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Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area MANAGEMENT PLAN “To identify, protect, conserve, present and, where appropriate, rehabilitate the world heritage and other natural and cultural values of the WHA, and to transmit that heritage to future generations in as good or better condition than at present.” WHA Management Plan, Overall Objective, 1999 1999 PARKS and WILDLIFE SERVICE ISBN 0 7246 2058 3 MANAGEMENT PLAN 1999 PARKS and WILDLIFE SERVICE Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area MANAGEMENT PLAN 1999

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Page 1: Tasmanian Wilderness Tasmanian World MANAGEMENT PLAN … · Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999 7 desired outcomes is presented, along with the main measures

TasmanianWildernessWorldHeritage Area

MANAGEMENTPLAN

“To identify,protect, conserve,present and,where appropriate,rehabilitate theworld heritage andother natural andcultural values ofthe WHA, and totransmit thatheritage to futuregenerations inas good or bettercondition than atpresent.”

WHA Management Plan,Overall Objective, 1999

1999

PARKS and WILDLIFE

SERVICE

ISBN 0 7246 2058 3

MANAGEMENT PLAN

1999 PARKS and WILDLIFE

SERVICE

TasmanianWilderness World HeritageArea

Tasmanian W

ilderness World H

eritage Area M

ANAGEM

ENT PLAN

1999

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TasmanianWildernessWorld Heritage Area

MANAGEMENT PLAN

1999PARKS

and WILDLIFESERVICE

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Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 19992

ISBN 0 7246 2058 3

© 1999 Parks and Wildlife Service. Part of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.Published by: Parks and Wildlife Service, GPO Box 44A Hobart TAS 7001. Printed on recycled paper.Photographs: cover and page 3 – Rob Blakers; pages 23 to 26 – Steve Johnson; Steve Robertson; Nick Sawyer; Ted Mead; Nicki Chilcott.Illustrations: Petra Meer.

This management plan replaces the TasmanianWilderness World Heritage Area ManagementPlan 1992, in accordance with Section 19(1) of theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1970.

The plan covers those parts of the TasmanianWilderness World Heritage Area and 21 adjacentareas (see table 2, page 15) reserved under theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 and has beenprepared in accordance with the requirements ofPart IV of that Act.

The draft of this plan (Tasmanian WildernessWorld Heritage Area Management Plan 1997Draft) was available for public comment from 14November 1997 until 16 January 1998. This plan isa modified version of that draft, having beenvaried to take account of public input during thatperiod and the views of the TasmanianWilderness World Heritage Area ConsultativeCommittee and National Parks and WildlifeAdvisory Council. It was endorsed on 11December 1998 by the Tasmanian WildernessWorld Heritage Area Ministerial Council underthe joint management arrangement between theTasmanian and Commonwealth Governments.

In accordance with Section 23(2) of the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970, the managingauthorities for the reserves covered by this planshall carry out their duties in relation to thereserves for the purpose of giving effect to and inaccordance with the provisions of thismanagement plan.

ApprovalThis management plan was approved by HisExcellency the Governor-in-Council on 8 March1999 and, subject to the following paragraph, tookeffect on 17 March 1999 being seven days afterpublication of that approval in the GovernmentGazette.

Those provisions which authorise the exercise ofother statutory powers (Chapter 8 — StatutoryPowers in State Reserves) are of no effect untiltheir inclusion is approved by both Houses ofParliament.

TASMANIAN WILDERNESS WORLD HERITAGE AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN 1999

Abbreviations and General TermsThe meanings of abbreviations and general termsused throughout this plan are given below.A glossary of technical terms and phrases isprovided on page 206.

the Director

The term ‘Director’ refers to the Director ofNational Parks and Wildlife, a statutory positionheld by the Director of the Parks and WildlifeService.

the Minister

The ‘Minister’ refers to the Minister administeringthe National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970.

the Service

The ‘Service’ refers to the Parks and WildlifeService, a part of the Department of PrimaryIndustries, Water and Environment and the agencyresponsible for managing areas declared under theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1970, or such otheragency of the Government of Tasmania that may infuture be responsible for managing these areas.

the WHA

The ‘WHA’ refers to the Tasmanian WildernessWorld Heritage Area (as detailed in table 1, page14) and 21 additional areas of National Park andState Reserve that are contiguous with theTasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, but donot have world heritage status. These additionalareas are noted in table 2, page 15. See also map 2,page 215.

the Tasmanian Wilderness WHA

The ‘WHA’ less the 21 additional areas, ie onlythe area specifically listed as world heritage.See Plan Area, page 17.

IUCN

‘IUCN’ stands for the International Union for theConservation of Nature and Natural Resources,now known as the World Conservation Union.

ICOMOS

The International Council on Monuments and Sites.

World Heritage Convention

The UNESCO convention concerning the Protectionof the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

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Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage AreaManagement Plan, 1999

3

" To identify, protect, conserve, present and, where appropriate,

rehabilitate the world heritage and other natural and cultural values of

the WHA, and to transmit that heritage to future generations in

as good or better condition than at present."

“ This must be a National Park for the people for all time.

It is magnificent and people must know about it and enjoy it.”

Gustav Weindorfer, 1910Weindorfer was an Austrian who fell in lovewith Cradle Mountain and built Waldheim chalet.He was an ardent campaigner for the declarationof Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park.

WHA Management Plan, Overall Objectives, 1999

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4 Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999

CONTENTS

Abbreviations and General Terms ............................................................................................ 2Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 6

1. Basis for Management ........................................................................................................................... 11

2. Summary of Values .................................................................................................................................. 21

3. Framework of Management:Plan Objectives and Key Desired Outcomes ................................................................................... 27

Background ................................................................................................................................ 28Guiding Documents and Principles ....................................................................................... 28Overarching Management Objectives ................................................................................... 30Objectives and Key Desired Outcomes – how they will be achieved and evaluated ..... 31

4. General Management Strategies ......................................................................................................... 43

Plan Implementation and Review .......................................................................................... 44Evaluation of WHA Management .......................................................................................... 49Key Focus Areas ........................................................................................................................ 51Zoning ........................................................................................................................................ 54Community Engagement ......................................................................................................... 63New Proposals and Impact Assessment ................................................................................ 66

5. Identification, Protection, Conservation and Rehabilitation .................................................. 73

Natural Diversity and Processes ............................................................................................ 76Geodiversity and Geoconservation ........................................................................................ 78Vegetation .................................................................................................................................. 82Animals ...................................................................................................................................... 84Feeding Wildlife ........................................................................................................................ 87Introduced Animals .................................................................................................................. 87Landscape .................................................................................................................................. 89Wilderness .................................................................................................................................. 91Cultural Heritage ...................................................................................................................... 95Aboriginal Management ........................................................................................................ 100Established Practices .............................................................................................................. 103Fire Management .................................................................................................................... 106Environmental Quality (air, water and noise) .................................................................... 110Rehabilitation .......................................................................................................................... 114Scientific Research and Monitoring ..................................................................................... 116

6. Presentation ............................................................................................................................................ 119

VISITOR PROFILE AND COMMUNICATION ................................................................................... 121Visitor Profile and Research .................................................................................................. 121Information, Interpretation and Education ......................................................................... 125

VISITOR ACTIVITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE .............................................................................. 129Recreation Opportunities ...................................................................................................... 129Accommodation ...................................................................................................................... 131Aircraft Activities .................................................................................................................... 133Bicycle Riding (road and mountain bikes) .......................................................................... 135Boating (motorised) ................................................................................................................ 136Camping ................................................................................................................................... 139Canoeing and Rafting ............................................................................................................ 141

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5Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999

Caving and Karst Management ............................................................................................ 141Climbing and Abseiling ......................................................................................................... 144Diving ....................................................................................................................................... 145Fishing ...................................................................................................................................... 145Hobbies and Crafts ................................................................................................................. 147Horse Riding............................................................................................................................ 148Hunting .................................................................................................................................... 151Huts and Shacks ...................................................................................................................... 152Oversnow Vehicles ................................................................................................................. 154Picnicking ................................................................................................................................. 155Plaques and Memorials .......................................................................................................... 156Public Safety and Risk Management ................................................................................... 157Roads and Sightseeing ........................................................................................................... 158Signs .......................................................................................................................................... 161Skiing ........................................................................................................................................ 162Special Events .......................................................................................................................... 163Surfing ...................................................................................................................................... 164Training Exercises ................................................................................................................... 165Vehicle Tracks and Recreational Driving ............................................................................. 166Visitor Facilities ....................................................................................................................... 169Walking and Walking Tracks ................................................................................................. 172

COMMERCIAL TOURISM OPERATIONS .......................................................................................... 175Integration with Tourism ....................................................................................................... 175Concessions ............................................................................................................................. 177Guided Tours ........................................................................................................................... 179Film Production ...................................................................................................................... 182

7. Primary Production ............................................................................................................................... 183

Beekeeping ............................................................................................................................... 184Mineral Exploration ............................................................................................................... 185Grazing ..................................................................................................................................... 186Aquaculture ............................................................................................................................. 187Commercial Fishing ............................................................................................................... 187Huon Pine Driftwood Salvage .............................................................................................. 188

8. Statutory Powers and Private Rights .............................................................................................. 191

9. Administrative Matters ........................................................................................................................ 197

Management Bases ................................................................................................................. 198Staffing...................................................................................................................................... 198Law Enforcement .................................................................................................................... 199Aircraft Use for Management Purposes .............................................................................. 199Use of Natural Materials for Management Purposes ........................................................ 200

10. Management of Adjacent Areas ........................................................................................................ 201

Background and Clarification of the Meaning of ‘Adjacent Area’ .................................. 202Previous Management ........................................................................................................... 202Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 203Management Prescriptions .................................................................................................... 203Monitoring and Evaluation ................................................................................................... 205

Glossary of Terms ..................................................................................................................................... 206Index ........................................................................................................................................................... 209Maps .................................................................................................................................................. 215 - 218

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6 Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999

This management plan has been prepared under the National Parks and Wildlife Act1970. It provides the policy framework and management prescriptions to guidemanagement of the WHA for the next 10 years. (For definition of the term ‘WHA’see page two.)

This is the second management plan for the WHA; the first was produced in 1992.Although much of the general thrust of the 1992 plan has been retained, this planalso:

• covers new issues that have arisen since 1992;

• incorporates greater community involvement in WHA management;

• more closely integrates recreation and tourism interests;

• provides greater linkage to the World Heritage Convention and

• adds a system of monitoring and evaluation for assessing achievement of theplan’s objectives.

This summary highlights new approaches (marked [new]) and major managementprescriptions. These are arranged under the relevant chapter headings below.

CHAPTER 1 BASIS FOR MANAGEMENTAt 1.38 million hectares, the Tasmanian Wilderness WHA covers approximately 20%of Tasmania. It includes Tasmania’s four largest National Parks, a range of otherreserves and some of the best wilderness areas in south eastern Australia.

The area was inscribed on the world heritage list in 1982 and expanded in 1989 inrecognition of its outstanding world heritage value.

Joint Commonwealth–State Government arrangements are in place to overseemanagement of the WHA. These include agreed funding arrangements tied to theimplementation of management plans. Full implementation of this plan iscontingent upon these funding arrangements. The Tasmanian Parks and WildlifeService is primarily responsible for management of the area.

The process of reviewing the 1992 management plan has been extensive. Publiccomment has been sought over a two and a half year period with a large amount offeedback received.

CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY OF VALUESFeatures of outstanding significance include extensively glaciated landscapes;undisturbed habitats of plants and animals that are rare, endangered and/orendemic that represent a rich variety of evolutionary processes; magnificent naturalscenery and an impressive assembly of Aboriginal sites that include cave art.

The WHA is also highly valued for recreation and tourism based on its natural andscenic qualities.

CHAPTER 3 FRAMEWORK OF MANAGEMENT[New] The objectives of the 1992 plan have been remodelled and are now alignedmore closely to the primary obligations of the World Heritage Convention. For eachof the 10 overarching objectives, a brief outline is given of the concepts underlyingthe objective, and a number of ‘key desired outcomes’ are identified. These aremajor outcomes or end-points towards which the management prescriptions in theplan are directed. An overview of the major prescriptions to achieve these key

SUMMARY

Summary

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7Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999

desired outcomes is presented, along with the main measures that will be used toevaluate the extent of success of management in meeting the plan’s objectives.

CHAPTER 4 GENERAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES[New] 10 year plan life. The management plan is proposed to have a life of 10 years,with a limited review at the five year point.

[New] Key Focus Areas. Ten key focus areas are identified. These will be high priorityareas to be implemented during the first five years of the plan. They are marked[KFA] where they occur under the relevant headings in this summary.

[New] Resolving conflicts. A process for resolving conflicts is included to resolve thesituation where actions taken to achieve one objective may interfere with theachievement of another.

[New] Evaluation. An evaluation system (including reports on progress every 2.5years) is included which is designed to track the implementation of the plan andmeasure achievement of the key desired outcomes. [KFA]

Zoning. Much of the 1992 zoning has been retained with the shrinkage of somerecreation zones that were unnecessarily wide in some parts of the WHA. Thezoning is based around tourism and recreational use of the WHA, retention ofwilderness areas and protection of the area’s World Heritage and other natural andcultural values.

[New] Greater community engagement. The plan acknowledges the need forcommunity support and involvement in the management of the WHA, particularlyfor local communities. It sets up a framework for the active involvement ofinterested communities, groups and volunteers in the management of the WHA.[KFA]

[New] New Proposals Process. Because the plan has a 10 year life, a process isrequired to take account of new things that arise that were not considered when theplan was drafted. The New Proposals and Impact Assessment process does this. Theprocess uses different assessment processes depending on the nature of theproposal, its potential impact on values and the degree of public interest in theproposal.

CHAPTER 5 IDENTIFICATION, PROTECTION, CONSERVATIONAND REHABILITATION

[New] Increased emphasis on identifying and protecting the world heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHA. A review of the values of the WHA will takeaccount of new discoveries and clarify the status of presently recognised values. Itmay result in updating or re-nomination of the area for World Heritage listing.[KFA]

Current work will continue on threats to the values of the area such as the highaltitude dieback on the Central Plateau, river bank erosion on the Gordon River, andthreatened species such as the Lake Pedder galaxiid, orange bellied parrot andKing’s lomatia. There will be an increased emphasis on research dealing withthreatened values. [KFA]

Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Much of modern land management deals withunderstanding and mapping the values of the land and how they interrelate. Apowerful tool for handling this is a GIS. The Service will upgrade and standardisecurrent GIS software and hardware to provide a powerful, accessible and easy-to-use system. [KFA]

Summary

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8 Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999

[New] Proposed marine reserve. At the time of writing, a new marine reserve is beingprogressed to better protect the unique organisms found in the Bathurst Channelarea. (This area is presently part of Southwest National Park; this tenure protects theland but not aquatic animals).

[New] Feeding wildlife. Because of the risks to animals, the damage to habitat and thepotential risk of injury to visitors, the feeding of wildlife will be discouraged via anactive education campaign. Within the WHA, the sale or provision of food for thefeeding of wildlife by commercial operators will be prohibited.

[New] Wilderness mapping. Maintenance of wilderness is one of the primary waysthat the values of the WHA are protected and conserved. Currently available GIS-based methodologies for wilderness assessment will be updated to take account ofviewfields and the mountainous nature of Tasmania. The results will be madeavailable as a priority for assessment of new proposals. [KFA]

[New] Increased Aboriginal involvement in management of the WHA. The Servicerecognises the special relationship that exists between the Tasmanian Aboriginalcommunity and the WHA. The Service and the Aboriginal community will set up apartnership to manage for the conservation of Aboriginal values in the WHA. [KFA]

[New] Established (traditional) Practices. This section provides for the continuation ofestablished practices, where these do not negatively impact on the values of thearea. Partnerships with communities (particularly local communities) will providefor the direct involvement of the community in management of particular areas andvalues. Provision is made for companion dogs to be taken, under permit, to theCentral Plateau Conservation Area and camps within the Macquarie HarbourHistoric Site.

Increased fire research. Wildfires can be either destructive or regenerative dependingon their timing, intensity and the ecological communities they affect. Managed firescan assist in the control of wildfire and can be a useful tool in habitat managementto aid the maintenance of species and communities. The importance of accurateresearch into the use of fire is critical. The Service will markedly increasemanagement-related fire research over the first five years of the plan. [KFA]

[New] Fuel Stove Only Area. An expanded Fuel Stove Only Area (an area wherecampfires are not allowed) covers most of the WHA, except day use areas wherewood is provided, some sites in the Central Plateau, two sites on the South CoastTrack and specified Macquarie Harbour camps.

Scientific research. Strict conditions apply for scientific research in the WHA.Collection of specimens requires a permit.

CHAPTER 6 PRESENTATIONMajor expansion of WHA internet site. The present World Wide Web site will beexpanded with additional background material, more pre-visit information,education content for schools and major reports related to the WHA, including thetext of this management plan. [KFA]

[New] Float planes and helicopters. An investigation will be undertaken to see if somelakes can be found, outside the Wilderness Zone, where floatplanes and/orhelicopters could land with minimal conflict with other users and minimalenvironmental impact. A maximum of three sites will be allowed. Apart from thisprovision, conditions on landings remain as per the last plan.

Accommodation. At the time of writing, opportunities for further accommodationwithin and adjacent to the WHA are being examined. The plan details the process

Summary

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9Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999

for approving new accommodation (the New Proposals and Impact AssessmentProcess) and provides criteria for siting.

[New] Bait fishing in inland waters. Baitfishing is as per Inland Fisheries Commissionregulations. At the time of writing bait fishing is allowed in two lakes in the CentralPlateau Conservation Area. Restrictions on bait types (eg no frogs) also apply.

[New] Diving. Preferred dive sites in the Bathurst Channel area are to be identified,education material on diving developed and, if necessary, conditions placed on theuse of sensitive areas.

[New] Hobbies and crafts: fossicking. Fossicking for specified minerals is allowed atdefined sites near Adamsfield, in the Adamsfield Conservation Area.

Horseriding. Current areas remain available under the present conditions and codesof practice. The old packhorse track to Adamsfield can also be considered.

Hunting. Hunting areas are to remain on the Eastern and Northern parts of theCentral Plateau Conservation Area. Current boundaries can be varied as requiredthough the overall size of the areas is to remain the same. Two possible smalladditional areas in and around Macquarie Harbour are to be investigated.

Huts. Existing huts and shacks will be subject to an assessment for their cultural andrecreational significance and environmental impact. Huts may be retained,maintained or removed depending on the results of this assessment.

[New] Huts partnership. A partnership between the Service and interested membersof the public will be encouraged to jointly manage publicly available huts within theWHA.

Vehicle access. Vehicle access remains largely the same as in the 1992 plan, with theexceptions that Raglan Range track has been closed and rehabilitated and the MtMcCall track remains open.

Walking Track Management Strategy. The WHA contains more than 1,000 kilometresof walking tracks and routes. The Walking Track Management Strategy will befinalised and implemented to sustainably manage this extensive track network.[KFA]

[New] Presenting the WHA: A Recreation and Tourism Strategy. The ‘natural quality’ ofthe WHA is one of the State’s major attractions for tourists. Tourism and recreationare also major ways of presenting the WHA to the public. To successfully marryvisitors’ expectations and the requirement to present the WHA in the best waypossible, a recreation and tourism strategy will be developed. The strategy is part ofthe Tasmanian government’s ‘whole of government’ approach to tourism. Itinvolves assessing visitor needs in the WHA, looking at what is currently offeredboth commercially and by land management agencies, and putting together astrategy that meets market demand while minimising impacts on the world heritageand other natural and cultural values of the WHA. This strategy will be developedas a priority within 12 months of this plan being approved. [KFA]

Guided tours. Guided Tours may operate in any zone throughout the WHA subject tolicence conditions and provided they abide by the conditions in the Walking TrackManagement Strategy.

[New] Commercial huts. A potential expansion of commercial huts is allowed withinrecreation zones (except Southwest National Park and the central major use areas ofthe Walls of Jerusalem National Park and the Central Plateau Conservation Area) ifthey meet market demand and environmental conditions.

[New] Film production. Commercial filming within the WHA is to be in accordancewith the Service’s Commercial Filming Guidelines.

Summary

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10 Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999

CHAPTER 7 PRIMARY PRODUCTIONMineral exploration and mining. These activities are potentially allowed in theAdamsfield Conservation Area under strict conditions.

Beekeeping. This activity may continue at current sites. No expansion is permittedunless further research indicates that apiary activities do not pose a threat to thenatural processes and biota of the WHA. Further research into the environmentalimpacts of bees is encouraged.

Grazing. Due to the extensive erosion on the Central Plateau, domestic stock grazingwill not be reintroduced into this area.

Aquaculture. Due to potential environmental and social impacts, farming of marineor freshwater species in the WHA is not permitted.

Commercial fishing. Restrictions on commercial sea fishing will be determined by aspecific sea fishery management plan, taking account of the proposed BathurstHarbour – Port Davey area marine reserve.

Driftwood salvage. The salvage of Huon pine from Macquarie Harbour is allowed tocontinue.

CHAPTER 8 STATUTORY POWERS AND PRIVATE RIGHTSThis section authorises certain Statutory Powers other than those under theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 to operate within the WHA subject to certainconditions.

The rights of private landholders within the WHA are also noted.

CHAPTER 9 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERSManagement bases. Additional management responsibility and decision makingpower will be delegated to rangers in the field.

Staffing. Adequate staff levels and capacity will be maintained to carry out the tasksrequired by this plan.

CHAPTER 10 MANAGEMENT OF ADJACENT AREASSympathetic management. Adjacent land holders will be encouraged to manage areasadjacent to the WHA in a manner sympathetic to maintaining the values andpresentation of the WHA.

Management plans for adjacent areas. Management plans will be prepared for highpriority areas adjacent to the WHA that are managed by the Service.

Summary

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11

Chapter 1

Basis forManagement

1. Basis for Management

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12 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 1: Basis for Management

ABOUT THIS PLANThe purpose of this management plan is to providea framework for management of the values and useof the WHA that is approved by both the State andCommonwealth Governments. This plan replacesthe previous (1992) plan for the WHA.

The area covered by this plan includes most of theTasmanian Wilderness WHA, except for somesmall areas of freehold land and 730 ha ofAboriginal land, (see table 1, page 14). It alsoincludes 21 adjacent areas of National Park andState Reserve (see table 2, page 15 and plan area,page 17) which are outside the TasmanianWilderness WHA but are covered by thismanagement plan. The Tasmanian WildernessWHA and these 21 areas are, for the purposes ofthis plan, called the ‘WHA’ (see Abbreviationsand General Terms, page 2). For the generallocation of the Tasmanian Wilderness WHA, seemap 1, opposite.

The plan sets objectives for the WHA, definesmanagement prescriptions both as policy and asmanagement actions to realise the objectives, andestablishes a monitoring system to evaluatewhether the objectives are being achieved. Theplan also provides the management frameworkwithin which subsequent implementation andfurther detailed planning will take place.

The first two chapters of the plan are descriptive.They cover the basis for management of the areaand summarise the area’s values. The third chaptercasts the broad management vision for the area,sets the overarching management objectives andlooks at how these will be implemented andmonitored. Chapter four covers generalmanagement strategies to achieve these objectives.

Chapters five and six look in detail at theconservation, protection, rehabilitation andpresentation of the WHA. Chapters seven, eightand nine cover Primary Production; StatutoryPowers and Private Rights, and AdministrativeMatters respectively. The final chapter covers theService’s management intentions for importantareas of Crown Land adjacent to the WHA where

the Service has management responsibility. Thislast chapter does not form part of the legalmanagement plan for the WHA.

LAND TENURE ANDCONSERVATION STATUSWithin the WHA there is a range of land tenureand conservation status determined by Statelegislation. The areas within each land tenurecategory are detailed below in Tables 1 and 2 (seepages 14 and 15) and shown on map 2, page 215.

Note that the tenure categories given below areproposed to be changed in accordance with theRegional Forest Agreement (Land Classification) Act1998. This Act is expected to commence in thenear future but the changes should not affect themanagement prescriptions of this plan.

An explanation of the major differences in theconservation status of the different tenures (as atJanuary 1999) is given below. The Service’s viewof the appropriate IUCN protected areamanagement category1 for major reserve types isalso given. This is a system of protected areamanagement categories used around the world.

State Reserves(National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970)These areas are fully protected under the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970. No statutory powerswithin the meaning of the National Parks andWildlife Act 1970 can be exercised within a StateReserve unless authorised by a management plan.State Reserve status cannot be revoked withoutthe agreement of both Houses of Parliament. StateReserves are assigned one of the following names:

- National Park: a State Reserve which hashigh conservation, scenic and recreationalvalues and, in general, is larger than 4,000hectares (IUCN Category II);

- Historic Site: a State Reserve where places orstructures of historic significance are sited;

- State Reserve: a State Reserve which isgenerally less than 4,000 hectares in area andwhich protects features of outstandingnatural value but rarely whole ecosystems(IUCN Category II or III) and

- Nature Reserve: a State Reserve managed forthe protection of a particular flora or faunacommunity where recreation is not generallyprovided for; in general, less than 4,000hectares (IUCN Category Ia).

1 IUCN - The World Conservation Union 1994Guidelines for Protected Area Management Categories,IUCN, Switzerland p 261 and Australian NatureConservation Agency, 1996 Application of IUCNProtected Area Management Categories, ANCA,Canberra.

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13Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 1: Basis for Management

BASS STRAIT

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Southwest National Park

Franklin - Gordon

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Cradle Mountain

- Lake St Clair

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South BrunyNational Park

TasmanNational Park

StrzeleckiNational Park

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Mole Creek KarstNational Park

Savage RiverNational Park

Central PlateauConservation

Area

0 20 40 60 km

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World Heritage Area

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LAUNCESTON

Smithton

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Cradle Valley

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George Town

Huonville

Scottsdale

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St Helens

St Marys

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Waratah

Corinna

Ross

Stanley

Richmond

Southport

Currie

GrassyLady Barron

Whitemark

Strathgordon

Derby

Avoca

Fingal

MienaBronte

Park

OuseColebrook

Buckland

Bridgewater

Campania

Nubeena

Lauderdale

Maydena

Kingston

MargateFranklin

Geeveston

Dover Alonnah

Adventure Bay

Somerset

LatrobeBeaconsfield

PortSorell

ExeterRailton

Sheffield

MoleCreek

Perth

Cressy

LowHead

Rosebery

KING

ISLAND

FLINDERS

ISLAND

Cape BarrenIslandThree

HummockIsland

RobbinsIsland

Circular Head

WestPoint

HunterIsland

ClarkeIsland

Cape Portland

EddystonePoint

FreycinetPeninsula

SchoutenIsland

BrunyIsland

Cape Pillar

South EastCape

South WestCape

Low RockyPoint

Cape Sorell

Sandy Cape

MAP 1 LOCATIONTASMANIAN WILDERNESSWORLD HERITAGE AREA

MAP 1

TASMANIA

13Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999

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14 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 1: Basis for Management

TABLE 1: Land Tenure: Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area(as at November 1998)

Land Tenure Area (hectares)

STATE RESERVES/GAME RESERVECradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park 161,000Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park 440,105Southwest National Park 605,000Walls of Jerusalem National Park 51,800Hartz Mountains National Park 7,140Mole Creek Karst National Park (part) 790Devils Gullet State Reserve 806Liffey Falls State Reserve (part) 20Macquarie Harbour Historic Site 15,300

Farm Cove Game Reserve 1,720

CONSERVATION AREASCentral Plateau Conservation Area (includespart of Central Plateau Protected Area)† 89,070Adamsfield Conservation Area 5,400Marble Hill Conservation Area 77Maatsuyker Island# 180St Clair Lagoon (includes 14ha vested in HEC) 254Southwest Conservation Area (two parcels at Scotts Peak, vested in HEC) 616Meander Forest Reserve § 1,660Liffey Forest Reserve § 1,055

Drys Bluff Forest Reserve § 680

ABORIGINAL LANDWargata Mina Cave 155Ballawinne Cave 560

Kuti Kina Cave 15

FREEHOLD‘Gordonvale’, Vale of Rasselas 100Central Plateau 5 blocks (approximately) 330

Lake Murchison (vested in HEC) 32

TOTAL AREA (approximately)(approx 20% of land area in Tasmania) 1,383,865

NOTES

† Includes areas at Lakes Augusta and Mackenzie vested in the HEC.# Maatsuyker Island was transferred from Commonwealth freehold to State land on 30/10/98.§ These areas are managed by Forestry Tasmania and are State Forest as well as being Conservation

Areas.

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15Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 1: Basis for Management

Game Reserves(National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970)These are areas where habitats and animals areprotected to the same level as in State Reservesexcept that game species may be taken by permit(IUCN Category IV).

Conservation Areas(National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970)Unless greater protection is afforded under amanagement plan, these areas only provideprotection for flora, fauna, geodiversity andcultural relics from the actions of the public, and

not from actions being undertaken in pursuanceof a right granted under any other legislation(IUCN Category VI).

Protected Areas(Crown Lands Act 1976)These areas are reserved under the Crown LandsAct 1976 and have a similar level of protection toConservation Areas. [Rationalisation of thesereserve categories is in progress and the CentralPlateau part of the WHA, which currently hasdual status, will retain only Conservation Areastatus] (IUCN Category V).

TABLE 2: Land Tenure: Additional reserved areas outside the TasmanianWilderness World Heritage Area but within the plan area

Land Tenure Area (hectares)

NATIONAL PARK ADDITIONS

Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National ParkDove River RFA 320Mersey Valley (two discrete blocks) 108

Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National ParkBeech Creek and Navarre Plains 841Counsel River RFA 141Beech Creek - Counsel River RFA 3,927Tiger Range RFA 1,140Nelson Falls RFA 325

Southwest National ParkHartz ‘hole’ and southeast of Cockle Creek 3,298Little Florentine River RFA 821Styx River RFA 1,008Blakes Opening RFA 3,715Cook Rivulet RFA 335Farmhouse Creek RFA 334East Picton RFA 405Hastings Caves RFA 1,254D’Entrecasteaux River RFA 1,446Catamaran River RFA 394

STATE RESERVE ADDITIONSDevils Gullet RFA 302

Total Additional Areas 20,114

RFA Areas that are to become reserves as a result of the Regional Forest Agreement (Land Classification) Act1998. These areas will be added to the plan area when the Act commences. Until they becomereserves these areas are not subject to this plan.

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16 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 1: Basis for Management

Forest Reserves (Forestry Act 1920)Forest Reserves are also State Forest and aredeclared under the Forestry Act 1920. They arereserved for a variety of reasons including thepreservation of flora and fauna, the protection ofaesthetic values or sites of scientific interest or forrecreational purposes. The three WHA ForestReserves have also been proclaimed ConservationAreas under the National Parks and Wildlife Act1970 to enable them to be covered by thismanagement plan (IUCN Category IV).

Hydro-Electric Corporation areas (ElectricitySupply Industry Act 1995)The Hydro-Electric Corporation administerslimited areas both within and enclosed by theWHA under the Electricity Supply Industry Act1995. In all land vested in it, the HEC has fullauthority under the Electricity Supply Industry Act1995 to do any works connected with electricitysupply subject to the Statutory Powers section ofthis plan.

Aboriginal land (Aboriginal Lands Act 1995)Aboriginal land is land that has been vested in theAboriginal Land Council of Tasmania in trust forAboriginal persons in perpetuity under theAboriginal Lands Act 1995. This management plandoes not apply to Aboriginal land in the WHA.The Council or a local Aboriginal group mayprepare a management plan for Aboriginal land.The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania mayenter into co-management arrangements with theService for the management of Aboriginal land.Aboriginal land is potentially subject to theCommonwealth World Heritage PropertiesConservation Act 1983.

Freehold landFreehold land is potentially subject to theCommonwealth World Heritage PropertiesConservation Act 1983. Freehold land may be madeConservation Area if the owner agrees; otherwiseit is not subject to this plan.

Note on Sea and Lake FloorsThe sea floor and lake floors within the WHA(eg Port Davey–Bathurst Harbour and lakes in theCentral Plateau) are a part of the WHA. Marineanimals dwelling on or attached to the sea floor orliving within the water column are managed bythe Department of Primary Industries, Water andEnvironment. Aquatic animals in lakes and riversare managed by the Inland Fisheries Commission.

ADJACENT LAND USEThe WHA is located within the boundaries of sixlocal municipalities — Central Highlands,Meander, Kentish, West Coast, New Norfolk andHuon Valley.

All of the eastern boundary of the WHA, south ofthe Lyell Highway adjoins State Forest or CrownLand. Apart from a relatively small area of privateland associated with the settlement of DerwentBridge, the WHA is bounded by State Forest fromthe Lyell Highway to Clarence Lagoon. StateForest is managed by Forestry Tasmania formultiple uses including wood production,recreation, conservation of flora, fauna,landforms, cultural heritage and scenery. Themajority of the southern boundary of the CentralPlateau Conservation Area adjoins freehold landapart from the Great Lake and environs which areadministered by the Hydro-Electric Corporation(HEC). The freehold land is used for grazing and/or logging. HEC land is managed to protect thecatchment of Great Lake.

The WHA boundary along the top of the GreatWestern Tiers and in the Mersey and ForthValleys adjoins State Forest with the exceptions ofthe Meander, Drys Bluff and Liffey ForestReserves; the Marakoopa Cave section of theMole Creek Karst National Park (parts of whichare bounded by private land) and where theWHA adjoins unallocated Crown Land west ofLobster Rivulet. The Middlesex Plains area, nearCradle Valley, is private property used for cattlegrazing. The unallocated Crown Land whichabuts the northern and north-western boundaryof the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair NationalPark is subject to forestry activities.

The western boundary of the WHA adjoins theSouthwest and Granite Tor Conservation Areasand Crown Land administered by the Parks andWildlife Service, all of which is available formineral exploration. The Teepookana State Forestsouth of the King River is managed for multipleuses including production of Huon pine andother specialty timbers. A corridor betweenMelaleuca Inlet and Cox Bight is alsoConservation Area. Small-scale tin mining iscurrently conducted at Melaleuca.

In recent years tourism establishments have beendeveloped or expanded near the WHA to takeadvantage of its attraction for visitors. Notablecentres of development are Pencil Pine at the

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17Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 1: Basis for Management

northern edge of Cradle Mountain–Lake St ClairNational Park, Derwent Bridge near Lake St Clair,Strahan on the west coast (where the tourismindustry is largely dependent on cruises based onthe Gordon River) and Geeveston in the south-east.

Other smaller businesses have been establishedon the approach roads to the WHA to provideservices, accommodation and specialised holidaysfor visitors.

Commercial fishing is undertaken in coastalwaters adjacent to the WHA and on a limitedscale within Port Davey.

PLAN AREAThe area subject to this management plan is all ofthe Tasmanian Wilderness WHA as set out intable 1, page 14, (except for Lake Murchison[vested in the HEC without Conservation Areastatus - 32 ha], other freehold land [approximately430 ha] and Aboriginal land [730 ha]) and 21additional areas (see Table 2, page 15).

Tenure Changes and AdditionsThe Mole Creek Karst National Park wasproclaimed on 13 November 1996. The parkincludes that part of the former Marakoopa CaveState Reserve within the WHA and several otherareas outside the WHA. (See table 1, page 14 forthe reserve’s area and map 2, page 215, for itslocation).

The plan area also includes 21 small areas ofNational Park and one area of State Reserve thatare not within the WHA but are contiguous withit. These areas are, or soon will be, covered by thismanagement plan. (See table 2, page 15).

The 21 areas include two small areas added to theSouthwest National Park (south of HartzMountains [the ‘Hartz hole’] and south-east ofCockle Creek) in June 1991. Another two smallareas included in the Franklin–Gordon WildRivers National Park, one in the vicinity of theNavarre Plains, the other in the Beech Creek area.Two further small areas at Lees Paddocks in theMersey Valley were added in 1991. In December1998 the Regional Forest Agreement (LandClassification) Act 1998 received Royal Assent. Oncommencement this Act will declare a further 15areas (one area of State Reserve and 14 NationalPark additions) to be reserved land. This planhereby prescribes that once these areas become

reserved land they will become part of the planarea and subject to the relevant prescriptions ofthis management plan. See map 2, page 215 fortheir location.

The term ‘WHA’ is used throughout this plan torefer to the World Heritage Area and the 21contiguous areas. The term ‘Tasmanian WildernessWHA’ is used when referring to the declaredTasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area alone.

There is an active proposal to re-instate theTruchanas Nature Reserve (currently part of theFranklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park). Thisarea, which was previously a Nature Reserve, wassubsumed within the Franklin–Gordon WildRivers National Park when it was proclaimed.

The coastal boundary of the WHA extends to thelow water mark. Off shore islands, rocks and reefsadjacent to the coastal boundary are also part ofthe World Heritage Area.

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTSThe UNESCO Convention concerning theProtection of the World Cultural and NaturalHeritage (the World Heritage Convention)provides a permanent framework designed tocomplement and stimulate national programsaimed at conserving natural and cultural areas ofoutstanding universal value. The convention aimsto promote cooperation among nations to protectworld-wide heritage which is of such outstandinguniversal value that its conservation is of concernto all people. By becoming a state party to theConvention in 1974, Australia became one of thefirst nations to recognise that each country holdsin trust for the rest of humanity those parts of theworld heritage that are located within itsboundaries.

The World Heritage Convention establishes a listof sites of global significance. When a countrybecomes party to the convention, it recognisesthat it is its duty to ensure the identification,protection, conservation, presentation andtransmission to future generations of the worldheritage on its property (Article 4 of theConvention).

The World Heritage Committee, which assessessites for World Heritage listing, has no power inrelation to the ownership or management of listedproperties. The sovereignty of any listed siteremains with the country within which the site is

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18 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 1: Basis for Management

located. Management should, however, be inaccordance with the duties and obligations ofsignatories to the Convention. Of particularrelevance is Article 5 of the Convention whichstates:

To ensure that effective and active measures are takenfor the protection, conservation and presentation of thecultural and natural heritage situated on its territory,each State Party to this Convention should endeavour,in so far as possible, and as appropriate for eachcountry:

(a) to adopt a general policy which aims to give thecultural and natural heritage a function in thelife of the community and to integrate theprotection of that heritage into comprehensiveplanning programs;

(b) to set up within its territories, where suchservices do not exist, one or more services for theprotection, conservation and presentation of thecultural and natural heritage with an appropriatestaff and possessing the means to discharge theirfunctions;

(c) to develop scientific and technical studies andresearch and to work out such operating methodsas will make the State capable of counteractingthe dangers that threaten its cultural or naturalheritage;

(d) to take the appropriate legal, scientific, technical,administrative and financial measures necessaryfor the identification, protection, conservation,presentation and rehabilitation of this heritageand

(e) to foster the establishment or development ofnational or regional centres for training in theprotection, conservation and presentation of thecultural and natural heritage and to encouragescientific research in this field.

In 1982 the then Cradle Mountain–Lake St ClairNational Park, Franklin-Lower Gordon WildRivers National Park and Southwest NationalPark were inscribed on the World Heritage List asthe Western Tasmania Wilderness National ParksWorld Heritage Area — an area of 769,355hectares. In 1989, an enlarged nomination, knownas the Tasmanian Wilderness World HeritageArea, was accepted for inclusion on the WorldHeritage list. This listing incorporated the original1982 property and further expanded the area to itscurrent size (see table 1, page 14).

The Southwest National Park was designated as aBiosphere Reserve in 1977. The UNESCO Manand the Biosphere Program has established anetwork of Biosphere Reserves in differentbiogeographic regions as benchmarks againstwhich to monitor human impact on theenvironment.

COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATIONThe World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983was enacted to provide a means of ensuring thatthe WHA was managed in accordance with itsworld heritage status. The Act, which provides forthe protection and conservation of thoseproperties in Australia and its external territoriesthat are of outstanding universal natural andcultural value, does not enable theCommonwealth Government to assumeresponsibility for the management of a property.The Act only authorises the Commonwealth toprevent the damage or destruction of a propertyby regulation through the prohibition ofprescribed activities.

The majority of the WHA is included on either theRegister or Interim List of the National Estate asdefined by the Australian Heritage Commission Act1975. The Act requires the CommonwealthGovernment not to take any action that adverselyaffects places on the Register of the NationalEstate unless there are no feasible or prudentalternatives. Where there are no feasible orprudent alternatives, all reasonable measures areto be taken to minimise the adverse effect (section30, Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975).

The plan has been assessed under this Act andalso under the Environmental Protection (Impact ofProposals) Act 1974 and complies with therequirements of both Acts.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HeritageProtection Act 1984, currently empowers theCommonwealth to protect threatened Aboriginalheritage at the request of Aboriginal people.However, at the time of writing this legislation isbeing reviewed.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authorityoperates a light station on Maatsuyker islandunder the Lighthouse Act 1911. The island wastransferred from Commonwealth freehold to Stateland on 30 October 1998.

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19Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 1: Basis for Management

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

Joint Commonwealth-State AgreementIn order to fulfil its obligations under the WorldHeritage Convention, the CommonwealthGovernment has played a significant role in theplanning and management of the area. On23 January 1985, the State and Commonwealthgovernments reached agreement on jointmanagement arrangements for the TasmanianWilderness WHA. Under the terms of theagreement, a Council of Ministers (the TasmanianWorld Heritage Area Ministerial Council) wascreated to advise and make recommendations toboth governments on:

- management plans for the WHA;

- management requirements;

- annual and forward programs ofexpenditure for capital and recurrent costs ofmanaging the WHA and development ofappropriate infrastructure, accommodationand facilities and

- scientific studies in relation to matters ofnatural and cultural significance.

The Ministerial Council comprises tworepresentatives each from the Commonwealthand State governments.

A Standing Committee of officials has been set upto advise the Ministerial Council and to overseepolicies, programs, funding arrangements and theadministration and preparation of managementplans for the area.

A 15 member Consultative Committee has beenestablished with a chair appointed by theMinisterial Council and half the membersappointed by each government. Membership ofthe committee is broad-based and includesmembers from the scientific community,Aboriginal community, recreational interests,local government, conservation interests, industryand tourism. The role of the Committee is toprovide advice to the Ministerial Council andStanding Committee on matters relating to thedevelopment and management of the WHA, of itsown motion or in response to requests from theMinisterial Council or Standing Committee. Theterm of appointment of a committee member isthree years, with provision for extension.

At the time of writing, the Review ofCommonwealth–State Roles and Responsibilitiesfor the Environment (Beale Committee) is still in

progress and its recommendations may lead tochanges in the present managementarrangements.

The Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA)has been agreed between the State andCommonwealth governments. During the RFAprocess, 15 proposed extensions (14 to nationalparks and one proposed extension to a StateReserve) were identified as having potentialworld heritage values. These areas are to beadded to the plan area (see Tenure Changes andAdditions, page 17). See table 2, page 15 and map2, page 215 for their area and locationrespectively. All these areas will be considered forworld heritage nomination at a later date as partof the review of values, see page 74.

Some of the forests in the WHA are a part of theComprehensive, Adequate and Representativereserve system negotiated as part of the RegionalForest Agreement. Management of these forestsfor their conservation values is compatible withbroader WHA management objectives.

FundingSince the initial listing of the WHA in 1982, theCommonwealth has made a significantcontribution towards capital works andoperational funding for the WHA.

Commonwealth funds for management were firstpaid to Tasmania following the decision of theHigh Court of Australia in July 1983 that resultedin cessation of the Gordon-below-Franklin powerdevelopment. With expansion of the WHA in1989, the existing Commonwealth funding wasexpanded.

In 1994 agreement was reached on a four yearfunding arrangement for the WHA comprising a1994–95 State contribution of $3.0 million and aCommonwealth contribution of $5.1 million.These contributions were maintained for theperiod of the agreement.

In December 1998 the Tasmanian WHAMinisterial Council reached agreement on afurther four year funding agreement. Thisagreement comprised a State contribution of $3.4million and a Commonwealth contribution of $5million in 1998–99. The funding agreement wasnegotiated based on the requirements toadequately implement the first four years of thisplan.

The program for implementing the plan assumescontinuation of at least this level of funding, in

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20 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 1: Basis for Management

real terms, for the life of the plan. (SeeImplementation of this plan, page 45).

Future funding arrangements between theCommonwealth and State governments for theWHA will be linked to the managementprescriptions of this plan and/or any approvedamendment to this plan.

MANAGEMENT PLANNING

The Planning ProcessThe 1992 management plan was the firstmanagement plan prepared for the TasmanianWilderness WHA and came into effect on 30thSeptember 1992. The review of the 1992 plancommenced in 1995.

The review process considerably expanded on thepublic involvement required under the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970. It was designed toallow the broadest possible involvement of thepublic at the earliest possible point in plandevelopment. The review was a four stageprocess.

Stage one involved the distribution of ‘IssuesStocktake Kits’ to interested members of thepublic and stakeholders. These requested peoplelist the major issues they saw for the area andhow they felt these issues should be managed inthe revised plan. 300 responses were received.

Stage two of the review saw the release of 10Issues and Options papers. These outlined majorissues and possible options for futuremanagement. 587 responses were received. Thisstage also involved public meetings to discuss theplan with communities bordering the WHA.

Two major projects were also undertaken duringstage two. These looked at Aboriginalinvolvement in management of the WHA, and atnon-Aboriginal ‘established practices’.

Stage three involved the release of the draftmanagement plan for a two month publiccomment period. 384 responses were received.

The fourth and final stage of the review was theproduction of the final management plan takingaccount of the comments received on the draftduring stage three. The comment received wasconsidered in the context of:

- the range of views expressed;

- the objectives of the plan;

- the requirements of the World HeritageConvention and the National Parks andWildlife Act 1970;

- the views of the World Heritage AreaConsultative Committee and the NationalParks and Wildlife Advisory Council and

- the experience of Service staff.

The statutory and administrative procedure forapproval of the plan, as shown in figure 2 (seepage 47) was followed.

In addition to and consistent with the statutorymanagement plan for the WHA, the Service willcontinue to prepare a range of subsidiary, non-statutory plans for special purposes including firemanagement, conservation of cultural resources,visitor interpretation, recreation management,Visitor Services Site development, walking trackmanagement, weed control, rehabilitation,wildlife and karst management.

In consultation with the Service, ForestryTasmania will prepare non-statutory plans for thethree Forest Reserves. The WHA managementplan is the statutory management plan for thesereserves. Forestry Tasmania, in collaboration withthe Service, may prepare other plans for theseareas. The relationship between this managementplan and other plans for the area is detailed in therelevant Forestry Tasmania plan (currently theGreat Western Tiers Management Plan or asreplaced by any subsequent Mersey DistrictForest Management Plan).

The Inland Fisheries Commission will prepare afreshwater fisheries management plan for theCentral Plateau area.

Responsibility for Plan ImplementationPlan implementation will be handled by therelevant management agency depending on thearea’s tenure. The majority of land within theWHA is reserved under the National Parks andWildlife Act 1970, and is managed by the Parksand Wildlife Service. The Hydro-ElectricCorporation administers the areas listed in table1. Freehold land and Aboriginal land remain theresponsibility of the land owners. The three ForestReserves along the Great Western Tiers aremanaged by Forestry Tasmania.

How the plan will be implemented is covered indetail in Plan Implementation and Review, seepage 44.

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21

Chapter 2

Summary ofValues

2. Summary of Values

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22 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 2: Summary of Values

GLOBAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXTThe Tasmanian Wilderness WHA (see map 2,page 215) is one of over 506 properties in morethan 107 countries on the World Heritage List (atDecember 1997). These properties are recognisedas places of outstanding universal value formingpart of the natural and cultural heritage of theworld community. Listing gives formalrecognition to the international significance of thenatural and cultural values of the TasmanianWilderness WHA.

On a global scale, the Tasmanian WildernessWHA can best be compared with two othertemperate wilderness areas in the SouthernHemisphere — South West New Zealand and LosGlaciares in Argentina (both also World Heritageproperties). Like these areas it is a rugged,glacially-formed mountainous region ofexceptional natural beauty situated in the path ofstrong moisture-laden westerly winds. Althougheach region is unique, they are united inevolutionary history. Each displays strongfloristic, geological and faunal links with theancient supercontinent Gondwana and togetherthey provide evidence of past continentalformations and environments.

The characteristics of the Tasmanian WildernessWHA are quite different from other places inAustralia on the World Heritage list. As atDecember 1997 other listed places in Australiawere Kakadu National Park, the Great BarrierReef, the Willandra Lakes Region of WesternNSW, the Lord Howe Island Group, CentralEastern Rainforest Reserves, Uluru-Kata TjutaNational Park, the Wet Tropics of Queensland,Fraser Island, Shark Bay, the Australian FossilMammal Sites (Riversleigh and Naracoorte) andMacquarie Island.

The Tasmanian Wilderness WHA is one of thelargest conservation reserves in Australia.Consisting of 1.38 million hectares, the WHAoccupies approximately 20% of the island State ofTasmania. Due to its size and qualities, it is ofimmense importance to the conservation of theState’s natural and cultural values and of majorimportance to its social and economic future.

WORLD HERITAGE CRITERIAThe area was nominated for World Heritagelisting and met the criteria noted below. Thecriteria for World Heritage listing have

subsequently been updated; however until thevalues of the Tasmanian Wilderness WHA havebeen reviewed in the light of these new criteria(see Identifying Values, page 74) the criteria listedbelow are those that formally apply.

The Tasmanian Wilderness WHA satisfies all fourcriteria for World Heritage listing for its naturalvalues. It:

- is an outstanding example representing themajor stages of the earth’s evolutionaryhistory;

- is an outstanding example representingsignificant ongoing geological processes,biological evolution and humanity’sinteraction with the natural environment;

- contains superlative natural phenomena,formations or features, or areas ofexceptional natural beauty and

- contains the most important and significantnatural habitats where threatened species ofanimals or plants of outstanding universalvalue still survive.

Additionally the area fulfils three of the sevencultural criteria for listing. It:

- bears a unique or at least exceptionaltestimony to a civilisation which hasdisappeared;

- is an outstanding example of a traditionalhuman settlement which is representative ofa culture and which has become vulnerableunder the impact of irreversible change and

- is directly or tangibly associated with eventsor with ideas or beliefs of outstandinguniversal significance.

Note that this nomination does not deny theexistence of the present day Aboriginalcommunity, the continuity between theAboriginal community and their ancestors andAboriginal interests and rights, see AboriginalManagement, page 100.

The following sections provide a summary of thevalues of the area and are based principally on theWorld Heritage nomination document producedin 1989.

This summary does not attempt to address orevaluate recently acquired knowledge aboutvalues that may be of World Heritage significance(for example, the recently discovered benthiccommunities in Bathurst Channel) or to address

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23Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 2: Summary of Values

recent refinements or additions to the criteria forinclusion in the World Heritage list (for examplecultural landscapes). For information on how newor additional values will be taken into account inthe future, see Identifying Values, page 74.

The Tasmanian Wilderness WHA embraces a suiteof individual sites with particular qualities. Manyvalues are naturally disjunct (for example, avariety of alpine ecosystems on scatteredmountain ranges) and it is the aggregate ofindividual but complementary occurrences whichconstitutes the world heritage value rather thanany individual site. Individual sites may notpossess the most outstanding example of aparticular value but when viewed as a complexwith many surrounding features of significance,the entire area serves to demonstrate an array offeatures of global significance. The significance ofthe area should therefore be considered as awhole — not merely as the sum of its specificallyidentified values.

The area comprises a large percentage of theremaining extensive, high quality, temperatewilderness in Australia, and is one of only a fewsuch regions in the world. It is this wildernessquality which underpins the TasmanianWilderness WHA’s success in meeting the criteriaas a natural property and which is the foundationfor the maintenance of the integrity of both thenatural and cultural values of the area.

NATURAL VALUESThe outstanding natural values of the TasmanianWilderness WHA include glacially-formedlandscapes of exceptional beauty such as CradleMountain, Frenchmans Cap and the Arthur

Ranges; an impressive assemblage of karst anderosional features; pristine catchments wherenatural processes continue; living evidence of the

previous existence of thesupercontinentGondwana; a profusionof threatened, rare andendemic plants includingthe native conifers, Huonpine (Lagarostrobusfranklinii) and King Billypine (Athrotaxisselaginoides); a complexmosaic of vegetation,including moorland,rainforest, alpine,eucalypt and ripariancommunities;undisturbed stands of theworld’s tallest flowering plant (Eucalyptusregnans); an assemblage of the world’s largestcarnivorousmarsupials, theTasmanian devil(Sarcophilusharrisii), thespotted-tailedquoll (Dasyurusmaculatus), easternquoll (D.viverrinus); two ofthe only threesurviving species of monotremes — the mostprimitive group of mammals in the world — theplatypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), and rareand threatened species such as the Lake Peddergalaxias (Galaxiaspedderensis), PedraBranca skink(Niveoscincuspalfreymani) andorange-belliedparrot (Neophemachrysogaster).

The TasmanianWilderness WHAis of immenseimportance to native species as an undisturbednatural ecosystem where biological, ecologicaland evolutionary processes can occur largely freefrom interference by humans. Not only are thenatural values of the Tasmanian Wilderness WHAof scientific, educational and recreationalimportance to the world community but manybelieve they are also of intrinsic value in

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24 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 2: Summary of Values

themselves. The area is therefore of significance atall levels as a place where the rights of nature arerecognised and respected.

In a national context the WHA is significant asone of the largest conservation reserves inAustralia. It is noted for intrusions of Jurassicdolerite not found in Australia outside ofTasmania; the most extensive glacially-formed

landscapes in Australia; important karst featuressuch as caves that are amongst the longest,deepest and best decorated in the nation; itcontains a significant proportion of Australia’scool temperate rainforest and snow country; andis the stronghold of many animals that are extinct,rare or threatened on the mainland of Australia,including the pademelon (Thylogale billarderii),eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), broad–toothedmouse (Mastacomys fuscus), and ground parrot(Pezoporus wallicus).

In the Tasmanian context the WHA is significantbecause it contains most of the state’s pristinehigh-rainfall environment; alpine and sub-alpineenvironment; glaciated landscapes and karsticrocks; extensive unmodified coastal formations;around 20% of the state’s rainforest;approximately 240 out of a total of 320 Tasmanianendemic higher plant species — of which abouthalf have most of their distribution within theWHA; stands of tall eucalypt forest and securehabitat for many species of animals.

CULTURAL VALUESThe outstanding cultural value of the TasmanianWilderness WHA is the rich, undisturbed suite ofPleistocene Aboriginal sites dating back over 35,000years which include cave paintings and culturaldeposits bearing testimony to an Ice Age society.Lack of disturbance enhances the value of thesesites.

HoloceneAboriginal sites (upto 3,000 years old),consisting ofextensive middenson the south andsouth-west coasts,exemplify a hunter-gatherer way of lifein a rugged andharsh coastallandscape. Thesesites (which havebeen relatively un-disturbed by European settlement) are significantas examples of a traditional settlement pattern.

In the national context, these Aboriginal sitesprovide valuable evidence about the originalsettlement of Australia, life in the most southerlypart of the country during the Ice Age and humanresponses to climate change. The sites are of majorcultural significance for the Tasmanian Aboriginalcommunity.

Note that all Aboriginal sites within the WHA areimportant to the Aboriginal community. Note alsothat the Aboriginal perception of values, in manysituations, does not divide natural from culturalvalues, eg plants and animals are of cultural valueto the Aboriginal community.

Cultural values of the Tasmanian Wilderness WHAalso include historic features from more recentactivities. The remains of the Macquarie Harbourpenal settlement — the first penal settlement inTasmania — are internationally significant as anexample of colonisation of remote parts of theworld in the 18th and 19th centuries by means ofthe forced transportation of convicts across theworld. The convict sites in the TasmanianWilderness WHAhave outstandingimportance as earlyexamples of thismajor global socialphenomenon. TheWHA also containsremains of sitesrelated to otherhistoric themesincludingexploration, Huonpine logging,mining, hunting,high altitude

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25Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 2: Summary of Values

grazing, hydro-electric development andrecreation. These sites have significance in terms ofthe history of Tasmania’s development.

For the modern Australian community a significantcultural value of the Tasmanian wilderness is as aplace for reflection, a source of inspiration and as asymbol of untouched nature. In these times ofwidespread environmental degradation, for manypeople there is great value in simply knowing thata large area of temperate wild country still exists inAustralia. For other people direct experience ofwild country provides challenge and adventureand can also be therapeutic and character–building.

RECREATIONAL VALUESThe outstanding recreational value of the WHA isthe opportunity it provides for experiencingwilderness. A wide range of recreational activitiesis available including walking, sightseeing,

rafting, caving, and fishing — all of internationalsignificance.

At the national and State level, the WHA is ofgreatest significance for self-reliant recreationsuch as long distance walking trips, rafting andtrout fishing. It has some of the best opportunitiesfor these activities in the Australasian region. TheWHA also provides many opportunities for lessstrenuous activities such as short walks, picnicsand scenic flights and has the potential forspecific activities based around natureappreciation.

On a local level, a range of established practicessuch as limited wallaby and duck hunting andhorseriding continue in specified areas within theWHA under agreed conditions.

ECONOMIC VALUES

TourismTourism is recognised as a major vehicle foreconomic growth in Tasmania. A 1997 report bythe University of Tasmania's Centre for RegionalEconomic Analysis showed that in 1995 tourismprovided jobs for 18,000 Tasmanians. The reportalso showed that tourism contributed, after tax,$735 million a year to the State, or more than 10%of gross state product. Tourism 21, the StrategicBusiness Plan for Tourism, 1997-2000 has beendeveloped with the aim of producing a single,comprehensive plan that will build a foundationfor long term, sustainable tourism growth.Tourism 21 estimates that by the end of the planperiod, tourism will be a billion dollar industry,employing 23, 000 Tasmanians.

The development of nature based tourism isintegral to the future growth of the tourismindustry. Tasmania's Wilderness World HeritageArea is the centrepiece of Tasmania's naturalareas. Nationally, Tasmania is recognised for itsnatural qualities. Research over successive yearshas highlighted that Tasmania's core identityrelates to our geographic position in the worldwith the attributes of a unique and diversenatural setting and a clean unpollutedenvironment.

Water catchment managementA large proportion of the catchments for the majorhydro-electric power schemes in the State arewithin the WHA and these play a vital role inmoderating runoff and minimising impoundmentsiltation. This function is highly significant forTasmania’s power supply.

Resource extractionBetween January 1992 and December 1996, 300cubic metres of Huon Pine sawlogs were salvagedfrom Macquarie Harbour under commerciallicence. In addition 9 cubic metres was takenunder non-commercial craftwood licences fromJanuary, 1994 to January, 1997.

There are 45 apiary sites in the WHA, operated bythirteen beekeepers with annual production ofleatherwood honey valued at $245,000 (1997dollars).

2 Tourism Tasmania and the Tourism Council ofAustralia (Tasmanian Branch), 1997 Tourism 21, Apartnership for Tourism Success - Strategic Business Planfor Tourism 1997–2000 Tourism Tasmania, Hobart.

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26 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Chapter 2: Summary of Values

Since the cessation of the small scale Osmiridiummining venture at Adamsfield, no mining activityis undertaken within the WHA.

It is recognised that other economic values mayexist in the area.

OTHER VALUESHuman society relies on the natural and culturalresources of the WHA in many less visible ways.

Scientific ResearchThe array of natural and cultural values withinthe WHA is of immense scientific interest andprovides opportunities for expanding knowledgeabout the processes of climatic change, theevolution and adaptation of many forms of life,(including humans) to profound environmentalchanges, and recent human history. The value ofthe WHA for research is of internationalsignificance.

EducationThe WHA can be used as a giant outdoorclassroom for learning about the natural world,bush skills and Aboriginal and colonial societies.It is of international, national and localsignificance in this regard.

InspirationThe beauty and natural forces of the WHA andour human interaction with the area are apowerful source of inspiration for artists,photographers and crafts people throughout theworld and particularly for those living inTasmania.

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Chapter 3

Frameworkof Management:Plan Objectivesand KeyDesiredOutcomes

3. Framework of Management:Plan Objectives and Key Desired Outcomes

BACKGROUND 28

GUIDING DOCUMENTS AND PRINCIPLES 28

OVERARCHING MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES 30

OBCTIVES AND KEY DESIRED

OUTCOMES – how they will be achieved and evaluated 31

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BackgroundThe purpose of this chapter is to present theoverall framework on which management of theWHA will be based.

The chapter firstly covers a number of guidingprinciples and documents that have assisted inframing the objectives and managementprescriptions of the plan.

The chapter then presents the overarchingobjectives of this plan (the ‘big picture’ of whatwe are trying to achieve); the key desiredoutcomes of management (the main results orend-points we are aiming to achieve); anoverview of the key prescriptions to beimplemented to achieve these outcomes and anoverview of the key mechanisms used to monitorand evaluate the extent of success. These last twoelements link to other sections of the plan wherethe implementation, monitoring and evaluationprograms are covered in detail.

The other chapters of this plan build on thismanagement framework and present morespecific objectives and detailed managementprescriptions for implementation, monitoring andevaluation. The flowchart below (figure 1)displays the relationship between these variouselements.

Guiding Documentsand Principles

Formulation of this plan has been influenced bymany considerations including:

- maintaining the general thrust of the 1992WHA plan while updating and fine tuningthe contents;

- covering omissions;

- providing a closer linkage to theresponsibilities engendered by the WorldHeritage Convention;

- reflecting new information and theexperience gained from administering the1992 plan and

- taking on board feedback from the public,the World Heritage Area ConsultativeCommittee and other advisory groups,Service staff and others.

The plan also reflects concepts contained in thelegal instruments, guiding documents andprinciples cited below.

The World Heritage ConventionThe obligations of management specified in theWorld Heritage Convention, in particular Articles4 and 5, and the Operational Guidelines of theconvention, see International Agreements, page17.

Legal RequirementsThe Service is required to manage the WHAunder the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 andits Regulations, and in accordance with otherrelevant National and State legislation, andcommon law. See Law Enforcement, page 199.

Figure 1: Inter-relationship between Objectives, Key Desired Outcomes, Management Prescriptions, Monitoring and Evaluation

Primary Overarching Objective (Objective 1) “To identify, protect, conserve, present and, where appropriate,

rehabilitate the world heritage and other natural and cultural values of the WHA, and to transmit that heritage to future

generations in as good or better a condition than at present.”

