Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves - Management plan...This management plan provides a strategic framework to govern the development and delivery of all management programs and

Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves Management Plan

Including Numinbah and Austinville ValleysJuly 2009

Working for our future – today

Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves

Incorporating

OSPL Conservation Areas:

Numinbah Conservation AreaSpringbrook Conservation AreaPurlingbrook Conservation AreaAustinville Conservation AreaPocket Road Conservation Area

Natural Area Reserves:

Apple Tree ParkFriendship ParkNuminbah ReserveAustinville Community ParkStaghorn ReservePine Creek Road ReserveUpper Mount Nimmel Road ReserveSpringbrook Centenary ParklandsVelvet Downs ParklandsSpringbrook Road ReserveBilborough ParkNerang-Murwillumbah Road ReserveNerang-Murwillumbah ParklandsBochow Park

Management Plan

Gold Coast City CouncilNatural Areas Management UnitJuly 2009

© Gold Coast City Council, 2009. Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of the Gold Coast City Council.

Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves Cluster Management Plan 3

1.1 Management Vision...................................... 9

1.2 Plan development and implementation ...... 91.2.1 Methodology and overview ........................... 91.2.2 Implementation ............................................ 9

1.3 Location and planning area ....................... 10

1.4 Regional context ........................................ 12

1.5 Significance of the planning area .............. 141.5.1 Natural values ............................................. 141.5.2 Landscape .................................................. 201.5.3 Cultural heritage ........................................ 201.5.4 Recreation .................................................. 201.5.5 Environmental research and education ........ 20

1.6 Climate change ............................................ 21

2.1 Management principles and goals ............ 22

2.2 Specific management objectives for Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves Cluster ................................................................ 23

3.1 Gold Coast Open Space Preservation Levy acquisition program .......................................... 24

3.2 Gold Coast Planning Scheme and strategies ............................................................................ 24

3.3 Other relevant legislation, plans and strategies ........................................................... 25

4.1 Native fauna ............................................... 264.1.1 Fauna management priorities ...................... 264.1.2 Threats to fauna ......................................... 264.1.3 Desired outcomes ....................................... 274.1.4 Management strategy for fauna .................. 27Guidelines ............................................................ 27Actions ................................................................ 28

4.2 Native vegetation ....................................... 284.2.1 Flora management priorities ........................ 284.2.2 Threats to flora ........................................... 314.2.3 Desired outcomes ....................................... 334.2.4 Management strategy for flora ................... 33Guidelines ............................................................ 33Actions ................................................................ 33

4.3 Geology and catchment management ...... 334.3.1 Geology ...................................................... 334.3.2 Catchment management ............................ 344.3.3 Desired outcomes ....................................... 354.3.4 Management strategy for catchment and landscape protection ..................................... 35Guidelines ............................................................ 35Actions ................................................................ 35

4.4 Fire management ........................................ 364.4.1 Background ................................................ 364.4.2 Fire management priorities .......................... 364.4.3 Desired outcomes ....................................... 374.4.4 Management strategy for fire ..................... 37Guidelines ............................................................ 37Actions ................................................................ 38

4.5 Pest animal management ........................... 384.5.1 Background ................................................ 384.5.2 Pest animal management priorities .............. 384.5.4 Management strategy for pest animals ....... 39Guidelines ............................................................ 39Actions ................................................................ 40

4.6 Weed management and restoration ......... 404.6.1 Background ................................................ 404.6.2 Pest plant management and restoration priorities .............................................................. 414.6.3 Desired outcomes ....................................... 444.6.4 Strategy for weed management and restoration .................................................... 44Guidelines ............................................................ 44Actions ................................................................ 44

4.7 Aboriginal cultural heritage ....................... 454.7.1 Background and priorities ........................... 454.7.2 Desired outcomes ....................................... 454.7.3 Management strategy for Aboriginal cultural heritage ............................................................... 45Guidelines ............................................................ 45

4.8 European cultural heritage ........................ 454.8.1 Background and priorities ........................... 454.8.2 Desired outcomes ....................................... 464.8.3 Management strategy for European cultural heritage .............................................................. 46Guidelines ............................................................ 46Actions ................................................................ 46

Table of contents

4 Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves Cluster Management Plan

4.9 Recreation opportunities ........................... 464.9.1 Background and priorities ........................... 464.9.2 Bushwalking and nature appreciation.......... 474.9.3 Day use ....................................................... 514.9.4 Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk .............. 524.9.5 Camping ..................................................... 524.9.6 Horse riding ................................................ 524.9.7 Desired outcomes ....................................... 534.9.8 Management strategy for recreation ........... 53Guidelines ............................................................ 53Actions ................................................................ 54

4.10 Vehicle access ............................................ 544.10.1 Background .............................................. 544.10.2 Specific management requirements........... 554.10.3 Desired outcomes ..................................... 584.10.4 Management strategy for vehicle access ... 58Guidelines ............................................................ 58Actions ................................................................ 58

4.11 Coordinated reserve management .......... 584.11.1 Background and priorities ......................... 584.11.2 Desired outcomes ..................................... 594.11.3 Management strategy for coordinated reserve management ....................................................... 59Guidelines ............................................................ 59

4.12 Managing commercial activities .............. 594.12.1 Background and priorities ......................... 594.12.2 Desired outcomes ..................................... 624.12.3 Management strategy for commercial activities ............................................ 62Guidelines ............................................................ 62Action .................................................................. 62

4.13 Community involvement ......................... 624.13.1 Background and priorities ......................... 624.13.2 Desired outcomes ..................................... 634.13.3 Management strategy for community involvement ....................................... 63Guideline ............................................................. 63Actions ................................................................ 63

4.14 Interpretation and education ................... 634.14.1 Background and priorities ......................... 634.14.2 Desired outcomes ..................................... 634.14.3 Management strategy for interpretation and education ............................................................ 63Guideline ............................................................. 63

Actions ................................................................ 63

4.15 Monitoring and research .......................... 644.15.1 Background and priorities ......................... 644.15.2 Desired outcomes ..................................... 654.15.3 Management strategy ............................... 65Guidelines .......................................................... 65Actions ............................................................... 65

4.16 Planning and estate consolidation .......... 664.16.1 Background .............................................. 664.16.2 Desired outcomes ..................................... 674.16.3 Management strategy for reserve planning and consolidation .................................. 67Guideline ............................................................. 67Actions ................................................................ 67

4.17 Naming reserves within the planning area .................................................... 684.17.1 Background .............................................. 684.17.2 Desired outcomes ..................................... 684.17.3 Management strategy for reserve naming . 68Guidelines ............................................................ 68Actions ................................................................ 68

5 Summary of management actions ............... 69


Acknowledgements

This plan has been developed with the support and assistance of staff in Council’s Natural Area Management Unit. Council officers from the following units and branches also provided help: Environmental Planning and Conservation Unit, Parks and Recreational Services, Catchment Management Unit, Economic Development, Pest Management Unit, Engineering Assets and Planning, Legal Services, Corporate Risk, and Gold Coast Water.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service have provided valuable input, as have traditional owner representatives at the Yugambeh Museum, Beenleigh.

The support and interest of the local Councillor and residents of the Springbrook, Austinville and Numinbah communities also have been critical to the development of this plan.


Executive summary

This management plan provides a strategic framework to govern the development and delivery of all management programs and day-to-day issues affecting the Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves cluster. It will take effect from the date the plan is adopted by Council, for a period of 10 years. If amendments are required they will be subject to adoption by Council.

The planning area, which protects more than 1000 hectares of conservation reserves in the southwest of Gold Coast City, extends south from the Hinze Dam to the New South Wales border, and across the Springbrook plateau from Austinville to Numinbah Valleys. It is dominated by the Springbrook, Numinbah, Purlingbrook, Austinville and Pocket Road Conservation Areas. These areas were bought under Council’s Open Space Preservation Levy to protect significant nature and landscape conservation values. The large blocks of remnant vegetation form the Springbrook-Numinbah Conservation Corridor which, together with other public lands, provide a regional open space link from the Springbrook plateau to Numinbah, Bonogin and Hinze Dam.

Other smaller reserves within the planning area (including Springbrook Centenary Parklands, Apple Tree Park and Austinville Community Park), provide recreational opportunities and a meeting place for visitors and residents, while also protecting small but significant natural areas.

The planning area is situated close to World Heritage protected areas at Springbrook National Park, Lamington National Park and Numinbah Nature Reserve and lies within the Border Ranges North and South Biodiversity Hotspot. More than 600 native plant species and 272 native animal species have been recorded in Council’s reserve network at Springbrook. Among these listed plants and animals are 45 rare or threatened species and a number of ancient groups that have links with Gondwanan communities.

The area also has exceptional scenic values, protecting prominent ridgelines and escarpments that form part of the city’s green backdrop and the pristine waterways that flow into the Gold Coast’s domestic water supply catchments. These, together with the rich cultural history of the region, provide a valuable recreational, economic and educational resource for Gold Coast City residents and visitors alike.

This plan aims to protect and enhance the values of the reserves by providing strategies for the protection, rehabilitation and showcasing of biodiversity, landscapes, catchments and cultural heritage. The strategies are based on current scientific information. They have been directed by the ongoing monitoring of ecosystem condition and by measuring the impacts of past management actions.

The plan also addresses public education and involvement through the development of safe, environmentally-sensitive, nature-based recreational and interpretive opportunities. Visitors will be able to enjoy activities such as bushwalking, picnicking and horse riding. Facilities to help people understand the area’s natural and cultural values will be developed to enhance visitor experiences. This also may foster a greater appreciation of Council’s city-wide conservation objectives.


Acronyms Used

CA Conservation AreaCMU Catchment Management Unit (Gold Coast City Council)EDMP Economic Development and Major Projects branch (Gold Coast City Council)EP&C Environmental Planning and Conservation section (Gold Coast City Council)EPBC Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999GCCC Gold Coast City CouncilGRA Gondwana Rainforests of Australia LAP Local Area PlanNAMU Natural Areas Management Unit (Gold Coast City Council)NCWR Queensland Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994NP National ParkNRW Queensland Department of Natural Resources and WaterOSPL Open Space Preservation LevyQPWS Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service RE Regional EcosystemSMA Special Management AreaVCA Voluntary Conservation Agreement

Note: All names of organisations listed are current at the date of adoption of this plan.


1 Introduction

1.1 Management Vision

Council’s vision is for a healthy, robust and sustainable reserve network to safeguard ecological processes, biodiversity, ecosystem services, cultural values and recreational amenity for the community in perpetuity.

1.2 Plan development and implementation

1.2.1 Methodology and overview

This management plan is the strategic framework that governs the development and delivery of all management programs and actions affecting reserves of the planning area, listed in Table 1. The plan lists all future management activities and uses (whether temporary or permanent) to be permitted within the planning area (subject to legislative and planning scheme approvals). Where other uses, activities and/or an increase in the scale of a permitted use are proposed subsequent to this plan, they will require full review and assessment by Council. If the review deems that the proposal will likely result in substantial variation to current management strategies, a formal amendment to the management plan will be required, including public consultation and adoption of the amended plan by Council. Generally uses, activities and increases in scale which are not in accordance with the specific management objectives for the planning area (section 2.2) and the management strategies given in Chapter 4, will not be supported unless an environmental benefit is demonstrated and the proposal will lead to an increase in the community’s understanding and appreciation of the environment.

A process of site assessment, stakeholder consultation and literature review has been used to evaluate the issues, values and infrastructure within the planning area (summarised in Chapter 1) and guide the development of broad management principles, goals and objectives (Chapter 2). Underpinning these objectives is a legislative and policy framework (Chapter 3) that draws upon relevant state and federal legislation and guidelines, in addition to relevant Council strategies, policies and corporate objectives.

In Chapter 4, planning area values and issues are subdivided into 17 broad themes. The management needs, opportunities, constraints and conflicts identified within each theme have been used to develop desired management outcomes and strategies to enable these outcomes to be achieved. Management strategies

comprise a series of general guidelines and more specific actions that will provide for the long-term protection and enhancement of the natural, cultural, amenity and economic values of the planning area. Management guidelines and actions are intended to be sufficiently robust to ensure sustainable natural resource management over the long term, while still being flexible enough to meet changes in operational demands and advances in scientific understanding.

Chapter 5 provides a quick reference to the specific management actions given in Chapter 4, summarised reserve by reserve. In this chapter, each action is assigned a priority and timeframe to facilitate incorporation of actions into the operational annual action plans and works programs of Council.

1.2.2 Implementation

Council’s Natural Areas Management Unit (NAMU) will undertake day-to-day management of the planning area and coordinate the implementation of this management plan. In addition, contractors and Council staff from other units and branches will be responsible for the implementation of some management strategies. Management guidelines and actions detailed in this plan will be carried out within the annual action plan and works program of Council, subject to the availability of funding, staff and regional priorities. It is important that all people working within the planning area are familiar with the parts of this plan relevant to their responsibilities when working within sensitive natural areas.

Nightcap wattle (Acacia orites) G. Leiper


For the implementation of the management plan to be effective, there must be a regular and reliable flow of resources for ongoing management requirements and funding for new capital works programs. As annual action plans and works programs are developed in more detail, and the exact resource requirements are identified, these projects can be resourced accordingly.

For effective delivery of this management plan, it is important that Council staff, councillors and contractors consult regularly to ensure consistency with management objectives and strategies. Community endorsement also is critical in the effective implementation of this plan. Public stakeholder input has been, and continues to be, an important part of planning and development. As well as responding to public concerns, the plan provides guidelines to facilitate future public involvement and support.

A review of the management plan will be undertaken by Council within 10 years of the date of approval.

1.3 Location and planning area

The Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves Cluster (hereafter referred to as the ‘planning area’) comprises five main reserves: Austinville Conservation Area (CA), Purlingbrook CA, Springbrook CA, Numinbah CA and Pocket Road CA. These reserves were acquired with the Open Space Preservation Levy (OSPL) and form a regional open space link extending across the southern end of the Gold Coast Hinterland from Springbrook plateau through Austinville to Numinbah Valley (see Figure 1). A number of smaller Council-managed natural reserves also are included within the cluster, listed in Table 1 below.

For planning purposes, Council’s conservation estate has been subdivided into 19 ‘management clusters’, which comprise groups of reserves that are geographically and ecologically related. Management clusters are generally defined by prominent physical features including ridgelines, waterways and roads. Management clusters enable strategic planning of both recreational and ecological connectivity across the landscape, but are small enough in area to allow the development of detailed management strategies for individual reserves where required.

Table 1 Summary of reserves within Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves Cluster

Park Name Area (ha)

Lot and Plan Current Planning Scheme Zoning

Tenure Location and Access

Numinbah Conservation Area

570.2 127-8 WD3516

126 WD3515

172 WD3515

122 WD456

120 WD869

Western end 1-5 RP800209

Rural/Public Open space/ Springbrook LAP: Rural and Nature Conservation

GCCC freehold Area overlooking Numinbah Valley, extending from Apple Tree Flat western escarpment west to Waterfall Creek and the eastern slopes of Numinbah Valley, accessed via Apple Tree Park (Springbrook Road) or via Chesters Road (Numinbah Valley).

Springbrook Conservation Area, including Apple Tree Park

250.5 1 RP958964

100 SP131744

30 RP77824

29 RP77863

1-29 RP77824

1-28 RP77863

75 WD5642 (Apple Tree Park)

Eastern end 1-5 RP800209

Springbrook LAP: Rural and Nature Conservation

GCCC freehold except Apple Tree Pk: Qld Transport, GCCC trustee

Area extending from top of western Apple Tree Flat escarpment, eastwards through Apple Tree Park (1.6ha), across Springbrook Road and down slope to the western branch of Little Nerang Creek. Includes 57 previously-approved housing lots along the main Springbrook ridge, accessed via Springbrook Road.

Purlingbrook Conservation Area

24.6 3 RP158729 Springbrook LAP: Rural and Nature Conservation

GCCC freehold Area overlooking Purlingbrook Falls at the northern end of Carricks Road, surrounded by Springbrook National Park (the Settlement), accessed via Carricks Road.

Friendship Park 41.3 4 RP158729 Springbrook LAP: Rural and Nature Conservation

GCCC freehold Area adjacent to Purlingbrook CA, donated to Council by an American World War II veteran in 2007, accessed via Carricks Road.


Park Name Area (ha)

Lot and Plan Current Planning Scheme Zoning

Tenure Location and Access

Austinville Conservation Area

211.7 2 SP176220

3-5 RP163806

Rural/Public open space GCCC freehold Area extending from Mt Nimmel Ridge east to Mudgeeraba Creek, accessed via Mt Nimmel Road or Austinville Road.

Pocket Road Conservation Area

75 43 WD757

1 SP174767

Rural GCCC freehold Steep vegetated slope extending from Beechmont ridge to the northern end of Numinbah Valley, accessed via Pocket Road or by foot from Beechmont Road.

Numinbah Reserve

19.8 3 RP844804 Public open space Qld Government, GCCC trustee

Small reserve located northeast of Little Nerang Dam. Accessed via Mt Nimmel Road or via Waterworks Reserve.

Austinville Community Park

2.0 272 WD4366 Public open space Qld Government, GCCC trustee

Small recreational park located along Mudgeeraba Creek. Accessed from Austinville Valley via Staghorn Drive.

Staghorn Reserve


Small reserve located on Mudgeeraba Creek at the junction of Austinville Road and Staghorn Drive, accessed via Staghorn Drive.

Pine Creek Road Reserve

1.2 142 SP100291 Public open space Qld Government, GCCC trustee

Small reserve to northeast of Numinbah Conservation Area, surrounded by private lots, accessed via easement from Pine Creek Road.

Upper Mount Nimmel Road Reserve

7.5 20 RP907368 Public open space Qld Government, GCCC trustee

Small reserve to north of Austinville Conservation Area, access easement (not constructed) from Mt Nimmel Road.

Springbrook Centenary Parklands

2.6 215 WD6332

3 SP133669

1 SP133669

179 WD1225


Qld Government, GCCC trustee

Small recreational park near Springbrook Village, adjacent to Rural Fire Brigade shed, at junction of Springbrook and Carricks Roads, accessed via Carricks Road.

Velvet Downs Parklands

3.9 267 WD4602

253 WD5933


L 253: GCCC freehold;

L 267: Qld Government, GCCC trustee

Small reserve along Purlingbrook Creek, opposite Centenary Park, accessed via Springbrook Road.

Springbrook Road Reserve

1.2 268 WD4315 Springbrook LAP: Rural and Nature Conservation


Small isolated reserve on Springbrook Road, south of Centenary Park, accessed via Springbrook Road.

Bilborough Park 2.9 266 WD4427 Springbrook LAP: Rural and Nature Conservation


Small isolated reserve at southern end of Springbrook Road, accessed via Bilborough Court.

Nerang Murwillumbah Road Reserve


Small, isolated, cleared reserve at southern end of Numinbah Valley between Nerang-Murwillumbah Road and Nerang River, accessed via Nerang-Murwillumbah Road.

Nerang Murwillumbah Parklands

1.4 L1 RP122641 Public open space GCCC freehold Narrow linear reserve at southern end of Numinbah Valley, accessed via Bakers Road.

Bochow Park 0.5 L1 RP131211 Public open space GCCC freehold / road reserve

Small, primarily recreation park, abutting Nerang River. Contains a car park accessed via Nerang-Murwillumbah Road.


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The planning area occupies land on the plateaus and valleys of a radial spur of the ancient Tweed Shield Volcano, centred on Mount Warning. The reserves fall within the scenic rim environmental province and the Border Ranges North and South Biodiversity Hotspot, nationally recognised for its exceptional biological diversity (DECC NSW 2008). They border Springbrook National Park, which is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (GRA) World Heritage Area (previously known as the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia).

Other reserves in the area include Numinbah and Austinville Forest Reserves (now incorporated into Springbrook National Park; that is, their tenure has changed to National Park), which are linked to Springbrook National Park via Council’s conservation areas, and Lamington National Park, which connects the planning area with further GRA reserves along the New South Wales border ranges. The forest reserves will be converted to National Park status during the period of this plan.

1.5 Significance of the planning area

1.5.1 Natural values

The planning area is of exceptional strategic conservation value as it provides and consolidates links with GRA World Heritage-listed Springbrook National Park. The GRA include the most extensive areas of subtropical rainforest in the world, large areas of warm temperate rainforest, and Antarctic beech cool temperate rainforest. They also contain an unusually large proportion of plants and animals that are relatively unchanged from their fossil ancestors, providing a living link to the evolution

of Australia’s natural history. These primitive species include some of the world’s oldest ferns and conifers, plus a concentration of ancient plant families, such as cycads, that are direct links with the birth and spread of flowering plants more than 100 million years ago. As well as contributing to the natural integrity of, and providing a buffer to, the unique ecological values of Springbrook National Park, the undisturbed rainforest within the planning area is likely to have similar World Heritage values.

The Border Ranges area of northern NSW and South East Queensland, which incorporates the planning area, is recognised within Australia as a biodiversity hotspot, due to its high diversity and large proportion of locally endemic species, and is therefore a high national priority for conservation management (DEW 2007a).

Conservation areas purchased under the Open Space Preservation Levy contribute significantly to a continuum of reserved habitat. The Springbrook-Numinbah conservation corridor extends from Austinville Forest Reserve (now incorporated into Springbrook National Park) in the east, through Springbrook National Park, and connecting via Numinbah Forest Reserve (now incorporated into Springbrook National Park) and the Hinze Dam Catchment to Beechmont Plateau (see Figure 1). This extensive linkage is recognised as a State Significant Corridor (Environmental Protection Agency, 2005; Francis et al., 2005) and provides opportunities for altitudinal plant and animal dispersal and migration, and home ranges for larger native predators.

Recent flora and fauna surveys identified high species richness within the planning area, resulting from the number, diversity and integrity of vegetation communities present. The planning area lies within the Macleay-McPherson overlap, a phyto-geographical

Shining Burrawang (Lepidozamia peroffskyana) G. Leiper

Brush Cassia (Cassia marksiana) G. Leiper


zone characterised by the presence of both tropical and temperate species, many at the limits of their distributions (Burbidge 1960), that has resulted in formation of a complex mosaic of vegetation communities (NPWS 1995). Thirteen different Regional Ecosystems (REs) have been identified (Table 2), including four that are poorly-represented throughout the region (REs 12.8.20, 12.8.8a, 12.8.8 and 12.8.19) and have the status, ‘Of Concern’ under the Vegetation Management Act 1999. The diversity of vegetation types ranges from dry sclerophyll communities to complex vine forest and riparian vegetation. Ecological surveys also identified a high instance of mature, hollow-bearing, native trees and a generally low occurrence of exotic species, although localised weed infestations occur within cleared parts of the reserves.

Table 2 Remnant vegetation types occurring within the planning area

RE* Vegetation Description GCCC Veg Type**

Biodiversity Status of RE*

2001 Extent Remaining in City†

12.8.1 New England Blackbutt (Eucalyptus campanulata) Tall Moist Forest on igneous rock

38 No concern at present

88%

12.8.1 Blackbutt tall moist forest (Eucalyptus pilularis) on igneous rock 38b No concern at present

88%

12.8.3 Subtropical vine forest on igneous rock 29b No concern at present

59%

12.8.8 Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis) tall moist forest on igneous rock 41 Of concern 69%

12.8.8a Mixed Sclerophyll (Eucalyptus siderophloia /microcorys/propinqua) open forest on igneous rock

1e Of concern 85%

12.8.9 Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus) Tall Moist Forest on igneous rock (often with a rainforest understorey)

2c No concern at present

92%

12.8.14 Eucalyptus tereticornis/melliodora Open Forest on igneous rock 6d No concern at present

85%

12.8.19 Montane Heath and rock pavement/rock races with scattered shrubs or open-woodland on Cainozoic igneous rocks

35 Of concern 69%

12.8.20 Mixed Stringybark (Eucalyptus carnea /tindaliae) open forest on igneous rock 1d Of concern 99%

12.11.1 Gully vine forest on meta-sediments 29a No concern at present

61%

12.11.2 Eucalyptus Grandis tall open forest on metasediments 2a No concern at present

59%

12.11.3 Mixed Sclerophyll (Eucalyptus acmenoides /microcorys/propinqua-Lophostemon confertus) moist open forest

1b No concern at present

63%

12.11.3a Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus) tall moist forest on meta-sediments (often with rainforest understorey)

2 No concern at present

59%

12.12.15 Mixed Sclerophyll (Eucalyptus acmenoides /microcorys/propinqua) moist open forest on old igneous rock

1c No concern at present

76%

*RE = Regional Ecosystem. Description and biodiversity status sourced from: Queensland Herbarium Regional Ecosystem Database, version 5.1 (June 2007).

** GCCC vegetation types listed in accordance with Council Nature Conservation Mapping Review, Stage 1 (November 2003).

† Extent of each vegetation type within the city in 2001, as a percentage of the estimated pre-clearing extent of that vegetation type within the city.

Data from Appendix 6, GCCC Nature Conservation Mapping Review, Stage 1 (Ryan et al. November 2003).

More than 600 native plant species have been recorded within the planning area, including 28 species listed as rare or threatened under the Queensland Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994 (NCWR). One of these species is listed as endangered and eight species are listed as vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC). All of the significant plants identified within the planning area (Table 3) have restricted ranges – the majority being confined to rainforest and riparian habitats. Other locally significant plant species include Tree Ferns (Cyathea leichhardtiana) and Cycads (Lepidozamia peroffskyana), which represent some of the earliest families of land plants.


Table 3 Known and likely significant flora species within the planning area

Scientific Name Common Name Status

EPBC* NCWR*

KNOWN RARE OR THREATENED SPECIES

Acacia orites Mountain Wattle R

Archidendron muellerianum Small-Flowered Laceflower R

Ardisia bakeri Springbrook Ardisia R

Argophyllum nullumense Silver-Leaf R

Austrobuxus Sswainii Pink Cherry R

Baloghia marmorata Jointed Baloghia V R

Callerya australis Blunt Wisteria R

Cassia marksiana Brush Cassia R

Corynocarpus rupestris subsp. arborescens Southern Corynocarpus R

Cupaniopsis newmanii Long-Leaved Tuckeroo R

Endiandra hayesii Rusty Rose Walnut V

Floydia praealta Ball Nut V V

Helicia ferruginea Rusty Oak R

Helmholtzia glaberrima Helmholtzia R

Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia Red Bopple Nut V V

Lenwebbia prominens Velvet Myrtle R

Macadamia integrifolia Macadamia Nut V V

Macadamia tetraphylla Queensland Nut V V

Marsdenia longiloba Clear Milk Vine V V

Olearia heterocarpa Nightcap Daisy Bush R

Pandorea baileyana Large-Leaved Wonga Vine R

Plectranthus nitidus Shiny Plectranthus E E

Rhodamnia maideniana Smooth Scrub Turpentine R

Ricinocarpos speciosus Long-Haired Ricinocarpos V

Rulingia salvifolia No Common Name R

Senna acclinis Brush Senna R

Symplocos baeuerlenii Small-Leaved Hazelwood V V

Syzygium hodgkinsoniae Smooth-Bark Rose Apple V V

Tinospora tinosporoides Arrow-Head Vine V V


Scientific Name Common Name Status

EPBC* NCWR*

POSSIBLE RARE OR THREATENED SPECIES

Choricarpia subargentea Brown Myrtle R

Davidsonia johnsonii Smooth Davidsonia E E

Diploglottis campbellii Small-Leaved Tamarind E E

Eucryphia jinksii Springbrook Pinkwood E

Fontainea australis Southern Fontainea V V

Lepiderema pulchella Fine-Leaved Tuckeroo R

Marsdenia coronata Slender Milk Vine V V

Niemeyera whitei Rusty Plum V

Ochrosia moorei Southern Ochrosia E E

Owenia cepiodora Onion Cedar V V

Pararistolochia laheyana Mountain Aristolochia R

Pararistolochia praevenosa Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Vine R

Pittosporum oreillyanum Thorny Pittorsporum R

Randia moorei Spiny Gardenia E E

Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii Ravine Orchid V E

Symplocos harroldii Hairy Hazelwood R

*EPBC = species listed under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

NCA = species listed under the Queensland Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006.

