plan of management · ulidarra national park is located on the north-west outskirts of coffs...
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Plan of Management
`Ulidarra National Park
ULIDARRA NATIONAL PARK
PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service May 2012
This plan of management was adopted by the Minister for the Environment on 14 May 2012. Acknowledgments The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) acknowledges that the planning area lies within the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr people. This plan of management is based on a draft plan prepared by the staff of the North Coast Region of the NPWS, part of the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet. FRONT COVER: Unnamed creek in Ulidarra National Park, by Lynn Rees, NPWS. For additional information or any inquiries about this park or this plan of management, contact the NPWS Coffs Coast Area Office at Marina Drive, Coffs Harbour or by phone on (02) 6652 0900. Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage NSW 59–61 Goulburn Street PO Box A290 Sydney South 1232 © Copyright State of NSW and the Office of Environment and Heritage NSW: Use permitted with appropriate acknowledgment. ISBN 978 1 74293 675 8 OEH 2012/0472 Printed on recycled paper
FOREWORD
Ulidarra National Park is located on the north-west outskirts of Coffs Harbour, on the north coast of NSW. The park has an area of approximately 680 hectares. Ulidarra National Park contains moist forest communities, such as rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest, and provides connectivity between the hinterland and plateau habitats of the World Heritage listed Dorrigo National Park, through the mountain ranges of Tuckers Nob in Bindarri National Park, to the coastal habitats of Moonee Beach Nature Reserve and Coffs Coast Regional Park. As a result Ulidarra National Park supports a high diversity of animals. Twenty-two native animal species recorded in or within a kilometre of the park are listed as threatened species. Ulidarra National Park lies within a broader area which was regularly used by the local Gumbaynggirr people for hunting, the gathering of foods and bush medicines and for ceremonies. The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 requires that a plan of management be prepared for each national park. A draft plan of management for Ulidarra National Park was placed on public exhibition from 22 February to 25 May 2009. The submissions received were carefully considered before adopting this plan. The plan contains a number of actions to achieve the NSW 2021 goal to protect our natural environment, including bush regeneration in rainforest margins and in the habitat of threatened species to reduce the impacts of weeds, targeted surveys for threatened plants species, and establishment of a permanent monitoring program to assess changes in vertebrate fauna communities. The plan also includes actions to enhance recreational opportunities, including development of facilities and promotion of the park for driving on unsealed roads, walking and cycling. This plan of management establishes the scheme of operations for Ulidarra National Park. In accordance with section 73B of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, this plan of management is hereby adopted.
Robyn Parker MP Minister for the Environment
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1. ULIDARRA NATIONAL PARK
Ulidarra National Park (referred to as "the park” in this plan) is located on the Coast Range, five kilometres north-west of Coffs Harbour (30°18'S 153°6.6'E), on the north coast of NSW (see map). Ulidarra National Park was gazetted in 1999 in the lead up to the signing of the North East NSW Regional Forest Agreement (RFA). The RFA provided for major additions to the reserve system, including the establishment of Ulidarra National Park, following a comprehensive regional assessment of the natural, cultural, economic and social values of forests. The park comprises 680 hectares and adjoins Bruxner Park Flora Reserve to the east and Orara East State Forest to the north and north-west. A Crown reserve (R.63790) abuts part of the southern boundary of the park. Private property adjoins most of the southern, the south western and part of the northern boundary. The predominant land uses surrounding the park include forestry, cattle grazing, light agricultural activities, banana plantations and rural settlement. The park’s name is a derivation of the Gumbaynggirr word for the first Hero Ancestor or “The Dreaming” (Morelli 2008; G. Williams, Muurrbay Language Centre, pers. comm. 2008). It is also closely associated with the name of the local conservation group (the Ulitarra Conservation Society) which campaigned for the park’s protection. Ulidarra National Park is culturally significant to the Gumbaynggirr people and lies within the area of the Coffs Harbour Local Aboriginal Land Council. The park comprises land formerly part of the Orara East State Forest. It is part of an important forested corridor linking the plateau and coastal forests, and is part of the dramatic forested backdrop to Coffs Harbour. Much of the park is rugged and remote, supporting moist forest communities such as rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest. A long-term study of the fauna found in the park and the neighbouring flora reserve has revealed a high diversity of animals. The park, along with Bindarri National Park to the south-west and a small section of Sherwood Nature Reserve west of Woolgoolga, protects part of the Coast Range located in the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area. It lies within the area of the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority.
2. MANAGEMENT CONTEXT
2.1 Legislative and Policy Framework The management of national parks in NSW is in the context of a legislative and policy framework, primarily the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act), the NPW Regulation, the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) and the policies of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The policies are based on the legislative background and internationally accepted principles of park management. They relate to nature conservation, Aboriginal and historic heritage conservation, recreation, commercial use, research and communication. Other legislation, international agreements and charters may also apply to management of the area. In particular, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act) may require the assessment and mitigation of the environmental impacts of works proposed in this plan. The Commonwealth Environment Protection
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and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) also applies in relation to actions that may impact on matters of national environmental significance, such as threatened species listed under that Act. A plan of management is a statutory document under the NPW Act. Once the Minister has adopted a plan, no operations may be undertaken within Ulidarra National Park except in accordance with this plan. This plan will also apply to any future additions to Ulidarra National Park. Should management strategies or works be proposed for the park or any additions that are not consistent with the plan, an amendment to the plan will be required. 2.2 Management Purposes and Principles National parks are reserved under the NPW Act to protect and conserve areas containing outstanding or representative ecosystems, natural or cultural features or landscapes or phenomena that provide opportunities for public appreciation and inspiration and sustainable visitor or tourist use. Under the Act (section 30E), national parks are managed to: • conserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem functions, protect geological and
geomorphological features and natural phenomena and maintain natural landscapes;
• conserve places, objects, features and landscapes of cultural value; • protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems for present and future
generations; • promote public appreciation and understanding of the park’s natural and cultural
values; • provide for sustainable visitor or tourist use and enjoyment that is compatible with
conservation of natural and cultural values; • provide for sustainable use (including adaptive reuse) of any buildings or
structures or modified natural areas having regard to conservation of natural and cultural values; and
• provide for appropriate research and monitoring. 2.3 Management Directions Ulidarra National Park will be principally managed to conserve the diversity of native plant and animal species, and to maintain the water quality of streams flowing into Bucca Bucca Creek. Ongoing Aboriginal cultural associations with the park will be encouraged. The park will also be managed to allow for the public appreciation of the park’s natural beauty and its wildlife. The provision of visitor opportunities in the park however will complement (rather than duplicate) those opportunities already available in the adjacent Bruxner Park Flora Reserve. A key emphasis of NPWS management of the park will therefore be on achieving effective co-operation with Forests NSW on the provision of visitor services, including access.