Covered in this chapter (3)

Covered in other chapters, particularly 4, 5, 6 and 7

Other Overarching Objectives

(Objectives 2 to 10)

Key Desired Outcomes

Implemented by… Management Prescriptions

Monitoring and Evaluation Prescriptions

Measured by…

Specific Section Objectives (specific objectives related to

the individual sections)

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Key Guiding Documents- The Richmond Communique: Principles and

Guidelines for the Management of Australia’sWorld Heritage Areas, Australian Committeefor IUCN Inc., ACIUCN Occasional PaperNumber 6, 1995.

- Managing Australia’s World Heritage,Parliament of the Commonwealth ofAustralia, House of RepresentativesStanding Committee on Environment,Recreation and the Arts, October 1996.

- Australian Natural Heritage Charter: Standardsand Principles for the Conservation of Places ofNatural Heritage Significance, AustralianHeritage Commission in association with theAustralian Committee for IUCN, 1996.

- The Australia ICOMOS Charter for theConservation of Places of Cultural Significance(The Burra Charter) in the Illustrated BurraCharter, Australia ICOMOS Inc with theassistance of the Australian HeritageCommission, 1992.

- Nomination of the Western Tasmania WildernessNational Parks by the Commonwealth ofAustralia for Inclusion in the World HeritageList, Tasmanian Government, AustralianHeritage Commission, 1981.

- Nomination of the Tasmanian Wilderness by theGovernment of Australia for Inclusion in theWorld Heritage List, the CommonwealthDepartment of the Arts, Sport, theEnvironment, Tourism and Territories; andthe Government of Tasmania, 1989.

Conservation Management PrinciplesPrinciple of Inter-Generational EquityThis generation should ensure that the health,diversity and productivity of the environment ismaintained or enhanced for the benefit of futuregenerations. (The Burra Charter and AustralianNatural Heritage Charter)

Principle of Intra-Generational EquityThe policies and decisions that affect currentgenerations must incorporate social equitymeasures in order to ensure the equitabledistribution of costs and benefits. (Based on‘Ecologically Sustainable development Working GroupChairs Intersectoral Issues Report’, Commonwealth ofAustralia, 1992)

Principle of Existence ValuesLiving organisms, earth processes and ecosystemsmay have value beyond the social, economic orcultural values held by humans. (AustralianNatural Heritage Charter)

Principle of UncertaintyOur knowledge of natural heritage and theprocesses affecting it is incomplete, and the fullpotential significance or value of natural heritageremains unknown because of this uncertain stateof knowledge. (Australian Natural Heritage Charter)

Precautionary PrincipleWhere there are threats of serious or irreversibleenvironmental damage, lack of full scientificcertainty should not be used as a reason forpostponing measures to prevent environmentaldegradation. (Australian Natural Heritage Charter).Also where there is reasonable risk ofunacceptable or irreversible environmentaldamage from a development or managementproposal to natural and cultural values the riskshould be avoided or reduced. (Based on‘Ecologically Sustainable Development WorkingGroup Chairs Intersectoral Issues Report’)

Principle of Ecological SustainabilityDecision-making processes should effectivelyintegrate both long and short term considerations,and in particular should maintain geodiversityand biodiversity; the physical and ecologicalprocesses that support natural diversity; and theeffective functional role of ecosystems and ofnatural diversity within those systems3.

Principle of Indigenous People’s RightsManagement of the WHA should recognise therights, and take into account the interests, ofAustralia’s indigenous people. (Based onRichmond Communique).

Principle of Community InvolvementDecision-making processes should provide forbroad and meaningful community involvementon issues that affect them, without beingdominated or determined by particular sectors orinterests. (Based on 3 and Richmond Communique)

Principle of Transparency of Decision-MakingThe framework and processes for decision-

3 Developed from National Strategy for EcologicallySustainable Development, Commonwealth of Australia,1992; and Multiple Use Management in the AustralianMarine Environment: Principles, Definitions andElements Report commissioned by EnvironmentAustralia, June 1997.

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making related to management of the WHAshould be transparent, and the bases of decisionsshould be accessible to the public. (Based onRichmond Communique)

OverarchingManagement Objectives

The overarching management objectives of thisplan are given below. They provide the basis fromwhich the more detailed objectives andmanagement prescriptions in later chapters of theplan are derived. Key words and phrases that areused in these objectives are defined in theglossary, page 206.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF MANAGEMENT1. To identify, protect, conserve, present and,

where appropriate, rehabilitate the worldheritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA, and to transmit thatheritage to future generations in as good orbetter condition than at present.

The following objectives expand upon andaugment the overall objective of management.

OTHER OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT

Identify Values2. To identify and more fully understand the

World Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA, theirsignificance, and management requirements.

Protect, Conserve and Rehabilitate Values3. To identify and take appropriate protective

action to prevent, mitigate or manage withinacceptable limits, adverse impacts on, orthreats to, the World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHA.

4. To conserve the values of the WHA in amanner consistent with their natural andcultural significance, and where appropriate,feasible and sustainable, to rehabilitate orrestore degraded values. In particular to:

4.1 maintain or restore natural diversity andprocesses;

4.2 maintain or enhance wilderness quality;

4.3 maintain or enhance environmentalquality;

4.4 maintain or enhance landscape qualityand

4.5 protect and conserve historic heritageand Aboriginal heritage (in partnershipwith the Aboriginal community).

Present Values and Engage the Community5. To present the WHA in ways that foster

community understanding and appreciationof its World Heritage and other natural andcultural values, and that maximise supportfor the area’s conservation.

6. To assist people to appreciate and enjoy theWHA in ways that are compatible with theconservation of its natural and culturalvalues, and that enrich visitor experience.

7. To foster the role of the WHA as an integraland valued component of community life,and to involve the community in the area’sconservation.

8. To identify, protect, conserve and, whereappropriate, present Aboriginal values of theWHA in partnership with the Aboriginalcommunity.

9. To minimise, or contain within acceptablelevels, hazards to human life and property.

Manage with Excellence10. To manage the WHA with excellence, and to

progressively improve the basis for, andpractice of, that management in accordancewith the above objectives.

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Objectives and KeyDesired Outcomes – how

they will be achievedand evaluated

This section considers each management objectivein turn and provides:

- a brief outline of the concepts underlying themanagement objective;

- the key desired outcomes (KDO’s) for thatobjective;

- the key management prescriptions (marked✓) used to achieve the KDO and

- the key monitoring and evaluation programs(marked q) that are used to measure theextent of success in achieving each KeyDesired Outcome.

The above symbols are used throughout the planto mark major sections or prescriptions that areparticularly important for achieving the plan’soverarching objectives and that will bemonitored. They are also cross-referenced back tothe relevant Key Desired Outcome in this section,eg [KDO 1.2].

Note that as the plan is implemented and moni-toring and evaluation occurs the Key DesiredOutcomes may be added to and/or the emphasison particular outcomes may be modified.

OBJECTIVE 1(OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF MANAGEMENT)To identify, protect, conserve, present and, whereappropriate, rehabilitate the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of the WHA,and to transmit that heritage to future generationsin as good or better condition than at present.

This overall objective of management is based onthe obligations of management specified inArticles 4 and 5 of the World Heritage Convention(the Convention for the Protection of the WorldCultural and Natural Heritage). The objective alsoplaces an obligation of long-term care and

stewardship of the WHA to ensure that the area’snatural and cultural heritage is not degradedthrough cumulative impacts over time. Theobjective incorporates the benchmark of thepresent-day condition of the WHA against whichlong-term management performance must beassessed.

As this overall objective encompasses many of themore specific management objectives of this planonly the key desired outcomes that are notcovered by other objectives are presented below.

Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)1.1 Achievement of all of the key desired

outcomes derived from the plan’s objectivesas identified in this section of the plan.

✓ Implemented by carrying out themanagement prescriptions of this plan.(In particular the sections marked ✓throughout the plan) See PlanImplementation and Review, page 44.

q Measured by a system of monitoring,evaluation and reporting, see Monitoringand Evaluation Program, page 50 for thedetails.

1.2 Management of the WHA appropriatelybalanced across responsibilities foridentification, conservation, protection,rehabilitation, and presentation of WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA.

q Measured by feedback from WHAmanagement advisory bodies (includingWHA Ministerial Council, WHAConsultative Committee, WHA StandingCommittee), and other relevant groups.See External Assessment, page 51.

1.3 High level of acceptance of this plan andWHA management in general, by thegeneral community and key client groups(including the Tasmanian and Australiangovernments and their representatives, theUNESCO-based World Heritage Committee,other authorities with interests in WHAmanagement, and WHA managementadvisory committees, such as the WorldHeritage Area Consultative Committee).

q Measured by the level and nature offeedback about management of theWHA, from the general community andkey client groups. See ExternalAssessment, page 51.

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1.4 Effective legislation and enforcementarrangements which support themanagement objectives of this plan.

✓ Implemented by appropriate use, andwhere necessary revision of, legislation,enforcement arrangements and landtenure. See Law Enforcement,management prescriptions, page 199.

q Measured by changes in powers ofprotection of the WHA or its values. SeeLaw Enforcement, monitoring andevaluation, page 199.

1.5 Management decisions and actions inaccordance with, and implementing asrequired, the obligations of international,national and state legal instruments andconservation agreements that relate to theWHA.

✓ Implemented by staff and the publicbeing made aware of, and wherenecessary acting on, legal obligationsand requirements. See Law Enforcement,management prescriptions, page 199.

q Measured by monitoring compliancewith relevant statutes and the extent towhich legal obligations have been met.See Law Enforcement, monitoring andevaluation, page 199.

1.6 Satisfactory resolution of conflicts that arisebetween different aspects of WHAmanagement and/or conflicting legalmandates.

✓ Implemented by use, and as necessarydevelopment of, the process forresolving conflict, see page 46 whiletaking account of the managementobjectives for the WHA and, wherenecessary, legal advice.

q Measured by assessing the satisfaction ofrelevant authorities and WHA advisorycommittees with the process used forresolving conflicts, and the adequacy ofthe outcome. See External Assessment,page 51.

1.7 Land tenure, boundary and adjacent areamanagement which affords the greatestprotection to, and presentation of, the WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA, and which also satisfiesland owners’ and neighbours’ needs.

✓ Implemented by close liaison withadjacent land managers and provision ofguidance on complementarymanagement to protect the values of theWHA. See General Adjacent Area PolicyGuidance, page 203.

q Measured by the extent to whichmanagement of adjacent areas to theWHA enhances or detracts from theheritage values of the WHA and/orpresentation of those values. SeeManagement of Adjacent Areas,monitoring and evaluation section, page205

1.8 Transmission to future generations of theknowledge and ability to protect andconserve the WHA and its heritage.

✓ Implemented by educational andinterpretive programs and materials andcommunity engagement in managementof the WHA. See educational andinterpretive prescriptions throughoutInformation, Interpretation andEducation, management prescriptionspage 126 and Community Engagement,Community Involvement, page 65.

q Measured by changes in communityattitudes (especially youth) towards theWHA and the conservation of naturaland cultural heritage. See ExternalAssessment, page 51, also Information,Interpretation and Education,monitoring and evaluation, general,page 128.

OBJECTIVE 2To identify and more fully understand the WorldHeritage and other natural and cultural values ofthe WHA, their significance, and theirmanagement requirements.

This objective is based on the premise that weneed to know what is there, and how it works, inorder to effectively manage and conserve theWorld Heritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA. An understanding of thefactors or processes that maintain or affectnatural and cultural values will enhance thefoundation for sound conservation management.Recognition of the level of significance of valueswill assist in focusing management effortappropriately.

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Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)2.1 Definition, identification and, as necessary,

updating of the World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHA, inparticular the area’s values of world heritagesignificance.

✓ Implemented by the encouragement,facilitation and undertaking of research,see Prioritisation and Research Direction,page 117 and a review of the values of theWHA, see Identifying Values, page 74.

q Measured by the extent of and adequacy ofcoverage and/or documentation of theWorld Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA, especiallythose of world heritage significance. SeeIdentification, Protection, Conservationand Rehabilitation, monitoring andevaluation, page 76.

2.2 Identification of social and cultural values,and related management issues, affecting theWorld Heritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA.

✓ Implemented by numerous areas of theplan that identify social and culturalvalues including Planning and PublicConsultation, page 48, AboriginalManagement, management overview,page 101, Established Practices,continuation of established practices,page 104 and areas of communityinterest, page 105 and CommunityEngagement, general, page 64 amongstothers.

q Measured by the effectiveness of themechanisms put in place to capture theseissues. See Planning and PublicConsultation, Monitoring and Evaluation,page 49, Established Practices, monitoringand evaluation, page 106, AboriginalManagement, monitoring and evaluationpage 102 and others.

2.3 Adequate knowledge of the World Heritageand other natural and cultural values of theWHA and related management issues toprovide a sound basis for management.

✓ Implemented by directed researchprograms, experimental trials andmonitoring of impacts (see in particularGeodiversity and Geoconservation, page78, Vegetation, page 82, Animals, page 84

and Cultural Heritage, page 95) and theencouragement, facilitation andundertaking of research (seePrioritisation and Research Direction,page 117).

q Measured in part by the extent of successof directed management programs toprotect natural and cultural values (see inparticular Geodiversity andGeoconservation, page 81, Vegetation,page 84, Animals, page 86 and CulturalHeritage, page 100), but also by the viewsof experts on the adequacy of theinformation base for sound management,(see Identification, Protection,Conservation and Rehabilitation,monitoring and evaluation, page 76).

OBJECTIVE 3To identify and take appropriate protective actionto prevent, mitigate or manage within acceptablelimits, adverse impacts on, or threats to, theWorld Heritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA.

Human activities (such as arson or unsustainablerecreational use) have the potential to causesignificant damage to the WHA. At times, naturalprocesses (such as erosion) and other factors(such as climate change) can also pose significantthreats to natural and cultural values.

This objective expands upon the obligation ofworld heritage management to protect theworld’s natural and cultural heritage which hasoutstanding universal value. It recognises thatthe best means of protecting values is by takingpro-active management measures to identify andavert potential impacts or threats before damageactually occurs. At the same time the objectiverecognises that some minor degree of impact(especially impact associated with the fulfilmentof other objectives of management) may beacceptable under certain circumstances in someareas of the WHA. Similarly, there may be somesituations where the containment or control ofprocesses or other factors may be beyond thefinancial and/or management capacity of themanaging authority.

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Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)3.1 Accurate and timely identification and

assessment of threats or adverse impacts tothe World Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA.

✓ Implemented by identification of threats,see Identification, Protection,Conservation and Rehabilitation,protecting values, page 75 also theImpact Assessment steps from the NewProposals and Impact Assessmentprocess, see steps 5 and 5a, page 69 and71.

q Measured by monitoring the nature andextent of threats. See Protecting Valuesunder monitoring and evaluation withinthe Identification, Protection,Conservation and Rehabilitation section,page 76.

3.2 Aversion or management of threats oradverse impacts within acceptable, andwhere necessary, defined limits which do notcompromise the achievement of theobjectives of WHA management. Cessation,or a significant reduction in identifieddamaging activities or practices to minimaland ecologically sustainable levels.

✓ Implemented by applying theprecautionary principle (see page 29),developing and implementing strategies,policies, plans, standards and conditionsof use to manage threats and adverseimpacts. See Identification, ProtectionConservation and Rehabilitation,protecting values, page 75 for anoverview, also numerous sections of themanagement prescriptions in chapters 5,6 and 7 dealing with threats and theirmanagement.

q Measured, in part, by changes in thenumber, nature and extent of threats oradverse impacts on the values of theWHA and the level of compliance withlimits imposed to reduce impacts. Seeprotecting values under monitoring andevaluation within the Identification,Protection, Conservation andRehabilitation section, page 76 for anoverview. Also note that many of themonitoring and evaluation sectionswithin chapters 5, 6 and 7 contain more

specific monitoring and evaluationrelated to particular threats.

OBJECTIVE 4To conserve the values of the WHA in a mannerconsistent with their World Heritage and othernatural and cultural significance, and whereappropriate, feasible and sustainable, torehabilitate or restore degraded values. Inparticular to:

4.1 maintain or restore natural diversity andprocesses;

4.2 maintain or enhance wilderness quality;

4.3 maintain or enhance environmental quality;

4.4 maintain or enhance scenic quality and

4.5 protect and conserve historic and Aboriginalheritage (in partnership with the Aboriginalcommunity).

This objective recognises that within the WHAthere is a spectrum of values which ranges fromthose of World Heritage significance, throughthose of international, national, regional, or localvalue, to those of an individual and personalnature. The highest level of managementresponsibility is to protect, conserve and presentthe area’s world heritage values. Other values,however, also require sound management basedon similar principles, however the extent ofmanagement involvement will vary dependingon the level of natural and cultural significanceand community values.

Some areas of the WHA have been degraded bypast human activities (including the introductionof pests and disease, hydro-electric developments,mining, forestry, road construction, grazing andfire). Similarly, present-day human activities (suchas recreational or other permitted uses) have thepotential to cause damage to the World Heritageand other natural and cultural values of theWHA. Rehabilitation and restoration aim toreverse damage done and where possible torestore natural and cultural values. However, it isalso recognised that in some cases, past actions ortheir ongoing impacts cannot practicably bereversed.

This objective complements Objective three(which focuses on averting active threats ofdamage to values) by focusing on maintaining thewellbeing of systems, and where necessary,restoring degraded values.

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Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)4.1 Maintenance or restoration of natural

diversity and processes.

✓ Implemented by developing strategiesthat maintain or restore natural diversityincluding fire management, avoiding theintroduction of exotic species andpathogens, removing agents ofdisturbance, researching past influenceson natural diversity and managinghuman activities, see Natural Diversityand Processes, page 76.

q Measured by changes in naturalecosystems. See Natural Diversity andProcesses, monitoring and evaluationpage 78.

4.2 Maintenance or enhancement of wildernessquality.

✓ Implemented by zoning the WHApredominantly as wilderness, removal ofstructures no longer required (followingassessment for other values), carefuldevelopment of facilities on the edges ofthe WHA, controlling impacts onwilderness and enhancing people’swilderness recreation experience, seeWilderness, page 91.

q Measured by changes in the extent andlevel of wilderness quality, compliancewith zoning and other managementguidelines and the satisfaction of visitor’swith their wilderness experience. SeeWilderness, monitoring and evaluationpage 95.

4.3 Maintenance or enhancement ofenvironmental quality.

✓ Implemented by use of managementstrategies, best practice and bestpracticable technology to retain the highstandards of water and air quality in theWHA and the low levels of noise, air andwater pollution, see EnvironmentalQuality, page 110.

q Measured by targeted environmentalmonitoring programs. See EnvironmentalQuality, monitoring and evaluation page113.

4.4 Maintenance or enhancement of landscapequality

✓ Implemented by documenting landscapevalues, preparing landscape qualityobjectives and guidelines and byconserving and rehabilitating landscapesin consultation with other agencies, seeLandscape, page 89.

q Measured by establishing a long-termmonitoring program to monitor theimpact of new developments andrehabilitation on landscape values. SeeLandscape, monitoring and evaluationpage 91.

4.5 Protection and conservation of historic andAboriginal heritage (in partnership with theAboriginal community).

✓ Implemented by setting managementbenchmarks, identifying, protecting,conserving and presenting the culturalheritage values of the WHA. See CulturalHeritage, page 95.

q Measured by reporting on progress withthe above measures, see CulturalHeritage, monitoring and evaluationpage 100.

4.6 Conservation of World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of significance;no or minimal loss or degradation ofidentified significant natural or culturalvalues.

✓ Implemented by many sections of thisplan, (especially chapters 5, 6 and 7). Foran overview see Identification,Protection, Conservation andRehabilitation, conserving and restoringvalues page 75.

q Measured by monitoring programs(including long-term programs) to detectchanges in the condition of WorldHeritage and other natural or culturalvalues and in particular by changes in thenature, extent and severity ofdegradation of values. See Identification,Protection, Conservation andRehabilitation, monitoring andevaluation, page 76 and especiallymonitoring programs in chapters 5 and 6.

4.7 Restoration of degraded World Heritage andother natural and cultural values.

✓ Implemented by rehabilitation (whereappropriate) of degraded natural values

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(see Rehabilitation, page 114), programsthat aim to restore natural processes andrates of change (such as species recoveryplans, erosion control programs, etc (see inparticular Geodiversity andGeoconservation, page 78, Vegetation,page 82, Animals, page 84), and (whereappropriate) restoration of cultural values(see Conservation of Cultural HeritagePlaces, Landscapes and Values, page 99).

q Measured by monitoring programs(including long-term programs) to detectthe extent and success of rehabilitation andrestoration programs. See Rehabilitation,monitoring and evaluation, page 116 fornatural values and Cultural Heritage,monitoring and evaluation, ConserveCultural Heritage Places, Landscapes andValues, page 100 for cultural values,amongst others.

OBJECTIVE 5To present the WHA in ways that fostercommunity understanding and appreciation of itsWorld Heritage and other natural and culturalvalues, and that maximise support for the area’sconservation.

The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Areais one of the modern-day equivalents of the‘Seven Wonders of the Ancient World’. Peoplefrom all over the world have an interest inlearning about the area and its unique natural andcultural heritage. It is especially important thatthe Tasmanian community (who live right on itsdoorstep) and visitors to the WHA (whoexperience the area first hand) have theopportunity to learn and understand more aboutwhat makes this area special on the world stage.

Community understanding and appreciation of thevalues and benefits of the WHA can also helpengender a feeling of custodianship, and supportfor the WHA, which in turn can benefit both theTasmanian community and management of theWHA. It is important that the manner in whichinformation, facilities, services and activities withinthe WHA are managed fosters public support forthe WHA and develops and harnesses this supportto protect the area and its values from threats.

Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)5.1 Widespread community familiarity with,

appreciation of, and support for the WHA, theprotection and conservation of its natural andcultural values and the management of theconservation issues the area faces.

✓ Implemented by community involvementwith WHA management (see CommunityEngagement, page 63) and information,interpretation and education programs(see Information, Interpretation andEducation, management prescriptions,page 126).

q Measured by monitoring community andvisitor attitudes as well as media coverage(see Information, Interpretation andEducation, monitoring and evaluation,page 128). Also by feedback from thegeneral community and key client groups,(see External Assessment, page 51).Measured also by the level of ministerialcorrespondence to and from communitieson management issues (see CommunityEngagement, monitoring and evaluation,page 65).

5.2 High levels of satisfaction of the community, awide range of visitors, educational institutionsand other interest groups with information,education and interpretation products,activities, programs and services.

✓ Implemented by provision of information,interpretation and education programs(see Information, Interpretation andEducation, management prescriptions,page 126).

q Measured by evaluating the popularityand effectiveness of different approachesto information, interpretation andeducation (see Information, Interpretationand Education, monitoring andevaluation, general, page 128).

OBJECTIVE 6To assist people to appreciate and enjoy the WHAin ways that are compatible with the conservationof its natural and cultural values, and that enrichvisitor experience.

This objective recognises that the WHA not onlyhas intrinsic values for many people, but also offers

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a wealth of recreational opportunities for people toexperience. Many people simply enjoy beingamidst the natural sights, sounds and scents of theWHA. Others enjoy more active nature-basedrecreation activities such as bushwalking, rafting orfishing.

Most people who visit the WHA use some form offacility, whether this be a visitor centre or a lightlymarked walking track. Facilities can enhancerecreational experiences and in certain cases makethem possible (eg wheelchair accessible tracks fordisabled people); however all facilities impact tosome extent on the environment. A key role ofmanagement is to ensure that the types and levelsof development and recreational use of the WHAdo not compromise the achievement of themanagement objectives for the area.

Creative education and interpretation activities canenrich visitor experience by encouraging andassisting people to discover more about the area forthemselves. At the same time, these programs canfoster understanding and appreciation of the WorldHeritage and other natural and cultural values ofthe WHA.

Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)6.1 Ecologically sustainable management of

human use of the WHA to within acceptable,and where necessary defined, limits ofenvironmental and social impact which do notthreaten or compromise the objectives ofWHA management.

✓ Implemented by application of the zoningsystem (see Zoning, page 54) and by usingthe limits of acceptable change model (seemany of the sections of chapter 6, inparticular Ecologically SustainableManagement of Human Use, page 120,Recreation Opportunities, page 129 andthe Walking Tracks and Walking,page 172).

q Measured by the establishment ofappropriate limits of acceptable change,and the results of monitoring programs.See in particular Recreation Opportunities,monitoring and evaluation, page 131 andWalking and Walking Tracks, monitoringactions as one example, page 175.

6.2 High levels of community and visitorsatisfaction with:

• the range and quality of recreationalopportunities and facilities available;

• the operations and services of theService, licensed tour operators, andconcessionaires and

• the quality of their experience in theWHA.

✓ Implemented by the provision,maintenance and quality control offacilities and services. See Concessions,page 177, Guided Tours, page 179 andVisitor Facilities, page 169.

q Measured by a variety of ways ofsurveying community and visitorsatisfaction. See the recreation andtourism strategy, page 176, Visitor Profileand Research, managementprescriptions, page 124, see alsoPresentation, monitoring and evaluation,page 121 and many of the othermonitoring and evaluation sections ofchapter 6.

6.3 Co-operation of visitors and other userswith the Service, especially in caring for theWHA, its values, and assets.

✓ Implemented by use of minimal impactrecreational practices and compliancewith regulations (such as the Fuel StoveOnly Areas); see Caring for the WHApage 121. Also by involvement incommunity partnerships and volunteerprojects; see Community Engagement,page 63.

q Measured by the level of compliancewith regulations and other promotedprotocols (see presentation, monitoringand evaluation, page 121) and the levelof involvement in communitypartnerships and volunteer projects (seeCommunity Engagement, monitoringand evaluation, page 65).

OBJECTIVE 7To foster the role of the WHA as an integral andvalued component of community life, and toinvolve the community in the area’sconservation.

This objective recognises that the integration ofthe WHA with community life, activities andvalues systems is fundamental to the long-termconservation of the WHA. Furthermore, themeaningful involvement of the community in the

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planning and management of the WHA can:

- increase mutual understanding betweenthe community and the Service aboutvalues, concerns and options;

- raise community understanding ofmanagement responsibilities anddecision-making processes and

- create community ownership of theresultant management arrangements.

Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)7.1 Participation of the community (including

schools, community groups and volunteers)in WHA-related activities, processes andprojects which assist WHA management.

✓ Implemented by the active involvementof communities and groups in WHAmanagement. See CommunityEngagement, page 63 and EstablishedPractices, page 103.

q Measured by monitoring the levels andtype of participation of the communityin WHA related activities, partnerships,projects etc. See CommunityEngagement, monitoring and evaluationpage 65 and Established Practices,monitoring and evaluation, page 106.

7.2 Establishment of successful community–Service partnerships to assist in themanagement of specific parts or aspects ofthe WHA.

✓ Implemented by the formation andsuccessful ongoing operation ofpartnership groups in WHAmanagement, see CommunityEngagement (page 63) and EstablishedPractices, community partnerships (page105).

q Measured by monitoring the level of,and type of participation in partnerships,and feedback about partnerships, seeCommunity Engagement, monitoringand evaluation page 65 and EstablishedPractices, monitoring and evaluation,page 106.

7.3 Increased understanding by the Service ofthe range of values which the communityattaches to the WHA and increasedunderstanding by the community of WHA

management obligations, the WHAmanagement approach and decision-makingprocesses.

✓ Implemented by raising the awareness ofgroups about management issues,involving them in research, and takingonboard local knowledge. SeeCommunity Engagement, (page 63),Cultural Heritage managementprescriptions, 1 and 4 (page 98) andEstablished Practices, communitycommunication, (page 105).

q Measured by monitoring the levels ofsatisfaction of the community and thenature of feedback about the WHA. SeeCommunity Engagement, monitoringand evaluation, page 65 and EstablishedPractices, monitoring and evaluation,page 106.

7.4 Integration of WHA management conceptsand strategies with local and regionalplanning and operational strategies andinstruments.

✓ Implemented by liaison with othergovernment agencies and local councils(see Community Engagement, othergovernment agencies page 65).

q Measured by the extent to which newlocal and regional planning decisionsintegrate with WHA managementobjectives and the level of satisfaction ofthe Service and other agencies aboutmanagement planning processes andoutcomes, see Community Engagement,monitoring and evaluation page 65.

OBJECTIVE 8To identify, protect, conserve and, whereappropriate, present Aboriginal values of theWHA in partnership with the Aboriginalcommunity.

In 1995, the Aboriginal Community of Tasmaniawas formally vested with the title and solemanagement responsibility for three cave sites inthe WHA (Ballawinne, Kuti Kina and WargataMina). The Service and the TasmanianGovernment recognise the rights and specialinterests of indigenous people and, in particular,support the involvement of the TasmanianAboriginal community in management of

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Aboriginal sites and values within the WHA.

The challenge ahead is to ensure that increasinglevels of Aboriginal involvement in themanagement of Aboriginal cultural values isintegrated smoothly with other managementresponsibilities for the WHA, and that acooperative relationship is maintained betweenthe Aboriginal community, the wider community,and the Service in the management of heritagethat is of shared value.

Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)8.1 Establishment of a successful management

partnership between the Service and theTasmanian Aboriginal community to identify,protect, conserve and, where appropriate,present Aboriginal values.

✓ Implemented by setting up a managementpartnership between the Service and theAboriginal community to manage for theconservation of Aboriginal Values in theWHA. See Aboriginal Management,management overview, page 101; alsoCultural Heritage, primary outcome 1,page 98.

q Measured by progress made inestablishment and performance of thepartnership. See Aboriginal Management,monitoring and evaluation, page 102 andCultural Heritage, monitoring andevaluation - primary outcome 1, page 100.

8.2 Increasing involvement of the TasmanianAboriginal community in the conservation ofAboriginal heritage, potentially leading, ifpracticable, to an Aboriginal communityorganisation administering Aboriginalheritage conservation on behalf of the Servicethrough agreed management arrangementsand in accordance with the managementprescriptions of this plan.

✓ Implemented by the work of themanagement partnership between theService and the Aboriginal community, seeAboriginal Management, managementprescriptions, page 101. Also potentially bythe transfer of Aboriginal heritagemanagement to an Aboriginal communityorganisation for management on behalf ofthe Service, see Cultural Heritage, primaryoutcome 1, page 98.

q Measured by the effectiveness of themanagement partnership approach, seeAboriginal Management, monitoring andevaluation, page 102 and progress madetowards transferring Aboriginal heritageresource management to an Aboriginalorganisation, Cultural Heritage,monitoring and evaluation - primaryoutcome 1, page 100.

8.3 Presentation of Aboriginal heritage to thewider community in ways which aresupported by the Tasmanian Aboriginalcommunity.

✓ Implemented, in part, by negotiating andcarrying out the Aboriginal interpretationstrategy for the WHA (see AboriginalManagement, management overview,page 101).

q Measured by the level of satisfaction of theAboriginal community with this part ofmanagement of Aboriginal values (seeAboriginal Management, monitoring andevaluation, page 102).

8.4 High levels of satisfaction of the Service, theTasmanian Aboriginal community, and thewider community with the management ofAboriginal values.

✓ Implemented by increasing Aboriginalinvolvement in the management ofAboriginal values of the WHA. SeeAboriginal Management, managementprescriptions, pages 101–102 and CulturalHeritage, management prescriptions,pages 97–99.

q Measured by monitoring the level ofsatisfaction of the Aboriginal community,the Service and the wider community withthe management of Aboriginal values (seeAboriginal Management, monitoring andevaluation, page 102).

8.5 Effective processes for integrating and/orresolving management issues related to thechanging level of Aboriginal involvement andactivity within the WHA.

✓ Implemented by establishment andprogress with a management partnershipbetween the Service and the Aboriginalcommunity to manage for theconservation of Aboriginal values in theWHA (see Aboriginal Management,

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management overview, page 101). Alsoutilising the methods to resolve conflict,see Plan Implementation and Review,resolving conflict, page 46.

q Measured by monitoring progress inresolving management issues. SeeAboriginal Management, monitoringand evaluation, page 102.

OBJECTIVE 9To minimise, or contain within acceptable levels,hazards to human life and property.

This objective recognises the common law dutyof care and responsibility to protect human lifeand property. At the same time, it recognisesthat some level of risk may be acceptable orunavoidable, and in some circumstances maybe actively sought.

Visitors seeking challenge and adventurethrough recreational activities in remote andwild environments cannot avoid some degreeof risk. However, the risk of death or injury canbe substantially reduced if visitors aresufficiently well informed to allow them tomake responsible decisions.

Some management measures that could betaken to reduce risk to human life or property(eg the use of management-initiated fires or‘fuel reduction burns’ to reduce the risk ofuncontrollable fire) may potentially threatenconservation values.

Management has to determine what can, andshould, be done to limit risks to human life andproperty within acceptable limits, with dueregard to the other management objectives forthe WHA.

Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)9.1 Minimal loss of life, injury and

environment-related illness.

✓ Implemented by developing andimplementing a range of preventivestrategies and programs to minimiserisk of death, injury or illness. SeePublic Safety and Risk Management,management prescriptions, page 157and Information, Interpretation andEducation, safety, page 128.

q Measured by monitoring the incidenceof death, injury or environment-related

illness. See Public Safety and RiskManagement, monitoring andevaluation, page 158.

9.2 Minimal loss of, or damage to, property.

✓ Implemented by developing strategiesto target arson, vandalism etc. SeePublic Safety and Risk Management,management prescriptions, page 157.

q Measured by monitoring the incidenceand extent of damage to property. SeePublic Safety and Risk Management,monitoring and evaluation, page 158.

9.3 Rapid and capable response to emergencysituations and identified hazards to publicsafety.

✓ Implemented by putting in place thecapacity to respond to hazards andemergency situations, see Public Safetyand Risk Management, Emergenciesand Search and Rescue, page 158.

q Measured by periodically reviewingthe adequacy of the Service’s searchand rescue and safety measures. SeePublic Safety and Risk Management,monitoring and evaluation, page 158.

OBJECTIVE 10To manage the WHA with excellence, and toprogressively improve the basis for, andpractice of, that management in accordancewith the above objectives.

This objective recognises that progressivemanagement comprises a continuing cyclewhich includes the setting of objectives, theimplementation of a management programtargeted at those objectives, and acorresponding program of evaluation to assessthe effectiveness of management and to feedback into, and improve, the next cycle ofmanagement.

Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)10.1 Application of best practice principles and

techniques in natural and cultural heritagemanagement.

✓ Implemented by the adoption of bestpractice principles and techniques (seePlan Implementation and Review, bestpractice page 46).

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q Measured by the level of application of,or compliance with, best practiceprinciples and techniques in managingthe World Heritage and other naturaland cultural values of the WHA (seePlan Implementation and Review,monitoring and evaluation, page 49).

10.2 Establishment of evaluation programs toassess management performance and theincorporation of the results of suchprograms into WHA management.

✓ Implemented by the establishment of aWHA monitoring and evaluationprogram. See Evaluation of WHAManagement, monitoring andevaluation program, page 51.

q Measured by the effectiveness of theabove monitoring and evaluationprogram and the incorporation of therecommendations of the program intofuture management. See Evaluation ofWHA Management, monitoring andevaluation, page 50.

10.3 World-class expertise in WHAmanagement.

✓ Implemented by recruiting andsupporting excellent staff; progressivedevelopment of staff expertise in WHAmanagement through informationexchanges with other WHAmanagement agencies and experts andby establishing links with otherconservation management agenciesand experts involved in WHAmanagement (see Plan Implementationand Review, best practice page 46).

q Measured by changes in thequalifications, training and expertise ofService staff and the level of leadershipdemonstrated by the Service in WHAmanagement (see Plan Implementationand Review, monitoring andevaluation, page 49).

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Chapter 4

GeneralManagementStrategies

4. General Management Strategies

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW 44

EVALUATION OF WHA MANAGEMENT 49

KEY FOCUS AREAS 51

ZONING 54

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 63

NEW PROPOSALS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 66

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This chapter looks at how the plan will beimplemented, reviewed and evaluated and how itdeals with new issues.

The first two sections cover plan implementation(including prioritisation of management actionsand resolving conflicting objectives) and thegeneral evaluation program. The third sectioncovers 10 key focus areas — areas of additionaleffort for the first five years of the plan.

The fourth, fifth and sixth sections cover threemajor ways the plan provides guidance on newproposals and managing new issues — throughzoning (page 54), community engagement (page63), and the new proposals and impactassessment process (page 66).

Plan Implementationand Review

BACKGROUNDThis management plan has a proposed 10 year lifecompared with the five year life of the 1992 plan.

The nature of the management issues towards theend of the plan period is less clear than what theimmediate issues are now, at the time of writing.The plan therefore needs to be broad enough inscope to cover the many issues that may arise, ieit needs to have a generic and strategiccomponent as well as prescriptions for specificactions. These generic elements are containedwithin the specific prescriptions for each chapterand particularly in the general sections at the startof chapters five and six.

To implement the plan a works program isrequired. This is a rolling program of works thatis developed from the management prescriptionsof the plan. The works program must clearly giveeffect to the plan’s prescriptions and focus on themanagement priorities for the WHA. The section‘Implementation of this plan’ (page 45) describeshow this will be achieved. It also details a numberof criteria for prioritising the works program.

As the plan is implemented, there may arisesituations where the consequences ofmanagement action to achieve one objective maynegatively impact on the achievement of anotherobjective (eg allowing natural processes to occurmay impact on cultural sites). If this occurs, theprocedures outlined in the section ‘ResolvingConflict’ (page 46) will be followed.

While the life of this management plan is 10years, a limited review at five years is alsoplanned. The process for reviewing the plan isdetailed on page 47. The public consultationaspects of reviewing the plan and planning ingeneral are covered on page 48.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe 1992 management plan was implemented viaa rolling works program which was the agreedbasis for funding arrangements between the Stateand Commonwealth governments. Thisarrangement did not fully fund all managementactions prescribed under the 1992 plan but didallow most high priority actions to be undertaken.The Service re-prioritised the five year worksprogram on an annual basis to take account ofchanging circumstances.

At the time of writing there is no mechanismunder the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 forthe public to seek redress if they feel some actionis being taken contrary to the provisions of amanagement plan. A procedure to provide forcivil enforcement of management plans wassuggested by the Public Land Use Commission inNovember 1995. At the time of writing this isunder consideration.

In 1997 the Ministerial Council agreed to enterinto a process to amend the 1992 plan. TheCouncil decided that the Mt McCall track wouldremain open (instead of being rehabilitated asrequired under the 1992 plan) and that a fifthcommercial hut could be constructed on theOverland Track at Kia Ora. The 1992 plan onlyapproved the operation of four huts. The planwas amended on 4th September 1997 inaccordance with the requirements of the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970.

Public consultation has been a major part of thereview process leading to the development of thisplan (see the planning process, page 20).Additionally the public has been involved in thepreparation of site plans for Visitor Services

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Zones and for other subsidiary plans to this planboth through public comment and the advice ofadvisory groups.

During the public comment period on the draftmanagement plan numerous groups requested aright of appeal against actions taken by theService, particularly where these were allegedlynot in accord with the management plan. Such aright of appeal would apply to all managementplans under the National Parks and Wildlife Act1970 and is therefore beyond the scope of thisplan. It is however the view of the Service that amechanism for civil enforcement of managementplans is appropriate. The Service hasrecommended to Government that a mechanismbe provided where the public can seek redress ifactions are allegedly being taken contrary to areserve’s management plan.

OBJECTIVES• To ensure that the Service staffing and

financial management arrangements,resources and processes allow for, andcontribute to, the efficient and effectiveimplementation of this management plan.

• To provide appropriate procedures forreviewing the plan taking into account itsintended 10 year life and legislativerequirements.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Implementation of this plan ✓ [KDO 1.1]• Prepare and implement a 4-year rolling

works program which gives effect to theprescriptions of this plan.

• Develop a four year funding agreement,based on the works program and gain theapproval of the State and FederalGovernments to this agreement. The fullimplementation of this plan relies on thisagreement providing the necessary resourcesto fulfil the works program. Should it notprove possible to fully fund theimplementation of the works program thecriteria for prioritising works (see below)will be used to identify the highest prioritytasks to be undertaken.

• Renegotiate the four year funding agreementon the basis of this management plan and/or

any amendments to it for the second fouryear period of the plan. Negotiate similarlyfor the final two years of the plan.

• Prioritise the works program on the basis ofthe following criteria:

- Is the work consistent with the plan? Ifnot, do not proceed.

- Is the work a legal obligation? If yes,highest priority class.

- Does the work address a threat to WorldHeritage or other significant natural andcultural values of the WHA? If yes,highest priority class.

- Is the work urgent? (ie will the situationbecome markedly worse if something isnot done urgently?) If yes, higher prioritythan other less urgent work.

- How well does the proposed action assistin achieving the overarching objectives ofthe management plan, the key desiredoutcomes listed in chapter three and/orthe specific objectives listed for sub-sections of the plan? Does it meet anumber of objectives, or one objectiveparticularly well?

- Does it aid in presenting the WHA,particularly the world heritage or otherimportant natural and cultural values ofthe area? In particular does it benefitlarge numbers of people and/or thegeneral public?

- Does it maintain or improve vitalmanagement infrastructure (eg radios,vehicles, fire fighting equipment,computers, GIS systems, monitoringsystems etc)?

- Does it aid decision-making or ongoingmanagement (eg in resolving issues,demonstrating outcomes etc)

- Is it more efficient to do now? Will doingit now reduce risks/costs in the long run?

- Is it an important political commitment,Government policy or decision ofMinisterial Council?

- Will it generate income? Is there anincome generation potential with a netpositive return to the Service?

• Review the rolling works program annuallyand re-prioritise as necessary.

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• Allocate works program projects to specifiedresponsible officers and work teams, andensure that these responsibilities are factoredinto work programs and schedules accordingto their priority.

• Maintain a database of the plan’smanagement prescriptions, link this to therolling works program and regularly updateas actions are progressively undertaken andcompleted.

Best Practice ✓ [KDO 10.1 and 10.3]• Establish groups of relevant staff (and others

as required) to evaluate, revise, and asnecessary develop, WHA managementpolicies and processes based on theapplication of relevant best practiceprinciples and techniques.

• As appropriate, adopt and implement therecommendations of the ANZECC BestPractice and Benchmarking Program.(ANZECC=Australian and New ZealandEnvironmental and Conservation Council)

• Manage the WHA in accordance with theguiding documents and conservationprinciples given at the start of chapter three.

• Establish links with other conservationmanagement agencies and experts involvedin the management of World Heritage Areas,in Australia and around the world andparticipate in exchanges of information,workshops/conferences and personnelexchanges in order to share information,ideas and experiences, and to advance thepractice and performance of WHAmanagement.

Resolving ConflictThe following prescriptions cover situationswhere actions taken to assist in achieving onemanagement objective interfere with, ornegatively impact on, the achievement of anotherobjective.

• Resolve issues where objectives conflict,taking into account the guiding documentsand conservation management principlesgiven on page 29, and using the followingprocess:

1 Identify the existence of, and clarify thenature of, conflict between themaintenance of values.

2 Identify and fill any important gaps in

knowledge of the values affected.

3 Consider alternative approaches tomanagement that minimise the effect onvalues.

4 Identify the degree of irreversibility ofalternative management approachestaking account of the potential forcumulative impacts.

5 Identify the relative importance of theconflict area for the maintenance of eachof the conflicting values.

6 Rate the importance of each of the valueswith World Heritage values rated highestand locally important values ratedlowest.

7 Give priority to the most significant ofthe values (taking account of cumulativeeffects) unless:

• the resolution of the conflict in favourof the less significant value would notseriously affect the overallrepresentation of the more significantvalue and

• the less significant value is restrictedor largely restricted to the conflictarea.

8 Implement the most appropriate solutionand monitor as required.

9 If necessary, halt or modify the solutionon the basis of the results of monitoring.

• In the event of a major conflict of objectives,establish a program to monitor, evaluate andreport the outcomes of managementdecisions (especially with respect to theanticipated or projected benefits andimpacts). Clearly identify the criteria forevaluating the success or failure of the finalapproach taken.

• Identify sites or issues where there issignificant conflict of interest or competingvalues for management and develop issue orsite specific mechanisms for assessing andresolving these issues.

Plan ReviewIt is intended that the plan have a ten year life(with a limited review at the five year point). Thisis a short time in the context of the objective toprotect the WHA in perpetuity, but is consideredsufficient to enact the prescriptions in this

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Public release

ParliamentaryApproval(if required)

Approval

Review ofsubmissions

Preparation

Figure 2: Management Plan Amendment and Review Procedure under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970

MINISTER

MINISTER

MINISTER

PROPOSED FINAL PLAN

NO

NO

Consultation

s. 20(2A - 2D)

Draftacceptable?

Planacceptable?

State orGame Reserve?

Approve?

Majorchanges

required?

Release to WHA CC,SC & MC for advice

NPWACadvice

OTHERAGENCIES

To Service for adviceon submissions

MINISTER

Submit plan toHouse of Assembly

Leader for Governmentin Legislative Council

Submit plan toLegislative Council

GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL

s.21A(1)s. 21A(3)

s.19(1)

s.20(6), (7)

[Conservation Area]

Otherstatutory powers

to apply?

s.21(3)

s.21(3)

s.21(3A)

s.20(6),(7)

s.20(1)

Minister advised

s. 20(5)

Consultation in relation tosubmissions if necessary

s. 20(3)

Release forPublic review

(min. 30 days)

Revise Plan(within scope

of submissions)

Release to WHACC, SC & MC

for advice

Release to NPWACfor review

(minimum 30 days)

s. 20(3)

NB. For Conservation Areas, changes affectingother statutory powers may be made only afterMinister consults relevant Minister - s.20(7)

MC World Heritage Area Ministerial CouncilNPWAC National Parks and Wildlife Advisory CouncilSC World Heritage Area Standing CommitteeCC World Heritage Area Consultative Committee

Legend

YES

YES

YES

YES

Service Officers prepare draft plan

DIRECTOR Authorises preparation of plan

Other State agencies if statutory powers involved, Commonwealth and other relevant bodies

as required

Revise draft

Public submissions

Notify approval in Gazette

Relevant provisions come into force

NO

NO

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

NO

Approve?Approve?

NO

NO

NO

NO

IN FORCE7 days after notice

Majorchanges

(within scope ofsubmissions)

sought?

IN FORCE(except for exercise of other statutory powers)

7 days after notice - s. 21A(3)

Notice of approving resolutionspublished in Gazette by Clerk

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document and to evaluate managementperformance.

A ten year timeframe provides some degree ofcertainty to the public and to those responsible forimplementing the plan regarding long-termmanagement direction, while the proposedreview process allows sufficient flexibility for newapproaches to be adopted if necessary.

• The planned life of this management plan isten years (with a limited review at the fiveyear point) from the date of approval by theGovernor-in-Council of the final plan (seepage 2 and flowchart page 47).

• A limited review of the plan is to commencefive years into the plan’s life. Changes willonly be made to sections of the plan wheresignificant new issues and information havearisen and/or where aspects of the plan arenot achieving the objectives. It is notproposed that the plan structure or contentwill alter if they are not in need of updating.

• A full review of the plan is to commence 10years after approval of the final plan.

• The plan remains in force until such time asa new plan is approved.

• As well as the planned review times, theplan can be reviewed at any time providedthe procedure set out in the National Parksand Wildlife Act 1970 and illustrated in figure2, page 47 is followed.

• A review of the plan will be required if:

- any intended activity or development isproposed which conflicts with theprovisions of the plan, but has beenagreed to proceed via the new proposalsand impact assessment process, or

- research or new information indicatesthat prescribed actions need to bechanged in order to better achievemanagement objectives.

• Any proposed changes to the plan will beassessed using the New Proposals andImpact Assessment Process, see page 67.

Planning and Public Consultation ✓ [KDO2.2]• Undertake a formal public consultation

program (as required under the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970) should any partof this management plan be reviewed.

• Continue to maintain and regularly update adatabase of groups and individualsinterested in, or knowledgeable about, theWHA who wish to be consulted on planningand management issues.

• Undertake public consultation programs toassist the development of major site plansand other subsidiary plans.

• Base community consultation processes forplanning on the principles of opencommunication and honesty; transparencyof process and inclusion rather thanexclusion. These generally provide for:

- effective use of different forms ofpublicity to notify people of the program;

- early involvement in the process;

- sufficient time for the public toreasonably participate;

- clarity of purposes of consultation (egdecision-making versus advisory);

- a public education component tohighlight management obligations and toensure the public is sufficiently wellinformed to formulate a consideredopinion;

- early identification of the range of issuesinvolved;

- ready access to appropriate information;

- a clearly identified process, methodologyand timeframe;

- where appropriate, the level ofconfidentiality applying to submissions;

- where appropriate, opportunitiesavailable for non-written input orsubmissions;

- the extent and means of any reporting ofresults of the consultation process to thepublic;

- where appropriate, opportunity forongoing involvement in planning andimplementation;

- where appropriate, criteria or rationalefor decision-making or determiningoutcomes in the event of conflictingopinion and

- use of an independent chair or facilitatorwhere appropriate.

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• Publicise and make available copies of draftand final management plans, othersubsidiary plans and, where relevant,summaries of public submissions to theplanning processes.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Best Practiceq Document the extent of application of, or

compliance with, best practice principles andtechniques in natural and cultural resourcemanagement of the WHA. [KDO 10.1]

q Monitor changes in the qualifications /training of Service staff. Record the numberand nature of training courses or educationalevents related to WHA managementprovided for, or undertaken by, rangers andother Service staff. [KDO 10.3]

Planning and Public Consultation q[KDO 2.2]• At the completion of major public

consultation programs (including theprogram for this management plan),critically review the process and, whereappropriate, document recommendations foramendments to future public consultationprograms.

• Evaluate the level of satisfaction of a varietyof audiences with the format, structure,presentation, and level of detail of thismanagement plan in meeting theirrespective needs (eg for publicunderstanding, managers’ needs etc).

• Evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness ofthe public consultation and other processesused in preparing this management plan inorder to improve future WHA managementplans.

Evaluation of WHAManagement

BACKGROUNDThe aim of evaluation is to show what is, andwhat is not, being accomplished againstmanagement objectives and, through feedback, toimprove overall management performance.

Evaluation shows the situation we came from,what we tried to achieve, what we actually did,and how well we accomplished what we set outto achieve. Having this information provides theopportunity to learn from the process andimprove future management. As such, evaluationis both a critical and integral component of theoverall program of WHA management.

Increasingly, public sector agencies are beingcalled upon to be more open and accountableabout what they are doing and accomplishing.Evaluation can be used to assess a wide range oflevels and functions of management ranging fromeveryday tasks (such as the delivery of visitorservices), to long-term changes in the overallcondition of the WHA.

The overarching objectives of this plan (seechapter three) provide the fundamental basisagainst which management performance of theWHA will be judged.

This section sets out the overall monitoringframework that will provide the basis forevaluating, reporting on, and reviewingmanagement performance for the WHA. Othersections of this plan expand upon this frameworkand present additional and/or more detailedprescriptions for monitoring and evaluation thatrelate to the individual chapter topics and the keydesired outcomes listed in chapter three.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe 1992 management plan did not incorporate amonitoring and evaluation system into the planstructure; however it did prescribe the

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development of a system to evaluate theeffectiveness of the policies and actions detailedin the plan.

A major project4 was undertaken to investigatehow the Service could strengthen its capacity tomonitor, evaluate and report on its effectivenessin managing the WHA. This study hassignificantly contributed to the development ofchapter three and the evaluation programpresented in this chapter.

Progress in the implementation of the actionsprescribed in the 1992 WHA management planhas been reported in the Actions EvaluationReport No. 1 (1996). Work is in progress to updatethis and to report on the extent to which theobjectives of management of the 1992 plan havebeen achieved as of the end of the 1992 planperiod. This will form a baseline against which tocompare the Service’s future performance inachieving the 1999 WHA plan’s objectives.

OBJECTIVES• To evaluate the extent to which the

prescribed actions in this management planare implemented and how effectively this isdone.

• To evaluate the extent to which the objectivesof this management plan are achieved.

• To continually improve the management ofthe WHA in response to the findings ofevaluation.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Monitoring and Evaluation Program q[KDO’s 1.1, 10.2]• Establish an ongoing monitoring and

evaluation program to assess managementperformance; in particular in relation to thekey desired outcomes of managementoutlined in chapter three.

• Develop and expand the present baselinedata available to monitor change,particularly long term cumulative change, inthe condition of the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of theWHA.

• Prepare and make publicly availableprogress reports (including a concise ‘Stateof the WHA’ report every two and a halfyears) to document and evaluate progress inimplementation of the plan, and the results,as these become available, of monitoringagainst the plan’s objectives. Include inprogress reports:

- an evaluation of the extent to which themanagement prescriptions of this planhave been implemented;

- the number and nature of major planinitiatives implemented, and the extent ofsuccess of these initiatives;

- an analysis of the reasons for delays orfailures in implementation;

- the nature and level of compliance/noncompliance with the provisions of thisplan and any amendments to the plan;

- data (as this becomes available) on theextent to which the objectives ofmanagement for the WHA have beenachieved and

- recommendations for improvingmanagement;

- documentation of significant changes inmanagement practice and

- a review statement outlining the currentstate of conservation of the WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA.

• Produce major reports looking in detail atthe achievement of the plan’s objectives atthe five and ten year points.

• In conjunction with the preparation ofreports convene a workshop of Service staffand relevant advisory committees to reviewand evaluate management to date, toidentify and discuss achievements, obstaclesand new issues.

• Prepare status reports as required by theCommonwealth Government on WorldHeritage values and key indicators of thecondition of the WHA.

• Keep under review and revise as necessarythe performance indicators for evaluatingmanagement of the WHA.

• Revise management according to the resultsof evaluation, scientific research, new

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information etc. If Key Desired Outcomes arenot being adequately achieved adjustmanagement to better achieve outcomes.

External Assessment✓ Regularly assess and monitor the

satisfaction of WHA management advisorybodies with:

- the balance of management effort acrossWHA management responsibilities andmanagement objectives (in particular theextent to which management effort andresources are focused on World Heritageand other heritage values);

- the rate of progress in implementing theprovisions of the plan;

- the adequacy of staffing, funding, andother support to capably implement theplan and

- the methods used for resolvingconflicting issues and the adequacy of theoutcomes achieved. [KDO 1.2, 1.3 and1.6]

• Use WHA advisory bodies, in particular theWorld Heritage Area ConsultativeCommittee, as a means of externalassessment for major and/or controversialmanagement issues.

✓ Review suggestions put forward fromadvisory bodies for improving WHAmanagement. [KDO 1.2, 1.3 and 1.6]

• Use external consultants to assess theperformance of the Service, as appropriate.

✓ Establish an ongoing monitoring programusing mechanisms such as surveys, feedbacksessions, etc to assess the level of satisfactionof key client groups, governmentrepresentatives, management committeesand the wider community with themanagement of the WHA. [KDO’s 1.3, 1.6and 1.8]q

MONITORING AND EVALUATION q[KDO 10.2]• Evaluate at regular intervals (in particular at

the major reporting points) the level of

coverage of the monitoring and evaluationsystem, the effectiveness of the indicators formeasuring outcomes and the costs/benefitsof the various programs within the system.

• Monitor the extent to which the results ofmonitoring and evaluation programscontribute to, or affect managementdecisions.

Key Focus AreasTo help strategically implement the plan ten keyfocus areas have been identified. These are largelynew areas of effort or areas where substantialadditional effort will be focused over the first fiveyears of the plan. At the five year point the focusareas will be reviewed at the same time as alimited review of the plan is carried out.

The strategies are numbered for conveniencebelow. This does not denote priority.

1. INCREASED EMPHASIS ONIDENTIFYING AND PROTECTING THEWORLD HERITAGE AND OTHERNATURAL AND CULTURAL VALUESOF THE WHA

One of the major recommendations of a report onmanaging Australia’s World Heritage5 was tofocus more clearly on defining, and thenmanaging for, the areas’ world heritage values.This plan seeks to manage for the area’sacknowledged world heritage values. The planuses the overarching objectives (see ManagementObjectives, page 30) to link to the World HeritageConvention requirements to identify, protect,conserve, rehabilitate, present and pass on tofuture generations the area’s natural and culturalheritage.

However our understanding and perceptions ofthe heritage values of the WHA are not static.

5 House of Representatives Standing Committee onEnvironment, Recreation and the Arts October, 1996Managing Australia’s World Heritage, Parliament of theCommonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

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New discoveries are made, old values are re-evaluated in the light of new knowledge and newcriteria for world heritage listing may also berecognised, eg the recently introduced criterionfor cultural landscapes.

To take account of these changes, the Service willundertake a review of the values of the area. Thiswill clarify presently recognised values andpotentially identify new values at the world,national, State and regional levels. Should thevalues identified warrant nomination at theWorld Heritage level, the present nomination maybe updated or the area renominated to takeaccount of them. See Identification, Protection,Conservation and Rehabilitation, ManagementPrescriptions, page 74 for details. WhereAboriginal values are included in any review orrenomination this will be done in partnershipwith the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

(Note that under the National Parks and WildlifeAct 1970 the Service is required to manage for allthe natural and cultural values of the area,including those which have not been recognisedas being of world heritage significance. TheService will continue to manage for all the naturaland cultural values of the area but will givepriority to identified world heritage values.)

Work will also be expanded on the protection ofthe World Heritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA. Recent research has greatlyimproved our knowledge of threatened speciesand threatening processes and how these issuesshould be managed. In the period of this planincreased effort will focus particularly onthreatened values, this will include the full rangeof World Heritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA. See chapter five for details,page 74.

2. ABORIGINAL INVOLVEMENTA major project to establish the best mechanism forAboriginal involvement in WHA management wascompleted in 1997. The end result is a model of co-management that will involve the Aboriginalcommunity at a variety of levels in themanagement of issues and areas. See AboriginalManagement, page 100 for details.

3. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTA major project to examine traditional orestablished practices within the WHA and theinteraction between communities (particularlylocal communities) and the WHA was completedin 1997, (see page 103). The project points to aneed for better communication between theService and these communities and calls for theiractive involvement in management of specificparts of the WHA.

The Service recognises the need for, and supportsbetter communication channels with local (andother) user groups. This plan details a process foractively engaging communities that wish to beinvolved in WHA management. In doing this, theService will form partnerships with communitiesthat wish to be involved, and in particular willinvolve local communities where there is acommitted interest in the management of theWHA. See Community Engagement, page 63 andEstablished Practices, page 103.

4. PRESENTING THE WHAThe WHA is a key part of the ‘natural quality’ ofTasmania that attracts visitors to the island. It isan extremely important asset for tourism. Thechallenge for management is to present the area toa wide variety of visitors without damaging thearea’s natural and cultural values.

A recreation and tourism strategy will bedeveloped which will analyse visitorrequirements and how well the present facilitiesare meeting these requirements. This analysis willexamine visitor data, visitor needs, the quality ofvisitor experience, the present Visitor ServicesZones and Sites, visitor facilities, signs,interpretation and impact on the environment.This analysis and the development of the strategywill be undertaken in association with TourismTasmania, the Department of State Development(Office of Sport and Recreation) and ForestryTasmania.

The strategy may lead to a different mix offacilities or services at existing sites. It may alsoidentify the need for the development of newVisitor Services Sites. (See Integration withTourism, page 175).

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5. WALKING TRACK MANAGEMENTSTRATEGY

Many of the prescriptions in the 1992management plan regarding walking tracks havenow been incorporated into the Walking TrackManagement Strategy. The strategy is a long termplan to sustainably manage the 1,000+ kilometresof walking track in the WHA. It was published inearly 1998.

Many aspects of track management covered bythe strategy (such as monitoring, track work andeducation materials) are already in place. At thetime of writing the major component still to befinalised is the walker permit system. Over thefirst three years of this plan, a major focus ofmanagement will be to have all the strategy’scomponents in place. See Walking and WalkingTracks, page 172.

6. FIRE RESEARCHWildfire poses a major threat to the values of theWHA. While some parts of the biota require fire,others are harmed, if not killed by it. To arrive atthe best fire regime for the WHA requiresconsiderable further research into the ecologicalimpacts of fire. This applies not only to thenegative effects of fire such as its effect on peatsoils but also its positive effects, eg its role inmaintaining vulnerable fire dependent plantcommunities. This research will be a priority overthe next five years. See Fire Management, page106.

7. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATIONSYSTEMS

An important requirement for modern landmanagement is easy access to accurate mapsdetailing the values of the WHA and other criticalmanagement information. This requires mappingmany WHA features such as geoheritage, flora,fauna habitat, Aboriginal and historic culturalheritage, fire related information, facilities, etc.This is best accomplished in many cases using ageographic information system (GIS). Theinformation can then be put to use in a variety ofways, eg fire management, assessing the impactof new activities on values, planning newfacilities etc.

The Service will upgrade and standardise currentGIS systems to provide a powerful, accessible,

and easy-to-use GIS system to store andmanipulate this data. See Identification,Protection, Conservation and Rehabilitation,Identifying Values, page 74.

8. MONITORING AND EVALUATIONIntegral to this new management plan is a systemof monitoring and evaluation. This system isdesigned to monitor and document the outcomesof management and to allow the Service toevaluate the extent to which the plan’s objectivesare being met.

A concise ‘State of the WHA’ report, will beproduced every two and a half years to outlineprogress with the plan’s implementation and topresent the available results of monitoring.A major progress report will be produced atlonger intervals to evaluate managementperformance in detail. See Evaluation, page 49 foran overview of the monitoring and evaluationsystem and chapter three (page 31) for the plan’sobjectives and key desired outcomes, the majorstrategies to achieve these and how they will bemeasured. See also the monitoring and evaluationsections at the end of most sections formonitoring and evaluation specific to each sectiontopic.

9. TAKING THE WHA TO THE WORLDThe Tasmanian WHA was one of the firstAustralian World Heritage Areas to have a majorpresence on the world wide web. The web site(www.parks.tas.gov.au/wha/whahome.html)currently includes a series of maps of where theWHA is in the world, a virtual tour of the WHAcovering the area’s values, links to other WHA’s,pre-visit information, basic information onrecreation and threats to the area and matters todo with the management plan review process.

This site will be expanded to provide a majorinformation source on WHA related matters,including major publications that relate to theWHA, a copy of the final version of thismanagement plan in searchable database form, arange of curriculum materials, a kids’ site withgames and interesting WHA facts, extensive pre-visit information and other management relatedmatters. As the technology evolves, greater use ofvideo footage of the area will be included.Opportunities to produce this material via othermedia such as CD ROM and Digital Video Disk

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will also be investigated. See Information,Education and Interpretation, Promotion throughthe media, page 127.