Recent fauna surveys in the planning area identified 45 native mammals, 113 birds, 30 reptiles, 22 amphibians, 31 butterflies, 15 cicadas and 16 dragonflies. This high species diversity is a result of the rich habitat diversity, structural complexity and good connectivity between adjoining remnants. Of the species recorded, 25 are considered to be rare or threatened under State (NCWR) or Commonwealth (EPBC) legislation (Table 4). A significant number are also GRA-endemic species or are relicts of the once widespread Tumbunan subtropical rainforest biota (Landmark et al. 1999), which now has a narrow, disjunct distribution confined to the Border Ranges and the wet tropics (Schodde & Calaby 1972, Schodde 1991). Common but iconic species, such as the platypus, echidna and four species of glider, were also identified in the planning area. Local records and habitat types indicate a further five significant species that are likely to occur in the planning area.

Murray’s Skink (Eulamprus murrayi) N. Power


Table 4 Known and likely significant fauna species within the planning area

Scientific Name Common NameStatus

EPBC* NCWR*

KNOWN RARE OR THREATENED SPECIES

Dasyurus maculatus maculatus Spotted-Tailed Quoll E V

Potorous tridactylus Long-Nosed Potoroo V V

Chalinolobus dwyeri Large-Eared Pied Bat V R

Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-Headed Flying-Fox V

Ornithoptera richmondii Richmond Birdwing Butterfly V

Adelotus brevis Tusked Frog V

Litoria pearsoniana Cascade Treefrog E

Calyptorhynchus lathami Glossy Black-Cockatoo V

Ninox strenua Powerful Owl V

Podargus ocellatus Marbled Frogmouth V

Phascolarctos cinereus Koala V

Lechriodus fletcheri Black-Soled Frog R

Ophioscincus truncatus Short-Limbed Snake-Skink R

Acanthophis antarcticus Common Death Adder R

Hoplocephalus stephensi Stephen’s Banded Snake R

Accipiter novaehollandiae Grey Goshawk R

Tyto tenebricosa Sooty Owl R

Menura alberti Albert’s Lyrebird R

Climacteris erythrops Red-Browed Treecreeper R


Scientific Name Common NameStatus

EPBC* NCWR*

LIKELY RARE OR THREATENED SPECIES

Mixophyes iteratus Giant Barred Frog E E

Erythrotriorchis radiatus Red Goshawk V E

Saproscincus rosei Rose Skink R

Lophoictinia isura Square-Tailed Kite R

Kerivoula papuensis Golden-Tipped Bat R

Mixophyes fleayii Fleay’s Barred Frog E E

MIGRATORY SPECIES

Monarcha melanopsis Black-Faced Monarch

Monarcha trivirgatus Spectacled Monarch

Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail

Ardea alba Great Egret

GRA ENDEMIC SPECIES

Lechriodus fletcheri Black-Soled Frog R

Eulamprus martini Martin’s Skink

Eulamprus murrayi Murray’s Skink

Ophioscincus truncatus Short-Limbed Snake-Skink R

Podargus ocellatus Marbled Frogmouth V

Ptiloris pardiseus Paradise Riflebird

Antechinus subtropicus Sub-Tropical Antechinus

*EPBC = species listed under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

NCA = species listed under the Queensland Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006.

The Springbrook-Numinbah conservation corridor is also important in enhancing the quality and sustainability of the city’s water supply as it protects the upper catchment of the Hinze and Little Nerang Dams. Waterfall and Little Nerang Creeks contain a high diversity and abundance of pollution-sensitive, aquatic, macro-invertebrate taxa, indicating the majority of both systems are in good health.


1.5.2 Landscape

The planning area is characterised by prominent vegetated ridges, dramatic escarpments, lush forests, clear creeks and natural water holes. Mount Nimmel and Springbrook Road ridges form part of the city’s green backdrop. They provide expansive views eastwards over the city and coast, westwards into Numinbah valley, and across to Beechmont Range and Lamington National Park.

Purlingbrook Conservation Area, although relatively small, is strategically located because it is surrounded by Springbrook National Park and is close to Purlingbrook Falls. Its acquisition effectively removes any ongoing threat of development within view of this outstanding landscape feature.

1.5.3 Cultural heritage

The Springbrook region has physical and spiritual significance for the Aboriginal people of the Gold Coast and Hinterland region (QPWS, 1999) and is within the homeland of the extended families of the Yugambeh people (Best, 2005). The area provided abundant food, medicine and material for tools. Traditional owners in the region visited the higher areas at certain times of the year to take advantage of seasonal abundances of food. Cultural heritage studies in parts of Springbrook and Numinbah Conservation Areas, and in Springbrook National Park, uncovered artefacts including stone axes, cutting stones and scrapers, grinding stones and food remains (Kombumerri Aboriginal Corporation for Culture, 2005; QPWS, 1999). The importance of the mountains, creeks and valleys of the area to traditional owners can be seen in the stories of the Yugambeh people (Best, 2005).The planning area also contains evidence of early European settlement. Timber-getters and dairy farmers

began to settle Springbrook and Numinbah in the 19th century (Allom and Lovell, 2004) and heritage features such as old logging stumps, log-loading ramps and old farm buildings remain. Springbrook Road itself is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of the historic timber bridges and the dramatic history behind the construction of the road. The road was built between 1925 and 1928 and workers had to put in considerable effort to overcome the steep and difficult terrain (Longhurst, 1994).

The Border Ranges have a relatively long history of conservation, with Lamington National Park being one of the first national parks to be gazetted in Queensland in 1915 (Peter Newell, 1969). Springbrook National Park was gazetted in 1937 (Allom and Lovell, 2004). Development of ecotourism activities in both parks followed soon after, including construction of lookouts, guest houses, and an extensive network of graded walking tracks that are still popular today. In 1994 parts of Springbrook National Park were included within the World Heritage listed Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia, now known as Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

1.5.4 Recreation

The exceptional scenic and natural values of the planning area offer potential for a diverse range of outdoor, nature-based, recreational opportunities. These include bushwalking, picnicking, nature appreciation, horse riding and photography. The reserves contain a potential network of walking tracks including the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk which runs through Springbrook and Numinbah Conservation Areas, connecting the Springbrook and Lamington plateaus. Picnic areas at Apple Tree Park, Bochow Park and Springbrook Centenary Parklands complement the numerous picnic spots and lookouts in the nearby National Park and Forest Reserves.

1.5.5 Environmental research and education

Intact rainforest vegetation within the scenic rim environmental province is not only exceptionally species-rich, but also represents major stages in the Earth’s evolutionary history. It provides an outstanding example of ongoing geological processes and biological evolution. As such, parts of the planning area provide a natural laboratory where people can observe and study evolutionary and ecological processes, including the biology of many rare and little known species.

Fleay’s Barred Frog (Mixophyes fleayii) N. Power


1.6 Climate change

Current observations of global air and ocean temperatures, changing sea levels and melting snow and ice indicate a warming of the global climate system (IPCC 2007), with a warming of approximately 0.8 – 1.3ºC recorded in Northern NSW since 1950 (CSIRO 2007). The Australian Government now includes loss of climatic habitat caused by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases as a key threatening process (DEH 2004).

Specific impacts of the changing climate are difficult to predict, with simulated climate futures varying considerably in their predictions of rainfall, wind speeds, relative humidity and storm activity etcetera (Bushfire CRC, 2006). However, regional changes to climate are likely to have significant impacts on species biodiversity, including changes in species distributions as some species are no longer able to survive in a particular area and others become more competitive and begin to colonise (CSIRO 2007). At particular risk are species that occupy a narrow altitudinal or latitudinal distribution that is unlikely to retain the required temperature envelope for that species under a changing climate (Westoby and Burgman 2006). Even for those species physiologically able to cope with a change in temperature, threats may arise from the cumulative effects of multiple stresses including coping with competitors and diseases previously confined to warmer zones (DECC NSW 2008), changed disturbance regimes, loss of critical habitat or changes to physiological and biological processes due to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (Pittock 2003, Howden et al. 2001).

Conservation planning under climate change needs to be wide-scale as there are limits to what is can be achieved at a reserve, or even on a regional scale (Hughes and Westoby 1994). Management attempts to retain species in their present location are dependent on those species being able to tolerate changing temperatures and associated stresses including competition and disease. Translocation of threatened species to a more suitable temperature envelope requires alignment of numerous other factors, including soils, rainfall, disturbance regimes, competition and co-dependant species. Therefore the option of attempting to halt global carbon emissions to prevent further warming is likely to be critical (Westoby and Burgman 2006).

However, climate change is, to a large extent, an exacerbator of other threats to biodiversity and management options that can be adopted at the reserve scale to mitigate these threats may in turn maximise the capacity of species and ecosystems to adapt to changing climates (DECC NSW 2008, NRMMC 2004). Relevant management options are provided in Section 5 of this plan and include specific actions and guidelines to assist in building resilience into natural

systems through reducing existing threats to biodiversity, ongoing development of an adequate, representative and well-connected protected area network, monitoring and research into the impacts of climate change and adaptation options for threatened species and ecosystems and adapting management systems to incorporate climate change information and associated management tools.


2.1 Management principles and goals

This management plan provides the framework for management of the planning area by stating the philosophy on which decisions will be based and setting out objectives, guidelines and actions for management. This plan identifies all uses or activities permitted within the planning area, as agreed by Council, in consultation with the community. All uses and activities within the planning area must be consistent with the management principles and goals given below, in order to maintain the environmental, cultural, scenic and amenity values of the planning area.

The overall intent for management of the planning area is to protect and enhance the natural integrity of the landscape and the scenic, natural and cultural heritage values. At suitable locations, these conservation values will be balanced with low-key, nature-based, sustainable recreational opportunities. In particular, park management will strive to protect and enhance connectivity between the planning area and adjacent remnants to ensure long term protection of the viable habitat network between the Gold Coast Hinterland and World Heritage-listed reserves of the Scenic Rim.

Management decisions for the planning area are based on four core principles.

a. Conservation areas acquired through the OSPL Acquisition Program will be managed to preserve the full range of significant natural values they possess. This over-riding principle will be applied when considering all land use proposals and options for management.

b. Protection of natural values preserves the amenity of the planning area and provides the basis for ecologically-sustainable recreational use.

c. Protection of the natural values of the planning area also benefits the community by protecting the drinking water catchment, preserving ecosystems and enhancing scenic amenity, and cultural heritage values.

d. The long-term protection of the natural values of the planning area will be achieved more easily if the community understands and supports Council’s goals for management.

As a reflection of these principles, Council will seek to achieve the following management goals for the planning area:

Protect, improve and maintain biophysical processes and indigenous biodiversity, including viable species, communities, ecosystems, evolutionary units and genetic diversity;Protect drinking water catchments, particularly the supply and quality of water available to the Hinze and Little Nerang Dams;Improve the condition of aspects of the natural features where they have become significantly degraded, or will become so if not properly managed;Conserve geological, geomorphological, hydrological and landscape features; Protect cultural heritage values and provide opportunity for the local indigenous community to become involved in conserving these values;Increase community awareness of and participation in environmentally-sustainable land management;Provide for public understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural values, through provision of low-key, nature-based recreational infrastructure in appropriate and sustainable locations;Provide for research and long-term monitoring programs to better inform decision-makers in applying best-practice management solutions;Optimise integration of management between State Government authorities and Council.

2 Management directions

Numinbah Conservation Area R. Anderson


2.2 Specific management objectives for Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves Cluster

Protect and enhance resilience, diversity and integrity of remnant vegetation, particularly endangered and ‘of concern’ regional ecosystems;Protect and enhance native species biodiversity through appropriate management of bushfire, disturbed areas, human impacts and adjacent land uses;Manage and enhance populations of rare and threatened plants and animals in accordance with current best practice;Restore ecological function of degraded ecosystems;Control pest plants and animals using pest management plans and, where relevant, coordinated management with adjacent landholders;Manage fire to protect life, property, and ecosystem function and diversity;Manage the planning area within the context of existing National Parks and Forest Reserves by meeting regularly with relevant state agencies;Protect water catchment values through management of vegetation, bushfire, access and visitor use;Protect Aboriginal cultural heritage values and improve public appreciation of these values through cooperative management with local traditional owners;Protect European cultural heritage values and improve public appreciation of these values;Provide visitors with safe, nature-based recreational experiences, where this is consistent with the protection of natural and cultural values;Improve public understanding, appreciation and support for reserves and conservation of natural areas by providing interpretive experiences and promoting appropriate behaviour;

Maintain safe and ecologically-sustainable access for management and recreation;Encourage and facilitate scientifically-rigorous research and monitoring to contribute to ongoing strategic management and/or improve knowledge of natural and cultural values;Establish and maintain good communication and relations with adjacent landholders and other key stakeholders;Manage pre-existing land uses, such as grazing and service easements, in a manner that supports and maintains natural and recreational values;Ensure that management is supported by effective legislative and policy provisions.

Spotted Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) K. Stepnell


3.1 Gold Coast Open Space Preservation Levy acquisition program

More than 90 per cent of the planning area comprises land purchased with Council’s Open Space Preservation Levy (OSPL). The OSPL acquisition program helps Council achieve the core objectives of the Gold Coast City Nature Conservation Strategy (GCCC, 1998) by securing the protection of areas of high conservation value in public ownership. The lands acquired with the Open Space Preservation Levy (OSPL) are designated by Gold Coast City Council as conservation areas.

The direction for management of Austinville, Purlingbrook, Springbrook, Numinbah and Pocket Road Conservation Areas reflects the over-arching principle established in the document “Management Guidelines for sites acquired with the Open Space Preservation Levy (Phase 1 & 2 Acquisition Programs)”. The principle states: Sites acquired with funds derived from the Open Space Preservation Levy, (as part of the Open Space Preservation Levy Acquisition Program – Phases 1 and 2), have been acquired primarily for nature conservation and must be managed to preserve the ecological values that Council bought each site to protect and used in such a way so not to have a negative impact upon those values.

The Guidelines, adopted by Council in December 2004, describe the actions required for the short-term management of the sites and recommendations for longer-term management. Many of the actions or strategies initiated as an ‘immediate action’ via the guidelines are recommended to continue as actions contained in this management plan.

3.2 Gold Coast Planning Scheme and strategies

Under the Gold Coast Planning Scheme, the majority of the reserves within the planning area fall within the boundaries of the Springbrook Local Area Plan (LAP). These reserves include Springbrook Conservation Area (CA), Purlingbrook CA, parts of Numinbah CA, Friendship Park, Centenary Park, Velvet Downs Park, Springbrook Road Reserve and Bilborough Park.

The objective of the LAP is to provide land use planning direction for the conservation and limited development of the Springbrook Plateau area. Environmental goals of the LAP include protection of the nature conservation values of the LAP area, maintenance of biodiversity and viability of wildlife habitat areas, and protection of the

quality and quantity of water supply to the Hinze and Little Nerang Dam catchments.

Under the LAP, the aforementioned reserves are all included within the Rural and Nature Conservation precinct, which aims to preserve and rehabilitate both the valuable natural areas of the Springbrook Plateau and the linkages between those areas. Within this precinct there are a number of Nature Conservation Areas (Purlingbrook CA, Friendship Park, Springbrook CA, Numinbah CA and Apple Tree Park), Rural Areas (Centenary Park, Velvet Downs Park and Springbrook Road Reserve) and a Nature Conservation Link (Bilborough Park). Retention of native vegetation and rehabilitation of cleared areas are priority objectives within Nature Conservation and Nature Conservation Link areas.

Of the reserves outside the Springbrook LAP area, the majority fall within the Public Open Space domain of the Gold Coast Planning Scheme, while parts of Numinbah CA and Austinville CA occur within the ‘rural’ domain.

The intent of the Public Open Space domain is to provide protection of land in public ownership for contribution to a viable city-wide conservation network, conservation of biodiversity, maintenance of ecological values and functions, rehabilitation of degraded habitat and protection of landscape features, in addition to provision of a range of recreational facilities throughout the city and provision of limited community services and facilities. It is envisaged that all land within the domain will be subject to a development concept plan or integrated management plan which will guide future development and regulate proposed activities to protect the management intent. Currently the Public Open Space domain provides the highest level of conservation protection to conservation lands under Council’s planning scheme.

The purpose of the ‘rural’ domain is to support a wide range of rural activities and legitimate rural economic activity within suitable hinterland areas, whilst protecting the land’s nature conservation, open space and landscape interest values. Preservation of landscape character, important topographical features, wildlife and wildlife habitats are key objectives within this domain.

This management plan has also been developed in accordance with several other relevant Council strategies, including the Gold Coast City Bushfire Management Strategy 1998 (currently under review), the City of the Gold Coast Pest Management Plan 2006-2010, the Gold Coast Nature Conservation Strategy 1998 (currently

3 Legislative and policy framework


Relevant Environmental Legislation, Plans and Strategies

Protection of rare or threatened flora and/or fauna and/or ecosystems and/or adjacent protected areas under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Queensland Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.Management of threatened species in accordance with Threatened Species Recovery Plans produced under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.Management of rare and threatened species is in accordance with Threat Abatement Plans developed to address Key Threatening Processes listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Protection of migratory animals under the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement, China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement and the Bonn Convention (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals).Protection of remnant vegetation in accordance with the Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999. Protection of vegetation in accordance with Council’s Vegetation Management Law (Local Law 6).Environmental protection under the Environment Protection Act 1994.Environmental management in accordance with Council’s Parks and Reserves Law (Local Law 9).Management of Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area values in accordance with The World Heritage Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia: Strategic Overview for Management 2000. Alignment of management objectives with the Regional Nature Conservation Strategy for South East Queensland 2003-2008.Alignment of management objectives with the Preliminary Draft Border Ranges Rainforest Biodiversity Management Plan (NSW and QLD) National Recovery Plan for the Border Ranges Hotspot Region 2008.Conservation of koala habitat in accordance with the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016. Protection of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage values under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and assessment of Cultural Heritage Values where construction or disturbance is planned.Appropriate management of sites listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.Eradication, control or containment of weeds on Council land that are declared under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management Act) 2002. Control of pest animals in accordance with the Queensland Pest Animal Strategy 2002-2006.Reduction of fire risk on Council land and taking necessary steps to ensure that fire does not impact on neighbouring properties in accordance with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Services Act 1990. Management of infrastructure development in accordance with the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005 and the Integrated Planning Act 1997.Protection and sustainable management of water resources under the Queensland Water Act 2000.All operations carried out in accordance with the Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.

under review), the Corporate Plan 2005-2009, Our Natural Playground – A Parks and Recreation Plan for the Gold Coast 2004 and Gold Coast Water Catchment Management Strategy 2006.

The day-to day operations of the Natural Areas Management Unit, which is the asset custodian for Council’s conservation reserves, is guided by the NAMU Business Plan, 2008-2011. Implementation and prioritisation of management actions and guidelines given in this management plan will be in accordance with the NAMU Business Plan.

3.3 Other relevant legislation, plans and strategies

In its management of the planning area, Council has obligations under various acts, recovery plans and international agreements that relate to state, federal and international legislation. Some of the legislation, plans and strategies directly relevant to management of the planning area are listed below. This list, however, is not comprehensive and is likely to change as new legislation is introduced or existing legislation amended during the period of this plan. For a more comprehensive list of legislation that may be relevant to this plan, refer to Appendix B of Council’s Conservation Areas Management Planning Framework document.


Black-Soled Frog (Lechriodus fletcheri) and Cascade Tree Frog (Litoria pearsoniana) permanent watercourses with shaded, undisturbed creek banks that also provide potential breeding habitat for the Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus) and Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

4.1.2 Threats to fauna

Historically, land clearing in the Springbrook-Numinbah area has resulted in fragmentation of remnant vegetation which limits fauna movement and dispersal. Habitat fragmentation is most damaging to wide-ranging species such as Stephen’s Banded Snake, The Spotted-Tailed Quoll, Powerful Owl And Sooty Owl. Quolls, for example, are largely solitary animals and may move through areas of more than 500 hectares (Watt, A. 1993 and Burnett, S. 1993). Because few such areas of extensive habitat exist in South East Queensland, quoll populations have become scattered, making them vulnerable to chance disturbances such as frequent fire and disease.

No further clearing is likely to occur within the planning area or adjacent National Park and Forest Reserves. However, existing cleared areas within Numinbah CA are unlikely to be used by forest-dwelling species, and those which avoid open habitats. Rehabilitation of cleared areas, particularly along watercourses such as Waterfall Creek, would increase the width, diversity and integrity of the State-recognised wildlife corridor that exists within the planning area.

Despite the semi-isolated nature of the Springbrook and Numinbah valleys, road kill remains a common cause of death for native animals. Wildcare statistics for 2001-02, indicate road trauma in the Gold Coast region accounted for the majority recorded deaths of Macropods (47.4%), Koalas (33.3%) and Monotremes (50%). At Springbrook, Wildcare’s records for the first half of 2005 indicate more than 30 wildlife accidents (24 of which resulted in death) were caused by road trauma. Actual road kill figures are likely to be higher as Wildcare volunteers are unable to record all road kills. The majority of these incidents involved Red-Necked Pademelons, although other species affected include Common Ringtail Possum, Common Bandicoot, Whiptail Wallaby, Carpet Python, Satin Bowerbird, Tawny Frogmouth and Kookaburra.

Cattle and people trampling around waterways can significantly reduce habitat viability for native frogs

4.1 Native fauna

4.1.1 Fauna management priorities

The diversity of habitat types in the planning area supports a rich array of fauna, representative of more widespread populations from days past that have been reduced through habitat loss. The majority of this habitat is relatively weed-free and structurally intact, containing large numbers of mature, hollow-bearing habitat trees. Connectivity between the planning area and adjacent remnants provides extensive home ranges for species suck as Stephen’s banded snake (Hoplocephalus stephensi), the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) and spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), which are dependent on large areas of undisturbed habitat. Habitats of particular significance for native animals include:

large stands of Forest She-Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa) and Black She-Oak (Allocasuarina littoralis) that contain groves of feed trees used by the vulnerable Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)extensive stands of tall dry sclerophyll forest with well-developed structure, including old senescing trees, provide habitat for rare and threatened fauna species including the Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus), Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), Spotted-Tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus), Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), Long-Nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus), New Holland Mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae), Grey-Headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), Gliders (Acrobates pygmaeus, Petaurus australis, P. breviceps and P. norfolcensis) and Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebriscosa)large tracts of undisturbed, wet Sclerophyll and rainforest vegetation provide suitable habitat for rare and threatened fauna species including the Short-Limbed Snake-Skink (Ophioscincus truncatus), Common Death Adder, Stephen’s Banded Snake, Grey Goshawk, Marbled Frogmouth (Podargus ocellatus ocellatus), Albert’s Lyrebird (Menura albertii), Long-Nosed Potoroo, Spotted-Tailed Quoll, Grey-Headed Flying Fox and Large Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri), also migratory birds such as the Black-Faced Monarch (Monarcha melanopsis), Spectacled Monarch (M.trivirgatus) and Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons)permanent and ephemeral watercourses surrounded by mesic riparian vegetation – notably Waterfall Creek and Little Nerang Creek West – provide habitat for a variety of semi-aquatic, significant frog species including the Tusked Frog (Adelotus brevis),

4 Management strategies for Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves Cluster


such as the endangered Giant Barred Frog and cascade Tree Frog because of compaction, erosion, degradation of vegetation, and altered light penetration. Shaded, overhanging creek banks provide essential egg-laying habitat for the giant barred frog and nesting and feeding habitats for the platypus. Trampling may also have a detrimental impact on upper leaf litter layers inhabited by burrowing skinks.

Chytridiomycosis, a water-borne fungal disease caused by the Amphibian Chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis, is known to occur in the region and is a threat to rare or threatened frog species. Although it generally occurs at altitudes of 300m above sea level or greater, chitridiomycosis in frogs has been recorded in Brisbane. It can spread when fungal spores are transported between water bodies during flood events or by attaching to human footwear (Ingram et al., 2005). At present, little is known about how to control the disease and it is listed as a key threatening process under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Koalas may be susceptible to Chlamydiosis and Cryptococcosis, which can cause urinary tract problems, blindness, infertility, pneumonia and meningitis. High levels of crowding and competition as a result of land clearing and habitat loss, increases the koalas’ susceptibility to these illnesses. Disease is more likely to spread through overcrowded populations and nutritionally-stressed animals are more vulnerable to infection (Weigler et al., 1988).

Native animals may also be susceptible to diseases harboured by pest animals with similar ecology. For example, the spotted-tailed quoll is vulnerable to diseases transmitted by dogs, cats and foxes. The impacts of pest animals, pest plants and wildfire on native fauna are addressed in sections 4.4-4.6.

4.1.3 Desired outcomes

Continued protection to ensure long-term viability of all indigenous native animal populations and communities in the planning areaMaintenance and enhancement of existing habitat diversity, size and connectivityNo preventable population decline or habitat loss for native faunaIncreased knowledge and understanding of fauna populations and distributionManagement decisions that are based on an expanding knowledge of native fauna biology and ecologyCooperation and good working relationships with adjacent landholders to protect long-term viability of native fauna and habitat within the reserve

4.1.4 Management strategy for fauna

GuidelinesCoordinate fauna management, including pest control, disease prevention and restoration of habitat connectivity with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and neighbouring landholders; Promote community understanding of fauna protection and management issues;Manage reserves in accordance with the relevant State or Commonwealth Threatened Species Recovery Plans;Essential removal or translocation of rare or threatened fauna species must be subject to assessment and approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Nature Conservation Act 1992, and relevant permits must be obtained where necessary;Minimise disturbance to fauna habitat during ecological restoration (refer to 4.6); Exclude dogs from all conservation areas within the planning area;During planned and unplanned burn operations, aim to maintain connectivity between habitat types and sufficient groundcover for shelter and foraging (refer to 4.4);Prevent public vehicle access on internal tracks within the planning area; Prohibit camping and restrict night activities at Apple Tree Park to minimise disturbance to potoroo habitat;Manage known, rare or threatened species habitat to maintain viable populations and exclude human interference, using minimum buffer distances of 200 metres;Manage all reserves in accordance with recommendations and requirements of Commonwealth Government Draft Threat Abatement Plan for Infection of Amphibians with Chytrid Fungus Resulting in Chytridiomycosis; Facilitate public education regarding the spread

Long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) K. Stepnell


of infectious diseases including Amphibian Chytridiomycosis, Koala Chlamydiosis and cryptococcosis, and other disease spread by pest animals; Support Council’s Environmental Planning and Conservation Unit (EP&C) and other specialist Council staff in monitoring rare or threatened fauna species within the planning area;Restrict access to Waterfall Creek to formal creek crossings;

ActionsRestore vegetation along degraded sections of Waterfall Creek to increase mesic habitat links to Numinbah Forest Reserve (now incorporated into Springbrook National Park); Increase available forest habitat through restoration of cleared parts of Numinbah CA and Pocket Road CA with indigenous remnant vegetation;Maintain fences in Numinbah CA and Pocket Road CA to prevent cattle access to waterways and native vegetation, and provide or maintain alternative cattle watering points where necessary. Cattle access to selected, fenced creek sections may be permitted only when alternative watering points are not operational; Alert motorists to known Long Nosed Potoroo habitat by installing signage along Springbrook Road to advise caution when driving;Forward all new fauna studies and incidental records of rare or threatened species for inclusion in Council’s Nature Conservation Strategy database.

4.2 Native vegetation

4.2.1 Flora management priorities

The rich floristic diversity within the planning area is closely associated with landscape elements such as topography, aspect and soils, as well as climatic factors and current and historic land uses. The complexity of factors influencing vegetation composition makes communities highly susceptible to change, as evidenced by the changes in vegetation condition that have occurred since European colonisation. Within a management context, it is important to consider both the vulnerability of vegetation to long-term environmental change, and the importance of shorter-term changes such as bushfire, in maintaining the viability of some native communities.

An important priority is the preservation of rare or threatened species and communities, as well as otherwise significant species. Significant species include those that are at the geographical extent of their range or provide an important resource for significant native fauna. Priority vegetation communities and species and their ecological requirements are summarised in Table 5.

Springbrook Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus speciosus) G. Leiper


Table 5 Ecological requirements of significant vegetation in the planning area

Species / vegetation community Significance Ecological requirements

SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION COMMUNITIES

Eucalyptus saligna or E. grandis tall open forest on Cainozoic igneous rocks (RE 12.8.8)

Of Concern remnant vegetation.

Habitat for rare and threatened flora species including Lepidozamia peroffskyana, Acacia orites, Argophyllum nullumense, Cupaniopsis newmanii, Helicia ferruginea, Ricinocarpos speciosus and Olearia heterocarpa.