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3. VALUES OF THE RESERVE
The location, landforms and plant and animal communities of an area have determined how it has been used and valued. Both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people place values on natural areas, including aesthetic, social, spiritual and recreational values. These values may be attached to the landscape as a whole or to individual components, for example to plant and animal species used by Aboriginal people. This plan of management aims to conserve both natural and cultural values. For reasons of clarity and document usefulness, natural heritage, cultural heritage, threats and on-going use are dealt with individually, but their inter-relationships are recognised. 3.1 Landform, Geology and Soils Ulidarra National Park is part of a sub-coastal wet forested environment of undulating to hilly metasedimentary terrain situated between 180 metres to 400 metres in elevation. The area experiences a high annual rainfall of 1600 to 1900 millimetres, draining principally to the north-east into Bucca Bucca Creek, a tributary of the Orara River and part of the Clarence River catchment. The headwaters of Bucca Bucca Creek lie within the park and the adjoining Bruxner Park Flora Reserve. Bucca Bucca Creek has high conservation value, as it is one of the few tributaries of the Orara River in pristine condition (Murphy & Murphy 2005). The park lies within the physiographic regions known as the Coast Range and the Orara Valley. The underlying geology is predominantly the Coffs Harbour Late Carboniferous metasediments, comprised of partially metamorphosed sedimentary rock (Milford 1999). The Coast Range extends in a broad arc from the north to the central south-west of the Coffs Harbour region, and encompasses the majority of the park. The terrain of the Coast Range is characterised by steep to precipitous hills and mountains (Milford 1999). It includes the spectacular escarpment that forms part of the southern boundary of the park. The Orara Valley physiographic region includes the alluvial floodplains and terraces of Bucca Bucca Creek. A small section of the north and north eastern boundary of the park is within this region and this part of the park is characterised by gently undulating terrain, with occasional evidence of older drainage lines dating from the Pleistocene (Milford 1999). The high susceptibility of soil types in the park to erosion, together with erosive summer rainfall and steep terrain, has implications for management because areas of soil disturbance inevitably require substantial works to stabilise and rehabilitate. Areas of specific concern include parts of the management trail network and disused logging tracks. The roads within the park have received extensive upgrading since its gazettal in 1999. Substantial maintenance and periodic upgrading are required to ensure that sediment loads from the roads do not silt and pollute watercourses within the park. 3.2 Native Plants Ulidarra National Park conserves an important tract of sub-coastal lowland old growth sclerophyll forest. There are two major vegetation communities within the park dominated by coastal blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) and turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera), namely Dry Foothills Blackbutt/ Turpentine and Wet Foothills Blackbutt/ Turpentine (NPWS 1999). Small areas of wet sclerophyll forest dominated by brush
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box (Lophostemon confertus) are also present in the park. These intergrade with stands of rainforest dominated by red carabeen (Geissois benthamiana) and booyong (Heritiera spp.), often with an understorey of bangalow palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana). Due to the extensive clearing of lowland rainforest and its ongoing decline, all rainforest stands below 600 metres altitude on the NSW North Coast – including those present in the park – are listed as an endangered ecological community under the TSC Act. Ulidarra National Park contains a rich flora including several threatened plants listed in Table 1. In addition, habitat exists in the park for other threatened plants, such as the arrow-head vine (Tinospora tinosporoides) (which is known from the adjacent Bruxner Park Flora Reserve), milky silkpod (Parsonsia dorrigoensis), rainforest senna (Senna acclinis) and the Moonee quassia (Quassia sp.B). It is likely that further surveys in the park may locate other rare, threatened and significant plant species. The park also provides connectivity between the hinterland and plateau habitats of the World Heritage listed Dorrigo National Park, through the mountain ranges of Tuckers Nob in Bindarri National Park, to the coastal habitats of Moonee Beach Nature Reserve and Coffs Coast Regional Park. Past timber harvesting in some areas of the park has led to the establishment of some even-aged and multiple-aged stands of regrowth forests. However, areas of old growth forest exist, protected from logging by the steep terrain and watercourses. The old growth forests and rainforest areas in the park have high scientific importance.
Table 1. Rare or threatened plants in or within 1km of Ulidarra National Park
Common name Scientific name Status* Dorrigo waratah Alloxylon pinnatum Rare rusty plum Niemeyera whitei
(syn. Amorphospermum whitei) Vulnerable
pink cherry Austrobuxus swainii Rare Orara boronia Boronia umbellata Vulnerable slender marsdenia Marsdenia longiloba Endangered # stinky lily Typhonium sp. aff. brownii Endangered
Source: NPWS Atlas & Graham (2001) * Status is given by the schedules of the TSC Act (either Endangered or Vulnerable) or, for
non-threatened flora, by Briggs & Leigh (1996). # Species recognised as nationally threatened under the EPBC Act.
3.3 Native Animals The park protects a rich diversity of animal species. A nine year fauna study of the park and the adjoining Bruxner Park Flora Reserve (Murphy & Murphy in press) and other sources provide records for 232 native vertebrate species (40 mammals, 125 birds, 36 reptiles, 21 frogs and 10 fish) in or within a kilometre of the park, 22 of which are listed as threatened under the TSC Act (see Table 2) and another 20 considered to be of regional conservation significance. Many of the species recorded in Ulidarra National Park and Bruxner Park Flora Reserve are endemic to the NSW north coast or have a distributional stronghold there (Murphy & Murphy 2005). The major factor contributing to the area’s high species diversity is its geographical position on the NSW north coast – a bioregion that lies in a transitional zone between the southern Bassian, northern Torresian and eastern highland Tumbunan faunal
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divisions, and which is recognised as a significant centre for endemism (Murphy & Murphy in press). Areas of old growth forest within the park provide essential habitat for a number of threatened species dependent on hollow-bearing trees, such as Stephens’ banded snake (Hoplocephalus stephensii), the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) and the powerful owl (Ninox strenua).
Table 2. Threatened animal species in or within 1 km of Ulidarra National Park
Common name Scientific name Legal Status*
Frogs giant barred frog Mixophyes iteratus E # Stephens’ banded snake Hoplocephalus stephensii V Birds glossy black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami V brown treecreeper Climacteric picumnus V barred cuckoo-shrike Coracina lineata V black bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis V barking owl Ninox connivens V powerful owl Ninox strenua V wompoo fruit-dove Ptilinopus magnificus V rose-crowned fruit-dove Ptilinopus regina V masked owl Tyto novaehollandiae V sooty owl Tyto tenebricosa V Mammals eastern pygmy-possum Cercartetus nanus V golden-tipped bat Kerivoula papuensis V little bentwing bat Miniopterus australis V eastern bentwing bat Miniopterus schreibersii V large-footed myotis Myotis macropus (= M. adversus) V yellow-bellied glider Petaurus australis V koala Phascolarctos cinereus V long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus V # grey-headed flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus V # greater broad-nosed bat Scoteanax rueppellii V
* Status under TSC Act (E = endangered, V = vulnerable) # Denotes species also listed as nationally threatened under the EPBC Act. Source: Murphy and Murphy (in press) and NPWS Atlas data 1km search
The fauna in the park benefits from the park being part of a large contiguous area of protected habitat with the adjoining flora reserve, as well as the broader landscape connectivity of forested habitat between the coast and the hinterland and tablelands. By itself, Ulidarra National Park is considered too small to support the full range of vertebrate fauna present in isolation (Murphy & Murphy in press). Therefore the continued conservation of many species within the park is dependant on the sympathetic management of adjoining lands. Of the threatened fauna occurring in the park, recovery plans have so far been prepared for the koala, yellow-bellied glider, barking owl and other large forest owls.
