradation of historic fabric.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Monitoring Actions Priority Resource Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Technique Improved track condition Implement recommend (for users). Reduced BMCC. conservation works along extent and rates of Grant (through the summit section of Feedback from user deterioration and damage Metropolitan Cox’s Road (high use Medium groups. Reduced to historic road surfaces, C 1 $85,000 Greenspace area) as outline in the Term accidents and injury other fabric and setting. program)/ Track Survey within the rates, Length of time that track Heritage Conservation Management section is closed to public grants Strategy access due to unstable conditions.

BMCC. Document and develop Grant (through Heritage Road Length of time that historic Metropolitan maintenance plan detailing Medium Feedback from user roads are closed to public D 2 $10,000 Greenspace a regular program of Term groups. access due to unstable program)/ maintenance works conditions Heritage

grants

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Monitoring Actions Priority Resource Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Technique

Timely intervention and Implement routine remediation or preventative maintenance of 4 historic BMCC staff Feedback from user measures. Reduced E road addressing drainage, Annually to time groups. Comparison ongoing BMCC/ SLA extent and rates of vegetation management biannually (10 days) of track condition deterioration and damage and regular inspection of annually reports over time. to historic road surfaces, structural stability other fabric and setting.

Reduce damage to historic Staff time F Vegetation management Observation and structure from vegetation 2 Biannually (8 days per BMCC along four historic Roads maintenance records. growth. Unimpeded access year) along historic Roads.

2.3 Historic Monuments Directions for the retention, Prepare a Conservation restoration, relocation or Management Plan for the Compliance with other management monuments, and other Heritage NSW Heritage Office treatment of all existing A 2 Short Term $20,000 potential heritage features, Grant and best practice monuments and other located in and around the guidelines. heritage items identified, Mount York Day Use Area. and any necessary works undertaken.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Monitoring Actions Priority Resource Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Technique The Pavilion – undertake minor maintenance works include replacing missing timber slats in step up Staff time viewing platforms, cleaning (2 days). Feedback from user B 2 Short Term BMCC Works completed. off scuff marks using $2,000 groups. appropriate methods and materials. replacing soil that has eroded/compacted on the northern side. The Obelisk – undertake minor maintenance works including removing painted Staff time graffiti using appropriate (1 day). Feedback from user C 2 Short Term BMCC Works completed. methods and replacing soil $1,000 groups. that has materials eroded/compacted around the base. Footprints in Time Memorial – investigate feasibility of undertaking Staff time minor maintenance works Medium (2 days). Feedback from user D including cleaning plaques 2 BMCC Works completed. Term $2,000 groups. using appropriate methods materials. and reinstating two missing plaques with replications of originals.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Monitoring Actions Priority Resource Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Technique Explorers Arch – undertake a safety audit. $3,000 - Feedback from user Safety audit undertaken E Stabilise using appropriate 1 Short Term BMCC 5,000 groups. and any works completed. techniques and materials if required. Watsford Memorial – undertake minor maintenance works Staff time Feedback from user F 2 Short Term BMCC Works completed. including cleaning the (1 day). groups. plaque using appropriate methods. Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth Memorial – investigate feasibility of replacing the three missing Staff time – Feedback from user Works completed – if G 3 Short Term BMCC heads (subject to the (1 day) groups. deemed warranted. findings of the Conservation Management Plan).

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Action 3. Visual and Residential Amenity Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source 3.1 Views

The design and construction of visitor Staff time facilities or other (included Incidence of visual scars infrastructure near the cliff Feedback from user A 1 Ongoing as part of BMCC resulting from park edge (e.g. barrier fences, groups. design development. signs) will ensure visual process) impacts are minimised.

Undertake maintenance of native vegetation at Mount York Day Use Area to Staff time Feedback from user B maintain historically 2 Biannually (2 days BMCC Unimpeded views. groups. significant views north and per year). north west from lookouts.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source 3.2 Residential amenity The proposed recreational settings for the Reserve (see section 4.4.1 of the plan of management) will be used to guide the level Number of complaints of facility provision and received relating to loss directly influence visitor Feedback from Staff time of quiet bushland A numbers to the Reserve. 2 Ongoing BMCC residents of Mount (2 days). character of the Reserve Management responses to Victoria. and nearby areas of any future demands for Mount Victoria. additional visitor facilities will be guided by the provisions of the relevant recreation opportunity spectrum setting.

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Action 4. Recreational Use Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

