Plan of Management

Willala Aboriginal Area Willala Aboriginal Area Community Conservation Area Zone 2

Willala Aboriginal Area Plan of Management

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

January 2013

This plan of management was adopted by the Minister for the Environment on

16th

January 2013.

Acknowledgements The NPWS acknowledges that this reserve is in the traditional country of the Gamilaraay Aboriginal people. This plan of management was prepared by staff of the Northern Plains Region of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in consultation with the Gawambaraay Pilliga Co-management Committee. Artwork by Michael Horne. Photography by Michael Murphy (NPWS). For additional information or any inquiries about this reserve or this plan of management, contact the NPWS Baradine Area Office, PO Box 105 Baradine NSW 2396 or by telephone on (02) 6843 4000. Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage 59–61 Goulburn Street PO Box A290 Sydney South 1232 © Copyright State of NSW and the Office of Environment and Heritage: Use permitted with appropriate acknowledgment.

ISBN 978 1 74232 636 8 OEH 2013/0384

Printed on recycled paper

FOREWORD Willala Aboriginal Area is situated on the eastern edge of the Pilliga forest approximately 70 kilometres east of Baradine, and covers an area of 1,347 hectares. It was reserved in 2005 under the Brigalow and Nandewar Community Conservation Area Act 2005 because of its significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values. The reserve is managed under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gawambaraay Pilliga Co-management Committee. The committee includes Elders and Aboriginal community representatives from Baradine, Coonabarabran, Gunnedah, Gwabegar, Narrabri and Pilliga. The reserve contains land that is of high cultural significance to local Aboriginal communities and a range of Aboriginal sites, including etchings, hand stencils, ochre quarries, grinding grooves and stone artefact scatters. It also contains sites of historic heritage value, including a section of the Pilliga Dog Proof Fence. Sixteen threatened animal species, three threatened plant species and two endangered ecological communities have also been recorded in the reserve. A draft plan of management for Willala Aboriginal Area was placed on public exhibition from 25

th May until 27

th August 2012. The submissions received were

carefully considered before adopting this plan. The plan contains a number of actions to achieve the NSW 2021 goal to protect our natural environment, including actions to assist the recovery of threatened species and communities, continued control of weeds and pest animals, especially feral goats, and implementation of the reserve fire management strategy. The plan also provides for low key recreation activities such as walking, cycling, driving and enjoyment of the natural and cultural heritage values. This plan of management establishes the scheme of operations for Willala Aboriginal Area. In accordance with section 73B of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, this plan of management is hereby adopted.

Robyn Parker MP

Minister for the Environment

MAP OF WILLALA ABORIGINAL AREA

1

1. LOCATION, GAZETTAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT Willala Aboriginal Area (also referred to in this plan as “the reserve”) is located on the eastern edge of the Pilliga forest approximately 70 kilometres east of Baradine and 26 kilometres west of Boggabri, in northern inland NSW. The Pilliga forest is the largest surviving area of forest and woodland in NSW west of the Great Dividing Range. The reserve is 1347 hectares in area and was gazetted in December 2005 because of its significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values. Prior to gazettal the reserve was part of Pilliga East State Forest and was managed by Forests NSW as a commercial forest. The reserve is within the geographical area of the Narrabri local government area and is zoned 1(a) – General Rural in the Narrabri Local Environmental Plan (1992). It is within the area of the Namoi Catchment Management Authority and the Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council. Willala Aboriginal Area is on the eastern edge of the Pilliga sub-region in the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion. It is one of the reserves established under the Brigalow and Nandewar Community Conservation Area Act 2005 (BNCCA Act) and as such forms part of a chain of reserves stretching the length of the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion in NSW. The reserve was originally gazetted under the name Pilliga East Aboriginal Area. In October 2010 the name was officially changed to Willala Aboriginal Area. Willala is the name of several prominent geographic features in the local landscape, including the Willala Knobs and Willala Hills within the reserve, and is thought to be of local Gamilaraay language origin. Willala Aboriginal Area is bounded by Pilliga Nature Reserve and Pilliga East State Conservation Area to the west and Pilliga East State Forest to the north. To the east of the reserve are the Liverpool Plains, today a richly productive agricultural area. Private properties abut the reserve to the east and south and are primarily used for grazing and cropping.

2. MANAGEMENT CONTEXT

2.1 LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK The management of the community conservation area is in the context of a legislative and policy framework, primarily the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) and Regulation, the Community Conservation Area Agreement developed under the BNCCA Act, the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) and the policies of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Other legislation, strategies and international agreements may also apply to management of the area. In particular, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 may require assessment of environmental impact of works proposed in this plan. The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) may apply in relation to actions that impact on matters of National Environmental Significance, such as migratory and threatened species listed under that Act.

A plan of management is a statutory document under the NPW Act. Once the Minister has adopted a plan, the plan must be carried out and no operations may be undertaken within the Willala Aboriginal Area except in accordance with the plan. This plan will also apply to any future additions to the park. Should management strategies or works be proposed in future that are not consistent with this plan, an amendment to the plan will be required.

2

2.2 MANAGEMENT PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES Community Conservation Areas Community conservation areas are established under the BNCCA Act. This Act provides for four dedicated management zones of which zones 1, 2 and 3 relate to land reserved under the NPW Act as a national park, Aboriginal area or a state conservation area respectively. Land in zones 1, 2 and 3 are managed consistent with the management principles set out in the NPW Act.

Aboriginal Area Zone 2 community conservation areas are reserved as an Aboriginal Area under the NPW Act to protect and conserve areas associated with a person, event or historical theme, or containing a building, place, feature or landscape of natural or cultural significance to Aboriginal people, or of importance in improving public understanding of Aboriginal culture and its development and transitions. Under the Act (section 30K), Zone 2 community conservation areas are therefore managed to:

• conserve natural values, buildings, places, objects, features and landscapes of cultural value to Aboriginal people in accordance with the cultural values of the Aboriginal people to whose heritage the buildings, places, objects, features or landscapes belong;

• conserve natural and other cultural values;

• allow use of the Aboriginal area by Aboriginal people for cultural purposes;

• promote public appreciation and understanding of the area's natural and cultural values and significance where appropriate; and

• provide for appropriate research and monitoring, in accordance with the cultural values of the Aboriginal people.

Zone 2 community conservation areas are places that have been identified as having special significance to Aboriginal people. The primary purpose of Aboriginal areas is the conservation of Aboriginal heritage.

2.3 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Willala Aboriginal Area is considered to be of significance for:

Aboriginal Heritage Values: The reserve is of high cultural significance to local Aboriginal communities. A range of Aboriginal sites have been recorded and local families maintain a strong contemporary connection.

Historic Heritage Values: The reserve contains sites of historic heritage value including a section of the Pilliga Dog Proof Fence (of state-level significance) and historical graffiti (of local significance).

Biological Values: The reserve is known to support 16 animal species, three plant species and two ecological communities listed as threatened under the TSC Act, as well as another eight animal species of regional conservation concern.

Research/Education Values: The reserve contains a sub-fossil deposit of mammal remains which is an important resource for scientific research.

3

2.4 SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT DIRECTIONS Management of Willala Aboriginal Area will focus on the protection of Aboriginal and historic heritage values, supporting ongoing Aboriginal cultural association and the protection of significant fauna, flora and vegetation communities. Major strategies to achieve these objectives are:

Cooperative management of the reserve with local Aboriginal communities through the Gawambaraay Pilliga Co-management Committee (GPCC);

Supporting appropriate use of the reserve by local Aboriginal communities for cultural purposes through the GPCC;

Protection of cultural heritage places with community involvement, in particular from members of local Aboriginal communities;

On-going fire management so that people and property are protected from wildfire and reserve values are maintained;

On-going control of pests and weeds with a focus on those species likely to have an adverse effect on significant reserve values; and

Supporting research into the reserve‟s natural and cultural values.

3. VALUES

The location, landforms and plant and animal communities of an area have determined how it has been used and valued. Both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people place values on natural areas, including aesthetic, social, spiritual and recreational values. These values may be attached to the landscape as a whole or to individual components, for example to plant and animal species used by Aboriginal people. This plan of management aims to conserve both natural and cultural values. For reasons of clarity and document usefulness, various aspects of natural heritage, cultural heritage, threats and on-going use are dealt with individually, but their inter-relationships are recognised.

3.1 GEOLOGY, LANDSCAPE AND HYDROLOGY The underlying geology of Willala Aboriginal Area is Pilliga Sandstone, a medium to very coarse-grained quartzose sandstone of Jurassic age. The soil is predominantly a coarse-grained sandy soil with a high susceptibility to erosion. The reserve has an undulating terrain with a number of low rocky hills and knolls, many featuring shallow caves and overhangs, and an elevation ranging from 370-480 metres above sea level. Prominent scenic landscape features include the Willala Knobs and Willala Hills. The undulating terrain in this part of the Pilliga forest contrasts with the flat sand plains of the northern and western Pilliga. The reserve is located on the western margin of the Coxs Creek subcatchment of the Namoi River. The majority of this subcatchment has been cleared for agriculture. The minor ephemeral streams occurring in the reserve drain in a generally easterly direction.