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Recovery actions for other species are also included in the Priorities Action Statement, which will be used to guide management of threatened species in the park. 3.4 Aboriginal Heritage Aboriginal communities have an association and connection to the land. The land and water within a landscape are central to Aboriginal spirituality and contribute to Aboriginal identity. Aboriginal communities associate natural resources with the use and enjoyment of foods and medicines, caring for the land, passing on cultural knowledge, kinship systems and strengthening social bonds. Aboriginal heritage and connection to nature are inseparable from each other and need to be managed in an integrated manner across the landscape. The local Gumbaynggirr people have indicated their ongoing strong connection to the park. Generally, the escarpment was used as a travel route from the Orara Valley in the west to the Coffs Harbour area. The park lies within a broader area (roughly defined as occurring between Mount Coramba to the north west and Macaulays Headland to the east) which is considered a ‘men’s area’ regularly used for hunting and the gathering of foods and bush medicines. This area forms part of an important creation story to the Gumbaynggirr people, and was also used for ceremonies and initiation (S. Hart, Mudjay Elders Group, pers. comm. 2008). There is one recorded Aboriginal site within the park, which has implications for the management of a section of Swans Road. 3.5 Historic Heritage It is believed that selective logging, of rainforest timber, first occurred in the vicinity of the park in the 1880s. Many tree stumps throughout the area bear the scars of board cuts, a style of tree felling that ended in the early 1950s with the advent of the chainsaw. To assist with the transport of logs, a tramline was constructed from Coffs Harbour to Orara East State Forest, passing through what is now Bruxner Park Flora Reserve. It operated between 1908 and 1914. Orara East State Forest was dedicated in 1917. After the road to the forest was improved in the early 1930s, there was some concern in the local community that the rainforest would soon be destroyed and lobbying began for the protection of Bruxner Park. This protection was announced in 1933, although the original part (57 hectares) of Bruxner Park Flora Reserve was not formally gazetted until 1958. In 1984, the flora reserve was expanded to its current size of 407 hectares to provide a larger buffer for the rainforest and to incorporate Sealy Lookout, a major tourist destination in Coffs Harbour. Intermittent logging continued in what is now Ulidarra National Park while it remained part of Orara East State Forest until its gazettal as a national park in 1999, although some compartments containing a high proportion of old growth forest were deferred from logging in the early 1990s. During the 1990s in the lead up to the Regional Forest Assessment, the Ulitarra Conservation Society proposed to make all the deferred forest compartments in the local area into a national park. Though not all the lands proposed were protected, both Ulidarra and nearby Bindarri national parks were in part created due to the efforts of this local conservation group.
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3.6 Education and Research Ulidarra National Park supports a very high diversity of native vertebrate fauna which are of conservation significance at a regional, state and national level. The nine year fauna study by Murphy and Murphy (in press) provides one of the most complete site-specific studies of vertebrate fauna within the NSW north coast bioregion. This study provides a valuable set of data for long-term monitoring of fauna, for example of changes in response to climate change (see section 4.6). As most logging ceased in the neighbouring flora reserve in the 1950s, the flora reserve forms an important reference site for monitoring the recovery of the park’s ecosystems from past logging disturbances. 3.7 Recreation Ulidarra National Park is located close to the growing regional and tourist centre of Coffs Harbour. It, and particularly the neighbouring Bruxner Park Flora Reserve, have significant and growing visitation. Currently only one commercial tour operator is licensed to use Ulidarra National Park, for motor bike touring. Access to the park is mainly from the Pacific Highway at Korora (approximately four kilometres north of Coffs Harbour) via Bruxner Park Road and Swans Road through Bruxner Park Flora Reserve. From the west, there is vehicular access from the Coramba Road at Karangi via Convincing Ground Road through Orara East State Forest. The two park roads, Swans and Shelter roads, are the only public access roads through the park, and are generally maintained to two wheel drive dry weather standard within the park. However, they are not suitable for two wheel drives in wet weather and the roads through the state forest are suitable for four wheel drive vehicles only. It is not recommended for any vehicles to enter the park during adverse weather conditions, as high winds create the potential for large tree limbs to drop at any time. Together with council roads and the roads in the neighbouring state forest, the park roads provide a four wheel drive circuit from Coffs Harbour, which takes in the subtropical rainforest of the flora reserve and the blackbutt forests of the park and Orara East State Forest. This loop drive can be done within four hours allowing for stops (such as at Park Creek Picnic Area or a diversion to Sealy Lookout) along the way. Coffs Harbour City Council is facilitating a project aimed at transforming Bruxner Park Flora Reserve (managed by Forests NSW) into a significant nature-based tourism destination (CHCC 2009). NPWS has assisted Coffs Harbour City Council in contributing towards the feasibility assessment of this proposal, and to undertake planning and develop a detailed business case. NPWS has also recognised opportunities to complement the existing facilities in Bruxner Park Flora Reserve, as part of this Bruxner Park Ecotourism Proposal (also known as the Bruxner-Ulidarra Ecotourism Proposal). Ulidarra National Park provides bushwalkers with moderate to challenging walks. The designated management trails in the park (shown on the map) can be used for walking and cycling. Currently some of these trails are linked to the walking tracks in Bruxner Park Flora Reserve by unmarked walking routes that are listed in several bushwalking publications but require a reasonable level of navigation skills. The feasibility of providing track markers, so that these extended walking experiences can be promoted to the general public, will be investigated in liaison with Forests NSW.
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4. THREATS TO RESERVE VALUES 4.1 Introduced Plants There are four main weeds of concern within the park, namely lantana (Lantana camara), groundsel bush (Baccharis halimifolia), camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) and broad-leaf paspalum (Paspalum mandiocanum). Other weeds of potential concern include crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora), palm grass (Setaria palmifolia), whisky grass (Andropogon virginicus) and giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis). These weeds are controlled on a regular basis. Camphor laurel poses the most serious threat to the park due to the continual spread of seeds by birds from mature camphor laurel trees on neighbouring private property along the southern boundary. Lantana also poses a significant threat to biodiversity and occurs mostly in areas of the park that were subjected to logging and along roadsides, tracks and trails and areas where sufficient sunlight penetrates the canopy. The invasion of native plant communities by lantana and exotic perennial grasses, such as broad-leaf paspalum, are both listed under the TSC Act as key threatening processes. Another source of introduced plants is the dumping of domestic waste, including garden waste, in the park. This currently has localised impacts alongside vehicular trails. 4.2 Introduced Animals Ten introduced vertebrate species have been recorded in the park or the neighbouring flora reserve (Murphy & Murphy in prep). Most of these were scarce and generally restricted to the southern margins of the park adjoining agricultural land. Three introduced predators, the dog (Canis lupus familiaris), European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and cat (Felis catus), were recorded on tracks and trails throughout the study area and are of management concern. These feral predators are known to prey on 13 native mammal species as well as reptiles and birds (Murphy & Murphy in prep). Predation by feral cats and the red fox are both listed as key threatening processes under the TSC Act. A threat abatement plan has been prepared for predation by the red fox; currently no sites within the park are identified as priorities for fox control under this plan. Although not recorded in the park, chital deer (Axis axis) have been found on private property east of Sealy Lookout. These deer are believed to have escaped from a tourist attraction around 2001 and to be increasing in numbers in the surrounding bushland (B. Vercoe, DECC, pers. comm. 2005). Orara East State Forest to the east and west of Ulidarra National Park (but not including the flora reserve) is designated as a Conservation Hunting Reserve for the use of bows only. Hunting activity is subject to licence and permit requirements from the Game Council of NSW and Forests NSW, and is prohibited in the park. 4.3 Inappropriate Fire Regimes Fire is a natural feature of many environments and is believed to be essential for maintaining biodiversity in some plant communities. However, inappropriate fire regimes can lead to loss of particular plant and animal species and communities, and high frequency fire has been listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act.
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Requirements for most plant species can be summarised on the basis of vegetation communities and there is a threshold in fire regime variability, which marks a critical change from a high species diversity to low species diversity. The regime guidelines for the park’s vegetation communities are given in Table 3. The terrain in Ulidarra National Park ranges from steep to undulating, and comprises largely wet sclerophyll forest with some small areas of subtropical rainforest in the gullies and therefore poses only a small risk to uncontrollable fire. There have been eight recorded fires since 1952. It is believed that the major cause of fires has been arson or from fires escaping private property. Some trees on the edge of the escarpment have lightning scars and it appears that this area is vulnerable to lightning strike. However due to the wet sclerophyll forest on either side of the escarpment, the possibility of a large fire developing in the event of lightning strike is low.