10. WILDERNESS MAPPINGThe concept of wilderness has been the issuearound which many of the conservation debatesin Tasmania have focused. Recognition of thevalues embodied in wilderness is one of the majorreasons why the WHA was originally proclaimedand this is reflected in the naming of the area asthe Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Wilderness is one of the primary ways in whichthe area’s World Heritage and other natural andcultural values are managed, protected andconserved. It is also now a key marketing imageused to promote the ‘natural quality’ of Tasmaniafor tourism.

To be able to assess the impact of new proposalson wilderness quality is a key requirement ofmanagement (from both a public accountabilityand an environmental impact viewpoint).

The Service will enhance currently available GIS-based wilderness assessment methodologies totake account of viewfields and the mountainousnature of the WHA and make this informationavailable as a priority for assessment of newproposals. See Wilderness, page 91.

ZoningBACKGROUNDThe WHA is diverse both in the nature anddistribution of natural and cultural values and inpatterns and types of visitor use. Zoning is a wayof recognising this diversity and at the same timecreating an overall framework for managementdesigned to ensure that management objectivesfor the WHA are fulfilled.

The management objectives for the WHA (seechapter 3) emphasise the identification,protection, conservation and rehabilitation of thearea’s values and the presentation of these values

to visitors. The zoning system establishes wherethe major presentation points are, and defines theareas that will remain free of high levels of use toallow natural processes to continue.

With existing levels of knowledge, the mosteffective means of protecting and conserving theWHA’s natural values and processes is tomaintain the majority of the area free fromdevelopment and to manage with great careselected areas where developments or activitiesare considered appropriate. The protection andconservation of the WHA’s values will howeverin some cases require active management to arrestor prevent degradation.

Tasmania depends heavily on the WHA as adrawcard for visitors to the State and there areincreasing demands to give visitors a variety offirsthand experiences of the area’s values. Inrecognition of the existing and future significanceof the WHA for recreation and tourism, andbecause these uses have the potential tosignificantly affect the area’s values over time, thezoning scheme is largely concerned with theappropriate levels and forms of tourism andrecreation, associated facilities and managementrequirements.

Management activities for protection of values(such as rehabilitation and control of exoticspecies and disease) may occur throughout theWHA wherever necessary, regardless of zoning.However, these activities will mainly be requiredin the higher use visitor zones.

In determining management zones, the followingfactors have been taken into account: WorldHeritage and other natural and cultural values,wilderness quality, drainage catchments, sensitiveenvironments, tourism and recreationalattractions, existing patterns of use, access andpre-existing authorised uses. The major zonesreflect the two broad management objectives ofprotection/conservation of values andpresentation to visitors. Zone names have beenchosen to indicate the appropriate level and typeof management input for recreation and tourismrather than the environmental, wilderness orcultural qualities of the zones.

Application of the zoning scheme to the WHA hasin certain places resulted in a gradual progressionof zones from more developed through lessdeveloped to undeveloped, but in other areas(such as where a walking track passes through anotherwise undisturbed area and it is not

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considered appropriate to develop side tracks inthe future) a juxtaposition of disparate zonesoccurs (eg Wilderness Zone beside RecreationZone). In these cases the application of a gradualprogression of zones has been deliberatelyavoided in the interests of maintaining thewilderness quality of the WHA.

In more remote parts of the WHA application ofthe zoning scheme largely reflects maintenance ofthe status quo. This is in keeping with theobjectives to maintain natural processes andwilderness quality. However, more accessiblelocations in the WHA have been zoned to enablefuture expansion of appropriate recreation andtourism activities.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTSince 1992 a number of issues have emerged withregard to zoning.

The boundaries of hunting areas on the CentralPlateau have been adjusted twice since 1992, onceto better meet hunters’ needs and a second time totake account of the high altitude diebackquarantine area (see Vegetation, page 82 and map4, page 217) which limited access to the mostnorth-easterly hunting area on the CentralPlateau. The ability to modify hunting areaboundaries — while not expanding the size of thetotal hunting area — was allowed for in theoriginal plan, and has proved useful in managingthis activity.

A prescription in the 1992 plan disallowed fuelreduction burns in the Wilderness Zone. Thisreduced the Service’s ability to reduce the risk offire burning into the King William range area. Theprescriptions regarding fire have been carefullyreviewed in this plan (see page 108) and theformer zoning-related prohibitions on the use offire as a management tool have been removed.

The width of the Recreation and Self-ReliantRecreation Zones in the previous plan was insome cases a number of kilometres wide when thewalking track to which they applied was only ametre wide. This level of width was allowed inthe original plan to cater for potentialrequirements for future walking track reroutingand campsite development. However, progresswith the Walking Track Management Strategy,which details future track works, now means thatin many areas the size of these zones can bereduced to more realistically reflect future needs.

An additional overlay area has been requested torecognise areas where established practices cantake place. This will be considered by the Serviceand is dealt with in the relevant section belowand the Established Practices section (page 105).

Considerable scientific work has been done in anumber of areas that are currently beingconsidered for Scientific Area status (see page 62for Scientific Area criteria). These include(amongst others):

– The part of the Warra Longterm EcologicalResearch and Monitoring Site that lies withinthe WHA. This is a proposed benchmarkarea. The Warra is a 14,791 hectare sitealmost equally divided between State Forestand the WHA. One of the main purposes ofthe site is to foster long-term ecologicalresearch and monitoring in the managementof Tasmanian forests. The project is a jointinitiative of Forestry Tasmania and theService.

– The Wilderness Ecosystem Baseline Studiessites in the Pelion Area and at Melaleuca.These were developed on the basis of adirected ecological research programorganised by the Service to improveunderstanding of ecosystem relationships,establish baseline biodiversity data andimprove knowledge and management offlora and fauna in the WHA. Scientists fromaround Australia were invited to conductresearch studies at Pelion Plains — Mt Ossaand Melaleuca over three years from 1990–91to 1992–93. Both areas contain remoteenvironments with unusual fauna and flora.

The majority of the zoning system used in the1992 plan has proven appropriate to managementneeds. Only fine tuning of the system is proposedin this plan.

OBJECTIVE• To maintain a spectrum of recreational

opportunities from most developed forrecreation and tourism in the Visitor ServicesZones and Sites, to undeveloped in theWilderness Zone consistent with theprotection, conservation and presentation ofthe World Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA.

Note that many objectives and policies arecommon to all zones (and are dealt with

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WILDERNESS

Wild country –limited recreation

No new facilities will beprovided.

No new walking tracks, oldones managed as T4 or routes(WTMS*).

Mechanised access – None,except for managementpurposes and then only whenno alternative.

Assess structures – Allow todecay or remove except wheretheir cultural, recreational ormanagement value outweighsimpact on wilderness.

Management inputs – Minimal,for protection of natural andcultural values and essentialsafety purposes only.

Promote use – No.

Special events – No.

Snowpoles – No.

Plaques and memorials –Exceptional circumstances only.

Aircraft – Adopt flightguidelines and appropriateroutes that may bypass thiszone. No landings except forsearch and rescue andmanagement.

Signs – Strictly for managementand environmental protectionpurposes.

Interpretation - No.

SELF RELIANTRECREATION

Challenging walkingand fishing areas

No new facilities except forenvironmental protectionpurposes.

No new walking tracks, oldones managed as T3, T4 orroutes, rerouting forenvironmental purposes only(WTMS*).

Mechanised access limited tomanagement purposes. [Seebelow regarding additionalaircraft landing sites.]

Assess structures – Allow todecay or remove except wheretheir cultural, management orrecreational value outweighsimpact on wilderness. CentralPlateau huts to remain.

Management inputs – Minimal,for protection of natural andcultural values and essentialsafety purposes only.

Use not promoted butinformation provided on howto minimise impact.

If in accord with WTMS*.

Snowpoles – No.

Plaques and memorials –Maybe, under specialcircumstances.

Aircraft – Adopt flightguidelines and appropriateroutes.

Signs – for management andenvironmental protection.

Interpretation – No.

RECREATION

Major walking, boatingand vehicle areas

Limited facilities forrecreational and environmentalprotection purposes.

Potential for limited newwalking tracks, old onesmanaged as T1 to T4 or route(WTMS*).

Major high volume overnightwalking areas, motorisedboating areas, vehicle accessrestricted to existing vehicletracks.

Remote infrastructure, eg huts,toilets, can be upgraded andreplaced in accord withenvironmental prescriptions.

Management inputs –Moderate, for protection ofnatural and cultural values andrecreation management.

Promote major walking,boating and vehicle accesscorridors.

Special events – Yes.

Snowpoles - Acceptable (seeWTMS*).

Plaques and memorials –Maybe, in association withfacilities.

Aircraft – Adopt flightguidelines and appropriateroutes.

Signs – Yes in highly servicedareas, in association withfacilities.

Interpretation – Yes in highlyserviced areas, in associationwith facilities (eg OverlandTrack).

VISITOR SERVICESZONES & SITES

High use areas and vehicleaccess points

Major facilities for recreation andpresentation of the WHA.

Potential for limited new shortwalking tracks, all walks managedas W1 or W2 (WTMS*).

Established major mechanisedaccess points. High use walkingtracks.

Major high use area, facilitiesprovided.

Management inputs – Substantial,for protection of natural andcultural values, recreation andtourism.

Promote major areas ofconcentrated use.

Special events – Yes.

Snowpoles – Yes.

Plaques and memorials – Yes inassociation with facilities.

Aircraft – Adopt flight guidelinesand appropriate routes.

Signs – Yes.

Interpretation – Yes.

The information above is, in general, how the plan will deal with matters in relation to zoning. For further detail on tracks, signs, snowpoles andpromotion see the Walking Track Management Strategy; for further detail on other aspects, see the relevant section of the plan.

*WTMS = Walking Track Management Strategy.

Figure 3: Zoning – main prescriptions

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Investigate three additional landing sites within the WHA outside the Wilderness zone.

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elsewhere in this plan). Specific objectives andmanagement prescriptions for each zone aregiven in the following management prescriptionsection. Refer to map 3, page 216, for locations ofzones.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Zoning generalThe names for the major zones have been retainedfrom the 1992 plan; the names of the overlay areashave been revised to clarify their purpose.

• The four major zones (see map 3) are:

- Wilderness Zone

- Self-Reliant Recreation Zone

- Recreation Zone

- Visitor Services Zone/Site

A summary of the key managementprescriptions for each major zone is given infigure 3, Zoning — Main Prescriptions. Thisincludes the management prescriptionsgiven by zone below and additionalprescriptions that relate to zoning from othersections of the plan.

• The six overlay areas (covered in detail frompage 60) which may overlie any of the majorzones are:

- Motorised Boating Area

- Hunting Area and Hunting Access Area

- Quarantine Area

- Mineral Exploration Area

- Scientific Area

- Remote Area Management Site

Maatsuyker is generally zoned aswilderness, but the facilities associatedwith the light station, weather bureaudata collection devices and radiocommunication devices are includedwithin a remote area management site.Management of the island is to be inaccord with the Maatsuyker IslandConservation Area ManagementStrategies document (1993), prepared bythe Parks and Wildlife Service and theAustralian Maritime Safety Authority orany subsequent site plan prepared for thearea.

The Australian Maritime Safety

Authority has placed an automatic lightstation on the island. This new stationonly requires annual servicing.

- A further potential overlay area, an ‘Areaof Community Interest’, will be evaluatedalong with a number of othermechanisms for taking on board theinterests of communities in a spatiallyspecific way. Should such an approach beused it will be recorded in a subsidiarypolicy document to this managementplan. (See Established Practices, areas ofcommunity interest, page 105)

Wilderness ZoneThe Wilderness Zone includes areas of highwilderness quality (see Wilderness, page 91) andalso areas within the WHA that have remote and/or natural characteristics. It also includes someareas of lower wilderness quality and areaswhich, in the future, may have a lower wildernessquality due to activities outside the WHA. All ofthe offshore islands are included in theWilderness Zone.

Wilderness Zone Objectives• To allow natural processes to operate with

minimal interference.

• To retain a challenging unmodified naturalsetting that suitably experienced andequipped people can visit for wildernessrecreation and scientific purposes.

• To use wilderness as a primary means ofmanaging, protecting and conserving WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues.

Wilderness Zone Management Prescriptions• Provide minimal management input, and

then only for environmental protection,monitoring and essential safety purposes.

• Allow sustainable recreational use butprovide no new facilities or tracks. Manageexisting walking tracks (largely routes andT4 tracks) in accordance with the WalkingTrack Management Strategy (see page 172).

• Progressively assess existing structures andallow to decay or remove unless they are ofsufficient heritage, recreational ormanagement importance to outweigh theirimpact on wilderness values. Conservecultural heritage places in accordance withtheir cultural values. Removal or allowing

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decay may not be appropriate for culturallysignificant places, therefore special measuresmay be required to conserve some places.These may be undertaken provided that theydo not significantly affect natural ecologicalprocesses.

• Limit mechanised access to management andsearch and rescue purposes, and then onlywhere there are no feasible alternatives.

• Encourage use of upgraded or stable tracksin the Recreation Zone and minimiseenvironmental damage in the WildernessZone by not publicising walkingdestinations and routes within this zone.Encourage authors and editors to adopt asimilar policy (see Walking and WalkingTrack, education, page 174).

• To maintain environmental quality, to avoidthe unplanned formation of walking routesand tracks, and to preserve the sense ofisolation that is sought by most visitors tothese areas, access may be controlled ormanaged in keeping with the Walking TrackManagement Strategy for the WHA (seeWalking and Walking Tracks, managementprescriptions page 173).

• Minimise new nomenclature for naturalfeatures in the Wilderness Zone. The Servicewill only support new nomenclatureproposals in this zone in exceptionalcircumstances (note that nomenclature is theresponsibility of the Nomenclature Board,but the Board is obliged to consult with theService before assigning new names orchanging existing ones). If newnomenclature is assigned it should generallyreflect either the character of the landscapeor the recorded history specific to theparticular region or feature.

• Encourage aircraft operators to adopt flightguidelines including minimum flight heightsand appropriate routes over or bypassingthis zone.

Self-Reliant Recreation ZoneThe Self-Reliant Recreation Zone includes areas ofenvironmental sensitivity and/or high wildernessquality as well as some areas that have beenimpacted, often as a result of relatively low levels ofuse. It encompasses some of the most challengingwalking and fishing country in the WHA.

Self-Reliant Recreation Zone Objective• To retain a challenging and relatively

unmodified natural setting that suitablyexperienced and equipped people can usefor recreation purposes.

Self-Reliant Recreation Zone ManagementPrescriptions• Provide minimal management input, and

then only for environmental protection,monitoring and essential safety purposes.

• Allow sustainable recreational use, howeverprovide new facilities only for the protectionof values. Manage existing walking tracks(largely routes, T4 and T3 tracks) in accordwith the Walking Track ManagementStrategy (see page 172).

• Progressively assess existing structures andallow to decay or remove unless they are ofsufficient heritage, management orrecreational importance to outweigh theirimpact on wilderness values. Consult withstakeholders with an interest in thesestructures prior to any removal. Publicaccommodation huts on the Central Plateaumay be retained if of recreation value andacceptable environmental impact. Conservecultural heritage places in accordance withtheir cultural values, special measures maybe required to conserve some places. Thesemay be undertaken provided that they donot significantly affect natural ecologicalprocesses.

• In order to minimise or repair environmentaldegradation and/or to retain a sense ofsolitude, access may be controlled ormanaged in keeping with the Walking TrackManagement Strategy for the WHA (SeeWalking and Walking Tracks, page 172).

• Undertake track work to prevent erosionwhile being as unobtrusive as possible andmaintaining a challenging walkingexperience.

• Minimise signposts and track markers; usefor management and environmentalprotection purposes only.

• Encourage use of the many upgraded orstable tracks in the Recreation Zone andminimise environmental damage bydiscouraging publicity of walkingdestinations and routes within the Self-Reliant Recreation Zone. Encourage authors

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and editors to adopt a similar policy (seeWalking and Walking Tracks, education,page 174).

• Limit mechanised access to management andsearch and rescue purposes, and then onlywhere there are no feasible alternatives.However existing 4WD tracks that access theedges of this zone may remain where theydo not threaten the World Heritage or othernatural and cultural values of the WHA.

• Helicopter and float plane landings may alsopotentially occur at a limited number of sitesin this zone following an investigation ofimpacts on other users and the area’s values.(See Aircraft Activities, landings, page 133for details of this assessment)

• Encourage aircraft operators to follow flightguidelines which will include minimumflight heights and appropriate routes whenoverflying this zone (see Aircraft Activities,page 133).

Recreation ZoneThe Recreation Zone includes certain areas thatare popular with bushwalkers, boat users,anglers, climbers and rafters or which are suitablefor relatively high levels of day and overnightrecreational use due to their location andproximity to road access.

Recreation Zone Objectives• To provide a range of recreational

experiences in a moderately challenging,largely natural setting that suitably equippedpeople can use for recreation purposes.

• To enable relatively high levels of active dayand overnight recreation.

• To improve access for a wide range ofvisitors and enable them to gain a rewardingexperience of the WHA environment.

Recreation Zone Management Prescriptions• Repair and upgrade suitable walking tracks

and associated toilets, huts and campsites inthis zone. Manage tracks to a variety ofstandards in terms of track length, surface,grade and level of associated facilities inaccordance with the track classificationscheme (a part of the Walking TrackManagement Strategy — see page 172).

• Once upgraded, promote the use of suitabletracks and associated facilities in this zone.

Encourage authors to publish information onparticular tracks in this zone whereincreasing use is not expected to have anymajor adverse effect.

• Encourage guided tours principally in thiszone (see Guided Tours, page 179).

• Produce information and interpretationmaterials principally in the form of printedmaterials. Limit on-site information todirectional signs along tracks, display boardsin huts and information booths or signs attrack heads (see Signs, page 161).

• Prepare a Recreation Zone plan for theOverland Track that identifies theappropriate level of facilities, (eg huts,toilets, track standard etc), interpretation,marketing and commercial use of this zone.The plan is to be consistent with the WHAWalking Track Management Strategy.

• Helicopter and float plane landings may alsopotentially occur at a limited number of sitesin this zone following an investigation ofimpacts on other users and the area’s values.(See Aircraft Activities, Landings, page 133for details of this assessment)

• Encourage aircraft operators to follow flightguidelines which will include minimumflight heights and appropriate routes whenoverflying this zone.

Visitor Services Zones and SitesVisitor Services Zones and Sites are areas wherethe majority of visitor facilities are, or will be,provided and where the majority of visitors willexperience the WHA. In general these zones andsites take advantage of existing road access andare, or will be, located around the margins of theWHA.

Visitor Services Zones and Sites complementvisitor services centres located nearby but outsidethe WHA at Strahan, Queenstown, Pencil Pine,Sheffield, Deloraine, Mole Creek, Liawenee,Miena, Derwent Bridge, Bronte Park, NationalPark, Strathgordon, Geeveston, Melaleuca andDover.

Zones and Sites, including potential additionalsites are shown on map 3, page 216.

Visitor Services Zones and Sites Objectives• To provide a range of appropriate facilities

strategically located to facilitate visits to theWHA and to enable all visitors to gain a first

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hand experience of a range of the values ofthe WHA.

• To maintain, as far as possible, a naturalsetting and cultural integrity and tominimise the environmental, aesthetic andsocial impacts of facilities and visitor use.

Visitor Services Zones and Sites ManagementPrescriptions• Design Visitor Services Zones and Sites to

cater for a wide range of visitors, providingprincipally for the needs, interests andabilities of day visitors. These visitorsusually have a limited amount of time andare less active than visitors to the moreremote zones.

• Within the WHA, Pencil Pine-Cradle Valleyand Lake St Clair are the designated VisitorServices Zones. Adjacent to or near theWHA, reserved land managed by the Serviceat Mt Field National Park and Liawenee alsoprovide visitor services for the WHA.

• Within Visitor Services Zones, provide forhigh levels of day and some overnight useby developing and/or maintaining a rangeof facilities and services that may include:park accommodation to suitable design andscale; campgrounds; refreshment sales;interpretation and education centres; visitorinformation and appropriate recreationaland management facilities. In general therewill be an on-site management presence.

• Permit concessionaire-operated facilitieswhich contribute to the presentation of theWorld Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA. Seek privatesector investment in the provision of somefacilities where appropriate.

• Review the present Visitor Services Sites aspart of the Recreation and Tourism Strategy(see Integration with Tourism, page 175).Delineate their area, establish carryingcapacities, note present and potential visitorexperiences and develop approaches for thefuture management of these sites.

• Develop Visitor Services Sites to cater for arange of levels and forms of day andovernight use to suit the needs of differentvisitors and provide a range of recreationopportunities. In general, cater for highernumbers of visitors at sites along majortourist routes and for relatively low levels of

use at less accessible sites. Facilities mayinclude park accommodation to suitabledesign and scale, interpretation and naturewalks, picnic shelters, toilets, boat rampsand camping areas. Management presencewill generally be regular, although notusually based on site.

• Develop, upgrade or maintain VisitorServices Sites, both within the WHA and onState-managed land adjacent to or near theWHA. (See Visitor Facilities, page 169 andmap 5, page 218 for details and location).

• Helicopter and float plane landings may alsopotentially occur at a limited number of sitesin this zone following an investigation ofimpacts on other users and the area’s values.(See Aircraft Activities, Landings, page 133for details of this assessment.)

• Prepare site plans for Visitor Services Zonesand major Visitor Services Sites prior tocommencement of any new development orsignificant upgrading of facilities.

Overlay areasThe Overlay Areas outlined below lie on top ofthe major zones noted above. They recognise pre-existing uses of the area prior to world heritagelisting and identify other more specialisedmanagement regimes that apply within parts ofthe major zones. The general policies that apply tooverlay areas are usually as specified in theunderlying zone.

Motorised Boating AreaMotorised Boating Areas are overlays to majorzones that indicate where motorised boats may beused. Motorised boats are boats with engines,they do not include floatplanes or other aerialcraft that can land on water, these are coveredunder Aircraft Activities, see page 133.

Motorised Boating Area Objective• To allow for mechanised boating access

consistent with the protection of WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA and recreational values.

Motorised Boating Area ManagementPrescriptions• Encourage and monitor appropriate use by

motorised boats and, as and wherenecessary, apply conditions to protect valuesincluding: waste containment, numberlimits, speed limits, length of stay and noise.

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• Motorised boats may use MacquarieHarbour, the Lower Gordon River as far asAngel Cliffs, Port Davey–Bathurst Harbour,Double Lagoon and Lakes Pedder, St Clair,Mackenzie, Augusta, Ada, Pillans and Julian.Motorised boating is not permitted on anypart of the Franklin River except for essentialmanagement purposes.

• Strictly control the operation of largecommercial tourist vessels on the LowerGordon River. Private vessels over eightmetres will also be subject to controls.

• To reduce the potential for bank erosion thefollowing limits on Motorised boats areimposed within the Port Davey–BathurstHarbour area:

- Davey River: Motorised boating is notpermitted upstream of Grid Reference55GDN135217 (the upstream end of thegorge). (See Map 3, page 216, for this andthe following prescriptions)

- Spring River: Motorised boating is notpermitted upstream of Grid Reference55GDN238055 (the mouth of the SpringRiver in Manwoneer Inlet).

- North River: Motorised boating is notpermitted north of the line joining GridReference 55GDN312032 and GridReference 55GDN331024 (the twoheadlands forming the entrance to NorthInlet).

- Old River: Motorised boating is notpermitted upstream of Grid Reference55GDN386040 (the upstream end of theisland).

Hunting AreaHunting areas are overlays to major zones thatshow where wallaby or duck hunting ispermitted. These areas are in parts of the CentralPlateau and Macquarie Harbour. See maps 3 and4, pages 216 and 217.

Hunting Area Objective• To allow wallaby and duck hunting to

continue in areas of pre-existing use underconditions that minimise environmental andsocial impacts on the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of theWHA.

Hunting Area Management Prescription• Permit wallaby and duck hunting in

designated areas subject to adherence to acode of conduct and ongoing assessment ofimpact (see Hunting, page 151).

Note on Hunting Access AreaHunting Access Areas are overlays to major zonesthat show access corridors to Hunting Areas.They are areas across which guns may be carriedto access Hunting Areas, but within whichhunting is disallowed. General policies to applyin the area are as specified in the underlyingmajor zone.

Quarantine AreaA Quarantine Area is an overlay to a major zoneor zones. It is an area where human access isdenied to assist in preventing the possible spreadof pathogens outside the area. The onlyQuarantine Area at present is at Pine Lake in theCentral Plateau Conservation Area. See alsoVegetation, page 82. The boundaries of aQuarantine Area may vary as required to managethe pathogen/s contained within the area.

Quarantine Area Objectives• To prevent the possible spread of pathogens

outside the area.

Quarantine Area Management Prescriptions• Disallow access to the Pine Lake Quarantine

Area until such time as management of thepathogen involved has been resolved.

Mineral Exploration AreaA Mineral Exploration Area is an overlay to majorzones where the continuation of mineralexploration or mining was agreed at the time ofthe WHA nomination. The remaining area wherethis applies is the Adamsfield Conservation Area.

Mineral Exploration Area Objective• To minimise the impact of approved mineral

exploration or mining on the WorldHeritage and natural and cultural values ofthe WHA.

Mineral Exploration Area ManagementPrescriptions• Any exploration or mining is to be subject to

the New Proposals and Impact Assessmentprocess (see page 66) and other relevant Actsand guidelines (see Mineral Exploration,page 185 for details of these).

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Scientific AreaThree types of Scientific Area are recognised:Reference Areas, Benchmark Areas and Sites ofSpecial Significance.

Reference AreasA number of the more pristine areas will bedesignated as Reference Areas where nomanagement actions will be undertaken and visitoruse will be discouraged as far as possible to allownatural processes to operate undisturbed. Suchareas will be of great value for management andscientific research, particularly for studying theeffects of management practices in other parts ofthe WHA.

Benchmark AreasA small number of relatively restricted areas in theWHA that have been the subject of detailed andcomprehensive systematic scientific study will bedesignated as Benchmark Areas. These areas willbe used for monitoring environmental changes andthe effects of environmental impacts such as globalwarming (‘the greenhouse effect’), and effects ofhuman visitation such as sewage effluent.

Sites of Special SignificanceLocations that are highly significant forconservation of particular natural or culturalresources will be identified as Sites of SpecialSignificance. These locations will be listed on twoseparate registers: ‘Natural Sites of SpecialSignificance’ and ‘Cultural Sites of SpecialSignificance’. Examples of Sites of SpecialSignificance for conservation of physical resourcesinclude features such as the localities of rare rocktypes or minerals, rare fossil localities and rare oroutstanding examples of the products of geologicalor geomorphological processes such as erosionalsurfaces, aeolian dunes and rare and restricted soiltypes. Examples of Sites of Special Significance forconservation of biological resources includehabitats of species or communities with veryrestricted known distributions, habitats ofthreatened species and rare habitats. Examples ofSites of Special Significance for conservation ofcultural resources include archaeological andAboriginal sites of special importance.

Scientific Area Objectives• To ensure that there are representative areas

of pristine ecosystems where naturalprocesses may continue as far as possiblewithout interference.

• To monitor environmental change and

provide ‘control areas’ to assist the study ofhuman impact.

• To identify and protect localised areas ofspecial physical, biological and culturalvalue.

Scientific Area Management PrescriptionsREFERENCE AREAS

• Generally locate Reference Areas inWilderness Zones.

• The location of Reference Areas may beadvertised but public access will normally bediscouraged.

• Minimise activity in or near Reference Areasthat may disturb the natural ecologicalprocesses acting within them.

BENCHMARK AREAS

• Locate Benchmark Areas in areas that havebeen, or will be, the subject of detailedscientific study, whether because of thepotential for disturbance or because of theirglobal significance as ecosystems.

• Longterm monitoring will be carried outwithin Benchmark Areas.

• Allow limited facilities where these areessential for monitoring purposes. As far aspossible any facilities are to be in accordancewith the underlying zoning.

SITES OF SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Visits to Sites of Special Significance formanagement or research purposes will becontrolled to avoid unnecessary disturbanceand risk of damage.

GENERAL

• Approval to conduct research in ScientificAreas will be subject to stringent conditions.

• Any visits or proposals for management orresearch purposes to Aboriginal sites withinScientific Areas will be carried out with theapproval of the Tasmanian Aboriginalcommunity.

• Review the criteria for designation andselection of Scientific Areas.

• Management procedures for Scientific Areaswill be developed by a working groupconsisting of appropriate scientificspecialists.

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Remote Area Management SiteRemote Area Management Site Objective• To provide for vital infrastructure in an

otherwise remote setting.

Remote Area Management Site ManagementPrescriptions• Review, and as necessary revise, the 1993

Maatsuyker Island Conservation AreaManagement Strategies document.

• Maatsuyker island will be occupiedperiodically by Service staff and volunteersto protect the area’s natural and culturalvalues.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor the extent to which zoning

contributes to or interferes with theachievement of management objectives.

• Record the number and nature of any zoninginfringements and any requests for changesto zones.

Community EngagementBACKGROUNDOne important requirement under the WorldHeritage Convention is to adopt a general policywhich aims to give the natural and culturalheritage a function in the life of the community.

Involving communities in planning andmanaging the WHA assists with the integration ofthe WHA into the community and provides theopportunity for a two-way flow of informationbetween managers and the public.

Input from the community can reveal thediversity and intensity of opinions held andhighlight contentious issues that need to beresolved. At the same time, the process can raisecommunity awareness of managementresponsibilities and understanding of other pointsof view. Community involvement in planning and

management usually results in better decisionsbeing made by managing authorities and bettercommunity acceptance of those decisions.

In addition to involvement in planning, peopleare increasingly wanting to actively help inmanaging the area. Volunteers can expand theService’s work capabilities and assist in achievingmanagement objectives.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTOver the period of the 1992 plan, numerousmechanisms were used to consult with andengage relevant communities in WHA planningand management issues. These included the useof committees to plan for areas such as CradleMountain and Melaleuca, activity-basedconsultative groups, such as those on walkingtracks and horseriding and more formalmechanisms such as the World Heritage AreaConsultative Committee and the National Parksand Wildlife Advisory Council.

The World Heritage Area Consultative Committeehas been a major mechanism for consulting withthe public and reaching resolution on many of themore complicated and difficult managementissues in the WHA over the life of the 1992 plan.

Two major projects have been undertaken to lookat the active involvement in WHA management ofboth the Aboriginal community and non-Aboriginal people undertaking establishedpractices. The outcomes of these projects aredetailed in the Aboriginal Management section,page 100 and the Established Practices section,page 103.

The National Parks and Wildlife AdvisoryCouncil completed a review of all Servicecommittees in 1997 with a view to improvingcommunity consultation. In mid 1997 the Serviceestablished a Community Partnerships Section tobetter engage the community in the managementof reserved land and across the activities andresponsibilities of the Service.

The Service has traditionally enjoyed the supportof a variety of volunteer groups and individuals,eg for track repair, hut maintenance, fire-fightingetc. However there is significant potential toexpand the role and involvement of supportgroups and volunteer workers to benefit theWHA.

To this end the Service launched ‘Wildcare —Friends of the Parks and Wildlife Service’ in

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December 1997. Wildcare provides a structure andopportunities for on-ground assistance andinvolvement of the community in natural andcultural heritage conservation and management.

OBJECTIVES• To engage the public in WHA planning and

management in a meaningful andproductive manner.

• To harness community ideas and resourcesto benefit the planning and management ofthe WHA.

• To encourage and facilitate voluntaryactivity which contributes to theachievement of WHA managementobjectives.

• To enable the Service to gain a betterunderstanding of community values andexpectations.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

General ✓ [KDO’s 7.1 to 7.3]• Develop and implement a comprehensive

strategy for effectively involving thecommunity in WHA planning andmanagement. (See also Planning and PublicConsultation, page 48 for an overview of theService’s approach to communityconsultation in planning). [KDO 7.1]

• Develop a range of opportunities andmechanisms for involving the communityand volunteers in ways that can assist WHAmanagement and complement the role ofService employees. [KDO’s 7.1, 7.3]

• Form collaborative partnerships withcommunities or groups that wish to beinvolved in the management of specific partsor aspects of the WHA. In particular withlocal communities and other communitieswhere there is a committed interest inmanagement of the area. [KDO 7.2]

• Develop opportunities and mechanisms forconsulting with communities on WHAmanagement issues and principles andkeeping them informed about findings andoutcomes. [KDO 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3]

• Develop and provide appropriate programsto address specific management issues and

problems, and where possible collaboratewith the community to find solutions tomanagement problems. [KDO 7.1, 7.3]

• Educate and assist the community,stakeholders and interest groups to gain anunderstanding of conservation issues withinthe WHA, management obligations anddecision-making processes. [KDO 7.3]

• Acknowledge and respond to past use (bothsocial and cultural) and management of theWHA and the values attached to the area byusers. [KDO 7.3]

Advisory Groups/Committees• Implement a district-based network of

consultative committees which providecommunity input to management decisionsrelating to the WHA. These committees willassist management to recognise and respondto community-related issues.

• If relevant, forward policy recommendationsarising from consultations with interestgroups for consideration by the WHAConsultative Committee and, if necessary,Ministerial Council.

Volunteers and Community Groups• Encourage and actively support community

groups and individuals in voluntaryactivities which assist the Service inachieving WHA objectives. This willprimarily be achieved through the Wildcareprogram (specifically through theCommunity Action in Reserves [CARes]groups though other partnerships may alsobe developed). The program will:

- Develop mechanisms to provideopportunities for volunteer andcommunity groups to be involved inWHA management.

- Establish formal structures, processes andarrangements for recruiting, managing,supporting and, where appropriate,training voluntary workers.

- Develop a Service policy related to theuse of voluntary workers which coverssuch issues as occupational health andsafety, insurance, the nature of activitiesto be undertaken by volunteers etc.

- Develop a system for identifying (andwhere appropriate prioritising) projects

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suitable for volunteer involvement, andfacilitate and/or coordinate volunteerand professional input as required toimplement such projects.

- Establish mechanisms and processes toensure that:

* the activities of volunteers andvoluntary groups are consistent withWHA management objectives;

* all volunteer projects are formallyapproved by the Service;

* necessary precautions are taken toavoid volunteer activities damagingnatural or cultural values, orotherwise causing managementproblems.

- Provide opportunities for volunteers toenhance their knowledge andunderstanding of the WHA, its valuesand management responsibilities.

- Provide opportunities for volunteers toprovide feedback on their experience ofworking for the Service and ensure thatmanagement is responsive to thatfeedback.

- Ensure that volunteers and othersengaged in unpaid work that assistsWHA management receive appropriaterecognition and support for theircontribution.

Community Involvement (see also EstablishedPractices section, page 103) ✓ [KDO 7.1 and7.2]• Develop opportunities for close links between

field management offices and their localcommunity.

• In partnership with others encourage anddevelop specific programs to involve localschools in WHA-related activities andprojects.

• Promote partnerships between field centresand local schools to develop and supportongoing co-operation.

Neighbours• In consultation and cooperation with owners

or managers of neighbouring land and otherswho have responsibilities or interests relatedto the region, develop cooperative strategies

or joint initiatives in relation to specificmanagement issues or projects of commoninterest eg:

- access

- fire prevention and fire management

- tourism

- recreation management

- viewfield management

- catchment protection

- weed and disease management

- rehabilitation

- protection of wilderness values

- protection of cultural values.

• Regularly liaise and develop good workingrelations with adjacent land managers, localcommunity leaders, recreational groups andother relevant organisations (particularly inthe tourism industry) to further WHAmanagement objectives.

Other Government Agencies [KDO 7.4]• Maintain liaison with local government to

ensure consistency between the WHAmanagement plan, site plans and municipalplanning schemes and policies.

• Where possible and appropriate, integratemanagement concepts and strategies for theWHA (eg for wildlife conservation,interpretation, walking tracks, tourism etc)into local, regional, and state planningprocedures, instruments and actions.

• Consult and liaise with relevant governmentagencies and other organisations regardingany developments or activities that have thepotential to affect the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of theWHA or the achievement of WHAmanagement objectives, and on othermatters of mutual interest.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION q[KDO’S 7.1 TO 7.4]• Monitor the levels and types of participation

or involvement of the Tasmanian community(including schools, community groups,volunteers etc) in WHA-related activities,processes, projects, partnerships, events etc.See also Information, Interpretation and

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Education, monitoring and evaluation, page128.

• Monitor the level and nature of feedbackabout WHA-related activities, processes,projects, partnerships, events etc.

• Monitor the nature and level of use of theWHA by local community residents, andtheir level of satisfaction with themanagement of those areas.

• Monitor the level of satisfaction and/ornature of feedback about managementplanning processes and outcomes.

• Monitor the level of ministerialcorrespondence to and from communities onmanagement issues. [KDO 5.1]

• Each district-based committee or Wildcaregroup is to provide an annual report ondecisions and activities. This is to includeissues that were resolved at the group’s leveland other issues that were passed to otherbodies for resolution. Analyse reports to seewhere effort should be targeted and whereprocesses can be improved. This may takethe form of a feedback session for eachgroup on progress made over the year.

[See also Established Practices, monitoring andevaluation, page 106]

New Proposals andImpact Assessment

BACKGROUNDThe proposed 10 year timeframe of thismanagement plan raises the likelihood that newissues will emerge which have not been specificallyaddressed in this plan. A process is needed to tacklethese issues effectively and to ensure that all actionstaken within the WHA are consistent withachieving the management objectives for the WHA.

The process needs to be open, transparent, haveclear decision points and provide certainty toproponents in a reasonable timeframe. At the same

time it has to include a full assessment of theimpacts of the proposal and, for major proposals,include mechanisms for public comment.

For minor projects a new process is also required toassess potential impacts from proposedmanagement actions.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe major new, non-Service proposal dealt with inthe period of the 1992 plan was the proposeddevelopment at Pump House Point. The HECPump House Point site at Lake St Clair wasidentified as a strategic site for tourismdevelopment. In 1994 expressions of interest wereinvited from potential developers and a preferreddeveloper selected. In accordance with the 1992plan, the developer prepared a site plan(incorporating an environmental impactmanagement plan) for the development area whichwas made available for public comment. The siteplan was subsequently amended and approved bythe WHA Ministerial Council.

The Pump House Point development raised theissues of inconsistencies in applying the separateplanning provisions contained within the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970 (NPWA) and the LandUse Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (LUPAA). Inorder to circumvent some legal uncertainty aboutthe applicability of the LUPAA to the project (onland administered under the provisions of theNPWA) the developer submitted a developmentapplication, based on the site plan, to the CentralHighlands Council. This was approved by theCouncil in April 1996 and a development permitwas subsequently issued under the LUPAA. At thetime of writing the development is yet to proceed.(See also Accommodation, page 131)

The general issue of whether LUPAA applies onNPWA land is yet to be clarified, but will mostlikely be resolved by legislative changes arising outof recommendations of the Public Land UseCommission’s Land Classification Inquiry. It is theview of the Service that major developmentproposals should be subject to LUPAA, but thatminor activities by the Service should not becovered.

Should the Service be partially or totally under theLUPAA then the appeal mechanism in the LUPAAwould apply. In addition the Service is seeking tointroduce a mechanism for civil enforcement (seePlan Implementation and Review, previous

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Major pathway Minor pathway

Figure 4 New Proposals and Impact Assessment Process

(Note: If proposal is not approved, it can be modified

and re-submitted)

1 Proposal initiated by, or received by the Service

2 KEY DECISION POINT 1

6 KEY DECISION POINT 2

In accord with managementplan and relevant legislation? Service to assess.

5 Environmental Impact Assessmentto assess values affected

7 Service prepares brief for EMP

5a In-Service assessment(Specialist input if required)

Call for expressionsof interest, if required

Scale? Major (large, high publicinterest, substantial potential to

affect values), or minor (small, low publicinterest, low impact on values). Scale ofproposal to be assessed by the Service

Service to advise on whether a change to the management plan is warranted

To CC (for advice) and MC (decision) on plan amendment

If supported, revise plan in accord-

ance with figure 2,page 47, at steps9 to 11 – majorpathway or 5A to

6A – minor pathway

Not supported

Proposal doesnot proceed

CC advice

NO

NO

YES

YES

Approved Not approved Approved Not approved

11 KEY DECISION POINT 3

Approved Not approved

8 Draft EMP prepared(funded by proponents)

9 Public comment (minimum 1 month)

10 Development of final EMP inthe light of public comment

12 Implementation

13 Monitoring and evaluation

14 Project completed

CC advice

Remedial action(if required)

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation(in some cases)

3

Scoping Document betweenproponents, the Service and other

stakeholders

4

Proposal approved in principle? (By Minister or MC)

Proposal approved? (By Director or senior management)

Final decision on proposal and EMP. Change to WHA Management Plan, if required (by Minister or MC)

6A

MC World Heritage Area Ministerial Council

CC World Heritage Area Consultative Committee

EMP Environmental Management Plan (to include site specific information [e.g. site plans], impact mitigation, limits or conditions, monitoring and remedial action if required)

Legend

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Management, page 45) that would apply to allmanagement plans for NPWA reserves.

Other new proposals that have progressed since the1992 plan include the fifth commercial hut on theOverland Track (see Guided Tours, PreviousManagement, page 180), the new visitor centre atLake St Clair (see Visitor Facilities, PreviousManagement, page 170) and the improvedaccommodation at Lake St Clair (seeAccommodation, Previous Management, page 132).

The project proposal system previously used by theService to review internal, minor projects iscurrently under review and will be replaced by amore streamlined system. This new system willcover the minor pathway process noted below.

OBJECTIVES• To provide an appropriate mechanism for

considering new issues that have not beencovered by this management plan.

• To ensure that decisions related to proposeddevelopments or activities reflect themanagement objectives of this plan.

• To ensure that sound processes exist for theassessment of potential impacts of proposeddevelopments and activities (includingscientific and management activities).

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

New Proposal AssessmentA flowchart describing the process for consideringnew proposals (including new developments,activities and management actions) is given infigure 4, page 67. It provides an overview of thesteps detailed below.

Timeframes are indicated below each step inbrackets. Where the Service is wholly responsiblefor a step, it will complete the step within the timegiven. Steps marked ‘#’ are dependent uponprescriptions contained in the scoping documentand — at least partially — time taken by theproponent. At key decision points (steps 8 and 12)the Minister or Ministerial Council will reach adecision in the time stated.

Note that the process to resolve issues whenobjectives conflict (see page 46) is also to be usedthroughout this process, as required.

STEP 1 - Proposal received

• A proposal is received by, or initiated by theService, for a development or activity withinthe WHA. [Note that day-to-day activities ofService staff are not required to go throughthis process, unless values could potentially beaffected.]

STEP 2 - Key Decision Point 1 - Compliance with themanagement plan and legislation [2 weeks]

• The Service assesses whether the proposalaccords with the management plan andrelevant legislation.

• This is the first key decision point. If theproposal is in accord with the plan andrelevant legislation, it continues on to step 3via the ‘Yes’ pathway.

• If it isn’t in accord with the plan or relevantlegislation it follows the ‘No’ pathway andone of the following actions occurs. Theproposal:

- is rejected and doesn’t proceed;

- is modified and resubmitted in accordwith the requirements of the plan andrelevant legislation or

- a change to the plan is agreed (see below)and the proposal goes on to step 3.

• Further consideration of proposals that do notaccord with the plan, but are recommended toproceed by Ministerial Council, would requirethat the relevant sections of this plan beformally reviewed and amended. For detailsof the formal review process refer to PlanReview, figure 2, page 47.

• Should the above situation arise, the proposedplan review and amendment process is to beintegrated with the new proposals process sothat the relevant public consultation stepsrequired for each process are undertakensimultaneously.

Expressions of Interest

• The Service will decide whether the proposalshould be open to expressions of interest otherthan that of the original proponent. [5 weeks,one week to place advertisements and fourweeks for potential proponents to prepare andsubmit expressions of interest]

STEP 3 - Scale of proposal — the major and minorpathways [2 weeks]

• At step 3 the process splits into major and

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minor pathways. The pathway taken dependson the scale of the proposal, its perceivedpotential for impact and the likely level ofpublic interest. The major pathway isdescribed first below.

• Major proposals are large in scale, often havehigh public interest and/or the potential forsubstantial impact on the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of the WHA.Projects like the 48 unit Pump House Pointdevelopment at Cynthia Bay, a new series ofcommercial or public huts, or additionallanding sites for floatplanes or helicopterswould all be considered major (though theassessments for these would vary - see step 4below). Minor proposals are considerablysmaller in scale, have low public interest andlow potential for impact on values, egrerouting a section of walking track,refurbishment of an existing facility.

• The Service will assess whether the proposalis of major or minor status. This assessmentwill take account of the above criteria and alsowhether the proposed site is a ‘greensite’ orhas been previously disturbed.

• The Service will ensure, for both major andminor pathways, that expert advice andadequate information about the WorldHeritage and natural and cultural values ofthe WHA, and management planningconsiderations, are provided at the earliestpossible stage. This will alert proponents tosignificant issues, and guide the developmentof proposals which minimise potentialimpacts.

STEP 4 - Major Proposal Pathway - Scopingdocument [# 6 weeks]

• At this stage a scoping document is developedbetween the proposal’s proponents, theService, and any other relevant stakeholders.It will involve a preliminary investigation toassess environmental parameters of the site,including identifying values, issues andconstraints. This document will detail:

- whether a change to the management planis required;

- the level of environmental impactassessment required;

- where required, the level of social impactassessment;

- the extent of public consultation required;

- key decision points and the decisionmakers and

- the timeframe for the assessment process.

• These aspects will be agreed as far as ispossible prior to the environmental impactassessment process (see step 5 below).

STEP 5 - The Major Pathway - Environmental ImpactAssessment [# 4 – 12 weeks]

• Proposals with the potential for significantenvironmental impact will be subject todetailed environmental impact assessmentand public review at this step.

• A draft Environmental Impact Statement willbe prepared. This may be done by theproponent, consultants or the Service, asappropriate — it will however be funded bythe proponent.

• Environmental Impact Assessment may take anumber of forms. Where an impactassessment is required under theEnvironmental Management and PollutionControl Act 1994, this will be undertaken inaccordance with that Act. Where this Act doesnot apply, adequate environmentalassessment and evaluation of alternativeoptions will take place to allow informeddecision-making on the proposal. The level ofassessment required will vary substantiallydepending on the scale of the proposal, butwill be in accordance with the requirementsspecified in the scoping document (step 4).

• At times, the Commonwealth EnvironmentProtection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 mayalso apply. If in the view of theCommonwealth Minister administering thatAct, the Commonwealth is involved in adecision or providing advice on a matter ofenvironmental significance, the Minister mayrefer the matter under that Act. Such an actionmay result in the Minister requiring aproponent to carry out an environmentalimpact statement or a public environmentreport. (The Commonwealth in 1997, throughtheir participation in Ministerial Council,referred the proposal to retain the Mt McCalltrack under this Act).

• Where required, potential social impacts andpotential cumulative impacts of proposals willalso be assessed.

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• Public participation in the proposal’s impactassessment processes and further parts of thedecision-making process will be available atappropriate times through relevant statutes orthrough the public consultation processes ofthe Service. Public consultation periods will benoted in the scoping document.

• During this step the WHA ConsultativeCommittee also provides advice on theproposal.

STEP 6 - The Major Pathway - Key Decision Point 2 -In principle approval? [4 weeks]

• At this step, the results of the EnvironmentalImpact Assessment are available and areconsidered by the Minister or MinisterialCouncil (depending on the scale of the projectand the extent of potential impact on WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues). Any advice from the WHAConsultative Committee is also considered atthis step.

• At this key decision point preliminaryanswers to the following questions will berequired:

- the extent to which the proposalcontributes to or compromises WHAmanagement objectives;

- how it aids in presenting the WHA andwhom it specifically benefits;

- specifically why the development oractivity needs to be located within theWHA (rather than adjacent to, orelsewhere outside the WHA);

- the adequacy of the level of knowledgeabout the values of the area likely to beaffected by the proposal;

- the estimated level of impact on theWorld Heritage and natural and culturalvalues of the WHA, other risks associatedwith the proposal, the steps that areproposed to ameliorate these and anassessment of how adequate these stepsare;

- the cost-benefit to the Service and thefinancially viability of the project and

- the suitability and/or past record ofperformance of the project managers/operators.

• The proposal is then either given in-principleapproval (and moves to step 7), or is notapproved (and does not proceed).

STEP 7 - The Major Pathway - Brief forEnvironmental Management Plan [2 weeks]

• In the light of findings from the EIS processand the in-principle approval granted at step6, the Service, in consultation with theproponent, prepares a brief for theEnvironmental Management Plan.

STEP 8 - The Major Pathway - Draft EnvironmentalManagement Plan [# 4 weeks]

• A draft Environmental Management Plan(EMP) is then prepared. This may be done bythe proponent, consultants or the Service, asappropriate — it will however be funded bythe proponent.

• Note that proposed developments or activitieswhich have been considered and given in-principle approval (at step 6) may onlyproceed where the following issues have beenadequately addressed in an EnvironmentalManagement Plan:

- the siting and design of all infrastructureand facilities minimises environmentaland scenic impact on the World Heritageand natural and cultural values of theWHA;

- appropriate preventive strategies andmeasures are in place to avoid potentialimpacts of the development or activity(eg the spread of disease, the introductionof exotic species, the unnecessarydisturbance of vegetation) or to minimiseimpacts (eg rehabilitation program fordisturbed sites, how the threat of fire is tobe managed etc);

- conditions of operation, performancestandards or other critical performancerequirements have been adequatelydefined;

- formal arrangements exist andmechanisms are in place to monitorcompliance with defined performancerequirements and/or other outcomes ofthe development or activity (see alsoEnvironmental Quality, page 110) and

- mechanisms, procedures and/orpenalties that will apply in the event that

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specified conditions of operation,performance standards or other definedperformance requirements are not met orare breached.

STEP 9 - The Major Pathway - Public Comment [4–6weeks]

• The draft EMP is then made available forpublic comment. A minimum commentperiod of one month applies.

• Should a change be required to this WHAmanagement plan, this period of publiccomment will also form the comment periodlegally required to amend the managementplan.

STEP 10 - The Major Pathway - Final EMP [# 4weeks]

• A final EMP is then developed in the light ofthe public comment and advice from theWHA Consultative Committee.

STEP 11 - The Major Pathway - Key Decision Point 3- Final Decision [4 weeks]

• At this step the Minister or Ministerial Councilmakes the final decision on the final EMP and,if required, any changes to the WHAmanagement plan.

• At this key decision point, final answers to thequestions asked at key decision point 2 (step6) and the following additional questions willbe required:

- the findings of monitoring andevaluation programs related to similardevelopments or activities;

- the adequacy of proposed mechanismsfor monitoring and evaluating impactsand for responding to identifiedproblems and

- the nature and levels of publiccomplaint/feedback concerning theproposed development or activity andhow these concerns have been addressed.

STEPS 12, 13 and 14 - The Major Pathway -Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation,Project Completion

• Following approval, the proposal isimplemented, monitored and evaluated, asrequired by the Environmental ManagementPlan. For some projects monitoring andevaluation ceases at the end of the project, forothers the monitoring is ongoing.

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Remedial Action

Should monitoring or evaluation identify problems(eg breaches of the EMP, failure to meet specifiedrequirements etc), remedial action and/or penaltiesforeshadowed in the EMP will be activated, and/ormanagement arrangements will be reviewed.

STEP 5A - The Minor Pathway - In ServiceAssessment

• Proposals that are considered minor and thatare provided for by the managementprescriptions of this plan (and/or theprovisions of approved site and othersubsidiary plans where relevant) will besubject to normal Service approvals takinginto account advice from relevant staff(including specialists).

• The Service will evaluate current processes toensure that adequate assessments anddecision-making processes are in place toconsider minor developments, activities orchanges in use.

STEP 6A - The Minor Pathway - Key Decision Point2

• Taking account of the information gathered atstep 5A, the Director, or senior Servicemanagers will approve or not approve theproposal.

General• Develop detailed guidelines to more fully

explain the new proposals process andarrangements for the consideration ofproposed developments and activities. Thesewill include criteria for the definition ofprojects to be subject to public review;guidelines for Environmental ImpactAssessment and Environmental ManagementPlans; requirements for ensuring the adequacyof assessment studies; funding arrangementsfor assessment and other proceduralrequirements; responsibility for defining,monitoring and enforcing conditions ofoperation, or meeting performance standardsor other critical performance requirements.

• Provide advice and, where appropriate,develop guidelines on how to avoid orminimise environmental or scenic impacts.

• Consult with the Tasmanian Aboriginalcommunity prior to any determination ondevelopment proposals that may have

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potential impacts on Aboriginal culturalheritage or values. (See also AboriginalManagement, page 100).

• Ensure that conditions of operation or use ofthe WHA contain adequate provisions tocover the costs of any necessary subsequentrequirements for environmental protection orremedial measures.

• The project budget for proposeddevelopments or activities will be required tocover the costs of specified resource studies,provision of management planning advice,impact assessment processes and review, andany necessary subsequent requirements forenvironmental monitoring and management.Such studies and plans may be prepared bythe proponent under the direction of theService, or Service staff may undertake thework at the proponent’s expense. This may bevaried if the project is seen to be of majorState-wide importance.

• Where proposed developments or activitiesare found to threaten the conservation ofsignificant natural or cultural values, thefollowing options will be considered:

- re-site the proposed development oractivity;

- proceed with the development or activity,following recording of the site or sites —in the case of Aboriginal sites this mustbe in accordance with the provisions ofthe Aboriginal Relics Act 1975 or

- cancel the proposed development oractivity.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Report on the extent to which projects impact

on the World Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA.

• Monitor the nature and levels of publicsupport for, or complaints about, proposeddevelopments and activities within WHA.

• Gain feedback from project proponents,relevant staff and specialists regarding theeffectiveness of the New Proposals andImpact Assessment process.

• Evaluate and review assessment proceduresfor developments and activities periodicallyand improve as required.

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Chapter 5

Identification,Protection,ConservationandRehabilitation

5. Identification, Protection, Conservationand Rehabilitation

NATURAL DIVERSITY AND PROCESSES 76

GEODIVERSITY AND GEOCONSERVATION 78

VEGETATION 82

ANIMALS 84

FEEDING WILDLIFE 87

INTRODUCED ANIMALS 87

LANDSCAPE 89

WILDERNESS 91

CULTURAL HERITAGE 95

ABORIGINAL MANAGEMENT 100

ESTABLISHED PRACTICES 103

FIRE MANAGEMENT 106

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (air, water and noise) 110

REHABILITATION 114

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND MONITORING 116

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BACKGROUNDThis section of the plan focuses on measures toidentify, protect, conserve and, as necessary,rehabilitate the values of the WHA. These valuesinclude those that are considered to be of WorldHeritage significance, as well as all other naturaland cultural values.

The values of the WHA and associatedmanagement issues are described in a separateResources and Issues report6 prepared by theService in 1992. An updated version of thisdocument is planned.

In some cases, management for some values maypotentially conflict with management for othervalues. In these cases, the recommendations forresolving conflict between objectives will beemployed (see page 46).

A number of management prescriptions applygenerally to the management of natural andcultural values throughout the area. These generalprescriptions are presented immediately belowand in the following section entitled NaturalDiversity and Processes. Prescriptions that applyto specific values are presented under the relevantsubject headings in subsequent sections of chapterfive.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT

Identifying ValuesDuring the life of the 1992 plan, variousadditional values of the WHA were identified;these are noted in the specific sections that followlater in chapter 5. However, one area wasidentified as having particularly significantnatural values.

The Port Davey–Bathurst Harbour embayment isthe largest undisturbed estuarine system inSouthern Australia, and the Davey and Bathurstcatchments are free of introduced fish. Unusualfeatures of the system are the extraordinarily lowlevel of nutrients in the waters of BathurstHarbour and its associated marine invertebratefauna.

Following the discovery of unique fauna in thearea, it is State government policy to create (inconsultation with stakeholders) a marine reservein the Port Davey–Bathurst Harbour area to

protect this unique habitat and a representativearea of one of Tasmania’s marine bioregions. Atthe time of writing the Service and the MarineResources Division of the Department of PrimaryIndustries, Water and Environment are workingto implement this proposal (see also CommercialFishing, page 187).

OBJECTIVESThis general section at the start of chapter fivecovers management prescriptions and monitoringand evaluation designed to broadly achieveobjectives two, three and four of the overarchingobjectives of the management plan (see pages 31–36 for details of these).

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Identifying Values ✓ [KDO’s 2.1 and 2.3]The values of the WHA are not always static. Newdiscoveries are made, the environment canchange through natural processes, old values arere-evaluated in the light of new knowledge andnew criteria for World Heritage Area listing mayalso arise. The following prescriptions provide themechanisms for dealing with this potential forchange.

• Undertake a review of the values of theWHA to define, identify and update valuesat the world, national, State and regionallevels. Include in this review the proposed 15dedicated reserves identified during the RFAprocess (see page 19) as potentially havingworld heritage value. Clearly documentthese values. Should new values of worldheritage significance be identified, the areamay be renominated or the presentnomination document may be updated toinclude them. [KDO 2.1 and 2.3]

• Encourage, facilitate and undertake research,surveys, inventories and mapping of theWorld Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA (includinggeology, geomorphology, soils, vegetation,animals, landscape, wilderness, Aboriginaland historic cultural values), focusingparticularly on areas or values which arethreatened. [KDO 2.3]

• Identify critical gaps in knowledge of theWorld Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA and strategically

6 Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage,Tasmania, 1991 Tasmanian Wilderness World HeritageArea Draft Resources and Issues, pages 13 to 85, Hobart.

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target these gaps. [KDO 2.3]

• Upgrade and standardise currentGeographic Information Systems to providea powerful, accessible, and easy-to-usecomputerised GIS to facilitate mapping andmanipulation of data on the values of theWHA.

[Note that database and GIS informationrelating to Aboriginal heritage within theWHA is controlled by the Aboriginalcommunity, who decide how and when suchinformation is to be shared.]

• Identify and protect sites of special naturaland cultural significance. (Note that forAboriginal values this is to be done inconsultation with the Aboriginalcommunity). See also Scientific Areas inZoning, page 62. [KDO 2.3]

• Update the Resources and Issues documentand make this and other information on thevalues of the WHA available on the Service’sinternet site.

Protecting Values ✓ [KDO’s 3.1 and 3.2]• Identify activities or factors that threaten the

achievement of the management objectivesfor the WHA. Develop and implementtargeted strategies to address these threatsand, where appropriate, establish standards,targets or acceptable limits of use or impact.[KDO 3.1]

• Develop and implement managementstrategies to protect identified sites andvalues of special natural, cultural andscientific significance from threats. Focusparticularly on sites or values that arevulnerable or threatened. [KDO 3.2]

• Assess the significance of values and prepareconservation plans for specific natural andcultural values where necessary eg forthreatened or rare species, fragile formationswithin karst systems and significant culturalsites. [KDO 3.2]

• Utilise or establish regulations, policies,guidelines, conditions of operation, andprescriptions in subsidiary plans to preventidentified threats or to control their impactswithin acceptable, and where necessary,defined limits. [KDO 3.2]

• Establish adequate mechanisms to ensure

that in the event that specified standards orguidelines are not achieved, the problem canbe rectified within an appropriate timeframe,and, where appropriate, that penalties can beapplied. [KDO 3.2]

• Assess the potential impacts on natural andcultural values when planning anydevelopment or action that may disturbthese values. Undertake appropriate surveysto determine likely impacts. [KDO 3.2]

• In applying the precautionary principle (andas provided for by the IntergovernmentalAgreement on the Environment, 1992)decisions will be guided by:

- careful evaluation to avoid, whereverpracticable, serious or irreversibledamage to the environment and

- an assessment of the risk-weightedconsequences of various options.

• Actively manage physical development andhuman usage of the WHA to minimise orcontain within acceptable limits impacts onthe natural and cultural values. Based onbest available knowledge and taking aprecautionary approach, determineappropriate levels or conditions of use.Where necessary, change or redirectactivities, behaviour, conditions of operationetc that are shown to impact, or are assessedas likely to impact, on natural and culturalvalues. [KDO 3.2]

• Inventory, monitor and, where practicable,eradicate or control exotic species anddiseases, particularly those that can causesignificant ecological damage.

Conserving and Restoring Values ✓[KDO 4.1]• Develop and implement management

strategies to halt and reverse identifiedimpacts, and to restore values.

• Undertake rehabilitation or restorationprograms when such action is likely to besustainable in the long term and will notunduly impact on other values.

• Provide advice to guide the location, scale,design etc of proposed structures,developments or activities so as to minimisethe impacts on natural and cultural values,and to minimise the need for rehabilitation.

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• Encourage editors and map producers toavoid publication of the locations of sensitivefeatures such as wild caves, archaeologicaland Aboriginal sites and locations of rareplants and animals in order to protect theresource from deliberate or unintentionaldamage. Service publications are to exercisecare in this regard.

• Promote familiarity with, and understandingof WHA natural and cultural values amongstService staff.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Identifying Values q [KDO’s 2.1 and 2.3]• Monitor and document progress in the

extent of coverage and/or documentation ofWorld Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA, particularlythose of world heritage significance. Noteparticularly progress in relation topreviously identified gaps in knowledge.[KDO 2.1]

• Regularly survey relevant Service staff andand/or other relevant experts to find the:

- number and nature of managementproblems or delays in managementcaused by a lack of knowledge of thenatural and cultural resources or theirmanagement requirements;

- level of satisfaction of natural andcultural heritage experts with theadequacy of the information base forsound management;

- level of satisfaction with the rate ofprogress in resolving outstandingmanagement issues and

- level of satisfaction of natural andcultural heritage experts with themanagement of the values in their area ofexpertise. [KDO 2.3]

Protecting Values q [KDO’s 3.1 and 3.2]• Monitor the nature and extent of threats and

adverse impacts on the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of theWHA, especially noting changes in theextent or level of severity of damage ordegradation, together with causes. [KDO 3.1]

• Monitor, document, evaluate and report onincidents of accidental or unforeseen damageto WHA values and management responses.[KDO 3.2]

• Document and monitor compliance/non-compliance with policies, guidelines,conditions of operation, specified standards,defined limits of usage, conditions ofoperation etc which have been established toprevent or control impacts. [KDO 3.2]

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness ofprovisions for limits of acceptable change.[KDO 3.2]

Conserving and Restoring Values q[KDO’s 4.1 and 4.2]• Establish or maintain programs to monitor

the condition of identified significant WorldHeritage and other natural and cultural sites,features and values, especially those that arerecognised as being especially vulnerable orat risk or considered to be good indicators ofchange. Document changes in the extent orlevel of severity of damage or degradation,together with causes. [KDO 4.1]

• Establish monitoring and documentationsystems to record and evaluate the success ofrehabilitation or restoration programs and tomonitor changes in the condition of theWHA (including long-term changes). [KDO4.2]

Natural Diversity andProcesses

This section deals broadly with maintaining andprotecting the WHA’s range of earth features (orgeodiversity) and its biological diversity (orbiodiversity). Later sections of this chapter dealmore specifically with the management of flora,fauna and geodiversity.