4

3.2 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE Aboriginal communities have an association and connection to the land. The land and water within a landscape are central to Aboriginal spirituality and contribute to Aboriginal identity. Aboriginal communities associate natural resources with the use and enjoyment of foods and medicines, caring for the land, passing on cultural knowledge, kinship systems and strengthening social bonds. Aboriginal heritage and connection to nature are inseparable from each other and need to be managed in an integrated manner across the landscape. Willala Aboriginal Area was gazetted on the basis of its significant Aboriginal cultural values. The reserve is part of the Gawambaraay dialect area in Gamilaraay Aboriginal Country and is within the area of the Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council. The prominent sandstone hills and outcrops and the close proximity to the rich resources of the Liverpool Plains contributed to the cultural importance of the land now comprising Willala Aboriginal Area in traditional times.

Photo 1: View over the Liverpool Plains from Willala Knobs, Willala Aboriginal Area

A variety of Aboriginal sites have been recorded within the reserve, including etched rock art featuring dhinawan (emu) and wan.guy (wallaby) footprints, hand stencil ochre rock art, ochre quarries, grinding grooves and stone artefact scatters. Many of these sites are associated with prominent rock outcrops. A major axe grinding groove site in the reserve is the largest known in the Pilliga forest. Not all known sites have been formally recorded and there is a high likelihood for additional sites to be found. Aboriginal sites are highly valued physical evidence of traditional use of the land by generations of Gamilaraay people.

5

Photo 2: etched rock art of dhinawan (emu)

tracks, Willala Aboriginal Area

Photo 4: hand stencil in ochre, Willala

Aboriginal Area

Photo 3: etched rock art of wan guy

(wallaby) tracks, Willala Aboriginal Area

Photo 5: grinding grooves, Willala

Aboriginal Area

Local Aboriginal communities maintain a strong contemporary connection to the reserve. The Trindall-Reid-Miller-Horne family from the Boggabri Aboriginal community lived and worked in the forest for many generations, working in sleeper cutting camps and as doggers along the dog fence, collecting firewood and food and breaking horses. Descendants of the family live today in Boggabri, Gunnedah and Narrabri.

6

“I was born in Boggabri in 1933 – one of twins. My mother was Linda Hope Trindall. She taught us about our family and how we lived. Mum‟s aunty was Emily Reid – she was a full blood. We lived in Miller‟s shack and „Boeyaba‟ (on freehold property east of Willala Aboriginal Area) when I was young. We didn‟t have a lot. If you had two matching socks you were considered flash. We walked all over there to get tucker. We knew where it was and we knew what time to get it. You gotta know the season when they come.” Aunty Delma Miller: March 2011

“I grew up working in the Pilliga –sleeper cutting, bee keeping, farm work – I worked for some good people. It‟s a peaceful place and we knew it backwards. We were always hunting and gathering in the scrub – pigs, emu eggs, goats, porcupines, ducks, pigeons, bugglies, bobby cod and all sorts of bush medicine. I got material from the scrub for my art too – wood to make clap sticks, boomerangs and didgeridoos, bark and ochre for painting and emu feathers and porcupine quills as well. I found artefacts, caves and rock art too that are special to our people. It‟s a blood feeling I have with this land. It‟s a spiritual thing.” Mick Horne, Gawambaraay Pilliga Co-management Committee representative: March 2011

“That‟s my family‟s country out there. My great grandfather on my mother‟s side used to live out there. My great grandfather on my father‟s side used to break horses and cut sleepers in the Pilliga. When I was growing up my family used to talk about Aboriginal sites. I think it‟s really important to look after all these sites – where they are.” Robert “Budge” Miller, Gawambaraay Pilliga Co-management Committee representative: March 2011

7

The Coonamble Aboriginal community also has a connection to Willala Aboriginal Area. The Pilliga Forest Aboriginal Management Committee was formed to provide advice to Forests NSW on management of the state forests of the Pilliga to protect Aboriginal heritage values. Uncle Doug Fernando, a representative from the Coonamble community, suffered a fatal fall during a meeting of the committee at Willala Knobs (at that time part of Pilliga East State Forest) in February 2002. A plaque at the site commemorates Uncle Doug‟s contribution to the protection of the significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values of the Willala area. Cooperative management of the reserve today occurs through the Gawambaraay Pilliga Co-management Committee under a Memorandum of Understanding with the NPWS. This committee was formed in 2002 and now has co-management responsibility for Pilliga Nature Reserve, Dandry Gorge Aboriginal Area and Ukerbarley Aboriginal Area as well as Willala Aboriginal Area. The committee includes Elders and community representatives from Baradine, Coonabarabran, Gunnedah, Gwabegar, Narrabri and Pilliga working together with local NPWS staff. The committee provides an avenue for pro-active and sustained involvement of local Aboriginal communities in the management and cultural use of these reserves. The success of the co-management arrangements depends on mutual respect and valuing the contribution of both traditional knowledge and park management knowledge in protecting this part of Gamilaraay Country. The primary focus of the committee is the protection, identification and recording of Aboriginal cultural heritage values in the reserves and supporting the continued connection with Country of local Aboriginal communities. Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, the NPWS will support sustainable and appropriate use of cultural resources in the reserve by local Aboriginal communities and will provide assistance to the co-management committee in applying for relevant licences or consents under the NPW Act. The area of the reserve east of Scratch Road, including the Willala Knobs, was fenced as an Occupation Permit for stock grazing prior to gazettal. In consultation with the Gawambaraay Pilliga Co-management Committee this fence has been maintained and locked gates installed on Willala Knobs Management Trail to control public access, particularly unauthorised vehicle entry to this area, and provide greater protection to significant Aboriginal sites and other values located in this area of the reserve. A basic walking track (Australian Standard Class 4-5) has been constructed at Willala Knobs to assist local Aboriginal communities wishing to visit Aboriginal sites for cultural purposes. Opportunities exist for co-operative involvement of local Aboriginal people in Aboriginal site identification and protection, walking track maintenance and implementation of other reserve management activities.

3.3 HISTORIC HERITAGE Pastoralists associated with the early European settlement of the Liverpool Plains and other areas adjacent to the Pilliga forest experienced frequent problems with dingoes. Individual landowners bordering the Pilliga forest constructed dog-proof fencing in an effort to protect their stock from predation. In 1939 the NSW government made unemployment relief funds available for repairs to the dog proof fencing and in the 1940s coordinated works were undertaken to repair and link up individual property dog fencing to provide a continuous dog proof fence around the eastern and northern edges of the Pilliga forest (Rolls 1982; Brooks 2002). Professional hunters known as „doggers‟ were employed to poison, trap and shoot dingoes along the fence (High Ground Consulting 2008). By the 1960s the fence was no longer under coordinated management and maintenance reverted to individual landowners. Surviving sections of the fence are considered of state-level historic heritage significance, representing national, state and regional heritage themes (High Ground Consulting 2008). Surviving sections along the eastern boundary of Willala Aboriginal Area include examples of both early lace type fencing (dating from the late 19

th century) and later wire netting

8

fencing (early 20th century) (High Ground Consulting 2008). Opportunities exist for

cooperation with reserve neighbours to conserve and maintain example sections of historic fencing.

Graffiti etched into the surface of rock outcrops at several sites in the reserve provide a record of visits to the area by local communities during the late 19

th to mid 20

th centuries.

Some of the names recorded relate to local farming families still residing in the area, such as the Donaldson family, who have been part of the local farming community since 1879 (Jan Donaldson pers. comm. December 2010). Conservation of this graffiti as locally significant historic heritage items is appropriate but will be challenging. The soft nature of the rock (making it easy to etch) also means that in most locations, particularly exposed sites, historic graffiti is readily weathered and lost. Retention of historic graffiti is also likely to encourage additional (modern) graffiti.

3.4 NATIVE PLANTS Willala Aboriginal Area and other NPWS reserves in the Pilliga landscape conserve significant examples of the largest remaining area of native forest and woodland west of the Great Dividing Range in NSW. The reserve‟s vegetation reflects its location on the eastern edge of the Pilliga forest on the margin of the more fertile Liverpool Plains. Vegetation mapping of the reserve was completed in 2011 and included establishment of permanent monitoring plots in all identified vegetation communities (Hunter 2011). Ten vegetation communities were identified. The predominant community is a shrubby woodland of broad-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa), brown bloodwood (E. trachyphloia) and black cypress pine (Callitris endlicheri). Additional communities present include various woodland associations of Dwyer‟s red gum (E. dwyeri), narrow-leaved ironbark (E. crebra), scribbly gum (E. racemosa ssp. rossii), red stringybark (E. macrorhyncha), rough-barked apple (Angophora floribunda), white cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla) and motherumbah (Acacia cheelii). The Atlas of NSW Wildlife (OEH 2013) includes records of 192 native flora species from the reserve Two vegetation communities with restricted distributions in the reserve are of particular conservation significance. A box woodland community identified as white box (E. albens) - white cypress pine - grey box (E. moluccana) - yellow box (E. melliodora) woodland (community 2a) by Hunter (2011) (about 20 hectares within the reserve) includes areas with a grassy understorey. These areas are recognised and protected as an endangered ecological community under the TSC Act as White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely‟s Red Gum Community and under the EPBC Act as White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely‟s Red Gum Grassy Woodland or derived native grassland (white box grassy woodland). A dry rainforest dominated by red ash (Alphitonia excelsa) and wilga (Geijera parviflora) (about 1.5 hectares within the reserve) is a very restricted and fragmented community and forms part of the Semi-Evergreen Vine Thicket community of the Brigalow Belt and Nandewar Bioregion listed as an endangered ecological community under the TSC Act and EPBC Act (Benson et al. 2010; Hunter 2011) (dry rainforest). Both communities occur on the eastern margin of the reserve and extend onto adjacent freehold land. In addition, three flora species listed under the TSC Act have been recorded in the reserve (Table 1).