Grows in areas subject to local enrichment from igneous rocks, therefore extensively cleared for agriculture. Subsequently invaded by Lantana camara, which suppresses recovery and alters fire regimes, resulting in sub-optimal conditions for maintaining biological integrity.

Vulnerable to inappropriate fire regimes.

Eucalyptus siderophloia, E. microcorys, E. propinqua, Corymbia intermedia and Eucalyptus carnea open forest on Cainozoic igneous rocks. (RE 12.8.8a)


Habitat for rare and threatened flora species including Lepidozamia peroffskyana, Acacia orites, Cupaniopsis newmanii, Tinospora tinosporoides and Lenwebbia prominens.

Grows in areas subject to local enrichment from igneous rocks, therefore extensively cleared for agriculture and timber harvesting.

Susceptible to Lantana invasion, which alters nutrient regimes and encourages establishment of other weed species.

Vulnerable to inappropriate (too-frequent) fire management.

Montane Heath and rock pavement/rock races with scattered shrubs or open-woodland on Cainozoic igneous rocks (RE 12.8.19)


Habitat for numerous rare and threatened flora species and species with restricted or disjunct distributions.

Frequent fire favours fire-tolerant species at the expense of fire-sensitive species.

Eucalyptus carnea, E. tindaliae, E. microcorys, E. campanulata, E. acmenoides, C. intermedia, E. siderophloia, E. biturbinata and E. tindaliae tall open forest on rhyolite plateaus and escarpments (subset of RE 12.8.20)


Habitat for rare and threatened flora species including Acacia orites and Lenwebbia prominens.

Occurs on rhyolite escarpment edges and plateau tops.

Vulnerable to inappropriate (too-frequent) fire management.

Stands of Allocasuarina torulosa or A. littoralis

Feeding groves for the Glossy Black Cockatoo.

Occurs on slopes containing Sclerophyll woodland. Mature trees are vulnerable to fire but fire is also required for recruitment.

Adjacent habitat trees increase value of the feeding resource.

Gully Vine Forest (RE 12.11.1) & Eucalyptus grandis tall open forest with rainforest understorey (RE 12.11.2), particularly at Austinville

Contains suitable habitat for Pararistolochia laheyana, which is the food plant for Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondii).

Moist forest habitats. Vulnerable to fire.

SIGNIFICANT PLANT SPECIES

Mountain Wattle (Acacia orites) Rare (NCWR*) Usually occurs on free-draining, relatively infertile volcanic soils, restricted to elevations between 250 and 1200 metres above sea level. Often on rainforest margins and in disturbed areas.

Vulnerable to habitat modification and degradation associated with weed invasion and wildfire.

Small-Flowered Laceflower (Archidendron muellerianum)

Rare (NCWR) Occurs in subtropical rainforest and gully vine forest. Vulnerable to fire.

Springbrook Ardisia (Ardisia bakeri) Rare (NCWR) Occurs in subtropical rainforest and gully vine forest. Vulnerable to fire.

Silver Leaf (Argophyllum nullumense) Rare (NCWR) Occurs in wet sclerophyll gullies, subtropical and warm temperate rainforest habitats.

Vulnerable to habitat modification and degradation associated with weed invasion and wildfire.



Pink Cherry (Austrobuxus swainii) Rare (NCWR) Occurs in subtropical rain forest and wet sclerophyll forest. Vulnerable to fire.

Blunt Wisteria (Callerya australis) Rare (NCWR) Occurs in gully vine forest at lower altitudes. Vulnerable to fire.

Brush Cassia (Cassia marksiana) Rare (NCWR) Occurs in moist rainforest/vine forest, riparian communities and wet sclerophyll forest. Vulnerable to clearing, grazing, weed invasion and fire.

Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)

At the northern extent of it’s range in this area.

Occurs in warm and cool temperate rainforest.

Corynocarpus (Corynocarpus rupestris ssp. arborescens)

Rare (NCWR) Occurs in subtropical and warm temperate rainforest and dry rainforest on steep stony slopes, rocky crevices and scree.

Vulnerable to fire, weed invasion and habitat encroachment.

Long-Leaved Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis newmanii)

Rare (NCWR) Occurs in subtropical and warm temperate rainforest and occasionally, moist sclerophyll communities. Vulnerable to fire and weed invasion, particularly Lantana camara.

Rusty rose walnut (Endiandra hayesii) Vulnerable (NCWR) Occurs in lowland riverine forest. Vulnerable to fire.

Ball Nut (Floydia praealta) Vulnerable (NCWR, EPBC**) Occurs in lowland and riverine forest, subtropical rainforest and occasionally at higher altitudes. Vulnerable to fire.

Rusty Oak (Helicia ferruginea) Rare (NCWR) Occurs in subtropical rainforest and moist sclerophyll forest communities. Vulnerable to fire.

Helmholtzia (Helmholtzia glaberrima) Rare (NCWR) Occurs at higher altitudes often in moist brush box and riparian communities, also in warm temperate and subtropical rainforest and cool temperate cloud forest. Vulnerable to fire.

Red Bopple Nut (Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia)

Vulnerable (NCWR, EPBC) Occurs in lowland rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest. Vulnerable to fire.

Velvet Myrtle (Lenwebbia prominens) Rare (NCWR) Occurs in rainforest vegetation, frequently along stream banks and also in high altitude rainforest. Vulnerable to fire.

Queensland Nut (Macadamia tetraphylla) and Macadamia Nut (Macadamia integrifolia)

Vulnerable (NCWR, EPBC) Occurs in subtropical rainforest communities that are susceptible to fire and also wet sclerophyll forest.

Vulnerable to weed invasion, particularly Lantana camara and wildfire.

Clear Milk Vine (Marsdenia longiloba) Vulnerable (NCWR, EPBC) Occurs in subtropical and warm temperate rainforest, lowland moist eucalypt forest and adjoining rainforest.

Nightcap Daisy Bush (Olearia heterocarpa)

Rare (NCWR) Generally occurs in wet sclerophyll forest. Vulnerable to inappropriate fire regimes.

Large-Leaved Wonga Vine (Pandorea baileyana)

Rare (NCWR) Occurs in moist sclerophyll forest and cool, warm temperate and subtropical rainforest. Vulnerable to inappropriate fire regimes.

Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa) and Mountain Aristolochia (P. laheyana)

Rare (NCWR)

Larval host plants for the vulnerable Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondii)

Occurs in rainforest understorey, on nutrient rich soils. P. laheyana occurs in montane habitats above 600m, whilst P. praevenosa occurs below 600m.

Shiny Plectranthus (Plectranthus nitidus)

Endangered (NCWR, EPBC) Occurs in gully vine forest. Vulnerable to fire.

Smooth Scrub Turpentine (Rhodamnia maideniana)

Rare (NCWR) Occurs in warm temperate and subtropical rainforest and moist sclerophyll communities. Vulnerable to fire.



Springbrook Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus speciosus)

Vulnerable (NCWR) Occurs in wet Sclerophyll forest.

Vulnerable to weed invasion. Avoid high intensity burns and minimise wildfire (Tran and Wild, 2000).

Rulingia salvifolia Rare (NCWR) Occurs in open upland eucalypt forest.

Brush Senna (Senna acclinis) Rare (NCWR) Occurs on margins of subtropical and dry vine forest and in wet sclerophyll forest. Vulnerable to weed invasion and habitat clearing.

Small-Leaved Hazelwood (Symplocos baeuerlenii)

Vulnerable (NCWR, EPBC) Occurs in cool to warm temperate rainforest communities, generally above 800m. Vulnerable to fire, weed invasion and habitat clearing.

Red Lilly Pilly (Syzygium hodgkinsoniae)

Vulnerable (NCWR, EPBC) Occurs in riverine rainforest communities and rainforest fringes. Vulnerable to weed invasion, particularly Lantana camara.

Arrow-Head Vine (Tinospora tinosporoides)

Vulnerable (NCWR, EPBC) Occurs in subtropical vine forest to moist Sclerophyll communities. Vulnerable to fire.

4.2.2 Threats to flora

A further management priority is the identification and control of threats to native vegetation and communities. Some of the key threats to native vegetation were highlighted by recent ecological surveys within the planning area (BAAM, 2006). These threats include competition from weeds, wildfire, human disturbances and changes to ecosystem condition. Disturbance by pest plants and the negative and positive impacts of fire on native vegetation have been addressed in sections 4.6 and 4.4 respectively.

Land management practices including clearing, cattle grazing, trampling and pasture improvement can lead to invasion of exotic species, which compete with native plants and increase risk of further degradation through high intensity wildfire. Trampling around creeks by people and stock can harmfully impact on water quality and habitat viability for riparian plants. Other human impacts include vegetation damage caused by frequent vehicle use, illegal camping and the collection of wild plants such as orchids.

Vegetation disturbances, including land clearing and fire, expose surrounding forests to increased sunlight, wind and soil nutrients, making delicately-balanced vegetation communities more susceptible to weed invasion and further fire disturbance. Edge effects are of particular concern where they occur close to populations of rare or threatened plants, putting these species in close competition with invasive pest plants.

Inappropriate fire regimes (frequency, season or intensity) can impact on the diversity of plant communities present,

through destruction of fire sensitive species, proliferation and increased competition from exotic and pyrogenic species, preventing species from reaching reproductive maturity and senescence of fire-dependant communities. A landscape-based approach to fire management is necessary to ensure ongoing viability of the diversity of vegetation communities occupying the planning area, and this is discussed in Section 4.4. At particular risk are fire-adapted grassy sclerophyll forests, where lack of fire management, followed by intense wildfire leads to development of a dense woody thicket, at the expense of grasses and forbs; and fire-sensitive vegetation communities occurring in moist gullies and fire shadows,

*NCWR = Qld Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation

** EPBC = Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

Dry sclerophyll woodland J. Searle


where long term shelter from fire has allowed mature, fire-sensitive plant communities to develop. Undisturbed fire shadows elsewhere on Springbrook provide a refuge for ancient Gondwanan species that are relatively unchanged from their fossil ancestors and retain a living link with Australia’s evolutionary past. Identification of isolated, long-unburnt, plant communities is an important part of fire planning and the need for ground-truthing of all vegetation communities during fire planning. The use of mosaic burning is addressed in the Springbrook Fire Strategy (QPWS, GCCC & QFRS 2009).

The potential for increased instances of high fire danger weather posed by climate change increase the vulnerability of fire-sensitive vegetation communities to disturbance. Critical to this is the need to proactively manage adjacent fire-tolerant vegetation communities and agricultural land to mitigate the risk of wildfire becoming uncontrollable and spreading into previously unburnt vegetation during inevitable drought periods.

Psyllid-associated eucalypt canopy dieback has been observed in small patches of mature regrowth adjacent to Numinbah CA and may be a result of complex interactions between a number of ecosystem stresses (Landsberg and Wylie 1991, Wylie et al. 1993, Stone et al. 1995), including logging, clearing and fragmentation, weed establishment, hydrological changes, fire regime, grazing, colonisation of bell miners, fungal pathogens, lack of floristic diversity and soil nitrification (Wardell-Johnson et al. 2006, Collett 2001, Wylie et al. 1993, Stone et al. 1995, Landsberg and Cork 1997, Jurskis and Turner 2002, Kavanagh and Stanton 2003). Sclerophyll canopy decline may also occur as a natural part of succession, for example in burnt or cleared rainforest remnants where disturbed vegetation, initially colonised by early successional species such as eucalypts or Acacia orites, progresses over time to the original rainforest community (Wardell-Johnson et al. 2006).

Bell miner-associated dieback (BMAD) is a significant threat to sustainability of remnant sclerophyll forests of NE NSW and SE QLD (Wardell-Johnson et al., 2006, DECC 2008) and occurs where the sustained presence of bell miners creates negative feed-back mechanisms that maintain elevated and damaging populations of psyllids in the eucalypt canopy (Stone 1999). It can impact on wet and dry sclerophyll forests that provide fauna habitat, protect upland catchments and buffer adjacent rainforests edges (DECC 2008). The causal factors of BMAD and other forms of eucalypt dieback remain unclear and the lack of quantitative data, linking canopy dieback with specific natural or man-made disturbance factors, makes management difficult and required an integrated management approach that recognises the complexity of interactions contributing to canopy dieback (Wardell-Johnson et al. 2006).

Fungal pathogens, for example Phytophthora cinnamomi, are widespread throughout humid areas of NSW and Qld (Wardell-Johnson et al., 2006) and are considered a low priority threat within the Border Ranges planning area (DECC 2008), but may also occur in healthy forest (Stone et al. 1995). Soil movement activities including road building, mining, logging, fire control, feral pig activity and bush walking, have been implicated in the spread of soil pathogens (Garkaklis et al. 2004) and maintenance of a healthy, diverse community may be the best insurance against attack from fungal pathogens and potential insect pests (Wardell-Johnson et al. 2006).

Whilst neither BMAD or P. Cinnamomi have been identified in the planning area (Parsons Brinckerhoff 2005), vulnerable forest communities (eg. E. saligna, E. grandis, E. siderophloia and E. acmenoides) are present and processes thought to play a role in dieback, including logging, pasture improvement, habitat fragmentation and lantana infestation, are evident.

Restoration of structural complexity and floristic diversity within moist sclerophyll forest understorey, particularly to encourage a diverse avi-fauna, has been suggested as effective in reducing the impact of psyllid infestations (Loyn et al. 1983, Bower 1998, Kavanagh and Stanton 2003, Recher and Majer 2006). Reinstatement of ecologically appropriate fire regimes (including more frequent fire regimes in grassy understorey forests and less frequent regimes in moist forests) has also been proposed (Jurskis 2002, 2004 a,b, Benson and Redpath 2000, Henderson and Keith 2002). Implementation or maintenance of natural fire regimes to support ecosystem health is one of the key objectives of the Springbrook Fire Strategy (QPWS et. al., 2009).

Recommended management approaches are likely to change over the lifetime of this plan as new research emerges and close collaboration with other land managers and agencies with some experience in management of dieback and use of current draft guidelines and strategies will be the most effective interim management approach. Relevant guidelines include the BMAD Strategy (BMADWG 2004), which provides a suite of actions designed to address prevention, control and remediation of potentially affected forests across NE NSW and the national draft Threat Abatement Plan for Phytophthora cinnamomi (DEW 2007b), which establishes a framework for an integrated national response to P. cinnamomi management.



Protection and enhancement of structural, landscape and indigenous biological diversity of remnant vegetation communitiesProtection and enhancement of populations and genetic diversity of rare, threatened or significant native plantsRestoration of degraded vegetation communities, particularly those providing habitat for rare or threatened flora or fauna Improved knowledge and understanding of rare or threatened flora and plant communities

4.2.4 Management strategy for flora

GuidelinesManage reserves according to relevant State or Commonwealth Threatened Species Recovery Plans, where these are available;Manage significant vegetation communities and known populations of rare or threatened species according to the ecological requirements listed in Table 5;Manage known rare or threatened species habitat to maintain viable populations;Minimise disturbance to remnant vegetation during routine maintenance and/or development of infrastructure;Essential removal of remnant vegetation must be subject to assessment and approval under the Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999;Essential removal and translocation and seed collection of rare or threatened plant species must be subject to assessment and approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Nature Conservation Act 1992 and relevant permits obtained where necessary;Support Council’s Environmental Planning & Conservation Unit in the monitoring of rare and threatened plant species within the planning area.

ActionsExclude cattle from riparian areas and sites under restoration;Prepare a bushfire management plan for the planning area that retains and enhances plant biodiversity and successional stages at a landscape level, including mitigation of the risk of wildfire entering fire-sensitive vegetation communities (refer to 4.4);Forward all new flora studies and incidental records for rare or threatened species for inclusion in Council’s Nature Conservation Strategy database;Reduce threat of long term forest dieback through minimising disturbance and maintaining ecosystem function and health in remnant communities and, if forest decline is identified, investigate

opportunities to control decline through current best practice guidelines;Work with QPWS, SEQ Catchments and BMAD working group regarding monitoring, mapping and management trials for forest dieback recommended within the Border Ranges planning area (DECC 2008) and Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk Impact Assessment report (Parsons Brinckerhoff 1995). Also in relation to development of land management guidelines, including the necessity and feasibility of implementing hygiene protocols along recreational tracks;Promote community understanding of flora protection and management issues.

4.3 Geology and catchment management

4.3.1 Geology

Springbrook plateau is on a radial spur of the now heavily-eroded rim of the ancient Tweed shield volcano, which was originally 2000 metres high and centred on Mount Warning in Northern New South Wales. Since its last eruption 23 million years ago, water driven processes have eroded the landscape into the striking escarpments, waterfalls, rock pools and valleys that characterise the Springbrook landscape today. The World Heritage listing of Springbrook National Park and adjacent parks and reserves in northern New South Wales relates partially to their geological significance as one of the world’s best examples of an erosion caldera.

Shining plectranthus (Plectranthus nitidus) G. Leiper


Like Springbrook National Park, the higher parts of Springbrook and Purlingbrook Conservation Areas are dominated by lavas from the Tweed shield volcano, including the ridge lines of Binna Burra rhyolite in between layers of Beechmont and Albert basalts. Within Numinbah CA and the northwest corner of Pocket Road CA, a narrow band of Mt Gillies rhyolite separates the Beechmont and Albert basalts. Lower lying parts of Springbrook CA and Austinville CA, are dominated by much older, underlying metasediments which have folded and recrystallised to form steeply inclined strata of the Neranleigh-Fernvale beds. Smaller areas of Chillingham volcanics and colluvium basalt are also present, the latter dominating the landform of Pocket Road CA. The weathering of basalt lava flows, Neranleigh-Fernvale beds and Binna Burra rhyolite has produced soils of high, medium and poor fertility. Deep, fertile red soils produced by the weathering of basalt rocks provide a suitable environment for the evolution of species-rich rainforest and wet sclerophyll vegetation communities. Rhyolite lavas weather more slowly to form low-nutrient free-draining soils that support drier sclerophyll forest or warm temperate rainforest at higher, wetter elevations. Neranleigh-Fernvale meta-sediments beneath volcanic rocks can support subtropical rainforest in protected gullies or where there is enrichment from basalt caps (DECC NSW 2008).

4.3.2 Catchment management

The Springbrook Plateau, which receives the second highest rainfall in Queensland, forms part of the upper catchment of the Nerang River and Mudgeeraba Creek and acts as a large bushland buffer to the Hinze and Little Nerang dams. These dams provide the city’s drinking water supply. Careful land management practices within the Council and State Government conservation estate are essential to protect aquatic ecosystems and to provide the city with safe drinking water.

Three major creeks, and many smaller ephemeral waterways, run through the planning area. Mudgeeraba Creek starts from the upper, eastern end of the Springbrook plateau and flows just outside the eastern boundary of Austinville CA, through Mudgeeraba on to the coastal floodplain. Waterfall Creek flows from the Springbrook plateau, through cleared and forested land in Numinbah CA and Numinbah Forest Reserve (now incorporated into Springbrook National Park), before entering the Hinze Dam via the Nerang River. It is a permanent, slow to moderate flowing system with a sandy to rocky substrate. Little Nerang Creek, a tributary of the Nerang River, collects runoff from the Springbrook plateau from several small tributaries that flow over the eastern escarpment of Springbrook as waterfalls, ultimately feeding into Little Nerang Dam

via Springbrook CA. The majority of this creek flows through undisturbed forest, with slow-moderate flow and a cobble/gravel substrate. Tony’s Creek, a significant tributary to the Nerang River, flows through the southern end of Pocket Road CA, and is well vegetated on its northern bank. The southern bank is cleared in parts and degraded by cattle access. Water quality is unknown but is likely to be affected by extensive clearing up and down stream.

Recent aquatic studies of Waterfall and Little Nerang Creeks (BAAM, 2006; Packer, 2006) indicate that these waterways are in generally good condition. There was, however, some concern about increased sediment loading, pollution from cattle faeces and a decrease in macro-invertebrate diversity which was recorded along the cleared section of Waterfall Creek (BAAM, 2006). Increased nutrient loading, caused by runoff from animal waste, is one of the major threats to water quality. It disrupts the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems, resulting in eutrophication and a decline in ecosystem function. The high rainfall in the planning area makes cleared areas along Waterfall Creek particularly vulnerable to soil erosion and sedimentation. Cleared sections of creek are also vulnerable to elevated water temperature, increased temperature range and elevated rates of primary production, threatening wildlife habitat and the quality of the city’s drinking water supply.

Another source of potential contamination of watercourses is inadequately performing septic tanks on private or public land and this includes toilet facilities on recreational areas. . In 2004 Council introduced the Local Law No. 42 (On-site Sewerage Facility) to enforce operation and servicing standards for on-site sewerage facilities within the drinking water catchment.

Gold Coast Water (GCW) and Council’s Catchment Management Unit (CMU) conduct regular nutrient

Waterfall Creek R. Anderson


and biological monitoring within the Hinze and Little Nerang Dam catchments and this data can be used to track changes in the health of watercourses over time. GCW has also recently initiated a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) risk management, quality assurance and reporting system for the drinking water catchment,. This system sets out critical performance limits, as well as designating the monitoring and corrective action procedures to be carried out by operational staff within the catchment.Recent ecosystem health monitoring of Mudgeeraba Creek (Robertson et al., 2006) indicated the creek’s upper reaches were among the healthiest in South East Queensland with near natural levels of biodiversity, complexity and ecological function. The waters are inhabited by the fish species Cox’s gudgeon (Gobiomorphus coxii), which has a restricted distribution and is at its northernmost extent in South East Queensland. The waterway may also provide habitat for several threatened species of Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus spp.).

One problem identified was faecal coliform numbers. In the upper reaches of the creek, the faecal coliform numbers exceed ANZECC (2000) guidelines for safe primary usage during both low and high flows. Swimming in or ingesting faecal contaminated waters can lead to gastrointestinal disorders and eye, ear, nose and throat infections. Priority actions for the future monitoring and management of Mudgeeraba Creek are provided in the Mudgeeraba and Worongary Creeks Catchment Management Study Action Plan (Robertson et al., 2006) and have been incorporated into the management strategies proposed below.


Geological and soil landscapes are protected from human disturbanceCatchment values, drinking water quality and the health of waterways are maintainedDegraded riparian and aquatic ecosystems are rehabilitated to protect downstream water qualityAquatic habitat values are maintained and enhancedImplementation of the Mudgeeraba and Worongary Creeks Catchment Management Study Action Plan (Robertson et al., 2006)Implementation of the Gold Coast Water Catchment Management Strategy (Packer, 2006)

4.3.4 Management strategy for catchment and landscape protection

GuidelinesMinimise impacts on water quality during all operations through use of erosion control measures and implementation of erosion control plans when necessary;

Stop herbicides from entering the aquatic environment during weed control;Locate new infrastructure at appropriate setbacks to waterways;Construct and manage toilet facilities to standards that ensure no detrimental impact on drinking water quality in compliance with Council Local Law 42 (on-site sewerage facility) 2002;Maintain existing tracks and drainage in good condition (refer to 4.10) and minimise construction of new tracks;Work with Council’s specialist staff, GCW, SEQ Catchments, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) and the local water authority on catchment management initiatives within the planning area;Allow cattle access to Waterfall Creek at formal creek crossings only when water is not available at dam and troughs; Restrict vehicle access to Waterfall Creek to formal creek crossings;Do not permit swimming in water catchment areas (ie. Little Nerang and Waterfall Creeks);Work with Energex to minimise sedimentation and erosion along power easements during maintenance operations;Ensure that interpretive material (refer to 4.13) incorporates information to encourage responsible attitudes towards water quality management.

ActionsRestore degraded waterways in the drinking water catchment, particularly in cleared portions of Waterfall Creek (refer to 4.6);Investigate viability of a pump system to transfer water from Waterfall Creek to cattle watering points during drought periods;Develop an effective strategy with Gold Coast Water and Council’s specialist staff to help implement the Gold Coast Water Catchment Management Strategy (Packer, 2006), HACCP system, and consistent water quality and biological monitoring programs in reserves within the drinking water catchment;Work with Council’s specialist staff on the implementation of the Mudgeeraba and Worongary Creeks Catchment Management Study Action Plan (Robertson et al., 2006), with a particular focus on restoration programs and acquisition of additional sites to protect significant riparian habitat;Discourage swimming in Mudgeeraba Creek through public education and risk management signage in accordance with Mudgeeraba and Worongary Creeks Catchment Management Study Action Plan (Robertson et al., 2006); Reduce degradation of upper Mudgeeraba Creek by restricting vehicle access to local and management traffic only.


4.4 Fire management

4.4.1 Background

Proactive fire management and planning is important for the protection of life and property. The term fire management refers to the broad range of management activities carried out in relation to fire, including actions undertaken to prevent fire entering fire-sensitive vegetation types or high risk residential areas as well as, for example, community education and planned mitigation burning in fire-adapted vegetation communities. Fire hazard reduction also helps to keep ecosystems healthy and protects biodiversity across the landscape. While protection of life and property is paramount, the unique biodiversity values of the adjacent World Heritage Gondwana Reserves of Australia are significant on a global scale. Fire management to ensure the long-term protection of these communities remains a high priority.

QPWS fire history records indicate that parts of the planning area have been subject to major wildfires over the past 40 years. Three fires along Mt Nimmel Ridge, in 1981, 1991 and 1994 impacted on sections of Austinville CA. The 1994 fire reignited and spread over Carricks Road ridge into Purlingbrook CA and Friendship Park. Two fires, in 1964 and 1981 spread from the base of Horseshoe Falls up the escarpment to Apple Tree Flat, passing through Numinbah CA. The 1981 fire crowned over Springbrook Road and spread into the western part of Springbrook CA.

4.4.2 Fire management priorities

Fire is a natural ecological process in dry sclerophyll forests, and many plant species and vegetation communities in the planning area are adapted to it (DECC NSW 2008) and depend on fire for propagation and/or maintenance of suitable habitat. Riparian and rainforest communities, however, can be seriously affected by fire. Inappropriate fire frequency or intensity can damage ecosystem health, even in fire-adapted vegetation types. Severe wildfire and inappropriate fire regimes also can threaten biodiversity and the recreational, scenic and cultural values of the planning area. Key issues to consider in fire management and planning are summarised as follows:

Too-frequent burning can lower the diversity of native species because plants may not develop fire tolerance or reach reproductive maturity if there is insufficient time for regeneration between fires. Frequent burns reduce structural complexity and habitat value of vegetation and may encourage pyrogenic species that accumulate fuel quickly, resulting in an increased fire hazard.Long-term fire exclusion from dry sclerophyll

communities can lead to senescence of fire-dependant species (McFarland, 1988; Kington, 1997), causing changes in the overall species composition and habitat value. Fire exclusion also may result in eucalypt canopy decline (refer to 4.2).Large fires in fragmented habitats can have a significant impact on species populations, particularly on species of restricted distribution, species with limited dispersal ability and species requiring large home ranges. Mosaic burning can be effective in maintaining habitat for early, middle and late successional species (Fox and McKay, 1981; McFarland, 1988; Hannah et al. 1998) and can provide some defence against local extinctions (House, 1995). Use of very small mosaic patches, however, puts re-sprouting plants and seedlings at risk from heavy grazing (Leigh and Holgate, 1979).Increased light levels, particularly following intense wildfire, can increase the spread of exotic weeds into previously shaded forests. Increased levels of woody weeds, particularly lantana, can increase fire intensity in dry conditions, resulting in structural damage to habitat features such as trees and fallen logs.Fuel loads in all forest types build up immediately following a fire and, over time are likely to reach an equilibrium where natural rates of decay and fuel accumulation are similar (Sandercoe, 1989). The rate at which fuel loads accumulate and stabilise over time varies depending on the forest type and weather patterns. Other disturbances, such as lantana or molasses grass invasion, or inappropriately hot fires resulting in mass germination and over-dominance of woody canopy species in the mid storey, also can influence the rate of fuel accumulation. Fuel load monitoring is therefore an essential part of pre-burn planning in protection and wildfire mitigation zones.

Hazard reduction burn R. Anderson


Existing vegetation mapping is not always of a sufficient scale to identify subtle changes, such as fire-sensitive mesic gully communities and small fire shadow patches in drier vegetation types. Development on neighbouring properties can increase fire management risks, particularly where new buildings or subdivisions do not incorporate fire trails, asset protection, buffer zones and required building standards for fire hazard areas.

