Threatened Species Management Plan for Kinglake National Park

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Threatened Species Management Plan for Kinglake National Park, – V 1.0, September 2001 weeds will begin to thrive in the post-fire period due to reduced competition for light and space and elevated soil nutrients. A systematic weed control program should be immediately undertaken across the Park. Priority should be focused on the most significant stands of native vegetation within the Park and for control of localised occurrences of high threat species. Roadsides, drains or other entry points for weeds that occur in close proximity to significant vegetation stands should also be managed, to prevent weeds from re-invading from these sites. The weed control program should include control of: Tutsan at Wombelano Falls and the upper Arthur’s Creek, Seaside Daisy at Masons Falls, Blackberry species along the Yea River, at Toorourrong and within other high quality gullies and drainage systems. Spear Thistle and Yorkshire Fog *Holcus lanatus in stands of Swampy Woodland and Wet Verge Sedgeland at Toorourrong Reservoir, English Broom at the fenced Round-leaf Pomaderris site, and Grey Willow at Toorourrong Reservoir and at other identified infestations of this species. A thorough assessment of the weed flora of Kinglake is currently being undertaken, which will fully inform the priority for works. Ongoing monitoring will be required to identify emerging threats, as some weed species will only begin to proliferate in the latter succession of the fire. These include species such as White Sallow Wattle and Sweet Pittosporum in the Reedy Creek block and Holly, English Broom, Blackberry, Montpellier Broom, Cape Ivy, Needle Grass, English Ivy, Blue Periwinkle, Bulbil Watsonia, Monbretia, Boneseed and Elegant Poison-berry throughout the Park. Works should only be undertaken by experienced bushland managers to ensure that work is achieved to a high standard and to prevent off-target damage. 6.2.2 Biodiversity fences – construct fences around threatened flora populations Many flora species are of restricted occurrence in the Park and should be fenced to prevent grazing impacts. This will also create areas for threatened species to be replanted into secure sites. Four fences have currently been constructed at Broad Gully to protect seedling plants of the Swamp Bush Pea. Other fencing that will be required include around the Wine-lip Spider Orchid and Blue Fairies Orchid off Dinsdale Road and possibly around populations of Round-leaf Pomaderris and the recently discovered Tall Shaggy Pea on Stuart’s Spur. If additional populations of rare orchid species are discovered during further surveys, these will also require caging or fencing. 6.2.3 Pest animal management – prepare a pest animal strategy and continue to control feral fauna Most feral animals appear to have been only lightly impacted by the 2009 fire and the Park still supports infestations of deer, rabbits, goats and foxes. Abundant fox tracks have been observed throughout the Park and this species will be adding further pressures on native fauna populations. Sambar Deer have been sighted on numerous occasions and appear to be still relatively abundant within the Park. Rabbit impacts are relatively minor in most areas of the Park, however the fire has enabled the rabbit to advance into areas such as Broad Gully where it has previously not occurred. 24
Threatened Species Management Plan for Kinglake National Park, – V 1.0, September 2001 Parks Victoria is currently implementing control programs for goats and foxes throughout the Park. It is hoped that goats will eventually be eliminated from the Park, but control of foxes will be ongoing. Control of foxes in areas that support (or are likely to support) significant fauna species should be of high priority, such as at Broad Gully, Captains Creek, Dinsdale Road, Watsons Creek Track and Road 3 in the Mt Disappointment Reference Area. Eliminating foxes from these areas will allow species such as Bandicoots and Dunnarts to increase in the post-fire period. It is recommended that a feral animal strategy be prepared for the Park. This should include documenting current distribution and estimated population levels for each feral species, chosen strategies and methods for control and a work plan for the next five years. 6.2.4 Erosion control – continue to monitor and prevent erosion throughout the Park Silt traps have been installed throughout the Park in an effort to slow the massive amount of sheet and gully erosion that has occurred since the fires. Monitoring of erosion should be continued to identify hotspots and further works that may be required. Erosion appears to be decreasing in many areas in response to the recovery of the vegetation, which has greatly reduced soil exposure. 6.2.5 Cinnamon Fungus – continue to prevent Cinnamon Fungus from spreading throughout the Park Specialist researchers have indicated that the 2009 fire may have temporarily burnt out infestations of Cinnamon Fungus from the top soil layers, but that the fungus will likely return to pre-fire conditions within several years (Tony Fitzgerald pers. comm.). Park rangers and contractors should continue to prevent the spread of the fungus throughout the Park. Any machinery used within the study area should be washed down when considered necessary and it should be compulsory that workers scrub shoes with Phyoclean before and after entering a new site. Signage should be re-installed throughout the Park to alert and educate bushwalkers and visitors about the effects and prevention of Cinnamon Fungus. Cleaning tools (brushes, shoe baths) could be installed at the beginning of popular walks, as has been implemented in other national parks and reserves. 6.2.6 Nestboxes – install nestboxes throughout the Park in areas supporting rare hollow-dependant fauna The 2009 and 2006 fires burnt out old trees throughout the Park, further reducing the already limited availability of hollow-bearing trees. This reduction in habitat will exert further pressure on hollowdependant species such as forest owls, Brush-tailed Phascogale, Sugar Glider, Greater Glider, Yellow-bellied Glider, Eastern Pygmy Possum and Feather-tail Glider (the latter two also nest in dreys but prefer hollows). In the absence of suitable hollows these species are likely to resort to less suitable habitat such as small stumps or logs, making them more vulnerable to predation by foxes and other predators. Nestboxes should be installed throughout the Park to provide supplementary habitat for fauna. Boxes should be scattered along the Everard and Watson’s Creek Track in areas that are known to support the Brush-tailed Phascogale. Boxes should also be installed in hotspot areas for Eastern Pygmy Possum such as in the vicinity of Captain’s Creek Track and Ninks Road. Once spotlighting surveys for arboreal mammals and forest owls has been undertaken, it should be determined if species such as Yellow-bellied Glider, Greater Glider, Sooty Owl or Powerful Owl 25
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Threatened Species Management Plan for Kinglake National Park

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