Chapter 13 - Victorian Environmental Assessment Council

Commonwealth land13 Commonwealth landThere are three major blocks of Commonwealth land inthe Box-Ironbark study area. Longlea lies east ofBendigo. Puckapunyal lies north-west and Mangalorenorth-east of Seymour. The Commonwealth agreed toinclude Puckapunyal, Longlea and Mangalore in the Box-Ironbark investigation.13.1 Puckapunyal and GraytownThe 41 490 ha Puckapunyal Military Area (PMA),which includes the Graytown Proof & ExperimentalEstablishment, exists to maintain the capability ofthe Australian Defence Force; it is one of theDefence Force’s busiest ranges. The Army carriesout frequent military training exercises with liveartillery firing, tank firing, demolition, aerialbombing and hand weapon firing. In public landuse terms, military training is the approved primaryland use of this area. This area “will be used for theforeseeable future as a military training area,continuing the present challenge of managing thePMA so that this use can be sustained withoutcompromising either operations or importantenvironmental values”. 1The Department of Defence states that appropriateenvironmental management “involves theconservation and management of key ecosystemssuch as forests and woodlands… as well as theprotection of rare and endangered species.’ 2 Inprinciple, Defence-controlled areas are managed forsustainable use. Environmental management plansguide and implement Defence’s ‘commitment tosound and effective environmental stewardship”. 2The PMA Environmental Management Strategy 1provides for “effective and responsible managementwhich seeks to protect significant environmentalareas… while providing for the ongoing military useof the area”. This strategy gives the commitment to“maintain the ecological diversity of the PMA,consistent with the sustainable use of the area formilitary activities.”The native vegetation of the Puckapunyal andGraytown military ranges is in good condition.However, there is some variation in the quality ofremaining Box-Ironbark communities, including inareas previously fully cleared for agriculturalpursuits prior to Defence use. The majority of thebroadacre forested areas have a forest structuredominated by small stems. Current managementeffectively provides a relatively high level ofecosystem protection for nature conservation inmost areas with indigenous vegetation. Continueduse of the military range for training should notprevent, or be constrained by, management of keyareas for nature conservation. The range’s currentcondition suggests that military training andconservation can satisfactorily co-exist.The Puckapunyal and Graytown ranges contain anumber of relatively high nature conservationvalues, including examples of several highlydepleted EVCs, and habitat for certain threatenedspecies. The Department of Defence recognisesthat the Puckapunyal and Graytown ranges containsome places of ‘conservation worthiness’. TheDepartment commissioned a flora and fauna surveyof the ranges, 3 resulting in identification of:• two nationally threatened plant species;• twelve state significance plant species;• four state significance plant communities;• records of two nationally significant birds; and• thirteen state significance bird species.The Environmental Management Strategy was partof an overall Environmental Management Plan forthe PMA. 4 Among other things, the plan aims atavoiding impacts in significant areas, minimisingother impacts, and rehabilitating disturbed areas.94 Environment Conservation Council – Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands Investigation

Commonwealth landSpecific ‘no-go’ and ‘no-impact’ zones are identifiedto protect sensitive areas. As defined by theDefence Department, the:• ‘no-go’ areas are fenced and signed to excludeall vehicles. These areas may not be targetedfor any direct firing. Activities are restricted tofoot movement that does not involve diggingor vegetation disturbance; and• ‘no-impact’ areas are mostly not fenced andgenerally do not exclude vehicle movement.These areas must not be subject to targetingor direct firing from explosive rounds.Fire protection and management are key issues atPuckapunyal and Graytown, particularly with livefiring and the need for asset protection. Managementof the area needs to continue to recognise theimportance of appropriate strategies for fire. Pestplant and animal control are also activelyundertaken in the military area and should continue.13.2 LongleaLonglea (496 ha) was formerly a magazine area forthe storage of bulk high explosives, propellants andchemicals. The land has been under Commonwealthcontrol since 1941 and, apart from the munitionsstorage buildings and roads, the forest community isintact. The primary public land value at Longlea isthis little-disturbed Box-Ironbark forest. There arefew large old trees, but parts have trees notablylarger in diameter than in Box-Ironbark forestssubject to harvesting and culling. Basal area ofwood in many parts is unusually high, at around 20to 24 square metres per hectare.The Defence Department has recently indicatedthat it will retain all or part of Longlea for driverand other training purposes for the foreseeablefuture. Under Commonwealth Government tenure,the ECC proposes that the majority of Longlearemain substantially as at present, and be managedfor nature conservation.Intermittent use of the existing road network byAustralian Defence Industries (ADI) for testing theBushmaster and other vehicles is compatible withmanagement of the forest for nature conservation.A management plan to be prepared by the DefenceDepartment is expected to provide, among otherthings, for appropriate nature conservationmanagement of the forested areas. Development ofthe management plan will include a flora and faunasurvey to clarify the natural values of Longlea.To ensure safety, Longlea should remain fenced andclosed to public access during training and vehicletesting. Construction of any limited special testingsites should take place in the existing cleared areas.Open public access for recreation should not bepermitted but, by arrangement with the DefenceDepartment, access for educational, research andnature study groups could be facilitated.Around five hectares located in the cleared landadjoining Atlas Road is proposed to be developedas a multi-user depot for Bendigo cadet brigadesand other users. Other proposed and future userswould need to retain ready access from Atlas Road.Potential use of part of the road network for acommunity driving school is a matter to be resolvedbetween the Commonwealth and the proponents. Ifsuch use is agreed, it should be limited to a levelthat does not reduce nature conservation values,and the tenure should not extend beyond the periodLonglea is used by ADI.Acquisition by the Victorian GovernmentThe Minister for State and Regional Developmenthas indicated that the Victorian Government willacquire Longlea from the Commonwealth.Discussions between the Commonwealth andVictorian Governments, to resolve this matter, arecontinuing. Once transferred to Victoria, the landwould become public land under the EnvironmentConservation Council Act 1997.The status of the former munitions storagebuildings, and to what extent they are to bedemolished and hazardous materials removed bythe Commonwealth, needs to be determined.Before demolition, a heritage survey should becarried out to determine if any of the structuresshould be retained for heritage purposes.When the area is no longer required for training andvehicle testing, the majority of the forested landshould be included with the adjoining BendigoRegional Park (see Recommendation C1).13.3 MangaloreAnother 525 ha Commonwealth property atMangalore is to continue under the management ofthe Department of Defence. This area has remnantBox-Ironbark vegetation on less than half of itsarea, and some of that vegetation is patchy and/orEnvironment Conservation Council – Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands Investigation 95

