OTWAYS FORESTS FACTS PACK www.oren.org.au 1 Much of the text contained in this report is available with extended discussion and references on the OREN website. The website also has a number of photographs of the Otway Ranges. www.oren.org.au April 2003 Otway Ranges Environment Network C/O Apollo Bay Post Office Apollo Bay 3233 (03) 5237 7439 (03) 5221 0314 www.oren.org.au 2 Otway Forests Facts Pack . This Otway Forests facts Pack has been compiled to assist groups and individuals in making a public submission to VEAC on the Angahook – Otway Investigation. The Victorian State Government has a policy to end logging in the Otways by 2008, and to extend the Otway National Park. The current VEAC investigation has much importance in determining the boundaries of an extended Otway Reserve System and OREN urges all who care for the Otways forest and want to see it protected in a National Park to make a VEAC submission, The Otway Forests Facts File outlines forest values and contains a number of maps, statistics and references to assist you in writing a VEAC submission. VEAC : Angahook- Otway Investigation Pursuant to section 15 of the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council Act 2001 (the VEAC act), the Minister for Environment has amended the request to VEAC made by the former Minister for Environment and Conservation concerning the Angahook-Lorne State Park dated 8 September 2002. (a)VEAC is now requested to carry out an investigation of the public land landward of low water mark within the Otway Ranges area shown on the accompanying plan. The purpose of the investigation is to determine the boundaries of: (b) a single national park in the Otway Ranges including public land extending from Anglesea to Cape Otway, specifying whether or not the Great Ocean Road should be included in the park; and any other public land currently managed as State Forest which would be suitable for addition to existing State Parks or nature conservation reserves, or for inclusion in new nature conservation reserves once native forest logging ceases in the Otways. The Council is required to prepare a discussion paper and draft proposals paper and to submit a written report on the results of its investigation by 3 September 2004. In addition to the considerations specified in section 18 of the VEAC Act, the Council must also take into consideration the following matters: · Victorian Government's policies with respect to logging and woodchipping in the Otways; · Definition of "national park" used by the former Land Conservation Council and the former Environment Conservation Council; · Objects of the National Parks Act with respect to national parks;· · Victorian Coastal Strategy 2002; · Victorian Government's Great Ocean Road Region Strategy; · Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Development Plan; · Anglesea Heathland Agreement between the Secretary to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Alcoa Australia Limited; · Relevant regional catchment strategies. www.oren.org.au 3 MAP 1: VEAC Angahook-Otway Investigation Boundary SUBMISSIONS INVITED Submissions are now invited from interested groups and individuals for consideration for a Discussion Paper which will be published later in the year. Submissions should be addressed to the Executive Officer at the address below or by Fax or E-mail. If submissions are sent by Fax or E-mail, please include postal address if you wish to receive progress reports on the Investigation. SUBMISSION PERIOD CLOSES ON 28 APRIL 2003. NOTE THAT ONLY SUBMISSIONS SENT DIRECTLY TO VEAC CAN BE TREATED AS SUBMISSIONS. There will be further opportunities for submissions following publication of the Discussion Paper and also following the Draft Proposals Paper. Unless specifically requested otherwise, all submissions to the Council become public documents. If you wish your submission to be considered confidential, a written request must accompany the submission. If the confidentiality request is not accepted, your submission will be returned to you. Information contained in all submissions may also be stored and used by VEAC or the Department of Sustainability and Environment, for purposes relating to this investigation and subsequent Government consideration of matters related to the investigation. VEAC, 3rd Floor, 250 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002. Ph: 9412 5100. Toll Free: 1800 134 803. Fax: 9412 5153. E-mail: [email protected]. www.oren.org.au 4 Table Of Contents 1. OTWAYS VALUES FOR VEAC SUBMISSION............................................................................................ 7 2. THE OTWAY RANGES ARE UNIQUE......................................................................................................... 8 2.1 MAIN FOREST COMMUNITIES......................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Cool Temperate Rainforest..................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 Wet Sclerophyll Forest........................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Damp Sclerophyll Forest........................................................................................................................ 9 2.1.4 Foothill Forest...................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.5 Heathy Woodlands ................................................................................................................................ 9 2.1.6 Wet Heaths ......................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 FLORA ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 2.3 FAUNA........................................................................................................................................................ 11 2.3.1 Mammals............................................................................................................................................. 11 2.3.2 Birds................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.3 Invertebrates........................................................................................................................................ 13 3. OTWAY OLD GROWTH FOREST ............................................................................................................. 14 4. SPECIES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE OTWAYS THAT ARE THREATENED.................................. 15 4.1 OTWAY COOL TEMPERATE RAINFOREST ...................................................................................................... 15 4.1.1 Aire River Forests................................................................................................................................ 16 4.1.2 European Impacts on Rainforest........................................................................................................... 17 4.1.3 Otway Rainforest Sites of Significance.................................................................................................. 18 4.2 SLENDER TREE FERNS ................................................................................................................................. 24 4.2.1 Failure to complete Slender Tree Fern Action Statements. ................................................................... 24 4.3 TIGER QUOLL.............................................................................................................................................. 25 4.3.1 What is a Tiger Quoll?......................................................................................................................... 25 4.3.2 Quoll Threatened by logging ................................................................................................................ 25 4.3.3 Spot Tailed Quoll study 1999................................................................................................................ 25 4.3.4 Survey locations................................................................................................................................... 25 4.3.5 Report findings and recommendations.................................................................................................. 26 4.3.6 Tiger Quoll Special Management Zones ............................................................................................... 26 4.3.7 Prey habitat ......................................................................................................................................... 26 4.3.8 Community Action................................................................................................................................ 27 4.3.9 Habitat Fragmentation......................................................................................................................... 27 4.3.10 Tiger Quoll Action Statement.............................................................................................................. 27 4.4 POWERFUL OWL.......................................................................................................................................... 27 5. OTWAY THREATENING