Key Destinations - Mount York Day Use Area 4.1 Implement the Mount York Day Use Area Master Plan (Figures 16-19). Key elements and their relative priority are provided in the action list below. Liaise with the climbing community to resolve the exact location (in the area between Exhibition Wall BMCC, and Galactic Gully) of cliff Staff time Recreation Pathways and top access paths and (two days Licence Fees revegetation areas revegetation areas Feedback from user A 1 Short Term for liaison). and Grant defined. proposed in Figure 17. groups. $15,000 (through Dept Regeneration plantings Construct visually materials. of Sport and established. unobtrusive low barrier Recreation). fencing at agreed locations, undertake revegetation works and install safety signage.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Investigate options for improving visitor safety and preventing access to the cliff edge by unwary visitors at the popular viewing point BMCC and approximately 5 metres Grant Safety barrier installed B west of “The Block”. 1 Short Term$12,000 (through Dept Regular inspections. and number of Install warning signs of Sport and accidents per year. regarding the cliff edge. Recreation). Design and construct a visually unobtrusive safety barrier, if warranted as only viable option. Formalise the access Grant Track and barrier track to “The Gully” (through fencing installed. climbing site. Define the Metropolitan Regular inspections. Extent of vegetation C cliff recreation landing 1 Short Term $15,000 Greenspace Feedback from user trampling and impacts area using visually program) and groups. occurring beyond unobtrusive barrier Recreation barrier fencing. fencing. Licence Fees. Short term camping site Formalise the existing de and car park defined facto camping area (as a and in use. Monitor short term camping CWP and Feedback from user D 2 Short Term$7,000 incidence of camping in option) and provide an BMCC groups. other areas such as the associated car parking central part of the day area. use area.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Seek funding and subsequently construct Grant the path network around (through Path network Medium Feed back from user E the perimeter of the car 2 $25,000 Metropolitan established at desired Term groups parking area, including Greenspace standards. the terraced section at program). the head of Cox’s Road. Remove the existing two pit toilets and provide a New toilet and access hybrid waterless unisex BMCC Feed back from user path installed, suitable F 1 Short Term$45,000 toilet. Provide an access CWP groups for people with a path suitable for use by disability. people with a disability. Liaise with the climbing community to determine the preferred option for hardstand treatments at Recreation Built form for hardstand the base of cliffs. $15,000 – Licence Fees areas at the base of (Hardstand treatments 45,000 and Grant climbs agreed with the G are required at the base 3 Short Term Dependent N/A (Dept of Sport climbing community. of climbs known as “Snap on agreed and Three hard stand Crackle and Pop”, option. Recreation) treatments constructed. “Buddha” and “Obituary”.) Construct hard stand treatments at the three base of cliff sites.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Liaise with the climbing Training areas community regarding the identified, delineated, identification and Staff time Feedback from user recognised by climbing H delineation of approved 2 Short Term BMCC (3 days) groups. community/users, and training areas (no in use. Restrictions facilities) and training use being observed. restrictions. Define the single bus parking layby on the western side of the Dedicated bus parking carpark and multi-use Medium Feedback from user I 3 $5,000 BMCC layby(s) delineated and layby (with capacity for a Term groups. in use. single bus if required) on the carpark’s northern side.

Replace park furniture when existing furniture is $2,000 - Park furniture is no longer functional. Medium $25,000 Feedback from user progressively replaced J 3 BMCC Provide additional Term Dependent groups. and additional furniture furniture as per Master on item. provided. Plan (Figure 16).

Modify car park barrier fencing and revegetate/ Medium Feedback from user Landscaping completed K 3 $10,000 BMCC landscape the central Term groups. and maintained. part of the day use area.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Upgrade the existing pathway from the loop/parking area to The BMCC, Obelisk to disabled Heritage Relevant AS Standards access standards. Medium Grants, and Tracks upgraded to L 2 $30,000 and feedback from Upgrade the existing Term Metropolitan desired standards. users. walking track from the Greenspace Obelisk to Eddy Rock program Lookout and the Monument Gully area.

Establish photo monitoring points at selected locations at the Biannual photographic Sunny Side cliff top and Staff time record maintained and M bottom to evaluate the Ongoing Biannual (2 days per BMCC Photo point monitoring. remedial actions taken success of management year). as needed. measures and ensure prompt remedial action is possible.

4.2 Key Destinations – Barden’s Lookout Implement the Barden’s Lookout Master Plan (Figure 20). Key elements and their relative priority are provided in the action list below. Undertake access Extent or rehabilitated control, soil conservation, BMCC, and area, monitoring of Successful revegetation drainage and Medium A 2 $5,000 Staff time (5 vehicle intrusion and and reduced incidence revegetation works in the Term days) incidence of roadside of rubbish dumping. large cleared/degraded dumping roadside area.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

Seek funding and subsequently define the Car park and access access road and car Medium Feedback from user road sealed and B 2 $40,000 Grant parking spaces through Term groups. surrounding areas bitumen sealing and revegetated. provide edge definition.

Seek funding and subsequently terrace the open lookout area and Medium Feedback from user C 2 $15,000 Grant Lookout area upgraded. replace and extend the Term groups. barrier fencing at the lookout edge.

Seek funding and Medium Feedback from user D subsequently provide 2 $5,000 Grant Park furniture installed. Term groups. park furniture.

Seek funding and subsequently provide a bus parking bay adjacent Feedback from user Bus bay and associated E 3 Long Term $20,000 Grant to Mount York Road and groups. path installed. install the path linking to the lookout area.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

Key Destinations – Lawson’s Long Alley and Berghofer’s Pass Trackhead 4.3 Implement the Lawson’s Long Alley Track Head Master Plan (Figure 21). Key elements and their relative priority are provided in the action list below.

Upgrade intersection of Feedback from Mount York Road and Medium Intersection turning A 1 $5,000 BMCC Council’s Traffic Berghofers Drive to Term circles improved. Engineer. improve access safety.

Formalise existing parking area with crushed Upgraded parking area gravel and edge Medium BMCC Feedback from user B 2 $15,000 and improved edge definition. Define car Term CWP groups. definition. park and picnic area/shared track edge. Seek funding and subsequently upgrade Medium Feedback from user C park furniture and 2 $5,000 CWP Upgraded picnic area. Term groups. stabilise ground surface in picnic area.

Key Destinations – Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead 4.4 Implement the Lockyer’s Line of Road Track Head Master Plan (Figure 22). Key elements and their relative priority are provided in the action list below.

Seek funding and subsequently define the Feedback from user Parallel parking areas A 3 Long Term $5,000 CWP parallel parking area with groups. provided. a crushed gravel surface.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

Widen trackhead and relocate signs. Install Feedback from user Trackhead widened and B 3 Long Term $9,000 CWP fencing and gating to groups. signs relocated. restrict vehicle access.

4.5 Key Destinations – Lockyer’s Line of Road Trackhead, Hartley Vale

Prepare Master Plan to guide future management Master Plan of a - addressing vehicle Staff time comparable standard to A parking, links to shared 3 Long Term BMCC Master Plan prepared. (5 days) those included in this tracks, improved plan. orientation and upgraded furniture. Master Plan Implement Master Plan. progressively Seek funding to formalise Feedback from user implemented. Improved B car parking spaces, entry 3 Long Term $12,000 BMCC/ Grant groups. site presentation, point. Upgrade signage functionality and as required amenity.

