Lower Beechmont-Mount Nathan Conservation Reserves Management Plan OCTOBER 2010 LOWER BEECHMONT MOUNT NATHAN CONSERVATION RESERVES MANAGEMENT PLAN Page 1 of 109 Acknowledgements This plan has been developed with the support and assistance of staff in Council’s Natural Areas Management Unit. Council officers from the following departments also provided help: Environmental Planning and Conservation Unit, Parks and Recreational Services, Catchment Management Unit, Pest Management Unit, Animal Management Unit, the Office of City Architect and Heritage, and Legal Services. The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service has also provided valuable input. LOWER BEECHMONT MOUNT NATHAN CONSERVATION RESERVES MANAGEMENT PLAN Page 2 of 109 Table of contents Executive summary................................................................................................................6 Acronyms used in this management plan ................................................................................7 1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................8 1.1 Management vision ............................................................................................................8 1.2 Plan development and implementation ..............................................................................8 1.2.1 Methodology and overview.........................................................................................8 1.2.2 Implementation ...........................................................................................................9 2 Background .......................................................................................................................10 2.1 Location and planning area..............................................................................................10 2.2 Regional context...............................................................................................................10 2.3 Significance of the Lower Beechmont-Mount Nathan Conservation Reserves................17 2.3.1 Natural values...........................................................................................................17 2.3.1.1 Geology.............................................................................................................17 2.3.1.2 Catchment.........................................................................................................17 2.3.1.3 Flora..................................................................................................................18 2.3.1.4 Fauna................................................................................................................20 2.3.2 Landscape values.....................................................................................................21 2.3.3 Cultural heritage values............................................................................................22 2.3.4 Recreation values.....................................................................................................23 2.3.5 Scientific and educational values..............................................................................23 2.4 Climate change ................................................................................................................23 3 Management purposes and principles............................................................................25 3.1 Legislative and policy framework .....................................................................................25 3.1.1 Gold Coast Open Space Preservation Levy acquisition program.............................25 3.1.2 Gold Coast Planning Scheme and other GCCC policies and guidelines..................25 3.1.3 Strategies for South East Queensland .....................................................................27 3.1.4 Other relevant legislation..........................................................................................27 3.2 Specific management objectives for Lower Beechmont-Mount Nathan Conservation Reserves ................................................................................................................................28 4 Management strategies for the Lower Beechmont-Mount Nathan Conservation Reserves ...............................................................................................................................30 4.1 Landscape protection.......................................................................................................30 4.1.1 Current management situation .................................................................................30 4.1.2 Desired outcomes.....................................................................................................30 4.1.3 Management strategy...............................................................................................31 4.1.3.1 Guidelines .........................................................................................................31 4.1.3.2 Actions ..............................................................................................................31 4.1.4 Key monitoring priorities ...........................................................................................32 4.2 Catchment protection .......................................................................................................32 4.2.1 Current management situation .................................................................................32 4.2.2 Desired outcomes.....................................................................................................33 4.2.3 Management strategy...............................................................................................33 4.2.3.1 Guidelines .........................................................................................................33 4.2.3.2 Actions ..............................................................................................................34 4.2.4 Key monitoring priorities ...........................................................................................34 4.3 Native vegetation..............................................................................................................34 4.3.1 Current management situation .................................................................................34 4.3.2 Desired outcomes.....................................................................................................36 4.3.3 Management strategy...............................................................................................36 4.3.3.1 Guidelines .........................................................................................................36 4.3.3.2 Actions ..............................................................................................................37 4.3.4 Key monitoring priorities ...........................................................................................38 4.4 Native animals..................................................................................................................38 4.4.1 Current management situation .................................................................................38 4.4.2 Desired outcomes.....................................................................................................40 LOWER BEECHMONT MOUNT NATHAN CONSERVATION RESERVES MANAGEMENT PLAN Page 3 of 109 4.4.3 Management strategy...............................................................................................40 4.4.3.1 Guidelines .........................................................................................................40 4.4.3.2 Actions ..............................................................................................................40 4.4.4 Key monitoring priorities ...........................................................................................42 4.5 Bushfire ............................................................................................................................42 4.5.1 Current management situation .................................................................................42 4.5.2 Desired outcomes.....................................................................................................47 4.5.3 Management strategy...............................................................................................47 4.5.3.1 Guidelines .........................................................................................................47 4.5.3.2 Actions ..............................................................................................................49 4.5.4 Key monitoring priorities ...........................................................................................50 4.6 Pest plants and ecological restoration..............................................................................50 4.6.1 Current management situation .................................................................................50 4.6.2 Desired outcomes.....................................................................................................52 4.6.3 Management strategy...............................................................................................52 4.6.3.1 Guidelines .........................................................................................................52