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

RECOMMENDATIONS
General recommendations for regional parks and other parks
B
That:
(a) regional parks and other parks shown on Map A (numbered B1 to B7) and described below be used to:
(i) provide for informal recreation associated with enjoyment of natural surroundings by large numbers of
people,
(ii) conserve and protect natural landscapes and scenic values,
(iii) conserve and protect biodiversity to the extent that is consistent with (i) above,
(iv) protect significant cultural and historic sites and places, including Aboriginal cultural sites and places; and
(b) the following activities generally be permitted:
(i) bushwalking, nature observation, heritage appreciation, picnicking
(ii) camping including dispersed camping and overnight camping with horses,
(iii) dogwalking and camping with dogs (see notes below),
(iv) car touring, including four wheel driving, on formed roads and tracks,
(v) mountain bike and trailbike riding on formed roads and tracks,
(vi) horseriding on formed roads and tracks,
(vii) apiculture,
(viii) metal detecting, prospecting, and
(ix) research, subject to permit.
(c) the following activities not be permitted:
(i) harvesting of forest products (see notes below),
(ii) grazing by domestic stock,
(iii) hunting and use of firearms,
(iv) burning solid fuel fires during the high fire danger period.
(d) unused road reserves be added to adjoining parks where appropriate.
Notes:
1. Dogs must be on a leash in some areas as zoned in management plans.
2. Collection of firewood for campfires is permitted.
3. Ecological thinning may be permitted where required.
4. Short-term grazing may be contracted for ecological or management purposes such as targeted weed control.
5. Hunting and use of firearms may be allowed as part of a pest animal control program.
6. Implementation of recommendations and land management should allow flexibility for minor boundary adjustments.
B1 Kerang Regional Park
The proposed Kerang Regional Park (1138 hectares)
encompasses a variety of public land parcels containing
riverine and wetland environments encircling the township
of Kerang. This land includes Town and Back Swamps,
Cemetery Forest Wildlife Reserve (and adjoining
uncategorised Crown land), Fosters Swamp and areas of
public land water frontage along the Loddon River and
Pyramid Creek which link these swamps.
The majority of the proposed park is part of the Kerang
Wetlands Ramsar Site, which was listed as an
internationally important wetland because of the types of
wetland represented and the ecological and genetic
diversity they support, particularly significant numbers of
waterbirds. The wetlands within the proposed Kerang
Regional Park support habitat for a range of significant
fauna species, including Great and Intermediate Egrets,
Royal Spoonbill and Golden Perch and flora species such
as Swamp Buttercup, Umbrella Wattle, Twin-leaf Bedstraw,
Spreading Emu-bush and Waterbush. Lignum Swampy
Woodland and Lignum Wetland are the dominant
Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC) and the sections of
the Loddon River and Pyramid Creek contain River Red
Gum and Black Box riparian woodlands. Fosters Swamp, in
particular, has high water bird carrying capacity and
species diversity. The Brick Kilns (Tragedy) Bridge,
constructed in 1927, on Lower Loddon Road over Pyramid
Creek, is considered to be of state historical significance.
Town and Back Swamps are currently used for passive
recreation such as dogwalking. Fosters Swamp is currently
36 River Red Gum Forests Investigation July 2007