4.6 Key Destinations – Mitchell’s Ridge Lookout

Master Plan of a Prepare a Master Plan to Medium Staff comparable standard to A guide future management 2 BMCC Master Plan prepared. Term (9 days) those included in this of the site. plan.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Master Plan progressively Seek funding and Medium Feedback from user implemented. Improved B 2 $30,000 Grant BMCC implement Master Plan. Term groups. site presentation, functionality, and amenity.

4.7 Shared Use Tracks and Walking Track Network Prepare a Walking/Shared Track Management Plan covering each existing walking or shared use track. Amend Plan to A clear concise include proposed new Walking/Shared Track tracks as completed. It Management Plan that will be guided by the is used in determining policies of this plan and Medium Staff time Feedback from user A 2 BMCC works schedules for address track Term (9 days) groups. maintenance and classification, track improvement of walking conditions, recommend and shared use tracks the provision of in Mount York Reserve. appropriate infrastructure, monitoring regime and maintenance works. (Reflect priorities for management of 4 historic roads.)

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Walking tracks and Seek funding and $3, 000 – shared tracks upgraded subsequently implement 20,000 Feedback from user and maintained B 3 Ongoing Grant the Walking/Shared Dependent groups. consistent with the Track Management Plan. on item. Walking/Shared Track Management Plan. Undertake detailed planning and design of a walking track at the base of the escarpment from On ground route Cox’s Road at Mount Feedback from user Medium Staff time identified and track C York Day Use Area to 3 BMCC groups and Council’s Term (13 days) specifications prepared Barden’s Lookout. The Environmental Team. to guide construction. track will be planned and developed to be of the “Moderate Track” standard. Seek funding and subsequently construct the new walking track as Grant described above. As part (through Walking track of the construction works, Feedback from user D 3 Long Term $35,000 Metropolitan constructed and gully undertake improvements groups. Greenspace links upgraded. to the walking tracks at program). Monument Gully and Barden’s Gully so they are of the same standard.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Seek funding and subsequently develop Grant Berghofer’s Pass at the Interpretive information (through “Easy Walk” standard as Medium Feedback from user installed at points of E 2 $10,000 Metropolitan a short, one-way return Term groups. interest along Greenspace interpretive walk. Berghofer’s Pass. program). (Dependent on Action 4.7.B.) Improve on site orientation information at each of the Reserve’s BMCC and Track Heads so that the Grant Number of visitor range of available shared (through Feedback from user complaints concerning F use routes, their length 1 Short Term$10,000 Metropolitan groups. poor information and duration are clearly Greenspace provision. communicated to visitors. program). Include this in pre-visit information for the Reserve.

4.8 Cliff Recreation Promote the funding and preparation of a Blue Mountains Cliff Feedback from State Blue Mountains Cliff Staff time A Recreation Strategy to 2 Short Term BMCC Government land Recreation Strategy (3 days) relevant State management agencies prepared. Government land management agencies.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Council will liaise with representatives of the climbing community regarding the alternatives Feedback from cliff Staff time B to strapping to trees 1 Short Term BMCC recreation Trees no longer used. (3 days) between Galactic Gully representatives. and Echo Gully. Undertake concurrently with Action 4.1.A. Actively encourage and support the establishment Ongoing involvement of of Cliffcare/Trackcare and Feedback from cliff cliff recreation use it as a means of recreation Staff time community in decision C maintaining ongoing 2 Ongoing BMCC representatives and (3 days) making processes communication with the Council’s Recreation affecting cliff recreation full range of stakeholders Planner. at Mount York. in the cliff recreation community. Undertake regular monitoring of the heritage experience of visitors to Feedback from visitors the Sunny Side cliff top to heritage sites. Visitor satisfaction Staff time D and Mount York Day Use 2 Annually BMCC Blue Mountains levels improve over (2 days) Area to assess any Walking Track visitor time. impact (or benefit) from monitoring. cliff top climbing and abseiling activity.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

Identify photo monitoring points at a selection of Bi-annual photo point Sunny Side and Shady monitoring and early Side cliff top/cliff base Staff time E 1 Short Term BMCC Photo point monitoring. detection of increasing sites. Bi-annually re- (2 days) impacts that require photographic each site. management response. Take remedial action as necessary.

Council will liaise with the cliff recreation community to promote the exclusion of new bolts at both Feedback from cliff Sunny and Shady Side Staff time recreation community Incidence of new F 2 Ongoing BMCC (excluding those (2 days) and Council’s bolting. associated with Action Recreation Planner. 4.8.B) and encourage replacement of existing bolts only.

In conjunction with the cliff recreation Feedback from cliff Code developed and community, develop and Staff time recreation community G 1 Short Term BMCC accepted by cliff promote a Blue (1 day) and Council’s recreation community. Mountains Cliff Recreation Planner. Recreation Code.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