Table 3. Fire interval guidelines for protection of vegetation communities
Vegetation Community
Minimum Interval
Maximum Interval
Notes
Rainforest n/a n/a Fire should be avoided Wet sclerophyll forest 25 60 Crown fires should be avoided at the
lower end of the interval range Grassy dry sclerophyll 5 50 Scrubby dry sclerophyll forest
7 30
Source: Kenny et al. (2004)
4.4 Inappropriate Recreational Activities Given the presence of highly erodible soil types and steep slopes within the park, recreational vehicle use poses a significant threat to park values. Particular problems arise from the riding of trail bikes off the park road network, as this can lead to significant erosion in a short period of time, affecting soil stability and water quality within the reserve. These impacts are likely to be exacerbated by the increased storm and severe rainfall events predicted to occur as part of climate change (see section 4.6). There are also major public safety concerns arising from unregistered bikes being ridden by unlicensed riders – this illegal use is prohibited under law and NPWS is working with the NSW Police and licensed riders to address the issue. 4.5 Isolation and Fragmentation The area to the south of Ulidarra National Park has been extensively cleared and urbanised, which has resulted in a high loss of biodiversity and fragmentation of habitat in the region. Long term conservation of biodiversity in the park depends upon the protection, enhancement and connection of remaining habitat across the landscape, incorporating vegetation remnants on both public and private lands. Along with the neighbouring Bruxner Park Flora Reserve and Orara East State Forest, the park forms part of a regional ecological corridor and an important link to other forested areas (Scotts 2003). Maintaining the integrity of the remaining habitat within the park and adjacent areas of bushland will facilitate wildlife corridors and is important in ensuring long term viability of the park’s biological values.
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4.6 Climate Change Anthropogenic climate change has been listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act. Projections of future changes in climate for NSW include higher temperatures, increasing sea levels and water temperatures, more intense but possibly reduced annual average rainfall, increased temperature extremes and higher evaporation. These changes are likely to lead to greater intensity, duration and frequency of fires, more severe droughts and increased regional flooding. Climate change is likely to significantly affect biodiversity by changing population size and distribution of species, modifying species composition, and altering the geographical extent of habitats and ecosystems. Species most at risk are those unable to migrate or adapt, particularly those with small population sizes or with slow growth rates. Within the park, it is likely that rainforest areas will be under greater stress and erosive rainfall events will be more common, negatively impacting upon water quality in creeks and streams. However, other specific impacts of climate change on the park are more difficult to predict since they will depend on the compounding effects of other pressures, particularly barriers to migration and pressure from weeds and feral animals. Programs to reduce pressures arising from such threats will help reduce the severity of the effects of climate change. Good baseline data on fauna exist for the park and neighbouring Bruxner Park Flora Reserve which may be used in monitoring the potential changes in the park’s animal communities in response to climate change.
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sion
po
tent
ial.
The
maj
or a
reas
of
eros
ion
at t
he t
ime
of t
he
park
’s
gaze
ttal
wer
e al
ong
vehi
cle
trails
an
d ro
ads.
N
PW
S h
as c
arrie
d ou
t su
bsta
ntia
l w
orks
to
stab
ilise
th
ose
road
s th
at
are
nece
ssar
y fo
r ac
cess
an
d m
anag
emen
t, th
ereb
y re
duci
ng
silt
load
s in
to
the
stre
ams
of th
e pl
anni
ng a
rea.
U
nreg
ulat
ed
use
of
man
agem
ent
trails
re
mai
ns
an
ongo
ing
caus
e of
ero
sion
. D
urin
g pr
olon
ged
perio
ds o
f w
et w
eath
er, u
se o
f Sw
ans
and
She
lter
road
s m
ay a
lso
pose
a s
edim
enta
tion
haza
rd fo
r the
par
k’s
wat
erw
ays.
• Th
e im
pact
of s
oil
eros
ion
on th
e va
lues
of t
he
rese
rve
is
min
imis
ed.
5.1.
1 U
nder
take
all
wor
ks in
a m
anne
r th
at m
inim
ises
er
osio
n an
d w
ater
pol
lutio
n.
5.1.
2 U
nder
take
per
iodi
c up
grad
ing
of ro
ads
and
trails
to
red
uce
sedi
men
t lo
ads
ente
ring
wat
erco
urse
s w
ithin
th
e pa
rk.
5.1.
3 G
ate
man
agem
ent
trails
as
requ
ired
to p
reve
nt
unau
thor
ised
veh
icle
use
. 5.
1.4
Inst
itute
clo
sure
of t
he p
ark
durin
g ex
tend
ed w
et
perio
ds t
o pr
otec
t ro
ad s
urfa
ces
from
ero
sion
(se
e st
rate
gy 5
.6.3
).
H
igh
Hig
h M
ediu
m
M
ediu
m
5.2
Nat
ive
Plan
ts a
nd A
nim
als
The
euca
lypt
and
rain
fore
st c
omm
uniti
es o
ccur
ring
in th
e pa
rk c
onta
in a
div
ersi
ty o
f sp
ecie
s. S
urve
ys f
or t
he
pres
ence
of
sign
ifica
nt p
lant
s in
the
par
k ha
ve b
een
carr
ied
out
alon
gsid
e ro
ads
and
trails
. Fo
ur t
hrea
tene
d pl
ant
spec
ies
have
so
far
been
rec
orde
d bu
t at
lea
st
anot
her
four
ar
e pr
edic
ted
to
occu
r. Tw
enty
-two
thre
aten
ed fa
una
spec
ies
are
know
n to
occ
ur in
the
park
an
d ne
ighb
ourin
g fo
rest
. Of t
hese
, rec
over
y pl
ans
for t
he
yello
w-b
ellie
d gl
ider
and
larg
e fo
rest
ow
ls a
re a
ppro
ved.
O
ther
rec
over
y ac
tions
are
cur
rent
ly i
nclu
ded
in t
he
Prio
ritie
s A
ctio
n S
tate
men
t.
The
low
land
sub
tropi
cal r
ainf
ores
t pre
sent
in th
e pa
rk is
pa
rt of
an
en
dang
ered
ec
olog
ical
co
mm
unity
an
d re
quire
s bu
sh r
egen
erat
ion
alon
g its
mar
gins
to li
mit
the
impa
cts
of w
eeds
on
its v
alue
s. L
imite
d bu
t im
porta
nt
area
s of
the
park
are
in a
n ol
d gr
owth
con
ditio
n an
d ha
ve
• Th
e di
vers
ity o
f na
tive
spec
ies
and
com
mun
ities
is
cons
erve
d.
• S
truct
ural
div
ersi
ty
and
habi
tat v
alue
s ar
e re
stor
ed in
ar
eas
subj
ect t
o pa
st d
istu
rban
ce.
• Th
ere
is im
prov
ed
unde
rsta
ndin
g of
th
e pa
rk’s
bi
odiv
ersi
ty, i
ts
dive
rsity
, di
strib
utio
n an
d its
ec
olog
ical
5.2.
1 Id
entif
y ha
bita
t tre
es
and
popu
latio
ns
of
thre
aten
ed p
lant
spe
cies
occ
urrin
g al
ong
road
side
s an
d av
oid
dam
age
durin
g ro
ad
mai
nten
ance
w
orks
an
d pr
escr
ibed
bur
ns.
