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

era. Many archaeological sites of significance—such as
Aboriginal fish weirs, middens, and canoe trees—also
occur and others will undoubtedly be identified.
Management of the Murray River Park should be directed
toward enhancing the scenic, recreation, and nature
conservation values, protecting historical and
archaeological features and providing opportunities for a
diversity of recreation activities in an essentially natural
riverine environment. Consolidation of the various land
use categories that comprise the proposed Murray River
Park will allow for a more integrated management
approach of these riverlands, enhancing and broadening
recreational opportunities and emphasising connectivity. To
ensure the riverine environment is maintained with an
increasing numbers of campers along River Murray, the
development of a strategy for dispersed camping and
associated firewood collection is required. Camping will be
prohibited on public land water frontages on the River
Murray where the public land is less than 100 metres wide
between the river and the adjacent freehold land (see
Recommendation R29). As part of a dispersed camping
strategy, some bends or river stretches should be identified
where dispersed camping is excluded, while other
camping sites could be reconfigured or ‘hardened’ to
allow greater usage.
Due to the importance of fallen timber for fauna in the
riverine forests, commercial and domestic firewood
collection would not be permitted in the Murray River
Park, other than in zones to be designated by the land
manager for domestic firewood collection around Mildura,
Robinvale, and at a suitable location in proximity to
Nathalia. As a general rule, an average of 45
tonnes/hectares of coarse woody debris across each
frontage block should be maintained. Due to fire risk, solid
fuel fires during the high fire danger period (as
determined by the Department of Sustainability and
Environment in conjunction with the Country Fire
Authority) on all public land adjoining the River Murray
will be prohibited (see Recommendation R30-31).
Given that there are a high level of natural and scenic
values and intense recreation pressures, some activities
previously permitted in the former land-use categories will
be incompatible with the objectives and direction sought
through the Murray River Park. For example, due to the
numerous campers using areas in the proposed Murray
River Park, hunting and grazing are not appropriate. A
number of licensed pump sites, pumpline sites, and
regulators associated with water management and use
occur within the reserve and the use of these facilities
would continue. However, Council believes that new
structures should be located on private land or on
consolidated sites as far as possible, and more stringent
guidelines should be applied to the overall appearance of
these structures, particularly at pump sites so that the
impact of these sites on the scenic riverine environment is
minimised.
The land in New South Wales abutting the River Murray
has characteristics, values, and uses similar to those of the
proposed Murray River Park and it would be desirable if
this public land could be managed in a manner compatible
with the management of the Murray River Park. As the
Victorian–New South Wales border is the top of the
southern bank of the River Murray, activities occurring on
the River Murray itself or on sandbanks on the southern
side of the River Murray are within the jurisdiction of New
South Wales. Nonetheless a number of activities that occur
on the river or the sandbars have a direct impact on areas
within the proposed Murray River Park, including
watersports, the construction of jetties connected to the
Victorian side of the river and activities associated with
camping on sandbars. A coordinated management
approach with New South Wales authorities, preferably
including a seamless regulatory regime, would resolve a
number of these anomalies and provide a more integrated
approach to planning along the River Murray.
RECOMMENDATION
Murray River Park
B3
That:
(a) the area of 32,028 hectares shown on Map A as
the Murray River Park be used in accordance with
regional parks general Recommendations B,
(b) a Management Plan for the Murray River Park be
developed in consultation with the community
within three years of the acceptance of this
recommendation,
(c) use of existing and licensed pump and pump-line
sites be permitted to continue, but new pumps
should be located on private land if practicable or
be consolidated on existing sites where possible,
(d) commercial firewood collection not be permitted,
and domestic firewood collection generally not be
permitted, other than in zones to be designated by the
land manager around Mildura, Robinvale and at a
suitable location in proximity to Nathalia,
(e) broadly, other existing uses in the area of the
proposed Murray River Park be permitted at the
discretion of the land manager and subject to the
management plan,
(f) the proposed Murray River Park be considered
“restricted” Crown land under the Mineral
Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990,
(g) the park be zoned in order to provide for the
range of uses outlined above and be permanently
reserved under section 4 of the Crown Land
(Reserves) Act 1978,
(h) regulations be developed to be in place as soon
as practicable after the park is established, and
(i) a coordinated approach to management across
the border with New South Wales be developed,
including a co-ordinated regulatory regime.
Notes:
1. A firewood strategy for campers should be developed in
accordance with Recommendation R31.
38 River Red Gum Forests Investigation July 2007