Caring for Country — The Otways and You - Parks Victoria

Strategic directionsmanagement of the parks, in accordance withlegislation and policies.Other major management directions for theparks are as follows:Natural values conservation• The parks will be managed in accordancewith relevant national and state legislation,regulation, policy and guidelines toconserve native vegetation and wildlifecommunities and allow natural evolution• Special protection will be provided toenhance long-term survival prospects ofsignificant communities and species andongoing monitoring and research will beencouraged• Pest plants and animals and pathogens willbe managed to minimise impacts onpriority flora, fauna and communities• Fire will be managed in accordance withrelevant legislation, regulation and policyin an integrated manner across thelandscape.Cultural values conservation• Protection of Aboriginal places and objectswill be guided by relevant legislation,regulation, Parks Victoria’s IndigenousPartnership Strategy, and DSE’sIndigenous Partnerships Framework• Traditional Owners and other relevantIndigenous people’s knowledge andinterests in the area and aspirations forCountry will be respected. Culturallyappropriate Indigenous tourismexperiences will be developed inpartnership with Traditional Owners• Historic places and objects will beconserved in accordance relevantlegislation, regulation, policy andguidelines including the Burra Charter(Australia ICOMOS 1999).Social values• Important social values will be understoodand appropriately protected. Managementdecisions will carefully consider socialvalues along with other values.Visitor use and experiences• Planning for the park visitor will seek tounderstand the needs of visitors anddevelop and market off-peak andhinterland experiences• A diverse range of sustainable recreationopportunities reflecting communityaspirations will be provided andmaintained, including visitor facilities,signs and roads• Visitors will be encouraged to develop anenhanced appreciation of natural values inthe parks and expand their awareness ofthe potential for human impact on naturalecosystems• Visitors will be encouraged to adoptminimal-impact techniques and to adhereto industry-developed standardsappropriate to their activity• Park managers will work with relevantroad management authorities to ensure thesafety of road users and to maintain andenhance the scenic amenity of main roads• Social and economic benefits associatedwith sustainable tourism will be optimised.Community awareness and involvement• Opportunities for involvement in themanagement of the parks will be extendedto and integrated with existing communitygroups and networks• Collaborative partnerships will beestablished with relevant agencies toprogress areas of mutual interest whichstrengthen the protection of park values.Resource use• Water catchment areas will be managed toprotect the quality and yield of water forharvesting for human use. In theDesignated Water Supply CatchmentAreas, the protection of the area and themaintenance of water quality andotherwise the protection of the waterresources in the areas are the paramountconsideration• The sustainable harvesting of firewood andminor forest produce will continue inOtway Forest Park and will be managed inaccordance with relevant legislation,regulation, policy and wood utilisationplanning processes.12 Great Otway National Park and Otway Forest Park Management Plan