Commonwealth landdisturbed. However, there are some intact and semiintactexamples of Box-Ironbark Forest EVC, andsmall, partly modified remnants of Plains GrassyWoodland EVC.Extensive areas that formerly carried GrassyWoodland and Granitic Hills Woodland EVCs arehighly modified, now supporting introduced pasturegrasses with only scattered trees.Much of the tree cover comprises dense stands withrelatively small diameter stems, although somelarger hollow-bearing trees remain. Tree cover andparticularly large trees should be retained whereverpossible.The Atlas of Victorian Wildlife has several recordsof bush stone-curlews (endangered) and one recordof a brush-tailed phascogale (vulnerable) fromMangalore. Bush stone curlews nest on the ground,and require areas with fallen wood for shelter and asa source of insects for food. Elsewhere, collectionof domestic firewood removes this shelter but atMangalore much wood has been left.Stock grazing has been carried out by arrangementwith the Department of Defence, and this hasprevented regeneration of trees. Drainage lines andareas with relatively intact vegetation need to beprotected from stock grazing. Management strategiesto minimise the impacts of stock grazing on naturalvegetation have been developed, with fencing ofsensitive areas.13.4 Community viewsThe Department of Defence drew attention to threeagreements between themselves and EnvironmentAustralia under relevant Regional Forest Agreementarrangements, for the protection of nominatedforest ecosystems in five states. The Departmentconsiders this displays further its commitment toprotecting natural values on managed land.Submissions regarding PMA mostly proposed thatthe area be protected in a national park should theland be returned to the State and no longer used as amilitary area. Several proposed incorporating PMAinto a large national park based on the Rushworth-Heathcote forest area. Another suggested theRushworth-Heathcote State Forest south of Mt IdaNature Conservation Reserve be added to thereserve to form a protected link with Puckapunyal.Others proposed current environmental managementstrategies for the area continue and that mineralexploration and mining activities be excluded.Submissions specifically concerned with Mangaloredefence area proposed that the area should bemanaged to provide for fauna conservation,particularly for bush stone-curlews, and protected ina national park or other reserve when no longerrequired for its current purpose.In including these significant areas of land in itsoverview of Box-Ironbark ecosystems, the ECCacknowledges the effort undertaken by theDepartment of Defence as the land manager toprotect, manage and rehabilitate significant habitatsoccurring on these lands and recommends that thiscontinue. The ECC supports the inclusion of theseareas to the reserve system when no longer requiredfor defence purposes..Exploration and mining for minerals areinappropriate uses of these areas and should beexcluded, as the primary uses include live artilleryfiring and military training activities. Importanthabitats for threatened species in these areas shouldcontinue to be managed for nature conservationwhere possible.13.5 Proposals for Commonwealth landThe PMA, Longlea and Mangalore areCommonwealth land, hence are not ‘public land’ asdefined under the Environment Conservation CouncilAct 1997. Accordingly, the ECC cannot makeformal recommendations for this land. Thefollowing proposals are put forward in order toinclude these significant government land blocks inan overview of Box-Ironbark public land use forthe region.Unexploded ordnance occur on Puckapunyal andGraytown ranges. Training, involving firing,continues year-round. It would be therefore notfeasible to permit public access to these ranges.According to the particular environmental andAboriginal cultural values, and their sensitivity todisturbance, application of zoning may either limitaccess to foot only, or may permit appropriate militarytraining but not disturbance. Constructed creekcrossings (in accordance with current procedures)would be necessary to provide access for trackedvehicles between cleared areas. Normal trainingwould continue in the extensively cleared areas.The flora and fauna survey report for Puckapunyaland Graytown includes some of the followinglocations.96 Environment Conservation Council – Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands Investigation