A fire management strategy for the conservation estate at Springbrook has been completed (QPWS, GCCC and QFRS 2009), and provides detailed management prescriptions for protection of life, property and biodiversity in the planning area. A key feature of this strategy is its landscape-based approach, integrating fire management, mitigation and protection measures across the Council and State-managed conservation estate. By coordinating fire management across tenures, it is possible to implement strategic wildfire protection and mitigation zones in areas that are best suited for this purpose, while maintaining habitat connectivity and resources, and minimising the impacts of planned and unplanned fires on fire-sensitive communities.

Full detail on specific fire requirements of different vegetation communities and species within the planning area as well as the location and management objectives for fire management zones are provided in the Springbrook Fire Strategy (QPWS, GCCC and QFRS 2009). It is not described further here.


Protection of life and propertyMaintenance and enhancement of ecosystem health and diversity through best practice ecological fire management

Mitigated risk of fire entering fire-sensitive ecological communities Cooperation between neighbours on fire managementIncreased community understanding of fire hazards, individual responsibilities and fire ecologyImproved understanding of fire management requirements for ecosystems and species occupying the planning area

4.4.4 Management strategy for fire

GuidelinesUndertake fire planning and fire management to protect life and property and to enhance species and habitat diversity and connectivity across the landscape;Council’s Natural Areas Management Unit (NAMU) will be responsible for implementation of the Springbrook Fire Strategy within the planning area; Manage fire in accordance with the Springbrook Fire Strategy (QPWS, GCCC and QFRS 2009);Protect and enhance rare or threatened species habitat and significant heritage according to the Springbrook Fire Strategy;In accordance with the Springbrook Fire Strategy, ensure that thorough ground truthing is carried out at all sites before planned burning to identify site constraints, safety issues and species, habitat or ecological communities requiring specific management;In accordance with the Springbrook Fire Strategy, undertake further community education programs near to high fire hazard parts of the planning area, to improve community fire preparedness;Maintain a diversity of plant communities and post-fire, successional habitats to provide for the habitat requirements of fauna species;Give priority to management of mitigation zones and restoration of lantana-infested areas that protect wildfire from entering fire-sensitive vegetation communities, including rainforest, rock pavements, fire shadows and wet sclerophyll forest;Minimise the use of heavy machinery for fire suppression;Prioritise weed monitoring and control in the six months following planned and unplanned fires;Close unsafe parts of the planning area to the public in extreme fire danger periods, and during and immediately after planned burns;Publicise fire management activities, restrictions and regulations through local media, Council’s website and signage at key visitor nodes; Cooperate with QPWS, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Rural Fire Brigades and neighbouring landholders for fire management on and adjacent to the planning area;

Fire suppression R. Anderson


Support and facilitate partnerships with the South East Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium;Provide advice to Council’s town planners about bushfire hazard reduction in new developments near to the planning area;Liaise with Council’s specialist officers regarding implementation of proposed fire management strategies on neighbouring Land for Wildlife properties;Prohibit open fires (eg. campfires, wood barbecues) within the planning area. Gas or electric barbecues will be installed to replace wood barbecues (refer to 4.9);Implement vegetation and fuel hazard monitoring before and after all prescribed burns. Conduct similar monitoring after wildfires when resources allow it.

ActionsImplement the Springbrook Fire Strategy (QPWS, GCCC and QFRS 2009);Review the Springbrook Fire Strategy every five years, in consultation with key stakeholders. Amend the strategy to keep up with new research findings, and where on-site monitoring indicates the need for management changes;Develop a strategy for undertaking prescribed burns, incorporating ground truthing, preparation of burn proposals, before and after fire monitoring of fuel hazard and other management objectives and peer review; Provide incident control support at wildfires to increase opportunities for protecting fire-sensitive ecosystems;Liaise with GCW regarding implementation of the Gold Coast Water Bushfire Management Plan 2003 and integration of revised versions with the Springbrook Fire Strategy;Ensure relevant mapping layers are maintained in Council’s Geographical Information System (GIS), including Springbrook Fire Strategy zones, fire history, ignition source, fire path, ecological data, management trails, control lines and fire fighting infrastructure; Restore the western Apple Tree Flat escarpment (Lots 120 WD869 and 1 – 5 RP800209, Springbrook and Numinbah CAs) to remove flammable woody weeds and re-establish native vine forest;Continue with the existing vegetation and fuel hazard monitoring program at Springbrook CA.

4.5 Pest animal management

4.5.1 Background

Of the seven pest species known to live in and visit the planning area, cane toads, wild dogs, foxes and cats are, potentially, the most harmful to biodiversity. Feral animals threaten native species through predation, competition with native predators, habitat disturbance and poison ingestion.

The Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 identifies introduced animal species and criteria for their control. A number of Class 2 pest animals occur within the planning area (see Table 6). A Class 2 pest is one that is established in Queensland and has, or could have, a substantial adverse economic, environmental and social impact. Landowners are required to take reasonable steps to keep their land free of these animals. Non-declared pests are normally widespread but cost-effective broad scale control measures are not yet available.

4.5.2 Pest animal management priorities

Control of pest animals must be prioritised to best utilise resources. The species which are of highest priority are those that:

Are declared under the Qld Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 and/or listed in Council’s Pest Management Plan 2006-2010, Part B: Species Management Plan;Have a significant environmental impact on threatened species, habitat, catchment values or recreational values;Are known to be a serious problem in similar ecosystems;Affect neighbouring lands and/or are considered of high priority by the community;Can be managed effectively using economically-viable control methods;Require follow-up management to gain from the benefits achieved through previous control programs.

The cane toad is a serious concern within the planning area. It is as an aggressive competitor and is highly toxic to native predators. At Springbrook, cane toads are found mainly below 500 – 550 metres but have been recorded at higher altitudes and their presence correlates

Martin’s skink (Eulamprus martini) N. Power


with a decrease in herpetological diversity, particularly of frog-eating species (Stephen Phillips pers. comm., 13/06/07). There is currently no economically viable method of cane toad control (BAAM, 2006), however they tend to live predominantly in open country and, like feral dogs and foxes, penetrate areas of native remnant vegetation through roads and tracks. Minimising development of new track networks, rehabilitating cleared open areas and dense planting around existing farm dams may be effective in slowing the spread of cane toads and other pest animals into Springbrook. Cane toads are unable to breed and colonise areas above 550 metres, which makes Springbrook an important refuge for species under threat from cane toad predation or ingestion.

Domestic livestock within Numinbah CA, although useful in suppressing weed regrowth in the short term (refer to 4.6), are a potential long-term threat. This threat is greatest around sensitive riparian areas which provide important habitat for threatened frog species. Fencing and installation of gravity-fed water troughs has been

Table 6 Priority pest animal species in the planning area and their status

Common Name Scientific Name Status* Impacts

Cane Toad Bufo marinus Not declared Displace and feed on native frogs. Adults, tadpoles and eggs are toxic to predators.

Wild Dog Canis familiarisCanis familiaris dingo

Class 2 Preys on native wildlife, including macropods, koalas and small mammals.

Feral Cat Felis catus Class 2 Preys on native wildlife. Threat to small/medium size fauna, including birds and terrestrial and arboreal mammals.

Fox Vulpes vulpes Class 2 Preys on native wildlife, including macropods, koalas and small mammals.

*Status = status under Qld Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002

Tracks provide access for pest animals and should be minimised

undertaken to keep cattle away from Waterfall Creek. A single creek crossing point has been established for domestic stock movement and site management.

Council’s specialist officers work with NRW and the local community in coordinated 1080 baiting programs in the planning area. Sand plot monitoring has recently been started on Council land (particularly at Numinbah CA and the western portion of Springbrook CA, including Apple Tree Park) to find out the impact of new walking tracks on pest animal movement. Long-term sand plot monitoring also provides data that indicate where and when baiting is needed.


Impacts of introduced animals on native species are minimised.Pest animal control is coordinated with neighbours at a local and regional level.Introduction of new pest animals into the planning area is prevented.Continuation of existing pest animal monitoring.Obligations are met for introduced animal control under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 and Council’s Pest Management Plan 2006-2010.

4.5.4 Management strategy for pest animals

GuidelinesCollaborate with NRW, QPWS, neighbouring landholders and Council’s Animal Management Unit during planning and delivery of pest management programs;Undertake pest animal control using best practice techniques, with minimal impact on other species, and in accordance with animal welfare requirements of the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001;Promote community understanding of the impacts of pest animal in the planning area through local media and ranger patrols;


Minimise creation of new tracks or reopening of disused tracks;Bee keeping will not be permitted within any conservation reserves in the planning area.

ActionsProduce a feral animal control plan (FACP) for Springbrook CA, Numinbah CA, Purlingbrook CA, Austinville CA and Pocket Road CA, focusing on predatory species. This plan should include:triggers for initiating control strategies control strategies for target species, including multiple control methodsintegration with relevant Threat Abatement Plans strategies for community and landholder involvement/cooperationmonitoring techniques and regimes to identify priority areas for feral animal control (eg. in potoroo and spotted-tailed quoll habitat) and to measure the effectiveness of control reporting protocols assignment of responsibility for tasks and activities Add information about known pest animal movement routes, dens, trap sites and bait locations to Council’s GIS;Continue sand plot monitoring at Apple Tree Park, Numinbah and Springbrook CAs, to inform future pest animal control priorities, and expand this as resources allow;Install signage prohibiting domestic cats and dogs in all conservation areas;Monitor and maintain fences in Numinbah and Pocket Road CAs to prevent cattle access to sensitive vegetation and riparian communities;Reduce availability of cane toad habitat through restoration of open areas, dense planting around dams and trials of newly-identified control methods, where applicable.

4.6 Weed management and restoration

4.6.1 Background

Pest plants are an ever-present threat to biodiversity values within the planning area. Weeds can take over areas used by native plants, changing vegetation communities, preventing regeneration and reducing habitat values. A pest plant (or weed) is any plant that requires some form of action to reduce its effect on the economy, the environment, human health or amenity. This encompasses both exotic species (including escaped garden plants) and native species that colonise (or are introduced to) and persist in an ecosystem in which they did not previously exist.

To date, less than 10 per cent of plant species identified within the planning area are exotic, indicating the

relatively undisturbed nature of large portions of the site. Despite a relatively low weed diversity, some parts of the site contain dense weed infestations that threaten adjacent intact habitats and there is an ongoing threat of other weed species entering the planning area from adjacent land tenures, including gardens, agricultural land, road reserves and other conservation tenures.

Under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management Act) 2002, Council is required to eradicate, control or contain declared weeds on land it manages. Seven ‘Declared Plants’ – Lantana (Lantana camara), Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis), Groundsel (Baccharis halimifolia), Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), Tree Privet (Ligustrum lucidum), Annual Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) – have so far been recorded in the planning area and a number of other declared species, including Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia) and Cat’s Claw Creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati), occur in the vicinity and present a potential threat. Numerous other weed species, not declared under current legislation, also are currently threatening, or have the potential to threaten, conservation values within the planning area. These species include environmental weeds listed on the Southeast Queensland Environmental Weeds list (Batianoff and Butler, 2002), plus other species, including some garden plants that have the potential to rapidly colonise sites within or adjacent to the planning area.

While Council has a legal obligation to control or contain plants declared under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management Act) 2002, other species not listed under this legislation are considered of equal importance in terms of their level of threat to the conservation values of the planning area. Weed management within the planning area is currently addressed through the development of site-specific

Weed removal at Numinbah Conservation Area


Restoration Site Action Plans, which take a holistic ecosystem-based approach, aiming to replace all weed species at a site with native species, rather than targeting individual species. Restoration Site Action Plans provide a detailed assessment of all the weeds present at a particular site, identify key weed threats at that site and include a comprehensive summary of appropriate control methods for each species identified at the site.

4.6.2 Pest plant management and restoration priorities

The most widespread weed throughout the site is lantana, which has a significant impact on the structure and diversity within wet and dry forest ecosystems (refer to 4.2.2). Lantana also provides shelter and a food resource for native birds and ground-dwelling mammals and, consequently, gradual removal and follow-up can stimulate regeneration of a native ecosystem growing from the seeds deposited by native fauna.

Weeds are most prevalent in and adjacent to areas that have previously been disturbed by clearing and grazing, such as the northern end of Waterfall Creek (Numinbah CA), the northern end of Springbrook CA and the southern half of Pocket Road CA. The majority of weed species cannot be effectively managed in isolation as they are widespread throughout the Gold Coast hinterland and can recolonise from adjacent properties. Promotion of weed management issues to neighbours and coordinated weed management with interested landholders are important elements in reducing threats from invasive species within the planning area.

Steep topography, high species diversity, large areas and connectivity make vegetation communities at Springbrook highly resilient, and most disturbed areas have the capacity to regenerate naturally after weed control and follow-up management. Once native communities are allowed to regenerate, the risk of further weed invasion is greatly reduced. Restoration of native vegetation also can be an effective means of improving the quality of drinking water by reducing the risk of soil erosion within the catchment and providing waterways with a buffer that filters out toxins and nutrients, and stabilises water temperatures.

To date, Council has begun restoration works in the eastern part of Numinbah CA at the base of the Apple Tree Flat escarpment and above the escarpment at Apple Tree Park. Restoration work also is occurring at Austinville Community Park, Staghorn Reserve, Centenary Parklands, and has been carried out at Velvet Downs Parklands as part of local Landcare and Bushcare activities.

A short-term measure for controlling weeds and fire hazard in cleared areas has involved the issuing of grazing licences over parts of Numinbah and Pocket

Road CAs. By allowing limited grazing in cleared portions of these properties, cattle reduce the need for weed management. Fences exclude animals from native vegetation and waterways (except for one watering point on Waterfall Creek and one on Tony’s Creek which should be closed in 2009 once troughs have been built to provide an alternate water source). As adjacent areas are rehabilitated, the size of the grazed area will be decreased. The aim is to progressively rehabilitate all areas cleared in the past, except those areas needed for recreation or management. Spraying also is taking place to control some weed infestations underneath the hoop pine plantation on Pocket Road CA. The seed source of the hoop pine plantation is unknown and has genetic implications on the viability of the native pine population in the Numinbah Valley. Historically, the plantation has been managed through regular understorey spraying to reduce weeds.

To provide effective, long-term weed control within the planning area, all activities will be addressed with detailed restoration plans produced for each conservation area and reserve. Priority will be given to restoration activities at sites providing habitat for threatened species or ecological areas where restoration is an integral part of bushfire (refer to 4.4) or catchment management (refer to 4.3.2). High visitation sites also are a priority for ongoing weed monitoring and management. Priority sites to be restored during the lifetime of this plan are shown on Figure 2 overleaf.

Further weed species are likely to enter or be identified in the planning area from time to time. New infestations will be addressed on a priority basis by Council’s restorations team and management incorporated into the relevant site restoration plan.

Revegetation at Austinville Community Park


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Restoration of the structure, function, dynamics and integrity of the pre-existing vegetation of degraded areas and sustaining the habitat that it once providedNo further establishment of new pest plantsEffective long-term control of established pest plantsMeet obligations under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 and Council’s Pest Management Plan 2006-2010Improved understanding of weed management among adjacent landholdersImproved understanding of the effectiveness of ecological restoration activities in the region

4.6.4 Strategy for weed management and restoration

GuidelinesAll weed control within the planning area, including that of species declared under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002, is to be managed by Council’s Natural Area Management Unit to ensure integration with restoration activities;Liaise with QPWS, NRW, GCW, neighbouring landholders and Council’s Pest Management Unit during weed and restoration planning;Protect significant species habitat and sensitive vegetation during restoration through the use of appropriate herbicides and methodologies, taking extra care in areas adjacent to waterways. Gradually remove woody weeds, providing fauna habitat; Restrict mechanical weed removal to cleared pasture areas;Seeds and seedlings used in restoration must be from the local area (seed must be collected on or adjacent to the reserve);Ensure sufficient resources are available for follow-up

weed management at the site of planned or unplanned burns;Discourage access to areas being rehabilitated until native vegetation has become established;

ActionsDevelop and implement Restoration and Weed Control Plans for each key restoration sites within the planning area (shown on Figure 2), addressing the following:Prioritisation of rare or threatened species habitat, significant ecological communities, high fire hazard areas, waterways and culturally significant sitesMapping of weed distribution Use of current best-practice techniques, including follow up controlList recommended species for restoration in each planting zoneTiming of restoration activitiesMonitoring programs and performance criteria to assess the success of restoration and identify priority sites Reporting protocolsAssignment of responsibility for tasks and activitiesOpportunities for coordinating management with neighbouring landholdersMonitor and, where necessary, control the weeds around high visitation sites such as Apple Tree Park, Austinville waterhole and the cleared South West portion of Springbrook CA;In cleared portions of Numinbah CA and Pocket Road CA, manage weeds by suppression rather than exclusion until these areas can be restored. Suppression may include slashing, contained grazing or targeted herbicide application;Amend grazing licences at Numinbah CA and Pocket Road CA in accordance with restoration activities (where fences are realigned to aid forest restoration), installation of new infrastructure (watering points/troughs so as to allow the closing of the last watering point on Waterfall Creek and the last point on Waterfall Creek) or when it is necessary to manage compliance;Monitor compliance of licensees grazing cattle in Numinbah CA and Pocket Road CA. Develop and implement performance criteria to monitor the management and impacts of grazing licenses within conservation reserves, particularly in relation to drinking water quality, soil erosion and fauna habitat protection;Investigate the seed source of the hoop pine plantation at Pocket Road CA to determine a long-term restoration strategy. In the short term, remove planted hoop pines from parts of the site near native hoop pine populations before trees reach reproductive maturity and, over time, remove trees gradually to promote natural regeneration;At prominent restoration sites, install signage to tell the public about the objectives of restoration works;

Hoop Pine plantation at Pocket Road Conservation Area B. Prince


Continue ongoing restoration program in Numinbah CA;Continue with ongoing community restoration projects at Austinville Community Park, Staghorn Reserve, Springbrook Centenary Parklands and Bochow Park;Continue to promote greater understanding of weed management issues among reserve neighbours through Council’s Natural Area Good Neighbour Program, ranger patrols, Council’s weeds booklet, training provided to local landcare groups and information on Council’s website and in local media.

4.7 Aboriginal cultural heritage

4.7.1 Background and priorities

The Gold Coast region has a rich Aboriginal tradition and the landscapes of the planning area are known to be of Aboriginal and archaeological significance (Kombumerri Aboriginal Corporation for Culture, 2005).

Council recognises that Aboriginal people have a strong and ongoing association with the land within its conservation estate. To maintain a close association with the land, indigenous Australians need to maintain their customary responsibility to care for country on which they may advance economic and community development. Partnerships with the local Aboriginal community should therefore be fostered to ensure recognition, conservation and management of cultural values.

Council also has an obligation to manage its land in accordance with the Cultural Heritage Act 2003. This legislation places a duty of care on Council to protect items and places of cultural heritage significance. Under the Cultural Heritage Act 2003, a cultural heritage survey is required where significant ground disturbance is proposed, to identify cultural heritage values and prevent the inadvertent destruction of sites and values. Cultural Heritage Surveys carried out in accordance with Cultural Heritage Act 2003 Section 28 – Duty of Care Guidelines, may therefore be required for construction of recreational infrastructure (refer to 4.9).


Cooperative and integrated management of Aboriginal places and artefacts with the Aboriginal community and relevant agenciesProtection of sites, places and landscapes of Aboriginal cultural significanceIncreased public appreciation and understanding of Aboriginal heritage values

4.7.3 Management strategy for Aboriginal cultural heritage

GuidelinesImplement all construction works in accordance with Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 Section 28 – Duty of Care Guidelines, including preparation of a Cultural Heritage Management plan where recommended as the result of a Cultural Heritage Assessment; When making decisions about the management of Aboriginal heritage, consult traditional owners and relevant state authorities, through Council’s Indigenous Cultural Heritage Officer;When supported by the Aboriginal community, provide interpretation infrastructure to promote public appreciation of Aboriginal sites, culture and landscape features;Support Aboriginal community proposals to research heritage values within the planning area.

4.8 European cultural heritage


The history of European settlement at Springbrook has been shaped by the steep terrain and rugged inaccessibility of the plateau and, as a result, the area has remained less developed than other areas of the Gold Coast which have undergone extensive urbanisation (Allom and Lovell, 2002). While more accessible areas such as the Numinbah Valley were logged extensively in the mid to late 1800s, vertical cliffs and steep slopes prevented timber-getters from accessing the forests of Springbrook. European settlement of the plateau (around Apple Tree Park, Springbrook CA and Purlingbrook CA) only began in the early 1900s.

Water gum fruits (Syzygium francisii) G. Leiper


European heritage features of the planning area include old logging stumps with springboard holds, log loading ramps and old farm structures, including a dairy, cattle dips, banana packing sheds, and bullock-team yokes and chains at Numinbah CA. The dairy has lost most of its original integrity and heritage value (King and Crosby, 2005) and is in poor condition but could be made safe again by the removal of timbers damaged by termites and broken asbestos linings (Kanserski, 2005). The cattle dip is in reasonable condition although the timber fencing contains active termite nests.

The farmhouse in Numinbah CA, which was constructed in the 1930s from timber cut from the site, is of local heritage interest. This building, however, is in severe disrepair and is considered to be a moderate safety hazard: stairs and timber posts supporting the dwelling show signs of moderate to severe timber rot and floors show extensive termite and borer damage (Schneider, 2006; Kanserski, 2005). Safety fencing has been put up around this building to prevent access.

Heritage assessments of the farmhouse (King and Crosby, 2005; Austin, 2006) recommend that, because the building is in poor condition and not of prime heritage value, the decision whether to retain or remove the building should be an economic one. A full cost appraisal to repair the farmhouse has been prepared by a quantity surveyor (I. Cole, 2006) and the costs for repair to a safe standard are significant. If retained, the Heritage Assessment by King and Crosby (2005) recommends researching the list of owners to complement the heritage story and providing signage detailing the history of the house and land.

Springbrook Road, which bisects Springbrook CA and provides access to Apple Tree Park, is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. Proposed development within the identified heritage register boundary is subject to the provisions of the Queensland Heritage Act 1992.


Protection and conservation of significant historic featuresImproved public understanding and appreciation of historic cultural values

4.8.3 Management strategy for European cultural heritage

Guidelines

Where there is interest, facilitate involvement of local historical societies in the management of heritage infrastructure;Promote public understanding and appreciation of historic values through the use of educational material, including the installation of information and safety signage around retained heritage infrastructure;Ensure all operations are carried out in accordance with the Queensland Heritage Act 1992.

ActionsDemolish old farmhouse in Numinbah CA due to low heritage value and high cost for safe repair;Implement recommendations of the Heritage Assessment (King and Crosby, 2005) regarding retention of other historical farming and logging features at Numinbah CA.

4.9 Recreation opportunities


Recreational use in the planning area will be managed to maintain a low-key, nature-based experience for visitors consistent with OSPL policy, nature conservation and threatened species legislation, and the conservation objectives outlined in this management plan. For the purposes of this management plan, nature-based recreation activities can be defined as those that:

Rely upon the natural environmentHave appreciation of nature as a key motivational factorInvolve minimal or no modification of the natural environmentHave the natural environment as critical to the participation and satisfaction of the participants

Recreational activities and infrastructure within the planning area are to be restricted to those listed and described within this management plan. Where further recreational activities or infrastructure are proposed, subsequent to the adoption of this plan by Council, all such proposals are to be assessed through development of a revised management plan, which includes full

Logging stump J. Searle


environmental and socio-economic feasibility assessment of the proposal and public consultation in accordance with Council’s Management Guidelines for sites acquired with funds from the Open Space Preservation Levy.

Remoteness, rugged topography and a temperate climate give Springbrook a distinctly different character to the rest of the Gold Coast, which is part of its appeal to many recreational users visiting from other parts of the city and further afield. However, the growing population of South East Queensland is likely to place increasing pressure on the planning area (QORFI 2006; Sport and Recreation Queensland, Department of Infrastructure and Planning, Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Health and SEQ Water 2007). In future it may be necessary to manage parts of the planning area to cater for increasing demand in low-impact nature-based recreation, but it also is important to preserve the atmosphere of isolation and remoteness at Springbrook, which is one of the main drawcards for visitors.

Careful management (and installation) of recreational facilities is essential to a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors. It may also discourage and protect against vandalism, littering, track erosion and illegal camping. Thorough feasibility analyses are necessary before development of any recreational infrastructure to evaluate community and visitor requirements, recreational demand, site suitability, access, costs, threats, biodiversity impacts and long-term management implications.

Historically, much of the planning area has been in private ownership and has had little formal recreational usage. Formal facilities exist at Apple Tree, Springbrook Centenary and Bochow Parks (Figures 3 and 4). Old logging tracks, management trails and fire control lines provide informal walking tracks in Apple Tree Park, Numinbah CA and Springbrook CA, some of which could be rehabilitated to improve their recreational amenity value.

A summary of proposed recreational activities and infrastructure is given in the sections below.

4.9.2 Bushwalking and nature appreciation

Bushwalking trends show that there is a growing preference for shorter walks that provide nature experiences without demanding too much time or fitness (QPWS 1999). Numerous opportunities for short to medium distance walking tracks occur adjacent to the planning area in Springbrook National Park, as indicated on Figure 3. The existing informal track network within the planning area has potential to provide further short to medium length walking experiences, should demand for these arise. The recent development of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, which passes through Numinbah and Springbrook CAs, has opened up a significant new

bushwalking opportunity within the planning area, and monitoring of the level of use of this track will be a useful indicator of the level of demand for more walking routes in the area. In its entirety, the Great Walk track is a 54 km multi-day route. However, sections of the track within Numinbah and Springbrook CAs are easily accessible and also provide good opportunities for shorter day and half-day hiking experiences, through a variety of vegetation types and along purpose-built walking tracks. The Great Walk tracks provide an opportunity to showcase the natural and scenic values of Council’s conservation reserves, in addition to ongoing restoration activities.

Increased visitor usage along well-publicised walking tracks such as the Great Walk can create additional risk management issues including erosion, soil compaction, vegetation damage, fauna disturbance, littering and introduction of pests and fungal pathogens. Safety issues such as falling tree limbs and increased fire hazards also must also be addressed. Visitor management along the Great Walk track will be in accordance with a joint management agreement between QPWS and Council. Monitoring visitor use and risks, maintaining incident records and adapting management where triggered by regular monitoring will be necessary along all proposed walking tracks within the planning area to ensure safe and sustainable use.

Walking track Springbrook Conservation Area W.Abbot


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Table 7 Summary of walking tracks and maintenance requirements in the planning area

No* Location, description & points of interest (see Figures 3 & 4)

Grade & Length

Specific Development and Maintenance Actions

3 N end of Carricks Road, bisecting Purlingbrook CA and Friendship Park.

Bitumen 3 metre wide track.

Shared with users accessing private residence at end of Carricks Road.

Passes through tall New-England blackbutt forest and interpretive signage explaining the history of Friendship Park.

Easy

850 metres

Maintain safe access for walkers and Council maintenance/fire control vehicles.

Install signage as per Table 10.

7 Apple Tree Park.

Unformed 2 metre wide earth track from Apple Tree Park to edge of western escarpment.

Shared with maintenance vehicles.

On route of Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk

Passes through tall flooded gum, stringybark and New-England blackbutt forest. Spectacular views of Numinbah Valley.

Easy

~400 metres

Maintain safe access for walkers, Council maintenance and light fire control vehicles.

Install interpretational and directional signage at track head (Table 10), it is necessary to distinguish maintenance trails from walking tracks.

8 & 9 Chesters Road, Numinbah CA.

Council road reserve.

Gravel/earth 2-3 metre wide track extending from Numinbah Valley to southern end of CA.

Shared walking/horse riding track.

Passes through moist sclerophyll forest, dry sclerophyll forest with grassy understorey and rainforest gullies. Views to Springbrook Plateau and Numinbah Valley.

Moderate

~5000 metres

Maintain safe access for walkers, riders and Council maintenance/fire control vehicles.

9, 14 & 15

Plantations Circuit Track

Loop track running parallel to Chesters Road and providing alternative foot access.

Comprises existing 2-3 metre wide tracks that, following completion of site restoration works, may be rehabilitated to a width suitable for foot access only.

Passes through moist to dry sclerophyll forest, vine forest, restoration areas and agricultural heritage structures including banana packing sheds.

Moderate

~4200 metres

Maintain safe access for walkers and maintenance vehicles.

Retrofit tracks to provide foot access only when vehicle access no longer required for restoration.

Retrofit foot access tracks to link tracks 14 and 15.

