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RECOMMENDATIONS Lower Goulburn River National Park A6 That: (a) the area of 14,718 hectares shown on Map A be used in accordance with the general recommendations for national parks, and (b) a dispersed camping strategy be implemented as part of management planning for this national park, and (c) an appropriate environmental water regime be implemented in accordance with Recommendation R10-17, and (d) existing water diversion licences be allowed to continue where no other sources of water are available to adjoining landowners. Notes: 1. The approved route of the Shepparton Bypass passes through the recommended national park south of Reedy Swamp. The proposed national park would not affect the bypass. 2. Certain public land areas now managed by Goulburn- Murray Water are to be incorporated in the park under these recommendations. Goulburn-Murray Water should continue to manage channels and regulators within the Kanyapella Basin section of the park for the purpose of flood mitigation and water transfer. 3. Sections of Kanyapella Basin have been cleared for agricultural purposes. Restoration of these areas using indigenous species matching benchmarks for Ecological Vegetation Classes should be undertaken. 4. The water requirements for Kanyapella Basin and options for achieving an improved water regime in this area are outlined in the Kanyapella Basin Environmental Management Plan. A7 Barmah National Park With the adjoining Millewa forest in New South Wales, Barmah forest forms the largest River Red Gum forest in the world. It is also the pre-eminent site in the Investigation area in terms of natural values—many of which are threatened. Accordingly, VEAC is proposing the creation of Barmah National Park (29,942 hectares) encompassing the existing Barmah State Forest (21,217 hectares), Barmah State Park (8366 hectares in two blocks) and Murray River Reserve (271 hectares). Additionally public land water frontage along Broken Creek (66 hectares) and Ulupna Creek (eight hectares) as well as six hectares of road reserve and three hectares of uncategorised public land would be included. Two reference areas in the existing Barmah State Park are proposed to be retained in the new national park (Recommendation F1). Not included in the park is an area of 22 hectares around the Dharnya centre buildings and nearby muster yards. This envelope (currently partly state forest and state park) is proposed as community use area (Recommendation I5) to provide greater flexibility for potential development and use of this ‘gateway to the park’. The Barmah–Millewa forest is recognised internationally as a wetland of significance under the Ramsar Convention. It supports approximately 224 native fauna and 370 native flora species with some 39 threatened or near-threatened fauna species, including breeding sites for the Superb Parrot (the only remaining site in Victoria) and colonially breeding water birds such as Great, Intermediate and Little Egrets. The proposed national park will protect habitat for 38 rare or threatened plants including the endangered Mueller Daisy, Slender Love-grass, Spiny-fruit Saltbush, and Winged Peppercress. Creation of the park will also significantly improve the reserve system protection of 71 endangered, vulnerable, or depleted Ecological Vegetation Classes. The communities include the endangered Plains Woodland and vulnerable Riverine Swampy Woodland and Riverine Grassy Woodlands. The Barmah-Millewa forest exists because of the limited flow capacity of the main river channel and presents a range of geomorphological features of national importance. The forest ecology has formed as a result of the interaction between tectonic movements of the earth and the River Murray’s changing hydrology. The Murray in this region has been strongly influenced by local, relatively recent tectonic movements on the roughly north-south oriented Cadell Fault, and the changing sequence of channels across the floodplain. The region is also characterised by a severely constricted reach, known as the Barmah Choke, in which the river channel capacity significantly decreases, thereby forcing the river’s flow into the Edward River and out onto the broader floodplain, including its network of channels and anabranches. The floodplain is characterised by its width and swampy nature — shallow but widespread floods are common. More recently these floods have occurred as a result of ‘rainrejection flows’ that exceed the main channel capacity. Barmah forest has a significant number of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and places including scarred trees, mounds, stone artefact scatters, middens and burial sites. Traditional Owners have articulated a strong affinity with the Barmah forest and continue to assert their claims of ownership of this area as their traditional Country. Council acknowledges the cultural importance of this area for Traditional Owners and proposes that a shared management structure be established for the proposed Barmah National Park. The management board or committee would consist of a majority of Traditional Owner representatives as outlined in general Recommendation R24. Currently, Barmah forest is used extensively for recreational activities, ranging from camping along the river and creeks to fishing, waterskiing, swimming and canoeing. The natural attributes of the forests, sandy beaches adjoining the river, creeks and lakes provide an ideal setting for low cost family holidays, particularly over Easter, Christmas and the Melbourne Cup long weekend. VEAC strongly supports the continued use of Barmah forest for recreation where such use is consistent with national park objectives. 32 River Red Gum Forests Investigation July 2007