5.2.
2 U
nder
take
bu
sh
rege
nera
tion,
pa
rticu
larly
in
ra
info
rest
mar
gins
and
in
the
habi
tat
of t
hrea
tene
d sp
ecie
s to
redu
ce th
e im
pact
s of
wee
ds.
5.2.
3 E
ncou
rage
or
un
derta
ke
furth
er
targ
eted
su
rvey
s fo
r th
reat
ened
pla
nts
spec
ies,
inc
ludi
ng t
hose
pr
edic
ted
to o
ccur
in th
e pa
rk.
5.2.
4 In
lia
ison
w
ith
Cof
fs
Har
bour
C
ity
Cou
ncil,
ne
ighb
ours
, La
ndca
re
grou
ps
and
othe
r re
leva
nt
agen
cies
, en
cour
age
the
rete
ntio
n an
d ap
prop
riate
m
anag
emen
t of
key
hab
itat
and
corr
idor
s ad
jace
nt t
o
H
igh
Med
ium
Low
Med
ium
12
Cur
rent
Situ
atio
n D
esire
d O
utco
mes
M
anag
emen
t Str
ateg
ies
/ Act
ions
Pr
iorit
y st
ruct
ural
attr
ibut
es s
uch
as h
ollo
ws
whi
ch a
re im
porta
nt
for
a ra
nge
of fa
una.
Reg
row
th fo
rest
s el
sew
here
in th
e pa
rk t
hat
have
bee
n lo
gged
hav
e si
mpl
er u
nifo
rm-a
ge
stru
ctur
es.
A l
ong-
term
fau
na s
tudy
of
the
park
and
the
adj
acen
t B
ruxn
er P
ark
Flor
a R
eser
ve h
as d
etai
led
the
dive
rsity
of
verte
brat
e an
imal
s pr
esen
t in
thes
e pr
otec
ted
area
s, a
nd
can
be
used
fo
r m
onito
ring
chan
ges
in
anim
al
popu
latio
ns.
The
park
and
flo
ra r
eser
ve l
ie i
n a
fore
sted
cor
ridor
w
hich
is
reco
gnis
ed a
s a
regi
onal
cor
ridor
for
wild
life
mov
emen
t, lin
king
the
coa
st w
ith t
he h
inte
rland
(S
cotts
20
03).
Long
te
rm
cons
erva
tion
of
the
rese
rve’
s bi
odiv
ersi
ty
wou
ld
be
enha
nced
by
th
e re
tent
ion
of
rem
aini
ng v
eget
atio
n on
nei
ghbo
urin
g la
nds.
requ
irem
ents
.th
e pa
rk.
5.2.
5 Im
plem
ent
othe
r re
leva
nt
stra
tegi
es
from
re
cove
ry p
lans
or
the
prio
ritie
s ac
tion
stat
emen
t to
as
sist
in th
e re
cove
ry o
f thr
eate
ned
spec
ies.
5.
2.6
Enc
oura
ge t
he e
stab
lishm
ent
of a
per
man
ent
mon
itorin
g pr
ogra
m t
o as
sess
cha
nges
in
verte
brat
e fa
una
com
mun
ities
. Th
is
prog
ram
sh
ould
fo
cus
on
frogs
, ba
ts
and
arbo
real
m
amm
als,
w
hich
ar
e ke
y in
dica
tors
of
fore
st h
ealth
and
the
im
pact
s of
clim
ate
chan
ge.
H
igh
Low
5.3
Cul
tura
l Her
itage
U
lidar
ra
Nat
iona
l P
ark
is
cultu
rally
si
gnifi
cant
to
th
e G
umba
yngg
irr p
eopl
e an
d its
lan
dsca
pe i
s fe
atur
ed i
n on
e of
thei
r cr
eatio
n st
orie
s. T
he p
ark
was
use
d fo
r day
-to
-day
pu
rpos
es
(suc
h as
tra
velli
ng,
hunt
ing
and
colle
ctio
n of
foo
d an
d bu
sh m
edic
ines
) as
wel
l as
for
ce
rem
onie
s. O
ne A
borig
inal
site
is
reco
rded
fro
m t
he
park
, alth
ough
it is
like
ly th
at o
ther
s ar
e pr
esen
t. E
vide
nce
of th
e pa
rk’s
his
tory
of l
oggi
ng is
lim
ited
to tr
ee
stum
ps (
som
e of
whi
ch b
ear
the
scar
s of
boa
rd c
uts)
, ch
ange
d fo
rest
stru
ctur
e in
are
as o
f mor
e re
cent
logg
ing
and
old
snig
tra
cks.
The
re a
re n
o ot
her
hist
oric
site
s re
cord
ed fr
om th
e pa
rk.
The
Ulit
arra
Con
serv
atio
n S
ocie
ty a
ctiv
ely
lobb
ied
for t
he
park
’s p
rote
ctio
n an
d ha
s a
stro
ng o
ngoi
ng a
ssoc
iatio
n w
ith th
e pa
rk.
• A
borig
inal
and
hi
stor
ic v
alue
s ar
e id
entif
ied,
reco
rded
an
d, w
here
ap
prop
riate
, pr
otec
ted.
•
Abo
rigin
al p
eopl
e ar
e in
volv
ed in
the
man
agem
ent o
f the
pa
rk, p
artic
ular
ly in
re
gard
to
Abo
rigin
al c
ultu
ral
valu
es.
• U
nder
stan
ding
of
the
park
’s c
ultu
ral
valu
es is
impr
oved
.
5.3.
1 C
onsu
lt an
d in
volv
e th
e C
offs
Har
bour
Loc
al
Abo
rigin
al
Land
C
ounc
il,
the
Gar
lam
birla
G
uuyu
G
irrw
aa a
nd M
udja
y el
ders
gro
ups
and
othe
r re
leva
nt
Abo
rigin
al c
omm
unity
org
anis
atio
ns in
the
man
agem
ent
of t
he p
ark,
par
ticul
arly
in
rela
tion
to A
borig
inal
site
s,
plac
es a
nd v
alue
s, th
eir i
nter
pret
atio
n an
d re
sear
ch.
5.3.
2 Im
plem
ent
agre
ed
man
agem
ent
guid
elin
es
durin
g ro
ad m
aint
enan
ce w
orks
on
Sw
ans
Roa
d fo
r the
pr
otec
tion
of th
e si
te.
5.3.
3 U
nder
take
fu
rther
si
te
surv
eys
alon
g th
e es
carp
men
t, pa
rticu
larly
afte
r fire
. 5.
3.4
Rec
ord
hist
oric
al f
eatu
res
pres
ent
in t
he p
ark
and
allo
w to
dec
ay w
ith ti
me.
5.
3.5
Enc
oura
ge re
sear
ch in
to th
e hi
stor
y of
the
park
.
H
igh
Hig
h M
ediu
m
Lo
w
Lo
w
13
Cur
rent
Situ
atio
n D
esire
d O
utco
mes
M
anag
emen
t Str
ateg
ies
/ Act
ions
Pr
iorit
y 5.
4 Pe
st P
lant
s an
d A
nim
als
Nox
ious
wee
ds o
ccur
ring
in t
he p
ark
incl
ude
lant
ana,
gr
ound
sel
bush
, gi
ant
Par
ram
atta
gr
ass
and
crof
ton
wee
d. A
n en
viro
nmen
tal
wee
d of
par
ticul
ar c
once
rn i
n th
e pa
rk i
s ca
mph
or l
aure
l, w
hich
is
spre
adin
g fro
m
mat
ure
trees
that
gro
w o
n ne
ighb
ourin
g pr
ivat
e pr
oper
ty.
