Draft Proposals Paper - Full - Victorian Environmental Assessment ...

A8 Warby Range–Ovens River
National Park
The proposed Warby Range–Ovens River National Park
(total area 15,745 hectares) links the existing Warby Range
State Park (11,460 hectares outside the River Red Gum
Forests Investigation area) with 4223 hectares of public
land along the Lower Ovens near the confluence of the
Ovens and Murray Rivers. Within the Investigation area,
the proposed national park consists of the existing Lower
Ovens State Forest (2573 hectares), Lower Ovens Regional
Park (1217 hectares), Peechelba Flora Reserve (220
hectares) and approximately 20 hectares of public land
water frontage. A further 62 hectares of public land water
frontage reserve and bushland reserve along Chinaman
and Irishtown Creeks linking the Killawarra and Lower
Ovens Forests are also included in the proposed
national park.
The Ovens River—a Heritage River—remains the only
substantial, essentially unregulated Victorian tributary of
the River Murray, with only two tributaries (the Buffalo
and King Rivers) having a small storage each. The resultant
near natural flow regime partly explains the high
biodiversity values and moderate–good stream condition
of the Lower Ovens. The flooding pattern also generates
floods further downstream along the River Murray and its
floodplains. Maintaining the Ovens River as an
unregulated system is essential to protect the natural
values along the river.
The Warby Range–Ovens River National Park will protect
wetlands and streams that provide habitat for many
threatened bird and frog species including egrets,
spoonbills, White-bellied Sea-Eagle and the Growling
Grass Frog. Significant aquatic species include the Murray
and Trout Cod, Golden Perch, Flat-headed Galaxias, Flyspecked
Hardyhead (southern form) and Murray Spiny
Cray. The forests have particular importance for the near
threatened Southern Myotis, usually a cave-dwelling bat,
which roosts in River Red Gums in this area. More than
185 native animal species have been recorded in the
Lower Ovens forests including 30 threatened species.
Two hundred and one native plant species (including nine
rare or threatened species) have been recorded in the
area. The region is extremely important for the
endangered Mueller Daisy. This species occurs in only
about four populations across northern Victoria (as well as
a small area in NSW) and is threatened by overgrazing. A
regionally significant localised shrubland of Rough-barked
Honey-myrtle is located in the proposed park near
Peechelba.
Creating the Warby Range–Ovens River National Park will
substantially increase reserve system representation for the
threatened Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) Sedgy
Riverine Forest, Floodplain Riparian Woodland, Riverine
Swampy Woodland and Billabong Wetland Aggregate.
Domestic firewood sales for the area are currently around
200–300 cubic metres a year. Since no sawlog or
commercial firewood harvesting activities have occurred
recently in the Ovens forests, departmental thinning
activities have been carried out in the last five years to
provide this firewood. A number of grazing licences
(including broadacre, water frontage, and unused road
reserve) cover approximately 70 percent of the proposed
national park within the Investigation area. These activities
are inconsistent with the objectives of a national park and
will be discontinued.
There are currently five apiculture sites in the Lower Ovens
forests and these will continue to be permitted in the
proposed national park. A base mineral exploration licence
is current over most of the Lower Ovens forests and this
may continue, be renewed (if it does not lapse) and
proceed to a mining licence and work authority, with
appropriate consent. However, no other new exploration
or mining licences can be granted once the proposed
national park is established.
The forests and wetlands of the Lower Ovens River provide
a tranquil setting and are popular for recreational activities
including camping and fishing. Convenient access from
the Murray Valley Highway and the ability to reach the
nearby town of Bundalong by boat add to the camping
experience. Camping peaks (beyond capacity) over Easter,
Christmas and Melbourne Cup weekend and is most
popular at Parolas Bend (15,000 annual camper nights
and up to 2000 individuals at Easter). Such large numbers
of campers create high demand for firewood and remove
habitat for ground dwelling fauna. The use of pit toilets is
also a problem in the narrow band of less than 100 metres
between the river and the adjacent wetlands. Camping
will continue in the Warby Range-Ovens River National
Park but firewood collection will not be permitted. VEAC
recognises the need to reduce human waste close to
waterways and proposes that all campers at Parolas Bend
be required to provide and use a chemical toilet.
There was strong community support for including the
Lower Ovens forests in a national park and for careful
water management and better environmental protection.
A number of submissions called for the linking of the
Lower Ovens to the Warby Range State Park in a
consolidated national park.
The Lower Ovens forests provide an important
north–south vegetated link between the River Murray and
the Warby Ranges that will increase in importance with
climate change. Consolidating the Lower Ovens forests
with the Warby Range State Park in one park will lead to a
more integrated conservation management approach and
ultimately more effective on-ground connections between
the areas to achieve conservation objectives. The creation
of a larger national park, whilst occurring in two discrete
units, is supported by native vegetation corridors on
private land between the two areas.
34 River Red Gum Forests Investigation July 2007