4.9 Mountain Bike Riding and Horse Riding Ensure sections of track BMCC and where mountain bike and Grant Incidence of mountain horse riding are not (through Feedback from user bikes and horse riders A permitted are explained 1 Short Term$5,000 Metropolitan groups. using excluded sections in orientation information Greenspace of tracks. and are appropriately program). indicated on site. Assess the need to $2,000 – provide signs at strategic 4,000 locations that reinforce Reported incidences Dependent Feedback from user B the shared use nature of 1 Short Term BMCC between different user on number groups. tracks and the need to types. of signs exercise caution. Provide required. signs where required. Pursue an adaptive management approach to addressing the impacts of Reduced incidences mountain bike riding and Track condition and severity of usage horse riding on the Staff time monitoring and impacts on heritage and C 1 Ongoing BMCC Reserve’s heritage and (10 days) feedback from user environmental values, environmental values, as groups. and reduced incidences well as in the of user conflict. management of user conflicts.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Implement an active programme of shared Feedback from user track monitoring, groups, Reserve users Impacts identified and Staff time D incorporating track rutting 2 Ongoing BMCC and commercial tour remediation action (5 days) and erosion impacts operators, and Council taken. arising from mountain Environmental Team. bike and horse riding. Promote the Horse Riding Minimal Impact Feedback from Bush Ongoing monitoring of Code (Australian Alps) to Regeneration Team, horse riding impacts horse riders, clubs and Staff time horse riding user E 2 Ongoing BMCC including soil erosion user groups. Relevant (2 days) groups, Reserve users and incidence of weed conditions will be and commercial tour introduction. included in licences for operators. horse riding tours. Promote the International Feedback from Bush Ongoing monitoring of Mountain Bike Regeneration Team, mountain bike impacts Association’s “rules of Staff time mountain bike user including soil erosion F trail” or other appropriate 2 Ongoing BMCC (2 days) groups, Reserve users and track surface codes of conduct among and commercial tour degradation and user mountain bike riders and operators. conflicts. their user groups.

4.10 Camping

Included in Feedback from user Short term camping site Formalise the short-term action BMCC and groups. Monitor and car park defined A camping site and 1 Short Term 4.1.D CWP incidence of camping in and in use. Illegal associated parking area. above. other areas. camping reduced.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Seek funding and subsequently prepare a Master Plan for the proposed camping area east of Mount York Road BMCC and opposite Barden’s Grant Long term camping site Lookout. Undertake pre- (through Feedback from user defined and in use. B development 3 Long term $100,000 Natural groups. Monitor incidence of archaeological, historic Heritage camping in other areas. heritage and flora and Trust) fauna assessments as required. Construct this larger primitive camping area, if required, in the longer term.

4.11 Information and Education Provide visitor safety signs near cliff edges at Grant Mount York Day Use Included in Visitor safety signs (through Dept Feedback from user A Area and Barden’s 1 Short Term action installed and high of Sport and groups. Lookout as outlined in the 4.1.A. compliance levels. Recreation). Master Plans for each site.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Develop information and interpretive material to address pre visit Information and information, orientation Interpretive material and safety information Feedback from user B 2 Short Term$35,000 Grants completed and has the and a range of groups. support of stakeholder interpretive themes. groups. Involve key stakeholder groups in preparing the material. Council will liaise with NPWS, Blue Mountains Tourism and other organisations that may provide information to Dissemination of Staff time Liaison frequency and C visitors to ensure all 2 Short Term BMCC appropriate information (2 days) effectiveness. information is consistent, to visitors. up-to-date and promotes appropriate visitor expectations and behaviour. 4.12 Commercial Operations

Review licence and Reduced processing Effectively managed Staff time A implement public 1 Annually BMCC times and operator and functioning (11 days) notification process. complaints. licensing system.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

Monitoring of operator Improved operator Effectively managed activities and maintain Staff time performance, reduced B 1 Annually BMCC and functioning regular liaison with (5 days) warnings and licensing system. operators. infringements.

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Action 5. Bushland Management Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

5.1 Flora Prepare a regeneration and revegetation program for the Reserve, focussing on disturbed areas such Completed revegetation as major visitor nodes, Staff time Feedback from Bushland A 1 2007/08 BMCC and regeneration historic tracks and (2 days) Management Officer. program. roadsides where weed infestations are present. Integrate it into Council’s existing program. BMCC and Grant Implement the (through Feedback from Bushland Improved condition of Staff time B regeneration and 1 Ongoing Natural Management Officer and impacted vegetation (15 days)) revegetation program. Heritage user groups. communities. Trust and CMA)

Remove dumped rubbish Feedback from Bushland Time between detection Staff time C as soon as possible after 1 Ongoing BMCC Management Officer and of rubbish and its (2 days) its detection. user groups. removal.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

Remove seedlings of Feedback from Bushland Staff time D introduced pines at Mount 1 Ongoing BMCC Management Officer and All seedlings removed. (2 days) York Day Use Area. user groups.

Ensure neighbouring Incidences of rubbish residences are included in and vegetation dumping the distribution of any Feedback from Bushland E 2 Ongoing $300 BMCC and encroachments Council bushland Management Officer. adjacent to neighbouring management promotional properties. material. Detailed design and construction specifications Staff time Design and documentation Bushland disturbance for the provision of new or As (as part of includes bushland arising from works to F upgraded facilities will 1 BMCC necessary design management provide new or upgraded include bushland process). considerations. facilities. restoration and protection measures. Implement inspection programme for significant Tree vigor and longevity tree at Mount York Day Staff time Regular inspection G 1 Biannually BMCC increased, risks to site Use Area, and identify (5 days) reports. users reduced. and address trees causing danger to site users.

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Action 6. Fire Management Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

6.1 Asset Protection

Identify and maintain an Conduct bushfire hazard Asset Protection Zone to Low fuel loads close to A. 1 Ongoing $10,000 BMCC assessment on annual the west of residences in assets basis. St Georges Parade.

Identify and maintain Asset Protection Zones around relevant significant park infrastructure such as Conduct bushfire hazard Low fuel loads close to B amenity buildings, picnic 1 Ongoing $5,000 BMCC assessment on annual assets settings, built heritage basis. items, lookouts, signs and fences.

Provide Total Fire Ban signs at major visitor Incidence of fires lit by Feedback from Rural Fire C nodes, ensuring they are 1 2007/08 $2,500 BMCC visitors on Total Fire Ban Service. integrated with other site days. signage.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

Identify evacuation collection points at Mount York Day Use Area and Barden’s Lookout and Feedback from Rural Fire Evacuation points used D promote these in 1 2007/08 $1,000 BMCC Service. in emergency incidents. orientation information at each site. Provide emergency telephone numbers.

