<strong>Flinders</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>Land</strong> <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> <strong>Flinders</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>2004</strong> - <strong>2050</strong> <strong>South</strong> Australia Precinct Five – <strong>South</strong> Valley Two The <strong>South</strong> Valley Two Precinct is bound by the creek to the north and the site boundary to the south and west, with the electricity easement forming the eastern boundary. The precinct contains degraded native vegetation with some small areas of high quality indigenous vegetation, with the majority of the precinct dominated by pest plant and environmental weed species. Steep terrain hinders access to the creek and, apart from one informal trail adjacent the residential properties, there is no defined access. Due to these factors, this precinct is considered a medium priority. The main priority for this precinct is to protect the areas of high quality vegetation, in the east adjacent Precinct 6, by controlling the dominant weed species, such as Olives, Boneseed, Bridal Creeper, Fennel, Aleppo Pines and Boxthorn. The removal of these pest plants will allow natural regeneration to occur and therefore no additional planting should be required. There are also several weed species that occur in small or isolated populations, including English Broom, Monadenia, Coolatai Grass, and <strong>Flinders</strong> Ranges Wattle that should be controlled before they spread further. The areas that are of poor quality and contain numerous pest plants are a low priority; however, pest plant control should be undertaken adjacent to the high quality areas to ensure they do not get re-infested. The removal of the olives from these areas would result in very few trees remaining, therefore, revegetation should be undertaken. The overstorey species should be planted sparsely to recreate the natural open woodland that would have originally occurred within the site. As noted in section 4.2.1, the construction of an access trail from the upper slope to the valley – adjacent the creek - is recommended to provide for maintenance vehicle and recreational usage. It is anticipated this will provide a connection with the proposed Sturt Creek Linear Park - Sturt Gorge Recreation Reserve Trail. Objectives Short-term • To prevent the further spread and establishment of Aleppo Pines; • To eradicate Coolatai Grass, Broom, Monadenia, and <strong>Flinders</strong> Ranges Wattle. • To control pest plants and environmental weeds, particularly olives, immediately adjacent the high quality Eucalyptus microcarpa woodland in Precinct 4 (eastern section), and • To maintain existing access trail adjacent property boundaries, and facilitate its use as part of a linkage to the Sturt Gorge Recreation Reserve. • To develop an access trail adjacent the creek, connecting Precinct 4 and the shared-use path, to the proposed linkage between Sturt Creek Linear Park and Sturt Gorge Recreation Reserve • To provide and maintain a fuel reduction zone of twenty metres width adjacent the southern property boundary. Long-term • To re-establish an indigenous woodland ecosystem along the hillside, similar to that which would have existed prior to European settlement, starting adjacent Precinct 6 (east) and working in a westward, and • To enhance the riparian environment through weed removal and revegetation Proclaimed pest plants and environmental weeds Woody weeds – Olives, Aleppo Pines, Boxthorn, Dog Rose, English Broom and Desert Ash Herbaceous weeds – Coolatai grass, Bridal Creeper, Fennel, Monadenia Year <strong>Management</strong> Actions Timing Indicative Partners Cost <strong>2004</strong>/05 Remove pest plants, particularly Olives, in Spring $2160 Parcel 5.1 (20 metre wide fuel reduction zone adjacent the residential boundary). Remove infestations of English Broom and Spring $1430 MC Coolatai grass from identified parcels using mechanical removal and slash and spray technique, respectively Remove Monadenia from identified parcel Spring- Summer $2800 GC UFP Ringbark or remove isolated Aleppo Pines Any time $840 MC (depending on accessibility) 2005/06 Remove <strong>Flinders</strong> Ranges Wattle adjacent Any time $1130 - southern boundary Follow-up control work for Aleppo Pine, Spring $2150 MC Broom, Coolatai grass and Monadenia UFP Remove pest plant and environmental weed Any time $3550 UFP species, from Parcel 5.2 (adjacent eastern precinct boundary) 2006/07 Follow-up control work for Aleppo Pine, Spring $1450 MC Broom, Coolatai grass and Monadenia Revegetate Parcel 5.2 Autumn / $2600 UFP Winter 2007/08 Develop access trail adjacent the creek, connecting Precinct 6 and the shared-use path 12 , to the proposed linkage between Sturt Spring $19,800 MC PSA ORS Creek Linear Park and Sturt Gorge Recreation Reserve Drill and fill (or remove depending on Spring $2860 MC accessibility) olives in Parcel 5.3 Follow-up control work in Parcel 5.1 and 5.2 Spring $2150 MC 2008/09 Follow-up control work in Parcel 5.1 to 5.3 Spring $2860 MC Revegetate Parcel 5.3 Spring $3600 UFP 2009/10 Drill and fill (or remove depending on Spring $2860 MC accessibility) olives in Parcel 5.4 Follow-up control work in Parcel 5.1 to 5.3 Spring $2150 MC Long term – 2010 onward • Continue to drill and fill or remove olives (depending on accessibility), working in a westerly direction. Due to the high level of infestation it is recommended that a parcel only be initiated every two years, to ensure follow-up control work is not compromised • Remove or poison other pest plant and environmental weed species in same areas. This work to be followed by revegetation. 12 Cost based on Stage 1, approximately 900m of new track from upper slope to western boundary. Construction cost is estimated at $18,000 per kilometre and is inclusive of equipment hire - based on Parks Victoria rate guide. Track from slope to valley floor may involve some excavation work into hillside, which has not been costed. ⏐ AUGUST <strong>2004</strong> ⏐ PAGE 21
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