3.5 NATIVE ANIMALS Willala Aboriginal Area provides important habitat for a range of native fauna species increasingly rare on the western slopes of NSW, such as declining woodland birds, reptiles and small mammals. The Atlas of NSW Wildlife (OEH 2013) includes records of 124 native fauna species from the reserve: five frogs, 18 reptiles, 80 birds and 21 mammals. A basic

9

systematic survey of vertebrate fauna in Willala Aboriginal Area was done in October 2009 (DECCW 2010a), as part of a regional biodiversity monitoring strategy (DECC 2009). A total of 108 species were recorded, with the results providing baseline data for ongoing monitoring. Sixteen vertebrate species listed under the TSC Act have been recorded in or within one kilometre of the reserve (Table 1), of which one species, the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata), is considered to now be locally extinct.

Table 1. Threatened communities and species recorded in or near

Willala Aboriginal Area

Common name Scientific name Status *

Ecological communities

Box Woodland White Box Eucalyptus albens-Yellow Box Eucalyptus melliodora-Blakely‟s Red Gum Eucalyptus blakelyi woodland

Endangered #

Dry Rainforest Semi Evergreen Vine Thickets of the Brigalow Belt and Nandewar Bioregions

Endangered #

Flora

Large-leafed Monotaxis Monotaxis macrophylla Endangered

Scrambling Lignum Muehlenbeckia costata Endangered

Rulingia procumbens Vulnerable #

Fauna

Barking Owl Ninox connivens Vulnerable

Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius Endangered

Glossy Black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami Vulnerable

Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella Vulnerable

Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata Vulnerable

Brown Treecreeper (eastern subspecies)

Climacteris picumnis victoriae

Vulnerable

Grey-crowned Babbler (eastern subspecies)

Pomatostomus temporalis temporalis

Vulnerable

Speckled Warbler Pyrrholaemus sagittata Vulnerable

Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera Vulnerable

Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata Vulnerable #

Eastern Pygmy-possum Cercartetus nanus Vulnerable

Koala Phascolarctos cinereus Vulnerable

Pilliga (Delicate) Mouse Pseudomys pilligaensis Vulnerable #

Eastern Cave Bat Vespadelus troughtoni Vulnerable

Corben‟s Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus corbeni Vulnerable #

Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri Vulnerable #

* Status under TSC Act.

# Denotes species or community also listed as nationally threatened under the EPBC Act.

10

Of the threatened species and communities listed in Table 1, recovery plans or draft recovery plans have been prepared for the barking owl, bush stone-curlew, brush-tailed rock-wallaby and koala. Recovery actions for other species and communities are included in the Priorities Action Statement, which will be used to guide management of threatened species and communities in the reserve. Another seven bird species found in the reserve are of regional conservation concern in Australia‟s temperate woodlands: the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), peaceful dove (Geopelia striata), jacky winter (Microeca fascinans), eastern yellow robin (Eopsaltria australis), rufous whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea) and double-barred finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii) (Reid 1999; Traill and Duncan 2000). The common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) population in the reserve is considered of regional conservation significance as the species is rare and close to the western edge of its distribution in the Pilliga forest. A pair of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) nests in the reserve. The walking track constructed at Willala Knobs is in close proximity to this nest, which is situated close to ground level. Annual nest monitoring has been initiated and this section of track is closed from September to December each year given the nest‟s particular susceptibility to disturbance. Another pair of falcons nest nearby immediately adjacent to the reserve. Invertebrate fauna diversity in Willala Aboriginal Area and the broader Pilliga landscape has not been comprehensively assessed. A survey of the molluscs of the Pilliga landscape (Murphy and Shea in prep.) identified a rich land snail and aquatic mollusc fauna. Species found in Willala Aboriginal Area include the camaenid land snail Galadistes pilligaensis which is endemic to the Pilliga forest and nearby forest areas.

3.6 VISITOR USE NPWS parks and reserves provide a range of visitor opportunities. The NPWS aims to ensure that visitors enjoy, experience and appreciate the parks while park values are conserved and protected.

Willala Aboriginal Area provides opportunities for low key, self-reliant nature based recreational opportunities such as bushwalking, cycling or driving on roads and bird watching. The reserve provides these opportunities in a natural western slopes setting which includes open forest and woodlands.

The reserve generally experiences low levels of visitation, related to its remote location and small size. There are no visitor facilities provided in the reserve and visitors are predominantly members of the local Aboriginal community. Opportunities exist to promote self-guided vehicle tour routes incorporating the reserve.

The reserve is accessed from the west via Delwood Road in Pilliga East State Conservation Area or from the north via forestry roads in Pilliga East State Forest. Public vehicle access is not permitted in Pilliga Nature Reserve to the south (NPWS 2003). Willala Aboriginal Area is approximately 28 kilometres from the Newell Highway via Delwood Road. Public vehicle access to the reserve is suited to four wheel drive vehicles only.

Delwood Road, Scratch Road and Willala Road (known locally as Willala Trail) are roads within the reserve which are generally open for appropriate public use, though they may be closed for management reasons (DECCW 2010b). Willala Knobs Management Trail (refer map) is closed to public vehicle access. This area of the reserve contains a high number of significant, fragile or sensitive cultural and/or natural values (refer section 3.2 Aboriginal Heritage). In addition, this road includes relatively steep sections which are easily damaged

11

by vehicle use during wet weather. Vehicle access to Willala Knobs Management Trail is controlled by fencing and locked gates. A basic walking track (Australian Standard Class 4-5) has been constructed at Willala Knobs to assist local Aboriginal communities wishing to visit Aboriginal sites for cultural purposes. This area may be accessed by the public as part of a licensed guided tour. Horse riding is not considered an appropriate activity within the reserve due to the highly erosive soils and the potential for weed introduction. There is no known history of recreational horse riding in the reserve. Extensive opportunities for horse-riding exist in Pilliga East State Forest immediately north of the Willala Aboriginal Area. The impacts of visitor use on the reserve will be monitored.

3.7 RESEARCH The reserve is a valuable benchmark resource as part of the largest remaining area of native forest in inland NSW. It supports populations of native flora and fauna declining in many parts of the NSW western slopes. The reserve contains a sub-fossil deposit of mammal remains associated with an old owl roost site. Preliminary assessment of this deposit identified a range of mammal species no longer found in the region and described the site as being of outstanding quality (Ford 2010). A list of the native rodents identified from the deposit to date (Table 2 – from Ford 2010) illustrates the value of the site in relation to research into historical changes in regional fauna.

