Natural Resources and Environment AGR ICULI UR[ POINT LONSDALE RfSOURC ES CONSfRVATI ON LAND MANAGEMEN T LIGHTHOUSE AND FORESHORE RESERVE FINAL DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN August 2001 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESO.URCES & ENVIRONMENT POINT LONSDALE LIGHTHOUSE & FORESHORE RESERVE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse and Foreshore Reserve abuts the village of Point Lonsdale at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. Features of the Reserve include magnificent views across the dangerous Rip, and a coastal setting dominated by the lighthouse and associated buildings. Along with the former defence emplacements, these landmarks reflect the colourful maritime history and early strategic military importance of the area. The Reserve contains remnant vegetation providing habitat in a region that has been largely cleared for settlement. The area is also popular for recreation use by locals and visitors alike, having both bay and ocean beach frontages giving access for a range of water activities. These include fishing, swimming, surfing, snorkelling and diving. Opportunities for heritage appreciation, walking, and picnicking add to the attractions available. Inadequate maintenance, dated facilities, the harsh coastal environment and natural processes have all contributed to deterioration in the overall quality of the infrastructure in the Reserve. The future management of the Reserve aims to achieve a balance between catering for the visitors and the local community. The plan focuses on improvement in the quality of facilities provided with enhanced visitor safety. Major directions in future management include: • Protection of significant and vulnerable flora and fauna including the Hooded Plover. • Develop and implement a pest plant and animal management strategy. • Close informal tracks in the Reserve and revegetate. • Increase the quality of presentation of the Reserve by better signage. • Upgrade key viewing points and improve visual amenity. • Modify the former brick engine house for use as an information centre and kiosk. • Upgrade and manage the environs of the lighthouse as a pedestrian precinct with additional open space created by the removal of the two closest former PMA residences. • Sustainable use of the Lighthouse. • Conduct a detailed traffic circulation and parking study to improve vehicular traffic and parking arrangements in the Reserve and upgrade access and parking accordingly. • Cater for people with disabilities. • Improve the quality of facilities by appropriate maintenance, repairs, replacement and provision of additional facilities. • Provide for redevelopment of the former Toe H camp area and the remaining three adjoining former PMA residences. • Upgrade interpretation of the natural and cultural heritage. • Develop a funding strategy and adopt a business plan. • Provide a part time ranger service for the Reserve. • Encourage involvement of volunteers and liaise with the community and local bodies during planning and management DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT 2 POINT LONSDALE LIGHTHOUSE & FORESHORE RESERVE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................•...•................................................. 2 PART A- THE SETTING AND DIRECTIONS ................................................................................. 4 1. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................. 4 1.1 LOCATION AND FEATURES 4 1.2 THE MANAGEMENT PLAN AREA. 5 1.3 PURPOSE OF PLAN 6 1.4 CONTEXT OF PLAN 6 1.5 PLAN PREPARATION PROCESS 7 1.6 REVIEW OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN 7 2. STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS ............................................................................. S 2.1 DEMOGRAPHICS 8 2.2 SURVEY 8 2.3 REGIONAL TOURISM SETTING 10 2.4 ECC & LCC RECOMMENDATIONS 10 2.5 MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES. 11 2.5.1 Strengths of the Reserve ................................................................................................... ll 2.5.2 Weaknesses of the Reserve ............................................................................................... 11 2.5.3 Strategy and management objectives ................................................................................ 12 2.6 MANAGEMENT AREAS 12 2.7 OPERATIONAL RESPONSIDILITY. 13 PART B- THE ACTION STATEMENTS ......................................................................................... 14 3. RESOURCE CONSERVATION ..................................................................... 14 3.1 GEOLOGICAL AND LANDFORM FEATURES 14 3.2 MARINE 16 3.3 VEGETATION 17 3.4 FAUNA 18 3.5 LANDSCAPE 19 3.6 CULTURAL HERITAGE 20 3.6.1 Aboriginal Significance .................................................................................................... 20 3.6.2 Maritime and defence ....................................................................................................... 