Castlemaine-Diggings-National-Heritage-Park-Management-Plan

Introduction to Box-Ironbark Parks
foraging sites such as peeling bark and fallen
timber for ground-dwelling animals, and have
many hollows vital for native mammals and
birds. Instead of a landscape of large old and
widely spaced trees, much is dominated by
multi-stemmed coppice regrowth.
In October 2002, after many years of study and
debate, the Victorian government proclaimed a
number of parks designed primarily to protect
and enhance the natural and cultural values of
some of the remaining original Box-Ironbark
forests. The parks were also to be available for
a range of appropriate recreational activities
and for community enjoyment and
appreciation. They comprise five national
parks, five State parks, seven regional parks,
two historic parks and reserves and one
national heritage park. There are also some
300 conservation reserves to help link these
park areas, bringing some connectivity to an
otherwise fragmented landscape.
Some of the parks, like Chiltern–Mt Pilot and
Greater Bendigo National Parks, are
extensions of existing parks; others like
Heathcote–Graytown National Park and
Broken–Boosey State Park are completely
new. But together they are a significant step
towards halting the decline of threatened
species in the Box-Ironbark forests and
woodlands, increasing community recognition
of the values of the forests and woodlands, and
improving opportunities to develop tourism
and related industries.
The parks should not be seen as separately
managed ‘islands’ but as reservoirs of
biodiversity within a broader landscape.
Protecting and enhancing natural values on
other public and private land in the region is
vital for improving and connecting habitat for
native species. The parks and the people who
manage them are an integral part of local
communities, and these communities in turn
will play a key role in their protection,
promotion and management.
The long-term protection of the region’s
cultural heritage and biodiversity, including
that of its parks and reserves, relies on the
community fostering a strong sense of
custodianship of the parks and reserves and the
landscapes of which they are an important part.
This plan seeks to rebuild the natural linkages
in a fragmented landscape through the
goodwill of the community together with the
help of land managers and the government,
while respecting cultural, economic and
community associations with the land.
Because of their rich Indigenous and historic
heritage, in addition to their natural attractions,
the Box-Ironbark parks are likely to have a
growing significance for Victorians and
visitors from interstate and overseas in the
years ahead. The parks may not yet be major
tourism attractions in their own right, but they
are integral to the character of growing
regional cities such as Bendigo. They have
great potential as a complementary product for
people who come to the region for other
reasons, such as seeking social, recreational,
sporting or heritage experiences. There is also
potential for Indigenous communities and
products to support the development and
delivery of Box-Ironbark experiences for
visitors.
This Management Plan explains the values and
attractions in detail for Castlemaine Diggings
National Heritage Park, and sets out how they
will be protected and managed.
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Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park