YOUR SUBMISSIONIS INVITED ON nnsPLAN This is a Proposed Management Plan, released forpublic comment on the future management of the Bunurong Marine andCoastal Park incorporating the Bunurong Marine Park and the Crown land reservations proposed for inclusion in the Coastal Park. Publication of this plan provides a major opportunity for public involvement in the planning and future management of the Bunurong area and the public, both individuals and community groups, are invited to make written submissions. SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO: Regional Manager Dandenong Region Departmenl of Conservation and Environment Locked Bag No. 44 Post Office Dandenong VIC 3175 Submissions should reach the above address by 31 August 1992. Each submission will be carefully considered and taken into account in the preparation of the approvedManagement Plan. Unless marked 'CONFIDENTIAL', submissions will be available for public inspection after 31 August 1992. For furtherinformation cont�ct Chris Lester (Manager, Coastal Unit) on (03) 412 4987 or Rowena Myers (Coastal Planner, Dandenong Region) on (03) 706 7000. © State of Victoria 1992 A Victorian Government Publication This publication is copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1986. Published by the Department of Conservation and Environment 240 Victoria Parade East Melbourne Victoria 3002 • .... .. Printed on 100% recycled paper. Cover: Eagles Nest, Bunurong Coast (Bob Fisher) ISBN O 7306 2669 5 PROPOSEDMANAGEMENf PLAN BUNURONG MARINE AND COASTAL PARK Incorporating the Bunurong Marine Park and the Crown land reservations proposed forinclu�ion in the Coastal Park DE.Pt. (. ..\�:::.(?r""":..::.�:: :.:: \�1_ ..·r. ':"��.�. [�f:':r...1·-·T:.�-·.:: . � Dandenong Region Y arram Region National Parks and Public Land Division DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT, VICTORIA. May 1992 LCVN 0040796 9 f-RN b 00182: r,.......,;�"'-�------,...Li:.. '"'::..:-:': :, . - .:./ ,.'·\� :"l •"'I 14 · t ) l' ':::'1 !"\ :iL ?: t v:cTor{ti\ i, Ly.,: y.;�·� __ FOREWORD The Bunurong Marine Park was proclaimed in December 1991 aftera long period of communityconsultation and discussion. The park was established with substantial publicsupport primarily to protect significantintertidal and subtidal marine communities, and also to provide foreducation, re.searchand recreation. Broad provisibns forrecreational and commercial activities, such as fishing were announced when the marine park was declared. The scenic Bunurong coast between Harmers Haven and lnverloch is already very popular as a holiday destination and its marine and coastal environments are used for a variety of recreational activities. This management plan contains proposalsto furtherextend the existingmarine park to incorporate the adjacent coastal reserves in response to communityconcerns regarding the need forthe complementary management of both marine and coastalenvironments. The proposed management plan containsdetailed proposals forthe futuremanagement of both the marine and coastalenvironment in the Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park. Communityconsultation has been an important part of the development of this Propos� Plan, and it is now released to provide an opportunity forpublic comment on the specific actions which are proposed. Comments receivedwill be carefullyconsidered in the preparation of the Approved Management Plan. I strongly encourage you to take this opportunity to make comments on the Proposed Management Plan forthis important area. BarryPullen MINISTERFOR CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Marine Parks and Reserves 1 1.2 Bunurong Marine andCoastal Park 1 1.3 The Plan 3 1.4 Governmentobligations and responsibilities 3 1.5 Guidelinesfor zoningand management areas 3 2 RESOURCESAND USES 2.1 Marinecommunities 5 2.2 Marine mammals, seabirds and shorebirds 7 2.3 Terrestrial flora 8 2.4 Terrestrial fauna 9 2.5 Climate and hydrology 10 2.6 Geology andgeomorphology 11 2.7 Palaeontology 12 2.8 Landscape 13 2.9 Koorie history 14 2.10 Maritimehistory 17 2.11 Land exploration and early settlement 18 2.12 Recreation 18 2.13 Visitorfacilities 19 2.14 Commercial activities and other uses 19 2.15 Adjacent land use 21 2.16 Public education and information 21 2.17 Research and monitoring 22 3 RESERVATIONAND MANAGEMENT 3.1 Introduction 23 3.2 Public involvement in planning 23 3.3 Existingreserves and proposed changes 24 3.4 ExistingManagement authorities 26 3.5 Boundary amendments 26 3.6 Zones and management areas 27 3.7 Management objectives 28 4 MANAGEMENT ISSUES, AIMS AND ACTIONS 4.1 Introduction 29 4.2 Marine communities 29 4.3 Marine mammals, seabirds and shorebirds 32 4.4 Terrestrial flora 33 4.5 Terrestrial fauna 37 4.6 Physical resources 38 4.7 Landscape 40 4 MANAGEMENTISSUES, AIMS ANDACTIONS (cont.) 