Install interpretational and directional signage at track head, junctions and at location of key heritage infrastructure and restoration sites.

18 Chesters Road West Track, Numinbah CA.

3.5 metre wide earth track along grassy ridgeline extending west from Chesters Road to vantage points overlooking Numinbah Valley.


Pass through grassy sclerophyll forest and regrowth. Opportunities to view agricultural heritage features. Views to Numinbah Valley.

Moderate

~860 metres

Maintain safe access for walkers, riders and Council maintenance/fire fighting vehicles.

Install regulatory and directional signage at track head and junctions, and signs to prevent unauthorised access into neighbouring private property and management tracks.

Repair degraded/eroded sections of track to allow safe rider/walker access.

Slash track where necessary to control weeds and define boundaries of track.


No* Location, description & points of interest (see Figures 3 & 4)

Grade & Length


21 Great Walk Track, Numinbah CA and Springbrook CA.

Track runs from Chesters Road to Waterfall Creek, up the eastern side of the valley to Apple Tree Park and across Springbrook Road to Little Nerang Creek and Purlingbrook Falls.

Parts of the track shared with maintenance vehicles. Horse riders may also use sections of the track that run along Chesters Road.

Passes through dry to moist sclerophyll forest, gully vine forest, cleared pasture and restored riparian communities. Views to Numinbah Valley.

Difficult

~7100 metres (on Council land)

Track and a 10m buffer either side to be monitored and managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in accordance with Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk Management Agreement.

23 Velvet Downs Parklands.

Walking track accessing footbridge over Purlingbrook Creek.

Passes through areas of degraded and partially restored vegetation. Access to pools associated with Purlingbrook Creek.

Easy

220 metres

Restore condition of footpath to Purlingbrook Creek

Maintain safe access for walkers.

Install directional signage where track intersects with Springbrook Road.

Slash track where necessary to control weeds and define boundary.

Manage recreational use of creek.

* Tracks numbered in accordance with access track numbering given in Table 9 and Figure 4 below.

4.9.3 Day use

Within the planning area, Council manages day use and picnic facilities at Apple Tree Park, Bochow Park and Springbrook Centenary Parklands. There are more picnic facilities at nearby Hinze Dam and on National Park estate at Numinbah (formerly Numinbah Forest Reserve (now incorporated into Springbrook National Park)), Natural Bridge, Tallanbana, Gomoolahra, Gwongarella and the Settlement. Springbrook National Park also provides 10 formal lookouts with views east across the Hinterland foothills to the Gold Coast. Existing facilities, however, become crowded during peak periods. It is therefore necessary for Council to consider the expansion or upgrading of existing day use facilities and investigate creating new day use facilities to alleviate the crowding.

Parking, picnic, signage and toilet facilities at Apple Tree Park are in the process of being upgraded to provide a safe and attractive day use facility. In addition, the wood-fired barbecues have been replaced with electric barbecues to reduce the risk of ignition in a high hazard bushfire area. Since the completion of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, which passes through Apple Tree Park, some of the limited parking capacity has been taken by visitors using the park as a trail head. Due to the significant ecological values of the surrounding forest, however, it would be undesirable to expand Apple Tree Picnic Area beyond its current footprint.

Consequently there is a demonstrated need to provide

Apple Tree Park R Shakespeare

additional day use facilities, possibly in the large cleared area at the southern end of Springbrook CA, previously occupied by the Spork family house. This site is adjacent to Springbrook Road and also could provide Springbrook visitor information (providing information and directions to other public and private tourist sites and facilities) and function as a trail head for the eastern section of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Further investigation of both local and visitor recreational demands, including surveying visitors to Springbrook, was undertaken in late 2008 as part of the preparation for a Springbrook Visitor Management Plan (GCCC in preparation) which will


determine the most appropriate use for this site. The Springbrook Visitor Management Plan (GCCC in preparation), has identified the need for a Springbrook Plateau gateway facility that welcomes and orientates visitors to the mountain. The site needs to draw visitors in its own right and be a logical place to plan and start journeys around the plateau. The visitor orientation facility would provide visitors with a sense of arrival at Springbrook and encourage them to explore what the plateau has to offer. The location of such a facility is critical to its success, with the optimum location considered to be close to the northern entry to the plateau. It is recommended that Council investigates site options for a Springbrook visitor orientation facility and pursues options to develop the preferred site.

The northern end of Velvet Downs Parklands contains a cleared grassed area adjacent to a short trail and footbridge over Purlingbrook Creek. This may provide a suitable open site for day use, although access and safety issues require further investigation. The southern end of the park has been partially restored and provides a buffer to the creek. The park previously has been vandalised. Formalisation of a recreation node in the northern end, plus restoration of native vegetation on the remainder of the site, would improve amenity and discourage inappropriate behaviour.

A waterhole in a road reserve at the southern end of Austinville Road (Figure 3), adjacent to Austinville CA, is informally used by Gold Coast residents and visitors. This shaded refuge provides scenic and amenity value for the community. However current parking and access to the area are inadequate. Risk assessments of the site identified an unacceptably high level of risk, particularly related to swimming, use of drugs and alcohol, litter and traffic management issues (GCCC, 2006; Fitzgerald, 2007). As part of Council’s planned sealing of Austinville Road, safe access to the waterhole is being investigated.

Bochow Park, in the South West corner of the planning area and Austinville Community Park, in the North East, also provide direct waterway access. Riparian zones of both reserves have been the subject of community restoration projects and the popularity of these recreational nodes make them suitable locations to promote appropriate behaviour within the drinking water catchment, through use of interpretation signage (refer to 4.7.2).

4.9.4 Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk

The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, part of the State Government’s Great Walks of Queensland initiative, passes through Numinbah and Springbrook CAs (Figure 3). All development and construction of Great Walk infrastructure has been managed by QPWS. Future management costs, maintenance and reporting will be

undertaken by QPWS as directed by the Agreement for the Construction, Management and Maintenance of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk (GCCC and EPA, 2006).

4.9.5 Camping

A walk-in campsite has been constructed by QPWS in Numinbah CA as part of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk (see above). State-managed camping facilities within the vicinity of the planning area are at the Settlement at Springbrook. Additional privately-owned camping sites include Mount Nimmel Lodge Campsite (Austinville), Numinbah Valley Environmental Education Centre and the Log Cabin (upper Numinbah Valley).

A further camping area has been considered within Numinbah CA. However, a demand feasibility study (SGS Economics and Planning, 2007) showed this was not viable on safety, environmental and economic grounds. It was recommended that alternative sites within the Numinbah Valley be investigated.

4.9.6 Horse riding

Horse riding is allowed on established riding routes within the planning area (Figure 3). Research shows that established tracks are more robust and less vulnerable to rider impacts than new tracks (Summer 1980, Kuss 1986, Liddle 1997, Upitis 1980 in Landsbergh et al. 2002). The designated horse riding tracks are generally well-drained, clearly-defined and with gentle gradients. Horses are unlikely to encounter obstacles or be forced to stray off the track. This significantly mitigates the risks of erosion and weed establishment. All tracks accessible to riders will be clearly demarcated, with gates and fences established at the track head to prevent access into environmentally-sensitive or dangerous parts of the site, such as creek crossings, track sections with steep gradients and damp areas vulnerable to erosion, weed and fungal infestation.

The State Government’s proposed horse riding track network for the Beaudesert-Gold Coast region includes a large track network in Numinbah Forest Reserve (now incorporated into Springbrook National Park) adjacent to Numinbah CA (see Figure 3). The extension of this track along the southern half of Chesters Road (Council road reserve) and through parts of Numinbah CA (Lots 126 and 172 WD3515) is used by riders and will be maintained for horse use, providing views down into Numinbah Valley and across to Waterfall Creek (Figure 3).

Other riding tracks available within the vicinity of Council’s reserves include tracks within the Hinze Dam catchment and adventure circuits operated on private land by ecotourism businesses in the Numinbah Valley.

Riding tracks within the planning area (Table 8) are wide


enough to be shared with bushwalkers and Council maintenance vehicles. It will be essential to ensure tracks are maintained in a suitable condition for riders, walkers and management vehicles. Periodic monitoring will be needed to identify environmental impacts such as erosion and changes in species composition and to determine the ongoing suitability of horse riding within the planning area.


Provision of low impact, nature based recreation opportunities consistent with the protection of natural and cultural values A satisfying and safe visitor experience that encourages appreciation of natural and cultural values

High standards of safety, visual and recreational amenity and environmental sustainability, with minimal environmental or social impactsIntegration with recreation opportunities available elsewhere in the regionEnhanced community support for protection of planning area values through use of appropriately-designed recreational infrastructure

4.9.8 Management strategy for recreation

GuidelinesRestrict development of nature based recreation activities and infrastructure to that (existing or proposed) described within this management plan;For new tracks or nature based recreational infrastructure proposed within this plan, conduct a feasibility assessment, in full consultation with the community, to determine costs, environmental and cultural impacts, community demand, compliance with local, state and environmental legislation and consistency with other objectives of this plan;Construct tracks in accordance with Australian Standard 2156 and Council’s Recreational Trail Design Guidelines;Temporarily close walking tracks if required for repair and during extreme fire weather, floods or other safety hazards and during planned burn operations;Immediately close visitor facilities where there are high risks to visitor safety or the environment;Work with QPWS regarding maintenance and monitoring of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk infrastructure to ensure compliance with the joint agency management agreement;

Table 8 Summary of horse riding tracks and maintenance requirements at Numinbah Conservation Area

Track No*

Location & Description (see Figure 3) Grade & Length


8 and 9 Chesters Road.

Gravel/earth 4WD track extending from Numinbah Valley through the CA.

Passes through moist sclerophyll forest, dry sclerophyll forest with grassy understorey and minor moist gullies.


6000 metres Maintain safe access for riders, walkers and Council maintenance/fire fighting vehicles.

Monitor track condition and repair where necessary.

18 Track west of Chesters Road.

3.5 metre wide earth track along grassy ridgeline extending west from Chesters Road to vantage points overlooking Numinbah Valley.

Passes through grassy sclerophyll forest and regrowth.


860 metres Restore track condition where necessary to prevent erosion and disturbance.

Maintain safe access for riders, walkers and Council maintenance/fire fighting vehicles.

Install regulatory and directional signage at track head and junctions with management tracks.

Slash track where necessary to control weeds and define boundaries of track.

View over Numinbah Conservation Area R. Shakespeare


Work with state and local horse riding groups regarding environmental education and awareness for riders using Council’s Conservation Areas;Rubbish bins will not be provided at day use areas; Open fires will be prohibited in all day use and camping areas;Mountain biking, trail bike riding and four-wheel drive use will not be permitted within any reserves in the planning area, except for management purposes;Liaise with QPWS and other government agencies to ensure coordinated recreational planning throughout South East Queensland.

ActionsImplement track development and maintenance actions listed in Tables 7 and 8;Provide signage to indicate a change of use where walking/riding tracks connect with management tracks or private property;Monitor and maintain all walking and riding tracks during ranger patrols and through use of track counters and/or cameras where necessary to: facilitate safe visitor accessfacilitate safe access for maintenance and emergenc vehicles prevent erosion, ponding and track degradationminimise and control the spread of weeds prevent unauthorised vehicle accessInstall nature based recreation infrastructure in accordance with Council’s Natural Areas park furniture suite;Install signage advising visitors to take their rubbish with them; Finalise the upgrade of facilities at Apple Tree Park to include: – refurbishment of toilet block and expansion of the

waste water treatment plant – replacement of wood barbecues with electric

barbecues – replacement of park furniture with new Natural

Areas suite – formalisation of vehicle access and car and coach

parking to accommodate day visitors and Great Walk users

– provision of walker access at locked gate entry point – installation of interpretation and orientation signage – landscaping

As part of the Springbrook Visitor Management Plan (GCCC in preparation), investigate:local and visitor recreational demands to determine a sustainable, nature-based use for the old Spork’s house site in Springbrook CA, andthe feasibility of a visitor ‘gateway facility’ to Springbrook and identify suitable sites if deemed to be feasible;Develop concept plans for upgrading of park furniture and interpretive information at Bochow Park;Investigate current levels of recreational use and

management requirements for creek and cleared area at the northern end of Velvet Downs Parklands, and rehabilitate vegetation along Purlingbrook Creek in the southern half of the site;Investigate alternative sites for development of a campground within Numinbah Valley (but outside of Numinbah CA);Implement a recreational demand study to identify need for further walking and day use facilities within the planning area, incorporating monitoring data for existing use of walking trails and day use areas at or near to the planning area. Where demand is identified, use feasibility assessment to identify suitable locations within the planning area or opportunities on adjacent private properties;Close and rehabilitate informal bush camping site adjacent to Waterfall Creek;Liaise with relevant Council officers regarding implementation of risk management measures at the waterhole adjacent to Austinville CA;Advise Council’s asset custodian of any instances of disturbance, vandalism or safety concerns identified at Austinville waterhole by Council rangers or reported to Council by members of the public;Provide information on Council’s web site relating to all walking and riding tracks and day use areas; Undertake regular patrols (on weekdays and weekends) of recreational areas to encourage safe behaviour and control prohibited activities;As part of Council ranger patrols, implement inspection and maintenance schedules and a visitor risk assessment program for all facilities; Design and implement monitoring of visitor impacts to identify visitor thresholds and management steps to protect natural values at recreation nodes;Work with state and local horse riding groups to produce a code of conduct (based on the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association Code of Conduct (ATHRA 2008) or similar) for riding in Council’s natural area estate.

4.10 Vehicle access

4.10.1 Background

Previous land uses have resulted in a number of four-wheel-drive (4WD) tracks through the planning area. While some level of vehicle access is necessary for management, excessive use contributes to sedimentation of the drinking water catchment through erosion of old or poorly constructed 4WD tracks, cattle tracks and farm laneways (Packer, 2006). Existing tracks within the planning area provide sufficient opportunities for management and it will be possible to close and rehabilitate some dead-end tracks over time when these tracks are no longer needed for management purposes. While some smaller reserves lack direct access, provision of access at this time is not warranted, and would have


unnecessary impacts on catchment, ecological and landscape values. Public vehicle access on existing tracks, by 4WD vehicles or trail bikes, has the potential to conflict with recreational users such as bushwalkers and horse riders, and can result in track degradation. It is essential that all tracks be well-maintained for both the safety of recreational users and for fire mitigation, where required. To keep the tracks in good condition, vehicle access to tracks in the planning area will be restricted to Council management vehicles and other essential users, including the current grazing licensees, rural fire brigades, QPWS and Energex (which maintains a number of power easements running through the planning area). Public vehicle access will be limited to parking areas adjacent to formal recreational nodes shown on Figure 3.

4.10.2 Specific management requirements

Table 9, below, summarises the location, access and management requirements of roads, tracks and paths in or near the planning area (Figure 4). Further maintenance requirements for formal walking or riding tracks are given in Tables 7 and 8 (Section 4.9).

Table 9 Summary of Management Tracks*

No. Location Current Condition Proposed Action Public Access

1 Austinville Road, southern end, along eastern boundary with Austinville CA.

Council managed road.

Sealed/ gravel 2WD road, good condition.

Gravel section of road proposed for sealing in 2008.

Liaise with Council’s Engineering Officers to ensure that planned sealing of road is carried out with minimal disturbance to adjacent Austinville Conservation Area and that further safety measures implemented are in accordance with recommendations of Risk Assessment Report for Austinville waterhole. (Fitzgerald, 2006).

Public vehicle, horse riding and foot access permitted.

2 Mt Nimmel Road, southern end adjacent to western boundary of Austinville CA.


Dirt 4WD track, 2 metres wide.

Steep and degraded at southern end near National Park from trail bike use.

Monitor to ensure road is maintained at current standard and repair damage in steeper sections with appropriate drainage, as required. Maintain gate to allow vehicle access for Council and QPWS staff and Rural Fire Brigades.

Motorised vehicles not permitted.

Horse riding and foot access only.

3 Carricks Road, northeast end bisecting Purlingbrook CA and Friendship Park. Council road reserve.

Sealed 2WD track, 3 metres wide, good condition.

Monitor to ensure road is maintained at current standard.

Public vehicle and foot access permitted.

4 Foot track through Lot 29 RP77863, Springbrook CA.

Dirt footpath, 1-2 metres wide, poor condition, overgrown and inaccessible in places.

Manage in accordance with Springbrook Fire Strategy – ie upgrade to a minimum 2-metre trafficable width with passing bays and turning area for light fire-fighting vehicles. From the eastern end of the track, a 1 metre mineral earth control line is to be constructed heading north to moist gulley to act as a fire break.

Public vehicle access and horse riding not permitted. Foot access only.

Management track at Apple Tree Park



5 Track along Energex easement, through Springbrook CA, parallel with Springbrook Road.

Earth 4WD track, 2.5 metres wide, moderate condition.

Retain current 24 hour access by Energex, fire fighting and maintenance vehicles.

Where required, manage in accordance with Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk track management agreement with QPWS.

Public vehicle access could be provided on section that may be developed for day use facilities at former Spork’s family home site. Foot access only on remainder of easement.

6 Old fire management tracks west of Apple Tree Park (lots 2 to 5 RP800209,0020Springbrook CA).

Unformed earth 4WD track, 2.5 metres wide, moderate to poor condition. Numerous offshoot tracks with dead ends.

Maintain existing circuit tracks for light management vehicles in accordance with Springbrook Fire Strategy. Close and rehabilitate dead end tracks or any other tracks that do not serve a management purpose.


7 Track through Apple Tree Park to western escarpment.

Unformed earth 4WD track, 2 metres wide, good condition.

Maintain existing track in accordance with Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk track management agreement with QPWS.


8 Chesters Road – northern section, from Nerang-Murwillumbah Road to entrance into Numinbah CA.


Gravel/earth 2WD road, 2-4 metres wide, good condition.

Liaise with Council’s Engineering Officers about retaining road as a low-key rural road which is also safe for horse riders and walkers.

Improve drainage where necessary.

Public vehicle access permitted to gate. Horse riding and foot access permitted along entire track.

9 Chesters Road – central section, from Numinbah CA access gate south to junction with Waterfall Creek track (Track 18).


Formed earth 4WD track, 2.5 metres wide, good condition.

Maintain current condition for walking and horse riding, maintenance vehicles and neighboring landholders.


Maintain gate and horse step-over at northern end to protect riders/walkers from unauthorised vehicle hazards.

Install gate north of junction with tracks 10 and 17 to prevent unauthorised access.

Pursue closure of road to motor vehicles under Local Government Act.

Motorised vehicles not permitted (except to access neighboring lots). Horse riding (to junction with track 18) and foot access only.

10 Chesters Road – southern section, from junction with Waterfall Creek track (Track 18) accessing Numinbah CA boundary and neighboring properties.


Unformed earth 4WD track, 2 metres wide, moderate to poor condition, steep in places with difficult gully crossings.

Maintain current condition for maintenance vehicles and neighboring landholders and repair gully crossings where required.

Install gate immediately north of junction with Waterfall creek track to prevent unauthorised horse rider access.

Pursue closure of road, to motor vehicles under Local Government Act.

Motorised vehicles not permitted (except to access neighboring lots). Horse riding not permitted. Foot access only.

11 Circuit track from Chesters Road into western half of Lot 128 WD3516, Numinbah CA

Unformed earth 4WD track, 2.5 metres wide, poor – moderate condition.

Maintain current condition for cattle access and long term restoration and fire management.

Motorised vehicles not permitted. Foot access only.

12 Track accessing farmhouse and Waterfall Creek from Chesters Road, Numinbah CA.

Unformed earth 4WD track, 2.5 metres wide, moderate – poor condition, overgrown at southern end.

Maintain current condition for maintenance and cattle grazing access.

Motorised vehicles and horse riders not permitted. Foot access only.

13 Track along Energex power easement in NE corner of Numinbah CA.

Unformed earth 4WD track, 2.5 metres wide, moderate condition with rocky creek crossing and steep sections.

Facilitate ongoing access for Energex.

Maintain as a fire control line in accordance with Springbrook Fire Strategy. Monitor creek crossing to ensure bank stabilisation structures are effective.




14 Track heading south from track 12 into Lot 127 WD3516, Numinbah CA.

Unformed, grass 4WD track, 3 metres wide, poor to moderate condition.

Maintain current condition for maintenance and cattle grazing access.

Retrofit for foot access only when vehicle access no longer required for restoration.


15 Lower track through old banana packing sheds, Numinbah CA.

Unformed earth 4WD track, 3.5 metres wide, moderate condition.

Retrofit track to provide foot access only when track no longer required for restoration.


16 Upper track through old banana plantations, Numinbah CA.

Unformed earth 4WD track, 3.5 metres wide, moderate condition.

Maintain current condition for restoration and as a fire control line.

Monitor usage and install gate at junctions with Chesters Road, if necessary, to prevent unauthorised access.


17 Track from southern end of Chesters Road to Waterfall Creek, Numinbah CA.

Unformed earth 4WD track, 3.5 metres wide, moderate condition, steep sections, passes through sensitive vegetation.

Maintain current condition for maintenance and repair steep sections and drainage where required.

Consider retrofitting to provide foot access only when vehicle access no longer required for restoration.


18 Track linking Chesters Road with Numinbah Valley, via private property in SE corner Numinbah CA.

Formed 4WD track, 3.5 metres wide, good condition.

Maintain current condition for horse riding and upgrade gully crossings where necessary. Regular slashing required.


Maintain gate on boundary with Lot 259 W312330 and install signage to prevent unauthorised access into neighboring private property.

Motorised vehicles not permitted. Horse riding and foot access only.

19 Track, including loop running parallel and south of track 18, SE corner Numinbah CA.

Formed 4WD tracks, 3.5 metres wide, moderate to good condition.

Maintain current condition for maintenance. Regular slashing required.



20 Track heading south from junction with track 19, SE corner Numinbah CA.

Formed 4WD track, 3.5 metres wide, moderate condition, overgrown.

Close and restore track when no longer required for restoration.

Motorised vehicles and horse riding not permitted. Foot access only.

21 Great Walk Track from Numinbah CA to Springbrook CA.

Constructed walking track with some vehicle access sections, good condition.

Track and 10 metre buffer either side to be managed by QPWS in accordance with management agreement with Council.

Facilitate access for QPWS maintenance vehicles.


22 Velvet Downs Park, southern access driveway from Springbrook Road.

Formed earth 4WD track, 2.5 metres wide, moderate condition, overgrown in places.

Maintain current condition for maintenance.

Facilitate unrestricted access for managers of electrical easement.


23 Velvet Downs Park, northern access driveway from Springbrook Road.



Facilitate unrestricted access for managers of electrical easement.


24 Track from Springbrook Road to southern boundary of Pine Creek Road Reserve, on private property.


While reserve remains under Council ownership, negotiate Council access with adjacent landholder.

Not permitted.



25 Track accessing East boundary of Numinbah Reserve and Mt Nimmel Road, via Waterworks Reserve.


Formed earth 4WD track, 3 metres wide, good condition.

Facilitate ongoing access for maintenance and private vehicles requiring access.

Permitted.

26 Austinville Community Park Track.

Unformed earth 4WD track, 3 metres wide, good condition.



27 Pocket Road CA access track Unformed earth 4WD track, poor condition in places, suitable during dry weather only.

Maintain current condition for maintenance. Do not use during wet weather.


*See Figure 4 for locations of roads and tracks.

4.10.3 Desired outcomesSafe access for management and fire fighting vehiclesSafe foot and/or horse riding access for recreational usersMinimise impact of management vehiclesProtect environmentally sensitive and significant areas from inappropriate access

4.10.4 Management strategy for vehicle access

GuidelinesPublic vehicle access is not permitted along any management tracks within the planning area;Limit speed on management vehicle tracks within reserves to 20 kilometres per hour;Minimise management vehicle access to tracks through sensitive habitat in Lot 172 WD3515, Numinbah CA (tracks 10 and 17);Liaise with Queensland Department of Main Roads about management issues on Springbrook Road;Liaise with Council’s engineering officers about management issues on Council road reserves adjacent to Council Conservation Areas.

ActionsImplement specific road/track maintenance actions listed in Table 9;Liaise with Energex about environmental protection during power line easement maintenance;Install signage to prevent unauthorised vehicles driving on restricted access tracks;Liaise with Council’s Local Law Unit to monitor and manage illegal vehicle access, including trail bike and four-wheel drive access;Investigate provision of access to Upper Mt Nimmel Road Reserve subject to future management requirements (see Table 11);Map tracks in new/future reserve acquisitions and add to Council’s GIS database; Where required, repair or rehabilitate tracks in new reserve acquisitions;

Monitor retained tracks to ensure drainage is functioning effectively and repair where necessary to avoid ponding of water;Prevent mechanical damage to trees and root systems during maintenance and construction activities. Where construction or repair is required, material used should be local or pathogen-free and equipment kept clean and washed down between work locations.

4.11 Coordinated reserve management


Much of the land adjacent to the planning area is national park or forest reserve, managed by QPWS. This land provides connectivity between Council reserves and is similarly managed to protect and conserve environmental values. Springbrook National Park is one of the largest and most heavily-visited conservation reserves in Queensland and, in addition to its scenic and recreational attractions, the majority of the park is included within the GRA World Heritage area.

A draft management plan for Springbrook National Park was produced by QPWS in 1999 and outlines key management directions and purposes for the National Park as follows:

management in accordance with World Heritage Convention obligations to protect outstanding geological history, evolutionary significance and natural biodiversity within the parkmaintenance of high profile nature-based recreation opportunities and enhancement of visitor experiences to foster greater appreciation of the parkactive management of impacts associated with increasing visitor numbersmaintenance of natural beauty and unmodified landscapes for future generations


management of fire to protect life and property and conserve natural and cultural resources

The highly irregular shape of Springbrook National Park (NP) makes it vulnerable to edge effects, thus cooperative management of areas adjacent to the NP is encouraged in the management plan. Due to the close association between Springbrook NP and Council’s Conservation Areas, with respect to shared boundaries, ecological communities and management objectives, integrated management between QPWS and Council staff will be critical to the ecological sustainability of the Springbrook-Numinbah-Austinville Region.

Within the planning area there are opportunities to protect and restore areas of critical habitat and linkage for threatened species and communities in the NP. Cleared areas, viewpoints and tracks within the planning area also provide opportunities for nature-based recreation (Section 4.9) that may lower visitor pressure on the high profile recreational nodes within Springbrook NP.

Many private lots adjacent to the planning area also provide connectivity between conserved remnants and are strategically important in maintaining a viable conservation network throughout the Gold Coast Hinterland. Private landholder initiatives, such as Nature Refuge Agreements, Voluntary Conservation Agreements and Land for Wildlife, in addition to land acquisition through Council’s Open Space Preservation Levy, may be effective in protecting this network. Management plans for Voluntary Conservation Agreement properties are produced by Council, in collaboration with the landholder, and provide an opportunity for coordinated conservation management across the Springbrook region.


Integrated management between Council, QPWS and neighbours.

4.11.3 Management strategy for coordinated reserve management

GuidelinesCollaborate with QPWS, Department of Main Roads and the regional water authority in the management of threatened species, fire, catchments, pest control, access and recreation on Council and state-managed conservation estates;Through Council’s specialist officers liaise with local owners of Land for Wildlife, Voluntary Conservation and Nature Refuge Agreement properties about the coordination of conservation management operations;Ensure that Council’s Natural Areas Management Unit is a key stakeholder in strategic land use planning in the area. Council’s specialist staff are to be consulted

regarding development applications on properties adjacent to conservation reserves; Immediately report to Council’s Natural Areas Management Unit Coordinator any development encroachments (to be pursued with Council’s Local Law officers where required);Provide advice to Council’s specialist officers regarding acquisition of suitable land parcels through the Open Space Preservation Levy.

4.12 Managing commercial activities


Council has recently provided support (and assessments) on several commercial activities in the Springbrook-Numinbah area. The Numinbah Valley Industry Scoping Study (Ruralscope, 2003) identified a need for economic revitalisation and redirection. A pilot tourism survey of Springbrook and Numinbah (Whitlow, 2006) noted the lack of state government support for small scale Hinterland businesses and developed a basic GIS methodology to identify tourism-related land parcels. This was used as a starting point to develop and nurture these assets in an economically and environmentally sustainable way.