However, because of the intensity of recreation use during peak times Council is proposing that camping in Barmah forest—as elsewhere in the Investigation area—be managed in accordance with Recommendations R28 and R31. Collection of wood for campfires will not be permitted in the proposed Barmah National Park. This recommendation is consistent with concerns regarding increased fire risk from escaped campfires and the negative impacts of collection of wood for campfires on the biodiversity values of the area. The use of public land areas for camping with dogs and undertaking day visits with dogs is important for many people. Dogs will not be permitted in the proposed national park for Barmah, but will be allowed in the adjoining proposed Murray River Park. Domestic stock grazing has occurred in Barmah forest for several generations. The average of 2000 (summer) and 800 (winter) head of cattle agisted in the forest has been reduced in response to recent drought conditions, culminating in the destocking of the forest for the 2007 winter term. There are also 7 current grazing licences covering a total of 78 hectares and with a total carrying capacity of 112 Dry Sheep Equivalent that would be included in the proposed national park. Grazing with domestic stock is incompatible with national park status and will not be permitted in the proposed park. As well as domestic stock, Barmah forest is also grazed by feral horses and deer which, together with feral pigs, should also be promptly removed from the proposed national park to protect its highly significant natural values. Comparatively frequent flooding has allowed Barmah forest to supply over half the timber resource (including commercial firewood) harvested in the Investigation area in recent years. However, timber harvesting is not generally permitted in national parks and will not be permitted in the proposed Barmah National Park. State forests near Koondrook will remain available for commercial timber production. Similarly, domestic firewood collection under permit— which currently occurs in Barmah State Forest—will not be allowed in the proposed national park. VEAC is proposing that a zone for domestic firewood collection be established in the proposed Murray River Park (Recommendation B3) near to Nathalia in order to provide firewood for local residents, many of whom have few viable alternative heating sources. Parts of three current mineral exploration licences (for gold and other metals) overlap with roughly the southern half of the existing Barmah State Forest. These licences can continue and be renewed (provided the licence does not lapse) and proceed to a mining licence and work authority, with appropriate consent. However, once the proposed national park is established no other new exploration or mining licences would be granted. Apiculture is currently permitted in Barmah forest other than in and within 2 kilometres of the two reference areas. This will continue to be the case in the proposed Barmah National Park. Historically, hunting in Barmah State Forest focused on feral animals, notably pigs and deer, with waterfowl taken occasionally. Under the proposed national park hunting will not be a permitted use. However, the removal of introduced animals by land managers, in association with organised hunting groups, is supported. Council has received a large number of comments about the Barmah forest, with opinions divided between those who support the establishment of a national park (typically with increased Indigenous involvement), and those who support continued uses including timber harvesting, cattle grazing and recreation. Many people believe that the viability of small towns is dependent on retaining the timber industry in the Investigation area and, in particular, in the Barmah forest. Many submissions also proposed a more natural water flow regime to maintain the ecological values of the forest. RECOMMENDATIONS Barmah National Park A7 That: (a) the area of 29,942 hectares shown on Map A be used in accordance with the general recommendations for national parks, and (b) a dispersed camping strategy be implemented as specified in Recommendation R28-31, (c) an environmental water regime be established for this national park in accordance with Recommendation R10-17, (d) an Indigenous co-management board be established for the national park in accordance with Recommendation R24 Notes: 1. Over time the course of the River Murray has altered since the State Border was determined. A 43 hectare area of NSW known as ‘Native Dog Flora Reserve’ (part of Thornley State Forest) is effectively an inlier and contiguous with the Ulupna Island section of Barmah National Park. An agreement should be sought with the NSW Department of Primary Industries to enable DSE or a designated agency to manage Native Dog Flora Reserve as part of the Barmah National Park under existing provisions of Section 19D of the National Parks Act 1975. 2. The park encompasses two existing reference areas (see Recommendation F1). Reference areas must be managed in accordance with the Reference Areas Act 1978. 3. Council notes that feral horses and pigs have been present in the Barmah forest for several decades. The land manager has responsibility for eliminating and controlling pest plants and animals, and should make a concerted effort to exclude these animals from the proposed national park. Draft Proposals Paper for public comment 33
