Strategic directions 1 MANAGEMENT ZONES CONSERVATION ZONE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION ZONE AREA/LOCATION 657 ha, 18% of the Park, consisting of: the catchment of the upper Little River, which includes the Little River Gorge and Myrtle Beech Closed Forest; the riparian zone along the lower Little River and MacLennans Gully between the stream and existing roads or, where no road exists, between the stream and the border of the riparian vegetation. DESCRIPTION Sensitive natural areas unable to sustain impacts from dispersed recreation. 2959 ha, 82% of the Park. The remainder of the Park. Important natural areas with scope for low impact recreation opportunities. GENERAL MANAGEMENT AIM Protect sensitive natural environments and provide for minimal impact recreation activities and simple visitor facilities, subject to ensuring minimal interference to natural processes. Protect less sensitive natural environments and provide for sustainable dispersed recreation activities and scale recreation facilities without significant impact on natural processes. indicate the 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 management zones apply to the Park: Conservation, and Conservation and Recreation. Table 1 specifies the management zones, and figure 2 shows their location.
Management strategies Allow rock climbing and abseiling in accordance with Parks Victoria guidelines. Encourage users to use clean climbing techniques and conform to the relevant codes of conduct for their activities. Monitor the effect of rock climbing and abseiling activities on the environment and the experiences of other visitors. In particular: monitor cliff sites for Peregrine Falcon activity, and close climbing and abseiling sites as required; monitor all climbing sites and access tracks, using appropriate methods such as photo monitoring points, and close as required. Liaise with users on the operation of the booking system and amend where necessary. Provide suitable track access to climbing areas (section 5.2.4). Undertake rehabilitation work at degraded climb sites in association with user groups. Delineate the limit of developed climbing sites and prohibit the development of new climbing areas, particularly in the Sugarloaf area. Do not permit the use of trees as anchors. Dogs Dogs pose a threat in conservation areas and can disrupt native fauna and visitors. Most Park visitors object to seeing non-native fauna as it degrades their natural experience and makes native wildlife more difficult to observe. There is little demand for taking dogs into the Park and many opportunities for this activity exist outside the Park. Dogs have never been permitted in the Park. Aim Protect fauna and visitor experiences within the Park. Management strategy Continue to prohibit dogs in the Park. Fishing Fishing is relatively popular in Little and Storm Creek. In the past it appears to have had little effect on the Park’s river environments. Fishing has the potential to damage stream banks if river access is not controlled. Aim Provide access for fishing while minimising environmental impact and conflict with other Park users. Management strategies Continue to permit fishing in the Park. Monitor access to streamside locations and restrict access if necessary. Visitor information and interpretation Two leaflets for the Park, one a camping guide the other a walking track guide, are available to visitors. Orientation information is provided in information shelters at the Park entrances at Cathedral Lane and Sugarloaf Saddle. A saleable Park map at 1:25 000 scale and with information and illustrations is also available. The Park is signposted from the major roads and there are track information signs within the Park. Quality information and interpretative services help orientate visitors, guide visitor use, assist in managing activities and increase knowledge of cultural history. Aims Orientate visitors to the Park and its features. Enhance visitors’ enjoyment and understanding of the Park’s natural and cultural values.
REFERENCES CNR 1995a Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria. CNR Draft Alexandra Fire Protection Plan, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria. Evans, P. 1995 Rails to Rubicon, Light Rail Preservation Society of Australia. LCC 1977 Melbourne Study Area, Final Recommendations, Land Conservation Council, Melbourne. LCC 1994 Melbourne Area District 2 Review Final Recommendations, Land Conservation Council, Melbourne. Marsh & Maclennan Pty Ltd 1996 Cathedral Ranges State Park Risk Management Report, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria. Nixon, A. 1996a A proposed management strategy for the control of pest animal species in Cathedral Range State Park, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. Nixon, A. 1996b A proposed management strategy for the control of pest plant species in Cathedral Range State Park, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. NPS 1984 Cathedral State Park, Plan of Management, National Parks Service, Victoria. NPS 1995 National Parks and Conservation Reserves Guidelines and Procedures manual, National Parks Service, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria. NRE 1997 Central Highlands Forest Management Plan, Forests Services, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. NRE (database) 1997a Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. NRE (database) Flora Information System, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. NRE (1998) Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 1998. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria Smith, S.J., White, M.D & Weeks, M 1996 Cathedral Range State auna Survey Report, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria.
Waranga Reservoir MT SAMARIA PARK Seymour ● Mansfield Lake Eildon ALPINE NATIONAL PARK Alexandra ● LAKE EILDON NATIONAL PARK Eildon● CATHEDRAL RANGE STATE PARK KINGLAKE NATIONAL PARK ●Toolangi ● Marysville Lake Mountain Matlock STATE PARK ● Lilydale ● Healesville ● YARRA RANGES NATIONAL PARK Upper Yarra Reservoir ● Thomson MELBOURNE Warburton CHURCHILL DANDENONG RANGES NATIONAL PARK Powelltown BAW BAW NATIONAL PARK BUNYIP STATE PARK NATIONAL PARK LYSTERFIELD STATE PARK ● Dandenong FWY TYERS STATE PARK ● CATHEDRAL RAWaNrraGgulE PARK ● FIGURE 1 REGIONAL LOCALITY PLAN Tr 0 20 Highway Other road Parks Other Public Land G/6549.1 Kilometres ★ Cartography by