There is a significant tourism market for the ‘quiet alternative’ that the Hinterland provides to the coastal strip (Whitlow, 2006). Of relevance to this management plan is whether there are opportunities for commercial activities within Council’s reserves and, if so, what the likely impacts of such activities might be. At the moment, there are no operators conducting commercial tourism activities within the planning area, although the toilet facilities at Apple Tree Park are used on an informal basis.

Little Nerang Dam and Springbrook National Park R. Shakespeare


Fig

ure

4 A

cces

s Tr

acks



Several ecotourism enterprises operate on private and state land in the vicinity and it is likely that commercial use of Numinbah and Springbrook CAs will increase with the opening of the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Currently the planning area lacks infrastructure to support commercial ecotourism; however, the demand for such activities is likely to increase with the predicted population growth of the region. If managed appropriately, commercial operators can increase the diversity of recreational, interpretive and educational opportunities available for visitors and can assist reserve management by encouraging sustainable visitor use and understanding of reserve values. Commercial use and permit administration for the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk is being managed solely by QPWS.

Commercial activities involve medium to large groups of people and have the potential to impact significantly on the amenity values which people come to enjoy. It is important that group activities, if permitted, are carefully monitored and restricted to areas where the impacts of crowding, traffic flow and safety on environmental and heritage values can be managed effectively.


Commercial tourism activities are conducted in a sustainable, safe, environmentally and culturally sensitive manner, compatible with other visitor use;Good working relationships are maintained with adjacent landholders to ensure long term sustainability of the ecological values.

4.12.3 Management strategy for commercial activities

GuidelinesWork with commercial operators to promote environmentally sensitive and sustainable economic activities on lands adjacent to the planning area;Liaise with Council’s Economic Development branch and QPWS about the development of commercial activities (i.e. tourism, corporate events, filming) in the planning area; All commercial operator licences and camping permits for the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk are to be administered by QPWS.

ActionDevelop and implement a permitted use and access policy for external users to ensure all activities within the planning area are conducted in a manner that:is consistent with conservation of natural and cultural resourcesis consistent with the protection of water quality in the drinking water catchmentis nature-based and provides appropriate interpretation of park valuesinvolves local Aboriginal input where there is a cultural heritage componentavoids conflict with other reserve usersdoes not have high public liability risks is appropriate for the level of existing infrastructure or resourcesincorporates monitoring to assess the sustainability of ecological and amenity values.

4.13 Community involvement


The planning area is valued highly by local residents for its natural history, scenic and amenity values. Protection of these values is easier to achieve if local residents and other visitors know about the environmental significance of the reserves and understand its management and conservation priorities.

Community groups and volunteers can contribute to natural area management by becoming involved in conservation and monitoring projects. Community groups also can help with public education, community development and the promotion of Council’s conservation objectives. There is strong community interest in conservation management in the planning area, as evidenced by groups such as Springbrook Landcare and Austinville Bush Restoration Group, Brisbane Bird Observation and Conservation Australia which conduct regular surveys for Council. Many local landholders also are in the Land for Wildlife program.

Grass trees R. Shakespeare



Good relationships with neighbouring residents and land holdersCommunity involvement in the conservation of the planning areaSupport for community-based conservation activities

4.13.3 Management strategy for community involvement

GuidelineSupport and facilitate conservation management activities carried out by existing community groups.

ActionsProvide education and training to community bush care groups about operating effectively with minimal Council supervision; Develop and support Council’s natural area good neighbour guidelines.

4.14 Interpretation and education


There are many advantages to providing interpretive services and environmental education for visitors. Such services can help orientate visitors, enhance their visit, foster an appreciation of natural features and values and promote appropriate behaviour. With growing populations in South East Queensland, the planning area is likely to be visited by more people, and interpretive resources will be critical to sustainable visitor management. Furthermore, the rich biodiversity and heritage of the planning area provides opportunities to

develop interpretive themes related to flora and fauna values, and Aboriginal and European heritage.

The level of signage within reserves needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis, subject to the planned use and recreational capacity of the reserve. Indicative locations of key signage points within the planning area are shown on Figures 3 and 4.

Conservation reserves could play an important role in environmental education for school and university groups, local environmental education centres and the wider community because they are so close to Gold Coast City and Brisbane. The proximity to the GRA World Heritage Area and the variety of flora and fauna provides excellent opportunities for environmental education and the promotion of Council’s environmental policies and activities.


Visitor appreciation, enjoyment and understanding of the values of the planning areaMinimal visitor impact through understanding of and support for regulations established to protect the planning area

4.14.3 Management strategy for interpretation and education

GuidelineManage educational use of the planning area according to permitted visitor uses (refer to 4.12).

ActionsDevelop an asset management strategy, including visitor infrastructure and signage consistent with Council’s Natural Areas Design Manual. The strategy should incorporate key signage nodes listed in Table 10;Work with specialist Council staff, QPWS and Springbrook Chamber of Commerce to develop orientation signage and visitor information at Springbrook; Improve visitor and neighbour behaviour, knowledge and support through:interpretive programs by rangers and volunteersa visitor information pamphletinterpretive signage highlighting key conservation values, restoration and management programs and encouraging environmentally responsible recreationregularly updated information on Council’s website regular input into local media.

Numinbah Conservation Area R. Anderson


Table 10 Locations of key proposed signage points throughout the planning area

Park Name Location* Type of Signage

Numinbah CA Main Chesters Road entrance to Numinbah CA – junction of Tracks 8, 9 and 12

Information shelter with interpretive, orientation and risk management information

Apple Tree Park Picnic/parking area Replace existing wooden sign with information shelter and Council interpretive, orientation and risk management information, to complement QPWS Great Walk signage.

Springbrook CA Old Spork’s house site Investigate opportunities for a visitor orientation and interpretation facility at the cleared old Spork’s house site.

Purlingbrook CA Carricks Road entrance at southern end of CA – Track 3

Low key entry signage

Austinville CA Planned car parking area on Austinville Road, downstream of water hole.

Liaise with Council’s asset custodian regarding installation of signage about parking regulations and safe access to water hole

Head of proposed upgraded access track to water hole on Austinville Road

Liaise with Council’s asset custodian regarding installation of signage to highlight environmental values of this section of road reserve and to mitigate environmental impacts associated with swimming, camping, litter

Pocket Road CA Pocket Road entrance Low key entry signage

Austinville Community Park

Access point on Staghorn Drive Replace existing wooden sign with new interpretive signage acknowledging the role of the Austinville community in restoration

Springbrook Centenary Parklands

Park entrance near Carricks Road car park Information signage acknowledging the role of the Springbrook community in restoration

Velvet Downs Parklands

At entrance to Track 23 on Springbrook Road

Information signage with interpretive, orientation and risk management information (waterway flooding), and acknowledgment of the role of Springbrook community in restoration

Bochow Park At entrance to park from car parking area Information signage about environmental values of Nerang River and recommending sustainable use of waterway

* For location of numbered tracks refer to Figure 4.

4.15 Monitoring and research


The objective of this plan is to achieve sustainable management of the values associated with the planning area. Ongoing monitoring of management actions is necessary to establish whether such actions are effective and are achieving the desired conservation objectives. Monitoring also provides a scientifically rigorous framework to identify and prioritise new management issues.

There will be a continuing need to monitor recreational use over time, as population growth in South East Queensland has the potential to place significant pressure on reserves within the planning area. While research is essential to conservation area management, the sites involved are fragile, and research itself may require assessment and management.Litoria wilcoxii N. Power


Research into ecosystem condition will provide Council with a comprehensive understanding of ecological processes within the planning area and, on a broader scale, will contribute to knowledge of bushfire, pest species and threatened species management throughout South East Queensland.

A number of existing institutions, management agencies and research groups have an interest in ecological and threatened species research within or adjacent to the planning area, including other sectors of Council, Griffith University Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies, QPWS, EPA, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, Southeast Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium, Southeast Queensland Catchments, the Glossy Black Cockatoo Conservancy and the Richmond Birdwing Recovery Network. These groups, in addition to other management plans and strategies relating to the planning area (for example threatened species recovery plans and the draft Border Ranges Biodiversity Management Plan, DECC 2008) can identify critical gaps in current knowledge and provide direction for research priorities.


Monitoring and research contributes to improved management of the planning area;Impacts of management are rapidly assessed through targeted monitoring; Management is adapted to effectively manage trends identified during monitoring;No detrimental environmental impacts result from research and monitoring;Research is coordinated and integrated with strategic regional biodiversity management priorities.

4.15.3 Management strategy

GuidelinesUndertake and support research and monitoring that improves reserve management, in particular in relation to protection and enhancement of rare or threatened species and known or potential habitat for these species; Ensure data collected is scientifically rigorous and can be analysed statistically;Liaise with Council’s specialist staff regarding current and planned strategic research programs within the planning area;Work with research institutions, management agencies and other research groups to ensure that research is targeted and prioritised to address key regional biodiversity management questions;Encourage the participation of specialist interest groups and research organisations in targeted research opportunities where this benefits reserve management;

Researchers working within the planning area must do so under Council’s Natural Area Permitted Use (research) and Access (for research purposes) approval process (refer to 4.12) and comply with conditions of permits;Research activities which involve taking, using or keeping wildlife for scientific purposes must demonstrate sustainability and require a permit under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994;Areas disturbed by research activities must be rehabilitated by researchers on completion of work;Adapt management practices to take into account threats, changes and management opportunities identified during monitoring/research.

ActionsDevelop and maintain Council’s natural area monitoring projects database to keep up with the progress of existing monitoring and new research topics;Using Council’s natural area monitoring projects database, prepare a list of priority monitoring projects. This will be distributed to research institutions and internal Council stakeholders as a guide to preferred research within the planning area. Priority topics already identified include:identification of critical habitat and movement corridors for significant speciesmonitoring the success of restoration activitiesupdates to flora and fauna inventoriesmonitoring of known threatened species populations, including population and genetic studies monitoring the role of fire in maintaining vegetation communities and threatened speciesmonitoring of the planned burn program and its effects on fuel load accumulationimpacts of introduced animals on the ecology of the planning area

Sand plot monitoring for animal tracks


development of effective control methodologies for pest speciesimpacts of recreational activities and acceptable limits of disturbance from recreational and management activitieslong-term water quality monitoring of Waterfall and Little Nerang CreeksLiaise with the relevant water authority to develop an effective strategy for water quality monitoring in reserves within the drinking water catchment (refer to 4.3).

4.16 Planning and estate consolidation

4.16.1 Background

Many of the OSPL-purchased reserves within the planning area are included in the Rural and Nature Conservation precinct of Springbrook LAP (refer to 3.2). Of the reserves outside of the LAP area, the majority fall within the Public Open Space domain, which provides the highest level of conservation protection to public land under Council’s planning scheme. However, parts of Numinbah, Austinville and Pocket Road CAs are zoned within the Rural domain, which provides less stringent protection of conservation values.

The planning area contains a number of small, isolated reserves that receive little attention because of their inaccessibility, small size, and lack of infrastructure or amenity. Whilst some of these reserves are owned by Council, the majority are State-owned, and managed by Council as the trustee. It is probable that at least some of these reserves will be of strategic importance in the future, if they are consolidated through future acquisitions, or if demand for public open space increases. Others, particularly those that occur in close proximity to Springbrook National Park, may be more effectively managed by the State Government, allowing Council to consolidate its conservation estate and better direct resources to its more prominent and publicly-accessible reserves.

Table 11 summarises the status of smaller reserves within the planning area and proposes future management actions.

Table 11 Status and management recommendations for small reserves within the planning area

Reserve name, lot and plan

Location and access Description/facilities Tenure Future management recommendation

Numinbah Reserve3 RP844804

Northeast of Little Nerang Dam, accessed via Waterworks Reserve.

19.8 hectares vegetated reserve on steep slope.

No infrastructure.

Accessible by foot from road along eastern boundary.

State Government; Council trustee.

No infrastructure required at present.

Review current management subject to recreational demand and/or tenure of neighbouring properties.

Pine Creek Road Reserve142 SP100291

NE of Numinbah CA.

Accessed via QPWS lot 15 RP813651 from Pine Creek Road.

1.2 hectares entirely vegetated reserve, lacking infrastructure.

Difficult to manage due to lack of access.

Surrounded by private land & National Park.


Revoke Council trusteeship and return to State ownership to be managed as part of adjacent Springbrook National Park.

Upper Mount Nimmel Road Reserve20 RP907368

North of Austinville CA. Access along easement from Mt Nimmel Road, not yet constructed.

7.5 hectares steep, entirely vegetated reserve, lacking infrastructure.

Difficult to manage due to lack of access.


Retain under Council management for strategic protection of conservation estate.

Provision of access and infrastructure not required at this stage but may be needed in the future depending on development or changes in tenure of adjacent lands and subsequent access requirements.


Reserve name, lot and plan

Location and access Description/facilities Tenure Future management recommendation

Springbrook Road Reserve268 WD4315

Springbrook Road, S of Springbrook Centenary Parklands. Accessed via Springbrook Road.

1.2 hectares steep, entirely vegetated reserve, lacking infrastructure.

Difficult to manage due to lack of access and steep topography.

Close to houses on neighbouring residential lots.


Dense vegetation, topography and situation close to other residences make this site unsuitable for a future recreational use.

Revoke Council trusteeship and return to State ownership to be managed as part of adjacent Springbrook National Park.

Bilborough Park266 WD4427

Southern end of Springbrook Road. Accessed via Bilborough Court.

2.9 hectares entirely vegetated reserve, lacking infrastructure.

Shares a boundary with Springbrook National Park and close to new state government land acquisitions (Figure 1)


Revoke Council trusteeship and return to State ownership to be managed as part of adjacent Springbrook National Park (Lot 495 NPW912).

Nerang Murwillumbah Road Reserve269 WD4491

Southern end of Numinbah Valley, between Nerang – Murwillumbah Road and Nerang River.

Accessed via Nerang – Murwillumbah Road.

0.4 hectare isolated cleared reserve.

Lacking infrastructure.

Has road frontage and close proximity to Nerang River.

Also close proximity to residential lot to south.


Retain under Council management.

No infrastructure required during this planning period but may be of value as a recreational node in future.

Nerang Murwillumbah Parklands1 RP122641

Southern end of Numinbah Valley, adjacent to Natural Bridge Sector of Springbrook National Park. Accessed via Bakers Road.

1.4 hectares linear reserve, 15 – 35 metres wide.

Partially degraded.

Lacking infrastructure.

Council Retain under Council management and review current management and infrastructure subject to recreational demand and/or tenure of neighbouring properties.


Effective levels of protection, under Gold Coast Planning Scheme, of conservation values on OSPL-purchased land;Effective and efficient use of Council’s resources in managing priority reserves within the planning area.

4.16.3 Management strategy for reserve planning and consolidation

GuidelineWork with Council’s strategic and development planners in identifying future park acquisitions and dedications to manage consolidation of reserves.

ActionsTransfer OSPL lands from the Rural domain to the Public Open Space domain during the next revision of Gold Coast City Planning Scheme.Implement reserve tenureship recommendations in Table 11.

Numinbah Valley


4.17 Naming reserves within the planning area

4.17.1 Background

Parks within the planning area have been named in accordance with Council’s Naming of Parks and Community Facilities Policy. Council adopts a general practice of naming parks and facilities after their street, suburb or a nearby geographical feature so parks are readily identifiable to Council staff, emergency services and the public.

Applications to name or rename parks and community facilities after individuals, families, service clubs or community organisations may be suitable in some circumstances and must be assessed against the criteria outlined in Attachment A of the policy.

The Naming of Parks and Community Facilities Policy includes a general principle relevant to lands bought with the OSPL, and requires that such sites are named at the time of the preparation of the management plan. The policy states that:

Sites acquired under the provisions of the Open Space Preservation Levy Acquisition Policy will be given an individual name; the first part of the name describes both the general location and key natural values which the parkland supports (to the full extent if possible), followed by the term “Conservation Area” to confer its principal function.

The policy also acknowledges the importance of identifying any cultural and natural heritage and states that:

The naming of interpretive or recreational infrastructure within the park after historical affiliations or individuals or families who have made a contribution to the city or locality is considered highly appropriate.

In light of the above, the following names are proposed for the OSPL-acquired properties covered in this management plan.

Numinbah Conservation Area, encompassing lots 127 – 8 WD3516, 126 WD3515, 172 WD3515, 122 WD456, 120 WD869 and the western portion of lots 1 – 5 RP800209, extending East to the Apple Tree Flat escarpment.Springbrook Conservation Area, encompassing lots 1 RP958964, 100 SP131744, 30 RP77824, 29 RP77863, 1 – 29 RP77824, 1 – 28 RP77863 and the eastern end of lots 1-5 RP800209 extending West to the Apple Tree Flat escarpment.Purlingbrook Conservation Area, Lot 3 RP158729.Austinville Conservation Area, encompassing lots 2 SP176220 and 3 – 5 RP163806.

Pocket Road Conservation area, encompassing lots 43 WD757 and 1 SP174767 Pocket Road.

It is further recommended that future OSPL acquisitions near any of the aforementioned conservation areas be amalgamated into the existing reserves for ease of identification and management.


The names of all OSPL acquisitions in the planning area are formalised.Reserve nomenclature is consistent within the planning area and identifies geographic location or cultural history and management intent of reserves.

4.17.3 Management strategy for reserve naming

GuidelinesAll future signage and communication materials reflect conservation area names adopted in this management plan;Naming or renaming other non-OSPL reserves within the planning area is carried out in accordance with Council’s Naming of Parks and Community Facilities Policy.

ActionsThe names Numinbah Conservation Area, Springbrook Conservation Area, Purlingbrook Conservation Area, Austinville Conservation Area and Pocket Road Conservation Area be formalised at the adoption of this management plan;In accordance with Council resolution 8 March 2002, the name of one area of infrastructure (eg. picnic area, walking track or lookout) within Springbrook Conservation Area is to be formally named after the Spork Family.

Tall sclerophyll forest R. Shakespeare


5 Summary of management actions

Table 12 provides a prioritised list of all management actions given in Chapter 4 of this plan. It is intended these actions will be incorporated into Council’s annual action plans and operational works programs. Management actions are listed reserve by reserve to make it easy to identify priority actions for each reserve within the planning area. Actions that apply to the entire planning area are listed first.

High priority actions should be achieved within five years of the approval of this plan and medium priorities within the lifetime (10 years) of this plan, unless otherwise stated. (For example, many high and medium priority actions have ongoing relevance throughout and beyond the lifetime of this plan). Low priority actions are to be implemented within the lifetime of the plan, where resources allow.


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Who

le o

f Clu

ster

Faun

a an

d ve

geta

tion

4.

1,

4.2

Forw

ard

all n

ew fa

una/

flora

stud

ies a

nd in

ciden

tal r

ecor

ds fo

r rar

e or

thre

aten

ed sp

ecie

s to

Coun

cil’s

Envi

ronm

enta

l Pla

nnin

g an

d Co

nser

vatio

n Un

it (E

P&C)

fo

r inc

lusio

n in

Cou

ncil’s

Nat

ure

Cons

erva

tion

Stra

tegy

Dat

abas

e.M

Ong

oing

Vege

tati

on4.

2Pr

epar

e a

bush

fire

man

agem

ent p

lan

for t

he p

lann

ing

area

that

reta

ins a

nd e

nhan

ces p

lant

bio

dive

rsity

and

succ

essio

nal s

tage

s at a

land

scap

e le

vel,

inclu

ding

miti

gatio

n of

the

risk

of w

ildfir

e en

terin

g fir

e-se

nsiti

ve v

eget

atio

n co

mm

uniti

es (r

efer

to 4

.4).

H1

year

4.2

Mon

itor a

reas

of e

ucal

ypt w

oodl

and

for e

vide

nce

of d

ieba

ck, p

artic

ular

ly in

long

unb

urnt

site

s and

are

as v

ulne

rabl

e to

hig

h nu

trien

t inp

ut. W

here

nec

essa

ry,

inve

stig

ate

oppo

rtuni

ties t

o co

ntro

l for

est d

eclin

e, su

ch a

s app

ropr

iate

fire

man

agem

ent..

MO

ngoi

ng

4.2

Redu

ce th

reat

of l

ong

term

fore

st d

ieba

ck th

roug

h m

inim

ising

dist

urba

nce

and

mai

ntai

ning

eco

syst

em fu

nctio

n an

d he

alth

in re

mna

nt co

mm

uniti

es a

nd, i

f fo

rest

dec

line

is id

entifi

ed, i

nves

tigat

e op

portu

nitie

s to

cont

rol d

eclin

e th

roug

h cu

rrent

bes

t pra

ctice

gui

delin

es.

MO

ngoi

ng

4.2

Wor

k w

ith Q

PWS,

SEQ

Cat

chm

ents

and

BM

AD w

orki

ng g

roup

rega

rdin

g m

onito

ring,

map

ping

and

man

agem

ent t

rials

for f

ores

t die

back

reco

mm

ende

d w

ithin

the

Bord

er R

ange

s pla

nnin

g ar

ea (D

ECC

2008

) and

Gol

d Co

ast H

inte

rland

Gre

at W

alk

Impa

ct A

sses

smen

t rep

ort (

Pars

ons B

rinck

erho

ff 19

95).

Also

in

rela

tion

to d

evel

opm

ent o

f lan

d m

anag

emen

t gui

delin

es, i

nclu

ding

the

nece

ssity

and

feas

ibili

ty o

f im

plem

entin

g hy

gien

e pr

otoc

ols a

long

recr

eatio

nal t

rack

s.

MO

ngoi

ng

4.2

Prom

ote

com

mun

ity u

nder

stan

ding

of fl

ora

prot

ectio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t iss

ues.

MO

ngoi

ng

Catc

hmen

t m

anag

emen

t4.

3De

velo

p an

effe

ctiv

e st

rate

gy w

ith G

CW a

nd C

ounc

il’s C

MU

to h

elp

impl

emen

t the

Gol

d Co

ast W

ater

Cat

chm

ent M

anag

emen

t Stra

tegy

(Pac

ker, 2

006)

, HA

CCP

syst

em, a

nd co

nsist

ent w

ater

qua

lity

and

biol

ogica

l mon

itorin

g pr

ogra

ms i

n re

serv

es w

ithin

the

drin

king

wat

er ca

tchm

ent.

H5

year

s

4.3

Ensu

re th

at in

terp

retiv

e m

ater

ial (

refe

r to

4.14

) inc

lude

s inf

orm

atio

n to

enc

oura

ge re

spon

sible

atti

tude

s tow

ards

wat

er q

ualit

y m

anag

emen

t.H

Ong

oing

Fire

m

anag

emen

t4.

4Im

plem

ent t

he S

prin

gbro

ok Fi

re S

trate

gyH

1 ye

ar

4.4

Revi

ew S

prin

gbro

ok Fi

re S

trate

gy e

very

five

yea

rs, in

cons

ulta

tion

with

key

stak

ehol

ders

and

am

end

in a

ccor

danc

e w

ith n

ew re

sear

ch fi

ndin

gs a

nd w

here

on

-site

mon

itorin

g in

dica

tes t

he n

eed

for m

anag

emen

t cha

nges

.M

5 ye

ars

4.4

Deve

lop

a st

rate

gy fo

r pre

scrib

ed b

urns

, inc

orpo

ratin

g gr

ound

trut

hing

, pre

para

tion

of b

urn

prop

osal

s, be

fore

and

afte

r fire

mon

itorin

g of

fuel

haz

ard

and

othe

r man

agem

ent o

bjec

tives

and

pee

r rev

iew

.H

2 ye

ars

4.4

Prov

ide

incid

ent c

ontro

l sup

port

at w

ildfir

es to

incr

ease

opp

ortu

nitie

s for

pro

tect

ing

fire-

sens

itive

eco

syst

ems.

HO

ngoi

ng

4.4

Liaise

with

GCW

rega

rdin

g im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e G

old

Coas

t Wat

er B

ushfi

re M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

03 a

nd in

tegr

atio

n of

revi

sed

vers

ions

with

the

Sprin

gbro

ok Fi

re S

trate

gy.

MO

ngoi

ng

4.4

Ensu

re re

leva

nt m

appi

ng la

yers

are

mai

ntai

ned

in C

ounc

il’s G

eogr

aphi

cal I

nfor

mat

ion

Syst

em (G

IS),

inclu

ding

fire

hist

ory,

igni

tion

sour

ce, fi

re p

ath,

eco

logi

cal

data

, man

agem

ent t

rails

, con

trol l

ines

and

fire

figh

ting

infra

stru

ctur

e.M

Ong

oing

Pest

ani

mal

s4.

5Ad

d in

form

atio

n ab

out k

now

n pe

st a

nim

al m

ovem

ent r

oute

s, de

ns, t

rap

sites

and

bai

t loc

atio

ns to

Cou

ncil’s

GIS

.M

Ong

oing

4.5

Inst

all r

egul

ator

y sig

nage

to p

rohi

bit d

omes

tic ca

ts a

nd d

ogs f

rom

all

cons

erva

tion

area

s.H

1 ye

ar

4.5

Redu

ce ca

ne to

ad h

abita

t thr

ough

rest

orat

ion

of o

pen

area

s, de

nse

plan

ting

arou

nd d

ams a

nd tr

ials

of n

ewly-

iden

tified

cont

rol m

etho

ds, w

here

app

licab

le.M

10 y

ears

Tab

le 1

2 Pr

iori

tise

d m

anag

emen

t ac

tio

ns

sum

mar

y


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Wee

ds/

rest

orat

ion

4.6

Deve

lop

and

impl

emen

t Res

tora

tion

and

Wee

d Co

ntro

l Pla

ns fo

r key

rest

orat

ion

sites

with

in th

e pl

anni

ng a

rea

(sho

wn

on Fi

gure

2),

addr

essin

g th

e fo

llow

ing:

prio

ritisa

tion

of ra

re o

r thr

eate

ned

spec

ies h

abita

t, sig

nific

ant e

colo

gica

l com

mun

ities

, hig

h fir

e ha

zard

are

as, w

ater

way

s, an

d cu

ltura

lly si

gnifi

cant

site

s

map

ping

of w

eed

dist

ribut

ion

use

of a

ppro

pria

te te

chni

ques

, inc

ludi

ng fo

llow

up

cont

rol

reco

mm

ende

d sp

ecie

s list

s for

eac

h pl

antin

g zo

ne

timin

g of

rest

orat

ion

activ

ities

mon

itorin

g pr

ogra

ms a

nd p

erfo

rman

ce cr

iteria

to a

sses

s suc

cess

of r

esto

ratio

n an

d id

entif

y pr

iorit

y sit

es

repo

rting

pro

toco

ls

assig

nmen

t of r

espo

nsib

ility

for t

asks

/act

iviti

es

prov

ide

oppo

rtuni

ties f

or co

ordi

natin

g m

anag

emen

t with

nei

ghbo

urin

g la

ndho

lder

s

HO

ngoi

ng

4.6

At p

rom

inen

t site

s, in

stal

l int

erpr

etiv

e sig

nage

to in

form

the

publ

ic of

obj

ectiv

es o

f res

tora

tion

wor

ks.

M3

year

s

4.6

Disc

oura

ge a

cces

s thr

ough

reha

bilit

atin

g ar

eas u

ntil

nativ

e ve

geta

tion

is es

tabl

ished

.M

Ong

oing

Recr

eati

on4.

9Pr

ovid

e sig

nage

to in

dica

te a

chan

ge o

f use

whe

re w

alki

ng/ri

ding

trac

ks co

nnec

t with

man

agem

ent t

rack

s or p

rivat

e pr

oper

ty.M

3 ye

ars

4.9

Mon

itor a

nd m

aint

ain

all w

alki

ng a

nd ri

ding

trac

ks d

urin

g ra

nger

pat

rols

and

thro

ugh

use

of tr

ack

coun

ters

and

/or c

amer

as w

here

nec

essa

ry to

:

facil

itate

safe

visi

tor a

cces

s

ensu

re a

cces

s for

mai

nten

ance

and

em

erge

ncy

vehi

cles o

n dr

ivab

le tr

acks

prev

ent e

rosio

n, p

ondi

ng a

nd tr

ack

degr

adat

ion

min

imise

/con

trol s

prea

d of

wee

ds

prev

ent u

naut

horis

ed v

ehicl

e ac

cess

HO

ngoi

ng

4.9

Inst

all n

atur

e ba

sed

recr

eatio

n in

frast

ruct

ure

in a

ccor

danc

e w

ith C

ounc

il’s N

atur

al A

reas

par

k fu

rnitu

re su

ite.