Dedicated fire places will be provided in the short and long-term camping Short term camping site 2008/09 and areas (for use when these and car park defined and during Included in areas are not “fuel stove in use. Monitor construction Actions Feedback from user E only” sites). Appropriate 1 CWP incidence of camping in of long-term 4.1.D and groups. campfire practices will be other areas such as the camping 4.10.B promoted in orientation central part of the day area. information at both the use area. short term and long-term camping areas.

Respective Councils and Bushfire Management Effective fire planning Committees to liaise Co-ordinated approach to and management, and F Staff Time BMCC/CLC closely to ensure a co- 1 Ongoing all aspects of fire approval of fire (5 days). and RFS ordinated approach to fire management. management activities in management across the a timely manner. Reserve.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source

6.2 Ecologically Sustainable Fire Management Practices

Develop a regime of ecologically sustainable prescribed burning for the Reserve. This may include prescribed burning Average fuel loading in conducted in a mosaic Staff time Fire regime is ecologically A. 2 2007/08 BMCC bushland areas fashion within the (3 days) sustainable. maintained. Reserve, and within acceptable fire regimes, to manage broad scale fuel levels and to maintain biological diversity.

6.3 Emergency Vehicle Access Ensure emergency vehicular access to the Reserve, including the Emergency services can No difficulties A. provision of appropriate 1 2007/08 $5,000 BMCC gain access to trafficable encountered during gates & locking systems roads within the Reserve. emergency events. (dual locks) on trafficable parts of the historic roads.

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Action 7. Reserve Administration Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source 7.1 Reserve Gazettal

Formally gazette all those Staff time parcels of land included in (5 days) this Plan of Management Department Mount York Reserve A 1 2007/08 and NSW Gazette. as Mount York Reserve. of Lands. formally gazetted. advertising This will require existing expenses. Reserves to be revoked.

Reserve for “Heritage Purposes” those parcels of land containing areas Staff time categorised as Cultural (1/2 a day) Department B Significance (see Figures 1 2007/08 and NSW Gazette. Reservations in place. of Lands. 14 and 15). Existing advertising reservation purposes may expenses. need to be revoked.

All other land parcels will be reserved for “Public Staff time Recreation” and (1/2 a day) “Environmental Department C 1 2007/08 and NSW Gazette. Reservations in place. Protection”. Existing of Lands. advertising reservation purposes may expenses. need to be revoked.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source 7.2 Trust Management Install Blue Mountains City Dependent Council as Reserve Trust on Staff time Department Council appointed as A 1 NSW Gazette. Manager for Mount York Reserve (1/2 day) of Lands. Trust Manager. Reserve, when gazetted. gazettal. Prepare a report for the Lands Minister that includes details of income, Annually, expenditure, assets, within 3 liabilities, improvements months of Staff time Department of Lands Acceptance of report by B effected, leases and 1 the close BMCC (1 day) review comments. Lands Minister. licences granted or in of the force, uses made of the financial Reserve and any year. particulars of pecuniary interests recorded. 7.3 Licences Review the existing licence over Lot 3 DP 92098 and renew if Staff time appropriate (including (1 day) required advertising Records of review process Review conducted A 1 Annually and BMCC process). The review will retained on Council files. annually. advertising incorporate an costs. assessment of the land management practices of the previous year.

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Action Potential Indicative Funding Actions Priority Resource Monitoring Technique Evaluation No. Availability Cost Source Through the existing Licensed nature based nature based recreation recreation activities are licensing system, Council Ongoing Staff time Feedback from licensee’s causing minimal B will monitor licensed 1 (at least BMCC (4 days) and park visitors. environmental impacts activities in the Reserve annually) and/or conflicts with other and regulate such park visitors. activities as appropriate.

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References

Benson, D.H., and Keith, D.A., (1990), 'The Natural Vegetation of the Wallerawang 1: 100 000 Map Sheet', Cunninghamia, Vol 2, No 2, pp 305 - 335.

Blue Mountains City Council. (2006) Draft Cultural Strategy 2006 – 2016.

Blue Mountains City Council. (2007) Preliminary Draft Conservation Management Strategy for Cox’s Road (Mt York Precinct), Lawson’s Long Alley, Lockyer’s Line of Road, Berghofer’s Pass.

Breckell, M. (1993) Shades of Grey Early Contact in the Blue Mountains in Stockton (1993) Blue Mountains Dreaming The Aboriginal Heritage. Three Sisters Productions Pty Ltd.

Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. CSIRO

Croft and Associates Pty Ltd et al (1983) Blue Mountains Heritage Study Final Report.

Department of Environment and Heritage and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (2005) Blue Mountains World Heritage Area Draft Strategic Plan.

Elanus Word and Image. (2003) Blue Mountains Cliff Recreation Site Assessment.

Gundungurra Tribal Council website - http://www.gundungurra.net.au

Karskens, G. (1988) Cox’s Way, Historical and Archaeological Study of Cox’s Road and Early Crossing of the Blue Mountains, New South for Cox’s Road Trust.

Lavelle S. (2002) Founding Fathers and Foundering Myths: Explorers, Monuments in the Blue Mountains. Doctor of Philosophy Thesis to University of Newcastle.

Merriman, J. (1993) Difficult, rocky, sandy, stoney and flowery: Aboriginal Ecology in the Blue Mountains in Stockton (1993) Blue Mountains Dreaming The Aboriginal Heritage. Three Sisters Productions Pty Ltd.

Rosen, S (2007) Western Descents of the Blue Mountains - History & Thematic Analysis. Report for Blue Mountains City Council.

Smith, J. (1999) Walking Track Heritage Study – Stage One report to the NSW NPWS.