Commonwealth land‘No-go’ zones should include:• the ‘areas of greatest ecological significance’identified in the flora and fauna survey report; 3• areas with large old trees such as the stand ofred ironbarks north of Jacksons Hill;• areas with regeneration of depleted treespecies such as buloke; and• relatively intact occurrences in Puckapunyaland Graytown of the following highlydepleted EVCs: Grassy Woodland; PlainsGrassy Woodland; Creekline GrassyWoodland; Plains Grassy Woodland/GilgaiWetland Mosaic; Alluvial Terraces Herb-richWoodland; and Valley Grassy Forest.Proposed ‘no-impact’ zones include:• remaining forest and woodland areas in WestRange;• remaining forest and woodland areas inGraytown Proof & ExperimentalEstablishment;• areas of more than four hectares with intactnative vegetation in East Range; and• regenerating native vegetation.Roads required for access and training would beexcluded from the zones.Current environmental management practices,including tree-planting, fencing significant remnantsand regrowth against disturbance, soil conservationactions, and pest plant and animal control, shouldbe continued. Re-establishment of vegetation shouldbe with indigenous species utilising seed of localprovenance.Aboriginal cultural sites and places should beidentified and protected in accordance withconventional practice. These areas should not beopen to the public. However reasonable access tothe area should be available by arrangement forAboriginal cultural purposes, and flora, fauna andhistorical research.Remaining significant historical features, includingrelics of the Majors Creek railway line, Europeansettlement and mining, should be protected as partof range management.The PMA is primarily used for military training,including weapon and ammunition testing and livefiring. It is therefore inappropriate to allowcommercial activities such as exploration, mining orapiculture. Restriction of these other activities alsoassists in protecting the high natural values of theseareas.Although not directly concerning Commonwealthland, it is recognised that the Department ofDefence makes use of state forest areas for trainingpurposes. Some state forests, including Rushworth-Heathcote State Forest, are particularly relied uponand it is recommended that state forest in theseareas remain available for low key military trainingpurposes, subject to the land manager’s discretion.Environment Conservation Council – Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands Investigation 97

Commonwealth landP1LAND USE PROPOSALS(a) Puckapunyal Military Area, of 41 490 ha, including the Graytown Proof & ExperimentalEstablishment:(i) continue to be used to provide military training and testing; and(ii) maintain ‘no go’ and ‘no impact’ zones listed above to conserve and protect communities ofindigenous animals and plants, and for military training, as appropriate.(b) The Department of Defence:(i) use indigenous species of local provenance where possible when areas are being rehabilitated orotherwise planted;(ii) conduct cultural heritage surveys and protect Aboriginal cultural site and places;(iii) not permit harvesting of forest products; and(iv) exclude grazing from the ‘no go’ and ‘no impact’ areas as far as practical.(c) Longlea (496 ha) be used to:(i) conserve and protect communities of indigenous animals and plants, and cultural heritage values;(ii) provide for military training and special vehicle testing on the existing road network and existingcleared areas;and:(iii) harvesting of forest products and grazing not be permitted;(iv) flora and fauna and cultural heritage surveys be carried out to assist management; and(v) when no longer required for military training or vehicle testing purposes, the fence be removed andthe firebreak revegetated, and the area be managed as part of the Bendigo Regional Park (C1).(d) 5 ha at Longlea be used as a multi-user depot, if required.(e) 87 ha of Commonwealth land adjoining Longlea (outside the security fence):(i) be managed and used as a natural features reserve bushland area;but:(ii) as per (c)(v) above, when Longlea is no longer required for military training or vehicle testingpurposes, this area be managed as part of the Bendigo Regional Park (C1).(f) Mangalore (525 ha):(i) continue to be used for Department of Defence purposes; and(ii) be managed to conserve and protect communities of indigenous animals and plants, and culturalheritage values;and:(iii) commercial harvesting of forest products and collection of fallen wood not be permitted, exceptthe minimum required for fire protection around Defence Department facilities;(iv) management strategies be developed to minimise the impact of grazing on natural vegetation; and(v) when no longer required for Defence purposes, the areas with natural vegetation be transferred tothe Victorian Government and managed as a nature conservation reserve.Note: Commonwealth land is shown as P1 on Map A.Information Sources1 Department of Defence (undated, circa 1998).2 Department of Defence (1998).3 Australian Army (1996).4 Department of Defence (unpublished, c.1998).98 Environment Conservation Council – Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands Investigation