In attempting to manage for ‘natural’ diversity,the Service is not setting out to capture andpreserve the ecosystem at any particular point in

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time, but recognises past human activities andtheir present-day influences, and aims to establisha management regime that will provide for thecontinuation and well-being of the full range ofearth, and indigenous plant and animal systems.

In general, the protection of natural diversity andthe maintenance of natural ecological,evolutionary and earth processes is best achievedby minimising human interference with the area.However, ongoing human use and associatedimpacts can also be managed with varyingdegrees of success through a variety of strategieswhich can limit, or contain impact on the naturalenvironment.

Restoration of natural processes and systems mayinvolve the removal of introduced species,structures or activities which are disturbingsystems or impeding natural processes. In certaincircumstances, active management intervention innatural processes may be required in order toprotect or conserve significant natural or culturalvalues (eg the use of management-initiated firesto maintain fire-dependent communities, or theprotection of significant cultural sites fromerosion).

OBJECTIVESThe specific objectives for natural diversity andprocesses given below are also parts of the KeyDesired Outcome for objective 4.1 of theoverarching management objectives (for objective4.1, see Framework of Management, page 35). Asthey are subsets of objective 4.1 they are labelled4.1.1 to 4.1.4 (see below). To avoid repetition thesesubsets are only listed here and not at objective4.1.

4.1.1 To maintain geodiversity by maintainingnatural rates and magnitudes of change ingeomorphological and soil systems.

4.1.2 To maintain biodiversity, ie the full rangeof species, communities, ecosystems,genetic diversity and biogeographicintegrity. No or minimal loss of nativespecies or communities or establishment ofintroduced species due directly orindirectly to human activities.

4.1.3 To restore biodiversity and geodiversity informerly degraded communities orsystems.

4.1.4 To maintain or restore natural rates andmagnitudes of ecological, evolutionary andearth processes, as appropriate.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS ✓[KDO’S 4.1.1 - 4.1.4]• Develop and implement management

strategies (including fire managementregimes) to maintain the full range of naturalhabitats and communities. [KDO 4.1.2]

• Assist the ongoing management of the WHAby researching present day, historical andAboriginal influences on the processes andrates of change of ecosystems. [KDO 4.1.4]

• Identify outstanding or vulnerable naturalfeatures, species, habitats, communities etcand develop targeted management strategiesto enhance their protection and/or recovery.[KDO’s 4.1.1 to 4.1.4]

• Develop and implement regional or state-wide strategies to avoid the introduction ofexotic species, especially those identified ashigh-risk weeds, pests and pathogens. [KDO4.1.2]

• Develop and implement strategies to removeor contain the spread of introduced speciesand pathogens (especially high-impactweeds, pests and diseases) or to reduce theirimpacts to minimal and sustainable levelswhich do not threaten the achievement ofthe objectives of the plan. [KDO’s 4.1.2 and4.1.3]

• Identify agents or activities whichsignificantly disturb or degrade naturalprocesses and where possible, remove orreduce those impacts to minimal andsustainable levels which do not compromisethe objectives of the plan. [KDO’s 4.1.1 to4.1.4]

• Actively manage human activities so as notto significantly impact on the populationstructures or distributions of native species.Develop and implement strategies to restorenatural population levels in communitieswhere factors directly or indirectly related tohuman activities have distorted naturalpopulation levels or removed naturalpopulation checks. [KDO’s 4.1.3 and 4.1.4]

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MONITORING AND EVALUATION q[KDO’S 4.1.1 - 4.1.4]• Monitor changes in the conservation status

of earth resources (including changes in thenumber, extent and condition of geoheritagefeatures and processes), especially those thatare outstanding, representative, rare,vulnerable, or likely indicators of change.[KDO 4.1.1]

• Monitor changes in the conservation status,distribution, abundance, or other populationparameters of ecosystems, communities andspecies, especially those that areoutstanding, representative, rare, vulnerable,or likely indicators of change. [KDO 4.1.2]

• Monitor changes in the number, distributionand abundance of introduced species,especially weeds, pests or pathogens. Inparticular document the introduction orremoval of foreign provenance plants oranimals by humans. [KDO’s 4.1.2 and 4.1.3]

• Document and monitor rehabilitation ofselected degraded geoheritage sites,revegetation in selected degraded areas orcommunities and restoration of naturalpopulation characteristics in selectedpreviously disturbed communities. [KDO’s4.1.3 and 4.1.4]

Geodiversity andGeoconservation

BACKGROUNDThe geodiversity of the WHA forms thefoundations for the area’s rugged and naturalscenery and strongly influences the distribution ofits biological and cultural features. As well thereare many rock, landform and soil features ofsignificance in their own right (see chapter 2 ofthe Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Resources andIssues document, 1991).

The WHA has an unusually complete geologicalrecord stretching back 1,100 million years and has

rocks representative of most major geologicalperiods from the Precambrian to the Holocene. Inaddition, the structural history of parts of the areais extremely complex. The WHA encompasses anincredible variety of landforms or land formingprocesses including marine, wind generated,fluvial, karst, periglacial and glacial. The geo-processes that have influenced the area haveproduced spectacular scenery, including drownedcoastline, tortuous river courses and ruggedglaciated mountain ranges. If the full range of soilsis also considered, the WHA is arguably the mostgeo-diverse world heritage area in Australia.

Some aspects of the geoheritage such as the dunes,alluvial deposits, karst systems, unconsolidatedglacial deposits and organosols (peats) are highlyvulnerable to disturbance. Even bedrock featurescan be impacted, for example, where road works orscientific work remove or deplete formations ofrestricted extent.

Surface disturbance in karst catchments cansignificantly affect cave systems and all visits tocaves result in some form of damage. Particularcare with recreation activities and managementaction is required in karst areas.

Organic soils cover extensive tracts of the WHAand are highly susceptible to trampling damageand erosion. Horses, vehicles and bushwalkers cancause significant damage to these soils. Erosion ofpeat as a result of frequent burning and/or fireover dry soils is one of the most serious landdegradation problems in the WHA and hasimplications for fire management in the area.

There is continuing concern about erosion on theGordon River, rivers in the Bathurst Harbour–PortDavey area and also about the erosion of importantor sensitive deposits around the shores of artificialimpoundments.

Marram grass, an exotic species, has beendiscovered in the WHA. It has a major impact ondune forming processes and produces dunes whichare more hummocky and steeper than naturaldunes. The foredune parts of such ‘feral’ dunes areprone to wave attack.

Geoscientific work, and in particular specimencollection, has the potential to impact ongeodiversity. Many aspects of geodiversity are notforming today or form so slowly that they areessentially non-renewable.

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PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTA wide range of major projects and managementactions has been undertaken over the last fiveyears in the WHA. These have contributed to theService’s understanding of the area, prevented orminimised damage to earth phenomena oridentified potential threats to geodiversity.

The Central Plateau erosion survey, whichmapped the extent and severity of erosion andestablished erosion monitoring sites,recommended continuing the exclusion ofgrazing from this part of the WHA.

Research into stream bank erosion problems on theGordon River has included long term monitoring,sedimentation studies, research into wavecharacteristics of cruise boats and bank stabilityassessments. Waves produced by cruise boats havebeen identified as a major cause of streambankerosion on the Gordon River. Limitations on wherecruise boats can operate and the speed at whichthey operate have decreased rates of river bankerosion. Further work is required to identify thewave types which pose a threat to bank stability.

Large scale impacts on karst systems havedecreased significantly with the closure of BendersQuarry. Geomorphological, hydrological and waterquality studies of the Exit Cave system haveallowed rehabilitation works to proceed. Ongoingmonitoring is required to assess the success ofrehabilitation completed in 1996. Other karst issuesbeing addressed include the management of the IdaBay and Mole Creek karsts, cave classification,gates, water quality and air quality monitoring.Guidelines for cave management and a caveclassification system have been developed.

Investigations into coastal dune development andlake shore erosion and management have beenundertaken.

The threat of fire to peat has been partly reduced bystrict criteria for management burns. Howeverfurther work is required to understand therelationship between vegetation, soil, litteraccumulation and fire.

A new management regime has been proposed forLake St Clair to minimise the erosive effects of theimpounded lake. A Water Management Strategy toimplement this has been developed.

Inventories of sites of geoconservation significancehave been compiled and the Service has facilitatedwork with Mineral Resources Tasmania and theAustralian Geological Research Organisation in

order to further geological understanding of theWHA.

OBJECTIVESSee also Natural Diversity and Processes (page76) and Caving and Karst Management (page141).

• To identify, protect and conservegeodiversity and sites of geoconservationsignificance.

• To maintain natural rates and magnitudes ofchange associated with geo-processes.

• To improve the earth science informationbase to better understand, manage, andinterpret geoconservation values in theWHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Natural Processes• Only give consideration to interfering with

natural processes where the threats are tohighly significant features and remedialwork is likely to succeed.

• Eradicate or control exotic species whichimpact on or pose a threat to landforms, soilsor geo-processes.

• Assess the status of peat degradation in theWHA.

Karst• Undertake geomorphological, archaeological

and hydrological assessments prior to anyproposed works in karst areas.

• Compile an inventory of karst areas withinthe WHA. Record all known caves in morefrequently visited areas, however leaveundocumented (other than a name listing)caves in seldom visited wilderness karsts,unless user pressure demands a change fromwilderness classification.

• Apply the cave classification systemdeveloped by the Service and ForestryTasmania (based on that proposed by theAustralasian Cave and Karst ManagementAssociation). Classify caves using thissystem to protect their World Heritage andother natural and cultural values. Thisincludes the following cave categories:

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Public Access Cave

- Adventure Cave: available for generalrecreational use.

- Show Cave: existing or potential touristcave.

Special Purpose Cave- Reference Cave: sites of scientific interest

where access is restricted.

- Outstanding Value Cave: access restrictedto protect outstanding natural or culturalvalues.

- Wilderness Cave: cave within designatedwilderness area. Any development orrecording discouraged, locationinformation restricted.

- Dangerous Cave: access restricted.

Wild Cave: remote area cave where accessmay be restricted or location informationrestricted to retain wild character.

• Maintain a Cave and Karst ManagementCommittee (with representation of caveusers and karst specialists) to:

- apply the cave classification system;

- evaluate the existing cave permit system;

- investigate alternative means ofregulating caving;

- identify priority karst areas and caves formanagement planning;

- provide specialist advice on cave andkarst management issues and

- facilitate co-operation between Servicestaff and cave user groups to aid karstmanagement projects.

Human Caused Impacts• Assess potential impacts on geodiversity that

may arise from scientific research,recreational or other activities.

• Prevent or minimise impacts arising fromhuman activities on geoheritage values inthe WHA.

• Identify, and where feasible manage erosionand geomorphic hazards initiated by humanactions to prevent or reduce their impact.

• Assess all practical alternatives beforedeciding to blast or drill bedrock, or excavategenerally, in association with anydevelopment, particularly where sites of

geoconservation significance may beaffected.

• Road cuttings, quarries or any otherexcavation may be retained or enhanced forresearch, education or interpretation ifconsistent with other policies for the area.

Lakeshore and Streambank Erosion• Where practicable, reduce and minimise

bank erosion caused or accelerated byhuman activities. (See Gordon River bankerosion in Boating (Motorised), pages 137and 139).

Lake St Clair Erosion• Implement a Water Management Strategy for

Lake St Clair that aims to prevent orminimise shoreline erosion, maximiserevegetation, and enhance the aesthetics ofthe lake shore environment.

Towards this aim, the Hydro-ElectricCorporation (HEC) undertakes to modify itsoperating rules for Lake St Clair with theintent of achieving the following targets:

- the lake level will be maintained above736.0 m less than 2.0% of the time and

- the lake level will be maintained above735.6 m less than 6.0% of the time.

[Note that the probabilities associated withthese target levels are derived from ten yearsof model simulation of the Hydro system. Inwetter than average years the targets may beexceeded. Additionally, extreme weatherconditions may make it impossible to safelylower the water levels quickly, in which casethe HEC undertakes to achieve these targetsas soon as weather conditions permit.

Because the results are based on aprobabilistic model, the HEC is unable tomake a more definite commitment toachieving the lake level targets within agiven year. The HEC will conduct furtheranalyses of their operating rules governingLake St Clair, and continue to work closelywith the Service, in attempting to meet thelake level targets specified above.]

• Assess the effectiveness of the abovemanagement regime, as appropriate, incollaboration with the HEC.

• Review of the lake level targets may beundertaken, if deemed necessary by both the

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Service and the HEC.

• Undertake a shoreline rehabilitationprogram in high priority areas, inconsultation with the HEC.

Marram Grass• Identify the extent of marram infestation in

the WHA and implement a control strategy.Where practicable, eliminate marram grassinfestations in the WHA.

Central Plateau Erosion• Do not re-introduce domestic stock grazing on

the Central Plateau.

• Treat erosion damage on the plateau using thebest methodology following trials. (SeeRehabilitation, Central Plateau, page 116.)

Collection• Where appropriate, investigate the impact of

geoscientific investigations on deposits,processes or features considered vulnerable tocollection. Pay particular attention to non-renewable or relict features and depositsconsidered to be vulnerable because of theirslow natural rate of development.

• Collection of earth materials may be permittedfor geoscientific purposes only (however notean exception for fossicking, see Hobbies andCrafts, Management Prescriptions, page 148).Hand tools only will be permitted forspecimen collection.

Research• Only geoscientific research which is both

consistent with protecting and preserving thevalues of the WHA and contributes to theconservation of the area’s values will bepermitted.

• Research which is of benefit to other geo-scientific issues outside the WHA, may beconsidered provided it does not adverselyimpact, or have the potential to adverselyimpact on the conservation of the area’snatural or cultural values.

MONITORING AND EVALUATIONIn general:

• Monitor the effects of human use ongeodiversity, earth features, processes andvalues.

• Document any further impact on, ordestruction of sites, features and processes ofgeoconservation significance, particularlythose of World Heritage significance.

• Commence monitoring geomorphic,hydrological and pedological processes atrepresentative baseline sites for areas whichare likely, in future, to be adversely affected byhuman activities.

• Assess the progress and effectiveness ofthematic and regional inventories, thegeoconservation classification system and theTasmanian Geoconservation database.

• Review the effectiveness of site specificmanagement plans for sensitive, threatenedor vulnerable geoheritage sites, and of sitespecific geoconservation interpretationmaterials.

• Review the extent to which geoconservationprinciples are applied to all aspects of landmanagement and conservation.

Specifically:

• Continue to monitor:

- rehabilitation work conducted at theLune River (Benders) Quarry;

- streambank erosion on the Gordon Riverand in the Port Davey-Bathurst Harbourarea;

- erosion plots and rehabilitation work onthe Central Plateau;

- recreational and other impacts on caveand karst systems at Mole Creek, LuneRiver, Precipitous Bluff, Cracroft Valleyand in the Gordon River catchment;

- erosion of organosols (peats);

- effects of fire on peats and mineral soils;

- erosion of walking and vehicular tracks,campsites, visitor services areas andother trafficked areas and

- the effects of marram grass on coastaldune systems.

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VegetationBACKGROUNDThe diverse vegetation of the WHA reflects therange of fire regimes, altitudes, rock types,rainfall and other environmental parameterspresent in the area. The insularity of the WHA ina global context has contributed to theuniqueness of the flora. Habitats of specialsignificance include rivers, lakes, lagoons, coastalareas and rock types such as limestone anddolomite.

The large size, geographical extent and remotenessfrom disturbance of much of the WHA isconsidered to assure the protection of a widevariety of plant species and communities inTasmania.

The vegetation of the WHA demonstrates a varietyof responses to fire and may be divided into threecategories accordingly. ‘Fire-sensitive’ communitiesexhibit few or no adaptations to fire. They includecommunities dominated by conifers and deciduousbeech, species which may be eliminated by a singlefire. Rainforest, alpine and sub-alpine communities,including Sphagnum bogs are also fire-sensitive dueto their slow recovery rates after fire. ‘Fire-adapted’vegetation types require fire for their perpetuationbut may be degraded by a frequent fire regime.Such vegetation types include most Acacia,Eucalyptus and Leptospermum dominatedcommunities in the WHA. ‘Pyrogenic’ vegetation isvery flammable and recovers well after fire.Buttongrass moorland is the principal vegetationtype in this category. These three types form acomplex mosaic and the effect of fire on thestability of boundaries between them is not fullyunderstood.

Many issues relating to the protection and longterm perpetuation of vegetation exist within theWHA. Issues include: fire management (includingwild fire control, habitat burning, fuel reductionburning see page 106), factors affecting speciesrarity (habitat rarity, fire frequency), control ofexotic plants and diseases, rehabilitation ofdisturbed areas, the appropriate control of erosion

resulting from human disturbance (eg trampling)and impacts from developments associated withpark management and visitor facilities (egpollution and disturbance). Also of concern is thepotential impact of climate change on plantcommunities, particularly communities at highaltitudes.

While most of the WHA is free of weed species,there are corridors of infestation, particularly inareas of mechanical disturbance such as roadsides.Rubus fruticosus agg. (blackberry) is a commonweed in these disturbed areas. Ammophila arenaria(marram grass), Cortaderia spp. (pampas grass),gorse (Ulex europaeus) and ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)are also among weeds of concern in the WHA.There are only minor isolated instances of exoticspecies occurring in undisturbed ecosystems withinthe WHA and these are generally confined to riverbank and littoral sites.

Management of exotic species will frequentlyrequire co-operation with neighbouringlandowners and other land managementagencies if re-infestation of the WHA fromadjoining land is to be avoided. In manyinstances it may not be possible to eradicateweed species, in which case measures tominimise their impact and spread are required.

Exotic species may have cultural value whenassociated with a site of historic significance. Inthis situation they may be maintained for theircultural values as long as they do not pose aserious risk of invasion to the native vegetation.

Phytophthora cinnamomi is an introducedmicroscopic soil fungus that causes root rot insome plants. It is widespread in Tasmania andposes a severe threat to moorland, heath andscrub communities in the WHA.

Phytophthora cinnamomi is spread bytransportation of soil and by water. The fungus isvery difficult to contain and the best that can beexpected is to slow the rate of infestation. Thefungus attacks a wide range of plants withvarying severity and can cause death in manyspecies of the Epacridaceae, Proteaceae andFabaceae.

Phytophthora cinnamomi may have the capacity topermanently alter moorland and heathlandfloristics in the WHA. It presently occurs alongroads such as the Lyell Highway, Gordon RiverRoad and Scotts Peak Road. It also occurs alongwalking tracks such as the Port Davey track and

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the South Coast track west of the IronboundRange.

A native pathogen, myrtle wilt, caused by thefungus Chalara australis, can cause foliage wiltand subsequent tree death in Nothofaguscunninghamii. Present throughout myrtle forests,the disease is only of concern where its severity isincreased due to impacts which cause root orstem damage to trees.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTEarly flora conservation managementconcentrated on surveys and inventories (such asthe directed research programs, WildernessEcological Baseline Studies and vegetationmapping at 1:25,000). This is continuing, butmuch effort is now directed into impactsadversely affecting flora conservation (such asfire management, trampling, impacts of researchsuch as dendrochronology, weed and diseaseimpact and control), as well as research into rareand endangered species (such as Lomatiatasmanica, Centrolepis paludicola) and rare habitatsand communities (such as the flora on limestoneand serpentinite areas).

A new high altitude dieback in conifers andsubalpine heath communities has been identifiedat Pine Lake in the Central Plateau. An interimmanagement plan has been prepared whileresearch is undertaken to determine the cause ofthe dieback. The fungus Phytophthora sp nova hasbeen implicated in the dieback.

OBJECTIVES• To identify, protect and conserve native

plant species and communities, and theecological processes that maintain them,giving priority to those that have WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues, those that are endangered,vulnerable, rare or reserved mainly in theWHA.

• To minimise the impact of threateningprocesses on the flora including weeds,diseases, fire, pollution, introduced animalsand erosion, with priority given to highconservation value assets.

• To further our understanding of the floraresources of the WHA, their ecology and

processes impacting upon the conservationof these assets.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Biodiversity Management• Minimise disturbance to all vegetation and

manage the risk of introducing pests, weedsor pathogens into the WHA.

• Undertake surveys of the distribution ofplant species and communities. Identify,maintain and inventory flora values andundertake research to improve ourunderstanding of ecological processes andimpacts of disturbance.

• Encourage and facilitate research intomanagement requirements for threatenedspecies, rare and threatened plantcommunities and rare habitats.

• Initiate and support research programs intothreatening processes and, as appropriate,adopt management practices recommendedby such research.

• Encourage and facilitate research into theecology of lower plant species andcommunities.

• Continue to map the vegetation of the WHAgiving priority to areas receiving highvisitor numbers or that are of particularmanagement concern (at 1:25,000 and otherscales as appropriate).

Exotic Plant Management• Develop and implement regional weed

management strategies such that weeds aremanaged to:

- eradicate or control new or potentiallyserious environmental weeds;

- protect significant areas that aresubstantially weed free from weedinvasion;

- protect threatened species, communitiesand other high asset areas from theimpacts of weed infestation;

- contain and reduce existing infestationsof major weeds in cooperation withadjoining landholders and the generalcommunity and

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- ensure there is no loss of amenity due toweeds at Visitor Service sites.

• Only native species of local provenance maybe used in rehabilitation work unless specialapproval is given by the Service foralternatives.

• Where exotic plants exist within sites ofcultural significance, and they pose a seriousinvasive risk to the surrounding naturalvegetation, their management will bedetermined based on an assessment of thelevel of threat to conservation values, heritagevalues and the potential impact on thosevalues of available management options.

Plant Disease Management• Manage to protect large areas that are both

susceptible to, and free of, introduced plantpathogens.

• Protect high conservation value flora assetsfrom the effects of introduced plantpathogens.

• Investigate and assess the cause andpotential impact of new introduced plantdiseases.

• Manage public access where this willachieve effective control over the spread ofpathogens causing serious and permanentimpacts.

• Monitor the spread of Phytophthoracinnamomi and Pine Lake dieback.

• Establish and monitor permanent plots toexamine the effects of both Phytophthoracinnamomi and Pine Lake dieback oncommunity floristics and structure overtime.

• Continue to implement a statewide programto identify management areas forcommunities that are highly susceptible toPhytophthora cinnamomi.

• Maintain a temporary quarantine area atPine Lake to prevent possible spread ofplant pathogens from the area, until suchtime as future management is resolved. (Seemap four, page 217, for location.)

• Educate and inform the public about majorplant diseases, including methods visitorscan use to minimise the spread of disease.

Management of Other Threatening Processes• Where human activities seriously impact or

are likely to seriously impact upon floraconservation, establish research to study theextent of the impact and mechanisms toameliorate these impacts (for example,impacts of trampling by horseriding andbushwalking or the impacts of scientificresearch such as dendrochronology).

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Document, evaluate and report on

conservation measures employed toconserve native plant species andcommunities, especially those that areendemic, rare or threatened.

• Report on actions undertaken to acquirebaseline information of the flora resourcesand dynamics of the WHA.

• Document, evaluate and report onthreatening processes (such as fire,introduced species, pathogens,developments), their impacts on WHA flora,particularly high conservation assets (suchas those of World Heritage status).

AnimalsBACKGROUNDAnimals are a significant natural feature of theTasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.They provide living evidence of major changes inthe earth’s evolutionary history and on-goingbiological evolution. The WHA includesoutstanding examples of faunal communities andsignificant natural habitats for threatened, rareand endemic species.

Ancient ConnectionsThe fauna of the WHA provide living evidencefor the existence of the great landmass Pangea

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which existed over 200 million years ago. Duringthis time Australia was linked to most of theworld’s land masses.

Pangea divided into the supercontinents Laurasiain the north and Gondwana in the south. TheWHA is well endowed with animals that havetheir closest relatives living today in land massesthat were formerly part of Gondwana, such asAfrica, Madagascar, South America, NewZealand and Antarctica. Invertebrates providethe most abundant evidence of Tasmania’sGondwanan origins. Perhaps the best knownexample is the mountain shrimp (Anaspidestasmaniae), which is little changed from fossilsfound in Triassic sediments. Its closest relativesare found in New Zealand and South America.

Unique FaunaThe fauna of the World Heritage Area andTasmania continues to evolve in isolation. Thereare many unique species of birds, frogs, lizardsand fish which have evolved in Tasmania. Manyof our mammal species are recognised as distinctsubspecies from their mainland counterparts andwith time will probably become new species.Alpine heaths and boulder fields on mountainranges in the WHA have been the habitat foradaptive radiation of skinks in the genusNiveoscincus with three distinct species havingevolved. Some of their adaptations include theproduction of live young rather than eggs andthe ability to efficiently raise and maintain theirbody temperature.

It is amongst the invertebrates that evidence ofevolutionary processes is most apparent. Aremarkably high degree of genetic and phenotypicdiversity has been recorded in invertebrate groups,particularly in rainforest, alpine, freshwater andcave habitats. For example the cold, well-oxygenated lakes and streams of Tasmania are aunique environment which have existed for tens ofmillions of years. The crustacean assemblage inthese habitats is globally unique and comprises 5families of primitive mountain shrimps(Syncarida), 30 species of freshwater crayfish and amultitude of amphipods and isopods.

Rare and Threatened SpeciesThe extensive wilderness of the WHA containsimportant habitat for a diverse range of rare orthreatened fauna. In total the WHA contains 13vertebrate and 13 invertebrate animals listed aseither rare or threatened (endangered, vulnerable

or extinct) in the Threatened Species Protection Act1995. Endangered species include the Lake Peddergalaxias (Galaxias pedderensis), the Orange-belliedparrot (Neophema chrysogaster) and the Lake Pedderearthworm (Diporochaeta pedderensis).

Vulnerable species include the Pedra Branca Skink(Niveoscincus palfreymani), the shy albatross(Diomedea cauta), and the pencil pine moth (Dirceaesiodora). Rare species include the New Zealandfur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri), the grey goshawk(Accipiter novaehollandiae), the swamp galaxias(Galaxias parvus), Hickmans pygmy mountainshrimp (Allanaspides hickmani), and the caveharvestman (Hickmanoxymma cavaticum). Inaddition to these species the WHA containspopulations of species which are listed nationallyas rare or threatened but are secure in Tasmaniasuch as the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurusmaculatus), eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) andthe hooded plover (Charadrius rubicollis).

Tasmania, and the WHA in particular, now servesas a refuge for many animals that have become rareor have vanished from the rest of the continent.Some, such as the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilusharrissi), the long-tailed mouse (Pseudomys higginsi),the bettong (Bettongia gaimardi), eastern quoll andpademelon (Thylogale billardierii) survive nowhereelse, after having disappeared relatively recentlyfrom south-eastern Australia.

DiscoveriesBecause of its size and in particular its ruggedand isolated nature, there is still much to discoverin the WHA. A previously unknown and uniquecommunity of marine invertebrates was onlydiscovered in Bathurst Channel in the far south-west of Tasmania in 1995. Many of the speciesfound in the channel are new to science andremain undescribed. In addition to marineinvertebrates, many new species of terrestrialinvertebrates have been identified since the WHAlisting. Three new vertebrate species have alsobeen discovered: the moss froglet (Bryobatrachusnimbus), the mountain skink (Niveoscincusorocryptus) and the Bathurst Harbour skate (Rajasp). Further surveys will greatly improve theknowledge and hence management of fauna inthe WHA.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTTwo major research programs were undertaken toincrease the level of knowledge about fauna in the

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WHA. Both programs invited scientists fromaround Australia to visit the WHA to conductresearch. The first program, Directed WildlifeResearch (DWR), resulted in scientistsundertaking research surveys throughout theWHA. The second program, WildernessEcosystem Baseline Studies (WEBS), concentratedresearch studies in two areas, Melaleuca andPelion Valley. These surveys generated a wealthof previously unknown information, includingthe discovery of many new species and apreviously unknown and unique community ofmarine invertebrates in Bathurst Channel.

18,000 records for 7,000 locations have beenentered onto the Tasmanian Wildlife Atlas forWHA fauna. Species distribution maps have beenproduced for all vertebrates, all rare andthreatened species and all introduced species.

Recovery plans have been developed andimplemented for the Pedder galaxias, ptunarrabrown butterfly (Oreixenica ptunarra), swift parrot(Lathamus discolor), wedge-tailed eagle (Aquilaaudax), orange-bellied parrot, Clarence galaxias(Galaxias johnstoni) and swamp galaxias. Annualmonitoring of rare and threatened species such asthe New Zealand fur seal, shy albatross and PedraBranca skink has been undertaken on WHAislands. A list of rare and threatened invertebratespecies in the WHA has been developed andaction plans produced.

Since 1993, Fauna Conservation Research Grantshave been provided to post-graduate students atthe University of Tasmania. Funds have been forresearch expenses only. This has been a verysuccessful and cost-effective means ofencouraging research on fauna in the WHA.Examples of projects funded include: the ecologyof the recently discovered moss froglet; impacts offire on small mammals and the incidence of thehuman pathogen Giardia in the WHA.

OBJECTIVES• To identify, protect and conserve native

animal species and communities, and theecological processes that maintain them,giving priority to those that are rare orthreatened.

• To further our understanding of the fauna ofthe WHA, its World Heritage and othervalues, its ecology, and processes impactingupon its conservation.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Human Impact Management• All proposed developments and major

management activities will be assessed interms of their impact on faunal values of theWHA.

• Where human activities are, or are likely to,impact upon fauna conservation, researchwill be established to study the extent ofpotential impact and mechanisms toameliorate this.

• Initiate and support research programs intothreatening processes.

• Undertake research to investigate theimpacts of cave visitors on cave fauna.

Biodiversity Management• Undertake surveys of the distribution of

animal species and communities. Maintaininventories of fauna values.

• Encourage and facilitate research into theecology and taxonomy of invertebrates.

• Encourage and facilitate research of faunalcommunities in habitats and microhabitats ofsignificance to the WHA such as caves,alpine areas, oligotrophic waters, rottinglogs, peat mounds, endemic plant speciesand the burrows of freshwater crayfish.

• Record and monitor wildlife parasites anddiseases with emphasis on human pathogens.

• Develop and implement management plansfor rare and threatened species.

• Develop long-term monitoring programs tomonitor biodiversity and to detect globalclimate change.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor the number of known animal

species in the WHA.

• Monitor the distribution and status of nativeanimals, particularly those that arethreatened, rare, endemic or of worldheritage status.

• Monitor any loss or degradation of faunahabitat in the WHA.

• Monitor threats to selected animal speciesand communities and the effectiveness ofmanagement actions to counter these.

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Feeding WildlifeBACKGROUNDFeeding of wildlife in the WHA can enhancevisitor experience, provide an opportunity forvisitors — particularly children — to form anempathy with wildlife and contribute toencouraging visitors to the State’s parks.However, feeding wildlife can also increase therisk of disease amongst wildlife, disrupt animalsocial behaviour, damage habitat (as a result ofmaintaining artificially high numbers) and thewildlife can also become pests — raiding people’sfood and equipment. Of particular concern is therisk of injury to visitors as a result of insistentwildlife.

Within the WHA the Service is required tomaintain natural processes as well as providevisitors with an opportunity to observe wildlife intheir natural state. There are a number of excellentwildlife parks as well as other non-reserve areaswithin Tasmania where visitors can feed wildlife.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTIn the past, management of feeding wildlife in theWHA has been inconsistent, being prohibited insome areas and encouraged in others.

In 1997 a ‘Keep Wildlife Wild’ education programwas developed to actively discourage visitorsfrom feeding wildlife. Notesheets explaining theproblems feeding can cause have been madeavailable at relevant locations in the WHA. Signshave been erected within the WHA and at otherTasmanian national parks.

OBJECTIVES• To maintain or restore natural processes by

discouraging the artificial feeding of wildlife.

• To allow visitors to observe wildlifebehaving naturally in the WHA.

• To minimise risk of injury to visitors.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Feeding of wildlife will be actively

discouraged in the WHA.

• The educational/interpretation program‘Keep Wildlife Wild’ will be continued toraise awareness of the problems and hazardsassociated with the feeding of wildlife.

• Feeding of wildlife will be prohibited inlocations where significant negative impactsare caused, for example, damage to habitats,injury to wildlife and harassment of visitors.

• The sale or provision of foods for thepurposes of feeding wildlife is prohibited inthe WHA and will be discouraged inenterprises close to the WHA.

• The feeding of wildlife by commercialoperators and concessionaires in the WHA isprohibited.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor the behaviour and attitude of

visitors and the behaviour of wildlife atselected visitor sites.

Introduced AnimalsBACKGROUNDThe presence of introduced species within theWHA impacts upon natural ecological processes.Introduced species may reduce the range and/orabundance of native species through predation,competition or disease.

Compared with the Australian mainland andeven the rest of Tasmania, the WHA contains bothfewer numbers and species of introducedanimals. This is largely a result of limiteddisturbance by contemporary societies andbecause the region is not conducive to invasion byexotic species.

Nevertheless the WHA does contain introducedmammals (eg cats, goats, rabbits, rodents), birds(eg starlings, sparrows, blackbirds, goldfinches,

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lyrebirds), fish (eg trout, red-fin perch) andinvertebrates (eg wasps, bees, springtails,earthworms). Fortunately, species such as theEuropean fox, which have been so damaging towildlife on the Australian mainland, do not occurin Tasmania. Dingoes are absent, as are feral pigs(from mainland Tasmania).

Most of the introduced species that occur inTasmania are well established and would bevirtually impossible to eradicate without thedevelopment of new technology. The most thatcan be achieved at present is localised controlwhere introduced species are threateningsignificant values (starlings and cats in orange-bellied parrot habitat), impacting on visitors (egwasps at tourist nodes) or occur in ‘islands’ ofhabitat (eg rabbits at Strathgordon and BreakseaIsland). Species such as feral goats are yet tobecome well established and there is a reasonablechance of eradicating them from the WHA.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT

StarlingsA small number of starlings have been shot andnests destroyed in orange-bellied parrot breedingareas at Melaleuca.

GoatsThe feral goat eradication program has identified15 sites inhabited by feral goats which are in ornear (within 5km) the boundary of the WHA. Intotal 227 goats have been removed from 14 sites,11 sites have now been declared inactive leaving 4active sites.

CatsCat control by shooting and trapping hasoccurred throughout the WHA in response tosightings.

Bait dispensers to control cats were developedand trialed successfully in captive experiments.However, field trials in the WHA were lesssuccessful as some native species managed toaccess the baits. (The trial baits did not containpoison).

A fact sheet on cats (both feral and domestic) hasbeen produced with information on responsiblepet ownership.

RabbitsA survey of the impact of rabbits on BreakseaIsland has been completed and photographicmonitoring of erosion established. Eradication ofrabbits at Breaksea Island is dependent onsecuring adequate funding.

Rabbit numbers are being controlled atStrathgordon to prevent their migration intosurrounding native vegetation. In co-operationwith the HEC, revegetation of parts ofStrathgordon has been undertaken whichincluded the erection of rabbit proof fences. Thisshould reduce the area of suitable habitat forrabbits.

Red Fin PerchThere has been concern that Red Fin Perchpresent in Lake Gordon (outside the WHA) maymake their way through the McPartlan Pass canalinto Lake Pedder (inside the WHA). The HEC ismanaging waterflows to reduce the likelihood ofperch migrating through the channel.

Introduced Animal DistributionsInformation on the distribution of introducedspecies is being compiled and entered onto theTasmanian Wildlife Atlas.

OBJECTIVES• To minimise the impacts of introduced

animals on natural values and visitorenjoyment.

• To prevent, as far as possible, furtherintroductions of exotic species.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

General Prescriptions• Develop management plans for introduced

species and prioritise control programs.

• Encourage the public to report the presenceof introduced species.

• Priority will be given to eradicationprograms where there is a high chance ofsuccess and little chance of re-introduction.

• Eradicate or control introduced animals inlocalised areas where they may threatenvalues with high conservation significanceor where they may impact on visitorenjoyment or from where they can spreadinto such areas.

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• Encourage, as appropriate, the participationof ‘Friends of ...’ Groups or otherCommunity Groups in the control oreradication of introduced species.

• Monitor the distribution of introducedspecies, particularly in relation to rare orthreatened native species.

• Control of exotic animals, feral stock andvermin may be achieved by specialoperations authorised by permit at thediscretion of the Director.

• Facilitate research into the management ofintroduced species.

• Facilitate research into the impacts ofintroduced animals on native plants andanimals, particularly those which are rare orthreatened.

• Produce interpretation and educationalmaterial on the problems of introducedspecies and prevention methods.

Specific Prescriptions• Eradicate rabbits from Breaksea Island and

Strathgordon.

• Eradicate goats from the WHA.

• Prevent the establishment of deerpopulations in the WHA.

• Develop methods for localised control ofwasps and bumblebees.

• Investigate the impacts of honey bees onnative flora and fauna (see Beekeeping, page185).

• Investigate the impacts of trout on nativeflora and fauna (see Fishing, page 147).

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor the number of introduced animal

species.

• Monitor the distribution of introducedanimal species.

• Monitor the number of complaints from thepublic about introduced species (eg waspattacks).

• Evaluate the success of control anderadication programs.

• Evaluate the impacts of selected introducedanimals on native fauna.

LandscapeBACKGROUNDTasmania’s magnificent natural scenery has longbeen a source of inspiration for visitors and todayit remains the principal motivation and source ofenjoyment for visitors to the WHA. Much of thearea retains its pre-European settlement character.The geological and glacial events that haveshaped the land, the climatic patterns and theresults of Aboriginal occupation have combinedto produce a varied and outstanding landscape.The significance of this is recognised by the areabeing accepted against the world heritagecriterion for ‘superlative natural phenomena,formations or features’.

Sheer quartzite or dolerite capped mountains areprominent features. Deep lakes, created by glacialaction, are perched amongst many of themountain ranges. On the Central Plateauthousands of lakes, tarns and pools contribute toan alpine environment unique in Australia. Rivershave cut deep gorges through mountain rangeswhile in the South West, extensive lowland plainsextend between mountain ranges. The south andsouth-west coasts consist of bold headlandsinterspersed with sandy beaches and rocky coves.

The forms, textures, colours and juxtaposition ofvegetation types within the area contributesignificantly to landscape diversity. Thevegetation of the area consists of a mosaic ofcommunities including towering eucalypt forests,tracts of rainforest, buttongrass plains and alpinemeadows.

The natural beauty of the area is largely derivedfrom the naturalness, diversity and spatialrelationships of landform and vegetation.

The WHA also encompasses cultural landscapes,containing widespread evidence of Aboriginaland historic periods of use of the land. Theevidence of past use of the WHA is interwovenwith the natural qualities of the area, at timescomplementing and at times deflecting from thesevalues.

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Cultural landscape elements include: the mosaicof vegetation patterns across the landscapederived from Aboriginal burning practices; thesuite of Aboriginal middens extending almostcontinuously along the coastal margin; thepatterns of land use created by the huts, fencesand other sites related to historic agriculturalpractices on the Central Plateau and the combinedimpact of cultural features associated withvarious historic activities including timbergetting, mining and hunting. Cultural landscapesinclude small scale sites and their presentation inthe environment and the interrelationship of sitesacross an environment.

Given their significance as a world heritage valueit is important that the complete range ofviewfields from distant vistas to foregrounds iscarefully managed. Views out of the WHA, aswell as within it, need to be considered andrequire cooperative management withneighbours. The visual impacts of all types ofdevelopments, eg from signs, walking tracks, hutsand toilets, to roads, carparks and other majordevelopments, need to be determined andminimised. Assessments need to consider factorssuch as siting, design, materials used inconstruction and rehabilitation.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTProgress in the management of landscape sincethe 1992 plan has been limited. Landscape factorshave been taken into account in the developmentof all site plans produced since the 1992 plan (fora listing of these see Visitor Facilities, PreviousManagement, page 170); in particular, landscapeissues were studied extensively during thepreparation of the Pump House Point site plan.However no overall assessment of landscape,scenery and viewfields has so far been conducted.

A revised sign manual for the Service, which willalso assist with sign design and placement, isnearing completion.

OBJECTIVESThe specific objectives for Landscape given beloware also parts of the Key Desired Outcome forobjective 4.4 of the overarching managementobjectives (for objective 4.4, see Framework ofManagement, page 35). As they are subsets ofobjective 4.4 they are labelled 4.4.1 to 4.4.4 (seebelow). To avoid repetition these subsets are onlylisted here and not at objective 4.4.

4.4.1 To protect and maintain World Heritageand other landscape values, includingscenic (particularly vistas and viewfields)and cultural landscape values.

4.4.2 To minimise the visual intrusiveness ofnew structures and developments in theWHA.

4.4.3. To reduce the incidence, severity, andextent of existing human impact on scenicquality.

4.4.4 To restore the natural character anddiversity of landscapes consistent withconservation of wilderness, culturallandscape and other significant culturalvalues.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS ✓ [4.4.1TO 4.4.4]

General Management• Investigate, identify, map, document and

assess landscape values in the WHA includingscenic, viewfield and cultural landscapevalues, giving priority to high use areas orareas under threat. This will involve theidentification of viewfields and determinationof the visual intrusiveness from high usevantage points and significant natural andcultural destinations of developments withinthe WHA and on neighbouring land. [KDO4.4.1]

• Develop a viewfield databank consisting ofinventory maps of the extent of viewedareas, photographs and/or computer-generated images to enable the visualimpacts of future developments to bedetermined.

• For each management zone, specific high usevantage points and significant natural andcultural destinations, prepare landscapequality objectives which will maintain andenhance existing scenic quality and culturallandscape values. [KDO 4.4.1]

• Prepare landscape protection guidelines foreach management zone and/or specificlocations. These guidelines will includeprescriptions on siting, design andconstruction materials for permitteddevelopments ranging, as appropriate, fromsigns and walking tracks to roads andbuildings.

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Conservation and Rehabilitation• Cultural landscapes will be conserved in

accordance with the program formanagement of cultural resources set out inthe Cultural Heritage, AboriginalManagement and Established Practicessections, see pages 95, 100 and 103respectively. Structures and other features ofcultural landscapes may be protected andconserved by appropriate conservationprocedures. [KDO 4.4.1]

• Subject to protection of significant culturalvalues, rehabilitate those intrusions whichare inconsistent with the landscape qualityobjectives for each zone, taking account ofother management requirements.Rehabilitation may include stabilisation oferoding slopes, revegetation of scarred areasor measures to reduce changes to the scenicquality of water bodies such as are caused bysuspended sediments or eutrophication. Seealso Rehabilitation, page 114. [KDO 4.4.3]

• Where feasible remove, relocate orappropriately replace insensitively locatedfacilities that significantly impact on scenicquality. Where such action is not feasible inthe short-term, consider options for the long-term enhancement of scenic quality. [KDO4.4.3]

Consultation• Liaise with the Hydro-Electric Corporation,

Forestry Tasmania, Department ofInfrastructure, Energy and Resources(Transport Division) and Mineral ResourcesTasmania regarding the rehabilitation ofdegraded areas within the WHA where theseagencies have some present or pastmanagement responsibility. [KDO 4.4.4]

• Consult with other government agencies,private organisations and individualsregarding future management anddevelopments outside or within the WHAwhich are likely to impact upon theviewfields of high use vantage points in theWHA. [KDO 4.4.2]

MONITORING AND EVALUATION q[KDO 4.4.1 TO 4.4.4]• Establish a long-term scenic quality

monitoring program, initially documentingbaseline information on landscape, sceneryand viewfields and focussing on areas ofpotential risk from scenic degradation andon sites/values of particular sensitivity.

As part of this program establish baselinephotographic records from identifiablepoints documenting the scenic qualitywithin and visible from the WHA egoutstanding vistas and viewfields,photographic sequences along popularwalking tracks and scenic roads, and atVisitor Services Zones and Sites. Record thelocation, extent and nature of existinghuman impacts on scenic quality visiblewithin and from the WHA.

• Monitor the impact of new developments,structures and facilities and rehabilitationwork on scenic, viewfield and culturallandscape values.

WildernessBACKGROUND

Definition of WildernessAlthough wilderness areas have importantecological and scenic values, neither of thesequalities are unique to wilderness. The commonlyrecognised qualities of wilderness are naturalnessand remoteness. Many definitions of wildernesshave been proposed based on these attributes. Forexample, wilderness is concisely defined as landremote from access by mechanised vehicles andfrom within which there is little or noconsciousness of the environmental disturbanceof contemporary people7.

The definition used in this plan8 and detailedbelow, expands on this simple definition.

A wilderness area is an area that is:

- of sufficient size to enable the long-term

7 Kirkpatrick, J.B. and Haney, R. A., 1980 TheQuantification of Developmental Wilderness Loss, TheCase of Forestry in Tasmania, in Search Vol 11 No 10.

8 Based on Robertson, M., Vang, K. and Brown, A.J.,1992 Wilderness in Australia: Issues and OptionsAustralian Heritage Commission, Canberra.

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protection of its natural systems andbiological diversity;

- substantially undisturbed by colonial andmodern technological society; and

- remote at its core from points of mechanisedaccess and other evidence of colonial andmodern technological society.

Explanation of terms used in the definition:

- The phrase ‘colonial and moderntechnological society’ is used in recognitionthat:

• Aboriginal custodianship and customarypractices have been, and in many placesthroughout Australia continue to be, asignificant factor in creating what non-Aboriginal people describe as wilderness.For information on the Aboriginal viewof nature and culture, see AboriginalManagement section, page 100; and

- non-Aboriginal people perceive andvalue ‘naturalness’ as the absence ofimpacts of colonial and moderntechnological society.

- The phrase ‘substantially undisturbed’recognises that:

- there may be relatively minor evidence ofprevious activities of colonial or moderntechnological societies in the area (thereare few, if any, wilderness areas totallyunaffected by such activities);

- all wilderness areas are, and willcontinue to be, affected to some extent byexternal influences (eg pollution andclimate change); and

- emergency and essential managementoperations may have some continuing

impact on the naturalness of thewilderness area.

- The expression ‘remote at its core’ recognisesthat the boundary of some areas may be nearor adjacent to mechanised access orsettlements.

Note that many members of the TasmanianAboriginal community have objections to thedefinition and use of the word wilderness as usedabove as in their view it limits indigenous rights.The Service view is that the definition ofwilderness above takes into consideration thisconcern of the Aboriginal community. Furtherdialogue on this issue will occur under theprovisions of the Aboriginal Management section.

Measurement of Wilderness QualityIt is sometimes necessary to measure wildernessquality, for example to assess the impact onwilderness quality of proposed developments ormanagement actions and to allow ongoingmonitoring of the degree of wilderness quality ofthe entire WHA.

Various studies have been undertaken to measurewilderness quality in Tasmania9. The Service willuse the most appropriate technique to measurewilderness quality. This is likely to be anenhanced implementation of the NationalWilderness Inventory (NWI) methodology asdefined by the Australian Heritage Commission(AHC)10. This is a computerised model based on:

- Remoteness from Settlement

- Remoteness from Access

- Apparent Naturalness

- Biophysical Naturalness.

The NWI does not attempt to define areas as‘wilderness’ or ‘not wilderness’, rather it recognisesa continuum of wilderness value from high to low.On this basis the entire WHA has some level ofwilderness value. The basic NWI model takes noaccount of the effect of topography on viewfieldsand does not deal systematically with the effects ofwalkers’ huts and walking tracks, which aresignificant in the Tasmanian context. For this reasonit is intended to develop, in conjunction with theAHC, an enhanced NWI methodologyincorporating these refinements.

This approach enables an objective measure to beused to compare the wilderness quality of differentareas of the WHA and to enable future

9 Russell, J.A., Matthews, J.H. and Jones, R., 1979Wilderness in Tasmania. A Report to the AustralianHeritage Commission. Centre for EnvironmentalStudies, Occasional Paper 10, University of Tasmania,Hobart; Hawes, M. and Heatley, D., 1985 WildernessAssessment and Management, The Wilderness Society,Hobart; Leslie, R.G., Mackey, B.G. and Shulmeister, J.,1988 National Wilderness Inventory: Stage II. WildernessQuality in Tasmania, A Report to the Australian HeritageCommission. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra;see also footnote 6, previous page.

10 Lesslie, R. and Maslen M., 1995 National WildernessInventory. Handbook of Principles, Procedures and Usage,2nd edition, Australian Heritage Commission,Canberra.

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management decisions to be weighed against theirimpact. It also enables incorporation of the impactsof cultural resources.

General BackgroundTasmania’s WHA is one of only three largetemperate wilderness areas remaining in thesouthern hemisphere (the others being theFiordland region of New Zealand and thePatagonian Andes in South America). In a nationalcontext, the WHA contains the largest tracts of highquality wilderness in south-eastern Australia.

For the broad Australian community, perhaps themost significant value of the Tasmanian wildernessis as a place away from the rat race, a place wherenature reigns, a source of inspiration and also aplace for reflection. With population growth, urbanexpansion and widespread environmentaldegradation throughout the world, many peopleplace great value in simply knowing that a largearea of wilderness still exists in Australia.Campaigns to save wilderness areas in Australia,and in Tasmania in particular, have heightenedpublic awareness of the values of wilderness.

The wilderness quality of the WHA has, untilrelatively recently, safeguarded its special naturaland cultural features. The characteristics ofwilderness — a pristine environment remote frommodern human development — have become rarein the world and are likely to become more so inthe future. The long-term retention of wildernessquality now requires active management. Hencemaintenance and enhancement of wildernessquality is regarded as a key management strategyto protect and conserve the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of the WHA inperpetuity.

Increased visitor numbers may result in pressurefor additional visitor facilities which may impact onwilderness quality. Even existing levels ofrecreational use of bushwalking areas aredegrading wilderness quality through deteriorationof existing tracks and formation of new tracks inpreviously trackless areas.

The single factor that is likely to have the greatestimpact on the wilderness quality of the WHA is theaddition or removal of roads. Other factors whichmay affect wilderness quality include vehicle andwalking tracks, accommodation and infrastructureand rehabilitation programs. The nature ofwilderness is such that developments onneighbouring land also have the potential to affect

the wilderness values of parts of the WHA.

Wilderness Recreational ExperienceThe wilderness recreational experience of visitors tothe WHA is a topic closely related to, but distinctfrom, the topic of wilderness. It is affected not onlyby the wilderness quality of the area but also bydisturbance factors such as overcrowding or noisefrom boats or aircraft. Acceptable standards fordisturbance will vary according to the location; egvisitors in Visitor Services Sites accessing the WHAfrom their cars are more tolerant of disturbancesthan walkers who have ventured into tracklessareas remote from evidence of moderntechnological society.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTPrevious management has consolidated andpromoted visitor and management facilities at pre-existing access points or new points along existingmajor roads. This has improved access andrecreational opportunities with no or negligibleimpact on wilderness quality.

Several redundant huts/shelters have beenremoved from the Southwest and Franklin-GordonWild Rivers National Parks (see Huts and Shacks,page 153).

Several vehicle tracks which impact on wildernessquality (including the Raglan Range track andminor tracks in the Little Fisher River area) havebeen closed and rehabilitated. The Mt McCall track,scheduled for closure in the 1992 plan, hasremained open. On 4 September 1997 anamendment to the 1992 plan was approved to keepthe road open.

There have been no major developments thathave substantially detracted from wildernessquality since the 1992 plan took effect.

OBJECTIVESThe specific objectives for Wilderness given beloware also parts of the Key Desired Outcome forobjective 4.2 of the overarching managementobjectives (for objective 4.2, see Framework ofManagement, page 35). As they are subsets ofobjective 4.2 they are labelled 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 (seebelow). To avoid repetition these subsets are onlylisted here and not at objective 4.1.

4.2.1 To maintain and enhance wildernessquality.

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4.2.2 To maintain and enhance the quality of thewilderness recreational experience forvisitors to the WHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS ✓[KDO’S 4.2.1 AND 4.2.2]

Zoning and Activity Management ✓ [KDO4.2.1]• Designate the majority of the area a

Wilderness Zone (see Zoning map 3, page216) and manage as wilderness (even thoughparts of it may not meet criteria for highwilderness value) — see Zoning section forfurther explanation, page 57.

• In general, apply zoning, access and activitycontrols to assist in managing the physicaldevelopment and human use of the WHA soas to protect wilderness quality while takingaccount of the need to present the WHA.

Removal of Structures ✓ [KDO 4.2.1]• Remove structures from Wilderness or Self-

Reliant Recreation Zones except for those ofcultural or other significance (see Zoningpages 57 and 58) and where removal can beachieved without further disturbingwilderness qualities.

• Undertake removal of structures and rehabil-itation of disturbance only after assessmentof cultural significance demonstrates thatsuch actions are warranted.

• Rehabilitation may be achieved by allowingareas to return to a natural condition of theirown accord, or by earthworks andrevegetation. Special measures may be takento conserve cultural heritage sites.

Visitor Facilities ✓ [KDO 4.2.2]• In general provide high use visitor facilities

on the periphery of the WHA where there iseasy access for the majority of visitors.

• Develop facilities, such as lookouts, toprovide extensive views of wilderness areas.Take into account the visibility of facilitiesfrom within wilderness areas and sitefacilities to minimise their impact.

Control of Wilderness Impacts ✓ [KDO4.2.1]• Ensure that management decisions

regarding future activities, developments oractions take into account the degree to whichthose actions will adversely impact on, oralternatively enhance, wilderness quality,and give preference to those which maintainor enhance wilderness quality.

• Enhance wilderness quality by closing trackswhere they are no longer required and theysignificantly reduce the remoteness ornaturalness of areas or they degrade or posea risk to the natural or cultural values of theWHA.

• Control unplanned development of tracksand routes. (See Walking and WalkingTracks, page 173).

Wilderness Recreational Experience ✓ [KDO 4.2.2]• Protect people’s wilderness recreational

experience by actively managing overflights(see Aircraft Activities section, page 133),motorised boats (see Motorised Boatingsection in Zoning (pages 60–61) and Boating(Motorised), page 137) and overcrowding(see Walking and Walking Tracks section,page 173).

• Identify key factors that degrade thewilderness experience of visitors andestablish strategies to actively manage thosefactors to maintain or enhance the quality ofvisitor experience.

Methodology Development ✓ [KDO 4.2.1]• Develop an enhanced methodology for the

quantification of wilderness which moreaccurately reflects the Tasmanian situationeg incorporates the effect of the threedimensional nature of the terrain onviewfields, and deals systematically withthe effects of walkers’ huts and walkingtracks.

Liaison with Adjoining Landholders ✓ [KDO 4.2.1]• Liaise with managers of adjoining land in

order to encourage management practiceswhich protect the wilderness values of theWHA as far as this is compatible with theirprimary management objectives.

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MONITORING & EVALUATION q[KDO’S 4.2.1 AND 4.2.2]• Periodically map the extent and level of

wilderness quality, based on definedcriteria, highlighting changes and noting thecauses. [KDO 4.2.1]

• Document and map factors affectingwilderness quality eg addition or removal ofroads, structures, activities, development ofunplanned walking tracks, areas ofdisturbance etc. [KDO 4.2.1]

• Establish monitoring programs to recordlong-term changes in factors identified asadversely affecting the quality of visitors’wilderness experience. [KDO 4.2.2]

• Document and monitor the level ofcompliance/non-compliance with zoningand access controls and managementguidelines related to maintenance ofwilderness quality. [KDO 4.2.1]

• Monitor the impacts on wilderness quality ofrecreational uses and take appropriateaction, as necessary, to maintain wildernessquality. [KDO 4.2.2]

• Monitor the level of satisfaction of a range ofvisitor types with their wildernessexperience of the WHA and the key factorsthat affect the quality of visitors’ wildernessexperience. [KDO 4.2.2]

Cultural HeritageBACKGROUNDA former chairperson of the TasmanianAboriginal Land Council, Roy Sainty stated thatpeople need to see the World Heritage Area ‘notas an empty, untouched place, but as an

Aboriginal landscape with an ancient, but vitalhistory’11. It is a rich and dynamic culturallandscape demonstrating an equally dynamichistory, that for over 35,000 years has been, andcontinues to be, an important place to TasmanianAborigines. The cultural values of the area areevident in more than just the physical culturalmaterials of the past, they include the rights andinterests of the Aboriginal community today.

Over 50 cave sites with deposits attesting tooccupation of the area between 35,000 and 11,000years ago (prior to the inundation of the BassianBridge which had linked Tasmania to themainland) are now known. One cave site,Parmerpar Meethana, attests to occupation from35,000 years ago to the present, but equally ofnote are Kuti Kina, Ballawinne and Wargata Mina.The latter two sites contain hand stencils whichare amongst the earliest known in the world. Thecultural values of the WHA relate to this record ofAboriginal occupation.

In 1995, recognition of the importance of thesesites to Tasmanian Aboriginal people resulted inthree of them being returned to the Aboriginalcommunity. Innumerable other sites, mostlydemonstrating occupation between 11,000 yearsago and the present, are dotted around thelandscape, including the large shell middens andhut sites of the west and south coasts, and thealpine sites of the Central Plateau. These sitestestify to a continuity of use and the continuingconnection of Tasmanian Aborigines with all partsof the landscape to the present day.

In the late 1820’s and early 1830’s, it was to theCentral Plateau that the ‘Big River’ people soughtrefuge late in a war for the land that was theresult of the invasion of the island by Europeans.This war, aided by the earlier effects of thesickness that followed the Europeans, led, for aperiod, to a forced removal of the Aboriginesfrom the land, and the arrival of newcommunities and their ways of life in the area.

Of particular note to the European history of thearea is Sarah Island, in Macquarie Harbour. Thiswas established as a penal settlement in 1821 andused as a place of internment until 1833, andagain between 1846 and 1847. Numerous satellitesites associated with the penal settlement werelocated around Macquarie Harbour. Huon pining,which has been given as one of the reasons forestablishing a penal settlement on Sarah Island,was among the first economic pursuits practised

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11 Foreword to Lehman G. 1995 Aboriginal Interpretationof the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area - AStrategy for Interpreting Palawa Culture and Heritage.Report prepared for the Department of Environmentand Land Management on behalf of the TasmanianAboriginal Land Council, Hobart.

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in what is now the World Heritage Area. Theremains of a small settlement at the mouth of theDavey River, occupied between the 1830s and1880s, and remnants of piners’ camp sites andfelling grounds on the Gordon and FranklinRivers bear witness to the piners’ activities.

Miners, whalers, snarers and hunters also lefttheir mark in many areas, the latter two activitiesmore particularly on the Central Plateau — whichwas also the locale for numerous high countrypastoral activities. Also of note are the abandonedsettlements of Adamsfield and Pillinger.

Today, our material and cultural perceptions ofthe WHA are informed chiefly by theseAboriginal and historical uses of the area, and byrecreational, scientific, environmental, historicaland spiritual concerns and interests.

Our cultural heritage can be seen as a non-renewable resource. It can be damaged by culturalpractices and through natural factors. TheTasmanian Aboriginal heritage and the historicheritage of the area is threatened: by people —through oversight, ignorance, mis-use andoveruse; by natural processes — throughdeterioration over time and through the processof erosion; by perceived conflicts between‘natural’ and ‘cultural’ values; and by changes inmanagement practices and uses.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTNumerous investigations have been undertakento identify and help manage the cultural values ofthe WHA. Professional investigations from theearly 1970s until fairly recently have concentratedon the archaeological component of the area. Aconsiderable amount of work on TasmanianAboriginal heritage has been undertaken alongcoastal areas, in the Port Davey area, in the karstareas around the Gordon and Franklin Rivers,and on the Central Plateau, in addition tohistorical archaeological work on the settlements,industrial sites, tracks and huts established bynon-Aboriginals throughout the WHA.

Increasingly, professional investigations haveutilised and reflected community resources andinterests in the cultural material contained in theWHA. The Service has been able to foster theprotection, conservation and presentation ofAboriginal cultural heritage by working throughAboriginal community organisations, inparticular the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land

Council. The most recent involvement with TALChas been a project aimed at finding the bestmechanism for Aboriginal involvement inmanagement of the WHA. The results of thisproject are dealt with separately under AboriginalManagement (see page 100).

It is recognised that Aboriginal cultural heritage ismuch broader than just the issue of ‘sites’; itincludes the use of plants, animals and othermaterials, and commitment to the land and therights of the Aboriginal people in this regard.

The principles of the Australia ICOMOS(International Council on Monuments and Sites)Charter for the Conservation of Places of CulturalSignificance form the basis of management ofcultural heritage resources in the WHA. Thischarter, known as the Burra Charter, provides aninternationally accepted standard for theconservation of cultural property. It is particularlyapplicable to historic heritage. Conservationplanning mechanisms contained in the charter,and established interpretations of thesemechanisms (in particular the conservation planmodel provided by Kerr12), are used to protectcultural heritage resources from both cultural andnatural impacts.

The Australian Heritage Commission has recentlyproduced ‘Protecting Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Cultural Heritage Places’, which specificallyprovides guidance for managing Aboriginalcultural heritage. This work, and other relateddocuments such as ‘The Richmond Communique’ (seepage 29), provide a basis for management ofAboriginal heritage in the World Heritage Area. Atheme common to all these recent initiatives, is therecognition of the rights of Aboriginal communitiesto control their cultural heritage.

Significant projects undertaken during theoperation of the 1992 management plan include:

Aboriginal Heritage- Area surveys for Aboriginal cultural values at

Macquarie Harbour northern shore, the southeast coast, the south coast, Port Davey andBathurst Harbour, the inland south west, thesouth west coast, the Central Plateau andWalls of Jerusalem.