Smith J, Beaver D and Betteridge C. (2004) Tracks into History: Conservation Management Plan for Walking Tracks of State Heritage Significance in the Blue Mountains for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Smith P. and Smith J. (2004) Flora and Fauna Assessment for Commercial Cliff Recreation Activities at Mount York. Report prepared for Blue Mountains City Council, Peter and Judy Smith, Blaxland.

Hundy, B (2007) Soil Conservation Service, Department of Lands (2007) Soil Conservation and Drainage Plan for the Historic Walking Tracks at Mt Victoria and Mt York, report prepared for Blue Mountains City Council.

Gondwana Consulting 185 Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

Stockton, E (ed). (1993) Blue Mountains Dreaming The Aboriginal Heritage. Three Sisters Productions Pty Ltd.

Tindall D., Pennay C., Tozer M., Turner K. & Keith D. (2005) Native Vegetation Map Series. No. 4. Araluen, Batemans Bay, Braidwood, Burragorang, Goulburn, Jervis Bay, Katoomba, Kiama, Moss Vale, Penrith, Port Hacking, Sydney, Taralga, Ulladulla and Wollongong 1:100 000 Map sheets. NSW Department of Environment and Conservation & NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, Sydney.

Worley Parsons (2007) Report on Structural and Geotechnical Conservation of Heritage Roads at Mount York, report prepared for Blue Mountains City Council.

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Appendix 1 - Floristic List for Mount York Reserve

Species Name Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Acacia buxifolia Fabaceae (Mimisoideae) 1 1 1 Acacia dealbata Fabaceae (Mimisoideae) 1 Acacia falciformis Fabaceae (Mimisoideae) 1 1 1 Acacia linifolia Fabaceae (Mimisoideae) 1 Acacia melanoxylon Fabaceae (Mimisoideae) 1 Acacia obtusifolia Fabaceae (Mimisoideae) 1 1 Acacia terminalis Fabaceae (Mimisoideae) 1 1 1 Acacia ulicifolia Fabaceae (Mimisoideae) 1 Acetosella vulgaris Polygonaceae 1 Acmena smithii Myrtaceae 1 Aira caryophyllea Poaceae Allocasuarina littoralis Casuarinaceae 1 Allocasuarina nana Casuarinaceae 1 Amperea xiphoclada Euphorbiaceae 1 Amyema miquelii Loranthaceae 1 Amyema pendula Loranthaceae 1 Anagallis arvensis Primulaceae 1 Aristida ramosa Poaceae 1 Arrhenecthites mixta Asteraceae 1 Asplenium flabellifolium Aspleniaceae 1 1 1 Austrodanthonia caespitosa Poaceae 1 Austrodanthonia monticola Poaceae 1 1 Austrodanthonia penicillata Poaceae 1 Austrodanthonia pilosa Poaceae 1 Austrodanthonia racemosa Poaceae 1 Austrodanthonia setacea Poaceae 1 Austrostipa bigeniculata Poaceae 1 Austrostipa pubescens Poaceae 1 1 Austrostipa rudis ssp. rudis Poaceae 1 Axonopus affinis Poaceae 1 Baeckea linifolia Myrtaceae 1 1 Banksia cunninghamiana Proteaceae 1 Banksia ericifolia Proteaceae 1 1 Banksia marginata Proteaceae 1 1 Banksia serrata Proteaceae 1 1 Banksia spinulosa Proteaceae 1 1 Bidens pilosa Asteraceae 1 Billardiera procumbens Pittosporaceae 1 Billardiera scandens Pittosporaceae 1 1 Blechnum cartilagineum Blechnaceae 1 Blechnum nudum Blechnaceae 1 Boronia anethifolia Rutaceae 1 Bossiaea buxifolia Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Bossiaea heterophylla Fabaceae (Faboideae) Bossiaea neo-anglica Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 1 Brachyloma daphnoides Epacridaceae 1 Brachyscome sp. Asteraceae 1 Brachyscome spatulata Asteraceae 1 1

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Species Name Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Briza maxima Poaceae 1 Bromus catharticus Poaceae 1 Bursaria spinosa Pittosporaceae 1 1 Callicoma serratifolia Cunoniaceae 1 1 Calochlaena dubia Dicksoniaceae 1 Calytrix tetragona Myrtaceae 1 Cassinia aculeata Asteraceae 1 Cassinia laevis Asteraceae 1 Cassytha pubescens Lauraceae 1 Caustis flexuosa Cyperaceae 1 1 1 Ceratopetalum apetalum Cunoniaceae 1 Cheilanthes sieberi Sinopteridaceae 1 1 Chiloglottis sp. Orchidaceae 1 Chloanthes stoechadis Chloanthaceae 1 Choretrum candollei Santalaceae 1 Cirsium vulgare Asteraceae 1 1 Cissus hypoglauca Vitaceae 1 Clematis aristata Ranunculaceae 1 1 1 Clematis glycinoides Ranunculaceae 1 1 Conyza sp. Asteraceae 1 Cotoneaster glaucophyllus Rosaceae 1 Crassula sieberiana Crassulaceae 1 1 1 Crataegus monogyna Rosaceae 1 Cynodon dactylon Poaceae 1 1 Cynoglossum suaveolens Boraginaceae 1 1 Cyperus eragrostis Cyperaceae Cyperus sp. Cyperaceae 1 Dactylis glomerata Poaceae 1 1 Daviesia latifolia Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 1 1 Dendrobium striolatum Orchidaceae 1 Desmodium varians Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Dianella caerulea ssp. producta Phormiaceae 1 1 Dianella pruinina Phormiaceae 1 Dianella revoluta Phormiaceae 1 1 Dichelachne inaequiglumis Poaceae 1 1 Dichelachne micrantha Poaceae 1 Dichelachne rara Poaceae 1 Dillwynia phylicoides Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Dillwynia retorta Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Dipodium roseum Orchidaceae 1 Doodia aspera Blechnaceae 1 Doryphora sassafras Monimiaceae 1 Dracophyllum secundum Epacridaceae 1 Echinopogon caespitosus Poaceae 1 Echinopogon ovatus Poaceae 1 Entolasia stricta Poaceae 1 1 1 Epacris paludosa Epacridaceae 1 Epacris pulchella Epacridaceae 1 1 Epacris reclinata Epacridaceae 1 Eragrostis brownii Poaceae 1 Eragrostis curvula Poaceae 1 Eucalyptus bicostata Myrtaceae 1 188 Gondwana Consulting Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

