Serpentine National Park - Department of Environment and ...

20. REGIONAL RECREATION
OPPORTUNITIES
The objective is to develop recreation opportunities
within the Park that complement attractions and
facilities elsewhere within the region.
A range of recreation opportunities are available on
lands managed by CALM, including National Parks,
Conservation Parks, State forest, some Nature
Reserves and Marine Parks, depending on their
primary purpose. Recreation facilities are also
provided by local Government and other Government
Departments, such as the Water Corporation of WA,
the Department of Planning and Urban Development
(DPUD) and on private property.
It is essential that a regional perspective is
maintained when planning the Park's recreational
opportunities. The integration of recreation
opportunities in the Park with those of the
surrounding area will become increasingly
significant as greater numbers of people come to the
area to live, as new housing subdivisions are
developed near the Park and greater numbers of
visitors use the Park for recreation.
Several CALM policies and strategies form the basis
of the strategies in this Plan and include though not
limited to: CALM's Recreation and Tourism Strategy
(People in CALM Places); Recreation, Tourism and
Visitor Services Policy; Regional Management Plan
for the Northern Forest Region; Recreation and
Tourism Plan for Swan Region. These strategies will
continue to be implemented as recreational
opportunities in the Mundaring District and
Serpentine National Park are planned.
STRATEGIES
1. Provide recreation opportunities in the Park
that complement opportunities available
elsewhere in the Region. (H)
2. Do not cater for recreation activities that are
incompatible with or adversely impact the
Parks values. Alternative areas should be used.
(H)
3. Advise visitors of alternative areas prior to
busy days. (M)
MANAGEMENT FOR RECREATION
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21. ACCESS
Management for Recreation
The objectives are to:
1. Control access to protect the Park's conservation
and recreation values.
2. Provide and maintain safe access.
3. Ensure that erosion control and disease
management receives high priority when
designing and maintaining access.
4. Facilitate access for people with disabilities.
The major access route to the Park from Perth and
the south-west of the State is by the South West
Highway, which runs just to the west of the Park,
along the base of the Darling Scarp. The Park itself is
accessed via four secondary roads and a number of
management tracks from the South West Highway
and the "Jarrahdale Scenic Drive" which follows
Jarrahdale Road and Kingsbury Drive. No public
transport services or regular day tours operate to or in
the Park. However, there are daily public bus
services to Jarrahdale town site.
Management access tracks in the Park were
constructed in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Some of
the tracks were constructed in association with
timber harvesting, others were developed for park
management purposes. Although the standard of
roads vary, most roads are open to the public and
trafficable by 2WD vehicles. Access for management
activities such as fire control, maintenance of
recreation areas, feral animal and weed control,
research, and search and rescue is also required.
Emergency access is provided through the Park from
the Millbrook Estate. Access to private property
locations along Carralong Brook and behind the
Serpentine Falls require further clarification and
discussions between CALM, Water Corporation and
the land holders. Access is available for CALM
vehicles through Water Corporation lands for
management reasons. Water Corporation personnel
require some access through the Park to management
and monitoring the water catchment area.
During the 1992 dieback disease survey of the
Gooralong area of the Park it was found that all
Phytophthora infections were associated with tracks
and roads, with the infection spreading down slope of
the tracks infecting large areas of forest (see
Disease). It is important to identify those tracks that
pose a high risk and determine an appropriate
management strategy to minimise the spread of the
disease. New tracks should not be established
without dieback assessment and hygiene
management. Tracks through dieback disease-free
areas should be permanently closed.
Many of the tracks in the Park are subject to erosion
through natural and human activity, with some
sections extremely rough because of exposed caprock
or water erosion on steep grades. Emphasis needs to