Page 1 and 2: River RedGum Forests Investigation
Page 3 and 4: FOREWORD The River Red Gum forests
Page 5 and 6: Contents What is the Victorian Envi
Page 7 and 8: Fauna Reserve and Mooroopna Recreat
Page 9 and 10: the different aspirations of differ
Page 11 and 12: Draft Proposals Paper for public co
Page 15 and 16: 1 Introduction The River Red Gum fo
Page 17 and 18: • the desirability of greater inv
Page 21 and 22: GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS Implementat
Page 23 and 24: There is also likely to be variatio
Page 25 and 26: The simple account above serves to
Page 27 and 28: Increasing Indigenous involvement i
Page 29 and 30: The draft proposals presented here
Page 31 and 32: RECOMMENDATIONS Aboriginal advisory
Page 33 and 34: experience—especially if people a
Page 35 and 36: impetus for the removal of grazing
Page 37 and 38: RECOMMENDATIONS General recommendat
Page 39 and 40: RECOMMENDATIONS Murray-Sunset Natio
Page 41 and 42: individual wetlands as new nature c
Page 43: RECOMMENDATIONS Terrick Terrick Nat
Page 47 and 48: RECOMMENDATIONS Warby Range-Ovens R
Page 49 and 50: used by Lower Murray Water for dire
Page 51 and 52: B4 Kings Billabong Park The propose
Page 53 and 54: B7 Nyah-Vinifera Park The proposed
Page 55 and 56: C State forests The River Red Gum f
Page 57 and 58: C1-C2 Benwell and Guttram State For
Page 59 and 60: considerably. There has also been s
Page 61 and 62: D25 Pyramid Creek Nature Conservati
Page 63 and 64: E Historic and cultural features re
Page 65 and 66: considers that the new reservation
Page 67 and 68: G Natural features reserves Natural
Page 69 and 70: RECOMMENDATIONS Public land water f
Page 71 and 72: I Community use areas Designated co
Page 73 and 74: J Services and utilities areas Nume
Page 75 and 76: RECOMMENDATIONS General recommendat
Page 81 and 82: every five years. The costs of prov
Page 83 and 84: camping will be prohibited in locat
Page 85 and 86: domestic stock grazing on public la
Page 87 and 88: Parrots, require hollows in mature
Page 89 and 90: The two main types of socio-economi
Page 91 and 92: The six samples used in the surveys
Page 93 and 94: Demographic data Demographic data (
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Conclusions It is apparent from the
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three towns and the only one with r
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River Red Gum Forests Investigation
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APPENDIX 3: Extract of Report on th
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Access to public land areas within
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Workshop program and presentations
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they were to be involved in a simil
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Section 4 of the report “Demystif
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Figure 2 Current Options being Purs
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Participation in management of publ
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opportunities where ‘service cont
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What we would like to see happen A
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Last word - Aboriginal cultural her
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Organisation Contact Sub. Period No
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Organisation Contact Sub. Period No
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Name Sub. Period No. 1 2 Mr R. Berb
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Name Sub. Period No. 1 2 Ms Claire
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Name Sub. Period No. 1 2 Ms Louise
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Name Sub. Period No. 1 2 Ms Helen K
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Name Sub. Period No. 1 2 Ms Bernade
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Name Sub. Period No. 1 2 M- & M- L.
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Name Sub. Period No. 1 2 Mr Peter S
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Name Sub. Period No. 1 2 Mr Zach Wo
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APPENDIX 6: Species names used in t
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Draft Proposals Paper for public co
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Recommendations for natural feature
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Recommendations for natural feature
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APPENDIX 10: Reservation status of
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