22 4. RESERVE PROTECTION .............................................................................. 27 4.1 PEST PLANTS, ANIMALS AND DISEASES 27 4.2 FIRE MANAGEMENT 28 5. VISITOR USE AND TOURISM ..................................................................... 29 5.1 VISITORS TO THE RESERVE 29 5.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS 30 5.3 PUBLIC SAFETY 31 5.4 VEHICLE ACCESS AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT 32 5.5 APPROVED AND PROHIDITED RECREATION ACTIVITIES. 32 5.6 DOGS 33 5.7 VISITOR USE OF RESERVE PRECINCTS 34 5.7.1 Eastern Precinct ................................................................................................................ 34 5.7.2 Central Precinct ................................................................................................................ 35 5.7.3 Western Precinct. .............................................................................................................. 36 5.8 VISITOR INFORMATION, INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION 37 6. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION ................................................................. 40 6.1 FRIENDS AND VOLUNTEERS 40 6.2 COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND RESERVE NEIGHBOURS 40 6.3 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN COASTAL MANAGEMENT 41 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT 3 POINT LONSDALE LIGHTHOUSE & FORESHORE RESERVE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN 7. LEASES AND LICENCES .............................................................................. 41 7.1 POINT LONSDALE SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB (SLSC) 42 7.2 POINT LONSDALE BOWLS CLUB 42 7.3 FORMER Toc-H CAMP 43 7.4 FORMER PMA RESIDENCES 44 7.5 LIGHTHOUSE GROUP OF BUILDINGS. 44 7.6 DEFENCE BUILDINGS. 44 8. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .............. 45 8.1 BUSINESS PLAN 45 8.1.1 Existing revenue ............................................................................................................... 45 8.1.2 Business opportunities ...................................................................................................... 46 8.1.3 Business risks ................................................................................................................... 46 8.1.4 Review of expenditure, capital works priorities and financial capacity ............................ 47 8.2 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN 48 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................................... 64 APPENDIX I SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN 64 APPENDIX2 GLOSSARY 65 APPENDIX3 SIGNIFICANT INDIGENOUS SPECIES (TRENGOVE 1998) 66 APPENDIX4 ENVIRONMENTAL WEEDS 67 APPENDIX5 VERTEBRATEFAUNA 68 APPENDIX6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 70 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES ........................................................................................... 71 FIGURES .............................................................................................................................................. 73 FIGURE I EXISTING CONDITIONS MAPS 73 FIGURE 2 LOCATION MAP 74 FIGURE 3 MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES 75 FIGURE 4 MANAGEMENT AREAS 76 FIGURE 5 ACCESS AND RECREATION 77 MANAGEMENT MAPS 77 PART A- THE SETTING AND DIRECTIONS 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 Location and features The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse and Foreshore Reserve (the Reserve), is located about 90 minutes drive south west of Melbourne, abutting the coastal village of Point Lonsdale. The Reserve has a great deal to offer both residents and visitors to the region, providing a diverse range of experiences. Not only does it represent the western point of the Port Phillip Bay Heads where ships can be viewed navigating their way through the Rip, but it is also steeped in maritime and defence history. The central feature of the Reserve is the historic Point Lonsdale lighthouse overlooking the nearby pier, which extends out into the entrance of Port Phillip Bay. The beaches, historic buildings, coastal vegetation, recreation facilities DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT 4 POINT LONSDALE LIGHTHOUSE & FORESHORE RESERVE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN and scenic quality from land and water and the village atmosphere of Point Lonsdale makes a visit an enjoyable and memorable one. The Reserve also includes leased areas occupied by the Point Lonsdale Bowls Club and the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) outpost. The lighthouse is operated as a light station and provides coastal surveillance with restricted public access via tours. Former Port of Melbourne Authority (PMA) residences in the Reserve are currently rented or leased out for private accommodation use. (see Figure 1) On the seaward side,