SOUTH COAST REGION REGIONAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 1992 - 2002 MANAGEMENT PLAN NO. 24 Department of Conservation and Land Management for the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority and the Lands and Forest Commission Western Australia PREFACE Regional management plans are prepared by the Department of Conservation and Land Management on behalf of the Lands and Forest Commission and the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority. These two bodies submit the plans for final approval and modification, if required, by the Minister for the Environment. Regional plans are to be prepared for each of the 10 regions administered by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). This plan for the South Coast Region covers all lands and waters in the Region vested under the CALM Act, together with wildlife responsibilities included in the Wildlife Conservation Act. In addition to the Regional Plan, more detailed management plans will be prepared for certain critical management issues, (the most serious of which is the spread of dieback disease in the Region); particular high value or high conflict areas, (such as some national parks); or for certain exploited or endangered species, (such as kangaroos and the Noisy Scrub-bird). These plans will provide more detailed information and guidance for management staff. The time frame for this Regional Plan is ten years, although review and restatement of some policies may be necessary during this period. Implementation will take place progressively over this period and there will be continuing opportunity for public comment. This management plan was submitted by the Department of Conservation and Land Management and adopted by the Lands and Forest Commission on 12 June 1991 and the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority on 19 July 1991 and approved by the Minister for the Environment on 23 December 1991. i ACKNOWLEDGE MENTS The task of preparing the Draft Regional Plan was made easier by following closely the format structure of regional plans produced in 1987 for the three CALM forest regions. Input and advice on the draft and final plans was obtained from throughout the Department and the controlling bodies, in particular: · staff of the South Coast Region in Albany and Esperance; · Various branches within the Department of Conservation and Land Management; · the CALM Corporate Executive; · the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority and the Lands and Forest Commission Further advice was received from all ten Local Government Authorities within the Region: · Shire of Denmark · Town of Albany (in particular Town Planner, Nic Ayton) · Shire of Albany (in particular Shire Engineer, John Hull) · Shire of Plantagenet (in particular Councillor Jack Adams) · Shire of Cranbrook · Shire of Gnowangerup · Shire of Jeffamungup (in particular Councillor Ken Thomas and Councillor Pam Forbes) · Shire of Ravensthorpe (in particular Councillor Alan Carmichael) · Shire of Esperance (in particular members of Council Works Committee) · Shire of Dundas (in particular Councillor Peter Brown of Arubiddy Station). The final Regional Plan has benefited from the many comments received from those organisations and individuals who prepared submissions on the Draft Plan. Their time and attention to detail is greatly appreciated. Also appreciated is the patience and perseverance of the typists who worked so cheerfully on the preparation of the draft and final documents. Thanks to Christina Pollard, Caroline Budd, Marian Hickson, Ann Burchell and Debbie Bowra of CALM and to those who undertook parts of this work on a contract basis. ii NOMENCLATURE Inclusion of a name in this publication does not imply its approval by the relevant nomenclature authority. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this plan are: • To describe the land and wildlife resources managed by CALM in the South Coast Region. • To present a land use plan for land managed by CALM in the Region. • To outline policies and management guidelines on which day-to-day management of land, wildlife and resources in the Region is based. • To provide a framework for protection of native flora from plant disease. • To identify representative areas of land and seek their inclusion in the conservation estate. • To provide for public involvement in land-use planning and management by CALM. • To recognise that recreational opportunities on land managed by CALM should, where possible, be integrated with the opportunities existing on nearby land which is not managed by CALM. • To provide a planning and management framework for CALM responsibilities in the Region, upon which detailed operational plans can be based, and into which policy changes or research findings can be readily incorporated. The time frame for this Regional Plan is ten years, although review and restatement of some policies may be necessary during this period. iii CONTENTS PREFACE ___________________________________________________________________ i ACKNOWLEDGE MENTS _____________________________________________________ii NOMENCLATURE___________________________________________________________ iii OBJECTIVES _______________________________________________________________ iii CONTENTS_________________________________________________________________ iv PART A. INTRODUCTION___________________________________________________1 1.0 THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CONTROLLING BODIES______________________2 1.1 ORIGIN OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CONTROLLING BODIES ____________________2 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT (THE STRATEGIC PLAN)________________________2 1.3 LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING _________________________________________________4 2.0 VESTING, TENURE AND PURPOSE OF LAND MANAGED BY CALM___________6 2.1 CATEGORIES OF LAND CURRENTLY VESTED IN THE CONTROLLING BODIES AND MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT ________________________________________________________6 2.2 VESTING AND MANAGEMENT____________________________________________________6 2.3 TENURE AND SECURITY_________________________________________________________6 2.4 PURPOSE AND SECURITY OF PURPOSE___________________________________________7 2.5 LAND CATEGORIES MANAGED BY CALM ______________________________________________8 2.6 CRITERIA FOR ALLOCATION TO LAND CATEGORIES______________________________10 2.7 CALM RESPONSIBILITIES ON LANDS NOT VESTED IN THE CONTROLLING BODIES___11 3.0 LAND USE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT______________________________12 3.1 GENERAL PRINCIPLES__________________________________________________________12 3.2 MULTIPLE USE PLANNING ______________________________________________________12 PART B. THE SOUTH COAST REGION_______________________________________16 4.0 THE REGION_________________________________________________________17 4.1 PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES________________________________________17 4.2 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES ___________________________________________27 4.3 LAND TENURE _________________________________________________________________30 4.4 SURROUNDING LANDS _________________________________________________________35 5.0 CALM ADMINISTRATION IN THE SOUTH COAST REGION_________________36 5.1 REGIONAL OBJECTIVES_________________________________________________________36 5.2 DISTRICTS WITHIN THE REGION_________________________________________________37 5.3 PERSONNEL ___________________________________________________________________38 5.4 MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY ZONES______________________________________________38 5.5 OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE__________________________________________________________41 PART C. LAND USE PROPOSALS____________________________________________42 6.0 PRESENT USE OF LAND MANAGED BY CALM IN THE REGION_____________43 7.0 PROPOSED CHANGES IN TENURE, VESTING AND PURPOSE _______________44 8.0 IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN TENURE, VESTING AND PURPOSE _________________________________________________________________51 9.0 FUTURE RESERVE DEDICATION________________________________________52 iv PART D. MANAGEMENT ISSUES ___________________________________________53 10.0 LANDSCAPE AND LANDFORM _______________________________________55 10.1 LANDSCAPE ___________________________________________________________________55 10.2 COASTLINE____________________________________________________________________56 10.3 UPLAND AREAS________________________________________________________________57 10.4 CAVES ________________________________________________________________________58 10.5 WETLANDS ____________________________________________________________________59 11.0 CONSERVATION OF FLORA AND FAUNA______________________________61 11.1 FLORA AND FAUNA ____________________________________________________________61 11.2 VEGETATION AND RESERVE "CORRIDORS" ______________________________________67 11.3 MARINE AND ESTUARINE CONSERVATION_______________________________________70 12.0 CULTURAL AREAS__________________________________________________72 12.1 ABORIGINAL CULTURAL RESOURCES ___________________________________________72 12.2 HISTORIC SITES________________________________________________________________74 13.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT____________________________________76 13.1 PLANT DISEASES_______________________________________________________________76 13.2 FIRE___________________________________________________________________________78 13.3 WEEDS, FERAL ANIMALS AND PESTS____________________________________________80 13.4 REHABILITATION_______________________________________________________________82 14.0 RECREATION_______________________________________________________84 14.1