Mitchell River National Park is dissected by the spectacular Mitchell River, one of 18 Victorian Heritage Rivers. The Park has high conservation significance, particularly its Warm Temperate and Dry Rainforest communities and geological features such as the Mitchell River Gorge. Protecting these values is a major focus of management. The Park offers excellent opportunities for rafting or canoeing, bushwalking, dispersed camping and hunting. The Mitchell River offers one of the best white-water experiences in Victoria. There are also opportunities to view the spectacular landscapes of the Park; peaceful picnic settings provide for more passive recreation. These recreational aspects will be improved and linked with the promotion of key nature-based tourism attractions in the Gippsland region. management directions for the Park are described below. Significant natural and cultural features will be special protection. A majority of the northern section of the Park will remain essentially undeveloped, to protect the unmodified streams and the catchment within this area and to enhance remote values. The Mitchell River will be managed in accordance with its Heritage River status. Research into fire and effects of fuel reduction burning will be conducted to establish, implement and maintain fire regimes appropriate to the conservation of native flora and fauna. A pest plants, animals and diseases strategy which identifies key sites, target species and methods of control will be prepared. Visitor enjoyment of the Park will be enhanced by improved interpretation of key features such as the Den of Nargun. Camping and facilities in the Park will be rationalised and developed in keeping with its remote character.
Community awareness and involvement Co-operation with landholders, community groups and local government will be fostered to encourage the application of the Good Neighbour Policy to management issues on or near the boundary of the Park. Zoning There is a need to ensure that management aims and objectives covering resource conservation, park protection and recreation are compatible. A park management zoning scheme has been developed for Mitchell River National Park which: provides a geographic framework in which to manage the Park; indicates management directions have priority in different parts of the Park; indicates the types and level of use appropriate throughout the Park; assists in minimising existing and potential conflicts between uses and activities, or between those and the protection of park values; provides a basis for assessing the suitability of future activities and development proposals. Three management zones apply to the Park - Conservation, Conservation and Recreation, and Recreation Development. In addition, land use designations for heritage river and hunting, and special protection areas for historic areas and rainforest, are used to summarise requirements additional to those of the underlying primary zones. Table 1 specifies management zone and overlay characteristics, and the locations of these zones are shown on figure 2.
Liaise with Southern Water regarding improving camping facilities at Angusvale. Bike riding Touring by mountain bike is becoming increasing popular and the Park offers a variety of terrains. All roads and vehicular tracks open to the public within the Park are suitable for cycling. Aim Provide opportunities for cyclists, consistent with conservation objectives. Management strategies Allow cycling on all roads and vehicle tracks open to the public (table 3). Do not permit bike riding on the walking tracks or on MVO tracks. riding The current level of Park use by horse riders is low. Horses can spread introduced plants and damage vegetation. Currently there is no provision for camping with horses in the Park. Aim Provide opportunities for riding, while minimising impacts on park values and other users. Management strategies Permit horse riding on roads and vehicle tracks open to the public. Encourage use of the Horse Riding Code. Investigate the feasibility of allowing camping with horses at Angusvale. Do not permit camping with horses in any other areas of the Park. Deer hunting The Park is regularly used for hunting of Sambar. Hunting place east of the Mitchell River under the National Parks Act from 15 February to 15 December inclusive. Hunting is by stalking only and the use of dogs is not permitted. Aim Provide opportunities for deer hunting in the Park consistent with conservation objectives. Management strategies Continue to permit deer hunting in Land Use Designation area B (east of the Mitchell River) by stalking, on a seasonal basis only (figure 2). Monitor and assess the level of deer hunting activity in the Park. Evaluate the impact of Sambar on the Park, in particular on Dry Rainforest and Warm Temperate Rainforest. Liaise with hunting organisations to improve knowledge of deer populations in the Park. Rock climbing and abseiling Rock climbing and abseiling in the Park are becoming more popular. The major users are school groups and scouting groups, and increasing numbers of commercial tourism operators. There are a limited number of accessible rock faces within the Park. A variety of plants and animals which occupy or take refuge on the cliffs, gorges, outcrops and escarpments require protection. Most rock climbing and abseiling is on the rock face site just inside the Park boundary adjacent to Hutchings Track and to a lesser extent on the rock face site adjacent to Angusvale Track. Access to the site adjacent to Hutchings Track is via the walking track from the Den of Nargun picnic area. Aim Provide opportunities for rock climbing and abseiling, minimising impacts on park values.