Con
trol
prog
ram
s fo
r th
ese
wee
ds a
nd o
ther
wee
ds
alon
g ro
adsi
des
are
unde
rtake
n re
gula
rly, i
n ac
cord
ance
w
ith t
he R
egio
nal
Pes
t M
anag
emen
t S
trate
gy (
NP
WS
20
08).
Th
e R
egio
nal
Pes
t M
anag
emen
t S
trate
gy i
dent
ifies
the
de
sira
bilit
y fo
r in
tegr
ated
wee
d an
d pe
st c
ontro
l acr
oss
the
land
scap
e, t
o m
axim
ise
the
effe
ctiv
enes
s of
con
trol
prog
ram
s. W
eed
cont
rol p
rogr
ams
in t
he p
ark
wou
ld b
e as
sist
ed b
y ca
mph
or la
urel
con
trol o
n ne
ighb
ourin
g la
nd.
Pes
t ani
mal
s of
con
cern
are
the
Eur
opea
n re
d fo
x, fe
ral
cats
and
wild
dog
s an
d th
ere
is t
he p
oten
tial
for
chita
l de
er t
o sp
read
int
o th
e pa
rk.
No
cont
rol
prog
ram
for
th
ese
spec
ies
on th
e pa
rk is
cur
rent
ly in
pla
ce, a
lthou
gh
som
e ba
iting
for
fox
es o
ccur
s on
nei
ghbo
urin
g pr
ivat
e pr
oper
ty.
• Th
e im
pact
s of
pe
st p
lant
s an
d an
imal
s ar
e co
ntro
lled.
•
Con
trol p
rogr
ams
are
unde
rtake
n in
co
nsul
tatio
n an
d co
oper
atio
n w
ith
neig
hbou
rs.
5.4.
1 M
anag
e in
trodu
ced
spec
ies
in a
ccor
danc
e w
ith
the
Reg
iona
l Pes
t Man
agem
ent S
trate
gy.
5.4.
2 M
onito
r no
xiou
s an
d si
gnifi
cant
env
ironm
enta
l w
eeds
. Tre
at a
ny n
ew o
utbr
eaks
whe
re p
ossi
ble.
5.
4.3
Coo
pera
te
with
ne
ighb
ours
, ot
her
land
m
anag
emen
t aut
horit
ies
and
coun
cil i
n co
oper
ativ
e pe
st
man
agem
ent p
rogr
ams
as a
ppro
pria
te.
H
igh
Hig
h M
ediu
m
5.5
Fire
Man
agem
ent
Ther
e ha
ve b
een
eigh
t re
cord
ed f
ires
in t
he p
ark
sinc
e 19
52.
Ther
e ar
e no
ass
ets
at r
isk,
how
ever
the
par
k co
ntai
ns
rain
fore
st
com
mun
ities
an
d ho
llow
-bea
ring
trees
whi
ch a
re s
ensi
tive
to fi
re.
The
prim
ary
fire
man
agem
ent
obje
ctiv
es o
f th
e N
PW
S
are
to p
rote
ct l
ife a
nd p
rope
rty a
nd c
omm
unity
ass
ets
from
the
adv
erse
im
pact
s of
fire
, w
hils
t m
anag
ing
fire
regi
mes
to m
aint
ain
and
prot
ect b
iodi
vers
ity a
nd c
ultu
ral
herit
age
(NP
WS
200
5).
A s
epar
ate
fire
stra
tegy
has
be
en p
repa
red
for
this
par
k (N
PW
S 2
006)
how
ever
a
• Li
fe, p
rope
rty a
nd
natu
ral a
nd c
ultu
ral
valu
es a
re
prot
ecte
d fro
m fi
re.
• Fi
re fr
eque
ncie
s ar
e ap
prop
riate
for
cons
erva
tion
of
nativ
e pl
ant a
nd
anim
al
com
mun
ities
.
5.5.
1 D
evel
op
and
impl
emen
t a
map
-bas
ed
fire
man
agem
ent
stra
tegy
fo
r th
e pa
rk.
Unt
il th
is
is
prep
ared
, im
plem
ent t
he e
xist
ing
text
-bas
ed s
trate
gy.
5.5.
2 P
artic
ipat
e in
the
Cof
fs H
arbo
ur B
FMC
. Mai
ntai
n co
oper
ativ
e ar
rang
emen
ts w
ith R
FS b
rigad
es a
nd f
ire
cont
rol
offic
ers,
Fo
rest
s N
SW
an
d su
rrou
ndin
g la
ndow
ners
in
re
gard
to
fu
el
man
agem
ent
and
fire
supp
ress
ion.
H
igh
Hig
h
14
Cur
rent
Situ
atio
n D
esire
d O
utco
mes
M
anag
emen
t Str
ateg
ies
/ Act
ions
Pr
iorit
y m
ap-b
ased
stra
tegy
will
ass
ist
in t
he c
omm
unic
atio
n of
fir
e ob
ject
ives
and
tact
ics
for t
he p
ark.
C
onsi
sten
t w
ith
the
Cof
fs
Har
bour
B
ush
Fire
R
isk
Man
agem
ent
Pla
n, t
his
stra
tegy
iden
tifie
s th
e pa
rk a
s a
Land
Man
agem
ent
Zone
(LM
Z).
Apa
rt fro
m t
he o
ver-
ridin
g le
gisl
ativ
e ob
ject
ive
of p
rote
ctin
g lif
e an
d pr
oper
ty,
LMZs
do
not
requ
ire i
nten
sive
man
agem
ent,
inst
ead
focu
sing
on
th
ose
actio
ns
appr
opria
te
to
cons
erve
bi
odiv
ersi
ty a
nd c
ultu
ral
herit
age.
The
se m
anag
emen
t ac
tions
inc
lude
exc
lusi
on o
f un
plan
ned
fires
and
the
m
aint
enan
ce
of
the
road
s an
d m
anag
emen
t tra
ils
nece
ssar
y fo
r the
con
trol o
f fire
(see
map
).
5.5.
3 M
anag
e th
e pa
rk
to
prot
ect
biod
iver
sity
in
ac
cord
ance
with
the
iden
tifie
d fir
e in
terv
al g
uide
lines
for
vege
tatio
n co
mm
uniti
es
(Tab
le
3),
incl
udin
g th
e ex
clus
ion
of
fire
from
ra
info
rest
ar
eas
and
alon
g w
ater
cour
ses.
5.
5.4
Und
erta
ke s
mal
l stra
tegi
c bu
rns
with
in th
e rid
ge-
top
dry
scle
roph
yll f
ores
t to
est
ablis
h a
mos
aic
of f
uel
ages
. Act
ion
to p
rote
ct h
abita
t tre
es w
ill b
e in
corp
orat
ed
in th
e pr
escr
iptio
ns fo
r the
se fi
res.
H
igh
Med
ium
5.6
Rec
reat
iona
l Opp
ortu
nitie
s
The
park
has
lim
ited
curr
ent v
isita
tion
faci
litie
s, a
nd th
is
is l
arge
ly a
ppro
pria
te,
give
n th
e pr
ovis
ion
of f
acili
ties
with
in t
he a
djac
ent
flora
res
erve
. Th
ere
are
how
ever
op
portu
nitie
s to
link
with
the
se fa
cilit
ies
and
expa
nd th
e ra
nge
of e
xper
ienc
es o
ffere
d to
vis
itors
to
the
park
, to
ac
com
mod
ate
incr
easi
ng d
eman
d fo
r re
crea
tion
in a
na
tura
l se
tting
as
th
e C
offs
H
arbo
ur
popu
latio
n in
crea
ses.