Species Name Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Eucalyptus blaxlandii Myrtaceae 1 1 Eucalyptus cypellocarpa Myrtaceae 1 Eucalyptus dalrympleana Myrtaceae 1 1 Eucalyptus dives Myrtaceae 1 1 1 Eucalyptus eugenoides Myrtaceae 1 Eucalyptus macrorhyncha Myrtaceae 1 Eucalyptus mannifera Myrtaceae 1 Eucalyptus melliodora Myrtaceae 1 1 Eucalyptus oreades Myrtaceae 1 1 Eucalyptus pauciflora Myrtaceae 1 Eucalyptus piperita Myrtaceae 1 1 Eucalyptus praecox Myrtaceae 1 1 1 1 Eucalyptus radiata Myrtaceae 1 1 1 Eucalyptus rubida Myrtaceae 1 Eucalyptus sieberi Myrtaceae 1 1 Eucalyptus sparsifolia Myrtaceae 1 Eucalyptus stellulata Myrtaceae 1 Eucalyptus stricta Myrtaceae 1 1 Euchiton sphaericus Asteraceae 1 Eustrephus latifolius Luzuriagaceae 1 Exocarpos cupressiformis Santalaceae 1 1 Gahnia sieberiana Cyperaceae 1 Galium binifolium Rubiaceae 1 Gamochaeta americana Asteraceae 1 Genista monspessulana Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Geranium solanderi Geraniaceae 1 Glycine clandestina Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 1 Glycine microphylla Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Gompholobium huegelii Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Gonocarpus tetragynus Haloragaceae 1 1 Goodenia hederacea Goodeniaceae 1 Grevillea acanthifolia Proteaceae 1 Grevillea laurifolia Proteaceae 1 Grevillea x gaudichaudii Proteaceae 1 Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus Cyperaceae 1 Hakea dactyloides Proteaceae 1 1 Hakea laevipes Proteaceae 1 1 Hakea sericea Proteaceae 1 Hardenbergia violacea Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 1 Hedycarya angustifolia Monimiaceae 1 Helichrysum diosmifolium Asteraceae 1 Helichrysum scorpioides Asteraceae 1 1 Hibbertia empetrifolia Dilleniaceae 1 1 Hibbertia obtusifolia Dilleniaceae 1 1 1 Hovea linearis Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Hovea sp. Fabaceae (Faboideae) Hydrocotyle laxiflora Apiaceae 1 1 1 Hydrocotyle peduncularis Apiaceae 1 Hymenophyllum cupressiforme Hymenophyllaceae 1 1 Hypericum gramineum Hypericaceae 1 1 Hypochaeris radicata Asteraceae 1 Hypoxis hygrometrica Hypoxidaceae 1

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Species Name Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Ilex aquifolium Aquifoliaceae 1 Indigofera australis Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 1 Isopogon anemonifolius Proteaceae 1 1 1 Joycea pallida Poaceae 1 1 1 1 Juncus continuus Juncaceae 1 1 Juncus planifolius Juncaceae 1 Kunzea ambigua Myrtaceae 1 Lagenifera stipitata Asteraceae 1 Lepidosperma laterale Cyperaceae 1 1 Lepidosperma limicola Cyperaceae 1 Lepidosperma urophorum Cyperaceae 1 Lepidosperma viscidum Cyperaceae 1 Leptomeria acida Santalaceae 1 Leptospermum arachnoides Myrtaceae 1 Leptospermum morrisonii Myrtaceae 1 1 Leptospermum polygalifolium Myrtaceae 1 1 1 Leptospermum sphaericum Myrtaceae 1 Leptospermum trinervium Myrtaceae 1 1 1 Lepyrodia scariosa Restionaceae 1 1 Leucopogon exolasius ? Epacridaceae 1 1 Leucopogon lanceolatus Epacridaceae 1 1 Leucopogon muticus Epacridaceae 1 1 Lomandra filiformis ssp. coriacea Lomandraceae 1 1 Lomandra glauca Lomandraceae 1 1 Lomandra longifolia Lomandraceae 1 1 1 Lomandra obliqua Lomandraceae 1 Lomatia silaifolia Proteaceae 1 1 Malus x domestica Rosaceae 1 Microlaena stipoides Poaceae 1 Microsorum pustulatum Polypodiaceae 1 Mirbelia platyloboides Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Monotoca scoparia Epacridaceae 1 1 Morinda jasminoides Rubiaceae 1 Notodanthonia longifolia Poaceae 1 Olearia elliptica Asteraceae 1 Opercularia diphylla Rubiaceae 1 Opercularia hispida Rubiaceae 1 Oxalis corniculata Oxalidaceae 1 Oxalis perennans Oxalidaceae 1 Oxalis radicosa Oxalidaceae 1 Paspalum dilatatum Poaceae 1 1 Patersonia glabrata Iridaceae 1 Patersonia longifolia Iridaceae 1 1 Pelargonium inodorum Geraniaceae 1 Pellaea falcata Adiantaceae 1 Pennisetum clandestinum Poaceae 1 Persoonia laurina Proteaceae 1 Persoonia levis Proteaceae 1 Persoonia linearis Proteaceae 1 1 Persoonia mollis Proteaceae 1 Persoonia myrtilloides Proteaceae 1 Petrophile pedunculata Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 190 Gondwana Consulting Bringing People and the Environment Together Final Plan of Management : Issue date - June 08 Blue Mountains City Council

