2 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS Park vision A future visitor to Mount Samaria State Park finds a Park valued for its semi-remote atmosphere and interesting features, and offering a variety of appropriate recreational opportunities. The most popular activities are walking, camping, picnicking and nature study. The Park is being managed for conservation and recreation consistent with its State Park and IUCN status and with an increasing understanding of its diverse natural environments. A high quality visitor experience is encouraged through high standard interpretation of the Park’s values. Visitor facilities are sensitively managed and are in keeping with the Park’s isolated and atmosphere. In conjunction with other parks and reserves, the Park is being increasingly valued as an important part of the nature-based tourism opportunities in the area. Careful and sensitive management by NRE, assisted by Friends and other volunteer groups, ensures that the Park’s values are being maintained for future generations. Management directions Major management directions for the Park are outlined below. Resource conservation Significant species and communities will be monitored, and threats to these species and communities identified and managed. Visitor impact on significant and sensitive natural features such as the significant plant communities, and cultural features such as the sawmill relics, will be minimised. Park protection Fuel reduction burning will be managed in accordance with the Benalla Regional Fire Protection Plan and the Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land. A pest plant and animal control strategy which identifies key sites, target species and methods of control will be prepared. Degraded will be rehabilitated. Vehicle access will be seasonally restricted where required to protect vehicle tracks and to minimise erosion. The Park The experience of relative remoteness will be retained. Existing picnic and camping facilities will be upgraded. Visitor enjoyment of the Park will be enhanced by improving interpretation of the Park’s natural and cultural features. Surveys will be conducted to better determine visitor needs and expectations. Zoning A Park management zoning scheme has been developed to: provide a geographic framework in which to manage the Park; indicate management directions have priority in different parts of the Park; indicate the types and levels of use appropriate throughout the Park; assist in minimising existing and potential conflicts between uses and activities, or between and the protection of Park values; provide a basis for assessing the suitability of future activities and development proposals. Two principal management zones and one overlay designation applies to the Park. Table 1 specifies the management zone and overlay characteristics and figure 1 shows the location of those areas.
Strategic directions TABLE 1 PARK MANAGEMENT ZONES AND OVERLAY MANAGEMENT ZONES OVERLAY REFERENCE AREA CONSERVATION/RECREATION SPECIAL PROTECTION AREA AREA/LOCATION 400 ha; 5% of Park. Comprises Blue Range Reference Area. 7200 ha; 95% of Park. All of the Park except the Reference Area. Mountain Swamp Gum alliance, mossland and herbfield areas, and Wild Dog Creek Falls. VALUES Relatively undisturbed land types and associated vegetation. Important natural values and scope for appropriate recreational opportunities. Discrete significant areas requiring special attention. GENERAL MANAGEMENT AIMS Protect viable samples of one or more land types that are relatively undisturbed for comparative study with similar land types elsewhere, by keeping all human interference to the essential minimum and ensuring as far as practicable that the only long-term change results from natural processes. Protect less sensitive natural environments and provide for sustainable dispersed recreation activities and small-scale recreation facilities without significant impact on natural processes. Protect specific natural or cultural values in specific and sites where a special management focus is required.
TABLE 2 RECREATION FACILITIES SITE CAMP (SITES) TOILETS PICNIC FIRE AVAIL WALK CAR INFO MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND COMMENTS Samaria Well - -  Maintain and service facilities to support vehicle-based camping. Wild Dog Creek Falls - - Maintain and service facilities to support walk- in camping. Spring Creek Sawmill Maintain and service facilities to support vehicle-based camping. Camphora - - Maintain and service facilities to support walk- in camping. Rocky Point Lookout - - - -   Maintain and service facilities. Samaria Road - - - - - -  - Construct a small car park at the beginning of the walking track to Mount Samaria. Existing  Proposed - Not applicable The existing small network of 2WD and 4WD tracks provides adequate vehicular access for both recreation and fire protection purposes (table 4 and figure 1). No changes to the existing status of tracks is proposed. are opportunities in the Park for mountain bike touring, which is increasing in popularity statewide. Aims Provide an appropriate network of tracks for 2WD and 4WD vehicles for both recreation and fire protection purposes. Minimise the impact of vehicle use on the Park’s natural and cultural values, and enhance opportunities for remote experiences. Management strategies Manage roads and vehicle tracks in accordance with table 4. Apply temporary or seasonal closures to roads if required, to minimise environmental disturbance and ensure public safety. Butchers Track in particular will be closed on a seasonal basis. Liaise with the Victoria Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs over temporary, seasonal and any necessary permanent public road closures.
8 IMPLEMENTATION A three-year rolling implementation program will be prepared for the Park to ensure efficient implementation of the Plan. Priorities for management are identified in table 6 as an initial step in this process. 6 PRIORITIES FOR MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY SECTION IN PLAN Protection 3.5 Secure sawmilling relics to ensure that they are not removed. Implement the Fire Protection Plan. 4.1 Prepare and implement a pest plants and animals control 4.2 strategy. Monitor and identify the cause of tree dieback and take 4.2 appropriate action. The Park visit Assess the opportunities for appropriate tourism within the Park. 5.2, 5.4 Manage the existing network of roads and tracks, and in 5.2.1 particular maintain Samaria Road to 2WD standard. Develop and upgrade car parking at Rocky Point Lookout and at 5.2.1 the beginning of the Mount Samaria Walking Track. Develop Mount Samaria Nature Drive. 5.2.2 Upgrade and extend walking tracks in accordance with table 5. 5.2.3 Develop a site plan for the sawmill 5.3 Erect visitor display boards at the two main Park entry points. 5.3 Develop an interpretation plan for the Park. 5.3 Update existing, and produce new, publications promoting the 5.3 Park and its key features. Upgrade and improve signage within the Park. 5.3 Monitoring and research Encourage surveys and research on significant flora. 3.2 Encourage research on the fire ecology of vegetation 3.2, 4.1 communities within the Park. Undertake fauna surveys to identify any significant species. 3.3 Investigate and document Aboriginal history in the Park. 3.5 Monitor the impact of visitors on Park values. 5.1 Improve collection techniques for visitor use statistics. 5.1
APPENDIX 1 SIGNIFICANT SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS* Asplenium trichomanes Common Spleenwort r Brachyscome gracilis Dookie v Caladenia sp. (C. patersonii group) Spider-orchid r Euchiton umbricolus Cliff Cudweed r Lepyrodia anarthria Scale-rush r * Status FIS database. Victoria: v - vulnerable r - rare Smith (1979) and Beauglehole (1988) have noted a number of additional species with restricted distribution or at the limit of their distribution: SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME Acacia aculeatissima Thin-leaf Wattle Acacia pravissima Ovens Wattle Aristida jerichoensis Number Nine Wire-grass Callistemon pityoides Alpine Bottlebrush Dillwynia juniperina Prickly Parrot-pea Epacris paludosa Swamp Heath Goodenia blackiana Black’s Goodenia Goodia lotifolia Golden-tip Hibbertia pendunculata Stalked Guinea-flower Microsorum pustulatum Kangaroo Fern Millotia tenuifolia Soft Millotia Mirbelia oxylobioides Mountain Mirbelia Olearia glandulosa Swamp Daisy-bush Olearia myrsinoides Silk Daisy-bush Plantago gaudichaudii Narrow Plantain Pultenaea cunninghamii Grey Bush-pea Wahlenbergia sp. aff. gracilenta Bluebell