Site: Carome Homestead Objective: Upgrade the setting around Carome Homestead to improve amenity and access for visitors to the homestead which is managed under a Committee of Management agreement. The lease for the homestead sits wholly within the park boundary, therefore visitor access and trail, connections must be integrated and coordinated with the Committee of Management Refer to Figure 8, p.31. Visitor Experiences * Recommendations Priority Cost C01 Establish trail connections from PRT to the local residential path network and to Carome Homestead, in collaboration with the CoM. Medium $$ C02 Undertake a planting program outside the lease area to improve arrival, visual amenity and sense of place for the homestead. Medium $$ C03 Provide park amenity outside the lease area such as shelters / decks to allow for wildlife viewing and interaction with the river environment. Low $ WAY Improve existing vehicular entrance to Carome Homestead, with improved signage at Plenty Road, as well as directional signage within the park. Medium $ HMS1 As part of the vegetation management strategy, develop a planting program for any land parcels added to the park. Medium $ Site: Wiltonvale Objective: Upgrade Wiltonvale by improving trail access and connecting PRT to Carome Homestead. This large site has potential as a visitor node. Refer to Figure 8, p.31. Visitor Experiences Recommendations Priority Cost W01 Construct secondary trail loop to access river environs (in accordance with Plenty River Trail project documentation). Medium $$ W02 Undertake planting program to define broad park spaces between Wiltonvale and the Plenty River. Low $ W03 Investigate the potential for a visitor node at Wiltonvale to allow for large groups of visitors, events and recreation activities. Low $ W04 Investigate opportunity for a footbridge crossing over Plenty River, to connect Wiltonvale trails to Yarrambat. Only one bridge is required, therefore most appropriate location to be confirmed. Low $ PRT1 Construct new section of Plenty River Trail from Wiltonvale to Carome Homestead (in accordance with the Plenty River Trail project documentation). High $$
Site: Middle Gorge Objective: Upgrade Middle Gorge as a point of entry into the Plenty Gorge, both to the north and to the south, and as a highly accessible destination in its own right. Maximise opportunities for great views of the gorge. Refer to Figure 11, p.43. Visitor Experiences Recommendations Priority Cost MG01 Implement a new trail to interact with and view the river, and provide connections to the Council owned car park. Medium $ MG02 Develop visitor amenities associated with the existing Middle Gorge car park and gorge walk. Provide trail head facilities to enhance this location as a key point of access for the Plenty River Trail. Provide picnic shelters, trail signage, seating. Enhance existing lookout and investigate a further lookout over the gorge along the lower trail walk. Extend indigenous tree planting to visually integrate the car park and visitor amenities with surrounding park character. High $$ MG03 Complete acquisition and transfer of land north of Gorge Road to form a part of the park. Improve visitor access and use of this area, including completion of the PRT and investigation of facilities required to provide potential rock climbing. High $ MG04 Undertake a planting program to extend tree canopy between gorge escarpment and Teatree Drive to improve visual amenity, provide shade for park users and form passive park spaces suitable for dog on-lead walking. Provide seats at appropriate locations along existing trail. Medium $ MG05a Undertake detailed investigation and design of grade separated Plenty River Trail crossing of Gorge Road and ensure integration with car park upgrade (MG02) and northern site plan (MG03). High $ MG05b Implement works for a grade separation of Plenty River Trail crossing over Gorge Road. High $$ MG06 Develop a planting program within transmission line easements, in collaboration with the service provider, with a view to enhancing visual character and visitor amenity. Medium $ WPF Review the existing wildlife protection fence and gate locations, to allow suitable visitor access into significant areas of the park, whilst continuing to protect wildlife from attack by cats and dogs. Medium $ PRT3 Construct the Plenty River Trail (in accordance with the Plenty River trail documentation), along with signage providing clear directions to destinations. High $$ HMS3 As part of the Vegetation Management Strategy, develop a planting plan for land added to the park. Medium $ WAY Improve signage and wayfinding at existing car park entry High $
Priority Code Recommendation Actions Benefits Timing Cost Enhance places and experiences 8 YG01a and YG01b Prepare and implement a new Yellow Gum visitor site development plan Plan and design new visitor site off Goldsworthy Lane including entrance, paving road from Memorial Drive signage, trails/links, picnic tables/shelters, BBQs, seating and toilets. Remove existing Blue Lake facilities including parking, toilets, shelters and BBQ’s. - Utilise existing assets at Goldsworth Lane property for visitor site - Provide trailhead for walks/mountain bikes - Downgrade Blue Lake site to improve safety and maintenance issues Short - Medium 9 H02a Update Hawkstowe development plan (1996) 10 TW01a Update Tanunda Wetlands precinct plan (Sept 2000) 11 MG02 Middle Gorge improvements (south of Gorge Road) 12 HMS Habitat Management Strategy Plan to improve picnic facilitates, event infrastructure, playground, signage, planting, access, trails, parking and paving existing road and car park. Planning to coincide with Council sports fields planning. Update precinct plan to include parking, PRT access, trails, nature based play, picnic facilities, view points and entrance from University Hill. Update 1996 Development Plan and implement works including PRT connections, enhanced entrance, lower trail extensions, picnic tables/shelters, seating, signage