HO

ngoi

ng

4.9

Inst

all s

igna

ge a

dvisi

ng v

isito

rs to

take

thei

r rub

bish

with

them

.M

5 ye

ar

4.9

Inve

stig

ate

alte

rnat

ive

sites

for t

he d

evel

opm

ent o

f a ca

mpg

roun

d w

ithin

Num

inba

h Va

lley.

H1

year

4.9

Impl

emen

t a n

atur

e ba

sed

recr

eatio

n de

man

d st

udy

to id

entif

y ne

ed fo

r fur

ther

wal

king

and

day

use

facil

ities

with

in th

e pl

anni

ng a

rea,

inco

rpor

atin

g m

onito

ring

data

for e

xist

ing

use

of w

alki

ng tr

ails

and

day

use

area

s at o

r nea

r to

the

plan

ning

are

a. W

here

dem

and

is id

entifi

ed, u

se fe

asib

ility

ass

essm

ent t

o id

entif

y su

itabl

e lo

catio

ns w

ithin

the

plan

ning

are

a or

opp

ortu

nitie

s on

adja

cent

priv

ate

prop

ertie

s.

H3

year

s

4.9

Prov

ide

info

rmat

ion

on C

ounc

il’s w

eb p

ages

abo

ut a

ll w

alki

ng a

nd ri

ding

trac

ks a

nd d

ay-u

se a

reas

.M

3 ye

ar

4.9

Unde

rtake

regu

lar w

eek

day

and

wee

kend

pat

rols

of re

crea

tiona

l are

as, t

o en

cour

age

safe

beh

avio

ur a

nd co

ntro

l pro

hibi

ted

activ

ities

.M

Ong

oing

4.9

As p

art o

f ran

ger p

atro

ls, im

plem

ent i

nspe

ctio

n an

d m

aint

enan

ce sc

hedu

les a

nd a

visi

tor r

isk a

sses

smen

t pro

gram

for a

ll fa

ciliti

es.

H1

year

4.9

Desig

n an

d im

plem

ent v

isito

r im

pact

mon

itorin

g to

iden

tify

the

impa

ct th

resh

olds

and

app

ropr

iate

man

agem

ent r

espo

nses

to p

rote

ct n

atur

al v

alue

s at

recr

eatio

n no

des.

M5

year

s

4.9

Wor

k w

ith st

ate

and

loca

l hor

se ri

ding

gro

ups t

o pr

oduc

e a

code

of c

ondu

ct (b

ased

on

the A

ustra

lian

Trai

l Hor

se R

ider

s Ass

ocia

tion

Code

of C

ondu

ct (A

THRA

20

08) o

r sim

ilar)

for r

idin

g in

Cou

ncil’s

nat

ural

are

a es

tate

. M

5 ye

ars


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Vehi

cle

acce

ss4.

10In

stal

l sig

nage

to p

reve

nt u

naut

horis

ed v

ehicl

e ac

cess

on

rest

ricte

d tra

cks.

M5

year

s

4.10

Wor

k w

ith C

ounc

il’s L

ocal

Law

Uni

t to

mon

itor a

nd m

anag

e ill

egal

veh

icle

acce

ss, i

nclu

ding

trai

l bike

and

four

-whe

el-d

rive

acce

ss.

HO

ngoi

ng

4.10

Map

trac

ks in

new

or f

utur

e re

serv

e ac

quisi

tions

and

add

to C

ounc

il’s G

IS d

atab

ase.

HO

ngoi

ng

4.10

Whe

re re

quire

d, re

pair

or re

habi

litat

e tra

cks i

n ne

w re

serv

e ac

quisi

tions

.M

Ong

oing

4.10

Mon

itor r

etai

ned

track

s to

ensu

re d

rain

age

is fu

nctio

ning

effe

ctiv

ely

and

repa

ir w

here

nec

essa

ry to

avo

id p

ondi

ng o

f wat

er.

MO

ngoi

ng

4.10

Prev

ent m

echa

nica

l dam

age

to tr

ees a

nd ro

ot sy

stem

s dur

ing

mai

nten

ance

and

cons

truct

ion

activ

ities

. Whe

re co

nstru

ctio

n/re

pair

is re

quire

d, m

ater

ial u

sed

shou

ld b

e lo

cal o

r pat

hoge

n fre

e an

d eq

uipm

ent k

ept c

lean

and

was

hed

dow

n be

twee

n w

ork

loca

tions

.H

Ong

oing

Com

mer

cial

ac

tivi

ties

4.12

Deve

lop

and

impl

emen

t a p

erm

itted

use

and

acc

ess p

olicy

for e

xter

nal u

sers

to e

nsur

e al

l act

iviti

es in

the

plan

ning

are

a ar

e co

nduc

ted

in a

man

ner t

hat:

is co

nsist

ent w

ith co

nser

vatio

n of

nat

ural

and

cultu

ral r

esou

rces

is co

nsist

ent w

ith p

rote

ctio

n of

wat

er q

ualit

y in

the

drin

king

wat

er ca

tchm

ent

is na

ture

-bas

ed a

nd p

rovi

des a

ppro

pria

te in

terp

reta

tion

of p

ark

valu

es

invo

lves

loca

l Abo

rigin

al in

put w

here

ther

e is

a cu

ltura

l her

itage

com

pone

nt

avoi

ds co

nflict

with

oth

er re

serv

e us

ers

does

not

incu

r hig

h pu

blic

liabi

lity

risks

is ap

prop

riate

for t

he le

vel o

f exi

stin

g in

frast

ruct

ure

or re

sour

ces

inco

rpor

ates

app

ropr

iate

mon

itorin

g m

echa

nism

s to

asse

ss su

stai

nabi

lity

of e

colo

gica

l and

am

enity

val

ues.

H3

year

s

Com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

4.13

Prov

ide

educ

atio

n an

d tra

inin

g to

hel

p co

mm

unity

bus

h ca

re g

roup

s ope

rate

effe

ctiv

ely

with

min

imal

Cou

ncil

supe

rvisi

on.

MO

ngoi

ng

4.13

Deve

lop

Coun

cil’s

natu

ral a

rea

good

nei

ghbo

ur g

uide

lines

.M

5 ye

ars

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

n4.

14De

velo

p an

ass

et m

anag

emen

t stra

tegy

, inc

ludi

ng v

isito

r inf

rast

ruct

ure

and

signa

ge co

nsist

ent w

ith C

ounc

il’s N

atur

al A

reas

Des

ign

Man

ual. T

he st

rate

gy

shou

ld in

corp

orat

e ke

y sig

nage

nod

es li

sted

in Ta

ble

10.

M5

year

s

4.14

Wor

k w

ith C

ounc

il’s E

cono

mic

Deve

lopm

ent s

taff,

QPW

S an

d Sp

ringb

rook

Cha

mbe

r of C

omm

erce

to d

evel

op o

rient

atio

n sig

nage

and

visi

tor i

nfor

mat

ion

at

Sprin

gbro

ok.

H3

year

s

4.14

Impr

ove

visit

or a

nd n

eigh

bour

beh

avio

ur, k

now

ledg

e an

d su

ppor

t thr

ough

:

‘Wal

k on

the W

ildsid

e’ p

rogr

am

a vi

sitor

info

rmat

ion

pam

phle

t

inte

rpre

tive

signa

ge h

ighl

ight

ing

key

cons

erva

tion

valu

es, r

esto

ratio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t pro

gram

s and

enc

oura

ging

env

ironm

enta

lly re

spon

sible

recr

eatio

n

regu

larly

upd

ated

info

rmat

ion

on C

ounc

il’s w

ebsit

e

regu

lar i

nput

into

loca

l med

ia

MO

ngoi

ng


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Mon

itor

ing

and

rese

arch

4.15

Deve

lop

and

mai

ntai

n Co

uncil

’s na

tura

l are

a m

onito

ring

proj

ects

dat

abas

e w

ith p

rogr

ess o

f cur

rent

and

new

rese

arch

and

mon

itorin

g.M

Ong

oing

4.15

Usin

g th

e Co

uncil

’s na

tura

l are

a m

onito

ring

proj

ects

dat

abas

e, pr

epar

e a

list o

f prio

rity

mon

itorin

g pr

ojec

ts to

be

dist

ribut

ed to

rese

arch

inst

itutio

ns a

s a

guid

e to

pre

ferre

d re

sear

ch w

ithin

the

plan

ning

are

a. P

riorit

y to

pics

alre

ady

iden

tified

inclu

de:

iden

tifica

tion

of cr

itica

l mov

emen

t cor

ridor

s for

sign

ifica

nt sp

ecie

s

mon

itorin

g su

cces

s of r

esto

ratio

n ac

tiviti

es

upda

tes o

f flor

a an

d fa

una

inve

ntor

ies

mon

itorin

g of

kno

wn

thre

aten

ed sp

ecie

s pop

ulat

ions

, inc

ludi

ng p

opul

atio

n an

d ge

netic

stud

ies

mon

itorin

g th

e ro

le o

f fire

in m

aint

aini

ng v

eget

atio

n co

mm

uniti

es a

nd th

reat

ened

spec

ies

mon

itorin

g of

the

plan

ned

burn

pro

gram

and

its e

ffect

s on

fuel

load

acc

umul

atio

n

impa

cts o

f int

rodu

ced

anim

als o

n th

e ec

olog

y of

the

plan

ning

are

a

impa

cts o

f fire

on

vege

tatio

n co

mm

uniti

es a

nd th

reat

ened

spec

ies.

deve

lopm

ent o

f effe

ctiv

e co

ntro

l met

hodo

logi

es fo

r pes

t spe

cies

impa

cts o

f rec

reat

iona

l act

iviti

es a

nd a

ccep

tabl

e lim

its o

f dist

urba

nce

from

recr

eatio

nal a

nd m

anag

emen

t act

iviti

es

long

-term

wat

er q

ualit

y m

onito

ring

of W

ater

fall

and

Little

Ner

ang

Cree

ks

M3

year

s

4.15

Liaise

with

the

rele

vant

wat

er a

utho

rity

to d

evel

op a

n ef

fect

ive

stra

tegy

for w

ater

qua

lity

mon

itorin

g in

rese

rves

with

in th

e dr

inki

ng w

ater

catc

hmen

t (re

fer

to 4

.3).

MO

ngoi

ng

Plan

ning

&

Est

ate

cons

olid

atio

n

4.16

Tran

sfer

OSP

L la

nds f

rom

the

Rura

l dom

ain

to th

e Pu

blic

Ope

n Sp

ace

dom

ain

durin

g th

e ne

xt re

visio

n of

Gol

d Co

ast C

ity P

lann

ing

Sche

me.

M5

year

s

4.16

Impl

emen

t res

erve

tenu

re re

com

men

datio

ns g

iven

in Ta

ble

11.

L10

yea

rs

Num

inba

h Co

nser

vatio

n Ar

ea

Faun

a4.

1Re

stor

e ve

geta

tion

alon

g de

grad

ed se

ctio

ns o

f Wat

erfa

ll Cr

eek

to in

crea

se m

esic

habi

tat l

inks

to N

umin

bah

Fore

st R

eser

ve (n

ow in

corp

orat

ed in

to

Sprin

gbro

ok N

atio

nal P

ark)

.H

2 ye

ars

4.1

Incr

ease

ava

ilabl

e fo

rest

hab

itat t

hrou

gh re

stor

atio

n of

clea

red

parts

of N

umin

bah

CA w

ith in

dige

nous

rem

nant

veg

etat

ion.

L10

+ ye

ars

4.1

Mai

ntai

n fe

nces

to p

reve

nt ca

ttle

acce

ss to

wat

erw

ays a

nd n

ativ

e ve

geta

tion,

and

pro

vide

or m

aint

ain

alte

rnat

ive

cattl

e w

ater

ing

poin

ts w

here

nec

essa

ry.

Cattl

e ac

cess

to se

lect

ed, f

ence

d cr

eek

sect

ions

may

be

perm

itted

onl

y w

hen

alte

rnat

ive

wat

erin

g po

ints

are

not

ope

ratio

nal.

HO

ngoi

ng

4.1

Inst

all s

igna

ge a

long

Spr

ingb

rook

Roa

d ad

jace

nt to

kno

wn

long

-nos

ed p

otor

oo h

abita

t to

aler

t mot

orist

s and

adv

ise ca

utio

n w

hen

driv

ing

thro

ugh.

M5

year

s

Vege

tati

on4.

2Ex

clude

cattl

e fro

m a

ll re

stor

atio

n sit

es a

nd si

tes c

onta

inin

g rip

aria

n ve

geta

tion.

HO

ngoi

ng

Catc

hmen

t m

anag

emen

t4.

3Re

stor

e de

grad

ed w

ater

way

s in

the

drin

king

wat

er ca

tchm

ent,

parti

cula

rly cl

eare

d po

rtion

s of W

ater

fall

Cree

k.H

2 ye

ars

4.3

Inve

stig

ate

viab

ility

of a

pum

p sy

stem

to tr

ansf

er w

ater

from

Wat

erfa

ll Cr

eek

to ca

ttle

wat

erin

g po

ints

dur

ing

drou

ght p

erio

ds.

H1

year


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Fire

m

anag

emen

t4.

4Re

stor

e th

e w

este

rn A

pple

Tree

Fla

t esc

arpm

ent (

Lots

120

WD8

69 a

nd 1

– 5

RP8

0020

9, N

umin

bah

CA) t

o re

mov

e fla

mm

able

woo

dy w

eeds

and

re-e

stab

lish

nativ

e vi

ne fo

rest

.H

2 ye

ars

Pest

ani

mal

s 4.

5Pr

oduc

e a

fera

l ani

mal

cont

rol p

lan

(FAC

P) fo

r Num

inba

h CA

. Thi

s pla

n sh

ould

inclu

de:

trigg

ers f

or in

itiat

ing

cont

rol s

trate

gies

mul

tiple

cont

rol s

trate

gies

for t

arge

t spe

cies

inte

grat

ion

with

rele

vant

Thre

at A

bate

men

t Pla

ns

stra

tegi

es fo

r com

mun

ity a

nd la

ndho

lder

invo

lvem

ent/c

oope

ratio

n

mon

itorin

g te

chni

ques

and

regi

mes

to id

entif

y pr

iorit

y ar

eas f

or fe

ral a

nim

al co

ntro

l (eg

. in

poto

roo

and

spot

ted-

taile

d qu

oll h

abita

t), a

nd to

mea

sure

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of c

ontro

l

repo

rting

pro

toco

ls

assig

nmen

t of r

espo

nsib

ility

for t

asks

and

act

iviti

es

H2

year

s

4.5

Cont

inue

sand

plo

t mon

itorin

g pr

ogra

m to

info

rm fu

ture

pes

t ani

mal

cont

rol.

Expa

nd a

s res

ourc

es a

llow

.H

Ong

oing

4.5

Mon

itor a

nd m

aint

ain

fenc

es a

long

Wat

erfa

ll Cr

eek

to p

reve

nt ca

ttle

acce

ss to

sens

itive

veg

etat

ion

and

ripar

ian

com

mun

ities

.H

Ong

oing

Wee

ds/

rest

orat

ion

4.6

In cl

eare

d po

rtion

s of N

umin

bah

CA, m

anag

e w

eeds

by

supp

ress

ion

rath

er th

an e

xclu

sion,

unt

il th

ese

area

s can

be

rest

ored

. Sup

pres

sion

may

inclu

de

slash

ing,

cont

aine

d gr

azin

g or

targ

eted

her

bicid

e ap

plica

tion.

M10

yea

rs

4.6

Amen

d gr

azin

g lic

ence

at N

umin

bah

CA in

acc

orda

nce

with

rest

orat

ion

activ

ities

(i.e

. whe

re fe

nces

are

real

igne

d fo

r for

est r

esto

ratio

n, in

stal

latio

n of

new

in

frast

ruct

ure

like

wat

erin

g po

ints

and

trou

ghs t

o al

low

the

closu

re o

f the

last

wat

erin

g po

int o

n W

ater

fall

Cree

k, o

r whe

re n

eces

sary

to m

anag

e co

mpl

ianc

e).

M10

yea

rs

4.6

Mon

itor c

ompl

ianc

e of

gra

zing

licen

see

in N

umin

bah

CA. D

evel

op a

nd im

plem

ent a

set o

f per

form

ance

crite

ria to

mon

itor m

anag

emen

t and

impa

ct o

f gr

azin

g lic

ence

s with

in co

nser

vatio

n re

serv

es, p

artic

ular

ly in

rela

tion

to d

rinki

ng w

ater

qua

lity,

soil

eros

ion

and

faun

a ha

bita

t pro

tect

ion.

HO

ngoi

ng

4.6

Cont

inue

ong

oing

rest

orat

ion

prog

ram

in N

umin

bah

CA.

H5

year

s

Her

itag

e4.

7De

mol

ish o

ld fa

rmho

use

in N

umin

bah

CA d

ue to

low

her

itage

val

ue a

nd h

igh

cost

for s

afe

repa

ir.H

1 ye

ar

4.7

Impl

emen

t rec

omm

enda

tions

of H

erita

ge A

sses

smen

t (Ki

ng a

nd C

rosb

y, 20

05) o

n ol

d fa

rmin

g an

d lo

ggin

g fe

atur

es a

t Num

inba

h CA

.M

5 ye

ars

Recr

eati

on4.

9Cl

ose

and

reha

bilit

ate

info

rmal

bus

h ca

mpi

ng si

te a

djac

ent t

o W

ater

fall

Cree

k.H

2 ye

ars

T.7

& 8

Mai

ntai

n sa

fe a

cces

s for

wal

kers,

ride

rs a

nd w

here

app

licab

le (i

e. al

ong

Ches

ters

Roa

d), C

ounc

il m

aint

enan

ce a

nd fi

re co

ntro

l veh

icles

on

the

recr

eatio

nal

track

net

wor

k.M

Ong

oing

T.7Re

trofit

trac

ks 1

4 an

d 15

to p

rovi

de fo

ot a

cces

s onl

y w

hen

vehi

cle a

cces

s no

long

er re

quire

d fo

r res

tora

tion.

M10

yea

rs

T.7Re

trofit

foot

acc

ess t

rack

s to

link

track

s 14

and

15.

M5

year

s

T.7Re

stor

e co

nditi

on o

f tra

ck 1

8 to

pre

vent

ero

sion

and

dist

urba

nce.

M5

year

s


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Recr

eati

onT.7

&

8M

aint

ain

safe

ride

r acc

ess o

n pr

opos

ed h

orse

ridi

ng tr

acks

and

inst

all s

igns

at j

unct

ions

to p

reve

nt u

naut

horis

ed a

cces

s int

o ne

ighb

ourin

g pr

oper

ties o

r m

anag

emen

t tra

cks.

MO

ngoi

ng

T.7Sl

ash

track

18

whe

n ne

cess

ary

to co

ntro

l wee

ds a

nd d

efine

trac

k bo

unda

ries.

MO

ngoi

ng

Vehi

cle

acce

ss4.

10Lia

ise w

ith E

nerg

ex a

bout

env

ironm

enta

l pro

tect

ion

durin

g po

wer

line

eas

emen

t mai

nten

ance

.M

Ong

oing

4.10

Mai

ntai

n co

nditi

on o

f tra

cks i

n ac

cord

ance

with

Tabl

e 9.

MO

ngoi

ng

T.9Lia

ise w

ith C

ounc

il’s e

ngin

eerin

g of

ficer

s abo

ut re

tain

ing

road

as a

low

-key

rura

l roa

d w

hich

is a

lso sa

fe fo

r hor

se ri

ders

and

wal

kers.

Impr

ove

drai

nage

whe

re n

eces

sary.

H1

year

T.9In

vest

igat

e sa

fe p

arki

ng a

nd a

cces

s opt

ions

alo

ng th

e no

rther

n en

d of

Che

ster

s Roa

d pe

ople

usin

g N

umin

bah

CA. P

artic

ular

not

e m

ust b

e m

ade

of fi

re

haza

rds i

n th

e ar

ea.

H3

year

s

T.9Im

prov

e dr

aina

ge w

here

nec

essa

ry a

long

ridi

ng tr

acks

(tra

cks 8

, 9 a

nd 1

8).

M5

year

s

T.9M

aint

ain

gate

and

hor

se st

ep-o

ver a

t nor

ther

n en

d of

trac

k 9

to p

rote

ct ri

ders

and

wal

kers

from

una

utho

rised

veh

icle

haza

rds.

MO

ngoi

ng

T.9In

stal

l gat

e on

trac

k 9,

nor

th o

f the

junc

tion

with

trac

ks 1

0 an

d 17

to p

reve

nt u

naut

horis

ed a

cces

s.M

5 ye

ars

T.9Pu

rsue

clos

ure

to v

ehicl

es o

f the

sout

hern

end

of C

hest

ers R

oad

(trac

ks 8

and

9) s

outh

from

the

cons

erva

tion

area

bou

ndar

y (ie

Trac

ks 8

, 9 &

10,

Figu

re 4

), un

der t

he L

ocal

Gov

ernm

ent A

ct.

H1

year

T.9Fa

cilita

te o

ngoi

ng a

cces

s for

Ene

rgex

alo

ng p

ower

eas

emen

t (tra

ck 1

3) a

nd m

aint

ain

as a

fire

cont

rol l

ine

in a

ccor

danc

e w

ith S

prin

gbro

ok Fi

re S

trate

gy.

MO

ngoi

ng

T.9In

stal

l gat

e at

junc

tion

of tr

ack

16 a

nd C

hest

ers R

oad

if ne

cess

ary

to p

reve

nt u

naut

horis

ed a

cces

s.M

5 ye

ars

T.9Re

pair

drai

nage

alo

ng tr

ack

17 w

here

requ

ired.

Con

sider

retro

fittin

g to

pro

vide

foot

acc

ess o

nly

whe

n ve

hicle

acc

ess n

o lo

nger

requ

ired

for r

esto

ratio

n.M

5 ye

ars

T.9M

aint

ain

gate

on

cons

erva

tion

area

bou

ndar

y at

the

end

of tr

ack

18 a

nd in

stal

l sig

nage

to p

reve

nt u

naut

horis

ed a

cces

s int

o ne

ighb

orin

g pr

ivat

e pr

oper

ty.M

Ong

oing

T.9M

aint

ain

curre

nt co

nditi

on o

f tra

ck 1

9, sl

ash

and

impr

ove

drai

nage

whe

re n

eces

sary.

MO

ngoi

ng

T.9Cl

ose

and

rest

ore

track

20

whe

n it

is no

long

er re

quire

d fo

r res

tora

tion.

L10

+ ye

ars

Com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent,

inte

rpre

tati

on

4.13

Wor

k w

ith C

ounc

ils E

cono

mic

Deve

lopm

ent s

taff,

QPW

S an

d Sp

ringb

rook

Cha

mbe

r of C

omm

erce

in th

e de

velo

pmen

t of o

rient

atio

n sig

nage

and

visi

tor

info

rmat

ion

at S

prin

gbro

ok.

M3

year

s

T.10

Inst

all i

nfor

mat

ion

shel

ter w

ith in

terp

retiv

e, or

ient

atio

n an

d ris

k m

anag

emen

t inf

orm

atio

n at

mai

n Ch

este

rs R

oad

entra

nce

to N

umin

bah

CA.

M3

year

s

Rese

rve

nam

ing

4.17

Form

alise

the

nam

e N

umin

bah

Cons

erva

tion

Area

at t

he a

dopt

ion

of th

is m

anag

emen

t pla

n.H

Imm

edia

te

Appl

e Tr

ee P

ark

Pest

ani

mal

s 4.

5Co

ntin

ue sa

nd p

lot m

onito

ring

to in

form

futu

re p

est a

nim

al co

ntro

l.H

Ong

oing

Wee

ds/

rest

orat

ion

4.6

Mon

itor a

nd co

ntro

l wee

ds a

roun

d hi

gh v

isita

tion

sites

.M

Ong

oing


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Recr

eati

on4.

10Fin

alise

the

upgr

ade

of fa

ciliti

es a

t App

le Tr

ee P

ark

to in

clude

:

- ref

urbi

shm

ent o

f toi

let b

lock

and

exp

ansio

n of

the

was

te w

ater

trea

tmen

t pla

nt

- rep

lace

men

t of w

ood

barb

ecue

s with

ele

ctric

bar

becu

es

- rep

lace

men

t of p

ark

furn

iture

with

new

Nat

ural

Are

as su

ite

- for

mal

isatio

n of

veh

icle

acce

ss a

nd ca

r and

coac

h pa

rkin

g to

acc

omm

odat

e da

y vi

sitor

s and

Gre

at W

alk

user

s

- pro

visio

n of

wal

ker a

cces

s at l

ocke

d ga

te e

ntry

poi

nt

- ins

talla

tion

of in

terp

reta

tion

and

orie

ntat

ion

signa

ge

- lan

dsca

ping

H1

year

T.7M

aint

ain

safe

acc

ess f

or w

alke

rs a

long

trac

k 7

(Gol

d Co

ast H

inte

rland

Gre

at W

alk)

.M

Ong

oing

Vehi

cle

Acc

ess

T.9M

aint

ain

safe

acc

ess f

or li

ght m

anag

emen

t veh

icles

alo

ng tr

ack

6 in

acc

orda

nce

with

the

Sprin

gbro

ok Fi

re S

trate

gy a

nd u

se si

gnag

e to

dire

ct a

nd m

anag

e pe

dest

rian

acce

ss.

MO

ngoi

ng

T.9Cl

ose

and

reha

bilit

ate

dead

end

trac

ks (t

rack

6) w

est o

f App

le Tr

ee P

ark.

M5

year

s

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

nT.1

0Re

plac

e ex

istin

g w

oode

n sig

n w

ith in

form

atio

n sh

elte

r and

inte

rpre

tive,

orie

ntat

ion

and

risk

man

agem

ent i

nfor

mat

ion,

to co

mpl

emen

t QPW

S G

reat

Wal

k sig

nage

.H

1 ye

ar

Sprin

gbro

ok

Cons

erva

tion

Area

Catc

hmen

t m

anag

emen

t4.

3Lia

ise w

ith G

CW a

nd C

ounc

il’s C

MU

to d

evel

op a

stra

tegy

to im

plem

ent t

he G

old

Coas

t Wat

er C

atch

men

t Man

agem

ent S

trate

gy (P

acke

r, 200

6), a

nd H

ACCP

sy

stem

. Thi

s will

ens

ure

cons

isten

t wat

er q

ualit

y an

d bi

olog

ical m

onito

ring

prog

ram

s in

rese

rves

with

in th

e dr

inki

ng w

ater

catc

hmen

t.H

5 ye

ars

Fire

m

anag

emen

t4.

4Co

ntin

ue w

ith e

xist

ing

vege

tatio

n an

d fu

el h

azar

d m

onito

ring

prog

ram

at S

prin

gbro

ok C

A.M

Ong

oing

Pest

ani

mal

s4.

6Pr

oduc

e a

fera

l ani

mal

cont

rol p

lan

(FAC

P) fo

r Spr

ingb

rook

CA.

This

plan

shou

ld in

clude

:

- trig

gers

for i

nitia

ting

cont

rol s

trate

gies

- mul

tiple

cont

rol s

trate

gies

for t

arge

t spe

cies.

- int

egra

tion

with

rele

vant

Thre

at A

bate

men

t Pla

ns

- stra

tegi

es fo

r com

mun

ity a

nd la

ndho

lder

invo

lvem

ent a

nd co

oper

atio

n

- mon

itorin

g te

chni

ques

and

regi

mes

to id

entif

y pr

iorit

y ar

eas f

or fe

ral a

nim

al co

ntro

l (eg

. in

poto

roo

and

spot

ted-

taile

d qu

oll h

abita

t) an

d to

mea

sure

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of c

ontro

l

- rep

ortin

g pr

otoc

ols

- ass

ignm

ent o

f res

pons

ibili

ty fo

r tas

ks a

nd a

ctiv

ities

H2

year

s


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Wee

ds/

rest

orat

ion

4.2.

3M

onito

r con

trol w

eeds

aro

und

high

visi

tatio

n sit

es su

ch a

s the

clea

red

Sout

h W

est p

ortio

n of

Spr

ingb

rook

CA.

MO

ngoi

ng

Recr

eati

on4.