4.8 Cultural heritage 42 4.9 Recreation 44 4.10 Visitor management 48 4.11 Commercial activities andother uses 51 4.12 Adjacent land use 53 4.13 Public information and education 55 4.14 Research andmonitoring 57 4.15 Park operations and equipment 59 REFERENCES 62 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 65 APPENDIX 1 • FLORA GUIDELINES 1.1 Vegetation map 66 1.2 Ecologicalbum management area 66 1.3 Banksiamanagement area 67 1.4 Erosion of sand dunes 67 15. Vegetation rehabilitation 67 1.6 Weed control specificationsand priorities 69 FIGURES Figure la­ Marine Reserves in Victoria facing 1 Figure 1b­ Location and boundaries facing 1 Figure2- Koori tribal boundaries 15 Figure 3- Park boundaries and zones 25 Figure 4- Special management areas and visitor facilities 71 TABLES Table 1 - Zones and Uses 46 Table 2- Pest plants - Bunurong 36 Figure 1a MARINE RESERVES IN VICTORIA 1 Harold Holt Marine Reserves 2 . Point Cook Manne Reserve 3 • South Gippsland Marine and Coastal Parks 4 Bunurong Marine Park MELBOURNE Sale 50 Kilometres BUNURONG MARINE AND COASTAL PARK Figure 1b LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES To Melbourne To Leongatha Boundary of Bunurong Marine and Coaslal Park To leongatha To Tarw1n Lawer �t '""'' � 5 Kilometres 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 MARINEPARKS AND RESERVES In recent years there has been a growingawareness, both nationally and internationally, of the need to protect the marine and coastal environment in a manner similar to land-based national and State parks. The coastalzone around the world is densely populated and Australia'scoast is no exception. The lack of visibility throughwater has meant that the oceans are often metaphoricallyconsidered bottomless, and are used both as a rubbish disposalarea and as a source of never-ending resources. The vulnerability of the coastal zone to serious degradation caused by over-exploitationof resources, pollution, land reclamation,inappropriate building and, most recently, tourism, has now been recognised. Representative marineand coastalareas should be retained in their naturalstate andmanaged to encompass a variety of complementary purposes. These include safeguarding the indigenous flora and fauna and their habitats, preservinggenetic diversity, retaining areas for scientificreference and conserving geological,cultural and scenic features. In addition, present and future generations should be encouraged to enjoy and learnabout the naturalenvironment. One way to protect andconserve the marineenvironment is through the establishment of marine protected areas. Theseare most often set aside as 'marine parks' or 'marinereserves', these terms being used interchangeably in the past. In 1984, the Council of Nature ConservationMinisters (1985) endorsed standardised terminology. The term 'marine reserve' refersto areas which are to be protected from all exploitative activities and thus are affordedthe highest level of protection. 'Marineparks' are generally larger areas whichare zoned formultiple use. Differentzones in marine parks canbe designatedto allow,regulate or prohibit a wide range of activities. There are many magnificentmarine and coastal areas in Victoria and some marine areas have already been protected in parks and reserves. The firstareas proclaimed were the Harold Holt MarineReserves in 1979. These reserves are located at the southernend of Port Phillip Bay and include Swan Bay, Mud Islands, Point Lonsdale, Point Nepean and the Annulus(Popes Eye) Marine Reserves. In 1982 another small reserve in Port Phillip Bay was declared - the Point Cook MarineReserve. Thesereserves were established under the FisheriesAct 1968. In 1986 the South Gippsland Marine and Coastal Parkswete established. Five separate areas were protected: Wilsons PromontoryMarine Reserve,Wilsons PromontoryMarine Park, Shallow Inlet Marine and Coastal Park, Corner Inlet Marine and Coastal Park and Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park. These parks, which include the largest and most significant marine areas reservedin Victoria, were reserved under the Crown Land (Reserves)Act 1978 and added to Schedule Four of the NationalParks Act 1975. These reserves are also protected under the provisions of the FisheriesAct 1968 and other relevant Acts. In December, 1991, the Bunurong MarinePark, incorporatinga SanctuaryZone and two Conservation Zones, was reserved under the Crown Land (Reserves)Act 1978 and added to Schedule Four of the NationalParks Act 1975. Concurrently, the Bunurong SanctuaryZone was proclaimedand rules specifiedunder Section 79A of the FisheriesAct 1968. Park Regulations 1984 apply to both the Sanctuary and Conservation Zones. 1.2 BUNURONGMARINE AND COASTAL PARK The Bunurong Marh1e and Coastal Park is located 140kilometres south-east of Melbourne and extends