- Protection and conservation works ofAboriginal cultural values including middens

12 Kerr, J.S. 1996 The Conservation Plan (4th Edition),National Trust of NSW, Sydney.

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on the south west coast.

- Monitoring projects for Aboriginal culturalvalues at several Aboriginal cave sites and onthe Central Plateau.

- ‘Aboriginal Management in the TasmanianWorld Heritage Area’ project. Conducted as aconsultancy by the Tasmanian AboriginalLand Council for the Service. For furtherexplanation of the project see AboriginalManagement section, page 100.

- A survey for Aboriginal cultural valuesexposed and affected by erosion.

Historic Heritage- Area surveys for historic cultural heritage at

Macquarie Harbour northern shore, the southcoast, Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour, theRaglan Range, the Southwest National Park,and the Central Plateau and the Walls ofJerusalem.

- Conservation plans or assessments for historicplaces at Pillinger, Kelly Basin Track, LakeNameless Hut, Dixons Kingdom, Du CaneHut, Sarah Island Gaol and Bakehouse,Kitchen Hut, Mt McCall Haulage Way, SirJohn Falls Huts, Blandfordia Lodge, ScoutHut, New Pelion Hut, Old Pelion, LakeTahune Hut, Echo Point Hut, Narcissus Hut,Adamsfield ‘Hilton’, Bennetto’s Hut,Gordonvale, Rangers Hut, Mt Kate House,Braddon River Hut, Reindeer Lodge, Dunc’sCamp, Joyce Creek track, Lake DoveBoatshed, Crater Lake Boatshed, DerwentBridge Hut, Lake Meston Hut, Allisons Hut,and Raglan Range Hut.

- Implementation of conservation plans andassessments at selected sites.

- Implementation of the Community HutsPartnership program (see Huts and Shacks,page 153).

- Historical background projects for theSouthwest National Park and Franklin –Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Walls ofJerusalem National Park and Central PlateauConservation Area.

- Survey for exotic plant species at selectedhistoric sites throughout the World HeritageArea.

- Presentation of cultural heritage on site, atvisitor centres and through publication.

Objectives• To manage the on-going protection and

conservation of World Heritage and othercultural heritage values.

• To cultivate, within the wider community,and in partnership with the Aboriginalcommunity, appropriate management andconservation of Aboriginal values andpotentially to transfer a viable conservationsystem for these values to a representativeAboriginal organisation to manage on behalfof the Service.

• In partnership with the community, tocultivate the value of historic cultural valuesthrough appropriate management,conservation and education.

Management PrescriptionsThe management prescriptions for cultural valuesrelate to seven primary outcomes, which providefocus for activities and their outputs (orproducts), and which, when taken together,provide a path leading to the attainment of theobjectives for cultural heritage management. Thisapproach is necessarily on a general level,creating a flexible, strategic path forimplementing specific actions throughout theperiod of the plan.

The seven primary outcomes are also aspects ofthe Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s) relevant forAboriginal and historic heritage in theoverarching objectives, see overarching objectives4.5 (page 35), and 8.1 and 8.2 (page 39) inparticular. The relevant KDO is noted againsteach primary outcome below.

Each primary outcome is a step leading to theattainment of the objectives for cultural heritagemanagement. These steps are arranged in orderbelow. To achieve an appropriate result requiresnot only specific activities under each step, but isalso partly dependent on completion of activitiesassociated with prior steps; equally, the results ofan activity will lead to the need to initiateactivities under subsequent steps. For instance,undertaking interpretation of a particular areawould ideally first require completion of anidentification survey and protection activities forthat area. Specific activities will be enacted asneeds and priorities are identified during theperiod of the plan.

Primary (numbered) outcomes form the broadpolicies under which subsidiary (dot point)

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activities and their outputs will be implemented.The monitoring and evaluation section is alsoarranged under these broad policy headings.Some general management issues are presented atthe end of the section.

As stated in the objectives for cultural heritage,community involvement in developing andundertaking all aspects of management is anunderlying principle of these seven primaryoutcomes.

1. Integrate Service managementresponsibilities with an Aboriginalcommunity organisation. (See alsoAboriginal Management, page 100.)✓ [KDO 8.1]

• Develop clear integrated arrangementsbetween the Service and a representativeAboriginal community organisation for themanagement of Aboriginal heritage. Ifpracticable, develop arrangements thatprovide for an Aboriginal communityorganisation to administer Aboriginalheritage on behalf of the Service.

This activity will lead to: the formalinvolvement of an Aboriginal communityorganisation in Aboriginal cultural heritagemanagement undertaken by the Service; andestablishment of Aboriginal heritageoperational prescriptions.

2. Establish benchmarks for culturalheritage planning and policyrequirements, and review and monitorcultural heritage managementactivities. ✓ [KDO 10.1]

• Initiate a WHA Team group, comprised ofrelevant program staff, cultural heritagespecialists, and representatives of theAboriginal community, to establishbenchmarks of cultural heritage policy andplanning requirements regarding Serviceactivities and to monitor and review theperformance of management against thosebenchmarks.

• Review and monitor performance of theService against benchmarks.

These activities will lead to: theestablishment of benchmarks for Serviceactivities and resolution of issues affectingsuccessful attainment of benchmarks.

3. Identify and assess cultural, aestheticand scientific values of the area andthe issues affecting these values. ✓[KDO 2.1 and 2.2]

• Undertake surveys to identify and determinethe significance of cultural values and assessissues affecting these resources. Note thatsurveys pertaining to Aboriginal values areto be done in partnership with theTasmanian Aboriginal community.

This activity should lead to: a clearunderstanding of the scope and thesignificance of cultural heritage in particularareas and of particular types; a knowledge ofissues affecting this heritage, together with aspecific program for managing this heritage;the delineation of resources that should beprotected, conserved, left to ‘nature’, or thatare not heritage; the creation of differentlevels of conservation planning for culturalheritage places, landscapes and values (egplans of management, conservation plans,management plans) and the delineation oftools for managing this heritage (egpredictive mapping of cultural values in theWHA).

4. Community participation in culturalvalues management and identificationof community values in this resource. ✓[KDO 8.2 and 8.4]

• Undertake partnership projects for culturalheritage places, landscapes and values.

This activity should lead to: a clearunderstanding of the scope of communityrequirements for cultural heritage;integration of community needs intoprograms for managing this heritage;establishment of the relevant communityrequirements regarding impact of proposedworks on community values; developmentof community partnership projects andestablishment of review mechanisms toassess community perceptions of culturalheritage management activities.

5. Protect cultural heritage places,landscapes and values, and stabilisethis heritage. ✓ [KDO 4.5]

• Undertake protective measures for culturalheritage places, landscapes and values. Notethat any protective measures pertaining to

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Aboriginal values are to be done inpartnership with the Tasmanian Aboriginalcommunity.

This activity should lead to: establishment ofimpact mitigation works (eg stabilisation of athreatened site), vital maintenance works,vital repair works, planning controlsregarding usage, monitoring programs, andthe enforcement of regulations.

6. Conservation of cultural heritageplaces, landscapes and values. ✓[KDO 4.5]

• Undertake conservation work for culturalheritage places, landscapes and values. Themanagement of Aboriginal values will bedone in partnership with the TasmanianAboriginal community as outlined under thesection on Aboriginal Management, see page100.

This activity should lead to: establishment ofconservation policy works; repair andmaintenance programs; monitoringprograms; usage and presentationparameters for cultural heritage.

7. Presentation and use of culturalheritage resources issues. ✓[KDO 8.3 & 5.1]

• As appropriate, undertake presentation ofcultural heritage places, landscapes andvalues that are protected, conserved, orleft to nature.

• Provide education and training activitiesfor the public and Service staff.

• Integrate conservation practices with non-cultural heritage uses of cultural heritageplaces, landscapes and values.

These activities should lead to: theestablishment of interpretive material on-site and off-site, at visitor centres, throughpublication, or through seminars andworkshops - as relevant - for the differenttypes of identified cultural resources;negotiation and implementation of therecommendations of the AboriginalInterpretation of the Tasmanian WildernessWorld Heritage Area: A Strategy forInterpreting Palawa Culture and Heritage(Lehman 1995); establishment ofsustainable adaptive use of cultural

heritage places, landscapes and values;and establishment of education andtraining programs.

GeneralIn undertaking the above managementprescriptions, the Service will:

• adhere to the principles of the AustraliaICOMOS (International Council onMonuments and Sites) Charter for theConservation of Places of Cultural Significanceand the Australian Heritage Commissionguidance contained in Protecting Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander Cultural HeritagePlaces. These works, and other establishedinterpretations of these mechanisms andrelated documents (such as The RichmondCommunique (see page 29) and TheConservation Plan by Kerr 1996) will form thebasis of management of cultural heritageresources in the WHA;

• adhere to the conditions and requirementsof the relevant Federal and State legislation,including the Aboriginal Relics Act 1975(currently under review) and the HistoricCultural Heritage Act 1995;

• adopt the precepts of the Coroners Act 1995,when dealing with Aboriginal skeletalremains. Aboriginal skeletal remains will notbe disturbed;

• adopt a pro-active stance to the conservationof sites, landscapes and values that are beingor could be affected by human actions (egrecreational use, visitor use, access,management activities, lack of assessment,ignorance, oversight) and natural actions (egerosion, disturbance by animals);

• adopt Service guidance and resourceregistration forms as a standard for theidentification and recording of culturalheritage resources and use this dataset toguide management;

• promote research into the identification ofcultural resources and issues in the WHA,and the means of managing these resources.Research should be undertaken in co-operation with relevant community groups.

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MONITORING AND EVALUATION q1. Integrate Service management

responsibilities with an Aboriginalcommunity organisation. [KDO 8.1]

• Report on progress in developing integratedarrangements for administering Aboriginalheritage and joint work with Aboriginalcommunity agencies.

• Report on partnership projects in Aboriginalheritage management.

2. Establish benchmarks for culturalheritage planning and policyrequirements, and monitor and reviewcultural heritage managementactivities. [KDO 10.1]

• Report on the application and review ofbenchmarks.

3. Identify and assess cultural, aestheticand scientific values of the area andthe issues affecting these values. [KDO2.1 and 2.2]

• Report on places identified, surveyed,mapped, assessed, planned and registeredwith the Cultural Heritage Branch.

4. Community participation in culturalresource management andidentification of community values inthis resource. [KDO 8.2 and 8.4]

• Report on community requirements andinvolvement in management of culturalresources.

5 Protect cultural heritage places,landscapes and values, and stabilisethis heritage. [KDO 4.5]

• Report on measures employed to protectcultural values, particularly those of WorldHeritage status.

6. Conserve cultural heritage places,landscapes and values. [KDO 4.5]

• Report on the conservation measuresemployed at threatened places, landscapes,and values.

7. Presentation and use of culturalheritage resources and issues.[KDO 8.3 & 5.1]

• Report on places presented to the public,review of public consultation, and clientsatisfaction with presentation of culturalheritage resources.

• Report on the extent and nature of uses ofcultural heritage places.

• Report on the range and number ofeducation and training sessions.

General• Report on the development and operation of

joint planning and liaison processes betweenCultural Heritage branch and other branchesof the Service.

• Report on detailed audit of inventoryrecords.

Aboriginal ManagementBACKGROUNDAboriginal heritage is a major part (alongsidenatural values) of the reason for the WHA beingWorld Heritage listed. The area meets three of theseven cultural criteria for World Heritage listingas a result of its Aboriginal heritage.

The Service recognises the special relationshipthat exists between the Tasmanian Aboriginalcommunity and the WHA. As a result of theirlong association with the area, the members of thecommunity experience a unity with the land andconsider natural and cultural values asinseparable. The Service recognises that thisspecial relationship is best maintained by a majorrole for Tasmanian Aboriginals in the protection,conservation, presentation and cultural use of theTasmanian World Heritage Area. The Aboriginalcommunity will therefore be involved as a partnerin the management of the area.

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PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTSince the 1992 plan, which primarily noted thearchaeological values of Aboriginal heritage, theAboriginal community, has become increasinglyinvolved in the management of Aboriginalheritage within the WHA.

Since the financial year 1993-94 most Aboriginalcultural heritage contract work conducted in theWorld Heritage Area has been carried out by theTasmanian Aboriginal Land Council (TALC).

In 1995 twelve areas of land were returned to theAboriginal community, including three cave sitesin the WHA at Ballawinne, Kuti Kina andWargata Mina. This is the first time that anAboriginal community in Australia has beengiven both title and sole managementresponsibility for land in a World Heritage Area.

The rights of the Aboriginal community to takeresources for cultural reasons were recognised bythe Living Marine Resources Act, 1995, whichallows Aboriginal people to take marine resourcesfor traditional purposes. The Aboriginal Lands Act1995 provides for similar hunting and gatheringrights over Aboriginal land in the WHA.

In the review of the 1992 plan, the extent ofAboriginal management of the WHA was seen asa major issue. The Service contracted TALC toexamine Aboriginal rights and interests in theWHA and to develop a proposal, from within thecommunity, on the level of Aboriginalmanagement in the WHA.

The project identified the following as areas ofinterest to the community: burial grounds, caves,traditional animals, plants and minerals (egochres), fire, sites (landscapes), interpretation,native forests, tracks old (eg Aboriginal) and new(eg bushwalking). This list is not exhaustive.

Resulting from this project and negotiations withthe Service an agreement to increase communityinvolvement in management of the WHA hasbeen reached, this is detailed in the objectives andmanagement prescriptions below.

OBJECTIVES• To protect, conserve and, where appropriate,

present Aboriginal values.

• To increase Aboriginal management ofAboriginal values in the WHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Management Overview ✓ [KDO 8.1, 8.2 and2.2]• The Aboriginal community and the Service

will, in partnership, manage for theconservation of Aboriginal values in theWHA.

• Management for Aboriginal values will beundertaken in such a way that it does notadversely affect the values for which the areawas reserved or inscribed on the WorldHeritage list.

• Management involvement of the Aboriginalcommunity will be consistent with relevantstatutes and this management plan and willrange from:

- specific areas (eg Aboriginal burial sites)and values where the Aboriginal interestsare substantially more important thanother values. In these areas operationalmanagement responsibilities of theAboriginal community will be maximised;

through

- specific areas and values whenAboriginal and other values are bothimportant. In these areas, a mechanismfor co-management will apply;

to

- specific areas where other valuespredominate where there will be minimalinvolvement from the Aboriginalcommunity.

• A process will be developed to implementthis range of involvement of the Aboriginalcommunity in management; it will includethe following:

- the Aboriginal community will identifyits level of management interest in areas;

- in identifying the degree of Aboriginalmanagement interest in an area, theAboriginal community and the Servicewill take account of non-Aboriginalvalues in that area;

- in cooperation with the Aboriginalcommunity, the Service will progressivelyincrease the degree of Aboriginalmanagement in areas of strongAboriginal interest;

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- in areas with both Aboriginal and othervalues, discussions between the Serviceand the community will occur todetermine the appropriate level ofAboriginal co-management;

- in the future this may include recognitionof a representative Aboriginalorganisation as a management authority.

• Negotiate and implement the Aboriginalinterpretation strategy. (For reference seefootnote page 95.) See also Information,Interpretation and Education, page 126.

Aboriginal Values and Cultural Practices• The Service considers that the WHA needs to

be managed for a set of values, includingAboriginal values, extending beyond thoserelating to cultural heritage. The Service andthe Aboriginal community will develop anagreed set of values for developing andrefining existing land managementstrategies.

• The Service will consult with the Aboriginalcommunity and its representativeorganisations concerning Aboriginal use ofthe WHA, with the aim of developing a jointanimal, plant and material use policy, and(with the input of other relevant authorities),implementing that policy.

• In co-operation with the Aboriginalcommunity the Service will review currentacts, regulations and protocols to identifyhow they impact on Aboriginal culturalpractices in the WHA and develop options asto how these cultural practices could beaccommodated in the WHA by legislativechange where necessary.

• The Service will work co-operatively withTALC and other Aboriginal groups in theplanning process, especially whereAboriginal values are involved.

• Research into Aboriginal cultural knowledgeto assist in land management is supportedby the Service.

Employment• The program for employment of Aboriginal

people, in administrative, specialist and fieldpositions, will continue to be developed andimplemented in consultation with theAboriginal community, with the objective ofimplementing management to conserve

agreed Aboriginal values and practices intoland management in the WHA.

• Secondments or exchanges of staff withAboriginal organisations will be negotiated.

• The Service will continue to work co-operatively with the Aboriginal communityon in-house or externally funded projectsand programs to assist Aboriginal peoplegain experience in a range of landmanagement practices.

Consultation and Education• The Service will review current procedures

for consulting with the Aboriginalcommunity about Aboriginal values and willdevelop clear lines of communicationbetween the Service, TALC and otherorganisations (particularly localorganisations) representing the Aboriginalcommunity.

• The Service, in consultation with theAboriginal community, will reviewprocedures to prevent damage anddestruction of Aboriginal values in the WHAand implement amended procedures in thecourse of undertaking managementactivities.

• The Service will implement cross culturaltraining of staff to increase theunderstanding and protection of Aboriginalcultural values.

• The Service will work with the Aboriginalcommunity to involve the local Aboriginalpeople in land management of the WHA.

• Aboriginal representation will beencouraged on all relevant managementcommittees and will be a part of the district-based community consultative committeestructure. (see Community Engagement,page 64)

MONITORING AND EVALUATION q[KDO’S 8.1, 8.2, 8.4 & 8.5]• In consultation with the Aboriginal

community, review progress inimplementing these managementprescriptions at no less than two yearlyintervals.

As part of this review and with the agreement ofthe Tasmanian Aboriginal community:

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• Monitor and review the level and nature ofparticipation of the Tasmanian Aboriginalcommunity in the management ofAboriginal heritage.

• Document and review the number and natureof current or unresolved issues related to themanagement of Aboriginal values.

• Monitor the level of satisfaction of theAboriginal community and the Service withthe management of Aboriginal values.

• Monitor the level and nature of feedbackfrom the wider community about themanagement of Aboriginal values.

Established Practices13

BACKGROUNDWith the change in land tenure accompanyingWHA nomination in 1989 a number of practicesthat were previously undertaken in the WHAbecame proscribed or problematic in relation tothe conservation aims for the area and in somecases the legislative requirements of the new landtenures. These activities include, but are notlimited to: hunting, horseriding, live bait fishing,hut and track construction and maintenance,grazing, taking dogs into the area, four wheeldrive use, patch burning of the area and use ofcampfires (instead of fuel stoves). Some peoplewish to continue these practices within the WHA.

Most people interested in continuing theseactivities are from local communities adjacent tothe WHA, particularly in the Central Plateau andWest Coast areas; however some users from otherparts of the State are also involved. As a result ofundertaking these activities, sometimes over anumber of generations, these users have a senseof ownership and responsibility for particularareas within what is now the WHA.

Some of these activities have the potential toimpact substantially on the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of the WHA, eggrazing, use of fire and the potential introductionof exotic fish (such as carp) with live bait use.

Other activities may impact on the WHA, but atcurrent levels of use, their impacts aremanageable, eg horseriding. Still other activitieshave limited or no impact on values, andprovided they are well located, planned andexecuted will add to the presentation of the area,eg hut and track maintenance.

Management prescriptions relating to establishedpractices in general are noted below, othersections of this plan, cover prescriptions forspecific activities.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTUnder the previous plan there were noprocedures for assessing activities and practiceswhich people consider to be traditional orestablished (see footnote 13, for definition). Aproject was undertaken to identify traditionalpractices, to develop procedures for assessingtheir significance, to evaluate their culturalsignificance and to determine the appropriatenessof maintaining them within the WHA.

A social anthropologist was employed as aconsultant by the Service, to examine andrecommend on these issues. The consultant’sreport14 which studied five selected communitiesassociated with the WHA (West Coast, CentralPlateau, angling, walkers and environmentalists)noted that all users of the WHA could be definedas ‘traditional’ and that the idea of traditionalpractice was an evolving concept. The reporthowever suggested that where a practice isspatially specific (ie cannot occur anywhere else)and where it is part of building communityidentity and solidarity the activity should be seenas significant by land managers.

The report stated that a number of these spatially

13 This plan uses the term ‘established practices’ fornon-Aboriginal traditional practices, so as to avoidconfusion with Aboriginal traditional practices andto adopt a similar terminology used for suchactivities on mainland Australia. At the time of theconsultant’s report the term ‘traditional practices’was used and is retained here for the PreviousManagement section; other sections of the plan referto non-Aboriginal traditional practices as ‘establishedpractices’, see also glossary, page 206.

14 Knowles, J.N. 1997 Traditional Practices in theTasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area - A study ofFive Communities and their attachment to the area, Areport for the Steering Committee of the TraditionalPractices in the World Heritage Area, published bythe Parks and Wildlife Service, Hobart

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specific practices were of significance to localcommunities (particularly those in the CentralPlateau and the West Coast geographic areas andanglers) and noted the suggestion from many ofthose interviewed by the consultant that theService had ignored or actively worked to rule outthese practices in parts of the WHA. The reportsuggests that this has led to feelings of frustrationwithin these communities and a view that theywere being ‘locked out’ of managementinvolvement in areas they feel are ‘their ownbackyard’.

The report also recognised that these groups wantto see these areas conserved, but their view of thebest way to do this was different from that of theService and that by involving these communitiesin the management of the area the Service had alot to gain. The key recommendations from thereport were that traditional practices zones berecognised in the WHA, that the Service shouldwork towards joint management of these areaswith local communities (in particular) and thatcommunication channels between localcommunities, user groups and the Service shouldbe improved.

Of the five communities studied in the report, theWest Coast, Central Plateau and anglingcommunities supported the report and stated thatit had captured their views well. Walkers andenvironmentalists took issue with many aspectsof the report in terms of the report’s depiction oftheir world view and disagreed with what theyconsidered was a trivialising of their views.

The Service believes the views of the wholecommunity about management of the WHA areimportant and need to be recognised. It is one ofthe requirements of the World HeritageConvention to ‘adopt a general policy which aimsto give the cultural and natural heritage afunction in the life of the community…’, and thisis taken to include the local, Tasmanian,Australian and international communities.

On occasions the views of some of thesecommunities are at odds with others. An exampleof this is hunting, which was strongly opposed bymost people commenting in the managementplan review process, but is strongly supported byhunters and those favouring the retention ofestablished practices. The challenge for theService is to engage all levels of the community inthe management of the WHA and to workthrough the differences in point of view to

achieve a broadly supported approach.

The key management requirement for the Serviceis to manage the WHA to protect, conserve andpresent its values. This particularly relates to thearea’s world heritage values but also to the othernatural and cultural values for which the area hasbeen reserved (see chapter two on values of thearea). With this as an underpinning principle, theService sees the involvement of local communitiesin the management of the WHA as critical to theongoing acceptance and support for the WorldHeritage concept.

Note that traditional or established practiceactivities that take place in the WHA are requiredto be in accordance with the objectives andmanagement prescriptions set out in this plan,relevant legislation and any subsidiary plans tothis plan.

The objectives and prescriptions below apply to‘Established Practices’ in the WHA but shouldalso be read in association with the section onCommunity Engagement, see page 63.

OBJECTIVES• To develop partnerships with local

communities and interest groups inmanaging the WHA.

• To provide for the continuation ofestablished recreational and/or culturalpractices within parts of the WHA which areconsistent with the protection, conservationand presentation of the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of theWHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Continuation of Established Practices ✓[KDO 2.2]• Provide for established practices to continue

within the WHA where they do notnegatively impact on the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of the area.

• Where established practices cause, or arelikely to cause, limited impact on values theactivity will be assessed by the Service inpartnership with affected communities. Ifthe impacts are considered to be withinacceptable limits by the Service and theaffected communities, the activity may

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continue in a manner which minimises itsimpact on the World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHA.

• Impacts of established practices will bemonitored as necessary. Appropriate action,which may include cessation of the activity,will be taken in consultation with affectedusers should impacts approach unacceptablelevels.

Community Partnerships ✓ [KDO’s 7.1 to7.3]• The purpose of management partnerships is

to co-operatively identify local managementobjectives (consistent with this plan),provide for the participation of (primarily)local communities in management activities,involve communities in developing thesolutions to management problems andassist local communities and others in takinga stewardship role for the area.

• Within areas of community interest (seebelow), develop collaborative managementpartnerships with local communities andother communities or groups that wish to beinvolved in the management of these areas.Make clear at establishment the relationshipof partnership groups to peak consultativegroups, such as the World Heritage AreaConsultative Committee, and othermanagement related committees. Also makeclear that activities of the partnership are tobe in accord with this management plan andare to minimise impact on World Heritageand other natural and cultural values of theWHA.

• Tailor these partnerships to meet the needsof each particular community. Suchpartnerships will also provide avenues forinput from other interested non-communitybased groups and individuals.

• The Service and the community will jointlydevelop partnerships. These will be locallyfocussed but will be integrated with otherforms of community engagementundertaken by the Service, see CommunityEngagement, page 63. Should activities ofpartnership groups impact on other users ofthe WHA, the views of these users will besought and considered by the partnership.Should differing views remain these will beconsidered by other Advisory committees ofthe Service, if required, including the World

Heritage Area Consultative Committee.

• Investigate mechanisms to transferinformation on activities betweenpartnership groups and others that may beinterested (eg newsletters).

Areas of Community Interest ✓ [KDO 2.2]• In association with users, map specific areas

in the WHA of interest to particularcommunities. These ‘areas of communityinterest’ will particularly note the interests oflocal communities, but will also note theinterests of other groups and users.

• Use this mapping to alert the Service and thevarious communities to the groups or usersit is necessary to involve when makingdecisions that may affect an area.

• Once areas of community interest areidentified and community consultativecommittees and/or partnership groups arein place, investigate mechanisms forintegrating partnership group interests in aspatially specific manner. This could, ifrequired and if it proves appropriate, involvethe use of an extra overlay area in the zoningsystem dealing with certain establishedpractices. (See also Zoning, page 57). Thiswould need to be considered as part of theNew Proposals and Impact AssessmentProcess, see page 66.

Community Communication ✓ [KDO 7.3]• Consult with relevant communities when a

major decision has to be made that mayaffect the community’s interests.

• Establish a clear point of contact for eachlocal community and each user community.This will usually be the senior ranger or anumber of appointed rangers at the local ordistrict office or may be through Districtfocussed community consultationcommittees.

• In general, arrange contact between thecommunity and specialist staff via theService contact person/s. The contact personwill, where possible, be present during anyjoint activities.

• The Service contact person/s will liaise withthe community for whom they areresponsible, identifying and helping toresolve issues at an early stage.

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Involvement in Management Research• Involve local and user communities in

management research or monitoring thatmay affect their interests, including, asappropriate, discussion of research designsand the collection of data. Results will bemade available and the interpretation ofthese results will be presented to theinterested parties.

Companion Dogs• Within the Central Plateau Conservation

Area and the camps within the MacquarieHarbour Historic site, allow companion dogsto accompany owners under the followingconditions:

- a permit, issued annually by the Service,is carried by the owner and anyconditions on the permit are compliedwith;

- only one companion dog is allowed perperson and

- the dog is to be under effective control.

• Monitor the environmental impact of dogsand the social impact of dogs on other users.If problems arise modify permit conditionsas required (this may include limits onparticular areas or times).

MONITORING AND EVALUATION q[KDO’S 2.2, 7.1 TO 7.3]• In conjunction with community consultative

committees and partnership groupsconsider, and as necessary develop, thefollowing approaches:

- Monitor and review the level and natureof involvement of the partnership groupsin the management of the WHA.

- Monitor the level of satisfaction of thepartnership group participants and thewider community with the results of thepartnerships.

- Each partnership group is to prepare anannual report on joint planning decisions,joint works activities etc. Analyse reportsto see where effort should be targetedand where processes can be improved.This could take the form of a feedbacksession for each group on progress madeover the year.

- Monitor the number and nature of agreedresolved issues versus unresolved, andthe number and nature of issues thatcould not be dealt with at the partnershipgroup level that went to other bodies forresolution.

- Review the success of all partnershipgroups after three years and evaluatetheir future direction taking account ofthe Service’s other communityengagement mechanisms.

(See also Community Engagementmonitoring and evaluation, page 65.)

Fire ManagementBACKGROUNDAs a signatory of the World Heritage Convention,the Australian government is required to protectand conserve natural and cultural values in theTasmanian Wilderness WHA. This prime objectiveis tempered by Tasmanian statutes and commonlaw. The Service is a landowner for the purposes ofthe Fire Service Act 1979 and is required to preventfires leaving lands managed by the Service.

It is the responsibility of the Service, on behalf ofthe Commonwealth to manage fire to meet itsobligations under the World Heritage Convention,the Fire Service Act 1979, and common law. At sometimes, in some locations, these obligations areincompatible.

Fire has long been part of the environment of whatis now the WHA. Lightning and Aboriginalburning practices have significantly influenced thedevelopment of plant and animal communities;some have adapted to fire, (eg buttongrassmoorland), some are dependent on it for theirsurvival, (eg eucalypt forest), and others aredestroyed by it, (eg native conifer stands). Today,fire adapted communities adjoin fire sensitivecommunities.

Peat soils, which take thousands of years toaccumulate, underlie both fire sensitive and fire

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dependent communities and can be removed byhigh intensity fires. Burning can also removeorganic litter, the source material for peatformation. Fire has caused extensive damage tosoils in parts of the WHA. Conservative estimatessuggest about 100,000 ha of peat has been removedfrom blanket bogs in the Southwest.

Today, fires in the WHA are almost invariablyassociated with the presence of people and mostcommonly start beside roads, walking tracks andlanding places along the coast.

The characteristically rapid spread of moorlandfires, high fuel loads, difficulties in detecting fires atan early stage, the logistics of transporting firefighting crews into remote locations, unpredictableweather and past restrictions on both fuel reductionburning and fire suppression techniques all limitthe ability of the Service to suppress fires in muchof the WHA. This leaves the protection of firesensitive communities throughout much of theWHA and neighbouring land largely dependentupon chance.

Regular burning of parts of the WHA in the pasthas caused long term changes in some animal andplant communities. The attempted exclusion of firefrom most of the WHA over the past decade is alsocausing changes in some animal and plantcommunities thought to have been maintained byfrequent fire.

The use of fire as a management tool involves risk.Management fires occasionally escape and burnnon-target areas. However, this has to be weighedagainst the protection fuel reduction burningprovides in the event of a major fire. Also note thatthe longer the introduction of burning is delayed,the more fuel accumulates and the greater the riskthe fire will escape or burn with higher intensitythan desired.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTFire management plans specifying fire history, fireweather, fire ecology, detection, access, assets forprotection, areas for prescribed burning,suppression methods and equipment requirementswere produced for most of the WHA in the mid tolate 80’s. Since the 1992 WHA management plan,fire management plans have been completed forthe Bronte area, Lyell Highway, Henty-Anthonyarea, Central Plateau Conservation Area-Walls ofJerusalem National Park and the Melaleuca–SouthWest Cape area.

A fire lookout on Mt King William is staffed andfire detection flights over the WHA are regularlyundertaken during the summer months.

The use of fire as a management tool in the WHAhas been restricted. Limited fuel reduction burninghas been carried out along the Lyell Highway, atMelaleuca and in the Central Plateau ConservationArea. A habitat management burn has been carriedout at Birchs Inlet. (See also Zoning, PreviousManagement, page 55, for a discussion of zoning-related prohibitions on fire use under the 1992 plan)

Research into fire behaviour in buttongrassmoorlands has improved the ability of the Serviceto predict moorland fire behaviour. Research intothe impacts of fire on moorland fauna species andthe need for habitat management burning inmontane grasslands has commenced and will takeseveral years to complete.

‘Fuel stove only areas’ — areas in which the use ofcampfires is prohibited — have been in force since1989 in areas of fire sensitive vegetation and highvisitation including the Walls of Jerusalem NationalPark, Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair NationalPark, the Mt Anne Range, the Arthur Ranges andthe Frenchmans Cap Area. These restrictions arenow largely accepted. The entire WHA wasdeclared a fuel store only area in 1998 withexceptions detailed on page 109.

OBJECTIVES• To protect people from fire.

• To conserve World Heritage and other naturaland cultural values including:

- geodiversity, particularly aspects that arerare or unique;

- native plant communities and species,particularly those that are rare orthreatened;

- the habitats of native animals, particularlythose that are rare or threatened;

- wilderness quality;

- scenic and viewfield quality;

- Aboriginal cultural resources and

- historic cultural resources.

• To achieve targeted fire regimes within theWHA.

• To protect buildings and facilities within theWHA from fire.

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• To prevent fires burning from the WHA ontoneighbouring land and from neighbouringland into the WHA.

The relative priority assigned to these objectiveswhere they conflict can only be established in termsof the significance of the conflicting values and thelocation of the values in the landscape, the firemanagement actions proposed and the firemanagement techniques to be used.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Planning• Produce strategic fire suppression plans for

the whole WHA as a matter of priority usingavailable information. These plans are todetail fire sensitive assets, protection priorities,areas where earth moving machinery may beused, existing fire breaks and low fuel areas,water sources, access routes, available firesuppression resources and contactinformation. They are to be regularly updated.

• Prepare fire management plans, detailingstrategies for fire prevention andpreparedness, including the planned use offire, for those parts of the WHA where:

- active fire management is physically andeconomically feasible, and

- active fire management will increase theability of the Service to meet the WHA firemanagement objectives.

Prioritise fire management objectives withinthe areas covered by each fire managementplan.

• Fire management plans will, as far as ispractical, ensure that:

- fire frequencies are appropriate for themaintenance of biodiversity;

- fire is prevented from occurring inrainforest, alpine and sub-alpinevegetation and other fire-sensitive plantor animal communities;

- wet forests are protected from fires so asto maintain the maximum area of forestsas old growth;

- a range of fire frequencies is maintainedwithin buttongrass moorland and scrubcommunities;

- habitats for threatened species and

communities are maintained withappropriate fire regimes and

- peats and other fire sensitive soils orlandforms are protected from thedestructive effects of fire. [KDO 4.1]

• Maintain the co-operative arrangements forfire management developed with ForestryTasmania and the Tasmania Fire Service asset out in the Inter-Agency FireManagement Protocol. Make arrangementswith neighbouring landowners for joint firemanagement planning across boundaries.

Fire Suppression• Wildfire suppression is to be given priority

over all other management activities.

• In the event of a wildfire, the IncidentController is to determine the priorityassigned to each fire management objectiveby using the relevant strategic firesuppression plan if available.

If no suppression plan is available, prioritieswill be set taking into account the valuesand assets at risk, legal requirements (suchas the requirement to prevent fires escapingfrom the WHA) and the resources availablefor their protection, subject to the followingqualifications where relevant:

- first priority will always be theprotection of human life;

- second priority will be the protection ofrare and threatened fire sensitive speciesand communities and

- third priority will be the protection ofsubstantial and valuable infrastructure

• Earth moving machinery may be used in firesuppression operations in areas with a lowsensitivity to earth moving machinery toprotect areas with a high sensitivity to fire.

• Commence rehabilitation of all fire breaksconstructed by earthmoving machineryduring fire suppression operations within 12months of their construction unless it isspecifically demonstrated that they will beuseful for future fire management purposes.

• Take all practical steps to prevent the spreadof Phytophthora cinnamomi during firesuppression operations.

• Complete a fire report for all wildfires in theWHA.

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Preparedness• Maintain a rapid response capability in

cooperation with other agencies. Inaccordance with the Inter-Agency FireManagement Protocol, where anotheragency is better able to respond to a fire inthe WHA, use the services of that agency forthe initial attack.

• Continue to fly aerial fire detection flightsover the WHA during the summer monthsand continue to staff the Mt King Williamfire lookout.

• Finalise and implement the Service FireTraining program.

Fuel Stove Only Areas• Maintain the entire WHA as a Fuel Stove

Only Area (FSOA)15, except for:

- designated fireplaces within VisitorService Sites and Zones;

- two designated campfire sites on theSouth Coast Track.

- designated campfire sites at specifiedcamps around Macquarie Harbour(including Reindeer Lodge and BraddonRiver Camp);

- a limited number of campfire sites in theCentral Plateau Conservation Area(CPCA) (largely near vehicle accesspoints).

All campfire sites will avoid peat soil, andminimise impact on alpine and rainforestareas.

• Continue to encourage the use of fuelstoves15 instead of campfires throughout theWHA to minimise environmental impact.

• In consultation with users, conduct anassessment of the FSOA policy in the CPCAand take appropriate action before the 1999–2000 summer.

• Monitor all sites in the WHA wherecampfires are allowed and if necessaryrebuild, relocate or remove as appropriate.

Fires in Huts• Assess the safety and the sustainability of

fuel supply for fireplaces in active use inhuts throughout the WHA in associationwith any users that have an interest in thesehuts. If unsafe, fireplaces shall either be

rebuilt to a safe standard, sealed or removed.If the wood supply is unsustainable,consideration will be given to supplyingfuel; if this is not practical or appropriate thefireplaces will be sealed or removed.Depending on use levels, alternative formsof heating may be investigated.

Prescribed Burning• Permit strategic fuel reduction burning in

areas with a low sensitivity to fire where:

- there is a threat of fire to fire sensitiveassets within or adjacent to the WHA,and

- fuel reduction burning will increase theService’s ability to protect those assetsfrom fire.

✓ Determine the relative hazards to firesensitive vegetation and other assetspresented by either using or not using fuelreduction burning by climatic/fuelaccumulation modelling under a range offire scenarios. [KDO 3.1]

• Undertake fuel reduction burning only whendocumented in an approved firemanagement plan which specifies the areasto be burnt, burning season and rotationperiod.

• Produce individual burning plans beforeconducting burns.

✓ Undertake habitat management burning inthe WHA to conserve the habitat of rare orendangered species, to maintain thebiodiversity of the WHA or to maintainsuccessional processes. Habitat managementburns must be specified in a firemanagement plan that takes account of theeffects of such burning on other values.[KDO 4.1]

Research• Map the following assets and values

throughout the WHA and assign a firesensitivity rating, earthmoving machinerysensitivity rating and significance(importance) rating:

- features of geoconservation significance;

- rare plant communities and species;

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15 See glossary, page 206, for definition of fuel stove andfuel stove only area.

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- the habitat of rare native animals;

- wilderness quality;

- scenic and viewfield quality;

- Aboriginal cultural resources;

- historic cultural resources and

- other assets or values as required orappropriate. [KDO 3.1]

✓ Assess and map the range of fire regimesunder which the existing plant and animalcommunities in the WHA will be maintained.Place particular emphasis on examining therole of fire in the perpetuation of moorland,grassland and sclerophyllous communities.[KDO 4.1]

MONITORING AND EVALUATION qMonitor the following parameters to assessachievement of the WHA fire managementobjectives:

To protect people from fire.• Evaluate the relevance of fire management

decisions in incidences where people areinjured or killed by fire. [KDO 9.1]

To conserve geoconservation values.• Monitor the area of places of geoconservation

significance damaged by wildfire or damagedor protected by fire management activities.

• Monitor the change in peat depth resultingfrom wildfire or fire management activities.[KDO 4.1]

To conserve plant and animal communitiesand species.• Monitor the change in area and abundance of

targeted fire sensitive communities andspecies. [KDO 3.2]

• Monitor the change in area and abundanceof targeted fire dependent communities andspecies.

• Record fire regimes including causes. [KDO4.1]

To conserve wilderness quality.• Monitor the reduction in wilderness quality

as a result of fire management activities.

To conserve scenic and viewfield quality.• Monitor the reduction in scenic and

viewfield quality as a result of wildfire orfire management activities.

To conserve Aboriginal cultural resources.• Monitor the number of Aboriginal cultural

resources damaged by wildfire or damagedor protected by fire management activities.

To conserve historic cultural resources.• Monitor the number of historic cultural

resources damaged by wildfire or damagedor protected by fire management activities.

To achieved targetted fire regimes.• Monitor the extent of achievement of

targeted fire regimes within the WHA.

To protect buildings and facilities within theWHA from fire.• Monitor the value of buildings and facilities

in the WHA damaged by fire.

To prevent fires burning from the WHA ontoneighbouring land and from neighbouringland into the WHA.• Monitor the area of neighbouring lands

burnt by fires which spread from the WHA.

• Monitor the value of assets on neighbouringlands burnt by fires which spread from theWHA.

• Monitor the area of the WHA burnt by fireswhich spread from neighbouring lands.

• Monitor the value of WHA assets burnt byfires which spread from neighbouring lands.

Environmental Quality(air, water and noise)

BACKGROUNDProtection of the natural quality of surface andground waters in the WHA is an ecologically

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important management objective. Surface watersin much of the area contain very low levels ofsolutes. Much of the vegetation and aquatic faunaare adapted to these low nutrient conditions.Changes in the quality of water, such as increasednutrient levels, altered pH, turbidity or increasedbiological oxygen demand, can have far-reachingeffects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.Abnormal levels of chemicals and faecal bacteriain water can similarly be deleterious to nativebiota, as well as to humans.

The quality of surface water leaving the WHAalso affects the environmental health of riversystems that have their origin in the WHA.

The cool climate of the WHA provides suitableconditions for the spread of water-bornepathogens such as Giardia that can impact on thehealth of visitors and native aquatic faunautilising surface water. The water quality, even inareas of high wilderness quality, does notnecessarily meet the national drinking waterguidelines due to natural bacterial contaminationfrom native animals.

Production of waste products is an inevitableconsequence of human existence. With the best ofintentions, visitors to the WHA pose a potentialthreat to the natural environment they come toadmire. Management aims to control and monitorthe impact of human wastes on the environment.

For many decades, acid drainage resulting fromhistoric mining practices at the Mount Lyellcopper mine has entered northern MacquarieHarbour. The circulation in the harbour hasresulted in significant contamination of thesediments and at times the water column withinthe WHA16. The cooperative State andCommonwealth Government Mount LyellRemediation Research and DemonstrationProgram is developing remediation plans whichwill address the issue of pollution entering theharbour, but it is unlikely that remediation of thesediments will be feasible.

Elevated levels of mercury have been detected introut and eels in a number of western Tasmanianwaterways, including the Lower Gordon Riverand Lake Gordon. The cause of these elevatedlevels is uncertain although mobilisation ofnaturally occurring mercury in buttongrassswamps and the deep stratified water of LakeGordon, as well as atmospheric inputs of mercuryvia precipitation, are thought to be possiblesources. The Department of Community and

Health Services has issued health adviceconcerning the consumption of large quantities offish from the Lower Gordon River area. A CSIRO,IFC and HEC study on the issue is nearingcompletion at the time of writing.

The Port Davey–Bathurst Harbour embayment isthe largest undisturbed estuarine ecosystem insouthern Australia, with very low nutrient levelsin Bathurst Harbour and Bathurst Channel (seealso Identifying Values, page 74). These watersare potentially extremely vulnerable to pollution.

Boating on rivers and lakes may create problemsof waste disposal and there is also the possibilityof fuel spills from motorised craft.

Effluent from quarrying can pollute waterwaysand cause sedimentation of streams. Landslips,roads and quarries may cause changes insuspended sediment loads that may have markedeffects on aquatic fauna. Mineral exploration andmining activities could also degradeenvironmental quality.

Air quality in the WHA is generally very highwith adverse impacts usually minor and verylocalised, eg caused by wood or coal burningstoves and car or boat exhausts. Bushfires canhave a local or widespread impact on air qualitydepending on their size and intensity, and canaffect water quality through increased erosion onburnt slopes.

Use of mechanised transport within the WHA isthe major source of noise pollution. The noise ofmotorised boats on enclosed waterways and lowflying aircraft, particularly helicopters andfloatplanes, can disturb the tranquillity of the areafor visitors. The main areas where noise fromrecreational craft requires management are on andover the Lower Gordon River and over theFranklin River, Frenchmans Cap, Cradle Valley,Federation Peak and the Central PlateauConservation Area (see also Aircraft Activities,page 133).

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTA water quality monitoring program for standardbacterial and inorganic parameters was carriedout at Lake St Clair, the Walls of Jerusalem andMelaleuca in 1995 to increase understanding ofpossible impacts on human and environmental

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16 Koehnken L., 1996 Macquarie Harbour - King RiverStudy, Tasmanian Government, Hobart, Tasmania.

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health in the WHA. The program helpedcharacterise natural water quality and resultsdemonstrated a very high level of water quality.There was no evidence of contamination ofsurveyed water bodies from adjacent campgrounds or developments in the areas surveyed(apart from natural bacterial contamination fromnative animals).

Research was carried out between 1993 and 1996in Macquarie Harbour under the Mt LyellRemediation Research and DemonstrationProgram and the Macquarie Harbour-King RiverStudy. These studies included an assessment ofbase metal distribution in water and sediments inMacquarie Harbour and proposed options toreduce impacts from heavy metals on theenvironment in the harbour through managementof the sources and sinks of heavy metals.

The history of incidence of sickness related to useof natural surface water in the WHA is low.However, as the bacterial counts in the wateroften exceed the Australian drinking waterguidelines, it is recommended to visitors whowish to reduce the risk of infection from drinkingsurface water that they should adopt precautionssuch as boiling or chemical disinfection of water.

Rehabilitation of the Lune River (Benders)limestone quarry has reduced solute andsuspended sediment input to caves linked to thequarry and eliminated a dust and noise source onthe edge of the WHA.

A Giardia study17 supported by the Service wasundertaken by an honours student from theUniversity of Tasmania. In this study Giardia wasconfirmed to be present in a wide variety ofnative and domestic animal species and shown tobe distributed widely across the State, includingsome remote areas of the WHA.

For information on aircraft noise see AircraftActivities, page 133.

OBJECTIVESThe specific objectives for Environmental Qualitygiven below are also parts of the Key DesiredOutcome for objective 4.3 of the overarchingmanagement objectives (for objective 4.3, seeFramework of Management, page 35). As they aresubsets of objective 4.3 they are labelled 4.3.1 to4.3.6 (see below). To avoid repetition these subsetsare only listed here and not at objective 4.3.

4.3.1 To minimise human impact onenvironmental quality.

4.3.2 To maintain water quality throughout theWHA within the range of local naturalbackground levels.

4.3.3 To ensure a rapid and effective response inthe event of an environmental accident orpolluting event.

4.3.4 To minimise human-caused health risks tovisitors, native plants and animals.

4.3.5 To preserve the natural tranquillity of theWHA through avoiding or minimisingnoise pollution created by humanactivities.

4.3.6 To avoid or minimise air pollution createdby human activities.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

General ✓ [KDO 4.3.1]• Develop and implement strategies to avert

or minimise identified threats and existingimpacts on environmental quality. Definemanagement targets and/or limits ofacceptable impact for environmentalparameters in particular areas or systems.

• Require that the best available andpracticable technology is used to protect theenvironmental quality of the WHA. In theevent that appropriate environmental qualitystandards cannot be attained by using bestpracticable technology, manage the source ofpollution, eg by limiting human usage.

• Collect and dispose of rubbish generated byvisitors in Visitor Services Zones and Sitesappropriately outside the WHA. Liaise withlocal government regarding the use ofmunicipal tips for this purpose. In general,encourage visitors to be responsible for theirown rubbish.

Waste Water ✓ [KDO 4.3.2, 4.3.3 and 4.3.4]• Require all new effluent treatment systems to

meet stringent standards in terms of specifiedwater parameters including nutrients andfaecal bacteria, in the vicinity of the point orarea of effluent discharge into theenvironment. This is to ensure aquatic

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17 Kettlewell J. S., 1995 Giardiasis in Tasmania, Honoursthesis, University of Tasmania, Hobart.

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ecosystems are not subject to environmentalimpact and human health is not impaired byfinal waste water inputs.

• Use the best available and practicabletechnology, in terms of reducing nutrientlevels, biological oxygen demand and non-filterable residue, in treatment of waste waterwhere effluent is to be released either directlyor indirectly into the WHA.

• Formulate water quality objectives forrelevant water bodies in the WHA and ensurethat the standards for effluent dischargedeither directly or indirectly into those watersdo not impact on the protected environmentalvalues nominated by the Service for thatwater body.

• Evaluate existing waste water treatmentmethods and, as necessary, progressivelyupgrade existing systems to meet thestandards set.

• Conduct programs of physio-chemical andbiological monitoring before and afterconstruction of major waste water treatmentplants which discharge either directly orindirectly into the WHA. Budget for suchmonitoring and any necessary adjustments inthe overall development costs.

• Conduct training for field staff in relation tothe environmental effects of waste water andthe recommended water treatment optionsunder different situations in the WHA.

• Keep under review waste water treatmentdevelopments in areas of similar climate andhigh conservation value elsewhere.

• Establish waste disposal conditions for boats.

• Develop an action plan for dealing with amajor pollution incident off the coast, onrivers or lakes or on land within the WHA inliaison with relevant authorities. [KDO 4.3.3]

Toilets ✓ [KDO 4.3.1 and 4.3.2]• Review whether the present remote area

toilets meet relevant statutory requirementsincluding human and environmental healthstandards. Where toilets are not functioningadequately undertake appropriate measuresto resolve the problem. Assess the need forwaste disposal at high use campsitescurrently without toilets

• Manage toilets that are not connected tosewage treatment facilities in such a way

that adjacent water bodies are protected.

Noise ✓ [KDO 4.3.5 and 4.3.6]• Establish noise emission standards

appropriate to the WHA for differentcategories of air and water craft and seek thecooperation of operators in meeting them(see also Aircraft Activities, page 135 andBoating (Motorised), page 138)

• Mechanised vehicles regularly using theWHA, including air and water craft, will beencouraged to meet noise and exhaustemission standards appropriate to the WHA(see also the section on Boating (Motorised),page 138).

Research ✓ [KDO 4.3.2 and 4.3.4]• Facilitate research into pathogen presence in

natural water bodies in the WHA that mayhave an effect on human health. [KDO 4.3.4]

• Facilitate research into water circulationpatterns and water chemistry in the BathurstHarbour–Bathurst channel estuary to assistin predicting the fate of any pollutants.[KDO 4.3.2]

• Repeat, at least twice in the ten yeartimeframe of this plan, the 1995 waterquality survey in its original or an expandedform. [KDO 4.3.2]

MONITORING AND EVALUATION qGeneral• Establish targeted environmental monitoring

programs to assess and monitor changes inthe nature and extent of environmentalimpact associated with recreation,developments and other human use of theWHA (eg water quality, polluting agents,erosion, vegetation trampling, marine debrisetc). [KDO 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.4, 4.3.5 and 4.3.6]

• Continue development of a long-term aerialphotographic monitoring program, initiallydocumenting baseline information andfocusing on areas of potential risk fromenvironmental degradation and on areas thatare currently degraded. [KDO 4.3.1]

• Document and monitor the number andseverity of polluting events or incidents, andevaluate the adequacy of response. [KDO4.3.3]

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• Monitor the nature and level of publicfeedback/complaint regarding managementof environmental quality. [KDO 4.3.1 to 4.3.6]

Water Quality q [KDO 4.3.2 and 4.3.4]• Establish a long-term water quality

monitoring program focussing on areas ofpotential risk from pollution and on sites/values of particular sensitivity to pollution.

• Survey water quality at strategic points inthe WHA every 5 years to assess levels ofphysio-chemical and microbiologicalparameters. Maintain a program ofenvironmental monitoring in the vicinity ofpark infrastructure, camping areas andfacilities adjacent to the WHA but within thecatchment of the WHA. Assess whetherwater quality has remained at naturalbackground levels in areas where baselinebackground data exists.

• Carry out water quality monitoring alongthe Overland Track.

Visitor Health q [KDO 4.3.4]• Assess whether reports of poor visitor

health, if they arise, are related or not towater consumption in the WHA.

Noise q [KDO 4.3.5]• Design and implement a long-term noise

monitoring program, including establishingcriteria, thresholds and noise related issues,focussing on selected popular and/orrecreationally sensitive sites.

• Monitor visitor complaints concerning noiseor air pollution. [KDO 4.3.5 and 4.3.6]

RehabilitationBACKGROUNDRehabilitation ranks as a primary managementobjective in the World Heritage Convention. Someof the land within the WHA was previously usedfor mineral exploration, mining, hydro-electric

development, forestry, road transport, tourism,and grazing. Sites were abandoned as theseactivities were completed and their impact on theland still remains. Rehabilitation aims to improvethe condition of degraded areas so as to restoretheir natural and, in some cases, cultural values.

About 180 hectares of land in the WHA has beenmechanically degraded. Some of these sitescontinue to erode causing a variety of impacts onthe environment and viewfields. Where naturalrevegetation is slow, rehabilitation can assiststabilisation, colonisation and establishment of apermanent cover of plants.

On the Central Plateau 11,000 ha has been affectedby sheet erosion as a result of fire, rabbits andpast land use practices.

Rehabilitation is an integral part of the work atnew developments in Visitor Services Zones andSites (eg carparks, visitor centres and campsites).Existing roads, vehicular tracks and walkingtracks must be well maintained to minimiseerosion, sedimentation and reduce the need forrehabilitation. Some of the measures outlinedbelow are designed to avoid problems throughcareful planning.

Rehabilitation includes earthworks andrevegetation. Earthworks can involve excavatingdrains to prevent erosion and sedimentation,making diversion drains, shaping the landsurface, conserving and redistributing soil.Revegetation can involve broadcasting seed andfertiliser, planting seedlings, and laying protectivecover.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTOver the period 1992 to 1996, 38.8 km of vehicletracks were rehabilitated, principally at RaglanRange, Joyce Creek, Adamsfield, Little FisherValley and Mt King William. An additional 84hectares of degraded land was treated at BendersQuarry and the roadside verges beside the MtMcCall track, Scotts Peak Road, Mueller Road,Cradle Mountain Road, Lake Augusta Road andthe Lyell Highway.

The results of treatment at Oakleigh Creek and atsome sites at Adamsfield were not satisfactory.Earthworks have not commenced at somedegraded sites due to other work being seen as ahigher priority.

A study was initiated in 1991 to map the extentand severity of the erosion on the Central Plateau.

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Detailed (1:25,000) mapping was carried out toidentify areas affected by erosion. In addition fourerosion monitoring sites were established toinvestigate rates of erosion, rates of revegetationand the impact of grazing by rabbits andmarsupials. Early indications are that in someseverely degraded locations erosion continueswhile in others revegetation by prostrate speciessuch as Grevillea australis is occurring. The studyalso identified the Central Plateau as the mostseverely degraded alpine area in Australia18.

The major conclusions of the study were that:

- domestic stock grazing should not be re-introduced to the area;

- fire should be excluded from the area;

- the current program to monitor the impactsof grazing by rabbits and native fauna on therevegetation of eroded areas should becontinued and used to plan anyrehabilitation deemed necessary and

- disturbance of lunettes, (lake shore dunes)should be reduced and those that areseverely degraded should be rehabilitated;

In 1995 the proposal to drain the present LakePedder (a Hydro-Electric Commissionimpoundment) and restore the natural lake of thesame name was investigated by the House ofRepresentatives Standing Committee onEnvironment, Recreation and the Arts. Theirfinding concluded that ‘… although the proposalcould be implemented, it does not have either thepriority nor [sic] the official support to warrantthe commitment of Commonwealth Governmentresources for further assessment’.19

There has been effective co-operation with theHydro-Electric Corporation, Mineral ResourcesTasmania and the Department of Transport onrehabilitation projects within the WHA.

OBJECTIVE• To re-establish natural rates and magnitudes

of erosion and sedimentation and to assist

revegetation on land degraded by humanactivities.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Rehabilitation Planning• Collect and store seed suitable for

revegetation work.

• Prepare subsidiary rehabilitation plans foreach district. These will prescribe treatmentsfor degraded sites, and assist in programmingand budgeting for rehabilitation in the district.

✓ Target high priority sites for rehabilitationtaking account of the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values involved.These will be included in a shortlist ofdegraded sites which will be made publiclyavailable and be periodically updated. [KDO4.7]

✓ When rehabilitating or stabilising areas, takeaccount of the significance of natural orcultural features, the potential impacts and thelikelihood of success. Proposed rehabilitationwork should not threaten other natural orcultural values or conflict with otherprescriptions in this plan. Where there is aconflict, a priority assessment is required (seeResolving Conflict, page 46). [KDO 4.7]

• Scrutinise any proposed developmentinvolving land disturbance and ensure thatappropriate steps are taken to minimiseerosion, sedimentation and the need forrehabilitation.

Rehabilitation Methods• Undertake rehabilitation in a manner that

avoids pathogen spread to other areas of theWHA.

• Wherever possible, use local provenance plantspecies and local soil for revegetation work.Use only native species in rehabilitation work.

• When rehabilitating, import only soil materialthat is pathogen free and physically andchemically compatible with the area it will beintroduced into. (see Plant DiseaseManagement, page 84)

• Rehabilitation practices will conform to, orexceed the minimum standards forrehabilitation given in the Forest PracticesCode and the Department of PrimaryIndustries, Water and Environment

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18 Cullen P., 1995 Land Degradation on the Central Plateau,Tasmania Occasional Paper No 34, Parks and WildlifeService, Hobart.

19 House of Representatives Standing Committee onEnvironment, Recreation and the Arts, June 1995Inquiry into the Proposal to Drain and Restore LakePedder Parliament of the Commonwealth ofAustralia, Canberra.

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rehabilitation guidelines.

Consultation• Consult with interested or affected parties in

an appropriate manner before sites arerehabilitated.

• Carry out, where appropriate, a culturalassessment of sites before planningrehabilitation.

• Liaise with land owners bordering the WHAto focus attention on degraded landsadjacent to the WHA with a view topromoting their rehabilitation.

Research• Trial and study rehabilitation techniques to

find and improve methods suitable for use inthe WHA.

Central Plateau• Domestic stock grazing is not to be re-

introduced in the Central Plateau.

• Exclude fire, except where specified in a firemanagement plan.

• Monitor the impacts of grazing by rabbitsand native fauna on the revegetation oferoded areas.

• Reduce disturbance of lunettes, (lake shoredunes) and rehabilitate severely degradedareas.

MONITORING AND EVALUATIONq Develop a monitoring and evaluation

program to assess the extent andeffectiveness of rehabilitation efforts in theWHA. Provide annual reports on progress[KDO 4.7]

• Maintain a historic photo coverage ofrehabilitated sites.

• Where feasible, monitor water quality andsediment flux both before and afterrehabilitation works.

• Monitor large-scale degradation (eg CentralPlateau, Southwest peatlands) through avariety of methods including trial plots, airphotos and satellite photo interpretation asappropriate.

Central Plateau• Fully re-assess the extent and severity of

erosion (as mapped at 1:25,000) in 2015.

• Annually monitor erosion and revegetationat the four exclosure plots on the CentralPlateau unless results suggest themonitoring program should be modified.

• Review the success of current rehabilitationwork using artificial rehabilitationtechniques to identify the most effectivemethod of stabilising and rehabilitatingeroded areas.

Scientific Research andMonitoring

BACKGROUNDResearch within the WHA is essential to compileand update inventories of the conservation valuesand assets within the area as well as tounderstand natural processes and the impacts ofmanagement, development and use of the area onthese values and processes.

Research activities may themselves causedegradation or be in conflict with other objectivesof WHA management. For example, collection ofsamples can deplete the feature being studied orhelicopter flights into wilderness areas toundertake inventory work can impact on visitorexperience in these localities.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTResearch activities conducted by the Service havein the past been subject to approval through aninternal Project Proposal process. This processallowed all relevant officers within the Service toexamine proposals and alert proponents of aproject if it may impact on the area’s values. Italso allowed conflicts between different objectivesfor an area to be resolved. At the time of writingthis process is being revised (see New Proposalsand Impact Assessment, Previous Management,page 68).

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All research by individuals and organisationsoutside the Service has been subject to the issuingof scientific permits. Where substantive proposalswere submitted these were also subject to theProject Proposal process. The permits were issuedwith conditions which protected againstunnecessary disturbance and damage and wereissued subject to the receipt of informationgenerated by the research for use in managementof the area.

Research into Aboriginal cultural heritage issubject to the provisions of the Aboriginal RelicsAct 1975. Requirements and conditions aredetailed in a Permit Application Form. A permitapplication is reviewed by Service staff, and bystaff of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land Counciland is then subject to endorsement, or otherwise,by the committee of the Tasmanian AboriginalLand Council on behalf of the TasmanianAboriginal community. A decision on thesuitability of the research proposal is made by theMinister for National Parks and Wildlife.

OBJECTIVESTo undertake, support and encourage researchand monitoring that:

• provides information which is relevant tounderstanding, interpreting and managingthe WHA in relation to WHA managementobjectives, management prescriptions andthe purposes for which the area has been setaside.

• does not threaten or put at risk theoverarching objectives of the WHAManagement Plan to protect, conserve,present and where necessary rehabilitate theWorld Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Prioritisation and Research Direction✓ Give the highest priority to research and

monitoring programs able to provideinformation on mitigating the impacts ofhuman activities, developments,management practices and natural threats(in and adjacent to the WHA) on the WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA. [KDO 2.1]

• Give priority to conducting research thatimproves the inventory of World Heritageand other natural and cultural values of theWHA and that improves understanding ofthese values.

• Foster and conduct research into the inter-relationships and processes operating withinecosystems, especially processes that arerelevant to management of the WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA.

• Annually review priorities for scientificresearch.

• Develop guidelines against which researchcan be assessed and prioritised.

• Monitor parameters that may reflectecological changes, such as global warming(‘the greenhouse effect’) and examinepossible modifications to managementpractices.

✓ Encourage, co-ordinate and facilitatecooperative research within and betweenagencies, institutions and individuals. [KDO2.1]

Data Storage• Maintain inventories of natural and cultural

resources and threats on databases andupdate as new information is collected.

• Maintain a register of monitoring sites.

Research Constraints• Where scientific research is likely to be in

conflict with any of the plan objectives it willbe subject to the New Proposals and ImpactAssessment Process (page 66). See alsoResolving Conflicts, page 46.

• Permit destructive research only where itmakes a significant contribution toaddressing timely and specific researchquestions and where it cannot be undertakenoutside the WHA. Appropriate multi-disciplinary research must be undertakenwhere the broader scientific values of a sitewill be disturbed and provision must bemade for the rehabilitation of disturbance.

• Airborne scientific investigations are toconform with the overflight prescriptions forthe WHA (see Aircraft Activities, page 134);

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permits may be issued for the landing ofhelicopters and float planes as part ofapproved research programs.

