Kyogle Council Crown Reserves Strategic Plan 2009 - 2013 Kyogle Council working to meet the Challenge of Our Unique and Diverse Region Kyogle Council Acknowledgements This Strategic Plan was initially prepared by Jennifer Roberts and then updated and expanded by Samantha Muller of R&S Muller Enterprise, with written contributions supplied by Peter Baumann from the Land & Property Management Authority (LPMA) – Grafton Office. Assistance was also provided by other LPMA officers from the Grafton Office and Kyogle Council. The planning process leading to the development of this plan has involved the collection and use of a large amount of information, which for reasons of document size, has not been included in this plan. Disclaimer Any representation, statement, opinion or advice expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith but on the basis that Kyogle Council, R& S Muller Enterprise, their agents and employees are not liable (whether by reason of negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any representation, Statement or advice and referred to above. Copyright of Kyogle Council No part of this document may be reproduced without prior permission in writing of the General Manager. December 2009 Crown Reserves Strategic Plan – Page 2 of 132 Kyogle Council EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Kyogle area is one of the most picturesque parts of NSW. It has a diverse rural landscape with great natural beauty in which Crown land plays a vital part. There are 550+ Crown reserves and commons in the Kyogle Local Government Area (LGA) under various management arrangements. The Kyogle Crown Reserves Strategic Plan has been initiated by Kyogle Council to support its key role in the management of the system in the Kyogle Local Government Area. Council’s roles and responsibilities in the Crown reserve system are significant and include; • The occupant/operator of various Crown reserves that contain vital local public infrastructure • Strategic planning and support function for public open space, tourism, community and recreational facilities in Kyogle LGA • To support the well-being of the Kyogle community by facilitating the activities and contributions of local community groups including Crown reserve Trusts • As a key advocate on behalf of the community in relation to the strategic management of the public estate in the Kyogle LGA • Regulatory and compliance role for various activities on public land • As a Reserve Trust manager of local Crown reserves that provide important recreation and community facilities The Strategic Plan is based on Council’s vision “to protect and enhance the unique values of the Kyogle Crown reserves system to provide a wide range of opportunities for the recreational, social, environmental and economic well being of the community”. This vision is one that can be shared with reserve custodians across the State including the Land & Property Management Authority (LPMA), community-based reserve Trusts and the wider community. At present community-based Trust Boards manage many of the key Crown reserves and commons in Kyogle LGA with varying degrees of success – some provide effective management and have been able to source funding for capital improvements with active community support for day-to-day operations. However, in the main, most are struggling to meet basic responsibilities and fulfil community expectations. They have limited resources to capitalise on the strategic opportunities of their reserve, are unable to meet all regulatory requirements and consequently are operating on a crisis management basis. By improving Council’s ability to fulfil its various roles in respect to the Crown reserve system; this Plan will assist Council to provide practical support to the community-based Trusts in the LGA. It also provides a more holistic management framework to enable Council to work effectively with other key reserve custodians to protect and enhance the unique values of the Kyogle Crown reserves system. An inventory of all 550+ Crown reserves in the Kyogle LGA has enabled each reserve and class of reserve to be placed in context with the whole system. A rating system provides a strategic basis to determine those reserves where Council is considered best placed to be the appointed manager. The Strategic Plan is based on contemporary best practices in Crown land management consistent with the Principles of Crown Land Management. It prescribes a practical management regime for those Crown reserves to be managed by Kyogle Council through a single Crown Reserve Trust (CRT) and incorporates a range of strategies and mechanisms to support the other community-based Reserve Trusts in the LGA. To ensure an optimum level of community input into its reserve management outcomes, the CRT management model includes a Community Based Advisory Committee (CBAC). The CBAC will be established to inform and guide Council as Reserve Trust manager and will be involved in Council’s reserve funding process. The Strategic Plan identifies a number of important roles for Kyogle Council: 1. Corporate Trust Manager of a single integrated trust to manage targeted Crown reserves. 2. Provide financial support towards Crown reserve management. 3. Support community-based Trust Boards through advice, guidance and training and assistance with financial management. For the future management of the Kyogle Crown reserve system, the overriding role for Kyogle Council is one of leadership. This Strategy will position Council to lead by example in Crown reserve management by supporting its key role as Corporate Trust Manager and strengthening active partnerships with community Reserve Trusts as well as the LPMA and other Government Agencies. December 2009 Crown Reserves Strategic Plan – Page 3 of 132 Kyogle Council TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1 - BASIS FOR A STRATEGIC PLAN 1. BACKGROUND...........................................................................................................8 1.1. About Kyogle LGA................................................................................................8 1.2. Recent History of Crown Land in Kyogle LGA......................................................9 1.3. Purpose of the Strategic Plan.............................................................................10 2. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................10 2.1. Aim .....................................................................................................................10 2.2. Structure of the Document .................................................................................10 2.3. Planning Process ...............................................................................................11 2.4. Methodology.......................................................................................................11 3. PUBLIC LAND IN KYOGLE LGA...............................................................................12 3.1. The Crown Reserve System...............................................................................13 3.2. Crown Reserve Trusts........................................................................................13 3.3. Crown Land Legislation and Policy ....................................................................14 4. VALUES OF CROWN RESERVES...........................................................................19 4.1. Environmental ....................................................................................................19 4.2. Cultural...............................................................................................................21 4.3. Economic............................................................................................................22 4.4. Recreation..........................................................................................................22 4.5. Social .................................................................................................................22 5. MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND CHALLENGES .........................................................23 6. STRATEGIC ANALYSIS ...........................................................................................31 PART 2 - STRATEGIC PLAN 7. AIM AND VISION ......................................................................................................33 8. MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES ..................................................................................33 Integrity of the System ..................................................................................................33 Excellence in Custodianship .........................................................................................33 Community & Interagency Co-operation .......................................................................33 Strategic Reserve Management....................................................................................33 8.1. Management Strategies for Crown Reserves in Kyogle LGA.............................35 9. THE MODEL ............................................................................................................41 9.1. Trust Management ............................................................................................41 9.2. Community Based Advisory Committee (CBAC)................................................42