A
long
with
roa
ds i
n O
rara
Eas
t S
tate
For
est,
the
park
fo
rms
part
of a
hal
f-day
tour
ist c
ircui
t fro
m C
offs
Har
bour
w
hich
is
suita
ble
for
four
whe
el d
rive
vehi
cles
. V
isito
rs
shou
ld
chec
k w
ith
Fore
sts
NS
W
rega
rdin
g ro
ad
cond
ition
s w
ithin
sta
te f
ores
t to
the
wes
t of
the
par
k be
fore
atte
mpt
ing
this
driv
e. A
cces
s to
the
park
from
the
east
(as
far
as
Gut
ter
Trai
l) is
sui
tabl
e fo
r tw
o w
heel
dr
ive
vehi
cles
in d
ry c
ondi
tions
. H
orse
rid
ing
is r
arel
y un
derta
ken
in th
e pa
rk. T
he s
teep
sl
opes
and
ero
dibl
e so
ils i
n th
e pa
rk (
refe
r to
sec
tion
3.1)
, pl
us
the
pres
ence
of
ro
adsi
de
popu
latio
ns
of
thre
aten
ed p
lant
spe
cies
, mea
n th
at h
orse
ridi
ng h
as th
e
• V
isito
r use
is
appr
opria
te a
nd
ecol
ogic
ally
su
stai
nabl
e.
• V
isito
r use
en
cour
ages
ap
prec
iatio
n of
the
rese
rve’
s va
lues
. •
The
loca
l co
mm
unity
is
awar
e of
the
sign
ifica
nce
of th
e ar
ea a
nd o
f m
anag
emen
t pr
ogra
ms.
5.6.
1 P
rovi
de p
ublic
veh
icle
acc
ess
on S
wan
s an
d S
helte
r ro
ads
(see
map
), an
d m
aint
ain
thes
e ro
ads
to
dry-
wea
ther
2W
D s
tand
ard.
Mon
itor
leve
ls a
nd im
pact
s of
use
. 5.
6.2
In l
iais
on w
ith F
ores
ts N
SW
and
Cof
fs C
oast
To
uris
m,
prom
ote
visi
tatio
n to
Ulid
arra
Nat
iona
l P
ark
focu
ssin
g on
th
ose
expe
rienc
es
that
di
ffer
from
re
crea
tiona
l op
portu
nitie
s in
B
ruxn
er
Par
k Fl
ora
Res
erve
(e.g
. hik
ing
track
s an
d un
seal
ed d
rives
).
5.6.
3 D
urin
g tim
es o
f ad
vers
e w
eath
er,
the
park
may
be
clo
sed
for p
ublic
saf
ety
(see
stra
tegy
5.1
.4).
5.6.
4 E
ncou
rage
the
use
of
road
s an
d m
anag
emen
t tra
ils f
or w
alki
ng a
nd c
yclin
g. P
rovi
de s
igna
ge a
t th
e st
art
of
man
agem
ent
trails
to
pr
omot
e th
is
use.
O
rient
atio
n an
d in
terp
reta
tive
sign
age
may
al
so
be
prov
ided
as
appr
opria
te.
Cyc
ling
may
be
perm
itted
on
suita
ble
wal
king
trac
ks b
y si
gnag
e.
H
igh
Med
ium
Low
Low
15
Cur
rent
Situ
atio
n D
esire
d O
utco
mes
M
anag
emen
t Str
ateg
ies
/ Act
ions
Pr
iorit
y po
tent
ial t
o ad
vers
ely
impa
ct o
n th
e pa
rk’s
val
ues.
As
the
road
s an
d tra
ils a
re n
arro
w, t
here
is a
lso
the
pote
ntia
l for
co
nflic
t with
oth
er p
ark
user
s.
Use
of
the
park
in a
dver
se w
eath
er c
ondi
tions
pos
es a
th
reat
to b
oth
visi
tor s
afet
y an
d w
ater
qua
lity
in th
e pa
rk’s
st
ream
s.
Vis
itatio
n to
th
e pa
rk
is
ther
efor
e no
t re
com
men
ded
durin
g th
ese
perio
ds.
Bus
h ca
mpi
ng i
n pa
rticu
lar
is
pote
ntia
lly
dang
erou
s in
rid
ge-to
p op
en
fore
sts
or in
are
as d
omin
ated
by
blac
kbut
ts,
such
as
at
End
Pea
k, d
ue to
lim
bfal
l and
ligh
tnin
g.
The
park
con
tain
s a
num
ber o
f man
agem
ent t
rails
whi
ch
can
be p
rom
oted
and
use
d fo
r bu
shw
alki
ng a
nd c
yclin
g.
Thes
e tra
ils a
re c
urre
ntly
lin
ked
by u
nmar
ked
wal
king
ro
utes
to th
e w
alki
ng tr
ack
netw
ork
in B
ruxn
er P
ark
Flor
a R
eser
ve.
Whi
le c
yclin
g is
gen
eral
ly n
ot p
erm
itted
on
wal
king
trac
ks, s
ome
track
s in
the
park
, e.g
. the
Ulid
arra
W
alki
ng T
rack
and
par
ts o
f End
Pea
k W
alki
ng T
rack
, are
of
su
ffici
ent
wid
th
and
conf
igur
atio
n to
m
ake
them
su
itabl
e an
d sa
fe fo
r cyc
ling
as w
ell a
s w
alki
ng.
Ther
e is
cu
rren
tly
one
com
mer
cial
to
ur
oper
atio
n lic
ense
d fo
r th
e pa
rk, w
hich
take
s gr
oups
of m
otor
cycl
es
alon
g pa
rk ro
ads.
Oth
er c
omm
erci
al o
pera
tions
and
non
-co
mm
erci
al g
roup
act
iviti
es m
ay a
lso
be a
ppro
pria
te.
Lice
nsed
rid
ers
on r
egis
tere
d m
otor
cycl
es a
re p
erm
itted
to
use
par
k ro
ads
but
not
man
agem
ent
trails
, w
alki
ng
track
s or
off
road
s. A
gro
win
g pr
oble
m i
s un
auth
oris
ed
use
of m
otor
bike
s, p
artic
ular
ly u
nreg
iste
red
bike
s rid
den
by u
nlic
ense
d rid
ers.
A r
egio
n-w
ide
stra
tegy
to
addr
ess
the
prob
lem
of
illeg
al t
rail
bike
rid
ing
is c
urre
ntly
in
prep
arat
ion.
Thi
s w
ill id
entif
y th
e va
rious
inst
rum
ents
that
ca
n be
use
d to
enf
orce
the
law
, in
clud
ing
educ
atio
n pr
ogra
ms.
5.6.
5 In
lia
ison
w
ith
Fore
sts
NS
W
and
loca
l bu
shw
alki
ng
grou
ps,
inve
stig
ate
the
feas
ibili
ty
of
mar
king
or s
ignp
ostin
g w
alki
ng ro
utes
link
ing
the
park
’s
man
agem
ent
trails
to
Sea
ly L
ooko
ut a
nd t
he w
alki
ng
track
ne
twor
k in
B
ruxn
er
Par
k Fl
ora
Res
erve
. If
feas
ible
, in
stal
l an
d m
aint
ain
appr
opria
te
low
-key
di
rect
iona
l sig
nage
.
5.6.