• Guidelines will continue to be prepared forthe conduct of scientific research.

• Ethics committee approval from anapproved organisation is required forresearch on vertebrate fauna.

Permits and Conditions• The approval of both the Director of the

Service and the Minister administering theNational Parks & Wildlife Act 1970 is requiredfor the collection of specimens in StateReserves. The approval of the Director of theService is required for the collection ofspecimens in Conservation Areas. Forarchaeological projects involving Aboriginalheritage, researchers must also obtain apermit under the Aboriginal Relics Act 1975.

• The permission of the Inland FisheriesCommission is also required for thecollection of freshwater fauna.

• Permits may be issued subject to the aboverequirements and the following conditions:

- Collecting material within the WHA isonly permitted where it is not possible orappropriate to collect equivalent samplesfrom outside the area and whereinformation to be gained from thesamples is relevant to management orapproved scientific research. Collection ofspecimens of limited resources (eg rareand threatened species, cave specimens,etc) is particularly strictly controlled andminimised to protect values.

- Provision is to be made for theappropriate conservation and curation ofcollected cultural material.

- Unless otherwise directed by the Service,all collected specimens are to be lodgedat a recognised institution within threeyears of collection and voucherspecimens and at least part of each typeseries must be lodged at a Tasmanianinstitution and be available forexamination and study by otherscientists.

- The Service must be notified of theinstitution or institutions wherespecimens have been lodged.

- The Service is to be provided with areport on research findings andpublications arising from the research,including collections and collectionlocalities and dates. This report will begiven at a time and in a formatnominated by the Service after theresearch has been carried out.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor the number of research projects

within the WHA each year.

• Monitor the number of scientific collectionpermits issued for research work within theWHA.

• Monitor the number and quality of reportsreceived as a requirement by collectionpermits within the WHA.

• Evaluate the relevance of research tomanagement.

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Chapter 6

Presentation

VISITOR PROFILE AND COMMUNICATION 121

VISITOR ACTIVITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE 129

COMMERCIAL TOURISM␣ OPERATIONS 175

Recreation Opportunities 129Accommodation 131Aircraft Activities 133Bicycle Riding (Road and Mountain Bikes) 135Boating (Motorised) 136Camping 139Canoeing and Rafting 141Caving and Karst Management 141Climbing and Abseiling 144Diving 145Fishing 145Hobbies and Crafts 147Horse Riding 148Hunting 151Huts and Shacks 152Oversnow Vehicles 154Picnicking 155Plaques and Memorials 156Public Safety and Risk Management 157Roads and Sightseeing 158Signs 161Skiing 162Special Events 163Surfing 164Training Exercises 165Vehicle Tracks and Recreational Driving 166Visitor Facilities 169Walking and Walking Tracks 172

Visitor Profile and␣ Research 121Information, Interpretation and Education 125

Integration with Tourism 175Concessions 177Guided Tours 179Film Production 182

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BACKGROUNDPresentation is about providing information andshowing people the WHA. It is one of the keyrequirements under the WHA convention. Peopleneed to be able to learn about, see and experiencethe area. The term presentation covers all aspectsof visitor information, interpretation, recreation,visitor use and tourism. It’s about how the WHAis made available to those who want to experienceor learn about it.

The first part of this chapter looks at what isknown of visitors to the WHA and how weinform, interpret and educate people about theWHA. The second part examines all the majorrecreational uses of the WHA and theinfrastructure they use. The third part looks atintegrating tourism use of the WHA.

Note that the Aboriginal community has flaggedinterest in a number of the recreations andactivities listed in this chapter, includingrecreation opportunities, accommodation, aircraftactivities, caving and karst management, fishing,hunting, hobbies and crafts, huts and shacks andspecial events. Policies and management actionsfor these activities will be progressed with theAboriginal community as part of the partnershiparrangement covered in the AboriginalManagement section (see page 100).

The section below covers material that spans anumber of the sections that follow and thatparticularly aids in the achievement of theoverarching objective below.

OBJECTIVE• To assist people to appreciate and enjoy the

WHA in ways that are compatible with theconservation of its natural and culturalvalues and that enrich visitor experience.

Note that this is also one of the overarchingobjectives for the WHA, objective 6. The KeyDesired Outcomes for this Objective arelocated on page 37. These KDO’s are notedagainst the relevant managementprescriptions and monitoring and evaluationbelow.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• In assessing proposals for new activities or

facilities, take into consideration the extentto which those proposals contribute to the

achievement of management objectives forthe WHA. Give priority to proposals whichfurther WHA management objectives andwhich provide recreation opportunities andfacilities which are based on the specialvalues of the WHA and which are notavailable elsewhere in the state.

• In general, provide for the continuation ofpre-existing activities and practices withinthe WHA which are consistent with theachievement of management objectives forthe area. Minimise the use of the WHA foractivities that do not contribute to, or whichare not consistent with, WHA managementobjectives.

Ecologically sustainable management ofhuman use ✓ [KDO 6.1]• Work with other relevant agencies to

develop and implement a co-ordinatedRecreation and Tourism Strategy for theWHA which optimises the diversity ofquality opportunities for access to, andenjoyment of, the WHA for a wide range ofvisitors without compromising theachievement of WHA managementobjectives. (See Integration with Tourism,page 175 for details) [KDO 6.1 and 6.2]

• Based on best available information, andtaking a precautionary approach to themanagement of potential adverse impacts,develop site plans, recreation plans andrecreation policies for various destinationsand activities within the WHA, whichspecify, amongst other things, appropriatevisitor levels and/or limits of acceptablechange for key parameters. (See also VisitorFacilities, page 169 and RecreationOpportunities, recreation policydevelopment, page 131) [KDO 6.1]

• Monitor impacts of human use of the WHAand as necessary and in consultation withusers, amend levels and/or types or areas ofusage. [KDO 6.1]

Visitor Satisfaction and Quality ofExperience ✓ [KDO6.2]• Ensure that all services and arrangements for

visitors to the WHA contribute to the qualityof visitors’ experience of the WHA. Inparticular, aim to ensure that Service staff,concessionaires and licensed tour and other

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operators play a strong community relationsrole for the WHA and the Service, and assistvisitors to appreciate and care for the WHA.[KDO 6.2 and 6.3]

Caring for the WHA ✓ [KDO 6.3]• Encourage and inform visitors how to

minimise their environmental impact. [KDO6.3]

• Provide enjoyable learning opportunities forvisitors to enrich their experience andincrease their understanding andappreciation of the WHA and its values,together with management issues. [KDO 6.3]

MONITORING AND EVALUATION q[KDO’S 6.1 TO 6.3]• Establish ongoing programs to record and

monitor the levels of use of visitoropportunities and facilities within and/orservicing the WHA. [KDO 6.1]

• Monitor the level of satisfaction of a range ofvisitor types (including local communityresidents) with:

- the number, type, and location of visitoropportunities and facilities within and/or servicing the WHA;

- the quality of their experience in theWHA;

- the operations and services provided bythe Service, licensed tour operators, andconcessionaires within the WHA;

- information, interpretation and educationprograms, activities, brochures, signage,information etc in various settings. [KDO6.2]

• Collate and monitor the nature and level ofvisitor comments and feedback at VisitorServices Sites and Zones, and other locationswithin the WHA. [KDO 6.2]

• Document and monitor levels and trends ofvisitation, recreational activity and other useto and within the WHA. [KDO 6.2]

• Monitor the level of compliance/non-compliance of visitors and other users withregulations (eg fuel stove only areas),minimal impact practices and otherpromoted management protocols such asPhytophthora washdown stations. [KDO 6.3]

VISITOR PROFILE ANDCOMMUNICATION

Visitor Profileand␣ Research

BACKGROUNDThe WHA is a lynchpin of the Tasmanian tourismindustry. In 1995–96 the WHA was visited by twoout of five interstate and overseas visitors to theState. The proportion visiting the WHA variesaccording to which market segment is beingconsidered; in fact two thirds of the sightseeingand touring segment visit at least one site withinthe WHA. Comparable information is notavailable on Tasmanian visitors to the WHA sincethey are not covered by any routine surveyequivalent to the Tasmanian Visitor Survey.

Qualitative research20 conducted amongstTasmania’s top three market segments inAdelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourneidentified, for those who have travelled toTasmania, that the purity of the air, water andnatural environment were important strengthswhich differentiated this State from otherAustralian States. Furthermore, these people didnot expect, and were pleasantly surprised by, theextent and diversity of the beauty of Tasmania.Even for those people who had never visited theState, three of the four symbols by which theyidentified Tasmania were WHA-related: CradleMountain, the Gordon and Franklin Rivers andthe rainforests. Clearly, Tasmania’s specialqualities are embodied by the WHA.

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20 The Leading Edge, Sydney, for the Department ofTourism, Sport and Recreation, November/December, 1994.

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The number of person entries21 (‘visits’) to theWHA are likely to continue to be predominantlyday-based, serial, first-time, and largely confinedto those hours which allow for travel to and fromaccommodation centres. Requirements are likelyto be for easy and direct access to points ofinterest in the immediate vicinity of visitor servicecentres.22 Thus, in catering for the majority ofvisitors, the emphasis will remain on theprovision of day-use infrastructure in the VisitorServices Zones and Sites.

Visitor NumbersSince 1992 there have been a little over half amillion visits to the WHA annually. This does notinclude Lyell Highway through traffic as asubstantial amount of this is commuter trafficbetween Hobart and the West Coast. Likewise,through traffic on the Lake Highway is notincluded. Considering only deliberate visits,Cradle Valley is the most popular site, followedby the Gordon River. The number of visits to across section of areas within the WHA areoutlined below.

Cradle ValleyThe number of visits to Cradle Valley, whichincreased from 80,000 in 1987–88 to 145,000 in1990–91, has stabilised in the vicinity of 170,000visits per year.

Gordon RiverThe number of interstate and overseas visitorsestimated by the Tasmanian Visitor Survey tohave visited the Gordon River has peaked in thepast couple of years at just over 100,000. Thesevisits are made either by cruise boat or floatplane. The number of Tasmanians visiting theriver by these means is not known, but isconsidered to be small in comparison.

Lake St ClairThe number of visits per year from 1993–94 to1996-97 to this site is in the vicinity of 90-100,000.Lake St Clair was busiest in terms of numbers ofvisits in the late 1970s (120-130,000 visits perannum) as a response to the sealing of the LyellHighway and the approach road to Cynthia Bay.

Southwest National Park (Maydena)Maydena Gate is the access point to features suchas the Gordon River Road, Lake Pedder, Mt Anneand the Arthur Range in the northern part of theSouthwest National Park. There areapproximately 40,000 visits through this gateyearly; this is approximately half of whatoccurred in the late 1970s. Numbers through theGate have been stable in recent times andrepresent a slight recovery since 1993–94.

Lyell Highway AttractionsA series of short walks of varying grades is inplace along the Lyell Highway betweenQueenstown and Derwent Bridge. The DonaghysHill walk is enjoyed by 5,000-10,000 people a year,while the Franklin-Surprise nature walk, whichwas opened in 1994 attracts approximately 15,000visitors a year. The most popular of these shortwalks is the Nelson Falls walk which lies justoutside the WHA boundary and attracts 22,000per year.

TrendsThe number of visits received by the showcaseWHA parks such as Cradle Mountain–Lake StClair and Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers is related(particularly in the late 1980s and early 1990s), tothe number of interstate and overseas holidaymakers arriving in the State. However, while theestimated number of visitors to the State hasincreased over the past few years, the numbers ofvisits to Cradle and the Gordon River has reacheda plateau. Indeed, there have not been anysignificant increases in any of the larger WHAVisitor Services Zones and Sites, for whichmonitoring has been in place, over the past fewyears.

Tourism Tasmania, in association with thetourism industry, aims to double tourismexpenditure over the next 10 years and achieve aminimum of 23,000 jobs for Tasmanians (seefootnote 2, page 25) in the tourism and relatedemployment areas. If these targets are achieved, asubstantial increase in visitors to the WHA wouldoccur.

21 Derived from the number and occupancy of visitorvehicles entering a site as estimated from acombination of counts by fee collection staff andautomatic traffic counters. A visit occurs whenever avisitor enters the WHA for any purpose (ie passes abooth, crosses a traffic counter). It follows that avisitor may make more than one visit to the areaduring their stay particularly if they areaccommodated in an establishment on the peripheryof the area.

22 This is a summarised version of material byCarlington B.G., 1988 Franklin River Rafters and OtherWestern Tasmanian Wilderness Users: TheirCharacteristics, Experiences and Attitudes as Inputs toManagement. PhD Thesis, University of Tasmania.

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The Service and Tourism Tasmania are workingtogether to get the best available data on trends invisitor numbers. However projections more thana few years in advance need to be interpretedwith caution as it is difficult to accurately forecastvisitor numbers.

What is apparent, however, is that Tasmaniaretains its ‘competitive edge’ in terms of nature-based tourism and that the demand for all thatthe WHA can offer will not decrease. The realchallenge lies in both accommodating andtailoring demand to fit with the requirement toprotect and conserve the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of the WHA.

Quality of Visitor ExperienceIt is an objective of this plan to assist people toappreciate and enjoy the WHA in ways that arecompatible with the conservation of its naturaland cultural heritage, and that enrich visitorexperience. While major dissatisfaction soonbecomes apparent in the form of, for example,complaints to Ranger staff, it is much harder toassess the general level of satisfaction of users.

WHA visitors cover a broad spectrum of interestsand backgrounds, from car-based tourists topeople on extended remote area expeditions.This can lead to some conflict of interest; factorswhich enhance the quality of one visitor’sexperience can detract from that of another. Forexample, the scenic flight which enables onevisitor to view some of the more remote parts ofthe wilderness can be an intrusion into theexperience of a user on the ground who haswalked for three days to get there. Finding theright balance here is the task of management anddata on the views of the full range of usersprovides an important basis for getting thebalance right.

The experience of the vast majority of WHAvisitors does not extend beyond Dove Lake or theLyell Highway. It is in showpiece areas such asthese that the Service has concentrated its effortsin recent years. The need is to provide enoughinfrastructure to enable visitors to reach the areaand enjoy it but not so much that it intrudes ontheir experience or compromises the values of theWHA. For example, the appropriate number andstandard of walking tracks and level and amountof interpretation is greatly aided by studies ofvisitor satisfaction.

Another major factor influencing visitorsatisfaction is the number of other visitors. Thenumber which constitutes overcrowding varieswidely according to both the affected individualand the location — the numbers appropriate in aremote wilderness setting will be much lowerthan those in a major visitor node. The provisionof additional facilities to cater for larger numbersmay also detract from either the visitor experienceor the values of the WHA, or both. In these cases,the Service needs accurate data on visitors’ viewsof their experience prior to and following theintroduction of measures to control overcrowdingand in order to maintain the optimum visitorexperience.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT

Visitor NumbersInformation on the number of people visitingparticular park centres and using the morepopular walking tracks and the Franklin River iscollected on an ongoing basis. Permits required toenter selected caves and for hunting are also ameans of collecting visitor information.

Since 1992, the ongoing collection of visitornumbers to major centres has been made moreextensive and systematic. The major change indata collection has been the introduction of parkfees. Fee collection booths have reduced relianceon automatic traffic counters at the major siteswith a corresponding increase in the accuracy ofthe data collected.

More effort has also gone into the collection ofdata on bushwalker numbers, particularly inareas where environmental problems areapparent. This has involved increased provisionof logbooks and increased effort in analysing thedata from them. Pedestrian counters have beentrialed in some places.

Most effort in terms of visitor monitoring isfocussed in the Visitor Services Zones and Siteswhere information gathering is most cost-effective. This means that there are sites and usergroups within the WHA for which numbers andcharacteristics are poorly known and for whichthe cost and impracticality of collecting thatinformation dictates that the information basewill remain incomplete.

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The Tasmanian Visitor Survey (routinely conductedby Tourism Tasmania) surveys departing overseasand interstate visitors and is a major source of bothqualitative and quantitative data.

User and General Population SurveysA wide range of surveys of users and the generalcommunity relevant to WHA management havebeen conducted in recent years in both the road-accessible and non road-accessible areas. As wellas supplying qualitative information these studiesalso provide more detailed quantitativeinformation on users which is not otherwiseavailable. These studies have included:

General- A telephone survey of the perception of the

broader Tasmanian community on theirknowledge of the WHA and their perceptionof World Heritage significance and values.This provides baseline data for monitoringcommunity attitudes to the WHA.

- A survey of 400 WHA users (200 ‘frontcountry’ and 200 ‘back country’), based onface to face interviews, to probe theirknowledge of and opinions on the WHA.This provides baseline data for monitoringWHA user attitudes to the WHA.

- Phone and interview based surveys on theattitudes of users of the WHA (front countryand back country) and the Tasmaniancommunity to wilderness. This formsbaseline data for monitoring community anduser attitudes towards wilderness.

Road-Accessible Areas- Visitor surveys undertaken as part of the

preparation of Site Plans. Since 1992 thesehave included Melaleuca, Cockle Creek, MtField, Liffey Falls and the Gordon River–Sarah Island area. The surveys were used toassess visitor views and expectations so theycould be taken into consideration indeveloping plans for proposed facilities andrecreation opportunities.

- User fees survey and telephone poll,toassess opinion on the user fees system.

- Summer Ranger Program surveys. These areused to improve the quality of the summerranger program. Some of the survey formsprovide feedback to summer rangers onpresentations they have given; others

examine how the interpretation needs ofvisitors to the WHA can be better met by theprogram.

Non Road-Accessible Areas- Wild Area User Surveys. This survey was

originally used to assess the effectiveness ofthe Minimal Impact Bushwalking campaignbut has been broadened to gauge the feelingsof bushwalkers and other back country userson management issues in this area.

- Focus groups conducted amongst local andinterstate walkers to explore attitudes towalker regulation in the WHA. These havebeen used in developing the Walking TrackManagement Strategy.

OBJECTIVES• To more fully understand the numbers,

distribution, needs and motivations of thefull range of visitors to the WHA in order toimprove the quality of visitor experience.

• To monitor, evaluate and, as necessary,respond to changes in visitor demand.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONSNote that many of the management prescriptionsthat give effect to the results of the researchprescribed here are included in other sections ofthe plan, principally Visitor Facilities (page 169);Recreation Opportunities (page 129); Walking andWalking Tracks (page 172), Information,Interpretation and Education (page 125),Commercial Tourism Operations (page 175) andWilderness (page 91).

✓ Continue to develop an integrated visitorresearch and monitoring strategy. Integratewith research undertaken by TourismTasmania, Forestry Tasmania and otherrelevant Government agencies. [KDO 6.2]

• Continue to monitor visitor numbers atmajor park centres and more specificlocations as required for managementpurposes. In particular monitor significantgrowth in numbers and assess the effects ofthis on the values of the area and theexperience offered to visitors.

• Conduct targeted qualitative andquantitative research on visitors as required.

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• Continue to provide information of definedprecision, specificity and cost for specificallydefined management problems.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Evaluate the degree to which studies of

visitors (both qualitative and quantitative)assist in achieving management objectives.Involve other stakeholders as appropriate.

Information,Interpretation and

EducationBACKGROUNDInterpretation, education and information are themeans by which the values of the WHA arepresented to people, with the aim of increasingtheir awareness, understanding and appreciation ofthe area. Interpretation also helps to enrich theexperience of visitors but at the same time it aims toinfluence visitor behaviour by presenting aconservation message.

Information is necessary to help people choosewhere, when and how to visit the WHA, as well asindicating what recreational and educationalopportunities exist and specifying relevantregulations. Through the use of media such astelevision, the internet, newspapers and magazines,the existence of the WHA, its natural and culturalvalues and its significance, are presented andpromoted to local, interstate and internationalaudiences.

Formal educational materials, programs andcampaigns are also needed to promote targetedmanagement messages. These include the minimalimpact bushwalking campaign, the ‘keep wildlifewild’ policy, the need to integrate WHA-relatedissues into school curricula and other areas ofspecific interest.

Interpretation is important to inspire both visitorsand the local community about the values of the

WHA. Such interpretation aims to provide insightand enhance visitor understanding, appreciationand affinity with the WHA. A variety ofinterpretive techniques, including the use oforiginal objects, illustrative media and first-handexperience, are used to achieve these ends.

Interpretation and education services for the WHAneed to be distinctive and of high quality. In thismanagement plan there is also an increasingemphasis on developing interpretation with localcommunities, including the Tasmanian Aboriginalcommunity.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTDuring the period of the 1992 plan there was anincrease in the number of high quality displays andsigns produced for the WHA. The evaluation andongoing maintenance of these facilities is importantif we are to maintain the high standard ofinterpretation set to date.

Some of the major projects implemented during the1992 plan period include the completion of theStrahan visitor centre and the development of theLake St Clair visitor centre; an AboriginalInterpretation Strategy for the World Heritage Area(developed by the Aboriginal community); aninterpretive guide for the Overland Track;continuation of the summer interpretation andtrack ranger program; an interpretation trainingcourse for tour operators; an audio-cassette for theGordon River Road and interpretation at theOrange-Bellied Parrot bird hide, Melaleuca.

Interpretive signs and displays were produced forPine Lake, King William Saddle, Franklin River,Donaghys Hill, Cockle Creek and Sarah Island.Colour brochures were produced for the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, SouthwestNational Park (via Maydena) and Sarah Island; anda number of posters highlighting the values of theWorld Heritage Area were produced.

A WHA world wide web site has been establishedon the internet (for address see page 53). Thisallows people to take a ‘virtual visit’ to the WHA.They can find out where the WHA is, learn aboutthe area’s unique features and link to other worldheritage sites around the world. In the future thesite will act as a jump off point for web publishedinformation produced by the Service, including thismanagement plan.

A staff journalist was employed to liaise with themedia, assist in the identification and production of

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stories of interest and to present these in such away that coverage was maximised. The WHA hassince been featured in various media at State,national and international levels.

OBJECTIVES• To inform and inspire the community at large

about the significance and values of the WHA.

• To assist visitors to obtain the greatest possiblebenefit and enjoyment from their visit and tohelp them gain an understanding andappreciation of the WHA and its natural andcultural significance.

• To promote public understanding ofmanagement policies and programs and of theprinciples and benefits of conservation ingeneral, in order to encourage careful andsensitive use of the WHA, particularlyemphasising the concept of minimal impactactivities.

• To encourage appropriate use of the WHA asa teaching and learning resource.

• To provide information and raise publicawareness of WHA-related issues and topublicise upcoming events and significanthappenings through promotion in variousmedia.

• To foster local community involvement andsupport for the WHA.

• To empower Aboriginal people to achieveAboriginal interpretation of the WHA.

• To maintain the high standard ofinterpretation, education and informationcurrently presented in the WHA.

• To increase public awareness of safety issuesin natural areas.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS ✓ [KDO’S1.6, 5.1 AND 5.2]

Planning✓ Update the WHA Interpretation Strategy and

add an education component to provide:

- overall direction and coordination ofthemes and approaches for majorinterpretive developments;

- an inventory of interpretation, and a

maintenance schedule for existinginterpretation;

- an educational extension strategy toincorporate programs for schools, off-siteinterpretation, special education programsand special events and

- an evaluation plan for targeted sites andprograms. [KDO 5.2]

• Prepare interpretive action plans for CradleMountain, Lake St Clair, the Lyell Highway,Strahan (Macquarie Harbour), Melaleuca,Cockle Creek, Hartz, the Central Plateau,Southwest (via Maydena) and Mole Creek.

• Investigate the development of a karstinterpretation centre at Marakoopa Cavedetailing the geology, geomorphology andecology of the site.

• Develop a publication and distributionstrategy for both saleable and non-saleableitems.

• Develop educational programs for schools,off-site interpretation, special educationprograms and special events.

• Develop guidelines for interpretive signs toensure a uniformly high standard ofpresentation to visitors.

• Negotiate and implement the Aboriginalinterpretation strategy for the WHA.(Forreference see footnote11, page 95.)

Interpretive and Educational, Materials andPrograms• Emphasise the World Heritage and other

natural and cultural values of the WHA, inparticular the area’s world heritage values,in interpretive and educational materialsand programs.

• Use media and styles of interpretationappropriate to each management zone. On-site interpretation and information will notbe provided in Wilderness or Self-ReliantRecreation Zones, and will be restricted toexisting structures (eg huts) in RecreationZones.

• Interpretation of cultural sites is to conformto the ICOMOS Burra Charter and siteconservation plans (see Cultural Heritage,page 95).

• Design interpretive materials for each major

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tourist venue in the WHA to meet the pre-visit, on-site and take-home needs ofvisitors.

✓ Expand and enhance the WHA internet siteto include additional information andeducational material and links to databasesand other material published by the Service.See also Key Focus Area 9 — Taking theWHA to the world, page 53. [KDO’s 5.1 and5.2]

• Investigate and, where appropriate, developmaterials for developing new technologies,such as CD ROM and DVD.

• Monitor, evaluate and, as appropriate,change WHA interpretation at Strahan,Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair andGeeveston visitor centres.

• Provide visitor information and orientationat all main access points to the WHA, andother strategic tourist locations, includingarrival points.

• Continue to develop off-site interpretation ofWHA values, in the form of displays,booklets and posters.

• Continue to produce feature articles forpublications and pursue opportunities forfurthering the objectives of WHAmanagement through newspapers, radio andtelevision coverage.

• Discourage the publication of information(eg in books, magazines and maps) which islikely to create unacceptable environmentalor social impacts. See also Walking TrackManagement Strategy, page 172.

• Continue to employ temporary seasonalinterpretation staff at major centres and onthe main walking tracks during peak visitorseasons to assist in personal contactprograms. Design these to complement otherinterpretive programs, promote worldheritage values and to help solvemanagement problems. The possibility ofexpanding the program will be investigated.

• Develop educational resources, such as aWHA slide kit and audiovisual for field staff,schools, summer rangers and communitygroups.

✓ Develop and implement targeted strategiesto foster in the community (and in particular

in young people) a strong interest in, andgrowing understanding of, the principles ofconservation management as they apply inthe WHA. [KDO 1.6]

• Provide for, or update, interpretive materialin major public use huts within the WHA (inparticular those along the Overland Track).

Educational Programs✓ Encourage and facilitate appropriate use of

the WHA as a teaching and learningresource, and assist the development ofteaching resources for schools, universitiesand other educational institutions. [KDO’s5.1 and 5.2]

• Develop curriculum materials relevant to theWHA in consultation with the Departmentof Education.

• Develop guidelines for teachers and groupleaders using the WHA in collaboration withrelevant educational authorities.

• Encourage student groups to visit and usethe WHA, within management guidelines.

• Encourage outdoor education programswhich entail minimal environmental impact.

Promotion through the media✓ As far as possible, encourage and facilitate

the use of the media to inform and inspirethe local, national and internationalcommunity about the existence, significanceand values of the WHA, and in particular, toassist in fostering:

- a sense of custodianship in theTasmanian community for the WHA;

- understanding and appreciation of theWorld Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA;

- understanding of management issues(particularly human threats and impacts)and support for appropriate managementmeasures and

- understanding of the principles andvalue of conservation, in particular WorldHeritage concepts and managementobligations. [KDO 5.1]

• Develop a media strategy to facilitate thecoordination of media coverage of the WHA.

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• Maintain and expand a photo and resourcelibrary of material related to the WHA.

• Maintain a record of media coverage of theWHA.

• Produce articles and foster and coordinatetelevision coverage relating to the WHA.

• Promote, through the media, activities andspecial interest features related to the WHA.

Links with Tourism and Local Communities• Further develop links with local

communities, tourism and other governmentagencies to enable effective coordination ofresources including the distribution of pre-visit material.

• Pending implementation of the Aboriginalinterpretation strategy, conductinterpretation of Aboriginal heritage inaccordance with agreed mechanismsoutlined in that strategy. (For reference seefootnote11, page 95.)

• Evaluate and if necessary update the GordonRiver Tour Operator manual whenappropriate. Investigate development ofTour Operator notesheets for Melaleuca,Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair and otherrelevant areas.

• Develop co-operative arrangements withconcessionaires and guided tour operators todeliver high quality interpretation as astandard part of their operations. (See alsoConcessions, page 177.)

• The Service will liaise with TourismTasmania, Sport and Recreation and otherrelevant organisations to coordinate itsmedia strategy for WHA promotion.

• Encourage and assist organisers ofcommunity festivals, events, exhibitions etcto incorporate themes related to the WorldHeritage Area.

✓ Seek opportunities to raise communityunderstanding of WHA management issues,scientific research projects and their results,as well as on-ground management projectsthrough field days, displays, and mediacoverage targeted to local communities,stakeholders and others. [KDO 5.1]

Training• Provide appropriate interpretive training for

the Service’s head office staff, field staff,information officers, cave guides andcommercial operators.

• Monitor, and participate in, interpretation forthe tourist industry.

Safety• Review and if necessary improve

interpretation, education and informationprograms on visitor safety.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

General q [KDO’s 5.1 and 5.2]• Periodically monitor community and visitor

attitudes to determine the level of:

- awareness of the concept of World Heritage(eg do they know why the area has beenWorld Heritage listed?);

- understanding of the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of theWHA;

- awareness of the management issues thearea faces (particularly human threats andimpacts);

- support for the WHA;

- support for the Service and its work inmanaging the WHA. [KDO’s 1.8 and 5.1]

• Monitor the level of media coverage and natureof messages related to the WHA and its values,management issues, and the Service. [KDO 5.1]

• Evaluate the popularity and effectiveness of arange of different approaches to interpretation,education and communication across a range ofaudiences (both on-site and off-site) egpublications, displays, activities, special events,various media, web sites, seminars, etc.Concentrate on the further development anduse of successful models. [KDO 5.2]

Specific monitoring and evaluation relevant tothe Information, Interpretation and EducationObjectives.Inform and Inspire• Monitor surveys elsewhere (eg Wet Tropics

World Heritage Area management Authorityand others).

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• Monitor use of the WHA Web pages.

Visitor Enjoyment, Understanding andAppreciation• Monitor visitor response cards.

• Monitor and evaluate interpretive elements atmajor visitor centres.

• Monitor the number of people at, andfeedback from, WHA related talks, events andthe summer ranger program.

Promote Management Policies and Programs• Monitor and assess compliance with

conservation based codes of practice egminimal impact bushwalking, fuel stove onlypolicy, keep wildlife wild.

Use of the WHA for Teaching and Learning• Monitor the extent and effectiveness of

educational programs directed towardsschools.

Promotion through the Media• Monitor the portrayal and public perception

of the WHA as conveyed through the media.

• Maintain a registrar of WHA-related eventsfor publicity through the media.

Foster Community Involvement and Support.• Monitor levels of vandalism.

• Monitor the number of projects involvinglocal communities.

• Monitor the effectiveness of mechanisms forcommunity involvement, consultation andcollaboration. (see also CommunityEngagement, monitoring and evaluation,page 65)

Maintain the Standard of Materials andPrograms• Maintain an inventory of WHA related

interpretive material.

• Monitor the number of damaged, out of dateinterpretive materials.

• Monitor the percentage of rangers, caveguides, tour operators who have doneinterpretation training.

Increase Visitor Safety• Monitor the degree to which safety issues are

addressed in interpretive materials.

VISITOR ACTIVITIES ANDINFRASTRUCTURE

The section below covers both visitor activities inthe WHA and infrastructure supporting theseactivities. Apart from the first section on RecreationOpportunities it is arranged alphabetically to aid inlocating particular sections quickly.

The sections which include major infrastructurecomponents are: huts and shacks; camping;picnicking; plaques and memorials; roads andsightseeing; vehicle tracks and recreational driving;walking tracks and walking; visitor facilities andaccommodation. Most other activities do notrequire infrastructure.

RecreationOpportunities

BACKGROUNDThe WHA provides opportunities for a widerange of recreation pursuits. Although themajority of visitors to the area are on day tripsundertaking activities such as sightseeing,picnicking and short walks, the region is widelyrecognised as a focus for remote area recreation.The extensive tracts of high quality wilderness inthe region set it apart from most other naturalareas. Walking, rafting, canoeing, fishing, skiing,caving, climbing, and in particular areas, boating,horse riding and hunting may all be undertakenin a natural setting. The region provides peoplewith the chance to experience solitude, challenge,independence, tranquillity and closeness tonature.

High standard roads provide ready access to avariety of different environments. Existing touristfacilities are located at centres such as CradleValley and Lake St Clair and along the majorroads in the region. There is ample opportunityfor people to undertake a range of recreation

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activities within only a short distance of vehicularaccess. Walking tracks which range from short,wheelchair-standard nature walks to demanding,multi-day treks provide a range of opportunitiesfor visitors to appreciate the region’s wild beauty.Scenic flights provide many people with a chanceto view remote areas with minimal effort.

The major challenge in managing recreationopportunities is to maintain a spectrum ofopportunities ranging from those that are moredeveloped and in accessible locations to those thatare undeveloped in remote areas. For theforeseeable future it is expected that the majorityof visitors will continue to focus on recreationalopportunities such as short walks, visitor centresand picnic areas. Consequently a priority formanagement is to provide facilities appropriatefor these activities.

The ongoing demand for outdoor recreationmeans that there may be demand for newfacilities in previously undeveloped areas. If suchdemands are progressively met, a time may comewhen wilderness quality is so diminished thatthis special characteristic of the WHA is no longeravailable for visitors. Therefore, whilst furtheropportunities may need to be provided for peopleto experience the area, these should be in keepingwith the management objective to maintain andenhance wilderness quality. In some cases, theprovision of facilities (such as walking tracks)may be better undertaken outside the WHA,particularly where they can be located in lessfragile areas and where they provide a differentrecreational experience. Such opportunities willbe explored in a Statewide context usingmechanisms such as the Statewide Walking TrackStrategy (see Walking and Walking Tracks, page174).

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTRecent management has concentrated onimproving the quality and range of recreationopportunities at the main visitor access points; forexample, the construction of the Lake St Clairvisitor centre, the completion of the Dove Lakeloop track and the Franklin River nature walk. Inmore remote areas, work on walking tracks hasbeen mainly for the mitigation of environmentaldamage. The Walking Track ManagementStrategy is being implemented to bettercoordinate all track-related management activities(see Walking and Walking Tracks, page 172).

OBJECTIVESThe following objectives apply generally to allrecreation activities and infrastructure covered inthe Visitor Activities and Infrastructure section.

• To maintain or provide opportunities for arange of recreation activities consistent withthe management plan’s objectives and inaccordance with the zoning scheme.

• To maintain opportunities for self-reliantrecreation and ensure that the range ofrecreation opportunities available in theWHA does not diminish over time (unlessresearch shows damage to values resultingfrom an activity).

• To develop new recreational opportunitieswhere appropriate, while minimisingimpacts on the World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHA, onwilderness quality and on the experience ofother users.

• To promote safe and minimal impactrecreation practices.

• To separate non-compatible uses, visitortypes and recreational opportunities.

• To manage visitor activities andinfrastructure to provide a qualityexperience for users.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Provision of Recreation Opportunities• Provide for recreation opportunities that are

based on the special features of the WHAand take account of opportunities notavailable elsewhere in the State.

• Promote recreation opportunities which helpvisitors to understand and appreciate thevalues and management aims for the area.

• Locate recreational activities to minimiseenvironmental damage and conflict betweenparticipants in different activities.

• Provide disabled access facilities atappropriate sites throughout the WHA.Record appropriate sites as part of theRecreation and Tourism Strategy (see page120).

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Maintaining Recreation Opportunities✓ Undertake site protection measures and/or

regulate visitor numbers and behaviourwhere World Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA are threatened orin order to retain a range of recreationopportunities. [KDO 6.1]

• Direct recreational use through appropriatemarketing and management.

• Use interpretation and the provision ofinformation as the preferred methods foravoiding inappropriate recreation activities;however, enforce the provisions of theNational Parks and Reserves Regulations 1971.

• Foster realistic visitor expectations byinforming potential visitors of the recreationopportunities and experiences available inthe area.

Recreation Policy Development• Liaise with other public land managers,

recreational groups, other users, tourisminterests and the Office of Sport andRecreation to map the areas of interest forparticular recreational opportunities in theWHA and identify their present andpotential future requirements. (See also‘Areas of Community Interest’ in Establishedpractices, page 105)

Assess these requirements against theircurrent areas of use, the zoning system andthe impacts of these activities on the valuesof the WHA. Identify where theserequirements overlap and where there areareas of recreational conflict.

✓ Develop and implement policies, inconsultation with user and communitygroups, that minimise impact on the valuesof the WHA, minimise recreational conflictand maximise provision of appropriaterecreational opportunities. Record policies inthe Recreation and Tourism Strategy (seepage 120). [KDO 6.1]

• Integrate recreational opportunities, whereappropriate with other Statewide initiatives(such as the Statewide Walking TrackStrategy).

• Consult with other agencies, as appropriate,regarding activities that occur within theWHA but also involve other tenures of landsurrounding the WHA.

Working with Recreational Users of the WHA• As far as possible develop and maintain

good working relations with recreationalgroups, encourage their role as contributorsof valuable information and as a means ofencouraging self-regulation by users.

• Modify recreation management policies asnecessary and in consultation with users asdemands for particular recreation activitieschange or as additional information uponwhich decisions are based is obtained.

• Support the development and promotion ofoutdoor leadership training.

MONITORING AND EVALUATIONq Identify and monitor indicators by which

changes to recreation opportunities can bemeasured over time and establish standardsto be maintained to protect bothenvironmental quality and recreationopportunities. [KDO 6.1]

q Identify, map and monitor sensitive areasvulnerable to degradation from recreationalactivities. [KDO 3.1]

• Ensure that impacts on the World Heritageand other natural and cultural values of theWHA caused by recreational activities do notexceed identified standards. Any standardsproposed for Aboriginal values are only tobe those standards supported by theTasmanian Aboriginal community.

• Monitor the number and nature of manage-ment responses to visitor suggestions andcomplaints.

AccommodationBACKGROUNDMost accommodation servicing the WHA isprovided in areas adjacent to the WHA (such as atPencil Pine on the way to Cradle Mountain) or insurrounding town centres.

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Accommodation within the WHA is provided bycabins at Waldheim (Cradle Valley) and CynthiaBay (Lake St Clair). These cabins are operatedeither by the Service as a business enterprise or byconcessionaires licensed by the Service. Thecabins vary in size and can accommodatebetween four and 32 people each.

A range of huts and shelters are located alongpopular walking tracks and provideaccommodation. Management prescriptions forthese are covered under the Huts and Shackssection (see page 153).

Much of the experience sought by visitors to theWHA and marketed by the tourism industry isbased on the area’s wilderness quality. Tomaintain this it is important that accommodationhas minimal impact on wilderness quality and theWorld Heritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA.

The 1992 plan addressed this issue by allowingfor development within Visitor Services Zonesand Sites only and locating these on the majoraccess points to the WHA. This approach iscontinued in this plan with the preferredapproach being to have accommodation on theedges of the WHA or in adjacent townships closeto established infrastructure.

The specific policies and management actions foraccommodation and other facilities in VisitorServices Zones and Sites are detailed in site plans.These are subsidiary plans to this managementplan and are required to conform with this plan.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTSince 1992, the basic cabins at Cynthia Bay havebeen largely replaced with two new cabinstructures (comprising three accommodation unitseach) and the bunkhouse has been rebuilt.Ministerial Council has given approval for theconstruction of another four cabin structures (eachcomprising of three accommodation units) with thetotal maximum accommodation being no greaterthan 72 people per night (as specified by theDecember 1993 site plan).

A wilderness lodge development at Pump HousePoint, Lake St Clair has been given approval byMinisterial Council. The development as outlinedin the Pump House Point Site Plan 1996 makesprovision to construct up to 48 one and twobedroom accommodation units; includes theexisting Pump House building; the existing HEC

substation building (re-developed into a reception,restaurant and administrative centre); a new boathouse; new central services building; newmanager’s residence; public amenities and car parkfor anglers at the south eastern end of the site. It isproposed the development be constructed andoperated by concessionaires who have a long-termlease to occupy the site and a long-term licence.Construction has not yet commenced.

OBJECTIVESSee also general objectives (RecreationOpportunities Objectives, page 130)

• To encourage the provision of accommodationin nearby townships and areas adjacent to theWHA.

• To provide accommodation in accordancewith the zoning scheme, environmental andother management considerations within theWHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONSSee also Recreation Opportunities managementprescriptions, page 130, Visitor Services Zonesand Sites, page 59 and New Proposals and ImpactAssessment Process, Page 66.

• Encourage accommodation to service theWHA, with preference being given tolocations on main access roads leading to theWHA and/or areas adjacent to the WHA.

• Within the WHA, permit parkaccommodation of suitable design and scaleonly in the Recreation Zone and VisitorServices Zones and Sites.

• Within Visitor Services Zones and Sitesaccommodation is to be in keeping with thismanagement plan and the site plan for theparticular location. Any new proposals foraccommodation are to follow the proceduresset out in the New Proposals and ImpactAssessment Process (see page 66).

• Further accommodation within the WHAmust be in accord with the zoning scheme(see page 54 and map 3, page 216) andfollow the procedures set out in the NewProposals and Impact Assessment Process(see page 66).

• Continue to provide cabin accommodationwithin the WHA at Waldheim and Cynthia

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Bay in line with the following conditions:

- The number of cabins at Waldheim willremain the same.

- The number and layout of cabins atCynthia Bay will be determined inaccordance with a detailed site designand will be located within the cabinaccommodation and campground area asspecified in the Cynthia Bay Site Plan.The detailed site design will ensure thatprovision is made for the equitable use ofthe site area (including adequateprovision for the full range ofaccommodation including camping,caravanning, low cost cabin and highquality cabin accommodation).

- The number and layout of cabins atPump House Point will be in accordancewith the Pump House Point Site Plan.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Assess the level and type of public

accommodation supported by users of theWHA. Include assessment of this in thedevelopment of the Recreation and TourismStrategy.

• Monitor the level of use and satisfaction ofvisitors with accommodation facilitiesservicing the WHA.

Aircraft ActivitiesBACKGROUND

OverflightsRecreational flights in fixed wing aircraft areundertaken over the WHA by both private andcommercial operators. Air access provides peoplewith an opportunity to view the WHA withvirtually no physical environmental impact, apartfrom that of noise, and in the case of float planes,wash from their wake. It is also a way for disabled

and elderly people to view the wilderness.Popular scenic flight attractions include CradleMountain, the Arthur Ranges, Mt Anne, PortDavey, the Franklin River, Frenchmans Cap andthe South Coast. Recreational flights are alsocommonly conducted across the WHA in order totransport bushwalkers to or from Melaleuca andto transfer rafters from the Lower Gordon Riverto Strahan or Hobart.

The most impressive scenic flight attractions arealso often the most popular destinations for on-ground visitors. This situation can lead toconflicts arising from visitors’ differingexpectations and requirements. Bushwalkers,anglers and rafters sometimes feel that theirexperience of peace and solitude in remotenatural areas is compromised by the noise andsight of aircraft, especially if their solitude hasbeen a hard-earned experience. Many visitors toRecreation and Visitor Services Zones (such asCradle Mountain) do not expect their viewfield ortranquillity to be interrupted by low flyingaircraft. Overflying aircraft also has the potentialto disturb wildlife.

LandingsThe use of aircraft to gain access to remote partsof the WHA is generally incompatible with therecreation experiences sought by on-groundvisitors to such areas. For this reason, as well asconcern to avoid vegetation disturbance, trackformation and disease introduction in remoteareas, helicopter landings within the WHA arestrictly controlled.

Landing strips for light aircraft are located atMelaleuca, Moores Valley (south of Birchs Inlet)near Cradle Valley and at the townships ofStrahan and Queenstown.

Float plane operators fly out of Strahan and arelicensed by the Service to land at localities on theGordon River and Macquarie Harbour. Permitsissued by the Director under the National Parksand Reserves Regulations 1971 to land helicoptersand float planes, or licences granted by theMinister under the National Parks and Wildlife Act1970, are only issued when the purpose isconsidered to be consistent with the managementobjectives for the WHA.

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PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTSurveys by the Service during the life of theprevious plan have shown that there remainspublic concern about aircraft activity intruding onvisitors’ experience in the WHA.

In 1996 the Service introduced conditions intooperator licenses requiring aerial operators tofollow agreed flight heights and routes. There isscope within the National Parks and Wildlife Act1970 under the licensing provisions to draw upcontracts covering aircraft flight behaviour wherea proponent proposes to land on reserved land.

Monitoring of the impact of float plane landingson Gordon River banks has commenced. Thistogether with information on bank types has beenused to assist management decisions regardingfloat plane landings on the river.

Aircraft users at Melaleuca, including helicopterpilots, have been given advice about appropriateflight behaviour to assist the protection of orange-bellied parrots.

Scotts Peak airstrip, on HEC vested land, wasclosed and rehabilitation commenced by the HECin 1998.

OBJECTIVES• To provide for scenic flights over the WHA

in accordance with the objectives for eachmanagement zone while minimising disturb-ance for on-ground visitors and wildlife.

• To allow aerial access for conservationmanagement purposes and in emergencysituations.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS (See also Recreation Opportunities, page 129)

General• Jointly develop with commercial aircraft

operators, aviation clubs andCommonwealth Government aviationauthorities, a Fly Neighbourly Agreementfor all the WHA. The final Fly NeighbourlyAgreement is to be approved by the Minister.

• In the interim, continue to liaise withcommercial aircraft operators and aviationclubs to develop and promote appropriatevoluntary flight guidelines that, whereappropriate, include standard scenic flightroutes and agreed height and timing

parameters for popular areas with potentialfor conflict between scenic flights andonground users or wildlife. Areas to becovered include Cradle Valley area,Frenchmans Cap, Franklin River, LowerGordon River, Mt Anne, the Arthur Ranges,Central Plateau and Melaleuca.

• For aircraft that require a licence to operatein the WHA, continue to include in new (orrenewed) licences, aerial procedures andpractices that reduce impact on ground usersbut are sensitive to experiences sought byaerial visitors. These flight behaviourconditions will recognise the harsh nature ofthe weather over the WHA and will beworded to avoid conflict between the licenceprovisions and Civil Aviation Regulations.

• In applying the above strategies, recognisethe cumulative impacts of overflights in theWHA when developing flight behaviourpractices and assessing new licenceapplications.

• Encourage aircraft operators to apply noisereduction techniques over sensitive areasand utilise aircraft with best practicabletechnology to reduce noise.

• Carry out research into appropriateminimum flight height requirements forscenic flights over the WHA in consultationwith aircraft operators.

• Aircraft may also be utilised in the WHA for:

- search and rescue or other emergencies;

- fire detection or control operations;

- flights necessary to implement themanagement objectives of the WHA;

- situations where flight safety necessitatesoverflying the area;

- other purposes approved by the directorand consistent with this plan.

• Require the approval of the Director forparachuting, hang gliding and ballooningactivities where take-off points are located inthe WHA.

• Continue to prohibit airdrops of food orequipment from planes throughout theWHA.

Landings• Only permit helicopter landings for

management and search and rescue

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purposes or activities in keeping with themanagement objectives for the area andconsistent with this plan. Landings otherthan for management or search and rescuepurposes are to be approved by the Director.

• Permit helicopter landings in the CentralPlateau Conservation Area only for searchand rescue and management purposes or atthe additional landing sites subject toinvestigation noted below.

• Do not permit floatplanes to land in theCentral Plateau Conservation Area, except atthe additional landing sites subject toinvestigation noted below. Asnecessary ,controls on floatplane landingsmay beintroduced elsewhere topr otectenvironmental or recreational values.

• Permit floatplane or other aerial craft thatland on water for recreational purposes toland on Macquarie Harbour, Port Davey,selected parts of Bathurst Harbour, LakePedder, Lake St Clair and selected partsofthe Lower Gordon River only. Onlycertainsections of the Lower Gordon River will beavailable for landings due to thevulnerability of eroded river banksandconcern for the safety and enjoymentofother river users.

• Landings on Lake St Clair will be contingentupon the results of an independent survey ofvisitors to the area over a trial period oflandings. If complaints are significant theoperation may require modification or becurtailed.

• The above management prescriptions underlandings are subject to an investigation ofoptions for providing for commercialfloatplane or helicopter tourist access toadditional lake (or other) sites in the WHA.Additional landing sites may be madeavailable following this investigation, subjectto the following conditions:

- a maximum of three additional sitesbeyond locations mentioned previouslyin this section may be made available;

- sites are to have nil or very little conflictbetween proposed commercial users andother users of the site;

- landings are to have nil or minimalimpact on the World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values at the site;

- landing sites are to abide by theprescriptions for the underlying zone ateach site, ie for the Self Reliant RecreationZone no facilities are to be constructedand

- no landing sites are to be made availablein the wilderness zone.

• Continue investigations into the impact ofwash from floatplanes landing on theLower Gordon River on bank erosion ratesand, if necessary, modify managementpolicies and relevant licence conditions.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Record compliance of scenic flight

operators with contractual or voluntaryflight guidelines.

• Continue to survey public views onoverflight impacts both in high visitor useand remote areas.

• Survey users’ response to helicopter andfloatplane landings within the WHA.Survey both aircraft passengers and theexperience of on-ground users. Modify,relocate or curtail operations if conflictwith onground users is significant.

• Regularly assess the on-ground impact ofany aircraft landing sites established.Modify, relocate or curtail operations ifimpacts are significant.

Bicycle Riding(Road␣ and Mountain

Bikes)BACKGROUNDThe WHA provides limited opportunities forbicycle riding. Bicycle tourers make use of theLyell Highway and may visit centres such as

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Cradle Valley and Cynthia Bay. Cyclists’ use ofroads in the WHA is limited due to the steephills and the wet climate.

Similarly, cyclists using mountainbikes onrough tracks only occasionally visit the area;tracks closer to major cities are generally morepopular. The Saw Back Range recreationalvehicle track and vehicle tracks on the CentralPlateau both have occasional use.

For the purposes of the National Parks andReserves Regulations 1971, a bicycle is defined asa vehicle. This means that bicycles are onlyallowed on vehicle tracks open to vehicles andare not, for example, allowed on walkingtracks. Permits are required by cyclists (andother recreational vehicle users) wishing to usepermit-accessible recreational vehicle tracks inthe WHA, such as the Saw Back Range track.

Mountainbikes are becoming popular and someincreased interest in riding in the WHA isexpected.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTLittle management has been required for thisactivity during the timeframe of the 1992 plan.

OBJECTIVE• To provide road and mountainbike riding

opportunities on roads and vehicular tracks,except where this causes unacceptabledamage to the World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Bicycle riding may occur on roads and

vehicular tracks open for use by the public.

• Riding is not permitted on walking tracks oroff-track.

• Investigate opportunities for mountain bikeriding in the WHA.

• Include information on opportunities forbicycling in publications.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor demand for and use of

mountainbike riding opportunities.

• Monitor tracks as per Vehicle Tracks andRecreational Driving, page 166.

Boating (Motorised)BACKGROUNDBoats are used on the waterways of the WHA fora range of recreational and commercial reasons.The coastal waters of Port Davey, MacquarieHarbour and the Lower Gordon River are pliedby the boats of sightseers and fishers. Sightseeingcruises on the Lower Gordon River are animportant component of the west coast touristindustry carrying more than 100,000 passengerseach year. If well managed, boating can providepeople with a means of visiting the WHA withminimal environmental impact and without theneed for significant infrastructure.

Boating on inland waterways is principally forrecreational fishing, with Lakes Pedder and StClair being popular. In the Central PlateauConservation Area boating occurs on LakesAugusta, Ada and Mackenzie, Double Lagoonand the lakes accessible from the Pillans–Julianvehicle track. Boating access to the WHA is alsopossible across Lake Burbury on the King River.For safety reasons boating is prohibited on LakeMurchison by the Hydro-Electric Corporation.Lake King William is used as a means of visitingthe King William Range.

Jetties or boat ramps are located at Lake St Clair,Sarah Island, Kelly Basin in Macquarie Harbour,Heritage Landing, Sir John Falls walkway on theLower Gordon River, Teds Beach, McPartlan Pass,Edgar Dam, Scotts Peak on Lake Pedder, in MothCreek and Melaleuca Creek in the Melaleuca area.

Informal jetties exist at Pine Landing on theGordon River, at the old exploration camp inBirchs Inlet, at the mouth of the Braddon Riverand at Forest Lag, Bathurst Harbour.

In recent years the number of vessels (both motorboats and yachts) visiting the Bathurst Harbour–Port Davey area has increased substantially. Forexample, the popular circumnavigation of

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Tasmania event has brought up to 50 vessels tothe area simultaneously. This has led to concernabout the environmental impact of the largenumbers of anchorages and associated landingson the area as a whole, as well as the effect ofeffluent release in sensitive environments such asBathurst Channel and Bathurst Harbour. Inaddition, some of the benthic communities inBathurst Channel are extremely vulnerable tomechanical damage by anchors. This has raisedconcerns that the values of the region may beseverely impacted by the unregulated anchoringof an increasing number of boats in the region.See also Diving, page 145.

The use of motorised boats to gain access tootherwise remote areas can lead to managementproblems and recreational conflicts. The high useand consequent environmental impact in the PineValley/Labyrinth area near Lake St Clair has beenpartly attributed to the easy access afforded to thearea by the ferry service on Lake St Clair. On theGordon River near its confluence with theFranklin River, motorised boats conflict with therecreational experience sought by some wild riverrafting trips.

The likelihood of fire, littering and ad hoc trackdevelopment is increased onshore nearanchorages. Noise and sewage disposal may alsocause problems. The potential pollution ofshallow lakes, particularly the fishing lakes in theCentral Plateau Conservation Area, is also aconcern.

The wash by various craft and in particular, largetourist craft, has been identified as the majorcause of severe bank erosion along the GordonRiver. Erosion has had a deleterious impact on theworld heritage values of the area. The maximumextent of wash induced bank retreat has beenestimated to be up to 10 metres in places23.

Erosion of the river banks is now recognised asbeing contrary to the natural depositionalprocesses that formerly operated in the area andits continuance is clearly incompatible with WHAmanagement objectives.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT

Gordon RiverSince the identification of riverbank erosionproblems on the Gordon River, an extensiveprogram of erosion monitoring andgeomorphological investigation has beenundertaken. The Service continues to monitor therate of bank erosion twice annually.

In response to the erosion problem, commercialboat access upstream of Heritage Landing has notbeen permitted since 1989. Sections of the riverbank upstream of Heritage Landing are graduallystabilising although they remain extremelyvulnerable.

From 1 July 1994 all commercial cruise boats wererequired to travel at six knots in that part of theriver still open to commercial use — the areabelow the upstream end of Horseshoe Bend. Thishas reduced the rate of erosion.

In 1994 the Bingham inquiry24 was conducted intotourist operations on the Gordon River. The mainfinding, relevant to bank stability, was that thereshould be a shift from speed limits to wave heightlimits as the most meaningful way of regulatingriver craft and preventing further damage to riverbanks. It was also stressed that there should be amove to low wake craft. These avenues arecurrently being pursued by the Service inassociation with operators.

A subsidiary plan to this plan, the Lower GordonRiver Recreation Zone plan, has been finalised. Itprovides detailed prescriptions on themanagement of bank erosion and recreationwithin the Gordon River area.

Bathurst Harbour–Port DaveyMonitoring of erosion problems along the banksof Melaleuca Creek commenced in 1992. Erosionhere may also be wake-induced. Erosionmonitoring sites were established in 1997 on thebanks of rivers entering the Port Davey-BathurstHarbour area.

A notesheet produced in 1996 for yacht and boatusers of the area identifies recommendedanchorages (to avoid damaging sensitiveunderwater sea pen communities), gives adviceon speed limits, effluent disposal and other

24 Bingham, M. 1994 Gordon River Tourist OperationsReport A report to the World Heritage AreaMinisterial Council, Hobart.

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23 Bradbury J., Cullen P., Dixon G., Pemberton M., 1995Streambank Erosion, Revegetation and Management of theLower Gordon River, Tasmanian Wilderness WorldHeritage Area. Environmental Management 19:259-272.

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measures for protecting natural and culturalvalues. See also Diving, page 145.

OBJECTIVES• To protect and conserve waterways and

adjacent environments.

• To provide opportunities for water-basedrecreation consistent with protecting theWorld Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA in accordancewith the zoning scheme.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONSSee also Ecologically Sustainable Management ofHuman Use, page 120 and MaintainingRecreation Opportunities, page 131.

General• Motorised Boating Areas (see map 3, page

216) are available for use by motorised boats.These areas include Lakes Pedder, St Clair,Augusta, Ada, Pillans, Julian, Mackenzie andDouble Lagoon; Port Davey; MacquarieHarbour; and under specific conditions,Bathurst Harbour and the Lower GordonRiver. Motorised boating in lakes outsidethese areas is generally disallowed. Note thatalthough surrounded by the WHA, LakeGordon is not within the WHA. Note alsorestrictions on upriver access in the PortDavey–Bathurst Harbour area. (seeMotorised Boating Area ManagementPrescriptions, page 60)

• In general, waters that are not readilyaccessible; or are relatively small andenclosed (and therefore prone to damagefrom pollution in the event of a motor boataccident); or that are susceptible to wake-induced bank erosion, are not available tomotorised boats. The tranquillity and purityof these waters will be protected by limitinguse to small craft propelled manually or bysail. In some circumstances, considerationmay be given to the use of craft with electricmotors.

• Specific waterways may be subject to specificconditions of use — such as length of stay,restrictions on access, effluent discharge,noise restrictions etc — designed tominimise environmental or social impacts.

• Except with the written permission of theDirector, access to Pedra Branca Island andMewstone Rock is not permitted. [This is toprotect the vulnerable Pedra Branca skinkand Shy Albatross (Schedule 4, ThreatenedSpecies Act 1995) from disturbance and theintroduction of exotic animals and diseases].

• Continue to develop an education programfor boat-based users in consultation withboating and fishing groups. The programwill include promotion of a minimal impactcode of conduct for boating that enhancesawareness of the area’s natural and culturalvalues, details appropriate activities andnotes preferred mooring/landing locations.

• In special circumstances (eg for approvedmanagement purposes), permit motoriseddinghies in areas not zoned for mechanisedaccess.

Jetties, Moorings and Anchorages• Permit permanent moorings for boats in

Lake Pedder, Lake St Clair and Kelly Basinin Macquarie Harbour. Consider limitedpermanent moorings on the Gordon Riverprimarily for commercial craft.

• Maintain and repair as necessary existingjetties and boat ramps at Lake St Clair, LakePedder, Sarah Island, Heritage Landing, SirJohn Falls and Melaleuca.

• Maintain existing jetties and moorings atBraddon Camp, Kelly Basin, Lower GordonRiver camps, and Birchs Inlet.

Bathurst Harbour–Port Davey• Identify preferred anchorage sites which are

the least vulnerable to mechanical damage inthe Bathurst Harbour - Port Davey area. Basesite selection on environmentalconsiderations, including the mapping of thedistribution of benthic communities inBathurst Channel.

• Investigate possible controls on effluentdischarge from boats in Bathurst Harbour–Bathurst Channel.

• Continue to develop and implement aninformation and education program forboating visitors to increase their awarenessof environmental issues in the BathurstHarbour - Port Davey area and inform themabout any restrictions and conditions thatmay apply.

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• Investigate the possible use of fixedmoorings in Bathurst Channel to avoidanchor damage to benthic communities.

• The Director may introduce additionalmeasures or conditions related to anchoragesas required to protect the values of theWHA.

Gordon River• Continue use of the Lower Gordon River

under conditions specified in licenceagreements for commercial craft, the code ofpractice for private craft (Voluntary UsersCode for Motorised Craft on the GordonRiver) and the provisions of the LowerGordon Recreation Zone Plan. Revise theseas required in the light of the results ofmonitoring of the rate of riverbank erosionand revegetation. If monitoring showserosion to be continuing, further restrictionsmay be imposed, in consultation withoperators, these may include closure of theriver.

• Regularly consult with operators regardingmonitoring results and river management.

• Finalise and implement the Lower GordonRiver Recreation Zone Plan and ensure thatall operations on the river are consistent withthe prescriptions detailed in the plan.

• Develop opportunities for boat-basedtourism on Macquarie Harbour tocomplement Gordon River cruises.

• Investigate any effects of private boats onbank erosion and apply restrictions ifrequired.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Gordon River• Continue to monitor river bank erosion twice

a year and if required review scientificmethods used for monitoring.

• Investigate the relationship between riverbank erosion and wave heights with the aimof identifying waves which will not causeerosion or hinder stabilisation andimplement the findings of wave height/bankstability studies as appropriate.

• Investigate any effects of river flowregulation by the HEC on bank erosion.

Bathurst Harbour–Port Davey• Monitor erosion of banks bordering

harbours and rivers in the Bathurst Harbour– Port Davey and Melaleuca Inlet areas andadjust controls on boat use to keep impactswithin acceptable levels.

• Monitor the impact of boating on theenvironment of the Bathurst Harbour – PortDavey area. In particular, monitor the impactof anchors on the benthic community ofBathurst Channel and adjust controls on boatuse to keep impacts within acceptable levels.See also Diving, page 145.

CampingBACKGROUNDThe WHA provides a range of campingopportunities from remote area camping (whereno facilities are provided) to camping areas atvisitor nodes (where amenities may includetoilets, showers and cooking facilities).

Camping areas for vehicle-based visitors havebeen established inside the WHA at Lake St Clair,Edgar Dam, the Huon River near Scotts Peak andjust outside the WHA at Pencil Pine near CradleMountain, Liffey Falls (lower), Cockle Creek,Strathgordon and Mt Field. Facilities provided atsome of these sites include toilets, picnic andcooking shelters, showers and barbecues. Thesefacilities range from old sub-standard facilitiesthat require replacement to recently builtstructures which generally are more attractiveand better cater for visitors’ needs.

Car-based camping in areas where few if anyfacilities are provided is permitted at various sitesboth within and outside the WHA at places suchas Collingwood Bridge along the Lyell Highway.

Remote area camping (beyond areas designatedas ‘day use only’) is available throughout theWHA and ranges from camping in untrackedcountry where no facilities are provided to formalcampsites along popular walking tracks whichhave facilities such as toilets, shelters or huts.

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PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe Huon River and Edgar Dam campsites havebeen re-developed since 1992 and initial planninghas been undertaken to re-develop Lake St Clairand Cockle Creek.