Species Name Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Petrorhagia velutina Caryophyllaceae 1 Phebalium ozothamnoides Rutaceae 1 Phyllanthus hirtellus Epacridaceae 1 Phyllota phylicoides Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Pimelea linifolia Thymeleaceae 1 Pinus radiata Pinaceae 1 Pittosporum revolutum Pittosporaceae 1 Plantago debilis Plantaginaceae 1 Plantago lanceolata Plantaginaceae 1 Platysace lanceolata Apiaceae 1 Platysace linearifolia Apiaceae 1 Poa annua Poaceae 1 Poa labillardieri Poaceae 1 Poa sieberiana ssp. cyanophylla Poaceae 1 Poa sieberiana ssp. sieberiana Poaceae 1 1 Podolobium ilicifolium Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 1 Polyscias sambucifolius ssp. B Araliaceae 1 Pomaderris andromedifolia Rhamnaceae 1 Pomaderris lanigera Rhamnaceae 1 Pomax umbellata Rubiaceae 1 1 Poranthera microphylla Epacridaceae 1 1 Pteridium esculentum Dennstaedtiaceae 1 1 1 Pterostylis sp. Orchidaceae 1 Pyrrosia rupestris Polypodiaceae 1 Quintinia sieberi Escalloniaceae 1 1 Rapanaea howittiana Myrsinaceae 1 Rosa rubiginosa Rosaceae 1 Rubus parvifolius Rosaceae Rubus ulmifolius Rosaceae 1 1 Rumex brownii Polygonaceae 1 Schoenus melanostachys Cyperaceae 1 Senecio diaschides Asteraceae 1 Senecio sp. E Asteraceae 1 Setaria gracilis Poaceae 1 Smilax australis Smilacaceae 1 Solanum nigrum Solanaceae 1 Sonchus oleraceus Asteraceae 1 Sporobolus indicus ssp. capensis Poaceae 1 Sprengelia incarnata Epacridaceae 1 Stackhousia monogyna Stackhousiaceae 1 Stellaria pungens Caryophyllaceae 1 Stylidium graminifolium Stylidiaceae 1 1 Taraxacum officinale Asteraceae 1 Telopea speciosissima Proteaceae 1 Themeda australis Poaceae 1 1 Todea barbara Osmundaceae 1 Trifolium repens Fabaceae (Faboideae) 1 Tylophora barbata Asclepiadaceae 1 Verbena bonariensis Verbenaceae 1 Veronica plebeia Scrophulariaceae 1 1 Viola hederacea Violaceae 1 1 Vulpia bromoides Poaceae 1 1

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Species Name Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Wahlenbergia communis Campanulaceae 1 Wahlenbergia gracilis Campanulaceae 1 1 Wahlenbergia stricta Campanulaceae 1 Xanthorrhoea media Xanthorrhoeaceae 1 Xanthosia pilosa Apiaceae 1 1 Zieria fraseri Rutaceae 1

KEY

1. Blue Mountains Ridgetop Forest 2. Moist Montane Sandstone Forest 3. Tableland Grassy Box Gum Woodland 4. Blue Mountains Heath 5. Blue Mountains Hanging Swamp 6. Ceratopetalum apetalum - Doryphora sassafras Rainforest 7. Escarpment Complex

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Appendix 2 – Proposed Soil Conservation, Erosion Control and Drainage Works to be Undertaken Along the Four Historic Roads

The following 7 plans detail those works proposed to be undertaken, subject to heritage approvals, along the four historic roads - as recommended in the 2007 Soil Conservation and Drainage Plan.

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Appendix 3 – Extract from Council’s Recreation Opportunity Spectrum

Those categories in bold have been applied to Mount York Reserve under this plan of management.

ROS CLASS 1 CLASS 2 CLASS 3 CLASS 4 CLASS 5 CATEGORY Remote SEMI-REMOTE Roaded- SEMI- Developed NON- natural DEVELOPED MOTORISED GENERAL Essentially Predominantly Predominantly Modified Divided into 2 DESCRIPTION unmodified unmodified natural environment classes- environment environment environment, in a natural Intensive and of large size of moderate to generally setting- Urban: large size small compact Intensive development development applicable to areas area Natural settings

ACCESS No roads or No roads – Dirt roads- 2WD roads Substantially management management management (dirt and modified tracks- few or tracks and tracks may be sealed), good environment, no formed formed present walking natural backdrop walking walking tracks tracks tracks may be present MODIFICATIONS Modifications Some Some Substantial Substantial AND FACILITIES generally modifications modifications modifications modifications unnoticeable- in isolated but generally noticeable- which dominate no facilities, locations- small scale facilities may the immediate no structures basic facilities and scattered- be relatively landscape- unless may be facilities substantial many facilities essential for provided to primarily to and provided (often including resource protect the protect the for visitor roofed protection resource resource and convenience accommodation) and made (such as pit public safety- (such as designed for with local toilets and no powered amenities large numbers materials BBQs) facilities blocks and visitor convenience

SOCIAL Small Some contact Moderate Large Large numbers INTERACTION number of with others, contact with number of of people and brief but generally others- likely contacts contacts- groups contacts, small groups to have other likely – of all kinds and high groups variety of ages probability of present at groups, isolation from recreation protracted others sites contact and sharing of facilities common

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VISITOR No on-site Some subtle Controls On-site Numerous REGULATION regulation- off- on-site noticeable but regulation and obvious site control regulation low key (such clearly apparent signs of through such as as information (such as signs, regulation- information and directional boards, fences, barriers) staff likely to permits may signs and parking bays) but should be present apply formed tracks blend with natural backdrop EXAMPLES Wollemi 6 Foot Track Mount Old Ford Echo Point, National Park Piddington Reserve Katoomba Megalong Valley Falls Caravan Park

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