Management strategies Permit abseiling and rock climbing only at the sites adjacent to Angusvale and Hutchings Tracks. Encourage users to use clean climbing techniques and to conform to codes of conduct relevant to their activities. Monitor the effect of abseiling and rock- climbing on vegetation used as belay points. Liaise with climbing groups to promote safe use of the Park and help protect park values. Visitor information, interpretation and education Mitchell River National Park lacks interpretation facilities to enhance visitors’ experience and provoke interest in and appreciation of its natural and cultural values. The Park offers opportunities to develop themes related to its diverse environments, cultural history, spectacular landscapes, Heritage River qualities, and management of the area. An interpretation strategy is required to identify key themes and locations for information and interpretation. Existing brochures require rationalisation and updating. Aims Enhance the visitors’ Park experience through a greater understanding and appreciation of cultural and natural values. Orientate visitors to the Park and its features. Management strategies Develop and implement an interpretation strategy for the Park which: identifies key themes for major visitor nodes and cultural sites (section 3.6); identifies locations of appropriate interpretative facilities, including for the protection of the Heritage River corridor; aims to increase visitor involvement in park protection; identifies walking track entry points and appropriate trail material. In accordance with the interpretation strategy, develop appropriate interpretation at main visitor areas such as the Den of Nargun, Billy Goat Bend, Angusvale and the Glenaladale Weir site, and install adequate signage throughout the Park. Provide adequate visitor orientation, information and safety messages at key visitor areas. Establish and implement monitoring and maintenance schedules for all interpretive facilities. Undertake regular evaluation of information and interpretation programs related to the Park. Commercial tourism operations Mitchell River National Park forms part of a tourism ‘hub’ in the Gippsland Lakes Hinterland Tourism Strategy (CNR 1989) and plays an important role in the provision of regional tourism opportunities. An increasing number of people are using the experience, equipment and organisational aspects of commercial operators to enjoy the Park. Commercial operators a range of adventure activities, including: rafting and canoeing; 4WD tours; bushwalking and bicycle riding; bush craft and survival skills; rock climbing and abseiling. Large groups have the potential to cause environmental or social impacts because of their size and/or regular use of particular areas or routes. However, well organised and well managed tour groups can help minimise
6 COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT Friends and volunteers Currently is no Friends of the Mitchell River National Park group, although a number of groups from various backgrounds have either been involved, or expressed interest in participating, in volunteer work. Interested groups and individual volunteers have the potential to make valuable contributions to park management, and their assistance will be encouraged. Aim Encourage volunteer involvement in managing the Park. Management strategies Encourage the formation of, and support, a Friends group for the Park. Develop and evaluate a long-term volunteer strategy. Community awareness and Park neighbours Mitchell River National Park is predominantly surrounded by State forest. Freehold neighbours on the northern and southern boundaries are mainly involved in agriculture. Some adjacent land has considerable conservation value. A nearby caravan and camping park and a farm resort direct considerable numbers of their clients to the Park. Private landholders’ main interest in the Park relates to the management of fire, pest plant and animal control, and recreational opportunities. A number of local groups, including schools, scouts and field naturalists, use the Park for a variety of outdoor recreation and educational activities. As Park managers, Parks Victoria will endeavour to encourage sound management actions by Park neighbours. Neighbours need to be made aware of their responsibilities as neighbours of the Park. There are major opportunities for the community to become involved in management related activities, particularly in the control of environmental weeds. Local schools could also assist in collecting data, for example on water quality. Aims Increase community awareness of the Park’s values and management activities. Encourage conservation and sound land management practices on private land adjoining the Park. Management strategies Liaise with local community groups and land owners and, as appropriate, involve them in relevant aspects of planning for and managing the Park. and encourage the application of, the Good Neighbour Policy to management issues on or near the boundary of the Park. Promote conservation and sound management principles to landholders in the catchment. Encourage private property owners adjoining the Park to protect existing native vegetation through the application of voluntary conservation covenants and involvement in the Land for Wildlife scheme.