The 1992 WHA plan indicated that a newcamping area for anglers would be investigated inthe vicinity of the ex-HEC camp on the LakeAugusta Road. Indications are that campernumbers in the area are gradually reducing andthere will probably not be the anticipated demandfor a new camping area.

OBJECTIVE• To provide opportunities for camping within

and adjacent to the WHA that strategicallycover major WHA access points, meet users’needs, are commensurate with the zoningsystem and other management requirementsand that aid in presentation of the WHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Road-Accessible Camping• Maintain camping areas at Cynthia Bay,

Huon River, Edgar Dam and CollingwoodRiver within the WHA and, just outside theWHA, at Pencil Pine near Cradle Valley,Liffey Falls (lower), Mt Field and CockleCreek–Recherche Bay.

• Finalise and/or implement site plans for thefollowing camping areas: Cynthia Bay,Collingwood Bridge, Liffey Falls (lowerend), Mt Field and Cockle Creek–RechercheBay.

• Retain free range camping for anglers in theNineteen Lagoons area. Assess the need for acamping area in the Nineteen Lagoons areaas part of the Recreation and TourismStrategy, in addition to free range camping.

• Provide for limited caravan and campervansites at Cynthia Bay as provided for in thesite plan. Apart from this site, caravan andcampervan facilities will be catered for nearto, but outside, the WHA, notably at PencilPine, Mt Field, Strathgordon and CockleCreek–Recherche Bay.

Non Road-accessible Camping• Establish limits of acceptable environmental

and social change for remote area campsitesbased on zoning and track classification.Regularly monitor the condition ofcampsites and adjust management asnecessary.

• Investigate and as necessary implementappropriate methods for hardening popularcampsites.

• Construct or maintain toilets at all majorcampsites in the Recreation Zone. Toiletsmay be provided in the Self-ReliantRecreation Zone. Toilets will not be providedat campsites in the Wilderness Zone.

• As part of the Recreation and TourismStrategy, assess demand for, andenvironmental suitability of, a formal low-key campsite suitable for walkers at BirdRiver or East Pillinger.

• Identify areas for camping outside the mainchamber at the Walls of Jerusalem andsubsequently prohibit camping in the mainchamber. (This action is necessary to preventfurther degradation of this sensitive area andto assist natural rehabilitation of alreadydisturbed areas.)

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor camping levels in the Nineteen

Lagoons area to assess the need for a newcamping area.

• Monitor the expansion of campsites atregular intervals using aerial photographicmonitoring techniques.

• Continue to inventory campsite conditionsalong popular walking tracks, at popularfishing and horse-riding destinations andalong the Franklin River.

(See also Environmental Quality, page 110)

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Canoeing and RaftingBACKGROUNDThe Franklin River is the prime canoeing andrafting river in the WHA. Although the river wasfirst travelled in the 1950s, it was not until thepublic controversy over the proposed flooding ofthe lower reaches of the river in the late 1970s andearly 1980s that travelling down the Franklinbecame popular. Numbers peaked in the early1980s at 1,500 people per year but declinedsignificantly once the power scheme was halted.Over the five summers from 1991–92 numbershave remained essentially static averagingapproximately 320 rafters per year. During theyears of the dam controversy the majority of usersbelonged to private parties, now approximately70% of users are clients of commercial trips.

Trips range in duration from a few days to severalweeks. The vast majority of private trips travelthe full length of the river, generally taking about14 days. Initially the commercial trips all ran thefull length of the river (generally taking 11 days)but in recent times shorter trips (using the MountMcCall track for access) have increased innumber. Seven day trips run from theCollingwood Bridge to Mount McCall and fiveday trips run from Mount McCall to the GordonRiver.

By comparison with the Franklin, use of otherrivers in the WHA is very low. The Jane, Denison,upper Forth, Anne, Weld, Huon, Crossing andDavey Rivers; and the Gordon River above LakeGordon are occasionally travelled. Many of theserivers are only navigable in small rubber rafts oron airbeds in near flood conditions. The relativelylow use of these rivers is largely due to thedifficulty in accessing the rivers as most areremote from roads.

Canoes and kayaks are also occasionally used onthe lakes of the Central Plateau. Sea kayaks areused on Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour,Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River, LakeSt Clair and as access to Maatsuyker Island.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTCampsites along the Franklin River aremonitored.

Maintenance work has been performed onportage structures along the Franklin River andthe walkway at Kuti Kina Cave. In 1995 land titlefor Kuti Kina Cave was handed back to theAboriginal community and its maintenanceceased to be the responsibility of the Service.

OBJECTIVE• To manage recreational use of canoes, kayaks

and rafts on rivers and lakes to protect theenvironment and to avoid over-crowding.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Develop and distribute material on river

safety and minimal impact techniques.

• Prepare a river management plan for theFranklin River including research into therecreational carrying capacity of the riverand the appropriate limits of acceptablechange.

• Maintain access to the Franklin River via theMt McCall haulageway track (see also page168).

• Continue to maintain portage structuresalong the Franklin River.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Continue to monitor campsites along the

Franklin River.

Caving and KarstManagement

BACKGROUNDThe cave and karst areas of the WHA contain avariety of significant surface and undergroundkarst features, along with unique cave fauna. Rare

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and often relict plant communities are found insheltered locations in sinkholes and near caveentrances. Some caves and rock shelters containAboriginal sites of great significance dating backover 30,000 years. In a number of areas, there hasbeen interaction between ancient glaciers andcave or karst development. Some of the deepestand longest cave systems in Australia are foundin the WHA. Important cave or karst areas occurat Mole Creek, Ida Bay, Mt. Anne, the Franklin–Lower Gordon Rivers area, Cracroft Valley,Precipitous Bluff and numerous other remotelocations. In all there are over 60 separate karstareas within the WHA.

Karst areas generally require special managementprocedures because of their unique hydrologyand atmospheric systems, and the often rare orendangered faunal and floral communitiesassociated with this relatively uncommon rocktype. Planning for the recreational use of cavesmust take account of generally low intrinsiccarrying capacities. Surface management, such astrack planning, fire management, watercatchment management and infrastructuredevelopment must all take special precautions notgenerally necessary in non-karst areas.

Other than at Marakoopa Cave, the majority ofcaving trips are organised by members of cavingclubs for recreational purposes. Caving is alsoundertaken by commercial tour operators, schoolgroups, other community groups, members of thegeneral public and researchers conductingscientific studies. All cave visits result in someform of damage — however minimal — which isoften cumulative.

The WHA is unusual in the national context inthat it provides cavers with opportunities for caveexploration and recreation in a true wildernesssetting. Although caving groups only visit remotecave areas occasionally, they often stay forextended periods of time, and therefore theenvironmental impacts of these trips (both withinand adjacent to caves) can be locally severe.

In order to minimise cave damage and aid insearch and rescue, the Service operates a permitsystem which applies to certain caves in the State,including some in the WHA. Access to Exit Cave,parts of Mystery Creek Cave and MarakoopaCave is restricted by locked gates. Permitconditions include minimal impact regulations,party size limits and requirements relating tomembership of caving groups upholding suitable

codes of practice.

Marakoopa Cave, near Mole Creek, is the onlycave in the WHA that has been developed fortourism. Pathways have been constructed andartificial lighting installed. Approximately 20,000people visit Marakoopa Cave each year, making ita significant focus for interpretation. There hasbeen limited concessionaire-operated touristaccess to Mystery Creek Cave at Ida Bay. Issuesassociated with tourist caves include breakage ofspeleothems, accumulation of rubbish andalteration to natural processes in caves followingchanges to cave climate and air quality.

Caving clubs are a source of valuable expertiseand support for management objectives; a goodworking relationship between the Service andcaving clubs will assist in achieving effectivemanagement of karst.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTPublic consultation through the Cave and KarstManagement Advisory Committee has revealedongoing concerns about the appropriate use ofcertain caves and karst features by variouseducational, commercial and recreational groups.A cave classification system, based on the modelprovided by the Australasian Cave and KarstManagement Association, has been produced,and caves at Ida Bay have been classifiedaccordingly. A joint project with ForestryTasmania has produced guidelines by whichcertain caves may be allocated for sustainable useby various groups.

The Lune River (Benders) Limestone Quarry wasclosed following the assessment of unacceptableenvironmental impacts on the Exit Cave system.Rehabilitation of the site has been completed andthree years of monitoring data have beenobtained. This information will form a usefulbaseline for management of recreational use.

A management plan has been completed forMystery Creek Cave at Ida Bay. This will beincorporated in an overall plan of managementfor the Ida Bay karst area.

Gates have been installed on all major entrancesto Exit Cave and other sensitive sites in the cavesystem. A co-operative program between theService and caving groups has been establishedinvolving surface and in-cave trackmarking, afull survey of the cave and its contents, and acave cleaning program. Completion of key

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projects will allow the re-opening of the cave forpermit-based recreational trips.

The Cave Leadership Accreditation Group, inconjunction with the Service, has produced anassessment scheme for commercial, school andcommunity group leaders. This scheme will beadopted by the Service in assessing the suitabilityof tour leaders for licensing and other cave accessarrangements. (See also Guided Tours, page 179)

Three caves within the WHA (Wargata Mina,Ballawinne and Kuti Kina) were returned to theAboriginal community in 1995. These sites arenow Aboriginal Land and their management willbe determined by the Aboriginal Land Council ofTasmania and its nominees.

At Mole Creek, a program for upgradingpathways and lighting within Marakoopa Cavewas completed.

OBJECTIVES• To ensure sustainable management of caves

and karst in the WHA for their intrinsic,ecological, recreational and World Heritageand other natural and cultural values.

• To ensure that natural rates and magnitudesof environmental change (both physical andbiological) in karst ecosystems are notaccelerated through inappropriate use ormanagement.

• To ensure that the physical and biologicalcomponents of surface and undergroundecosystems in the WHA (which control ratesof environmental change in karst areas andkarst catchments) are managed primarily fortheir role in maintaining karst processes.

• To provide for the presentation to the publicof caves and karst features according to theirintrinsic capacity to withstand erosional anddepositional processes and at a scale notsignificantly different from natural rates. If itis absolutely necessary to exceed these rates,appropriate infrastructure to ameliorate anypotential damage must be previouslyintroduced.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS(Seealso Geodiversity and Geoconservation, page78)

• Classify and manage all recorded caves

according to the Cave Classification System(see Geodiversity and Geoconservation, page79 for outline of the system).

• Prepare cave and karst management plans inconsultation with caving groups and, whereappropriate, with the Aboriginal community,for areas identified by the Cave and KarstManagement Committee.

• Cave access may be restricted or prohibitedwhere unacceptable damage has occurred oris likely to occur.

• Grant concessions only for guided cavingtrips in cave systems for which amanagement plan has been completed andin accordance with conditions laid down insuch a plan.

• Encourage caving groups and publishers tolimit publication of information about ‘wildcaves’ and ‘wilderness caves’ where suchinformation may result in damage to naturalfeatures and processes.

• In consultation with caving groups, prepareand distribute material regarding minimalimpact caving and cave safety.

• Undertake regular cave inspections toenforce permit conditions.

• Erect cave gates and other structuresconsidering the advice of the Cave and KarstManagement Committee.

• Erect a sign at each restricted access caveexplaining the reasons for access restrictions.

• Liaise with adjacent landholders toencourage protection of cave catchments.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Continue to evaluate cave users’ perceptions

of the suitability of caves for different uses.

• Facilitate public comment on theperformance of the Service, through theCave and Karst Management Committee.

• Develop a computerised cave permitrecording system allowing usage andimpacts resulting from recreational use to bemonitored and evaluated.

• Initiate a cave fauna monitoring program inExit Cave, to be operated in conjunction withthe existing water quality monitoringprogram.

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• Initiate a track erosion and fauna monitoringsystem in Mystery Creek Cave.

• Introduce a comprehensive hydrological andatmospheric monitoring system atMarakoopa Cave.

• Introduce a self-registration system forcavers using caves and karst areas other thanthose operating under the present permitsystem.

Climbing and AbseilingBACKGROUNDRock climbing and abseiling are undertaken byrelatively few people in the WHA. This is mainlydue to the lack of vehicular access to many suitablesites and the relatively high frequency of badweather. Frenchmans Cap, despite being one ortwo days walk from the nearest road, is the mostpopular climbing area in the WHA. Other areasoccasionally visited by rock climbers include theDu Cane Range, Federation Peak, the WesternArthur Range, Cradle Mountain, Precipitous Bluff,Walls of Jerusalem, Frankland Range, SentinelRange, Saw Back Range and Mt Anne.

Potential management problems associated withrock climbing and abseiling include visible damageto rock faces and damage to vegetation and erosionon rock faces and access routes. Of particularconcern is the potential for climbers’ campsites andaccess tracks to crags to develop all the problemsassociated with heavily used bushwalking tracksand campsites, especially if they are promoted inpublished articles or guidebooks. These problemscan largely be overcome if minimal impactclimbing techniques are used in conjunction withminimal impact bushwalking and the applicationof the prescriptions of the Walking TrackManagement Strategy to access routes.

Ice climbing is very occasionally undertaken on MtAnne, Mt Geryon and Cradle Mountain; however,conditions are rarely suitable.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe limited amount of climbing activity in theWHA has meant that no active management hasbeen necessary.

OBJECTIVE• To continue to allow climbing and abseiling

within the WHA except where this causesunacceptable environmental damage.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Generally discourage the use of bolts and

other fixtures that permanently damage rockfaces.

• Prepare material regarding climber safetyand minimal impact climbing techniquesand publicise it within the climbingcommunity.

• Encourage authors and magazine editors tolimit publication of descriptions of climbs inthe WHA and their associated access routesand campsites to those in accord with theWalking Track Management Strategy. (SeeWalking and Walking Tracks, page 172).

(This will direct climbers, in particular thosenew to the State, to appropriate climbs andwill assist in avoiding the rapid degradationof sensitive areas.)

• Encourage self-regulation by the climbingcommunity.

• Evaluate the carrying capacities of climbingand abseiling sites.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Prepare an inventory of the condition of

popular rock climbing and abseiling sitesand their associated access routes andcampsites. Regularly inspect them forenvironmental damage and modifymanagement requirements accordingly.

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DivingBACKGROUNDRecreational diving has not been a popularactivity within the WHA largely due to theremoteness and inaccessibility of the eastern endof Macquarie Harbour and the Port Davey–Bathurst Harbour region (the only two marineareas within the WHA — note that the WHAboundary around the coast is the low watermark).

However, the publicity attached to the recentdiscovery of unusual benthic communities andfish within Bathurst Harbour and BathurstChannel has led to greatly increased interest indiving in this area. Some of these benthiccommunities (eg the sea pens, bryozoans andgorgonians in Bathurst Channel) are extremelyvulnerable to damage (accidental or deliberate) bydivers and from anchors. This has raised concernsthat the values of the region may be severelyimpacted by diving and anchorages.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe low level of interest in diving in the WHAcombined with the lack of awareness (untilrecently) of the existence of the sensitive benthiccommunities in Bathurst Channel has meant thatno active management has occurred.

The draft Melaleuca Site Plan recognised thepotential for adverse impacts from diving andanchoring. It proposed a diving exclusion zone inpart of Bathurst Channel (pending the results offurther research) and identified preferred sites forboat anchorages and shore landing in the BathurstHarbour–Port Davey area. A boating notesheet(concentrating mostly on boating activities — notdiving) and information package wassubsequently prepared and is being circulatedamongst boating visitors. See also Boating(Motorised), page 137.

OBJECTIVE• To allow for recreational diving within the

waters of the WHA so long as the impacts ofthis activity remain within acceptable limits.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• As a high priority and based on mapping of

the distribution of benthic communities inBathurst Channel, identify preferred divesites which demonstrate the communitystructure of the area and which are the leastvulnerable to damage.

• Develop and implement an information andeducation program for divers to increasetheir awareness of diving conditions (eg coldwater, low visibility and strong currents) andenvironmental issues in Bathurst Channeland inform them about any restrictions andconditions that may apply.

• The Director may instigate the introductionof additional measures or conditions relatedto diving as required to protect the values ofthe area, including dive-free areas.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor the impact of divers on the benthic

community of Bathurst Channel (andelsewhere if necessary) and adjust divereducation and regulation to keep impactswithin acceptable levels.

FishingBACKGROUNDManagement of the recreational trout fishery, aswell as all other aquatic fauna, within the WHA isthe responsibility of the Inland FisheriesCommission (IFC). Management of recreationalsea fishing is the responsibility of the Departmentof Primary Industries, Water and Environment.The Service is responsible for land and wildlifemanagement within the WHA.

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Since the introduction of trout to Tasmania over100 years ago, trout fishing has developed into apopular sporting and recreational pastime formany Tasmanians, as well as for visitors to theState. The remote beauty of the WHA combinedwith its many lakes makes it one of the best troutfishing areas in the world. The most popular troutfishing area in the WHA, with a long history andtradition predating the gazetting of the WHA, isthe Western Lakes region of the Central Plateau.However, Lake St Clair, Lake Pedder, MacquarieHarbour and the Gordon River are also regularlyfished. Several trout populations in the WHA aresupplemented by stocking.

Although trout are a valuable recreational andeconomic resource for Tasmania they can alsoaffect other values of the WHA. They have beenimplicated in the decline of several nativefreshwater fishes and their presence as anintroduced species affects natural ecologicalprocesses and systems. In some parts of the WHAthe trout have been established for so long itwould be difficult to assess what impacts theymay have had on the native wildlife. Existingtrout-free waters therefore have a very highconservation value and the illegal stocking oftrout-tree waters is of major concern.

Anglers use a variety of fishing methods in theWHA, with the large majority favouring fly-fishing and spinning. Bait fishing is also practisedby some anglers. This involves either bringing inor collecting on-site animals such as worms,cockroaches, grubs and frogs. On-site collection ofbait involves some degree of habitat disturbance.

The transport of any live animals, eitherinvertebrates or vertebrates, into the WHA for useas bait increases the risk of accidental release andestablishment of harmful exotic species anddiseases. The recent introduction of Europeancarp to Tasmania, possibly through its use as livebait, gives cause for serious concern about thepotential for introducing undesirable speciesthrough bait fishing.

Recreational sea fishing is undertaken inMacquarie Harbour and Port Davey. The latterarea is subject to a low intensity of use, mainlyfrom yachts visiting the area.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe IFC have managed and will continue tomanage trout fishing subject to IFC regulations. Inthe timeframe of the 1992 plan, the IFC has notstocked waters that did not already contain trout.However there is ongoing concern over illegalstocking by individuals.

A booklet ‘Tackling More than Trout’ and abrochure ‘Notes for Anglers, Walkers and otherVisitors’ have been produced that describe waysof minimising environmental impact whileangling.

A draft fisheries management plan for the CentralPlateau Conservation Area was to be completedduring the life of the last plan. The completion ofthis plan has been hampered by other prioritiesfor the IFC such as dealing with the introductionof the European carp. Preliminary research andplanning by consultants25 and the Service hasbeen done and some discussions held betweenIFC and the Service.

Some monitoring of the impact of bait collectionat campsites has occurred, however specificmonitoring of the effects of bait fishing on theabundance of local species has not beenconducted.

OBJECTIVES• To manage the fisheries resources of the

WHA to provide recreational fishingopportunities while minimising impacts onthe World Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA.

• To encourage minimal impact anglingpractices.

• To maintain and protect native habitats andnative species, particularly those which arerare or threatened.

• To protect existing trout-free waters.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Inland Fishing• Provide for the continuation of trout fishing

subject to IFC regulations.

• Bait fishing will be allowed within the inlandwaters of the WHA in areas gazetted by theIFC as available for bait fishing. These are

25 Sloane R. D. and French G. C., Trout FisheryManagement Plan Western Lakes–Central PlateauTasmanian World Heritage Area, Internal unpublishedreport, Parks and Wildlife Service, Hobart.

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currently Lakes Augusta and Mackenzie inthe Central Plateau. Within these lakes onlybaits specified by the IFC may be used. Onlyartificial lures may be used for fishing ininland waters in the remainder of the WHA.

• Should any expansion of these areas beconsidered it must be clearly demonstratedthat bait fishing does not threaten the WorldHeritage and other natural and cultural valuesof the WHA. Any expansion would be jointlyconsidered by the IFC and the Service underthe New Proposals and Impact Assessmentprocess, see page 66.

• Bait collection is not permitted within theWHA, however bait may be brought into theWHA for use at lakes listed as available forbait fishing. As for all of Tasmania, no frogsare to be used for bait fishing in the WHA.

• The IFC will not stock waters that do notalready contain trout as is its policythroughout the State. The practice of illegalstocking by individuals will be activelydiscouraged and offenders prosecuted.

• The IFC will complete a fishery managementplan for the Central Plateau ConservationArea in consultation with angling clubs andthe Service.

• Facilitate research into the impacts of troutand other exotic fish species on native speciesand habitats.

Fishing in Marine and Tidal Waters• Provide for the continuation of non-

commercial fishing in marine and tidal watersin accordance with the Living Marine ResourcesAct, 1995 and associated rules and regulations.

• Allow baitfishing in estuarine watersprovided no live terrestrial organisms (egworms, frogs, etc) are used.

MONITORING AND EVALUATIONIn association with the Inland FisheriesCommission:

• Monitor the level of satisfaction with themanagement of trout fishing in the WHA.

• Monitor the area of trout-free waters in theWHA and make this information available formanagement purposes only.

• Monitor impacts of exotic fish species onselected native species.

• Monitor populations of rare and threatenedspecies, particularly those susceptible to troutpredation/competition.

Hobbies and CraftsBACKGROUNDThe WHA contains various natural materialswhich could be considered useful for craft orhobby purposes. These include things likecraftwood, gemstones and mineral specimens.

One of the main aims for conservation in theWHA is to protect and conserve features in theirnatural state. Collection of material has thereforeonly been permitted where collection will benefitthe conservation of the material and then only if itis consistent with relevant criteria for approvingscientific research as outlined in the ScientificResearch and Monitoring section of the plan, seepage 116. A permit is required for the collection ofany materials from the WHA.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTDuring the life of the 1992 management plan anumber of requests from Tasmanianmineralogical societies to allow fossicking formineral specimens at the abandoned wolframmine at the end of Patons Road and theAdamsfield area were received. The approval ofthe Director to collect specimens was not given inthese cases. Both these localities are listed as sitesof geoconservation significance.

Both sites have been previously mined. TheAdamsfield area is zoned as a MineralExploration Area because of the pre-existing useof the area for mining and is potentially availablefor mining.

The 1992 plan did not state a policy on thecollection of hobby materials except forprovisions allowing the collection of Huon pinedriftwood in Macquarie Harbour (See DriftwoodSalvage, page 188).

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OBJECTIVE• To permit collection or removal of natural

material from the WHA only where suchaction is considered to benefit theconservation of the material and beconsistent with the objectives of this plan.

• To allow collection at a limited number ofsites of pre-existing use, where collection canoccur in a manner that does not impact onthe World Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• In order to protect the natural and cultural

values of the area, the collection of materialsfor souvenir, craft or hobby purposes willnot generally be permitted except for:

- Huon pine driftwood in the MacquarieHarbour area (see Driftwood Salvage,page 188) and

- fossicking for specified geologicalmaterial in the Adamsfield ConservationArea under permit. Such fossicking is tobe conducted using unpowered handimplements in disturbed areas atspecified locations and will avoidAboriginal sites and damage to historicheritage.

• Collection for scientific and conservationpurposes will be considered and will be bypermit only. Note that the AboriginalManagement section, page 102 provides forthe development, with the Aboriginalcommunity, of a joint animal, plant andmaterial use policy.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Assess impacts on geodiversity, vegetation

and cultural heritage in the WHA from anyhobby collecting activities.

Horse RidingBACKGROUNDHorse riding, in association with previous landuses such as grazing, has occurred in the CentralPlateau Conservation Area, the adjacent ForestReserves and some other parts of the WHA.Current areas used, as identified in the 1992 plan,include the Liffey and Meander Forest Reserves,the February Plains, Lone Gum Plain and theCentral Plateau Conservation Area. The plateau isthe major riding area. It provides opportunitiesfor riding in a relatively remote environment thatrequires a sound knowledge of the area, anexperienced horse and good preparation.

Use of the plateau by riders is presently relativelylow and has been so over the period of the 1992plan (less than 100 horse trips per year). Otherareas are less than this. However, promotion ofriding and/or an increase in commercial tripsmay result in increased use.

Riding in the Central Plateau Conservation Areapresents management problems similar to thoseassociated with walking. These include soilerosion, soil compaction, vegetation damagethrough trampling, pollution of waterways anddamage to Aboriginal sites. Additional impacts onnative vegetation caused by horses may includedisturbance due to grazing and a minor increasedrisk of introducing weed species in horse manure.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT

Riding AreasThe 1992 plan required that horseriding beconfined to the Central Plateau ConservationArea, Liffey and Meander Forest Reserves andpossibly, following investigation with riders, threeadditional areas in Cradle Mountain–Lake StClair National Park: February Plains, Lone GumPlain and the Campbell River area.

Two of these areas, February Plains and LoneGum Plain, have been made available for riding.A number limit, currently set at 20 horses per

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riding season, applies in each area. The third area,Campbell River, has not been made available dueto a lack of access, its close proximity to CradleMountain and because it includes a number ofsensitive plant communities.

In addition to these areas riders have requestedpermission to use a route from the CentralPlateau passing through the Walls of JerusalemNational Park to the Mersey Valley. This wasdisallowed under the 1992 plan.

A commercial tour operator also requested accessto two kilometres of track near Adamsfield inSouthwest National Park, along the alignment ofthe old Adamsfield pack horse track. This wasalso disallowed under the 1992 plan.

Riding Permits/RegistrationA horseriding permit is required under Section 4-1 of the National Parks and Reserves Regulations,1971 to access the two riding areas in CradleMountain–Lake St Clair National Park. This is arequirement for riding in any National Park andis accepted by riders.

For the Central Plateau Conservation Area andthe Meander and Liffey Forest Reserves (whichare Conservation Areas under the National Parksand Wildlife Act 1970) the situation regardingpermits has been less clear. While permits arerequired under the same regulation as forNational Parks (see above), riders have seen this,in the case of the Central Plateau as anunnecessary imposition and have requested aregistration system similar to walker registrationinstead. The 1992 plan required the introductionof a registration system but did not specificallyrequire permits.

A compromise solution has been developed withriders which covers the Central PlateauConservation Area and the Liffey and MeanderForest Reserves. It provides for easy (phone-based) registration by riders, delivers monitoringdata for the Service and has identified instanceswhere the Service can prosecute riders forinappropriate behaviour. This regulation basedarrangement is detailed in an amendment toRegulation 4A-1 of the National Parks and ReservesRegulations, 1971 (National Parks and ReservesAmendment Regulations, 1996). Its requirements are

detailed in the code of practice document‘Horseriding in the High Country’26.

ResearchConsiderable research into horseriding impactshas occurred since 1992. Horseriding trialsconducted in association with riders have allowedthe identification of the most sensitive soil andvegetation types to horse trampling and thesubsequent mapping of areas sensitive to ridingon the Central Plateau and the February Plains.

The sensitive area mapping maps those parts ofthe plateau that cannot support trampling byhorses, other parts that can support limitedtrampling (up to 10 horse passes) and yet otherareas that are resistant to horse riding impacts.This allows rangers to alert riders when they maybe travelling into sensitive areas.

This information has been provided to riders andhas been incorporated in ‘Horseriding in the HighCountry’ and is also noted when riders register orapply for a permit.

Research on the germination of weed species fromhorse manure on the Central Plateau has shownthat weed species can germinate for up to threeyears after manure is deposited. However weedinvasion of the plateau is considered a minor riskas most plants do not appear to spread rapidlydue to native animal grazing pressure. The codeof practice includes advice on proper feeding toreduce the potential for weeds to spread via horsemanure.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONSSee also Recreational Opportunities, page 129.

Riding Areas• Confine horse riding to the following parts

of the WHA:

- Central Plateau Conservation Area(subject to the arrangements notedabove);

- Liffey and Meander Forest Reserves(subject to the arrangements notedabove);

- February Plains and Lonegum Plain andaccess roads, (subject to permit andnumber restrictions on the plains; nonumber restriction on the access roads);

- Patons Road (subject to permit, nonumber restrictions) and

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26 Horseriding groups and the Parks and WildlifeService 1997 Horseriding in the High Country — A Codeof Practice for Riding in Tasmanian Highland Areas(edition 2), Parks and Wildlife Service, Hobart.

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- possibly, subject to an assessment ofdemand and the impact on values, aroute along the old Adamsfield packhorse track to Adamsfield, the exact routeto be agreed by the Director (subject topermit).

• Consider the above proposal and any furtherriding areas proposed in the future as newproposals under the new proposalsassessment process, see page 66.

• Riders are to avoid areas consideredsensitive or vulnerable to impact by horsesincluding:

- some sites of geoconservationsignificance (such as lunettes);

- concentrations of endemic plant species;

- vegetation particularly susceptible totrampling eg Sphagnum bogs, cushionplants, conifer communities, Grevilleaaustralis and all areas above 1300 metresin altitude;

- areas where soils have been eroded(particularly transition areas to erodedsections);

- wet and boggy areas;

- Aboriginal sites;

- any areas quarantined because of disease(such as Pine Lake, see Zoning map 4,page 217) and

- rehabilitation sites.

• Horseriders are to follow vehicle trackswhere these exist. However in tracklesscountry horseriding groups will beencouraged to spread out over the terrain tominimise vegetation disturbance, soilerosion and over-use of areas.

Riding/Use Levels• For the February Plains and Lone Gum Plain

areas, the present number limit of 20 horseswill remain in force. Increases beyond thisnumber will be considered, dependent ondemand and the results of monitoring to beconducted with rider input.

Permits/Registration• The permit system in force at the time of

writing for horseriding in National Parks(section 4–1 of the National Parks and Reserves

Regulations, 1971) and the arrangementagreed for riding in the Central PlateauConservation Area and the Liffey andMeander Forest Reserves (section 4A–1 ofthe National Parks and Reserves AmendmentRegulation 1996) will remain until theproposed Walking Track ManagementStrategy quota system is developed (seepage 172). The present system, will, overtime and in consultation with riders, beintegrated with the walking trackmanagement system.

• Inform Forestry Tasmania officers whenregistrations are received for riding with theWHA Forest Reserves.

• As riders receive their permit or register forriding, advice will be given by rangers onareas to avoid based on sensitive area mapsproduced by the Service (see PreviousManagement, this section and Monitoringand Evaluation below).

• Revise and update the code of conduct forhorseriding as required in conjunction withhorseriders.

• Monitor the impacts (see below) ofhorseriding and, as necessary and inconsultation with users, amend the riders’code or areas open to riding.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Ranger staff will monitor horse and rider

numbers via the permit system or ridingarrangements. This will include the numberof trips that did not proceed or went aheadwith less than the proposed number. Theroutes used and the number of tripsundertaken in particular areas will berecorded on a map for each riding season.

• These routes and figures are to be comparedwith the acceptable use levels identifiedfrom research for these areas, bearing inmind the ability of horses to spread out andthe sensitivity of the most sensitivecommunity ridden over. Riders will berequested to travel via other routes oncethree quarters of the identified acceptableuse figure has been reached.

• Should numbers approach or exceedacceptable use levels, or unacceptable levelsof horse-related damage are observed,

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management action will be taken inassociation with riders.

• At appropriate intervals, evaluate observablehorse-related impacts above sustainablelevels in the most sensitive environmentsalong major areas traversed, in consultationwith riders and modify practices asappropriate.

HuntingBACKGROUNDParts of the WHA have a long history andtradition of hunting pre-dating the inscription ofthe area on the World Heritage List. The 1992 planprovides opportunities for hunting in two broadareas — Macquarie Harbour and t he CentralPlateau Conservation Area (CPCA). In MacquarieHarbour duck hunting occurs within the FarmCove Game Reserve and the Braddon Riverpermit area. In the CPCA wallaby and rabbithunting occurs within specified Hunting Areas(see map 3, page 216 for a general view of allHunting Areas; for a detailed view of CentralPlateau Conservation Area Hunting Areas seemap 4, page 217). The Service requires hunters tohave a current gun licence, a current huntinglicence and a permit to hunt in the area prior tohunting. Only shotguns may be used for huntingin both areas.

At present and in the foreseeable future, huntingposes no significant risk to the conservation statusof the species being hunted. Although hunting isseen by some as a traditional recreational activity,it is seen by others as an inappropriate activity ina world heritage area.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT

Macquarie Harbour AreasOnly ducks are hunted here. The season runsfrom early March to early June.

A guide booklet identifying protected species hasbeen prepared and is issued with each permit for

duck hunting in the Farm Cove Game Reserveand Braddon River permit area.

Central Plateau Conservation AreaOnly wallaby and rabbits are hunted here. Theseason runs from April until November.

Two minor adjustments to the CPCA huntingareas have occurred during the term of the lastplan. The first adjustment was to provide betteraccess to some hunting areas; the second was toprovide a new hunting area to compensatehunters for loss of access to the hunting area atPine Lake (due to the establishment of the highaltitude dieback Quarantine Area, see map 4,page 217). These changes maintain the originalsize of the hunting area as required by the 1992plan and, where possible, avoid conflicts withother user groups.

Wallaby surveys were undertaken and indicate nosignificant change in wallaby numbers between1988 and 1995.

A draft hunting code has been negotiated withhunters, but has not been finalised.

OBJECTIVES• To sustainably manage recreational hunting

under permit within specified areas of theWHA.

• To minimise conflict between hunting andother recreational activities.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

General• With two minor exceptions (see next section)

confine hunting within the WHA to duckshooting in the Farm Cove Game Reserveand Braddon River permit area, and thehunting of wallabies and rabbits to thehunting areas of the Central PlateauConservation Area (see map 3, page 216).

• Only shotguns may be used.

• Publicise hunting areas and times for theinformation and safety of other users.

• Finalise and as necessary update a code ofconduct for hunting in conjunction withhunters.

• All feral animal eradication programs will beundertaken by Service staff or other

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appropriate individuals under writtenpermit agreed to by the Director. (See alsoIntroduced Animals, page 87).

Farm Cove Game Reserve and Braddon RiverPermit Area• Duck hunting, by licensed hunters during

the normal duck hunting season, will beallowed under permit in the Farm CoveGame Reserve and Braddon River PermitArea (see map 3, page 216).

• Consider a minor expansion of duck huntingto a defined area on the southern shore of theMacquarie Harbour Historic Site. Thoroughlyassess demand, potential conflicts withtourism, the opinion of the general public andthe impact on World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHA priorto making a final decision.

• Investigate the demand for, and thesuitability of, a land-based hunting site (forwallabies) in a small area adjacent to theFarm Cove Game Reserve. Assess thepotential conflict with other users, theopinion of the general public and anyimpacts on the World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHAprior to making a final decision.

• Dogs may be transported in vessels in theMacquarie Harbour Historic Site. Dogs willbe permitted to the high water mark withinFarm Cove Game Reserve and BraddonRiver Permit Area and may, if tied up, bekept at Kelly Basin and Braddon Rivercampsites. They may also be allowed underthe same conditions at the proposed campon the eastern shore of Birchs Inlet (onceconstructed - see page 154).

• Allow a maximum of one dog per hunter forthe purpose of retrieving ducks.

• Existing hides may be maintained usingmaterials from outside the WHA. No newhides are to be constructed.

• Introduce a licensing system for duck hidesin line with the Statewide policy for duckhides (being finalised at the time of writing).

Central Plateau Conservation Area• Allow hunting of wallabies and rabbits by

licensed hunters under permit in the areasshown in map 4, page 217. In consultationwith hunting organisations and others,

boundary changes to the Hunting Area maybe made, provided that the overall size ofthe Hunting Area remains constant and thepublic are made aware of these changes.

• The eight month hunting season will befrom the first Saturday in April to the lastSunday in November. Note that this maydiffer from the season declared for thoseparts of the Central Plateau Protected Arealocated outside the WHA.

• Hunting is only permitted during daylighthours.

• Allow a maximum of 2 dogs per hunter forthe purpose of tracking and flushing outgame only, with a maximum of 6 dogs perparty.

• Continue to undertake surveys of thewallaby population in the Central PlateauConservation Area and, if necessary, modifypermit conditions and policies according tosurvey results.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor the numbers of each hunted species

for conservation purposes and to measurethe viability of the hunting resource.

• Monitor the level of hunting in the WHA.

• Monitor complaints/conflicts with otherusers.

Huts and ShacksBACKGROUNDThis section deals with structures within theWHA constructed primarily to provideaccommodation (not including commercialaccommodation— for this see Accommodation,page 131, and Guided Tours, page 179). Theseinclude huts open to the public, huts leased orlicenced to groups and huts leased or licenced toprivate individuals for their exclusive use(usually referred to as ‘shacks’).

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There are more than 60 huts scattered throughoutthe WHA, ranging from crude shelters built byanglers and walkers to the huts along theOverland Track which are equipped to areasonable standard. In most huts maintained bythe Service, users can expect to find a coal or gasburning stove, bunks, table and seating. Toiletsare usually provided. The majority of the huts arein the northern part of the WHA, in the CradleMountain–Lake St Clair National Park, the Wallsof Jerusalem National Park and the CentralPlateau Conservation Area. Traditionally, theSouthwest National Park has been largely withoutwalkers’ huts.

People’s perceptions of the value of huts in theWHA vary widely; to some they are an unwantedintrusion into the wilderness, while others valuethem highly for both practical and culturalreasons. Some huts may be culturally significant,while others may no longer be required.

Huts provide a degree of comfort to users and mayresult in a reduction in campsite proliferation. Hutsalso act as a social focus and as such provide anexperience not available in areas without huts.Conversely, huts may be visually intrusive, reducethe wilderness value of an area and may alsoencourage less experienced walkers to venture intoan area without a tent — posing a threat to theirsafety if the weather rapidly deteriorates. Use ofhuts may also create local site degradation due tothe dumping of coal ash, rubbish and trampling.

Shacks or huts (not including commercial huts) thatare licensed to or used by private individuals orgroups include those located on the Lower GordonRiver (Boom Camp), the shores of MacquarieHarbour (Reindeer Lodge and Braddon Rivercamp), in Cradle Valley (Blandfordia and the ScoutHut) the Central Plateau Conservation Area (LakeAugusta, Lake Ada, Ada Lagoon, Pillans Lake,Lake Malbena, near Lake Tiddler and Lake Field)and east of Cockle Creek. These are mostly basichuts used as bases for fishing or walking. In mostcases annual licences are issued by the Departmentof Primary Industries, Water and Environmentunder section 42 of the Crown Lands Act 1976 or bythe Hydro-Electric Corporation for the shacks onHEC-vested land near Lake Augusta. The lease forshacks on Hydro-Electric Corporation vested landat Lake Augusta currently requires their removalby 30 June 2000. Some of the licensed huts are inpoor condition and badly sited.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe 1992 plan required that all existing huts andshelters be assessed with regard to the culturalsignificance, recreational significance andenvironmental impact of the structures on theirimmediate surrounds. It directed that they wereto be retained, maintained or removeddepending on the assessment and followingpublic consultation.

The Service has undertaken numerous culturalassessments of huts throughout the WHA. Theseassessments have followed the conservationplanning model provided by the Burra Charter(see Cultural Heritage, page 96). A fullrecreational and environmental assessment of allhuts is yet to be commenced.

The Service has developed the Community HutsPartnership program, which defines a co-operativemanagement structure between the Service andinterested parties, with the aim of conserving andmaintaining huts in the WHA.

Several huts have been constructed or removedsince 1991. Cirque Hut on the Overland Track hasbeen removed and effectively replaced by the newWaterfall Valley Hut. Lake Nameless Hut has beenreconstructed by the Mountain Huts PreservationSociety. A hut at Pillans Lake on the Central Plateauwas destroyed by fire and has since been rebuilt.The following huts/shelters have been removed inaccordance with the provisions of the 1992 plan andfor safety reasons: Eagle Creek, Cracroft Junction,Deadmans Bay, The Narrows and HartzMountains.

OBJECTIVE• To manage huts for the ongoing benefit of the

public and to apply the general principle thathuts will be available for public or communitygroup use.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

General• Manage each hut and its immediate

surroundings with regard for all the values ofthe area, but noting the particular attentionneeded for the cultural values of the hut.

• Manage huts within the constraints imposedby the protection and conservation of theother natural and cultural values of the area.

• Provide toilet facilities appropriate to the

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venue as necessary to protect environmentalvalues and human health.

• Encourage the active involvement of thecommunity in the management of huts, inparticular through the Community HutsPartnership.

Assessment of Huts• Assess all existing huts (in the case of

privately leased/licenced shacks, thisassessment will be done in association withthe shackholder) with regard to:

- the cultural significance of the structuresand their immediate surrounds;

- recreational significance and

- environmental impact (including effect onscenic and wilderness quality and, whererelevant, the impact of fires and firewoodcollection).

• Huts may be retained, maintained orremoved depending on this assessment andfollowing public consultation.

• Those huts or shelters to be retained may bereplaced should they be accidentallydestroyed.

Location of Huts• Retain huts along the Overland and

Frenchmans Cap Tracks, in the CentralPlateau, Macquarie Harbour and LowerGordon river areas for public accommodationconsistent with conservation of culturalresources and environmental protection.

• Reconstruction of two former huts is allowedat Lady Lake on the Central Plateau and onthe Eastern side of Birchs Inlet, subject to theminor pathway of the New Proposals andImpact Assessment Process (see page 67) andan assessment of public interest inestablishing and maintaining these structures.In the Southwest National Park developmentof infrastructure, including huts, is notallowed in view of the natural character of thearea.

• The existing number of public huts isconsidered adequate and therefore additionalhuts are not currently envisaged. However,new huts may be considered provided that:

- they are compatible with the zoningscheme;

- they are compatible with the natural andcultural values of the area;

- resources are available for the ongoingmaintenance of the hut and

- the new proposals assessment andImpact Assessment Process is followed,see page 66.

Private and Community Group Huts• Do not permit new private non-commercial

huts.

• Maintain a register of all private huts in theWHA to ensure that their location, lease andlicence details are accurately recorded.

• Review the status of the existing leases andlicences following the assessment processdescribed above, as part of the State-wideshack categorisation process. In no instanceshall free-holding be an option.

• Should the Bernacchi centre be removedfrom the Central Plateau, theCommonwealth Government willrehabilitate the site.

Commercial HutsSee Guided Tours section, page 179.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor progress with the assessment of

huts and shacks.

• Monitor and evaluate the sustainability ofactivities associated with huts and modifypractices as required.

• Monitor the degree of community involve-ment/support in hut maintenance throughthe Community Huts Partnership program.

Oversnow VehiclesBACKGROUNDOversnow vehicles include snowmobiles andoversnow tracked vehicles. These vehicles are

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currently not used in the WHA, largely due to theunreliable snow conditions in the area and theremoteness of snow-covered areas from vehicularaccess.

In particular circumstances, however, suchvehicles may be valuable for use in search andrescue operations as they may provide a means ofcovering greater distances in a shorter time thanpeople on skis or snowshoes.

The use of oversnow vehicles can impact on theexperiences of visitors seeking isolation from thesights and sounds of humans. Oversnow vehiclesmay also damage fragile alpine vegetation.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTNo management has been necessary since therehas been no interest expressed in the use of suchvehicles within the WHA.

OBJECTIVE• To ensure that the off-road use of oversnow

vehicles is restricted to search and rescueoperations only.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Road-registered oversnow vehicles may be

used on open public roads.

• Only permit the use of oversnow vehiclesoff-road for search and rescue operations.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• In the event of oversnow vehicles being used

off-road for search and rescue purposes, theeffectiveness of the vehicles and the impactof their use will be evaluated.

PicnickingBACKGROUNDThe majority of WHA visitors come on day orpart-day trips. Many interstate tourists visit

several WHA locations in this way while touringaround the State. Local visitors frequently visitfavourite locations on a day trip.

Picnic facilities are provided adjacent to the WHAat Cockle Creek, Hastings Caves, Mt Field, theMaydena toll gate, the Needles and Wedge River.Picnic facilities within the WHA are provided atHartz Mountains, Teds Beach on the GordonRiver Road, Lake St Clair, the Franklin River, atthe Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and nearWaldheim, Marakoopa Cave, Liffey Valley,Meander Forest Reserve and Liawenee. Visitorfacilities at these locations may also includevisitor information and interpretation, tables,fireplaces, toilets, cooking shelters and naturewalks. Many of the facilities are run-down orinadequate and need upgrading or replacing;others require rationalising.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTDuring the term of the 1992 plan, visitor picnicfacilities have been upgraded at Lake St Clair,Liffey Forest Reserve and Hartz Mountains. Atthe time of writing upgrades are in progress atBird River, Cockle Creek and Franklin River.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Provide picnic facilities at all Visitor Services

Zones and in most Visitor Services Sites (seemap 5, page 218) and in accordance with therecommendations of the Recreational andTourism Strategy (see page 176). The level offacilities provided will take account ofnearby facilities outside the WHA.

• Prepare detailed site plans for all majorpicnic areas to be redeveloped (these may bepart of more general site plans for someareas).

• Finalise and/or implement site plans for theredevelopment of picnic areas at CockleCreek, Wedge River, Lake St Clair, CradleValley, Marakoopa Cave, Liawenee and theBird River Bridge.

• Compile a manual of designs and standardsfor picnic furniture suitable for VisitorServices Sites.

• Maintain picnic facilities at Hastings, Mt Field,Maydena toll gate, the Needles, Teds Beach,Franklin River and Cradle Mountain in accordwith the recommendations of the Recreationand Tourism Strategy.

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• Liaise with Forestry Tasmania regarding anyproposed redevelopment of picnic facilities inthe three WHA Forest Reserves.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Regularly monitor the condition of picnic

facilities and maintain as necessary.

• Monitor the level of use and satisfaction ofvisitors with picnic facilities.

Plaques and MemorialsBACKGROUNDA number of plaques and memorials have beenerected in the WHA. Some commemorate historicevents or people associated with the area, whileothers record the loss of life.

The best known memorial in the WHA marks thegrave of Gustav Weindorfer in Cradle Valley.Nearby, at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre, areplaques commemorating the inscription of the areaon the World Heritage list and the opening of thecentre. Another example is a marked grave thatexists beside the Lyell Highway near King WilliamSaddle, at which there is also a plaquecommemorating the opening of the Lyell Highway.

Some plaques and memorials may haveinterpretive value and assist people inunderstanding the history of the area. On the otherhand, plaques and memorials can be visuallyintrusive and may detract from the natural andcultural environment. Therefore, it is important thatthere is not a proliferation of them and that thoseinstalled are unobtrusive in design and carefullysited.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThere have been very few requests since the 1992plan to place new memorials in the WHA. Thosethat have been approved have satisfied thecriteria listed under management prescriptionsbelow.

OBJECTIVE• To acknowledge significant events and

people in the WHA in ways which do notdetract from the natural and cultural valuesof the area.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Generally discourage the placement of

memorials and plaques in the WHA andonly permit them if they commemorateevents or people of significance to the area.

• Approved plaques and memorials may beerected in the Visitor Services Zones, orVisitor Services Sites, in the Recreation andSelf–Reliant Recreation Zones withpreference being given to the moredeveloped zones (see map 3, page 216).Memorials and plaques will not, undernormal circumstances, be permitted in theWilderness Zone, though this is at theDirector’s discretion and requests may beconsidered under exceptional circumstances.

• Where possible, site plaques and memorialsin or adjacent to huts or other appropriatestructures.

• Design and site plaques and memorials sothat they do not intrude upon or damage thenatural or cultural environment. Designplaques and memorials to require minimummaintenance, to be resistant to vandalismand to be in keeping with any interpretationat the site.

• The planting of commemorative trees or theattaching of plaques to trees is not permitted.

• Commercial sponsorship may beacknowledged on plaques associated withpark infrastructure but no advertising will bepermitted.

• Plaques acknowledging park structuresprovided from bequests may be attached tothe structure.

• Pre-existing plaques and memorials mayremain.

• New memorial or plaque requests are to beassessed to see that they satisfy the aboveplan prescriptions.

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MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Keep records of all known plaques and

memorials and monitor their location andany public comment on them.

Public Safety andRisk␣ Management

BACKGROUNDThe Service is concerned to protect visitors fromundue, unnecessary and unreasonable hazards.Education aimed at promoting understanding ofnatural hazards and the possible consequences ofdisregarding them is a major part of how this isachieved. Many visitors do not possess theexperience or knowledge to recognise potentialdangers such as hypothermia, becoming lostwhilst trying to follow unmarked or snow-covered routes, sudden extreme changes inweather conditions or fire behaviour.

Responsibility for search and rescue operations inthe WHA rests with the police, although they callon the Service’s assistance and local knowledgeand are often assisted by other specialist groupswhen required. The Service is also a member ofthe Statewide Search and Rescue LiaisonCommittee which has been established to co-ordinate and plan search and rescue effort. In thepast, most search and rescue operations in theWHA have been associated with bushwalking,rockclimbing, water activities, vehicle accidentsand fire evacuation.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTTrack notes, Minimal Impact Bushwalking (MIB)information and educational material distributedby the Service all contain basic safety informationto alert users to potential hazards and make themaware of safety precautions such as the need toregister their trip.

Following the collapse of a viewing platform in aNew Zealand park, the Service undertook a

review of the compliance with statutoryrequirements of some elevated structures forwhich it was responsible, including many withinthe WHA. This resulted in the temporary closureof several sections of walking track whilestructures were upgraded.

There has been no repeat of the serious outbreaksof gastroenteritis which occurred on the OverlandTrack in the late 1980s. This can probably beattributed to the provision of additional toiletfacilities and the success of the MIB campaign ineducating visitors on the disposal of faecal waste.

OBJECTIVES• To protect visitors from unnecessary and

unreasonable exposure to hazards withoutdetracting from visitors’ quality ofexperience, especially their sense ofchallenge and adventure.

• To educate and encourage visitors to adoptsafe practices and to provide them withsufficient and appropriate information aboutpotential hazards to enable them to makeresponsible decisions.

• To minimise health risks to visitors.

• To facilitate the provision of rapid andcapable assistance in the event of anemergency.

• To minimise the occurrence of destructiveand/or dangerous human behaviour(including vandalism, arson etc).

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Visitor Assistance And Advice ✓ [KDO 9.1]• Provide information, interpretation and

educational material that raises visitors’awareness of their individualresponsibility for their own safety andfocuses on ensuring they understandpotential hazards and are sufficiently wellprepared.

• Provide targeted information and guidelinesfor potential participants in high-riskactivities (eg rock climbing, rafting,bushwalking).

• Make available advice to visitors on how toavoid human health problems such asparasites, disease, water contamination etc.(see also Environmental Quality, page 110)

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• Encourage users of remote areas to leavedetails of a trip with a reliable friend orrelative who will alert police if they areoverdue. In addition encourage users toregister with police, rangers or other Serviceofficers, giving relevant details of their trip.

Public Risk ✓ [KDO’s 9.1 and 9.2]✓ Establish a risk management system that

provides for regular identification,inspection, reporting and amelioration ofexisting and potential risks to public safety.[KDO 9.1]

• Develop and implement an assetmanagement program to manage,maintain and replace, as required, Servicefacilities and infrastructure to minimisethe risk to public safety.

• Where a remote area facility is to beremoved or replaced, all reasonable stepsare to be taken to inform users of itsremoval or when it will be replaced.

✓ Take appropriate action to warn the publicof potential hazards to visitor safetywithin the WHA, and of appropriate waysof avoiding or minimising risks. [KDO 9.1]

• Take reasonable steps to ensure thatpermitted events and activities within theWHA are compatible with public safetyrequirements.

• Encourage the development of guidelinesand/or codes of practice to ensure highstandards of safety for commercial toursand recreation activities (see alsoAccreditation, page 181).

✓ Develop and implement strategies toaddress environment-related human healthissues such as parasites, disease, watercontamination, etc. (See also EnvironmentalQuality, page 110). [KDO 9.1]

• Ruins and other abandoned structures ofcultural value will not be demolished.Rather, necessary precautions will be takenand the public advised of any knowndanger and how to minimise risk.

✓ Develop preventive strategies to targetand minimise dangerous or destructivehuman behaviours or practices (includingarson, vandalism etc). [KDO 9.2]

Emergencies and Search and Rescue ✓[KDO’s␣ 9.3, see also KDO 4.3.3]• Put in place the capacity to respond

efficiently and effectively to identifiedhazards to public safety and emergencysituations.

• Equip and staff field centres sufficiently toprovide a reasonable response toemergency situations.

• Formulate and regularly review searchand rescue operational procedures inconsultation with Tasmania Police.

• Continue to provide opportunities withinthe WHA for training in search and rescueand survival skills.

• Co-operate with other authorities inrelation to search and rescue andprotection from fire (see also FireManagement, page 108).

MONITORING AND EVALUATION qq Monitor information related to risk

management, visitor safety and health (egincidence of death, injury or environment-related illness). [KDO 9.1]

q Monitor incidence and extent of loss ordamage to buildings, facilities and otherassets within the WHA (and also toneighbouring property in the event of firesspreading from the WHA). Note causesand recommend future actions to decreaserisk. [KDO 9.2]

q Periodically review the efficiency andadequacy of the Service’s search andrescue and safety measures, particularlyafter major exercises. [KDO 9.3]

Roads and SightseeingBACKGROUNDVehicle-based sightseeing is one of the mostpopular activities undertaken in the WHA. This

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form of recreation is often combined withactivities such as short walks and picnicking.Facilities required by sightseers include roadsidedirectional and interpretive signs, roadsideviewing bays, short walks, picnic and barbecuefacilities, toilets and visitor centres. The mostsuitable roads for sightseeing are the LyellHighway, Lake Highway, Anthony Road andGordon River Road. These offer the potential togain a good appreciation of the WHA on, or closeto, a major touring route of reasonable standardlinking tourist destinations.

There are approximately 455 kilometres of roadsand tracks in the WHA. (See Vehicle Tracks andRecreational Driving section for details on vehicletracks, page 166). 15 roads provide access forconventional vehicles to or within the WHA.

Several major roads provide access to the WHAincluding: the Lyell Highway, the Lake Highway,Scotts Peak Road and Gordon River Roads. TheScotts Peak and Gordon River Roads are privateroads controlled by the HEC. The HEC would liketo divest itself of responsibility for these roadsand this is presently being considered at a Statelevel.

Other principal roads provide access to CradleValley, Cynthia Bay, Lake Augusta, LakeMackenzie (HEC private road) and Nora River.Forestry roads give access to Hartz Mountains,Meander and Liffey Forest Reserves, FarmhouseCreek (Picton Valley), west of the Derwent Riverat Wayatinah, the upper Mersey, upper Forth andLittle Fisher Valleys.

The Service is responsible for maintenance of theKelly Basin Road south of the Darwin Dam, theroad within the Hartz Mountains National Park,the Lake Augusta Road and the former forestryroads within the Little Fisher Valley.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTOnly minor changes have occurred in relation toroads and road-based sightseeing in the WHAsince 1992.

The Hartz Road has been upgraded and a turningcircle established at the end of the road. Road-sidesites have been upgraded at Franklin River andNelson Falls Visitor Services Sites. A new lookoutwas constructed near the Lyell Highway atDonaghys Hill. An audio-tape was produced forvisitors travelling along the Gordon River Road.

The Department of Transport commenced aplanning study to address environmental issuesassociated with the existing gravel section of theCradle Mountain Tourist Road between PencilPine and Dove Lake.

The State Government has conducted apreliminary investigation on a variety of routeoptions for constructing a link road between theDerwent and Huon valleys. At this stage, noneare being progressed. The State Governmentwishes to retain the option of constructing a linkroad between the Derwent and Huon valleysthrough a small part of the WHA. The nature ofthe route would be subject to agreement betweenthe Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments.

OBJECTIVES• To maintain adequate access for

conventional vehicles to the designatedVisitor Service Zones and Sites in andadjacent to the WHA in keeping with thescale of the facilities provided and levels andtypes of use intended.

• To maintain, develop and promoteappropriate opportunities for vehicle-basedsightseeing that provide ready public accessto a wide variety of WHA environments.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONSSee also Recreation Opportunities, page 129 andDepartment of Infrastructure, Energy andResources, Transport Division, page 193.

General• Promote the Lyell Highway, Gordon River

Road, Lake Highway and the Anthony Roadas major WHA sightseeing routes.

• Promote the adoption by relevant agencies ofappropriate standards for road access toVisitor Service Zones and Sites in andadjacent to the WHA in keeping with thescale of facilities provided and levels andtypes of use intended.

• Provide suitable roadside facilities forvisitors (see also Picnicking, page 155 andVisitor Facilities, pages 169).

• Proposals for new roads in the WHA will besubject to a thorough assessment through anEnvironmental Impact Assessment process.

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This will include an examination of all routeoptions, environmental, social and economicfactors and will be available for publiccomment. Approval of any new roadrequires the agreement of MinisterialCouncil and amendment of thismanagement plan. Should a new road beproposed these matters will be dealt withthrough the New Proposals and ImpactAssessment Process, see page 66.

Maintenance• Liaise with relevant agencies or

organisations to maintain roads to allow forconventional vehicle and, whereappropriate, coach access to the followinglocations:

- the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre andDove Lake;

- Marakoopa Cave;

- Liffey Falls State Reserve (lower section);

- Meander Forest Reserve;

- Liawenee;

- Visitor Services Sites along the LyellHighway;

- Cynthia Bay;

- Strathgordon;

- Scotts Peak area;

- Mt. Field;

- Hartz Mountains National Park;

- Hastings Caves and

- Cockle Creek.

• The Service is responsible for maintainingthe following as gravel roads to Class 2standard (as defined by the Forest PracticesCode):

- Lake Augusta Road;

- Hartz Road from the park boundary tothe carpark and

- the Kelly Basin Road south of the DarwinDam to the Nora River junction.

• Maintenance and roadside clearing is to besensitively undertaken by relevant agenciesin accordance with Service guidelines or inaccordance with other agency guidelinesacceptable to the Service.

• Carry out maintenance on the gravel roadbeyond Lake Augusta to the Lake Adacarpark and maintain as a minor road of astandard to allow safe two-way traffic.Continue to close for the duration of the wetseason.

• Forestry Tasmania is responsible formaintaining the Riversdale Road within theLiffey Forest Reserve.

• Prepare a register of Service-owned road andtrack assets in the WHA and review themaintenance of those roads and tracks inrelation to structural issues, environmentalmanagement and financial input to upkeep.

Cradle Mountain• Retain the Cradle Mountain Road from the

Visitor Centre to Cradle Valley carpark as anarrow, winding tree-lined road to protectthe character of the park. Undertake minorupgrading of the road from Pencil Pine tothe Waldheim turnoff in Cradle Valley.Maintain the final section of the Dove LakeRoad from the Waldheim turnoff to LakeDove to a similar standard to that existing.Mute the road surface to reduce visualimpact from the day walk area. The roadmay be sealed to reduce environmentaldamage to the roadside vegetation.

• Landscape and mute the Dove Lake carpark.

• When circumstances require, followingpublic discussion and subject to furtherdetailed planning and feasibilityconsiderations being satisfactory, introduce apublic transport system from Pencil PineCreek into Cradle Valley in accordance withthe Pencil Pine-Cradle Valley Visitor ServicesZone Site Plan. At times of peak traffic use,implement parking and traffic controlmeasures as necessary.

Other Areas• Extend the existing road nearer to the shore

of Double Lagoon (Central Plateau) toprevent further damage from off-roadvehicle use.

• The developer is responsible formaintaining the access road to Pump HousePoint from the Lake St Clair turnoff to thestandard specified in the Pump House PointSite Plan.

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Research• Assess the current provision of conventional

vehicle access to the variety of WHAenvironments and use this research to helpguide development of Visitor Service Zonesand Sites.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Survey visitors regarding their satisfaction

with vehicle-based sightseeing and VisitorService Site facilities.

SignsBACKGROUNDSigns are management tools which can be used toorientate visitors (directional), inform them abouttheir surroundings (interpretive), or influencetheir behaviour (managerial). They may functionindividually or form part of an overall signsystem.

Managerial and directional signs in the WHA areusually routed timber, with both board andlettering specifications varying depending onlocation and function. Interpretive signs areeither routed timber or enamel-coatedaluminium of varying size and design.

The improper, inconsistent or excessive use ofsigns may weaken their value as a means ofcommunication. Uniform sign design, includingappearance, construction and placement, isimportant in contributing to a recognisableidentity for the Service. However, sign designmust be in keeping with the type of environmentin which a sign is located. Any sign, regardless ofdesign, is likely to be obtrusive in a remote,untracked environment. Similarly, a roadsidesign would appear out of place along a walkingroute. Signs, like all other management input,must comply with the management objectives foreach particular zone.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe Service’s ‘Departmental Signs Manual’ setsouts the principles and procedures for signs onlands managed by the Service, including theWHA.

OBJECTIVES• To provide a system of indoor and outdoor

signs for managerial, interpretive anddirectional purposes which clearly andeffectively communicate messages tovisitors within the WHA.

• To ensure that sign design, includingappearance, construction and placement, isappropriate for the environment in whichsigns are located.

• To ensure that visitors are able to easily findtheir way to the WHA.

• To use the World Heritage logo asappropriate and with regard to therequirements of the Operational Guidelinesof the World Heritage Convention.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Design, construct, site and maintain all

Service signs in accordance with theguidelines contained in the Service’s SignsManual.

• Encourage sign design and construction thatis tailored to the requirements of thesurrounding area and/or values beinginterpreted.

• Restrict the use of signs to those situationswhere other means of communicatingmessages to visitors are either impractical orless effective.

• Minimise the use of signs in remote areas.

• The appropriateness of various sign types ineach management zone is generally asfollows:

MAN INT DIR

Wilderness Yes * No No

Self-Reliant Recreation Yes ** No No

Recreation Yes Yes† Yes

Visitor Services Yes Yes Yes

[MAN = Management, INT = Interpretive,DIR = Directional]

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* Strictly for management andenvironmental protection purposes only.Unobtrusive.

** Signs to be kept to a minimum. Generallyfor important management andenvironmental protection purposes only.Unobtrusive.

† Only in highly serviced areas eg OverlandTrack and only where other facilities areprovided (eg interpretive boards in huts).Not in relatively natural areas eg SouthCoast Track.

• Signs are to be in accordance with theWalking Track Management Strategy. Thestrategy may override the general zoning-based sign prescription (see table above) forspecific areas.