Table 2. Native rodents from owl roost deposit in Willala Aboriginal Area

Common name Scientific name Status

White-footed Rabbit-Rat Conilurus albipes Extinct

Fawn-footed Melomys Melomys cervinipes Regionally extinct

Hopping Mouse Notomys sp. Regionally extinct

Plains Rat Pseudomys australis Regionally extinct

Pilliga (Delicate) Mouse Pseudomys pilligaensis Vulnerable

Desert Mouse Pseudomys desertor Regionally extinct

Eastern Chestnut Mouse Pseudomys gracilicaudatus Regionally extinct

Bush Rat Rattus fuscipes Regionally extinct

Swamp Rat Rattus lutreolus Regionally extinct

Pale Field Rat Rattus tunneyi Regionally extinct

12

4. ISSUES

4.1 WEEDS AND PEST ANIMALS The most significant weed in the reserve is prickly pear (Opuntia spp.), occurring as scattered populations throughout the reserve. Prickly pear is listed as a class 4 noxious weed under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993. A chemical control program is currently in place. Additional weed species are generally restricted to disturbed margins and adjacent to trails. Control of weeds in endangered ecological communities in the reserve is a particular priority. The most significant pest animals are the goat (Capra hircus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Goats occur as scattered populations throughout the reserve while the fox is widespread throughout the reserve. Feral goats are of key concern in the reserve because of their impact on natural and cultural values, particularly those associated with rock outcrops. Goats regularly occupy rock overhangs and caves in the reserve resulting in degradation and damage to Aboriginal rock art sites, historic graffiti sites and the identified sub-fossil research site. Goats graze on native flora and have been identified as a threat to the threatened dry rainforest community (Benson et al. 2010; Hunter 2011). They also impact on neighbouring agricultural enterprises and are likely to have been at least in part responsible for the loss of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby from the local area, through competition for food and shelter. Aerial culling programs targeting feral goats have been undertaken in the reserve in the past; however, given the large size of the Pilliga forest it is not cost effective to extend control over the entire area and therefore reinvasion can occur quickly (DECC 2007). Alternative goat control strategies need to be investigated. Steel-mesh flooring has been installed at two Aboriginal rock art sites in the reserve in an attempt to deter goat activity and is currently being monitored. Foxes are of key concern because of their predation on small mammals and ground-nesting birds, particularly threatened species such as the Pilliga mouse (Pseudomys pilligaensis) and bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius). A baiting control program is currently in place, aimed at reducing the threat of predation on these species. Another pest species of growing concern is the pig (Sus scrofa), which occurs as scattered populations throughout the reserve. Feral pig numbers fluctuate over time in response to seasonal conditions, and are of concern because they disturb and degrade native vegetation, prey on ground-nesting birds, impact on neighbouring agricultural enterprises and provide a basis for illegal hunting activities. Opportunities exist for cooperation with neighbours and the North West Livestock Health & Pest Authority in the control of feral pigs. Control programs for feral pigs will need to be designed to avoid adverse impacts on the local wombat population. Additional pest species in the reserve include the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and cat (Felis catus). Rabbits occur as isolated populations restricted to a small area of the reserve, generally along the eastern margin adjacent to agricultural lands, while cats are likely to occur throughout the reserve. There is currently no effective control mechanism in place for feral cats. The NPWS Northern Plains Region has prepared a pest management strategy (DECC 2007) which includes priorities and actions to control weeds and pest animals on parks and reserves within the region.

13

4.2 FIRE MANAGEMENT The primary fire management objectives of NPWS are to protect life and property and community assets from the adverse impacts of fire, whilst managing fire regimes to maintain and protect biodiversity and cultural heritage. Fire is a natural feature of many environments and is essential for the survival of some plant communities. However, inappropriate fire regimes can lead to loss of particular plant and animal species and communities, and high frequency fires have been listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act. Fire management is one of the key issues for Willala Aboriginal Area. The Pilliga forest, particularly the eastern Pilliga, is characterised by large fire events, exceeding over 100 000 hectares on a number of occasions. The majority of Willala Aboriginal Area was burnt in an intense wildfire in 2006 and is below the minimum frequency threshold (i.e. burnt too frequently) for the vegetation communities present. Frequent fire has been identified as a threat to the endangered dry rainforest community (Benson et al. 2010, Hunter 2011). Too frequent and/or too intense fire events are also a significant threat to native fauna in the reserve. Of particular concern is the unsustainable loss of old growth forest elements (large hollow-bearing trees and recruitment trees) which provide a critical resource for threatened hollow-dependent fauna such as the barking owl (Ninox connivens), glossy black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), brown treecreeper (Climacteris picumnis) and Corben‟s long-eared bat (Nyctophilus corbeni). The historic dog proof fence is also vulnerable to fire. A map-based fire management strategy has been prepared for the eastern Pilliga reserves including Willala Aboriginal Area (OEH 2011). The fire management strategy outlines the recent fire history of the reserve, key assets within and adjoining the reserve including sites of natural and cultural heritage value, fire management zones and fire control advantages such as management trails and water supply points. An aim of the strategy is to prevent large scale fire events exceeding 20 000 ha (OEH 2011). In the short term, the strategy aims to protect the reserve from wildfire as far as possible, until such time as vegetation communities are within frequency thresholds. Any proposed hazard reduction programs, ecological burning proposals and management trail works are discussed in cooperation with other fire agencies through the Narrabri Bush Fire Management Committee.

4.3 CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change has been listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act. Projections of future changes in climate for NSW include higher temperatures, increasing sea levels and water temperatures, elevated CO2, more intense but possibly reduced annual average rainfall, increased temperature extremes and higher evaporative demand. These changes are likely to lead to greater intensity and frequency of fires, more severe droughts, reduced river runoff and water availability, regional flooding, increased erosion and ocean acidification. A key consideration for Willala Aboriginal Area in relation to climate change is the potential for increased fire impacts. Climate change may significantly affect biodiversity by changing population size and distribution of species, modifying species composition, and altering the geographical extent of habitats and ecosystems. The potential impact of climate change is difficult to assess since it depends on the compounding effects of other pressures, particularly barriers to migration and pressure from feral animals. Species most at risk are those unable to migrate or adapt, particularly those with small population sizes or with slow growth rates. The

14

endangered dry rainforest community, already restricted to small fragmented areas, has been identified as being at particular risk from climate change (Benson et al. 2010). Programs to reduce the pressures arising from other threats, such as habitat fragmentation, invasive species, bushfires, pollution and urban expansion, will help reduce the severity of the effects of climate change. The challenges of climate change to native flora and fauna are likely to be particularly severe on the state‟s western slopes, where extensive clearing over the last two centuries has left only small populations of many native species in isolated habitat fragments within an agricultural landscape. As the largest surviving area of native forest in this part of the state, the Pilliga forest will play a crucial role in the response to climate change.

4.4 UNAUTHORISED ACTIVITIES Unauthorised activities impacting upon reserve values include vehicle-based hunting with dogs and etching of graffiti on rock outcrops. Both activities impact on natural and/or cultural values and are prohibited in Aboriginal areas and other NPWS parks and reserves under the NPW Act. The reserve is included in routine patrols and law enforcement operations by local NPWS staff.

4.5 APIARY LICENCES Apiary use was established in Willala Aboriginal Area prior to gazettal and has continuing rights as an existing interest. Ten occupied apiary grid areas previously licensed by Forests NSW cover the reserve. The NPWS Bee Keeping Policy (NPWS 2002) aims to balance the environmental management objectives of national parks and other reserves with the needs of the apiary industry. The European honeybee (Apis mellifera) can have adverse impacts on some native plants and animals (Paton 1996) including poor flower pollination and competition with native nectar feeders.

While no problems are currently known in the reserve, hive sites may cause unacceptable environmental impacts or user conflicts in the future. Where needed, NPWS will aim to negotiate relocation of hives.

As part of the NPWS licensing process apiarists in Willala Aboriginal Area are being transferred from the grid-based Forests NSW system to a site-based NPWS system. All negotiated apiary sites are located adjacent to existing park roads to enable access, preferably on sites previously used for apiary.

15

5. REFERENCES Benson, J.S., Richards, P., Waller, S. and Allen, C. (2010) New South Wales Vegetation

Classification and Assessment: Part 3 Plant communities in the NSW North Western Slopes and west New England region and update of Western Plains and NSW South Western Slopes Bioregion. Version 3 of the NSWVCA database. Cunninghamia 11(4): 457-579.

Brooks, J. (2002) 130 Years On – Still Going Strong. A Brief History of Narrabri Rural Lands

Protection Board. Narrabri Rural Lands Protection Board, Narrabri, NSW. Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (2007) Northern Plains Region Pest

Management Strategy 2008-2011. DECC, Sydney, NSW. Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (2009) Northern Plains Region

Biodiversity Monitoring Strategy 2009-2014. DECCW, Sydney, NSW. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010a) Fauna Survey of

Willala Aboriginal Area. DECCW, Sydney, NSW. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010b) NPWS Vehicle

Access General Policy DECCW, Sydney, NSW. Ford, F. (2010) Preliminary assessment of sub-fossil deposit at Willala Knobs. Unpublished

report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Baradine Area. High Ground Consulting (2008) Conservation Management Strategy for the Pilliga Dog-proof

Fences. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Baradine Area.

Hunter, J.T. (2011) Vegetation and Floristics of the Pilliga East State Conservation Area,

Pilliga East Aboriginal Area, Pilliga Nature Reserve and the Ukerbarley Addition. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Northern Plains Region.

Murphy, M.J. and Shea, M. (in prep) Survey of the terrestrial and aquatic mollusc fauna of

the Pilliga forest in northern inland New South Wales. National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) NPWS Bee Keeping Policy DECCW, Sydney,

NSW. National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003), Pilliga Nature Reserve Plan of Management

DECCW, Sydney, NSW. Office of Environment and Heritage NSW (2011) Pilliga East Fire Management Strategy

2012. OEH, Sydney, NSW. Office of Environment and Heritage NSW (2013) Atlas of NSW Wildlife. Patton D.C. (1996), Overview of Feral and Managed Honeybees in Australia: Distribution, Abundance, Extent of Interactions with Native Biota, Evidence of Impacts and Future Research, Australia Nature Conservation Agency, 71pp.

16

Reid, J.R.W. (1999) Threatened and Declining Birds in the NSW Sheep-Wheat Belt: 1. Diagnosis, Characteristics and Management. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Queanbeyan.

Rolls, E. (1982) A Million Wild Aces: 200 Years of Man and an Australian Forest. Thomas Nelson, Melbourne, Victoria.

Traill, B.J. and Duncan, S. (2000) Status of Birds in the NSW Temperate Woodlands

Region. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dubbo.

17

6.

