Dryandra Woodland - Department of Environment and Conservation ...

- Dryandra will be managed to attract a clientele that is appreciative of the natural environment.
Main target audiences will include the local community, schools and universities, naturalists,
nature-based tourists, and others seeking passive recreation in a natural setting.
Approximately 17% of visitors to the Woodland presently stay more than one day, based on
accommodation figures at the Settlement. This figure does not account for those visitors staying in
other accommodation in the vicinity of the Woodland, and is expected to rise as the area is promoted
as a tourist destination. An increased level of use has been accommodated in the Plan with improved
access, better provision of information, the redesign of most recreation areas, and the expansion of
recreation opportunities at key areas.
11. ACCESS
BACKGROUND
Access to the Dryandra Woodland is mainly by the Wandering - Narrogin Road for blocks north of
Narrogin, and from the Dumberning Road for blocks in the Highbury area (see Maps 4[a] and [b]).
These and other gazetted roads that traverse the Woodland are maintained by the local shires. Within
the Woodland there is also an extensive network of tracks and firebreaks which have evolved with
past land uses, such as Wandoo timber production and mallet plantation management. The most
frequently used tracks are Kawana Road and Tomingley Road, the latter recording 24 000 visits over
a 12 month period in 1990-91. These tracks are maintained by CALM, and not only provide access
for visitors, but for management activities such as fire, feral animal and weed control; maintenance of
recreation areas; and scientific research.
ISSUES
- Plant fungal diseases can be spread by vehicles (including bicycles), horses and walkers.
- Vehicles leaving defined roads can cause soil compaction, damage vegetation, and spread
diseases.
- The provision and maintenance of all weather, 2WD vehicle access is expensive.
- Many tracks in Dryandra, especially those associated with prior timber harvesting operations, are
rarely used by the public, but are important for management purposes, eg. fire control.
- Roads, tracks and parking areas will need to sustain greater use as the numbers of visitors to
Dryandra increases.
- Adjoining landowners have traditionally used tracks within the Woodland for the movement of
stock, vehicles and machinery.
- Vehicles are responsible for an increasing number of native animal deaths.
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