9As

par

t of t

he S

prin

gbro

ok V

isito

r Man

agem

ent P

lan

(in p

repa

ratio

n), i

nves

tigat

e:

- loc

al a

nd v

isito

r rec

reat

iona

l dem

ands

to d

eter

min

e a

sust

aina

ble,

natu

re b

ased

use

for t

he S

pork

’s ho

use

site

in S

prin

gbro

ok C

A, a

nd

- the

feas

ibili

ty o

f a v

isito

r “ga

tew

ay fa

cility

” to

Spr

ingb

rook

and

iden

tify

suita

ble

sites

if d

eem

ed to

be

feas

ible.

H2

year

s

T.7O

nce

a vi

sitor

nod

e is

deve

lope

d at

the

form

er S

pork

’s ho

use

site,

mai

ntai

n sa

fe a

cces

s for

wal

kers.

MO

ngoi

ng

Vehi

cle

acce

ss4.

10Lia

ise w

ith E

nerg

ex a

bout

env

ironm

enta

l pro

tect

ion

durin

g po

wer

line

eas

emen

t mai

nten

ance

.M

Ong

oing

T.9M

anag

e tra

cks i

n ac

cord

ance

with

the

Sprin

gbro

ok Fi

re S

trate

gy –

(i.e

. upg

rade

to a

min

imum

2-m

etre

traf

ficab

le w

idth

with

pas

sing

bays

and

turn

ing

area

fo

r lig

ht fi

re-fi

ghtin

g ve

hicle

s). F

rom

the

east

ern

end

of th

e tra

ck, a

1m

min

eral

ear

th co

ntro

l lin

e m

ust b

e co

nstru

cted

hea

ding

nor

th in

to m

oist

gul

ley

to a

ct

as a

fire

bre

ak.

M5

year

s

T.9Re

tain

24-

hour

acc

ess b

y En

erge

x, fir

e fig

htin

g an

d m

aint

enan

ce v

ehicl

es a

long

trac

k 5.

MO

ngoi

ng

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

nT.1

0In

vest

igat

e op

portu

nitie

s for

a v

isito

r orie

ntat

ion

and

inte

rpre

tatio

n fa

cility

at t

he cl

eare

d ol

d Sp

ork’

s hou

se si

te.

H5

year

s

Rese

rve

nam

ing

4.17

Form

alise

the

nam

e Sp

ringb

rook

Con

serv

atio

n Ar

ea a

t the

ado

ptio

n of

this

man

agem

ent p

lan.

HIm

med

iate

4.17

In a

ccor

danc

e w

ith C

ounc

il re

solu

tion

of 8

th M

arch

200

2, th

e na

me

of o

ne a

rea

of in

frast

ruct

ure

(eg.

picn

ic ar

ea, w

alki

ng tr

ack

or lo

okou

t) w

ithin

Sp

ringb

rook

CA,

is to

be

form

ally

nam

ed a

fter t

he S

pork

Fam

ily.

M5

year

s

Purli

ngbr

ook

Cons

erva

tion

Area

&

Frie

ndsh

ip P

ark

Pest

ani

mal

s4.

5Pr

oduc

e a

fera

l ani

mal

cont

rol p

lan

(FAC

P) fo

r Pur

lingb

rook

CA

focu

ssin

g on

pre

dato

ry sp

ecie

s. Th

is pl

an sh

ould

inclu

de:

- trig

gers

for i

nitia

ting

cont

rol s

trate

gies

- mul

tiple

cont

rol s

trate

gies

for t

arge

t spe

cies

- int

egra

tion

with

rele

vant

Thre

at A

bate

men

t Pla

ns

- stra

tegi

es fo

r com

mun

ity a

nd la

ndho

lder

invo

lvem

ent a

nd co

oper

atio

n

- mon

itorin

g te

chni

ques

and

regi

mes

to id

entif

y pr

iorit

y ar

eas f

or fe

ral a

nim

al co

ntro

l (eg

. in

poto

roo

and

spot

ted-

taile

d qu

oll h

abita

t), a

nd to

mea

sure

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of c

ontro

l

- rep

ortin

g pr

otoc

ols

- ass

ignm

ent o

f res

pons

ibili

ty fo

r tas

ks a

nd a

ctiv

ities

H2

year

s

Recr

eati

on &

Ve

hicl

e A

cces

sT.7

&

9M

aint

ain

safe

acc

ess f

or w

alke

rs a

nd C

ounc

il m

aint

enan

ce a

nd fi

re co

ntro

l veh

icles

alo

ng n

orth

ern

end

of C

arric

ks R

oad

(trac

k 3)

.M

Ong

oing


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Inte

rpre

tati

on

& e

duca

tion

T.10

Prov

ide

low

key

ent

ry si

gnag

e at

Car

ricks

Roa

d en

tranc

eM

5 ye

ars

Rese

rve

nam

ing

4.17

Form

alise

the

nam

e Pu

rling

broo

k Co

nser

vatio

n Ar

ea a

t the

ado

ptio

n of

this

man

agem

ent p

lan.

HIm

med

iate

Aust

invi

lle

Cons

erva

tion

Area

Catc

hmen

t m

anag

emen

t4.

3W

ork

with

Cou

ncil’s

Cat

chm

ent M

anag

emen

t Uni

t and

oth

er sp

ecia

list C

ounc

il st

aff r

egar

ding

impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

Mud

geer

aba

and

Wor

onga

ry C

reek

s Ca

tchm

ent M

anag

emen

t Stu

dy A

ctio

n Pl

an (R

ober

tson

et a

l., 2

006)

, pay

ing

parti

cula

r atte

ntio

n to

rest

orat

ion

prog

ram

s and

acq

uisit

ion

of a

dditi

onal

site

s to

prot

ect s

igni

fican

t rip

aria

n ha

bita

t.

M10

yea

rs

4.3

Disc

oura

ge sw

imm

ing

in M

udge

erab

a Cr

eek

in a

ccor

danc

e w

ith th

e M

udge

erab

a an

d W

oron

gary

Cre

eks C

atch

men

t Man

agem

ent S

tudy

Act

ion

Plan

(R

ober

tson

et a

l., 2

006)

, Thi

s will

be

done

with

the

use

of p

ublic

edu

catio

n an

d ris

k m

anag

emen

t sig

nage

. H

1 ye

ar

4.3

Redu

ce d

egra

datio

n of

upp

er M

udge

erab

a Cr

eek

by re

stric

ting

vehi

cle a

cces

s to

loca

l and

man

agem

ent t

raffi

c.H

1 ye

ar

Pest

ani

mal

s4.

5Pr

oduc

e a

fera

l ani

mal

cont

rol p

lan

(FAC

P) fo

r Aus

tinvi

lle C

A, fo

cuss

ing

on p

reda

tory

spec

ies.

This

plan

shou

ld in

clude

:

- trig

gers

for i

nitia

ting

cont

rol s

trate

gies

- mul

tiple

cont

rol s

trate

gies

for t

arge

t spe

cies;

- int

egra

tion

with

rele

vant

Thre

at A

bate

men

t Pla

ns

- stra

tegi

es fo

r com

mun

ity a

nd la

ndho

lder

invo

lvem

ent a

nd co

oper

atio

n

- mon

itorin

g te

chni

ques

and

regi

mes

to id

entif

y pr

iorit

y ar

eas f

or fe

ral a

nim

al co

ntro

l (eg

. in

poto

roo

and

spot

ted-

taile

d qu

oll h

abita

t), a

nd to

mea

sure

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of c

ontro

l

- rep

ortin

g pr

otoc

ols

- ass

ignm

ent o

f res

pons

ibili

ty fo

r tas

ks a

nd a

ctiv

ities

H2

year

s

Wee

ds a

nd

rest

orat

ion

4.6

Mon

itor c

ontro

l wee

ds a

roun

d hi

gh v

isita

tion

sites

.M

Ong

oing

Recr

eati

on4.

9Lia

ise w

ith C

ounc

il’s e

ngin

eerin

g st

aff r

egar

ding

impl

emen

tatio

n of

risk

man

agem

ent m

easu

res a

t the

wat

erho

le a

djac

ent t

o Au

stin

ville

CA.

H1

year

4.9

Advi

se C

ounc

il’s a

sset

cust

odia

n (E

ngin

eerin

g Se

rvice

s) o

f any

inst

ance

s of d

istur

banc

e, va

ndal

ism o

r saf

ety

conc

erns

iden

tified

at A

ustin

ville

wat

erho

le b

y Co

uncil

’s ra

nger

s or r

epor

ted

to C

ounc

il by

mem

bers

of t

he p

ublic

.H

Ong

oing

Vehi

cle

acce

ssT.9

Liaise

with

Cou

ncil’s

eng

inee

ring

offic

ers t

o en

sure

that

pla

nned

seal

ing

of A

ustin

ville

road

is ca

rried

out

with

min

imal

dist

urba

nce

to a

djac

ent A

ustin

ville

Co

nser

vatio

n Ar

ea a

nd th

at fu

rther

safe

ty m

easu

res i

mpl

emen

ted

are

in a

ccor

danc

e w

ith re

com

men

datio

ns o

f Risk

Ass

essm

ent R

epor

t for

Aus

tinvi

lle

wat

erho

le. (F

itzge

rald

, 200

6).

H1

year

T.9M

onito

r the

cond

ition

of M

t Nim

mel

Rd

adja

cent

to C

onse

rvat

ion

Area

(tra

ck 2

) and

repa

ir w

ith a

ppro

pria

te d

rain

age

whe

re re

quire

d. M

aint

ain

gate

to

allo

w v

ehicl

e ac

cess

for C

ounc

il an

d Q

PWS

mai

nten

ance

and

Rur

al Fi

re B

rigad

e ve

hicle

s.M

Ong

oing

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

nT.1

0Lia

ise w

ith C

ounc

il’s a

sset

cust

odia

n (E

ngin

eerin

g Se

rvice

s) re

gard

ing

inst

alla

tion

of si

gnag

e ab

out p

arki

ng re

gula

tions

and

safe

acc

ess t

o w

ater

hol

eH

1 ye

ar


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

nT.1

0Lia

ise w

ith C

ounc

il’s a

sset

cust

odia

n (E

ngin

eerin

g Se

rvice

s) re

gard

ing

inst

alla

tion

of si

gnag

e to

hig

hlig

ht e

nviro

nmen

tal v

alue

s of t

his s

ectio

n of

road

rese

rve

and

to m

itiga

te e

nviro

nmen

tal i

mpa

cts a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith sw

imm

ing,

cam

ping

, litt

er

H1

year

Rese

rve

nam

ing

4.17

Form

alise

the

nam

e Aus

tinvi

lle C

onse

rvat

ion

Area

at t

he a

dopt

ion

of th

is m

anag

emen

t pla

n.H

Imm

edia

te

Pock

et R

oad

Cons

erva

tion

Area

Faun

a4.

1In

crea

se a

vaila

ble

fore

st h

abita

t thr

ough

rest

orat

ion

of cl

eare

d pa

rts o

f Poc

ket R

oad

CA w

ith in

dige

nous

rem

nant

veg

etat

ion.

L10

+ ye

ars

4.1

Mai

ntai

n fe

nces

to p

reve

nt ca

ttle

acce

ss to

wat

erw

ays a

nd n

ativ

e ve

geta

tion,

and

pro

vide

or m

aint

ain

alte

rnat

ive

cattl

e w

ater

ing

poin

ts w

here

nec

essa

ry.

Cattl

e ac

cess

to se

lect

ed, f

ence

d cr

eek

sect

ions

may

be

perm

itted

onl

y w

hen

alte

rnat

ive

wat

erin

g po

ints

are

not

ope

ratio

nal.

H

3 ye

ars

Vege

tati

on4.

2Ex

clude

cattl

e fro

m a

ll re

stor

atio

n sit

es a

nd si

tes c

onta

inin

g rip

aria

n ve

geta

tion.

HO

ngoi

ng

Catc

hmen

t m

anag

emen

t4.

3Re

stor

e de

grad

ed w

ater

way

s in

the

drin

king

wat

er ca

tchm

ent.

M10

yea

rs

4.3

Liaise

with

GCW

and

Cou

ncil’s

CM

U to

dev

elop

a st

rate

gy to

impl

emen

t the

Gol

d Co

ast W

ater

Cat

chm

ent M

anag

emen

t Stra

tegy

(Pac

ker, 2

006)

and

HAC

CP

syst

em. T

his w

ill e

nsur

e co

nsist

ent w

ater

qua

lity

and

biol

ogica

l mon

itorin

g pr

ogra

ms i

n re

serv

es w

ithin

the

drin

king

wat

er ca

tchm

ent.

H5

year

s

Pest

ani

mal

s4.

5Pr

oduc

e a

fera

l ani

mal

cont

rol p

lan

(FAC

P) fo

r Poc

ket R

oad

CA, f

ocus

sing

on p

reda

tory

spec

ies.

This

plan

shou

ld in

clude

:

- trig

gers

for i

nitia

ting

cont

rol s

trate

gies

- mul

tiple

cont

rol s

trate

gies

for t

arge

t spe

cies

- int

egra

tion

with

rele

vant

Thre

at A

bate

men

t Pla

ns

- stra

tegi

es fo

r com

mun

ity a

nd la

ndho

lder

invo

lvem

ent a

nd co

oper

atio

n

- mon

itorin

g te

chni

ques

and

regi

mes

to id

entif

y pr

iorit

y ar

eas f

or fe

ral a

nim

al co

ntro

l (eg

. in

poto

roo

and

spot

ted-

taile

d qu

oll h

abita

t), a

nd to

mea

sure

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of c

ontro

l

- rep

ortin

g pr

otoc

ols

- ass

ignm

ent o

f res

pons

ibili

ty fo

r tas

ks a

nd a

ctiv

ities

H5

year

s

4.5

Mon

itor a

nd m

aint

ain

fenc

es to

pre

vent

cattl

e ac

cess

to se

nsiti

ve v

eget

atio

n an

d rip

aria

n co

mm

uniti

es.

HO

ngoi

ng

Wee

ds a

nd

rest

orat

ion

4.6

In cl

eare

d po

rtion

s of P

ocke

t Roa

d CA

, man

age

wee

ds b

y su

ppre

ssio

n ra

ther

than

exc

lusio

n, u

ntil

thes

e ar

eas c

an b

e re

stor

ed. S

uppr

essio

n m

ay in

clude

sla

shin

g, co

ntai

ned

graz

ing

or ta

rget

ed h

erbi

cide

appl

icatio

n.M

10+

year

s

4.6

Amen

d gr

azin

g lic

ence

at P

ocke

t Roa

d CA

in a

ccor

danc

e w

ith re

stor

atio

n ac

tiviti

es (e

g. w

here

fenc

es a

re re

alig

ned

to fa

cilita

te fo

rest

rest

orat

ion)

, in

stal

latio

n of

new

infra

stru

ctur

e (e

g. w

ater

ing

poin

ts a

nd tr

ough

s so

as to

allo

w la

st w

ater

ing

poin

t on

Tony

’s Ck

to b

e clo

sed)

or w

here

nec

essa

ry to

m

anag

e co

mpl

ianc

e.

MO

ngoi

ng


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Wee

ds a

nd

rest

orat

ion

4.6

Mon

itor c

ompl

ianc

e of

lice

nsee

with

resp

ect t

o th

e te

rms a

nd co

nditi

ons o

f the

gra

zing

licen

ce fo

r Poc

ket R

oad

CA. D

evel

op a

nd im

plem

ent a

set o

f pe

rform

ance

crite

ria to

mon

itor m

anag

emen

t and

impa

cts o

f gra

zing

licen

ces w

ithin

cons

erva

tion

rese

rves

, par

ticul

arly

in re

latio

n to

drin

king

wat

er q

ualit

y, so

il er

osio

n an

d fa

una

habi

tat p

rote

ctio

n.

H1

year

4.6

Inve

stig

ate

the

seed

sour

ce o

f the

hoo

p pi

ne p

lant

atio

n at

Poc

ket R

oad

CA to

det

erm

ine

a lo

ng-te

rm re

stor

atio

n st

rate

gy. I

n th

e sh

ort t

erm

, rem

ove

plan

ted

pine

s fro

m p

arts

of t

he si

te n

ear n

ativ

e pi

ne p

opul

atio

ns b

efor

e tre

es re

ach

repr

oduc

tive

mat

urity

and

, ove

r tim

e, re

mov

e tre

es g

radu

ally

to p

rom

ote

natu

ral

rege

nera

tion.

H2

year

s

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

nT.1

0In

stal

l low

key

ent

ry si

gnag

e at

Poc

ket R

d en

tranc

e to

CA.

M5

year

s

Rese

rve

nam

ing

4.17

Form

alise

the

nam

e Po

cket

Roa

d Co

nser

vatio

n Ar

ea a

t the

ado

ptio

n of

this

man

agem

ent p

lan.

HIm

med

iate

Num

inba

h Re

serv

e Ve

hicl

e ac

cess

T.9M

aint

ain

curre

nt a

cces

s alo

ng Tr

ack

26 fo

r Cou

ncil

mai

nten

ance

veh

icles

and

nei

ghbo

urs r

equi

ring

acce

ss.

MO

ngoi

ng

Esta

te

cons

olid

atio

nT.1

1N

o in

frast

ruct

ure

requ

ired

at p

rese

nt. R

evie

w cu

rrent

man

agem

ent a

nd in

frast

ruct

ure

subj

ect t

o re

crea

tiona

l dem

and

and/

or te

nure

of n

eigh

bour

ing

prop

ertie

s.L

10 y

ears

Aust

invi

lle

Com

mun

ity P

ark

Catc

hmen

t m

anag

emen

t4.

3W

ork

with

Cou

ncil’s

CM

U an

d ot

her s

pecia

list C

ounc

il st

aff r

egar

ding

impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

Mud

geer

aba

and

Wor

onga

ry C

reek

s Cat

chm

ent M

anag

emen

t St

udy A

ctio

n Pl

an (R

ober

tson

et a

l., 2

006)

, in

parti

cula

r reg

ardi

ng re

stor

atio

n pr

ogra

ms a

nd a

cqui

sitio

n of

add

ition

al si

tes t

o pr

otec

t sig

nific

ant r

ipar

ian

habi

tat.

M10

yea

rs

Wee

ds a

nd

rest

orat

ion

4.6

Cont

inue

with

ong

oing

com

mun

ity re

stor

atio

n pr

ojec

t at A

ustin

ville

Com

mun

ity P

ark.

M10

yea

rs

Vehi

cle

acce

ssT.9

Mai

ntai

n cu

rrent

cond

ition

of t

rack

for m

aint

enan

ce p

urpo

ses.

MO

ngoi

ng

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

nT.1

0Re

plac

e ex

istin

g w

oode

n sig

n w

ith n

ew in

terp

retiv

e sig

nage

ack

now

ledg

ing

the

role

of t

he A

ustin

ville

com

mun

ity in

rest

orat

ion.

M3

year

s

Stag

horn

Res

erve

Wee

ds a

nd

rest

orat

ion

4.6

Cont

inue

with

ong

oing

com

mun

ity re

stor

atio

n pr

ojec

t at S

tagh

orn

Rese

rve.

M5

year

s

Pine

Cre

ek R

oad

Rese

rve

Vehi

cle

acce

ssT.9

Whi

le u

nder

Cou

ncil

owne

rshi

p, n

egot

iate

Cou

ncil

acce

ss a

long

trac

k 25

with

adj

acen

t lan

dhol

der.

L10

yea

rs

Esta

te

cons

olid

atio

nT.1

1Re

voke

GCC

C tru

stee

ship

and

retu

rn to

Sta

te o

wne

rshi

p to

be

man

aged

as p

art o

f adj

acen

t QPW

S lo

t 15

RP81

3651

.L

10 y

ears

Uppe

r Mou

nt

Nim

mel

Roa

d Re

serv

e

Vehi

cle

acce

ss4.

11In

vest

igat

e ac

cess

to th

e re

serv

e su

bjec

t to

futu

re m

anag

emen

t req

uire

men

ts.L

10 y

ears


Rese

rve

Them

eRe

fSt

rate

gyPr

iori

tyTi

mef

ram

e

Sprin

gbro

ok

Cent

enar

y Pa

rkla

nds

Wee

ds a

nd

rest

orat

ion

4.6

Cont

inue

with

ong

oing

com

mun

ity re

stor

atio

n pr

ojec

t at S

prin

gbro

ok C

ente

nary

Par

klan

ds.

MO

ngoi

ng

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

nT.1

0In

stal

l inf

orm

atio

n sig

nage

ack

now

ledg

ing

the

role

of t

he S

prin

gbro

ok co

mm

unity

in re

stor

atio

nM

3 ye

ars

Velv

et D

owns

Pa

rkla

nds

Recr

eati

onT.7

Rest

ore

cond

ition

of f

ootp

ath

to P

urlin

gbro

ok C

reek

(tra

ck 2

3).

M10

yea

rs

T.7M

aint

ain

safe

acc

ess f

or w

alke

rs a

long

foot

path

(tra

ck 2

3).

MO

ngoi

ng

T.7Sl

ash

whe

re n

eces

sary

to d

efine

trac

k bo

unda

ry. M

onito

r and

cont

rol w

eeds

.M

Ong

oing

T.7M

anag

e re

crea

tiona

l use

of c

reek

.M

O

ngoi

ng

4.4

Inve

stig

ate

oppo

rtuni

ties f

or d

ay u

se fa

ciliti

es a

t the

nor

ther

n en

d of

Vel

vet D

owns

Par

klan

ds, a

nd re

stor

atio

n of

adj

acen

t veg

etat

ion

alon

g Pu

rling

broo

k Cr

eek.

M5

year

s

Vehi

cle

acce

ssT.9

Mai

ntai

n co

nditi

on o

f exi

stin

g m

aint

enan

ce tr

acks

(22

and

24) t

o fa

cilita

te u

nres

trict

ed a

cces

s to

pow

er e

asem

ent.

MO

ngoi

ng

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

nT.1

0In

stal

l inf

orm

atio

n sig

nage

with

inte

rpre

tive,

orie

ntat

ion

and

risk

man

agem

ent i

nfor

mat

ion

whi

ch a

lso a

ckno

wle

dges

the

role

of t

he S

prin

gbro

ok co

mm

unity

in

rest

orat

ion.

M5

year

s

Sprin

gbro

ok

Road

Res

erve

Esta

te

cons

olid

atio

nT.1

1Re

voke

GCC

C tru

stee

ship

and

retu

rn to

Sta

te o

wne

rshi

p to

be

man

aged

as p

art o

f adj

acen

t Spr

ingb

rook

Nat

iona

l Par

k.L

10 y

ears

Bilb

orou

gh P

ark

Esta

te

cons

olid

atio

nT.1

1Re

voke

Cou

ncil

trust

eesh

ip a

nd re

turn

to S

tate

ow

ners

hip

to b

e m

anag

ed a

s par

t of a

djac

ent S

prin

gbro

ok N

atio

nal P

ark

(Lot

495

NPW

912)

.L

10 y

ears

Boch

ow P

ark

Wee

ds a

nd

rest

orat

ion

4.6

Cont

inue

with

ong

oing

com

mun

ity re

stor

atio

n pr

ojec

t at B

ocho

w P

ark.

MO

ngoi

ng

Recr

eati

on4.

9De

velo

p co

ncep

t pla

ns fo

r upg

radi

ng p

ark

furn

iture

and

inte

rpre

tive

info

rmat

ion

at B

ocho

w P

ark.

L10

yea

rs

Inte

rpre

tati

on

and

educ

atio

nT.1

0In

stal

l inf

orm

atio

n sig

nage

abo

ut th

e en

viro

nmen

tal v

alue

of N

eran

g Ri

ver a

nd re

com

men

ding

app

ropr

iate

use

of t

he w

ater

way

.M

5 ye

ars

Ner

ang

Mur

will

umba

h Ro

ad R

eser

ve

Esta

te

cons

olid

atio

nT.1

1Re

tain

und

er C

ounc

il m

anag

emen

t and

revi

ew m

anag

emen

t and

infra

stru

ctur

e su

bjec

t to

recr

eatio

nal d

eman

d an

d/or

tenu

re o

f nei

ghbo

urin

g pr

oper

ties.

L10

yea

rs

Ner

ang

Mur

will

umba

h Pa

rkla

nds

Esta

te

cons

olid

atio

nT.1

1Re

tain

und

er C

ounc

il m

anag

emen

t and

revi

ew m

anag

emen

t and

infra

stru

ctur

e su

bjec

t to

recr

eatio

nal d

eman

d an

d/or

tenu

re o

f nei

ghbo

urin

g pr

oper

ties.

L10

yea

rs


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Allom Lovell Architects, 2002. Springbrook: A Heritage and Character Study. Allom Lovell Architects, 672 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, Queensland 4006.

Anon. Australian Threatened Species: Tiger Quoll, Spotted-tailed Quoll or Spot-tailed Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus. Fact Sheet. Natural Heritage Trust and WWF Australia.

ANZECC, 2000. Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2000. Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand.

Australian Trail Horse Riders Association, 2008. Code of Conduct. www.athra.com.au

BAAM, 2006. Conservation Values and Management Recommendations – Springbrook Conservation Areas. Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd, Cleveland, Queensland. February 2006.

Batianoff G.N. and Butler D.W., 2002. Assessment of Invasive Naturalised Plants in South East Queensland. Appendix. Plant Protection Quarterly 17:27-34.

Bell Miner Associated Dieback Working Group 2004. Bell Miner Associated Dieback Strategy. Bell Miner Associated Dieback Working Group, Coffs Harbour, NSW.

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Best, Y., 2007. Statement of Significance. In: Kombumerri Aboriginal Corporation for Culture, Draft Cultural Heritage Report for Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, pp. 55-56. Prepared for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Bower, H. 1998. For Whom the Bell Tolls: interactions between Bell miners, eucalypt dieback and bird communities in North-east NSW. Honours Thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.

Burbidge, N.C., 1960. The Phytogeography of the Australian Region. Australian Journal of Botany 8: 75-209. Available at: http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=BT9600075

Burnett, S., 1993. The Conservation Status of Tiger Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus gracilis) in Northern Queensland. Report prepared for the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage by Scott Burnett, James Cook University.

Bushfire CRC and Australian Fire Authorities Council. (2006). Climate change and its impact on the management of bushfire. Fire Note Issue 4, September 2006.

Catling P.C., 1994. Bushfires and prescribed burning: protecting native fauna. Search 25:37-40.

Chenoweth EPLA and BAAM Pty Ltd, 2005. Conservation Values and Management Recommendations, Springbrook Conservation Areas. Chenoweth EPLA, Brisbane and BAAM Pty Ltd, Cleveland.

Collett, N. (2001). Biology and control of psyllids, and the possible causes for defoliation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. (river red gum) in south-eastern Australia – a review. Australian Forestry 64: 88-95.

Crossland M.R. and Alford R.A., 1998. Evaluation of the toxicity of eggs, hatchlings and tadpoles of the introduced toad Bufo marinus (Anura, Bufonidae) to native Australian aquatic predators. Australian Journal of Ecology 23:129-137.

Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) 2008, Preliminary Draft Border Ranges Rainforest Biodiversity Management Plan (NSW & QLD) National Recovery Plan for the Border Ranges Hotspot Region, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Sydney.

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Department of the Environment and Water Resources 2007b, Draft National Threat Abatement Plan for Disease in Natural Ecosystems Caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

6 References


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Fitzgerald, J. 2007. Verification of the Austinville Road Swimming Hole Risk Assessment. Fitzgerald and Associates, Qld.

Fox B.J. and McKay G.M., 1981. Small mammal responses to pyric successional changes in eucalypt forest. Australian Journal of Ecology 6:29-41.

Francis D., Searle J. and Chenoweth A., 2005. Gold Coast City Nature Conservation Mapping Review, Stage 2 – Significance Mapping (Common Nature Conservation Classification System). Prepared by Chenoweth Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture Pty Ltd for Gold Coast City Council.

Garkaklis, M. J., Calver, M. C., Wilson, B. A. & Hardy, G. E. St. J. 2004. Habitat alteration caused by introduced plant disease: a significant threat to the conservation of Australian forest fauna. In: Conservation of Australia’s forest fauna 2nd edition (ed D. Lunney) pp. 899-913. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Mosman.

Gillespie G. and Hero J., 1999. Potential impacts of introduced fish and fish translocations on Australia amphibians. In: A. Campbell (ed.). Declines and Disappearances of Australian Frogs. Pp 131-144. Environment Australia, Canberra.

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Documents

Springbrook Region Conservation Reserves - Management plan...This management plan provides a strategic framework to govern the development and delivery of all management programs and