IM

PL

EM

EN

TA

TIO

N

Cu

rre

nt

Sit

uati

on

D

esir

ed

Ou

tco

me

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Re

sp

on

se

P

rio

rity

* 6

.1

Ab

ori

gin

al

Cu

ltu

ral

Heri

tag

e

Se

ve

ral

sig

nific

ant

Ab

orig

inal

site

s

have

b

ee

n

record

ed

, in

clu

din

g

both

e

tch

ed

a

nd

o

chre

A

borig

inal

art

site

s a

nd

th

e l

arg

est

kn

ow

n g

rin

din

g

gro

ove

site

in

th

e P

illig

a f

ore

st.

Th

ese

site

s a

re a

t risk f

rom

fe

ral

go

ats

and

va

nd

alis

m.

No

t a

ll kn

ow

n

site

s

have

b

ee

n

record

ed

a

nd

th

ere

is

a

h

igh

p

ote

ntia

l fo

r a

dd

itio

na

l site

s t

o b

e f

oun

d.

Th

e

Bo

gg

abri/G

unn

ed

ah

/Narr

abri

Ab

orig

inal

co

mm

unitie

s

ma

inta

in

a

str

ong

co

nte

mp

ora

ry

co

nn

ectio

n to

th

e re

serv

e.

A b

asic

w

alk

ing

tr

ack

has b

ee

n co

nstr

ucte

d a

t W

illa

la K

nob

s to

a

ssis

t lo

cal

Ab

orig

inal

co

mm

unitie

s

wis

hin

g

to

vis

it

Ab

orig

inal site

s f

or

cu

ltu

ral p

urp

ose

s.

Th

e

Ga

wa

mb

ara

ay

Pill

iga

C

o-m

ana

ge

me

nt

Co

mm

itte

e

pro

vid

es

an

ave

nu

e

for

ong

oin

g

Ab

orig

inal

invo

lve

me

nt

in

park

m

ana

ge

me

nt.

T

here

a

re o

pp

ort

unitie

s fo

r co

ntr

acting

o

r ca

sua

l e

mp

loym

ent

of

local

Ab

orig

inal

peo

ple

to

u

nd

ert

ake

o

r a

ssis

t w

ith

re

serv

e

ma

na

ge

me

nt

pro

gra

ms.

Ab

orig

inal

site

s

and

va

lues

are

id

en

tifie

d

and

pro

tecte

d.

Ab

orig

inal

peo

ple

a

re

invo

lve

d

in

ma

na

ge

me

nt

of

the

reserv

e,

part

icu

larly b

ut

not

limite

d t

o A

borig

inal

cu

ltu

ral va

lues.

On

go

ing

u

se

of

the

reserv

e fo

r a

pp

rop

riate

A

borig

inal

cu

ltu

ral

activitie

s i

s e

nco

ura

ge

d

and

su

pp

ort

ed.

Ne

ga

tive

im

pacts

o

n

Ab

orig

inal

herita

ge

va

lues

are

sta

ble

o

r d

imin

ish

ing

. U

nde

rsta

nd

ing

o

f th

e

Ab

orig

inal

cu

ltu

ral

va

lues o

f th

e r

eserv

e i

s

imp

rove

d.

6.1

.1

Wo

rk

co

-ope

rative

ly

with

th

e

Ga

wa

mb

ara

ay

Pill

iga

C

o-m

ana

ge

me

nt

Co

mm

itte

e

in

the

ma

na

ge

me

nt

of

the

reserv

e,

inclu

din

g

pro

vid

ing

o

pp

ort

unitie

s

for

Ab

orig

inal

co

mm

unity p

art

icip

atio

n in

ma

na

ge

me

nt

pro

gra

ms.

6.1

.2 E

ncou

rag

e a

nd

su

pp

ort

u

se o

f th

e re

serv

e b

y lo

cal

Ab

orig

inal

co

mm

unitie

s

for

su

sta

inab

le

and

a

pp

rop

riate

cu

ltu

ral

activitie

s

in

accord

an

ce

with

th

e

Ga

wa

mb

ara

ay

Pill

iga

C

o-m

ana

ge

me

nt

Co

mm

itte

e

Me

mo

rand

um

o

f U

nde

rsta

nd

ing

. 6

.1.3

Un

de

rta

ke

a c

ultu

ral a

ssessm

ent

prior

to a

ll p

rop

osed

w

ork

s w

ith

th

e p

ote

ntia

l to

im

pact

on A

borig

inal

herita

ge

va

lues.

6.1

.4

Esta

blis

h

reg

ula

r m

onito

ring

o

f th

e

co

nd

itio

n

of

Ab

orig

inal

etc

he

d

and

o

chre

a

rt

site

s

and

u

nd

ert

ake

p

rote

ction

wo

rks a

s n

ece

ssary

. 6

.1.5

U

nd

ert

ake

su

rve

y

wo

rk

to

iden

tify

a

nd

re

cord

p

revio

usly

unre

cord

ed

Ab

orig

inal site

s in t

he r

eserv

e.

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h

Me

diu

m

18

Cu

rre

nt

Sit

uati

on

D

esir

ed

Ou

tco

me

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Re

sp

on

se

P

rio

rity

* 6

.2

His

tori

c H

eri

tag

e

Th

e P

illig

a d

og

p

roo

f fe

nce

, d

atin

g f

rom

th

e l

ate

19

th t

o e

arly 2

0th c

entu

ry,

has b

ee

n id

en

tifie

d a

s a

n

ite

m o

f sta

te-le

ve

l h

isto

ric h

erita

ge

sig

nific

ance

. A

co

nse

rva

tion

m

ana

ge

me

nt

str

ate

gy fo

r th

e fe

nce

h

as

bee

n

pre

pa

red

(H

igh

G

roun

d

Co

nsu

ltin

g

200

8),

re

com

me

nd

ing

sta

te

herita

ge

re

gis

ter

listin

g.

His

toric g

raff

iti, d

atin

g f

rom

th

e la

te 1

9th t

o m

id 2

0th

ce

ntu

ries,

record

s r

ecre

atio

na

l u

se o

f th

e a

rea

by

local

fam

ilie

s

and

is

o

f lo

cal

his

toric

herita

ge

sig

nific

ance

. T

his

h

isto

ric

gra

ffiti

is

at

risk

fro

m

va

nd

alis

m a

nd

fe

ral g

oats

.

His

toric f

eatu

res a

re

app

rop

riate

ly

co

nse

rve

d a

nd

m

ana

ge

d.

Ne

ga

tive

im

pa

cts

on

his

toric h

erita

ge

va

lues

are

sta

ble

or

dim

inis

hin

g.

Un

de

rsta

nd

ing

of

the

his

toric h

erita

ge

va

lues

of

the p

ark

is im

pro

ve

d.

6.2

.1 I

mp

lem

en

t th

e c

onse

rva

tion

ma

na

ge

me

nt

str

ate

gy f

or

the

Pill

iga

d

og

p

roo

f fe

nce

in

clu

din

g

ma

inta

inin

g

and

co

nse

rvin

g

se

ction

s

in

the

reserv

e

iden

tifie

d

for

active

co

nse

rva

tion

in c

o-o

pe

ratio

n w

ith

re

serv

e n

eig

hbo

urs

. 6

.2.2

Un

de

rta

ke

a c

ultu

ral a

ssessm

ent

prior

to a

ll p

rop

osed

w

ork

s w

ith

th

e p

ote

ntia

l to

im

pa

ct

on h

isto

ric s

ite

s.

6.2

.3 E

sta

blis

h r

eg

ula

r m

onito

ring

of

the c

ond

itio

n o

f h

isto

ric

gra

ffiti

site

s,

inclu

din

g m

onito

ring

of

the i

mp

act

of

mo

de

rn

gra

ffiti, a

nd

un

dert

ake

ma

na

ge

me

nt

wo

rks a

s n

ece

ssary

.

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Me

diu

m

6.3

On

-park

Ec

olo

gic

al

Co

ns

erv

ati

on

S

ma

ll a

rea

s

of

end

an

ge

red

w

hite

b

ox

gra

ssy

wo

od

land

a

nd

d

ry

rain

fore

st

co

mm

unitie

s

occur

with

in th

e re

serv

e.

Fre

qu

en

t fire

a

nd

g

razin

g b

y

fera

l g

oats

have

bee

n i

den

tifie

d a

s k

ey t

hre

ats

to

th

e r

eserv

e‟s

ve

ge

tatio

n.

Pe

rma

ne

nt

ve

ge

tatio

n p

lots

w

ere

e

sta

blis

hed

a

s

part

o

f th

e

ve

ge

tatio

n

su

rve

y

of

the

reserv

e b

y

Hu

nte

r (2

01

1).

O

ne h

un

dre

d a

nd

tw

enty

fiv

e f

aun

a s

pecie

s h

ave

b

ee

n

record

ed

w

ith

in

the

reserv

e

and

1

6

thre

ate

ne

d

faun

a

sp

ecie

s

have

b

ee

n

record

ed

w

ith

in o

r in

clo

se

pro

xim

ity t

o t

he

re

serv

e.

