This is an educational exercise on plans of management. The presi is designed to accompany a verbal presentation and thus loses it shine without my words giving the backstory.
It was interesting to note the large number of recreational uses of the park that many of us would not generally associate with a national park.
9. Commissioned by:
South Australian Department for
Environment and Heritage (DEH).
Prepared by Consultant
Hassell Pty Ltd
Prepared in pursuance of
Section 38 of the National Parks
and Wildlife Act 1972.
Adopted June 2003
94 pages long
10. ‘Extensive’ Consultation ~ 2000-2001
Consultants contracted to facilitate
Community reference group met regularly
Three public meetings were held
“A number of the persons who made formal
submissions commented favourably on the
consultation process undertaken.”
Draft plan publicly exhibited ~ June 2001
57 written submissions - concerns with horse riding
Stakeholders
Friends of Belair National Park
Friends of Old Government House
Sturt Consultative Committee
City of Mitcham
Adelaide Hills Council
Heritage branch of DEH
Country Fire Service
State Aboriginal Heritage Committee
Coalition to Save Belair National Park
11. Natural Resources Cultural Heritage
Soils Aboriginal Heritage
Hydrology Colonial Heritage
Native Vegetation
Native Fauna Fire Management
Introduced Plants
Introduced Animals Infrastructure and Built Assets
Recreation and Commercial Activities and Other Landuses
Tourism Leases and Licences
Cycling ETSA Corporation
Horse riding Australian Rail Track Corporation
Tennis Courts / Ovals
Visitor Use Management Arrangements
Vehicle Access Community and Volunteer Involvement
Walking Trails Management Plan Implementation and Review
Orienteering
Children’s Play Facilities
Interpretive Information
12. Introductory Spiel
‘Our Parks, Our Heritage, Our Legacy’
Protecting biodiversity
Providing corridor links between isolated reserves
Close community relationships and participation
in protecting biodiversity and heritage.
Forward
by Minister John Hill including values & vision:
Vision Statement
Conserving, celebrating and appreciating
our natural and cultural heritage.
Management Objectives
Management Framework
Management Context
Management Prescription (Details)
13. Management Objectives
Strengthen the regional contribution of Belair National Park in the context
of the Mount Lofty Ranges natural environment and open space systems.
Management Framework - Legislation
Park Classification -NPW Act 1972, Wilderness Protection Act 1992
Government Policy and Legislation
- NPW Act 1972 and other legislation listed in Appendix F
Native Title Act 1993
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999
14. South Australia Commonwealth
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Heritage
Animal and Plant Control Act (Agricultural Protection Act 1984
Protection and Other Purposes) 1986 Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Biological Control Act 1986 Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Catchment Water Management Act 1995 Conservation Act 1999
Coast Protection Act 1972 Native Title Act 1993
Country Fires Act 1989 Natural Heritage Trust Act 1996
Equal Opportunity Act 1984
Environment Protection Act 1993 International
Development Act 1993 Japan / China Australia Migratory Bird Agreements
Harbors and Navigation Act 1993 (JAMBA, CAMBA)
Heritage Act 1993 Ramsar Convention
Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981 World Heritage Convention
Mining Act 1971
National Trust of South Australia Act 1955
Native Title (South Australia) Act 1994
Native Vegetation Act 1991
Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986
Petroleum Act 1940
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1985
Roads (Opening and Closing) Act 1991
Recreational Greenways Act 2000
Soil Conservation and Land Care Act 1989
Water Resources Act 1997
Wilderness Protection Act 1992
15. Management Context
The context to be considered to manage the park
Park Features such as close proximity to Adelaide and its microclimate
Community Values
Purpose of the Park
- Buildings Heritage Listed on State and Federal Registers
- Park classified as a Natural Monument
(IUCN1 category III2) to be protected in perpetuity.
1International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
2Biodiversity associations with a historical or spiritual site
Regional Input
- Biodiversity Plan for Mount Lofty Ranges
- State Mountain Bike Plan
- Kaurna Aboriginal culture and heritage
- Study the feasibility of walking trail to Black Hill Conservation Park
16. Management Prescription
Objectives, Strategies and Actions
Conservation Zoning
Hydrology – Creeks – Patawalonga Catchment
Natural ‘Resources’
- Protect Greybox and Redgum Woodland communities
- Arresting and reversing biodiversity loss
Fauna – Echidna, Antechinus, Possums, Western Grey Roo, Bush Rat, Bats
Southern Brown Bandicoot – Endangered (EPBC) & Vulnerable (NPW)
Southern Bell Frog – Vulnerable (EPBC)
19 species of reptiles – including the Eastern Brown Snake
137 native bird species
Seasonal fox control
Phytophthora
Weed control including
along rail line
17. Zone 1 - High Environmental Significance
Minimal impact activities allowed
Walking, Bird watching and Photography
Exclusion of all other activities Horses, Dogs, Bikes
Zone 2 - Natural Bushland
Low-impact activities allowed
Allow dogs on leads, controlled horse and bike riding
Weed control program
18. Zone 1 – Minimal impact activities
Zone 2 – Low-impact activities
19. 1836 Settling of colony of Adelaide
1840’s Government farm for agisting sick horses & stock
1858–1880 Governor's summer residence
1881 Public fought to keep land as a public reserve
1891 National Park declared
Second NP in Australia and 10th in the world
Park had a recreation vs conservation focus
1927 Nine sports fields and 42 tennis courts
1929-1945 The Depression - timber felling – golf course raised funds
1963 500,000 visitors for year - most arriving by car
1972 NPWS improved NRM …yet…
1973 golf course redeveloped amid controversy
20. Overland train line Adelaide to Melbourne
52 Tennis Courts
Caravan Park
Golf Course and Country Club
Historic Buildings
Horse Riding
Cycling
Bushwalking
On leash dog walking
Native Plant Nursery
21. Belair station in operation today
‘National Park’ station closed 1987
and now demolished
‘Overland’ train to Melbourne
passes through 3 times a week
24. Dog walking is allowed along designated
walking trails providing that it is
on a lead and
it remains under the owner’s
effective control at all times
The park is part of a several regional
walking and horse riding trails
Cycling
Road – Approved on seal roads
Trail – Not Approved but proposed for some tracks
Down Hill – Not Approved or proposed
25.
26. DEH and others hold leases on several other areas
28. One small outbreak found in 2003.
Movement of soil, by bikes, horses, walkers and vehicles
may cause further spread.
Earth moving operations need planning
29.
30. Any Questions?
References
Department for Environment and Heritage, 2003, Belair National Park Management
Plan, Adelaide, South Australia.
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, n.d. Belair National Park,
viewed 28 Feb 2013,
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Adelaide_Hill
s/Belair_National_Park
Google Maps, 2013, viewed 1 March 2013.