and new lookout. Develop and implement a strategy that includes: - reveg of altered landscapes and impacts of overgrazing. - fire management - weed and pest control. - priorities, timeframes, monitoring and resources required. - Capitalise on existing visitor attraction - Create primary visitor site in park’s centre - Facilitate community events, and activities - Provide visitor site and trailhead in southwest edge of park - Improve Middle Gorge as the park’s north- south connection point along the PRT and a key location to view the river and gorge. - Ensuresongoing biodiversity, conservation and sustainable habitat management. - Protects existing significant habitats. - Persistence and welfare of kangaroos. Medium - Long Medium - Long Medium - Long Medium - Long $15KA $15KA $450KA $270KAB Indicative cost estimate includes: TOTAL (ALL PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS) $15.5M A Planning, survey/assessments, design and documentation B Implementation/construction works and contingency C Initial and ongoing resources for programming and implementation
4.2 Immediate opportunities The following table outlines Recommendations (as per Section 3.10) that are relatively low cost, but feasible to implement in the short-term. Priority Code Recommendation Actions Benefits Timing Cost 1 WPF Wildlife Protection Fence Review the existing wildlife protection fence. Install four new gates and relocate approx 100m section of fence to allow access in PA4. - Allow PRT and visitor access into PA4 - Continue to protect wildlife and habitat Short $50KAB 2 JN02 JS02 Mountain bike trail plan and works Liaise with mountain bike groups to develop and implement a sustainable trail plan which rationalises current informal networks and includes necessary facilities, access, signage and environmental and cultural heritage assessments to minimise impact on significant values. - Provide suitable trails and facilities for users - Control access by providing clear directions - Minimise impact on significant habitat areas Short $300KAB 3 H01 YG02 Permanent orienteering courses Investigate preferred location and alignment for permanent orienteering courses at Hawkstowe and Yellow Gum, for orienteering body to implement. - Facilitate orienteering as ideal recreation activity in the park - Support local groups - Encourage visitor engagement & park use Short none 4 NB01 Nioka Bush Camp Establish agreements for increased use by groups. Upgrade facilities as required, including kitchen, painting, floors, windows, gutterings, drainage and all-abilities access. - Better utilise existing park assets - Support local groups - Encourage visitor engagement & park use Short - Medium $60KAB 5 MG03 Land north of Gorge Road Upon completion of land acquisition north of Gorge Road and investigate and design facilities and access required for activities such as rock climbing. - Facilitate rock climbing as ideal recreation activity in the park - Encourage visitor engagement & park use Short - Medium $20KA 6 ENT2 New Hawkstowe Entry Relocate main entry to current Le Page Homestead exit. Remove existing gravel road and construct 75m of new gravel road as entry. Include screening planting, and signage / directions from Gordons Road. Provides clear, direct access to the popular Hawkstowe Picnic Area and Le Page Homestead Short - Medium $100KAB Indicative cost estimate includes: A Planning, survey/assessments, design and documentation B Implementation/construction works and contingency Photo: Le Page Homestead. Source: Vanessa Bluett TOTAL (ALL IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES) $530K
Appendix E: Indigenous Heritage The Plenty Valley is part of the territory of the Wurundjeri-willam, a clan of the Woiwurung language group. Published and unpublished accounts of early European settlers provide some insight into the economy, settlement patterns and culture of the Aboriginal people in the area. It is likely that the local Wurundjeri people lived according to a seasonal economy, moving to higher country during the winter months to avoid flooded river flats. Spring, and summer would have seen a return to the floodplains and swamp lands. Plenty Gorge would have been significant to indigenous communities as ‘a resource-rich environment at the interface of the open woodland of the basaltic plain to the west, and the forested undulating sedimentary terrain of the eastern side. The Plenty River and its gorge would also have been the source of raw materials, food and perennial fresh water’(Ellender 1991). Plenty Gorge Park contains evidence of early human occupation of the region in many sites along the river and the gorge. There is evidence of Aboriginal activity in the area including scar trees and stone artefacts, indicating the presence of camp sites in a significant, resource rich environment cared for by the Wurunderi people. Culturally scarred trees, found mostly on large, old River Red Gums, are generally located on the basalt plain above the break of slope. The scatters of stone artefacts indicate the presence of old campsites. All the big campsites found in the park were closely associated with the gorge, with the highest density above, but close to the break of slope. Implications for the Master Plan • Opportunity for Wurundjeri to express their connection to Country and share their knowledge and stories, as key players in interpretation, education and event opportunities on site. • Clarifying the appropriateness of interpreting indigenous cultural heritage, in engagement with the Wurundjeri. • Opportunity for Wurundjeri to be involved in ongoing park planning and management to ensure protection of natural and cultural assets. • Support for ongoing investigations to identify additional sites within the park. • Recognising that all of Plenty Gorge Park has cultural sensitivity, the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (OAAV) principles should therefore be applied when considering all future detailed design and or implementation works.