Fre

qu

en

t fire

a

nd

fe

ral

pests

h

ave

b

ee

n id

en

tifie

d a

s ke

y

thre

ats

to

th

e r

eserv

e‟s

fa

un

a.

Na

tive

pla

nt

and a

nim

al

sp

ecie

s a

nd

co

mm

unitie

s a

re

co

nse

rve

d.

Str

uctu

ral d

ive

rsity a

nd

hab

ita

t va

lues a

re

resto

red in

are

as

su

bje

ct

to p

ast

log

gin

g

and

gra

zin

g p

ractice

s.

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

action

s

are

b

ase

d o

n scie

ntific

data

. T

he e

ffe

cts

of

clim

ate

6.3

.1 I

mp

lem

en

t re

leva

nt

str

ate

gie

s i

n t

he P

rio

rities A

ctio

n

Sta

tem

ent

and

re

cove

ry p

lans f

or

thre

ate

ne

d s

pecie

s a

nd

co

mm

unitie

s a

nd

th

rea

t a

ba

tem

ent

pla

ns.

6.3

.2

Un

de

rta

ke

a

pp

rop

riate

a

ssessm

ent

prior

to

all

pro

po

sed

wo

rks w

ith

th

e p

ote

ntia

l to

im

pact

on t

hre

ate

ne

d

sp

ecie

s a

nd

oth

er

sig

nific

ant

bio

log

ica

l va

lues.

6.3

.3 M

ap t

he e

xte

nt

of

end

an

ge

red

ecolo

gic

al co

mm

unitie

s

with

in t

he r

eserv

e.

6.3

.4

Re

surv

ey

a

repre

sen

tative

sa

mp

le

of

perm

ane

nt

ve

ge

tatio

n

plo

ts

as

per

the

No

rth

ern

P

lain

s

Re

gio

n

Bio

div

ers

ity

Mo

nito

ring

S

tra

teg

y

to

mo

nito

r p

ossib

le

ch

an

ge

s t

o v

eg

eta

tio

n c

om

mu

nitie

s.

Th

is i

s t

o i

nclu

de

plo

ts

with

in

wh

ite

b

ox

gra

ssy

wo

od

land

a

nd

d

ry

rain

fore

st

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Me

diu

m

Me

diu

m

19

Cu

rre

nt

Sit

uati

on

D

esir

ed

Ou

tco

me

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Re

sp

on

se

P

rio

rity

* F

urt

her

su

rve

ys a

re n

ee

de

d to

id

en

tify

a

dd

itio

na

l lik

ely

sp

ecie

s a

nd

to

mo

nito

r th

e s

tatu

s o

f fa

un

a

pop

ula

tion

s a

nd

ve

ge

tatio

n c

om

mu

nitie

s.

Clim

ate

ch

an

ge

ma

y s

ign

ific

antly a

ffe

ct

bio

div

ers

ity

by c

han

gin

g t

he p

op

ula

tion

siz

e a

nd

dis

trib

utio

n o

f sp

ecie

s,

mo

difyin

g

co

mm

unity

co

mp

ositio

n,

and

a

lte

ring

th

e

ge

og

raph

ica

l e

xte

nt

of

hab

ita

ts

and

e

cosyste

ms.

ch

an

ge

on

natu

ral

syste

ms a

re r

edu

ced

. e

nd

an

ge

red

ecolo

gic

al co

mm

unitie

s.

6.3

.5 R

epe

at

ve

rte

bra

te f

aun

a s

urv

eys a

s p

er

the N

ort

hern

P

lain

s R

eg

ion B

iodiv

ers

ity M

onito

ring

S

tra

teg

y to

m

onito

r p

ossib

le c

ha

ng

es t

o f

aun

a p

rese

nt.

6

.3.6

Ma

inta

in a

nn

ua

l m

onito

ring

of

bre

ed

ing

by p

ere

grin

e

falc

ons

in

the

reserv

e

and

im

ple

me

nt

app

rop

riate

m

ana

ge

me

nt

action

s.

Me

diu

m

On

go

ing

6.4

V

isit

or

Us

e a

nd

Se

rvic

es

T

he

reserv

e

pro

vid

es

opp

ort

unitie

s

for

low

ke

y

recre

atio

n

su

ch

as

wa

lkin

g,

cyclin

g,

drivin

g

and

enjo

ym

ent

of

natu

ral a

nd

cu

ltu

ral h

erita

ge

va

lues.

Use

o

f th

e

reserv

e

mu

st

be

ca

refu

lly

ma

na

ge

d

beca

use

o

f its

sm

all

siz

e,

rem

ote

lo

catio

n

and

sig

nific

ant

Ab

orig

inal h

erita

ge

va

lues.

Pro

mo

tio

n

of

vis

ito

r u

nd

ers

tand

ing

a

nd

a

pp

recia

tion

o

f th

e

va

lues

of

the

reserv

e

is

imp

ort

ant

for

min

imis

ing

d

am

ag

ing

a

ctivitie

s a

nd

m

axim

isin

g v

isito

r e

njo

ym

ent.

Will

ala

Kn

ob

s M

ana

ge

me

nt

Tra

il is

clo

sed

to

pu

blic

a

ccess t

o p

rote

ct

fra

gile

va

lues i

n t

his

are

a o

f th

e

reserv

e.

Acce

ss

ma

y

be

perm

itte

d

by

local

Ab

orig

inal co

mm

unity g

roup

s a

nd

lic

ense

d t

ours

. C

urr

ent

inap

pro

pria

te u

se o

f th

e r

eserv

e i

nclu

de

s

hun

ting

and

va

nd

alis

m.

Ho

rse

rid

ing

and

ca

mp

ing

a

re a

lso

co

nsid

ere

d in

ap

pro

pria

te u

ses.

Vis

ito

r u

se is

app

rop

riate

an

d

ecolo

gic

ally

su

sta

inab

le.

Ne

ga

tive

im

pa

cts

of

vis

ito

rs o

n p

ark

va

lues

are

sta

ble

or

dim

inis

hin

g.

6.4

.1 D

rivin

g a

nd

cyclin

g w

ill b

e p

erm

itte

d in

th

e r

eserv

e o

n

De

lwo

od

R

oad

, S

cra

tch

R

oad

a

nd

W

illa

la

Tra

il.

Will

ala

K

nob

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Tra

il is

clo

sed

to

p

ub

lic

access

to

pro

tect

this

are

a.

6.4

.2 In

a

ccord

an

ce w

ith

th

e C

o-m

ana

ge

me

nt

MO

U,

the

NP

WS

w

ill

co

nsu

lt

with

th

e

Co

-ma

na

ge

me

nt

Co

mm

itte

e

co

nce

rnin

g a

ny a

pp

lica

tion

s f

or

co

mm

erc

ial

tour

ope

rato

rs

in t

he r

eserv

e.

A s

tand

ard

co

nd

itio

n w

ill b

e i

nclu

de

d i

n a

ny

co

mm

erc

ial

tour

ope

rato

r‟s

lice

nce

th

at

opp

ort

unitie

s

are

p

rovid

ed

fo

r e

mp

loym

ent

of

local

Ab

orig

inal

peo

ple

as t

our

gu

ides.

6.4

.3 A

se

lf-d

rive

to

ur

bro

ch

ure

will

be d

eve

lope

d i

nclu

din

g

the r

eserv

e,

pro

vid

ing

in

terp

retive

and

min

ima

l im

pact

use

info

rma

tion

. 6

.4.4

B

ushw

alk

ing

w

ill

be

perm

itte

d.

Use

o

f ve

hic

les

(in

clu

din

g

bic

ycle

s)

off

ro

ad

s/t

rails

, h

ors

e

rid

ing

, u

na

uth

orise

d ca

mp

ing

a

nd

fire

s w

ill n

ot

be p

erm

itte

d.

No

vis

ito

r fa

cili

tie

s w

ill b

e p

rovid

ed

a

pa

rt fr

om

th

e A

borig

inal

co

mm

unity w

alk

ing

tra

ck a

t W

illa

la K

nob

s.

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Me

diu

m/

On

go

ing

Low

O

ng

oin

g

20

Cu

rre

nt

Sit

uati

on

D

esir

ed

Ou

tco

me

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Re

sp

on

se

P

rio

rity

* O

ppo

rtu

nitie

s

exis

t fo

r lo

cal

Ab

orig

inal

co

mm

unitie

s

to

run

or

part

icip

ate

in

lic

ense

d

co

mm

erc

ial to

ur

ope

ratio

ns in

th

e r

eserv

e.

A

va

riety

o

f vis

ito

r fa

cili

tie

s

and

re

cre

atio

na

l o

pp

ort

unitie

s a

re p

rovid

ed

in

oth

er

reserv

es i

n t

he

are

a.

6.5

C

om

mu

nit

y P

rog

ram

s a

nd

Ed

uca

tio

n

Co

nse

rva

tion

a

nd

m

ana

ge

me

nt

of

the

sta

te-

sig

nific

ant

Pill

iga

dog

pro

of

fence

bord

erin

g p

art

of

the r

eserv

e r

eq

uire

s c

o-o

pe

ratio

n w

ith

ne

igh

bo

urs

. A

reas o

f e

nd

an

ge

red

wh

ite

box g

rassy w

ood

land

a

nd

d

ry

rain

fore

st

co

mm

unitie

s

on

neig

hbo

urin

g

pro

pe

rtie

s

sig

nific

antly

co

mp

lem

en

t th

e

limite

d

occurr

ence

o

f th

ese

co

mm

unitie

s

with

in

the

reserv

e.