APPENDIX I OF GEOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE SITE SIGNIFICANCE FEATURES Mitchell River Gorge between Cobbannah Creek & Raymond Creek One of the best exposures of the upper units of the Avon River group of sediments, and contains several fossil sites. The gorge is a prominent feature which displays the characteristic incised nature of the major south-flowing river of Victoria. Sandy Creek State Representative section displaying the lithology of the upper members of the Tabberabbera Formation exposed in Sandy Creek and its tributaries. Includes rich fossil sites. Tabberabbera (part) Part of a site displaying varying lithology and often complex structure, including representative sedimentary sequences of the Tabberabbera Formation and Wentworth Group, intrusive dykes and features of geomorphological interest. The Wellington rhyolites are also well exposed in the bed of the Mitchell River at the slalom rapids. Den of Nargun Local The Den of Nargun, in the gorge of Woolshed was created by erosion of mudstone beneath more resistant sandstone. Small caves commonly occur in the Upper Devonian – Lower Carboniferous sediments of the Mitchell River Area. The Den is the largest known example and is of particular significance for its decoration. Source: - Williams et al. (1981).
Appendices APPENDIX II SIGNIFICANT FLORA SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS Adiantum hispidulum Rough Maidenhair r Asplenium trichomanes Common Spleenwort r Astrotricha linearis Narrow-leaf Star-hair r Bertya cunninghamii Sticky Bertya r Beyeria viscosa Pinkwood r Blechnum chambersii Lance Water-fern l Brachychiton populneus Kurrajong l Calotis lappulacea Yellow Burr-daisy l Calystegia sepium Large Bindweed l Correa alba White Correa l Dendrobium striolatum Streaked Rock-orchid r Drymophila cyanocarpa Turquoise Berry l Elaeocarpus holopetalus Black Oliveberry l Gahnia melanocarpa Black-fruit Saw-sedge l Galium migrans Bedstraw l Grevillea rosmarinifolia Rosemary Grevillea l Hibbertia serpyllifolia Thyme Guinea-flower l Hybanthus monopetalus Slender Violet-bush l Isoetes muelleri Rock Quillwort l Korthalsella rubra Jointed Mistletoe v Marsdenia flavescens Yellow Milk-vine r Mentha australis River Mint l Mirbelia oxylobioides Mountain Mirbelia l Muehlenbeckia rhyticarya Wrinkle-nut Lignum r Olearia glandulosa Swamp Daisy-bush l Olearia tenuifolia Thin-leaf Daisy-bush v Oplismenus hirtellus Basket-grass l Passiflora cinnabarina Red Passion-flower l Phebalium squameum ssp. coriaceum Harsh Phebalium v Polyphlebium venosum Veined Bristle-fern l Polystichum formosum Broad Shield-fern r Pterosylis grandiflora Cobra Greenhood r Rumohra adiantiformis Leathery Shield-fern l Samolus valerandii Common Brookweed r Sarcochilus australis Butterfly Orchid l Sicyos australis Star Cucumber v Solanum pungetium Eastern Nightshade l Vittadinia dissecta Dissected New Holland Daisy l Vittadinia tenuissima Delicate New Holland Daisy v Status (NRE database 1998b; Cameron in prep.): l - locally significant r - rare in Victoria v - vulnerable in Victoria
APPENDIX III SIGNIFICANT SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS Mammals Dasyurus maculatus Spot-tailed End, L Mastacomys fuscus Miniopterus schreibersii Myotis macropus Pseudomys fumeus Rhinolophus megaphyllus Broad-toothed Rat Common Bent-wing Bat Large-footed Myotis Smoky Mouse Eastern Horseshoe Bat LR (nt) Vul, L LR (nt) End Vul, L Birds Calyptorhynchus lathami Glossy Black-Cockatoo Vul, L Haliaeetus leucogaster Lathamus discolor strenua Tyto novaehollandiae Tyto tenebricosa Xanthomyza phrygia White-bellied Sea-Eagle Parrot Powerful Owl Masked Owl Sooty Owl Regent Honeyeater End, L V, End, L End, L End, L Vul, L E, CE, L Reptiles Cyclodomorphus sp. She-oak Skink rs Amphibians Heleioporus australiacus Giant Burrowing Frog Vul, L Litoria citropia Blue Mountains Tree Frog pv Freshwater fish Prototroctes maraena Australian Grayling V, Vul, L Insects Candalides absimilis Pencilled Blue Butterfly r1 Status (NRE 1998): CE critically endangered in Victoria E endangered under the Endangered Species Act 1984 (Cwlth) End endangered in Victoria L listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act LR (nt) lower risk (near threatened) in Victoria pv recent survey data suggests that this species is potentially vulnerable in the Park rs regionally significant r1 rare in Victoria (Dunn 1990) V vulnerable under the Endangered Species Act 1984 (Cwlth) Vul vulnerable in Victoria