6 P
erm
it bu
sh c
ampi
ng in
the
park
exc
ept i
n ar
eas
with
in 5
00 m
etre
s of
End
Pea
k or
with
in 2
00 m
etre
s fro
m ro
ads
open
to p
ublic
veh
icle
s.
5.6.
7 P
rohi
bit h
orse
ridi
ng in
the
park
. 5.
6.8
Liai
se w
ith N
SW
Pol
ice,
For
ests
NS
W a
nd o
ther
ne
ighb
ours
to
addr
ess
the
envi
ronm
enta
l an
d so
cial
im
pact
s of
trai
l bik
e us
e in
the
park
. 5.
6.9
Wor
k w
ith r
elev
ant
stat
e go
vern
men
t ag
enci
es
to r
esol
ve i
ssue
s re
gard
ing
acce
ss t
o th
e pa
rk.
This
m
ay in
clud
e th
e de
velo
pmen
t of a
cces
s to
the
park
for
wal
kers
, cyc
lists
and
man
agem
ent v
ehic
les.
5.
6.10
In
cons
ulta
tion
with
nei
ghbo
urin
g la
ndho
lder
s,
inst
all s
igna
ge, f
enci
ng o
r ro
ute
mar
king
as
requ
ired
to
redu
ce th
e in
cide
nce
of tr
espa
ssin
g on
priv
ate
prop
erty
.
Lo
w
H
igh
Hig
h H
igh
Med
ium
Med
ium
16
Cur
rent
Situ
atio
n D
esire
d O
utco
mes
M
anag
emen
t Str
ateg
ies
/ Act
ions
Pr
iorit
y 5.
7 M
anag
emen
t Ope
ratio
ns
The
maj
or m
anag
emen
t op
erat
ions
with
in t
he p
ark
are
road
and
trai
l mai
nten
ance
, wee
d co
ntro
l and
fire
con
trol.
Acc
ess
for
man
agem
ent
purp
oses
is
prin
cipa
lly a
long
ro
ads
thro
ugh
neig
hbou
ring
stat
e fo
rest
that
are
ope
n to
th
e pu
blic
and
alo
ng th
e pa
rk ro
ad a
nd m
anag
emen
t tra
il ne
twor
k in
dica
ted
on t
he m
ap.
Roa
ds t
hrou
gh s
tate
fo
rest
s m
ay b
e im
pass
able
, pa
rticu
larly
afte
r ad
vers
e w
eath
er c
ondi
tions
. Th
e in
ters
ectio
n of
Gut
ter
Trai
l w
ith S
helte
r R
oad
is
dang
erou
s, p
artic
ular
ly fo
r tur
ning
veh
icle
s.
In th
e pa
st, t
he p
ark
has
been
acc
esse
d fro
m S
heph
ards
La
ne
via
a tra
il w
hich
is
pa
rtly
loca
ted
on
priv
ate
prop
erty
. Th
e ad
ditio
n to
the
par
k of
Cro
wn
Res
erve
63
790
at
the
end
of
She
phar
ds
Lane
m
ay
solv
e co
ntin
uing
pro
blem
s w
ith p
ublic
acc
ess
from
the
sout
h.
• M
anag
emen
t fa
cilit
ies
and
oper
atio
ns
adeq
uate
ly s
erve
m
anag
emen
t ne
eds
and
have
m
inim
al im
pact
.
5.7.
1 M
aint
ain
the
road
s an
d m
anag
emen
t tra
ils in
the
park
as
show
n on
the
map
. 5.
7.2
Clo
se a
nd re
habi
litat
e al
l oth
er tr
ails
. 5.
7.3
Inve
stig
ate
the
feas
ibili
ty o
f im
prov
ing
safe
ty o
f th
e in
ters
ectio
n of
Gut
ter
Trai
l an
d S
helte
r R
oad.
If
requ
ired,
real
ign
and
or w
iden
this
inte
rsec
tion.
5.
7.4
Wor
k w
ith o
ther
aut
horit
ies
to a
dd a
ppro
pria
te
land
to th
e pa
rk th
at a
ssis
ts p
ark
man
agem
ent.
5.7.
5 Li
aise
with
For
ests
NS
W re
gard
ing
mai
nten
ance
of
acc
ess
road
s ou
tsid
e th
e pa
rk.
H
igh
Low
Med
ium
Med
ium
Med
ium
Hig
h pr
iorit
y ac
tiviti
es a
re th
ose
impe
rativ
e to
ach
ieve
men
t of t
he o
bjec
tives
and
des
ired
outc
omes
. The
y m
ust b
e un
derta
ken
in th
e ne
ar fu
ture
to a
void
sig
nific
ant
dete
riora
tion
in n
atur
al, c
ultu
ral o
r man
agem
ent r
esou
rces
. M
ediu
m p
riorit
y ac
tiviti
es a
re th
ose
that
are
nec
essa
ry to
ach
ieve
the
obje
ctiv
es a
nd d
esire
d ou
tcom
es b
ut a
re n
ot u
rgen
t. Lo
w p
riorit
y ac
tiviti
es a
re d
esira
ble
to a
chie
ve m
anag
emen
t obj
ectiv
es a
nd d
esire
d ou
tcom
es b
ut c
an w
ait u
ntil
reso
urce
s be
com
e av
aila
ble.
17
6. REFERENCES
Briggs, J.D. & Leigh, J.H. (1996). Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised edition. CSIRO, Melbourne
CHCC (2009) Draft Briefing Paper: Bruxner Park Ecotourism Proposal, an “Our Living Coast” Regional Sustainability Initiative. Prepared by Coffs Harbour City Council, in collaboration with the NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change, NSW Tourism, Forests NSW, Arts Mid North Coast, Premiers Department, and NSW Department of State & Regional Development. April 2009.
Graham, M. (2001). Ulidarra National Park: Rare and Threatened Plant Species. Unpublished report to Coffs Coast Area of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour
Kenny, B., Sutherland, E., Tasker, E. & Bradstock, R. (2004). Guidelines for Ecologically Sustainable Fire Management. A project undertaken for the NSW Biodiversity Strategy by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NSW Government, Sydney
Milford, H.B. (1999). Soil Landscapes of the Coffs Harbour 1:100 000 Sheet. Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney
Morelli, S. (2008). Gumbaynggirr Bijaarr Jandaygam, Ngaawa Gugaarrigam. Gumbaynggirr Dictionary and Learner’s Grammar. Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative, Nambucca Heads, NSW
Murphy, M.J. & Murphy, S.P. (2005). Survey of the vertebrate fauna of Bruxner Park Flora Reserve and Ulidarra National Park on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia: the more you look the more you find. Unpublished report
Murphy, M.J. & Murphy, S.P. (in press). A nine year survey of the vertebrate fauna of the Bruxner-Ulidarra conservation area in the New South Wales north coast bioregion, Australia. Australian Zoologist.
NPWS (1999). Forest Ecosystem Classification and Mapping for the Upper and Lower North East CRA Regions. A project undertaken by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for the Joint Commonwealth NSW Regional Forest Agreement Steering Committee as part of the NSW Comprehensive Regional Assessments (project number NA35/EH). Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, Sydney.
NPWS (2005). Fire Management Manual. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville
NPWS (2006). Ulidarra National Park Reserve Fire Management Strategy. Prepared by the North Coast Region of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Grafton
NPWS (2008). North Coast Region Pest Management Strategy 2008-2011. Prepared by the North Coast Region of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, Sydney
Scotts, D. (2003). Key Habitats and Corridors for Forest Fauna: A landscape framework for conservation in North-east New South Wales. Occasional Paper 32, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville
