Mount Hallowell Reserve Management Plan 2008
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Mount Hallowell Reserve Management Plan 2008 The Reserve is a conservation priority area for the maintenance of the flora, fungi and fauna and all ecological processes pertaining to the natural environment. It is recognised that the Reserve is a significant scientific reference site. Mount Hallowell Reserve Management Plan 2008 Produced by Green Skills for the Shire of Denmark funded by South Coast Natural Resource Management. Received and adopted by Council at the meeting on 22 July 2008 Resolution 100708 Document Version 1.0 Cover photograph: View from near Mount Hallowell summit towards Ocean Beach Shire of Denmark Mount Hallowell Reserve Management Plan 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD .......................................................................................................................3 PART 1: BACKGROUND .............................................................................................4 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN..........................................................4 1.2 MANAGEMENT GOALS .......................................................................................4 1.2.1 Conservation ..................................................................................................4 1.2.2 Recreation......................................................................................................4 1.2.3 Protection from Fire........................................................................................4 1.3 LOCATION AND TENURE....................................................................................4 1.3.1 Access............................................................................................................4 1.3.2 Reserve History..............................................................................................4 1.4 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................5 1.4.1 Climate ...........................................................................................................5 1.4.2 Landforms, Geology and Soils .......................................................................5 1.4.3 Hydrology .......................................................................................................6 1.4.4 Vegetation ......................................................................................................6 1.4.5 Threatened Ecological Communities..............................................................7 1.4.6 Phytophthora Dieback ....................................................................................7 1.4.7 Fungi ..............................................................................................................7 1.4.8 Fauna .............................................................................................................8 1.5 HUMAN ACTIVITIES.............................................................................................8 1.5.1 Aboriginal History ...........................................................................................8 1.5.2 European History............................................................................................8 1.5.3 Recreational Uses ..........................................................................................8 1.5.4 Adjoining Farm and Residential Properties ....................................................9 1.5.5 Community Involvement.................................................................................9 1.5.6 Scientific Research.........................................................................................9 PART 2: MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND ACTIONS....................................................10 2.1 TENURE AND PURPOSE OF RESERVES ........................................................10 2.2 CONSERVATION................................................................................................10 2.2.1 Preservation of the Reserve.........................................................................10 2.2.2 Preservation of Core Area............................................................................11 2.2.3 Scientific Research.......................................................................................11 1 28 July 2008 Shire of Denmark Mount Hallowell Reserve Management Plan 2008 2.2.4 Adjoining Development ................................................................................12 2.2.5 Phytophthora Dieback ..................................................................................13 2.2.6 Introduced Animals.......................................................................................13 2.2.7 Environmental Weeds ..................................................................................13 2.2.8 Rehabilitation Areas .....................................................................................14 2.2.9 Climate Change............................................................................................15 2.3 RECREATION.....................................................................................................15 2.4 FIRE MANAGEMENT..........................................................................................17 PART 3: IMPLEMENTATION .....................................................................................21 3.1 MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES REVIEW ..............................................................21 3.2 MANAGEMENT PLAN REVIEW .........................................................................21 3.3 IMPLEMENTATION PLANS................................................................................21 3.3.1 Tenure..........................................................................................................21 3.3.2 Conservation ................................................................................................21 3.3.3 Recreation....................................................................................................23 3.3.4 Fire Management .........................................................................................25 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...............................................................................................................27 APPENDIX 1 – Landforms and Soil Complexes ............................................................28 APPENDIX 2 – Vegetation Types....................................................................................29 APPENDIX 3 – Mount Hallowell Reserve Flora List ......................................................33 APPENDIX 4 – Fauna Lists..............................................................................................47 APPENDIX 5 – Fungi of the Mount Hallowell Reserve..................................................53 APPENDIX 6 – Mount Hallowell Fire Management Plan ...............................................57 MAPS ......................................................................................................................60 2 28 July 2008 Shire of Denmark Mount Hallowell Reserve Management Plan 2008 FOREWORD Mount Hallowell is an iconic reserve located between the town of Denmark and the Southern Coast of Western Australia. With sweeping views, natural bushland and rock features the reserve is much loved and visited by locals and tourists in increasing numbers. It can be accessed from the bordering Ocean Beach Road to the east and Lights Road to the south and is traversed by the recreational walk trail, the Sheila Hill Memorial Trail, which forms a section of the Bibbulmun Track. In 1993 the Mount Hallowell Management Committee, comprising Shire Councillors and local residents, prepared a Draft Management Plan which: . aimed to manage the Reserve as a conservation priority area . provided for bush walking with scenic views, while maintaining the conservation priorities . included a Fire Management Plan prepared by the Mount Hallowell Fire Management Group. Following community consultation, the Plan was finalised and adopted by Council in 1995. The three key management goals in the 1993 draft were reiterated, and strategies were developed to meet these goals, with a revision of the Plan to take place after five years. In 2003 the Shire formed a community based committee to review the Plan. In 2003-2004, the Denmark Environment Centre carried out the Mt Hallowell Reserve Survey & Research Project, specifically aimed at providing information to support the goals of the 1995 Management Plan and to contribute to the review of the Plan. The reviewed Plan was completed in 2006 and adopted by Council as the Mt Hallowell Reserve Management Plan in March 2006. The Plan incorporated information provided by the Mt Hallowell Reserve Survey & Research Project 2004, and brought other sections up to date. This plan required a revision of priorities after two years. The flora, fungi and fauna database developed from the Mt Hallowell Reserve Survey & Research Project 2004 will facilitate measures for the protection and maintenance of viable populations of existing flora and fauna species, particularly those with special status. Some of the recommendations from these documents have been carried out, some have become redundant, and outstanding matters are prioritised in this Plan of 2008. Acknowledgments Many individuals contributed time, ideas and information in the development of Mount Hallowell Management Plans. In particular, contributions from members of the original Mount Hallowell Management Committee,