Loca

l co

mm

unity s

upp

ort

fo

r re

serv

e m

ana

ge

me

nt

pro

gra

ms is im

port

ant.

Co

op

era

tion

with

re

serv

e n

eig

hbo

urs

in

m

ana

ge

me

nt

of

the

reserv

e.

Re

serv

e n

eig

hbo

urs

su

pp

ort

co

nse

rva

tion

of

sig

nific

ant

native

ve

ge

tatio

n n

ea

r th

e

reserv

e.

Th

e lo

cal co

mm

unity is

aw

are

of

the

sig

nific

ance

of

the

reserv

e a

nd

of

reserv

e

ma

na

ge

me

nt

pro

gra

ms.

6.5

.1 L

iais

e w

ith

neig

hbo

urs

to

enco

ura

ge

th

e a

pp

rop

riate

co

nse

rva

tion

of

the d

og

pro

of

fence

and

th

e r

ete

ntio

n a

nd

a

pp

rop

riate

m

ana

ge

me

nt

of

ke

y h

ab

ita

ts a

dja

cen

t to

th

e

reserv

e,

inclu

din

g a

rea

s o

f se

mi-

eve

rgre

en

vin

e t

hic

ke

t a

nd

w

hite

bo

x g

rassy w

ood

land

. 6

.5.2

O

rga

nis

e m

edia

re

lease

s,

edu

catio

na

l m

ate

ria

l a

nd

co

nta

ct

with

n

eig

hbo

urs

a

nd

co

mm

unity

org

anis

ation

s

base

d o

n r

eserv

e m

ana

ge

me

nt

issu

es.

Me

diu

m

Low

/ O

ng

oin

g

21

Cu

rre

nt

Sit

uati

on

D

esir

ed

Ou

tco

me

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Re

sp

on

se

P

rio

rity

* 6

.6 W

ee

ds a

nd

Pe

st

An

ima

ls

Th

e m

ost

sig

nific

ant

we

ed

in

th

e re

serv

e is

th

e

prickly

p

ea

r,

occurr

ing

a

s

sca

tte

red

p

op

ula

tion

s

thro

ug

hou

t th

e r

eserv

e.

Ke

y

pest

anim

als

a

re

go

ats

, im

pactin

g

on

both

cu

ltu

ral

and

n

atu

ral

herita

ge

va

lues,

and

fo

xe

s,

imp

actin

g

on n

atu

ral

herita

ge

va

lues.

Th

ere

a

re

sca

tte

red

go

at

pop

ula

tion

s t

hro

ug

hou

t th

e r

eserv

e

wh

ile

foxe

s

are

w

idesp

rea

d

thro

ug

hou

t th

e

reserv

e.

Ad

ditio

na

l p

est

sp

ecie

s i

nclu

de

th

e p

ig,

Eu

rop

ean

ra

bb

it a

nd

ca

t.

A P

est

Ma

nag

em

en

t S

tra

teg

y h

as b

ee

n

pre

pa

red

fo

r th

e N

ort

hern

P

lain

s R

eg

ion a

nd

is

b

ein

g im

ple

me

nte

d.

Alte

rna

tive

g

oat

co

ntr

ol

str

ate

gie

s

nee

d

to

be

inve

stig

ate

d.

Intr

odu

ced

p

lants

a

nd

a

nim

als

a

re

co

ntr

olle

d

and

w

here

p

ossib

le

elim

inate

d.

Ne

ga

tive

im

pa

cts

of

we

ed

s o

n r

eserv

e

va

lues a

re s

table

or

dim

inis

hin

g.

Ne

ga

tive

im

pa

cts

of

pest

anim

als

on

reserv

e v

alu

es a

re

sta

ble

or

dim

inis

hin

g.

Pe

st

co

ntr

ol p

rog

ram

s

und

ert

ake

n w

here

a

pp

rop

riate

in c

o-

ope

ratio

n w

ith

co

mm

unity.

6.6

.1 C

ontin

ue

we

ed

and

pest

anim

al

co

ntr

ol

pro

gra

ms a

s

outlin

ed

in

th

e R

eg

iona

l P

est

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Str

ate

gy a

nd

w

ork

co

op

era

tive

ly w

ith

N

ort

h W

est

Liv

esto

ck H

ealth

a

nd

P

est

Au

tho

rity

, N

arr

abri

Sh

ire

C

oun

cil

and

re

serv

e

neig

hbo

urs

in

im

ple

me

ntin

g w

eed

and

pest

anim

al

co

ntr

ol

pro

gra

ms.

6.6

.2 I

nve

stig

ate

alte

rna

te o

r a

dd

itio

na

l str

ate

gie

s t

o c

ontr

ol

fera

l g

oats

and

re

du

ce t

heir i

mp

act

on c

ultu

ral

and

natu

ral

va

lues.

6.6

.3

Mo

nito

r fo

r n

oxio

us

and

sig

nific

ant

enviro

nm

enta

l w

eed

s a

nd

tre

at

any n

ew

outb

rea

ks.

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h

On

go

ing

22

Cu

rre

nt

Sit

uati

on

D

esir

ed

Ou

tco

me

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Re

sp

on

se

P

rio

rity

*

6.7

F

ire

Man

ag

em

en

t

Fire

is a

natu

ral

featu

re o

f m

any e

nviro

nm

ents

but

inap

pro

pria

te

fire

re

gim

es

ca

n

lead

to

lo

ss

of

part

icu

lar

pla

nt

and

a

nim

al

co

mm

unitie

s.

Hig

h

fre

qu

en

cy

fire

s

have

b

ee

n

liste

d

as

a

ke

y

thre

ate

nin

g p

roce

ss u

nd

er

the T

SC

Act.

Th

e m

ajo

rity

of

the r

eserv

e i

s b

elo

w t

he m

inim

um

fr

eq

uen

cy th

resh

old

(i.e

. b

urn

t to

o f

req

uen

tly)

for

the v

eg

eta

tio

n c

om

mu

nitie

s p

rese

nt.

Asse

ts i

n t

he

reserv

e

that

are

vu

lnera

ble

to

fire

in

clu

de

th

e

thre

ate

ne

d

dry

ra

info

rest

co

mm

unity,

old

g

row

th

ele

me

nts

(la

rge

h

ollo

w-b

ea

ring

tr

ees

and

re

cru

itm

ent

tre

es)

and

h

ollo

w-d

ependent

thre

ate

ne

d f

aun

a i

n e

uca

lyp

t fo

rest

and

wo

od

land

a

nd

th

e h

isto

ric d

og

pro

of

fence

. A

m

ap

-base

d

Fire

M

ana

ge

me

nt

str

ate

gy

wa

s

pre

pa

red

fo

r th

e

Pill

iga

E

ast

reserv

es

inclu

din

g

Will

ala

A

borig

inal

Are

a

in

200

9.

Str

ate

gic

F

ire

A

dva

nta

ge

zo

ne

s

have

b

ee

n

iden

tifie

d

alo

ng

D

elw

ood

Ro

ad

and

alo

ng

Scra

tch

Ro

ad

so

uth

of

De

lwo

od

R

oad

. T

he o

bje

ctive

o

f th

is zo

ne

is

to

re

du

ce

fire

in

ten

sity

in

locatio

ns

to

assis

t co

nta

inm

en

t o

f w

ildfire

s,

by m

ain

tain

ing

th

e O

ve

rall

Fue

l H

aza

rd a

t le

ss t

han

Hig

h r

ating

. T

he r

em

ain

de

r o

f th

e r

eserv

e h

as b

ee

n i

den

tifie

d

as a

Lan

d M

ana

ge

me

nt

zo

ne

. A

part

fro

m t

he o

ve

r-rid

ing

le

gis

lative

o

bje

ctive

o

f p

rote

cting

lif

e

and

p

rop

ert

y,

the p

rim

ary

obje

ctive

fo

r th

is z

one

is t

o

co

nse

rve

bio

div

ers

ity a

nd

pro

tect

cu

ltu

ral h

erita

ge

.

Life

, p

rop

ert

y a

nd

n

atu

ral a

nd

cu

ltu

ral

va

lues a

re p

rote

cte

d

fro

m f

ire

.

Fire

re

gim

es a

re

app

rop

riate

fo

r co

nse

rva

tion

of

native

p

lant

and

an

ima

l co

mm

unitie

s.

Ne

ga

tive

im

pa

cts

of

fire

o

n n

atu

ral a

nd

cu

ltu

ral

herita

ge

va

lues a

re

sta

ble

or

dim

inis

hin

g.

6.7

.1 I

mp

lem

en

t th

e P

illig

a E

ast

Fire

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Str

ate

gy

for

the r

eserv

e.

6.7

.2

Pa

rtic

ipate

in

th

e

Na

rra

bri

-Mo

ree

B

ush

Fire

M

ana

ge

me

nt

Co

mm

itte

e.

Ma

inta

in

co

op

era

tive

a

rra

ng

em

en

ts

with

lo

cal

RF

S

brig

ade

s

and

fire

co

ntr

ol

off

ice

rs,

Fore

sts

N

SW

a

nd

su

rro

un

din

g

land

ow

ners

in

re

ga

rd t

o f

uel m

ana

ge

me

nt

and

fire

su

pp

ressio

n.

6.7

.3 M

ain

tain

re

gu

lar

co

ntr

ol

of

reg

row

th a

long

se

ction

s o

f P

illig

a d

og

pro

of

fence

id

en

tifie

d f

or

active

co

nse

rva

tion

and

p

rote

ct

the f

ence

fro

m f

ire

.

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

23

Cu

rre

nt

Sit

uati

on

D

esir

ed

Ou

tco

me

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Re

sp

on

se

P

rio

rity

* 6

.8

Infr

as

tru

ctu

re a

nd

Ma

inte

na

nce

R

oad

s e

xis

t to

fa

cili

tate

a

ccess fo

r m

ana

ge

me

nt

activitie

s.

Bo

th s

hee

t a

nd

gu

lly e

rosio

n a

re a

ctive

in

se

ction

s o

f th

e r

eserv

e a

ssocia

ted

with

exis

tin

g

road

s,

part

icu

larly in

ste

ep

er

are

as.

En

try s

ign

ag

e is in

pla

ce o

n a

ll p

ub

lic v

ehic

le e

ntr

y

poin

ts.

A d

am

used

as a

wa

ter

so

urc

e f

or

fire

-fig

hting

is

locate

d w

ith

in t

he r

eserv

e.

Th

ere

are

te

n o

ccup

ied a

pia

ry g

rid

s c

ove

ring

th

e

reserv

e.

Six

out

of

eig

ht

reserv

e n

eig

hbo

urs

have

bou

nd

ary

fe

ncin

g.

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

facili

tie

s

and

op

era

tio

ns

ade

qu

ate

ly s

erv

e

ma

na

ge

me

nt

nee

ds

and

ha

ve

min

ima

l im

pact.

In

fra

str

uctu

re a

nd

a

ssets

are

ro

utin

ely

m

ain

tain

ed

.

6.8

.1

Ma

inta

in

all

road

s

(as

sh

ow

n

on

the

ma

p)

and

m

ain

tain

re

serv

e

entr

y

sig

nag

e.

Mo

nito

r e

rosio

n

and

u

nd

ert

ake

re

me

dia

l a

ction

as n

ee

de

d.

6.8

.2 M

ain

tain

th

e f

ence

and

ga

tes e

xclu

din

g u

na

uth

orise

d

ve

hic

le e

ntr

y t

o W

illa

la K

nob

s M

ana

ge

me

nt

Tra

il to

pro

tect

fra

gile

va

lues in

th

is a

rea

and

pre

ve

nt

dam

ag

e t

o r

oad

. 6

.8.3

M

ain

tain

th

e A

borig

inal

co

mm

unity w

alk

ing

tr

ack a

t W

illa

la K

nob

s to

A

ustr

alia

n S

tand

ard

C

lass 4-5

(a

b

asic

tr

ack).

T

he tr

ack h

ea

ds w

ill re

ma

in 3

0-5

0 m

etr

es in

fr

om

W

illa

la

Kn

ob

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Tra

il to

re

du

ce

the

risk

of

una

uth

orise

d a

ccess a

nd

va

nd

alis

m.

6.8

.4 W

illa

la L

ea

se d

am

will

be r

eta

ined

as a

fire

fig

hting

w

ate

r su

pp

ly a

nd

ma

inta

ined

as r

eq

uire

d.

6.8

.5 A

llow

a

pia

ry lic

ense

s to

b

e re

ne

we

d in

a

ccord

an

ce

with

N

PW

S p

olic

y,

with

a

pia

ry site

s to

b

e lo

cate

d w

ith

in

20

me

tre

s

of

exis

tin

g

park

ro

ad

s

ope

n

to

the

pub

lic,

pre

fera

bly

at

site

s p

revio

usly

occup

ied f

or

apia

ry.

6.8

.6 E

ncou

rag

e c

onstr

uctio

n a

nd

ma

inte

na

nce

of

eff

ective

b

ou

nd

ary

fe

ncin

g w

ith

n

eig

hbo

urin

g p

rop

ert

ies to

p

reve

nt

dom

estic

sto

ck

incurs

ions

and

d

ete

rmin

e

str

ate

gie

s

to

exclu

de

sto

ck w

here

bou

nd

ary

fe

ncin

g i

s d

ifficu

lt.

Fen

cin

g

assis

tance

m

ay

be

pro

vid

ed

in

a

ccord

an

ce

with

N

PW

S

polic

y.

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

Hig

h/

On

go

ing

On

go

ing

On

go

ing

On

go

ing

24

Cu

rre

nt

Sit

uati

on

D

esir

ed

Ou

tco

me

s

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Re

sp

on

se

P

rio

rity

* 6

.9

Res

ea

rch

T

he

reserv

e

pro

vid

es

opp

ort

unitie

s

for

resea

rch

in

clu

din

g a

rch

ae

olo

gic

al

inve

stig

ation

of

Ab

orig

inal

pre

-his

tory

, in

ve

stig

ation

o

f h

isto

rical

ch

an

ge

s in

re

gio

na

l sm

all

ma

mm

al

faun

a a

nd

b

iolo

gic

al

and

e

colo

gic

al

stu

die

s.

Info

rma

tion

fr

om

re

leva

nt

resea

rch

ca

n a

ssis

t re

serv

e m

ana

ge

me

nt.

Re

sea

rch

app

rop

riate

to

th

e m

ana

ge

me

nt

obje

ctive

s o

f th

e

reserv

e is s

up

port

ed.

Info

rma

tion

fro

m

resea

rch

assis

ts

ma

na

ge

me

nt

of

reserv

e v

alu

es.

6.9

.1

Exte

rna

l re

sea

rch

p

rop

osals

in

th

e

reserv

e

will

b

e

co

nsid

ere

d f

or

app

rova

l b

y t

he N

PW

S i

n t

he c

onte

xt

of

the

ma

na

ge

me

nt

purp

ose

s a

nd

princip

les f

or

the r

eserv

e a

nd

in

d

iscu

ssio

n w

ith

th

e G

aw

am

ba

raa

y P

illig

a C

o-m

ana

ge

me

nt

Co

mm

itte

e.

6.9

.2

En

cou

rag

e

arc

ha

eolo

gic

al

resea

rch

in

to

Ab

orig

inal

site

s a

ssocia

ted

with

ca

ve

s a

nd

sh

elte

rs t

o a

ssess a

ge

of

site

s,

iden

tify

d

eta

ils

of

tra

ditio

na

l lif

esty

le

and

p

rovid

e

ma

na

ge

me

nt

recom

me

nd

atio

ns.

6.9

.3 E

ncou

rag

e r

esea

rch

at

the s

ub

-fo

ssil

dep

osit s

ite

to

p

rovid

e

info

rma

tion

co

nce

rnin

g

long

-te

rm

ch

an

ge

s

in

reg

iona

l fa

un

a a

nd

co

ntr

ibute

to

a b

ett

er

und

ers

tand

ing

of

like

ly f

utu

re c

lima

te c

han

ge

im

pa

cts

. 6

.9.4

E

ncou

rag

e

resea

rch

in

to

natu

ral

va

lues

to

assis

t e

colo

gic

al

ma

na

ge

me

nt.

T

his

m

ay

inclu

de

re

sea

rch

in

to

inve

rte

bra

te f

aun

a d

ive

rsity,

ecolo

gy o

f th

rea

tene

d s

pecie

s

and

co

mm

unitie

s a

nd

th

e im

pact

of

fire

and

clim

ate

ch

an

ge

o

n f

lora

and

fa

un

a.

Me

diu

m/

On

goin

g

Low

Low

Low

* H

igh

priority

activitie

s a

re those im

pera

tive to a

chie

vem

ent of

the o

bje

ctives a

nd d

esired o

utc

om

es. T

hey m

ust be u

ndert

aken in th

e n

ear

futu

re to a

void

sig

nific

ant dete

riora

tion in n

atu

ral, c

ultura

l or

managem

ent re

sourc

es.

Med

ium

priority

activitie

s a

re those that are

necessary

to a

chie

ve the o

bje

ctives a

nd d

esired o

utc

om

es b

ut are

not urg

ent.

Lo

w p

riority

activitie

s a

re d

esirable

to a

chie

ve m

anagem

ent obje

ctives a

nd d

esired o

utc

om

es b

ut can w

ait u

ntil re

sourc

es b

ecom

e a

vaila

ble

.

On

go

ing

is f

or

activitie

s that are

undert

aken o

n a

n a

nnual basis

or

sta

tem

ents

of

managem

ent in

tent th

at w

ill d

irect th

e m

anagem

ent re

sponse if

an issue that

arises.