• Develop specific criteria for signs in eachmanagement zone and include in the SignsManual.

• Construct or replace signs so as to conformwith the Signs Manual, the appropriatezoning criteria and/or the track classification.

• Consult with the Department ofInfrastructure, Energy and Resources,Transport Division regarding the provision ofdistance and directional signs to the WHA.

• Consult with Forestry Tasmania regardingsigns to, and within, the WHA ForestReserves.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• As part of ongoing maintenance programs

assess signs annually and carry outmaintenance and replacement as required.

SkiingBACKGROUNDSkiing in Tasmania is severely limited by unreliablesnow conditions. Downhill skiing in the State isconfined to the skifields at Mt Field and Ben

Lomond National Parks, both of which arelocated outside the WHA. Proposals haveoccasionally been made to develop skifields onthe Snowy Range and at Mt Rufus.

Despite the growing popularity of cross countryskiing, relatively few people undertake theactivity in the WHA. This is largely due to theremoteness of skiing areas from vehicular accessand the infrequency of suitable skiing conditions.

Of possible cross country skiing activities, onlycross country touring is generally undertaken inthe WHA. Touring opportunities range from dayor part-day trips to extended trips of a week ormore in duration. Ski touring is undertaken on MtRufus, the Labyrinth, the Cradle Plateau, theSnowy Range, the Eliza Plateau (Mt Anne), at theWalls of Jerusalem and occasionally at HartzMountains. With the exception of HartzMountains, none of these skiing areas are directlyaccessible by road.

Facilities provided in the WHA for ski touring arelimited. Snow poles mark various walking tracksin the WHA and are used by both walkers and skitourers. Although snow poles aid navigation inpoor visibility, they may also provide skiers witha false sense of security and may encourageinexperienced skiers to undertake trips for whichthey are not fully prepared. Ski trails have notbeen developed in the WHA.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe limited use of the WHA for any type of skiinghas meant that no active management has beennecessary.

OBJECTIVES• To provide for the continued use of

appropriate areas of the WHA forundeveloped cross country skiing subject tothe impact of this activity remaining minimal.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Downhill skiing facilities will not be

developed because of the unreliable snowconditions and the need to protect sensitivealpine environments.

• Maintain existing snow pole lines in VisitorServices and Recreation Zones in accordancewith the Walking Track Management Strategy.

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No new snow pole lines are to be erected inthe Wilderness and Self–Reliant recreationZones.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Regularly inspect popular skiing areas for

environmental damage and modifymanagement requirements accordingly.

Special EventsBACKGROUNDFrom time to time there are requests by private orcommercial groups to use the WHA for annual orone-off special events. These events are oftencompetitive in nature, occur usually over one ortwo days and can potentially involve largenumbers of people. Because of this they can have asignificant impact on the WHA and other users.

At the time of writing the only regular competitiveevents are the ‘Cradle to Coast’ endurance event,the Overland Track run (both take place along theOverland Track) and the ‘alpineO’ orienteeringevent on the Central Plateau. It is not possible todraw up a comprehensive policy for all possiblespecial events but the objectives and prescriptionsbelow give broad guidance.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTPermits for special events have been granted on acase-by-case basis in the past. In some, but not allcases, a special event form has been filled out.

An alpine orienteering event has been held on theCentral Plateau most years since 1992. Service staffhave assisted organisers by identifying sensitiveareas to be avoided, by giving advice onminimising impacts and alerting other users to theevent.

OBJECTIVES• To ensure that special events are carried out in

a way that has minimal impact on the WorldHeritage and other natural and cultural valuesof the WHA.

• To ensure that special events do not adverselyimpact on other users’ experience of the area.

• To ensure that steps are taken by special eventorganisers to address safety issues.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Permits• A special event permit must be obtained from

the Service’s relevant regional manager priorto the staging of any special event. Should theproposal have potential for significant impact,the New Proposals and Impact Assessmentprocess (page 66) will be used to assess theapplication. If the application is successful, theregional manager will sign the form and noteany requirements of the organiser. A signedapplication then becomes the permit.

• In considering an application for a specialevent the regional manager will take intoaccount the following factors:

- availability of suitable alternative venuesoutside the WHA;

- environmental impacts;

- impacts on other visitors;

- safety of competitors and spectators and

- cost-benefit for the management of thearea.

• Permits will not normally be issued whenthe proposed special event involves a breachof otherwise widely enforced guidelines (forexample, party size limits under the WalkingTrack Management Strategy).

General• Events will normally only be permitted in

the Visitor Services or Recreation Zones. TheSelf–Reliant Recreation Zone may be used ifnumber limits from the track strategy areabided by and the rationale for use of thezone is agreed. The Wilderness Zone is notavailable for special events.

• The Service will recommend to applicantsfor special events who also access tenures

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adjacent to the WHA to consult the relevantland manager.

• Structures will not normally be permitted tobe erected in association with special events.A pre-condition for erecting any temporarystructure is that it be removed promptlyupon completion of the event and the site berehabilitated. A bond may be held againstappropriate reinstatement.

• The provisions of the Walking TrackManagement Strategy will apply to specialevents. Variations from the provisions mayonly be granted by permission in writingfrom the Director.

• The Service takes no responsibility for thesafety of competitors in special events.

• Where possible, rangers are to alert otherusers of the area to the event so they canavoid the area if they so desire.

Orienteering Special Events• Orienteering or rogaining events may occur

within the Recreation and Self–ReliantRecreation Zones of the Central PlateauConservation Area provided:

- use of identified trampling-sensitiveareas is minimised;

- proposed campsites, areas used forcompetition and checkpoint locations areassessed with Service representatives tominimise environmental impact, withfinal locations being approved by thedistrict manager;

- toilet waste is removed from campsiteswhere possible, or treated on-site in amanner approved by the district managerand

- numbers are within the carrying capacityof camping areas (this may require anumber limit being set on the event priorto it being advertised).

• Any additional areas requested fororienteering or rogaining will be consideredusing the special event permit system andbearing in mind the above conditions.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• File all copies of special event permit

requests, including those that were notapproved.

• Note any additional impacts following theevent and record on file any additionalconditions that should be applied to suchevents in future. Forward copies of thesereports to organisers of the event.

• Record and file any complaints orcompliments from other users, spectators orcompetitors regarding the event.

SurfingBACKGROUNDSince at least the mid seventies surfers have beenvisiting breaks along the WHA coastline. Qualitysurf breaks are found from Fishers Point to thenorth of Nye Bay, but South Cape Bay withapproximately five recognised breaks, attracts themost use.

Surfers access both Fishers Point and South CapeBay for short day trips on foot. They also walk toand camp at South Cape Bay, along the SouthCoast track, and occasionally along the SouthWest Cape track. Other parts of the coast aresometimes accessed for surfing by fishing boat.

The majority of surfers who use the WHA placehigh value on the quality of waves available, thepristine surroundings, remote location, lack ofcrowding, quality of water, and the commitmentrequired to surf these areas. Publicity andexposure for the area that may lead to an increasein visitor numbers would detract from thesevalues. Consequently, commercial guided surfingtours, surfing competitions, or other activities thatwould promote the area are not sought.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe greatest use of the area is at Lion Rock inSouth Cape Bay. At this site impacts fromcamping and general trampling of the foreduneshave occurred.

In 1997 a project to prevent further degradationand stabilise the area was initiated by the Serviceand the Surfrider Foundation Tasmania. This was

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successful though further monitoring and follow-up work may be required.

The area is a Fuel Stove Only Area, and thesurfing community largely supports this. Giventhe prevailing weather conditions and its frequentunsuitability for surfing, surfers make up only asmall percentage of the walkers and campers thatvisit this site.

OBJECTIVES• To sustainably manage surfing in the WHA

and, subject to monitoring results, to allowfor the present low level of surfing tocontinue.

• To consult with surfers and involve them, asappropriate, in the management of the area.

• To manage any recreational conflictsbetween surfers and other users of the area.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Consult with and, as appropriate, involve

surfers in aspects of management that affectsurfing, including campsite management,access tracks, toilets and impact problems.

• Discourage surfing competitions,commercial surfing tours and promotionalactivities. [Due to the limited campingfacilities, remote access and the experiencedesired by surfers]. Should competitions beproposed they will be assessed as SpecialEvents (see page 163).

• Monitor publicity of the area (in associationwith surfers) via articles in magazines andjournals, and, as appropriate, develop mediaand promotional guidelines similar to thosefor sensitive walking areas.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor campsite impacts and in association

with riders take appropriate managementaction.

Training ExercisesBACKGROUNDPersonnel from local and interstate defence forceunits periodically undertake training exercisesinvolving overflying and on-ground manoeuvreswithin the WHA. The Central Plateau ConservationArea has been used most often because of theopportunities for practicing cold weather survivaltechniques and specialised helicopter flying.Exercises are usually held in winter.

The RAAF undertakes occasional low altitude jetflights through WHA valleys. These have thepotential to disturb wildlife and may be alarmingfor people on the ground. Use of the WHA as adefence force training ground is not compatiblewith the overarching objectives of management.

The Tasmania Police conduct training exercisesfor search and rescue and cold weather survivaltechniques (eg on the Gordon and FranklinRivers).

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTTo date, use of the WHA as a defence forcetraining ground has been relatively low andinnocuous. During the life of the 1992 plan arequest to the RAAF to cease low altitude flightsthrough the WHA was made.

The Bernacchi Training centre at Lake Augustaon the Central Plateau was built on Hydro-Electric Corporation land as a training base forthe Australian Antarctic Division. The Divisionno longer uses the base and its removal iscurrently scheduled.

OBJECTIVES• To allow for adequate opportunities for

training in search and rescue, minimalimpact bushcraft and survival skills whereno suitable venues exist outside the WHA.

• To minimise use of the WHA forinappropriate defence exercises.

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MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Discourage the holding of inappropriate

training exercises in the WHA.

• Do not permit training exercises in highlysensitive areas.

• Official permission must be sought for theholding of on-ground training exercises inthe WHA. The granting of permission willbe subject to adherence to the minimalimpact code and to conducting activitiesother than at times of high visitor numbers.

• Encourage relevant branches of the defenceforces to seek alternative venues outside theWHA for military training exercises. Exploreavenues for co-operation between defenceforces outdoor skills training and reservemanagement programs.

• Liaise with Tasmania Police regarding theadoption of minimal impact techniques intraining exercises and limiting access tofragile or vulnerable areas such as theGordon River levee banks.

• Seek commitments from the RAAF to avoidlow-level training flights over the WHA.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Continue to monitor the number of training

activities conducted within the WHA andthe impact of those that do occur.

Vehicle Tracks andRecreational Driving

BACKGROUNDAlthough there is only a limited number ofrecreational vehicle tracks in the WHA, theyprovide enthusiasts with opportunities to visitotherwise remote locations. Generally, people userecreational vehicles to reach destinations wherethey undertake other recreational activities suchas fishing, camping or sightseeing. However, for

some users the more important attraction ofseveral of the tracks in the area is the challenge ofdriving them.

The majority of vehicle tracks in the area wereconstructed for mineral exploration or powerscheme investigations work. A few have beendeveloped in order to provide access to popularfishing destinations. The longer tracks in theWHA are Mt McCall, Saw Back Range, BirdRiver, Pillans-Julian, Low Rocky Point track andPatons Road. The Mt McCall, Bird River andWestern Lakes tracks are used by commercialfour wheel drive tour companies. The Service isresponsible for the management of all vehicletracks within the WHA.

The Central Plateau tracks (Pillans–Julian andChristies Creek) are mainly used by anglers andin places are eroded, braided and boggyfollowing wet weather, and are subject to seasonalclosure. The Saw Back Range track is maintainedby the Service, in association with recreationalvehicle users, to high clearance 4WD standard.The Mt McCall track has some eroded areaswhere the surface is down to bedrock. Thecondition of the Bird River track is relativelystable. The level of use of most of these tracks isrelatively low.

Some tracks follow historic routes and mayincorporate historic structures and formations.Some tracks also lead to important cultural sites(such as Adamsfield and Bird River) and themanagement of these tracks therefore hasimplications for the management of the culturalsites.

Sampling for the fungal dieback diseasePhytophthora cinnamomi has shown that the MtMcCall and Low Rocky Point tracks areextensively infected. Patons Road, Bird River andthe Saw Back tracks are largely in vegetation witha low susceptibility to Phytophthora and there areno records of the fungus on these roads. TheCentral Plateau tracks are at sufficient altitudethat Phytophthora will not establish. However, asimilar disease problem (high altitude dieback)has been recognised at Pine Lake and a relatedpathogen is suspected. Should this disease besimilarly spread with soil, access to the CentralPlateau tracks may require review.

Many four wheel drive tracks in the WHAsignificantly impinge on wilderness values. Thevehicle tracks with the greatest impact are MtMcCall, Patons Road and Pillans-Julian (on the

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Central Plateau). The Mt McCall track has thegreatest impact on viewfields. Apart from theincreased risk of fire and spread of Phytophthoraassociated with increased accessibility and use ofmachinery for maintenance, use of these tracks forfour wheel driving has resulted in localisedenvironmental impact. The noise of recreationalvehicles and trail bikes may also detract from theexperience of participants in other forms ofrecreation.

One of the management objectives for the WHA isto maintain or enhance wilderness quality. Theclosure and rehabilitation of low use vehicletracks in otherwise remote areas of the WHAprovides a significant means of furthering thatobjective. However, it does so at the cost ofreducing recreational vehicle opportunities. 4WDusers state that few opportunities remain forremote area driving in Tasmania and they believethat present access should remain.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTRecreational vehicle use on public land has beenformalised across all Government landmanagement agencies with the adoption of the‘Policy for the Use of Recreational Vehicles onState Owned Lands in Tasmania’ in 1995. Thispolicy was publicised by the notesheet ‘Cruisin’without Bruisin’. Both these documents wereproduced in association with the TasmanianRecreational Vehicle Association.

Listed below are the major recreational vehicletracks in the WHA and progress (to March 1998)in implementing the 1992 plan:

Saw Back Range: A permit system has beenimplemented. Major drainagework was completed in 1994.The track is maintained to4WD high clearancestandard. 4WD clubs areinvolved in maintenance.

Bird River: 4WD access has beenmaintained to the Bird RiverBridge, but turnaround andparking area are still to bedeveloped.

Western Lakes

(Central Plateau): Existing tracks to Pillans andJulian Lakes are retained to4WD high clearance vehicle

standard. Use of the vehicletrack to Christies Creek fromAda Lagoon is allowed onlyin the driest months. A 4WDtrack monitoring system is inplace on tracks in the area.

The Lake Ina track is closednear the WHA boundary. Thevehicle track to Olive Lagoonis retained, with no vehicularaccess permitted beyondOlive Lagoon.

Low Rocky Point: Mineral exploration andprivate use continue. Apermit system is in place.Some concern has arisenregarding the impact of 4WDmotorbikes on Aboriginalsites in the area.

Patons Road: The track ends at theOakleigh Creek crossing. Apermit system has not beenimplemented as yet. The onlymaintenance has beenclearing of windfalls.

Raglan Range: The track has been closed andrehabilitated.

Jane River: Track closure has beenmaintained and anassessment of rehabilitationneeds has been completed.

Mt McCall: A permit system is in place.Disturbed areas beside thetrack have been rehabilitated.The track itself was notclosed or rehabilitated asprovided for in the 1992 plan.(See page 44 for details).

OBJECTIVES• To provide for responsible recreational

vehicle use within the WHA.

• To retain vehicle tracks for recreational useexcept where this causes unacceptableenvironmental impact or significantlyimpinges on wilderness quality or culturalvalues.

• To minimise conflict with participants ofother recreational activities.

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• To encourage the involvement of recreationalvehicle clubs in the ongoing maintenance oftracks for recreational vehicle use.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

General• Promote compliance with the ‘Policy for the

Use of Recreational Vehicles on State OwnedLands in Tasmania’.

• In accordance with the ‘Policy for the Use ofRecreational Vehicles on State Owned Landsin Tasmania’, consult with the TasmanianRecreational Vehicle Association (TRVA) and/or other appropriate organisations prior to theimplementation of relevant actions prescribedin this plan and regularly review the need forand suitability of vehicular access.

• Facilitate regular contact between landmanagers and the TRVA and/or otherappropriate organisations to discuss issuesrelated to recreational vehicle tracks and topromote the adoption of the policy onrecreational vehicle use.

• The overall issue of recreational driving andthe possible impacts upon Aboriginal culturalheritage will be considered when issuingpermits and allowing access to areas that arenot being regularly monitored.

• Carry out maintenance and/or rehabilitationworks where tracks are subject to degradation.

• Develop rehabilitation programs as necessarywhere tracks are closed.

• Upgrade, distribute and promote a minimalimpact code for recreational driving asrequired.

Adamsfield Conservation Area• Maintain the Saw Back Range Track in

reasonable repair and allow access via apermit system.

• Maintain the section of the Adamsfield Trackbetween the Clear Hill Road and the Saw BackRange Track in reasonable repair.

Southwest National Park• Close and rehabilitate the short tracks south of

Farmhouse Creek; remove the FarmhouseCreek bridge and rehabilitate the site.

Wild Rivers National Park• Maintain the Mt McCall track as a 4WD

track providing access to the haulage way tothe Franklin river. To achieve this undertakethe following actions:

- Develop a quarry, if necessary, along thetrack for track maintenance materials.

- Carry out rehabilitation work to reduceviewfield and environmental impacts.

- Provide handholds and other safetymeasures on the haulageway track to theFranklin River.

- Establish a locked gate at thecommencement of the track near theNora River Bridge.

- Take appropriate measures to keepvehicles clean to avoid the introductionof weeds and pathogens.

- Maintain a permit system and record theuse of the track.

• Maintain in reasonable repair the Bird Rivertrack as four wheel drive access to the BirdRiver bridge. A turnaround and parking areawill be developed on the northern bank ofthe river.

• Retain Alma River track as access to thecommercial beekeeping site. Close beyondthis point, maintain gate near highway andrehabilitate closed section.

• Maintain in reasonable condition the track tothe lower slopes of Mt King William I formanagement purposes only (access to thefire tower).

• Allow recreational vehicle use of the LowRocky Point Track while it is retained formineral exploration. Continue to use apermit system and provide visitorinformation at the start of the trackregarding values of the area, permits andhow to minimise impacts. Take appropriatesteps to limit damage to Aboriginal sites andother values in the area. [This issue will alsobe addressed by the management planproposed for the Southwest ConservationArea - South of Macquarie Harbour (seepages 203–204)]

Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park• Clear a small turning area on Patons Road

and terminate the track just before the

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washout at approximately grid reference55GDP203762. Introduce a permit system forrecreational vehicle use of Patons Road. TheService will undertake occasional patrols ofthe road and clear windfalls but no roadmaintenance will be undertaken.

Central Plateau• Maintain to 4WD high clearance vehicle

standard the existing vehicle track to Pillansand Julian Lakes on the Central Plateau toenable vehicle access for anglers to LakeField and Pillans Lake. Introduce an accesspermit system. Undertake works tominimise environmental damage. Whennecessary, close the track to avoidenvironmental damage.

• Retain the vehicle track to Olive Lagoon toan appropriate point near the southern endof the lagoon and closely monitor vehicle usein this area. No vehicular access will bepermitted beyond Olive Lagoon.

• Subject to the continuing permission of thelandholder, maintain summer access forvehicles to Lake Fergus. Rehabilitate damagenear the lake.

• Investigate use levels and the present impactof the track past Ada Lagoon. Discuss futureoptions with users with a view to reducingimpacts. The track will not be extendedbeyond its current end point.

• Liaise with Forestry Tasmania regardingaccess through State Forest to the existing carpark near Clarence Lagoon. Maintain 4WDvehicle access to the lagoon.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Introduce an appropriate system to monitor

the level of use, the impact of use and themaintenance requirements of eachrecreational vehicle track in the WHA.Within this monitoring system, and inconsultation with the TasmanianRecreational Vehicle Association and otherappropriate recreational groups, set limits ofacceptable change for each track such that ifthese limits are exceeded, managementactions such as track work or seasonalopening are used to limit environmentaldamage from the track.

• Monitor impacts on other recreational usersby means of appropriate surveys.

Visitor FacilitiesBACKGROUNDVisitor facilities provided by the Service orForestry Tasmania within or near the WHA arelocated at Pencil Pine, Cradle Valley, MarakoopaCave, Devils Gullet, Meander Forest Reserve,Liffey Valley Lookout and Liffey Falls, Liawenee,Lake St Clair; along the Lyell Highway atDonaghys Hill, Franklin and Collingwood Riversand Nelson Falls; Strahan, Kelly Basin, Bird River,Sarah Island, Heritage Landing on the GordonRiver, Mt Field National Park, the Needles,Wedge River and Teds Beach along the GordonRiver Road, Junction Hill and Scotts Peak area onthe Scotts Peak Road, Hartz Mountains, HastingsCaves, Cockle Creek and Melaleuca. With theexception of Melaleuca, Sarah Island, HeritageLanding, Kelly Basin and Bird River, all of thesesites are readily accessible by conventional vehicleusing sealed or gravel roads.

The facilities at these locations include acombination of walking tracks, picnic tables,shelters, boardwalks, viewing platforms, visitorcentres, barbecues, toilets, huts, cabins, jetties,boat ramps and campgrounds. A significantupgrading and redevelopment program isunderway to ensure that these sites provide anintegrated network to enable visitors toappreciate and enjoy the WHA.

Because of the convenient and accessible locationsof existing sites, emphasis has been placed onrationalising, refurbishing or replacing facilitiesrather than on developing new areas.

In addition, there are numerous villages andtowns close to the WHA that provide moredeveloped accommodation, meals, refreshmentsand other services (these are labelled as visitorServices Centres, see maps 3, 4 and 5 [pages 216–218]). Notable amongst these are Pencil Pine,Cethana junction, Gowrie Park, Sheffield, Mole

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Creek, Deloraine, Miena, Bronte Park, DerwentBridge, Queenstown, Strahan, Strathgordon,National Park, Port Huon, Geeveston and Dover.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTSince 1992 the major change in facility provisionhas been at Cynthia Bay, Lake St Clair where anew visitor centre and concessionaire facility hasbeen established. This parallels the major facilitiesavailable for visitors at Cradle Mountain andStrahan. Ministerial Council has also givenapproval for the construction of a lodge facilitywithin the Lake St Clair Visitor Services Zone atPump House Point. A site plan has beenproduced, but the development itself is yet toproceed. (See Accommodation, page 132).

Works have continued at Cradle Valley in accordwith the site plan, and more detailed site designshave been drawn up for the Waldheim, DoveLake and Ronny Creek areas. A process has beenput in place to examine the option of sealing theroad from Pencil Pine to Dove Lake.

At Mount Field, the Tall Trees Walk has beendeveloped, to assist in presenting the significanceof Tasmania’s tall eucalypt forests to visitors.

Following discovery of a plant dieback disease atthe Pine Lake Visitor Service Site in the CentralPlateau, a recently completed interpretedwalkway had to be closed and the areaquarantined (see Vegetation, page 83 and map 4,page 217). At the time of writing the walkway hasbeen closed indefinitely.

Site plans have been completed for CradleMountain (the Pencil Pine-Cradle Valley VisitorServices Zone Plan, 1993), Lake St Clair (Site Planfor Cynthia Bay, Lake St Clair, 1993), Kelly Basin(Kelly Basin-Bird River Area Site Plan, 1993), andLiffey (Liffey Falls Site Plan, 1996). Small scale siteplans have been prepared for Huon Campground,Franklin River, Hartz Mountains and the WedgeRiver Picnic Site.

Draft site plans have been released for publiccomment for Melaleuca, Liffey Falls and CockleCreek – Recherche Bay. Site plans coveringLiawenee, Mt Field, Nelson Falls and Sarah Islandare also in preparation.

Two areas foreshadowed for Visitor Services Sitesin the 1992 plan have not been developed. Theseare Wayatinah — which did not proceed becauseof the emphasis on tall trees interpretation at Mt

Field — and Humboldt Divide, which currentlyhas a limited number of potential visitors.

A design manual for furniture in Visitor ServicesZones and Sites is in preparation.

OBJECTIVES• To provide facilities that assist presentation

of the WHA and that foster environmentallysustainable tourism and recreational use ofthe WHA.

• To direct visitor use into the most suitablelocations in ways that minimise impacts onthe World Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA.

• To protect visitor experience andenvironmental quality through theappropriate location, nature, scale anddesign of visitor facilities.

• To provide facilities that are functional,aesthetically pleasing and in keeping withthe environment.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

General• Locate facilities in accordance with the

zoning scheme (see map 3, page 216) andwith minimal environmental disturbance.

• Concentrate facilities in Visitor ServicesZones and Sites within and adjacent to theWHA to provide access to a representativeselection of WHA values for a wide range ofvisitors (see Visitor Services Zones and Sites,page 59).

• Assess, via market research, the needs ofvisitors at Visitor Services Zones and Sites aspart of the development of the Recreationand Tourism Strategy (see Integration withTourism, page 175).

• Encourage further development ofsupporting tourist facilities at villages andtowns close to and on the way to the WHA.

• Design and engineer facilities to be durable,low maintenance, cost appropriate and costeffective (that is, so that capital and runningcosts are commensurate with anticipated uselevels and environmental sensitivity).

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• Design and engineer facilities to beunobtrusive and, as far as practicable, cladwith natural materials whose texture andcolour complement or match thesurrounding environment.

• Design and engineer facilities with aconsistent or integrated design for eachVisitor Services Zone or Site. However, allowfor different styles and types of facility to bedeveloped between Zones and Sites tocomplement the special qualities ofindividual sites and to avoid duplication ofrecreation settings.

• Finalise a design manual for furniture inVisitor Services Zones and Sites.

• Prepare site plans for all Visitor ServicesZones and major Visitor Services Sites. Theseare to include details of the style, scale, sitingand standard of all visitor facilities. Siteplans for Visitor Services Zones and majorVisitor Services Sites are to be available forpublic comment prior to being finalised andimplemented.

• Site plans and other subsidiary plans of thismanagement plan are to be consistent with theprovisions of this plan and are to take accountof advice from the WHA ConsultativeCommittee and any WHA Ministerial Councildecisions.

• Minor subsidiary plans (for smaller VisitorServices Sites where no major changes areproposed from current use) will be formallyapproved by the Director or the Minister.Major plans (for larger Visitor Services Sites orZones, where changes to current use areplanned and/or where commercialdevelopment occurs) will be approved byMinisterial Council.

• Consult with Forestry Tasmania regardingthe provision of visitor facilities within thethree WHA Forest Reserves.

Visitor Services Zones [KDO 6.2]• Implement the site plans for the Cradle

Mountain and Lake St Clair Visitor ServicesZones.

• Finalise and implement a site plan for MountField (base of the mountain), providing for:

- use of the park as an entry and contactpoint for visitors to the SouthwestNational Park;

- site rationalisation to remove intrusivemanagement facilities from the primeday use area;

- a new visitor centre;

- upgraded and expanded picnic andcamping facilities and

- easy access nature trails.

• Finalise and implement a site plan forLiawenee, providing for an expanded visitorcentre and picnic area.

Visitor Services Sites [KDO 6.2]• Assess the need for additional Visitor

Services Sites and review the adequacy offacilities and their maintenance at existingsites as part of the Recreation and TourismStrategy (see Integration with Tourism, page175). As appropriate following this review,enact the management prescriptions below.

• Develop a new Visitor Services Site atHumboldt Divide on the Gordon River Road(subject to an assessment of demand).

• Finalise and/or implement site plans for thefollowing Visitor Services Sites within oradjacent to the WHA:

- Hartz Mountains;

- Marakoopa Cave;

- Melaleuca;

- Wedge River on the Gordon River Road;

- Huon campground on the Scotts PeakRoad;

- sites along the Lyell Highway in the WildRivers National Park;

- Cockle Creek–Recherche Bay;

- The Bird River–East Pillinger area atMacquarie Harbour (subject to a culturalresource conservation plan) and

- Sarah Island.

• Maintain and/or upgrade the followingVisitor Services Sites: Heritage Landing onthe Lower Gordon River, the Liffey Valleylookout on the Lake Highway, Devils Gulletlookout and, (subject to a needs assessment),the Needles picnic area on the Gordon RiverRoad.

• In consultation with Forestry Tasmania,prepare and implement a site plan for the

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upgrading of visitor facilities in the MeanderForest Reserve.

• Re-opening of the interpreted walkway atthe Pine Lake Visitor Services Site in theCentral Plateau may be considered if it canbe done safely without the potential forspreading the dieback disease further. At thetime of writing the walkway has been closedindefinitely.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor completion of site plans and

progress with works on a regular basis.

q Monitor visitor satisfaction with the level ofservice and facilities on a regular basis.[KDO 6.2]

• Implement monitoring provisions requiredby specific site plans.

Walking andWalking␣ Tracks

BACKGROUNDThe main means of accessing the WHA since timeimmemorial has been on foot. The remoteness ofthe area from other forms of access and the appealof its dramatic scenery has drawn generations ofbushwalkers to the area.

The WHA is one of the most highly regardedbushwalking areas in Australia and offersopportunities for recreational experiences rangingfrom short, high-grade nature walks to extendedexpeditions in remote and rugged tracklesscountry.

There are more than 1,000 kilometres of tracks inthe WHA including the internationally renownedOverland and South Coast Tracks, and anextensive network of daywalks on the fringes ofthe WHA. While substantial works have beenundertaken on the high-use trails, most of thetracks in the WHA remain in an unimprovedcondition and many are poorly sited having

evolved in an unplanned way from walkers’pads.

In recent years monitoring of major walking areasin the WHA has shown escalating biophysical andsocial impacts throughout much of the region.Impacts of greatest concern include thedeterioration of existing walking tracks and thedevelopment of new tracks in formerly tracklessareas. Campsite deterioration, crowding,pollution and broadscale trampling damage havealso become serious problems in some areas,while the spread of the plant dieback diseasePhytophthora cinnamomi by walkers remains amajor threat to ecosystems throughout much ofthe WHA.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTIn line with the requirements of the 1992 plan todevelop a comprehensive track managementprogram, the Service undertook an inventory oftracks and track conditions throughout the WHAas well as an extensive literature review. Based onthis research, the Service developed a trackmanagement strategy for the WHA. The primaryobjective of the strategy is to achieve thesustainable management of walking tracks andwalkers throughout the WHA.

The first draft of the Walking Track ManagementStrategy was published in 1992. A second draftwas published in 1994 following a period ofpublic consultation. The final version of thestrategy was published in March 1998.

Management actions prescribed in the Strategyinclude the introduction of a seven-tiered trackclassification scheme, an expanded walkereducation program, the introduction of a walkerpermit system and a prioritised 20-year trackworks program.

Since 1993 the WHA track works program hasbeen implemented in accordance with thepriorities and guidelines listed in the (draft)Walking Track Management Strategy. Most worksundertaken in this period have been ‘priorityerosion control’ works whose primary objective isto control erosion on highly susceptible sites.

This has been carried out in accordance with thetrack classification system. This classifies tracksinto walks (W1 and W2), tracks (T1 to T4), routesand rivers (R1, R2 and river route). In this systemthe lower numbers (W1, T1, R1) indicate a higherlevel of track infrastructure; these classifications

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are used where use is high. Higher numbers (T4,route etc) indicate less facilities and lower levelsof use.

The walker education program, which formerlyfocused on minimal impact bushwalkingprinciples, has been expanded to promote theWalking Track Management Strategy. Theproduction of the ‘Walking the Fine Line’brochure and video have been key elements ofthis campaign.

The publicity policy listed in the 1992 WHA Plan,which encourages authors and magazine editorsto limit their publicity of the WHA to high-useand resilient areas, has met with only limitedsuccess. Articles and photographs of remote areascontinue to appear in magazines, on the internetand in other media. Monitoring suggests thatsuch publicity has in some cases led to higher useof the areas concerned.

Systems have been developed to monitor walkingtrack and campsite impacts, impacts in ‘fan-out’areas, unplanned track development and uselevels on both high-use and low-use tracks. Overfour hundred permanent track monitoring siteshave been established in the WHA, and a high-resolution aerial photographic monitoringprogram has been initiated to monitor unplannedtrack development and campsite impacts.

By far the most controversial of all the WalkingTrack Management Strategy recommendationshas been the proposal to implement a permitsystem for overnight walkers. This is seen by theService as a necessary step to address theproblems noted above.

A research program was undertaken in 1996 toassess walker permit systems elsewhere inAustralia and overseas and to outline a proposedstructure for a permit system in the WHA.Following a period of public consultation, areport detailing the proposed permit system wasreleased. Further public consultation followedand a final version of the system is currentlybeing prepared.

The Service has discussed with Forestry Tasmaniapolicies for the management of walking tracksthat cross the WHA boundary or are located inparts of the WHA managed by Forestry Tasmaniaor in non-WHA areas immediately adjacent to theWHA. In addition a joint project between TourismTasmania, Forestry Tasmania and the Service todevelop a Statewide Walking Track Strategy hasbeen completed and is being implemented. This

strategy builds on the data in the WHA tracksinventory and develops a whole of governmentapproach to both the sustainable managementand marketing of walking opportunities inTasmania.

OBJECTIVES• The overall objective is to achieve the

sustainable management of walking tracksand walkers throughout the WHA.

• To minimise the environmental impact andthe impact on wilderness values ofrecreational walking throughout the WHA.

• To prevent further unplanned track andcampsite development throughout the WHA.

• To prevent the deterioration of existingtracks and campsites in accordance with themanagement prescriptions of the WalkingTrack Management Strategy.

• To maintain and where possible enhancerecreational walking opportunities in theWHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS✓ Manage walking tracks to achieve the

following specific outcomes [KDO 6.1]:

- ensure impacts on tracks are within thelimits outlined in the track classificationsystem;

- encourage appropriate levels of publicityand promotion;

- ensure track infrastructure is appropriatefor the track classification;

- implement party size restrictions to dealwith social impacts;

- implement use restrictions to limitenvironmental impacts and preventunplanned track formation and

- ensure commercial use is appropriate.

The Walking Track Management Strategy isdesigned to achieve these outcomes.

• Manage walking tracks and walkers inaccordance with the management actionsand guidelines listed in the strategy and inparticular the track classification scheme(including any future modifications to thescheme).

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✓ Continue to encourage and develop astatewide approach to walking trackmanagement. Central to this will be aStatewide Walking Track Strategy to bedeveloped by the Service, Forestry Tasmaniaand Tourism Tasmania in an integratedmanner with the WHA track strategy. [KDO7.4]

• Continue liaison and a co-operativemanagement approach with ForestryTasmania on jointly managed tracks andtracks which enter the WHA from State Forest.

• Consult with users regarding theimplementation of the Walking TrackManagement Strategy.

• Examine opportunities for a hut-based circuitwalking route in the Frenchmans Cap area.Consider the impact on the natural andcultural values of the WHA using the NewProposals and Impact Assessment process (seepage 66).

• Prepare a recreation zone plan for theOverland Track. (For details see Zoning page59).

Quotas and Permits• Divide the WHA into walking areas, each

area having a quota specifying usage limitson a daily, weekly or monthly basis asappropriate.

• Set quotas and modify as necessary toensure that the resulting biophysical andsocial impacts comply with thespecifications listed in the trackclassification scheme.

• Enhance the monitoring of usage of thewalking areas to monitor compliance withquotas.

• Finalise the development of the system withthe active involvement of key stakeholders.Final approval for the system will be givenby the Minister.

• Introduce the system in an educational formfor one summer prior to the full systembecoming operational the followingsummer.

Education✓ Continue to develop and implement a

walker education campaign with emphasison minimal impact bushwalking principlesand the need for the management actionsproposed in the Walking Track ManagementStrategy. [KDO 6.3]

✓ Continue to provide a mechanism for face-to-face education of walkers and other backcountry users in popular areas as a means ofeducating users. [KDO 6.3]

• Discourage the publicity of tracks classifiedin the track classification scheme as T4 or‘route’, and the publicity of areas accessibleonly by T4 tracks and ‘routes’. See alsoZoning, page 58.

Works• Implement the track and campsite works

program according to the priorities outlinedin the Walking Track Management Strategyand detailed in track management plans.

• Maintain existing track and campsiteinfrastructure in accordance with theguidelines listed in the track classificationscheme and the Track Management Manual.

• Give preference to methods of trackconstruction that incorporate local materialsand blend with the natural environment.

• Continue to develop new techniques forstabilising tracks and campsites, withemphasis on the use of local materials.

• Remove unauthorised track markers andclose unauthorised marked and/or cuttracks after consultation with relevantgroups and individuals.

• Where necessary, actively rehabilitate closedtrack sections and campsites.

• Encourage the involvement, whereappropriate, of volunteers and partnershipgroups in implementing track and otherworks in accordance with the Walking TrackManagement Strategy.

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MONITORING AND EVALUATION [KDO6.1]

Objectives of monitoringThe primary objective of the WHA track andwalker monitoring program will be to ascertainthe extent to which the biophysical and socialimpacts associated with recreational walking inthe WHA comply with the Walking TrackManagement Strategy and the standardsspecified in the track classification scheme.

Monitoring Actions• Continue to implement and develop

programs for monitoring walking track andcampsite impacts, unplanned trackdevelopment and impacts in ‘fan out’ zonesand trackless areas.

• Continue the high-resolution aerialphotographic program to monitor unplannedtrack and campsite development, particularlyin low-use alpine areas.

• Monitor walker numbers, use trends andwalker attitudes and characteristicsthroughout the WHA by means of walker logbooks, surveys and pedestrian counters asappropriate.

• Continue the walker trampling trial programto ascertain the relationship between uselevels and impacts in a range of environments.

• Develop indicators for assessing, andprograms for monitoring, social conditions onwalking tracks throughout the WHA.

• Compile a database of proposed andcompleted track and campsite worksthroughout the WHA.

• Modify management prescriptions (includingpermit quotas and track works) as necessaryto ensure that environmental and socialimpacts throughout the WHA remain withinthe specifications listed in the trackclassification scheme.

COMMERCIALTOURISM␣ OPERATIONS

Integration with TourismBACKGROUNDThe WHA is recognised as a major plank ofTasmania’s tourism industry and a key focus ofthe marketing of that industry (Visitor Profileand Research, page 121). Destination marketingby the tourism industry has a major influence onwhere people wish to visit, and this can havemajor consequences for parts of the WHA.

There is an obvious need to balance theprotection and presentation aspects of managingthe WHA while ensuring that the demand forvisitor experiences is appropriately matched tosupply.

To achieve this, the Service has adopted anumber of broad approaches in this managementplan. These include: locating majoraccommodation and facilities outside the WHAor near its periphery; the use of current roadaccess to key attractions and the development ofrecreational opportunities from this access; theuse of the zoning system; site and recreation zoneplanning; and a clear requirement fordevelopments to meet strict environmentalconditions.

A number of locations are considered as WHAgateway areas. These are well situated forgeneral tourism development associated with,but outside the WHA. They include the followinglocations: Dover, Geeveston, Port Huon, Hobart,National Park, Maydena, Strathgordon, Bronte,Derwent Bridge, Queenstown, Strahan, PencilPine, Mole Creek, Gowrie Park, Deloraine, Mienaand Recherche Bay/Cockle Creek.

Over the 10 year period of the plan it is likelythat further development of tourism facilities willbe proposed, either adjacent to or within theWHA. A set of criteria have been developed,based on WHA management considerations, to

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assist in siting new tourism developmentsassociated with the WHA (see managementprescriptions, this section).

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTDuring the period of the 1992 plan there has beencontinuing interest in the use of the WHA fortourism (Visitor Profile and Research, page 121).In 1994, an inter-agency committee looked atpotential additional sites for tourismdevelopment associated with the WHA. This ledto proposals for a lodge at Pump House Point(see also New Proposals, page 66 andAccommodation, page 131) and the identificationof the potential for further development justoutside the WHA at Cradle Mountain. At thetime of writing a further review of appropriatesites is being undertaken by a joint industry andGovernment committee — the TourismDevelopment in Natural Areas Group(TDINAG).

TDINAG forms part of the TasmanianGovernment’s ‘whole of government’ approach totourism. The group includes high levelrepresentation from land management agencies aswell as Tourism Tasmania and the TourismCouncil of Australia (Tasmanian branch). Thisapproach is designed to ensure the developmentof an integrated strategic approach to tourismacross government agencies and the tourismindustry in Tasmania.

At the time of writing the sites proposed by thegroup include an additional development atCradle Mountain (outside the park near thecampground) and the Pump House Pointdevelopment at Lake St Clair.

As part of this ‘whole of government’ approach,an agreement between the Government ofTasmania and the Tourism Council of Australiafor the sustainable growth and development ofTasmania’s tourism industry was finalised in1996. Following this, in June 1997 the reportTourism 21 was produced (for reference seefootnote2, page 25). This report looks at thedirection of the industry and sets out a vision, 10year targets to be achieved, and strategic directionto the year 2,000.

OBJECTIVE• To manage tourism and recreational use of

the WHA in a sustainable manner so as notto compromise the World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHA orthe quality of visitor experience.

• To manage tourism and recreational use ofthe WHA in a manner which is responsive tomarket demands and furthers presentationof the WHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION

Recreation and Tourism Strategy✓ Develop a Recreation and Tourism Strategy

to plan and coordinate the key thrusts ofpresentation of the WHA. [KDO’s 6.1 & 6.2]

• The strategy will be developed inpartnership with Tourism Tasmania and theOffice of Sport and Recreation, with theactive involvement of the Tourism Council ofAustralia (Tasmanian branch), and otherrelevant stakeholders (such as operators,recreational, community and conservationgroups, etc) as a part of the whole ofgovernment approach to tourismmanagement.

The strategy will:

- assess the needs and concerns of visitorsthrough quantitative and qualitativeresearch techniques and recommend onhow to meet these;

- assess the current offer of activities andfacilities both inside the WHA and thoseservicing the WHA from the outside;

- develop with recreational groups amapping system of the areas of interest tothem (to be used in conjunction with theAreas of Community Interest mapping,see the Established Practices section, seepage 105) and examine the activities theywish to pursue in the WHA over the nextfive years in relation to the requirementsof the management plan;

- recommend where the Service should putemphasis in facility maintenance anddevelopment to meet demand, takingaccount of the World Heritage and othernatural and cultural values of the WHA;

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- involve consultation with all relevantstakeholders and offer opportunities forinput from the general public with thefinal strategy being a publicly availabledocument;

- develop a marketing strategy that willrecommend how the WHA should bemarketed to minimise environmentalimpact and meet other WHAmanagement objectives while stillmeeting tourism and recreationrequirements and

- co-develop the strategy with the plannedrevision of the WHA InterpretationStrategy, the Service’s General VisitorStrategy, a review of signage to andwithin the Visitor Services Zones andSites and a review of the informationneeds of users.

• The Recreation and Tourism Strategy will ingeneral focus on consolidation of establishedvisitor nodes rather than developing newnodes in other areas.

• Notwithstanding the above, an area that willbe considered for further expansion as partof the strategy is the Mt Field–Gordon RiverRoad–Strathgordon area. The currentupgrading of facilities at Mt Field, its relativeproximity to Hobart and its high standard ofroad access suggests this as a potential areaof expansion.

• The strategy will also integrate with otherState-wide tourism and recreation initiativessuch as the Service’s State-wide Tourism andRecreation Strategy, Tourism 21, the State-wide track strategy etc.

• The strategy will be completed within 12months of plan approval.

New facility development for tourismassociated with the WHA• Locations for proposed tourism

developments associated with the WHA aregenerally to meet the following criteria:

- relatively undisturbed location out ofsight or sound of settlement or industry(however, sites which have beendisturbed in the past, such as PumpHouse Point will be favoured comparedto undisturbed sites);

- close to existing park infrastructure (egwalking tracks, ranger stations etc) — totake advantage of in-place recreationfacilities rather than require newconstructions;

- if outside the WHA, minimal effect onwilderness values within the WHA, ifinside the WHA, no significant impact onwilderness values;

- in accord with the zoning system;

- in accord with the track strategy;

- existing vehicle access to or near thelocation for road accessible sites and

- low or manageable fire risk.

• Developments outside the WHA but withinits catchment are to be subject to the samestandards for effluent disposal as applywithin the WHA (see also EnvironmentalQuality section, page 110).

• Developments outside the WHA arepreferred to those located within the area.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Assess the effectiveness of the Recreation

and Tourism Strategy after five years inconjunction with major stakeholders. Asrequired, revise using a similar planningprocess.

ConcessionsBACKGROUNDVarious concessions have been granted tocommercial operators to provide services andfacilities for visitors in the WHA. The concessionsrelate to: refreshment facilities, accommodationfacilities, boat cruises, walking, rafting andcamping tours.

Concessionaires pay a fee to the Service as areturn to Government for the use of a public assetfor commercial gain. The fee is based on thenumber of clients or a proportion of takings. The

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operation of concessions can provide visitors withadditional services and opportunities to accessand enjoy the WHA. In some cases the operationof concessionaires can replace the need forGovernment to provide these services.

Walking, rafting and camping tours are covered bythe general objective and prescriptions below.However more specific prescriptions relating tothese activities are also contained in the GuidedTours section, see page 179.

OBJECTIVES• To enhance presentation of the WHA.

• To extend the range of services andrecreational experiences available to visitorsthrough the involvement of privateenterprise.

• To ensure that concession activities provide ahigh standard of service for visitors to theWHA.

• To ensure concession activities arecompatible with other managementobjectives.

• To gain a fair, positive and equitablefinancial return for the State from thecommercial use of a Crown asset.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Leases/Licences• Require all providers of commercial visitor

services to obtain a lease or licence from theMinister under the provisions of section 25Bor 26 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act1970 for all land covered by that act. Thepayment of a fee is required.

• The term of a lease or licence will depend onthe nature of the concession and the level ofcapital investment involved. Guided tourswill usually be issued on a five year basis;minor facilities and services on a 3-5 yearbasis, while major facilities and services mayhave leases running for 5 years or more.Longer lease terms may be negotiateddepending on the level of infrastructure andinvestment.

• All concession rights will be subject toconditions that will include specification ofthe requirements and standards of the

services and goods to be provided.

New Facilities• If adequate facilities or services exist or can

be developed outside the WHA that meetvisitor needs, such facilities and services willnot be provided as concessions within theWHA.

• Private capital investment in concessionfacilities in suitable Visitor Services Zonesand Sites may be permitted. Requirementsprior to private capital investment include:

- the facilities are to meet a market need;

- the proposal is in accord with the siteplan for the area and

- the proposal is assessed and approvedunder the New Proposals and ImpactAssessment Process, see page 66.

• In the event of private investment in theWHA, all administrative costs and fees foruse of Crown Land are to result in a nettreturn to the State except in the case oftransparent subsidisation.

• Concession activities will only be allowed ifconsistent with the protection of the WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA.

• Facilities or services provided by aconcession are to enhance the sustainableuse and enjoyment of the WHA by visitorsand are to be consistent with the objectivesof WHA management, particularlypresentation.

Interpretation• Require concessionaires and guided tour

operators to deliver high qualityinterpretation that is relevant to the WHA asa standard part of their operations.

General Conditions• The Director may impose restrictions on the

sale of litter-generating goods fromconcession outlets.

• Maximum rates charged by a concessionairefor the use of facilities and/or sale of goodsand services may be subject to approval bythe Director, for example where a monopolyexists by virtue of a concession lease orlicence.

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• Any advertising or promotion of aconcession will be required to be in keepingwith the values of the area.

• Concessionaires will be expected to complywith all appropriate statutory and industrialrequirements in relation to the operation ofthe concession and to possess any relevantindustry qualifications.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION✓ Periodically review arrangements for

commercial operations within the WHA toensure that they provide high standards ofvisitor service, environmental care andinterpretation, and provide an appropriatefinancial contribution to WHA management,in line with the objective on page 37. [KDO6.2]

• Concession operations will be subject tomonitoring and regular inspections. Failureto operate appropriately will render theconcessionaire liable to a financial penaltyand/or cancellation of rights.

• Evaluate performance of concessionaires onan annual basis and take appropriate actionto address unsatisfactory performance.

• Copies of any visitor feedback related to aconcessionaire’s operation or service to theService will be passed on to theconcessionaire.

• Monitor the nature and level of feedbackfrom visitors about a concessionaire’sperformance.

Guided ToursBACKGROUNDThe majority of concessions to provide visitorservices in the WHA are granted for nature-basedwalking and camping guided tours. Overnighttours are conducted mainly on the Overland,Frenchmans Cap and South Coast Tracks and in the

Walls of Jerusalem. Approximately two thirds of allpeople rafting the Franklin River are now oncommercial trips. A number of guided trout fishingtours operate in the Central Plateau ConservationArea. Several four wheel drive companies take daytrips into the WHA. Increasingly, guided day walksare also being offered.

The main permanent infrastructure associatedwith guided tours are cabins sited along theOverland Track which are operated andmaintained by Cradle Huts Pty Ltd for the use oftheir clients on walking trips.

There are possibilities for commercial hutdevelopment both within and outside the WHA. Anumber of locations outside the WHA providedifferent recreational opportunities to the WHA inless environmentally sensitive areas.

Opportunities for commercial hut development inareas outside the WHA will be considered as partof the Statewide Walking track strategy with a viewto complementing rather than duplicating theexisting Overland Track huts operation and toextend the season of operation.

Temporary structures are in place at Forest Lagnear Melaleuca at a standing camp operated byAerotechnology Pty Ltd (trading as Par Avion) foruse of their clients who are mostly boat-based.

A temporary standing camp is a demountablestructure comprising tent-based accommodation. Itis not a permanent part of the landscape and isdemounted when not in use. The level of facilityconstruction for a temporary standing camp isdescribed in the Service’s Temporary StandingCamp Policy.

Guided tours provide opportunities for people tovisit and learn about wild, natural places that theywould not otherwise see. In many respects guidedtours are an excellent form of eco-tourism sincethey give people a direct experience of the values ofthe area but do not usually require permanentinfrastructure and, through licence conditions,generally result in higher environmental standardsbeing met compared with non-commercial groups.It is important, however, that high standards ofsafety, environmental care and interpretation are setand maintained.

Under the 1992 plan guided tours were allowed tooperate in all zones but restrictions were placed onnumbers and client-to-guide ratios, makingoperating in the more remote Self ReliantRecreation and Wilderness Zones more expensive.

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The marketing and image of the Overland Trackand the other major bushwalking destinationsmeans that these will continue to be the focus formost overnight guided tours. This is appropriateas these tracks allow relatively easy access tosome of the best known and scenic parts of theWHA where there are facilities to cater for highernumbers of visitors. Future problems mayhowever arise with the sheer number, frequencyand location of guided tours.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTSince 1992 the licencing system for guided touroperators (licenced under section 25B or 26 of theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1970) has beenexpanded to include commercial daywalks andusers of Conservation Areas as well as NationalParks. A licence fee and licence conditions nowapply to the commercial use of these areas.

A Crown Land Licencing system is currentlybeing developed to provide a uniform licencingsystem for all Crown Land in the State. This willprovide a one-stop-shop for commercial operatorsand ensure the same basic set of conditions applyacross all Crown Land tenures.

In 1997 the Ministerial Council agreed to enterinto a process to amend the 1992 plan to allow afifth commercial hut to be constructed on theOverland Track at Kia Ora. The 1992 plan onlyapproved the operation of four huts. The planwas amended on 4th September 1997 inaccordance with the requirements of the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970.

Structures at the temporary standing camp atForest Lag have been upgraded by the operatorsince 1992.

‘Guidelines for Licenced Tourist VesselOperations Southwest National Park’ have beenprepared by the Service in consultation with theMelaleuca Advisory Committee. These guidelineswill be used in the development of commercialboat licences in the Bathurst Harbour–Port Daveyarea.

Annual meetings have been held with guidedtour operators to discuss issues.

OBJECTIVES• To support the operation of a range of

guided tours to enhance presentation of theWHA and to provide a range of quality

opportunities for visitors to access and enjoythe WHA.

• To establish and maintain high standards ofenvironmental care, safety and interpretationin guided tour operations.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Licences• With satisfactory performance during an

initial one year trial period, all guided tourswill ordinarily be subject to a five yearlicence covering general conditions ofoperation. Licences will be reviewedannually and renewal will be subject toprevious satisfactory compliance withlicence conditions.

Zoning• Professional guides may conduct tours

throughout all zones in the WHA subject tothe conditions noted in their licences and therequirements of the Walking TrackManagement Strategy.

• Approval to operate in the Self-ReliantRecreation or Wilderness Zones is subject toany licence conditions imposed and therequirements of the Walking TrackManagement Strategy’s track classificationsystem. Approval is also dependent on thedemonstrated ability of the operator to meetthese conditions.

Party Sizes• The maximum party size for walking tour

groups will be consistent with that specifiedfor particular tracks in the Walking TrackManagement Strategy.

Commercial Huts• Proposals for permanent structures or huts

associated with guided tours may beapproved if consistent with the zoning, otherpolicies of this management plan and if theNew Proposals and Impact AssessmentProcess is followed (see page 66).

• Assess demand for commercial huts, interestfrom the commercial sector and, if required,identify potential locations as part of theRecreation and Tourism Strategy (see page120).

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• If new commercial huts are proposed, theyare to be:

- located within a Visitor Services Zone, aVisitor Services Site or a Recreation Zone;

- outside Southwest National Park, whichis to be retained as an area providingnatural camping opportunities;

- outside the central major use area of theWalls of Jerusalem national park andaway from the major road-accessiblefishing areas in the Central PlateauConservation Area;

- in accordance with the Walking TrackManagement Strategy and

- are to be considered by the NewProposals and Impacts AssessmentProcess as a major project (see page 66)with the full social and recreationalimpacts of any proposal fully assessed.

• The five existing commercial huts sited alongthe Overland Track will continue to bepermitted to operate.

Temporary Standing Camps• Temporary Standing camps (as defined in

the Service’s Temporary Standing Camppolicy) may be considered in the areas notedabove as being available for commercial hutaccommodation, under the same conditions.

• The camp at Forest Lag in SouthwestNational Park has been in existence for sometime prior to WHA listing and is used yearround as a lunch stop for day tours and forcamping. Its facilities include a landing,walkways, a cooking shelter, toilet, showerand accommodation tents. The site is to begenerally operated in accordance with theService’s Temporary Standing Camp Policy,however the above noted facilities mayremain year round.

Faecal waste• In some sensitive areas, tours may be

required to remove their faecal wastecompletely.

Cave Tours• Licenced guided cave tours will be

considered in cave systems where this is inkeeping with the management plan for the

system. Because of the sensitivity of caveenvironments, approval for such operationswill only be given where it can be shownthat their impact is likely to be within thecave’s natural range of rates and magnitudesof change. Continuing operation will beconditional upon ongoing monitoringshowing that impacts remain withinacceptable levels. (See also Caving and KarstManagement, page 141)

Accreditation• In co-operation with the Eco-Tourism

Association of Australia, the TasmanianOutdoor Leadership Council, the TasmanianOutdoor Recreation Council and inconsultation with industry, encourage thedevelopment of an accreditation system forguided tour operations.

Liaison• Liaise with guided tour companies in order

to co-ordinate itineraries to minimisecongestion; to provide Minimal ImpactBushwalking and interpretive informationfor tour leaders and to exchange relevantmanagement information.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor guided tour operations and the

condition of frequently used campsites,standing camps and huts. Modify conditionsof operation as necessary.

• Monitor the nature and level of feedbackfrom visitors about guided tour operators’performance.

• Copies of any visitor feedback to the Servicewill be passed on to the guided touroperator.

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Film ProductionBACKGROUNDThe Service frequently receives requests forcommercial filming within the WHA. Suchfilming can play a major role in presentation ofthe WHA to the broader community. It isimportant to ensure that the resulting filmscorrectly present information and showappropriate activities. There is also a need toensure that the activities of film crews do notimpact on the environment or detract from theenjoyment of other users.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTCommercial Filming Guidelines were introducedby the Service in 1995. A fee is charged for certaintypes of commercial filming in the WHA inaccordance with Section 25B(1) of the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970.

OBJECTIVE• To ensure that commercial filming in the

WHA assists, where possible, in promotingcommunity awareness, understanding andsupport for WHA values and management.

• To ensure that filming is carried out in a waythat has minimal impact on the WorldHeritage and other natural and culturalvalues of the WHA or other users.

• To achieve an appropriate commercial returnto the Service from commercial filmingactivities.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Ensure that all commercial filming in the

WHA complies with the latest ServiceCommercial Filming Guidelines. [Note thatthese guidelines do not apply to filming fornews and current affairs purposes and thatfor filming officially supported by TourismTasmania filming fees are waived).

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MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Keep a record of all commercial filming

which depicts any aspect of the WHA. Thisrecord is to include any environmentalconditions applied and the commercialfilming fee paid.

• Review the finished product of commercialfilming with a view to improving themanner in which WHA values and issues arepresented in such material in future.

• Monitor any complaints about commercialfilm use of the WHA.

• As required, review the Commercial FilmingGuidelines.

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Chapter 7

PrimaryProduction

7. Primary Production

BEEKEEPING 184

MINERAL EXPLORATION 185

GRAZING 186

AQUACULTURE 187

COMMERCIAL FISHING 187

HUON PINE DRIFTWOOD SALVAGE 188

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Because of the area’s world heritage significanceand reservation status, only limited primaryproduction is allowed within the WHA. Whereprimary production is allowed, it is because thatactivity has been a pre-existing use of the areaand the risks to the WHA’s values can beminimised.

BeekeepingBACKGROUNDThe distinctively flavoured honey produced fromthe endemic rainforest tree, leatherwood(Eucryphia lucida), is the basis for Tasmania’shoney industry. In recent years leatherwood hasformed about 70% of Tasmania’s total honeyproduction.

Leatherwood is confined to areas of high rainfalland low fire frequency and is widespread in theWHA. This leatherwood resource constitutes asecure long term source of nectar.

In 1996 there were 45 apiary sites present in theWHA, concentrated along the Lyell Highway,Gordon River, Scotts Peak and Mueller Roads,Kelly Basin, Mt McCall and Alma River tracksand south of Farmhouse Creek.

There is concern about the possible ecologicalimpacts of beekeeping in natural areas. To datelittle research on this issue has been carried outin Tasmania. A one season study of native insectson leatherwood trees indicated that honey beesdid not exhibit aggressive behaviour towardsother insects27.

A 1996 review28 of the interactions between honeybees and natural areas in Australia recommends aprecautionary approach to commercial honey beemanagement in national parks. The issue willremain contentious while there is insufficientinformation about interactions betweenhoneybees and the Tasmanian biota.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTApplications for new licences for apiary sites havebeen processed where localities by roads or trackshave become available or apiarists have soughtlicences over sites they had trialed in previousyears.

Beekeepers sought approval to place their hives inremote areas and waterways by barge or helicopter.In accordance with the 1992 plan, no licences wereissued which relied on these means of access.

No apiary sites were lost to beekeepers during thelife of the 1992 plan. However, initial steps weretaken to find alternative sites to replace three sitesalong the Mt McCall track that was prescribed forclosure under the 1992 management plan. Closuredid not proceed. (See page 44)

OBJECTIVES• To improve understanding of the effects of

commercial honey bees on natural processesand biota in the WHA and take appropriatemanagement action should damage tovalues be proven to occur as a result ofbeekeeping.

• To provide for continued access ofcommercial beekeepers to available apiarysites.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Apiary Sites• Each apiary site will be subject to a one year

licence agreement that specifies conditionsunder which the site is to be managed andoperations conducted.

• As far as practicable, apiary sites are to bescreened from passing traffic.

• With approval and under the supervision ofthe Service, machinery may be used tomaintain the surface of sites where this isnecessary.

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27 Ettershank, G. and Ettershank, J. A., 1993 Tasmanianleatherwoods (Eucryphia spp): Floral phenology andinsects associated with flowers Tasmanian NRCPTechnical Report No. 11, Forestry Commission,Tasmania and Department of the Arts, Sport, theEnvironment and Territories, Canberra.

28 Paton D.C., 1996 Overview of the Impacts of Feral andManaged Honeybees in Australia Australian NatureConservation Agency, Canberra.

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• Where closure of a vehicle track or apiary sitefor management purposes would involve lossof an apiary site, a replacement site will beprovided (if available) on Serviceadministered Crown Land.

• Apply research results to management ofbeekeeping in and adjacent to the WHA.

New Sites• In keeping with the precautionary principle,

until further research indicates that apiaryactivities do not pose a significant threat to thenatural processes and biota of the WHA,apiary sites within the WHA will be limited tothose already in use.

• Should further research indicate that apiaryactivities do not pose a significant threat to thenatural processes and biota of the WHAconsideration may be given to theestablishment of additional apiary sites.Additional sites will only be considered wherethe following conditions are met: there is anavailable nectar source, road access exists, thesiting and operation of the hives does notcompromise WHA management objectivesand the New Proposals and ImpactAssessment Process (see page 66) is followed.

Research• Encourage further research into the interaction

between honey bees and native flora andfauna.

• Collect and collate field data on thedistribution of feral bees in the WHA,especially in remote or high country areas.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor the distribution of apiary sites.

Update maps of all licensed sites to aidmonitoring.

• Refer to relevant research data and assess thelikely effect, if any, of commercial honeybeesat licenced sites on natural processes and biotain the WHA.

Mineral ExplorationBACKGROUNDGold and osmiridium are found in theAdamsfield area in the WHA. Adamsfield iswithin a Conservation Area, hence mineralexploration may be approved and if successful,could result in mining under specifiedenvironmental conditions. Adamsfield is the onlyarea within the WHA where exploration andmining can occur.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTSince 1992 the exploration licences 4/85 and 1/88at Adamsfield and the eastern WHA (a priorright) respectively have not been renewed. The 6ha mining lease at Adamsfield has also not beenrenewed. There has been no mineral explorationat Adamsfield since commencement of the 1992plan.

OBJECTIVE• To ensure that any mineral exploration or

mining that is permitted by law in the WHAat Adamsfield is undertaken in such a wayas to avoid or minimise impacts on thevalues of the WHA.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Exploration and/or mining within the WHA

will only be permitted in the AdamsfieldConservation Area, subject to appropriateconditions.

• Any proposed exploration or miningapplications will be reviewed byrepresentatives of Mineral ResourcesTasmania and the Service via the NewProposals and Impact Assessment process,see page 66. New exploration applicationsand mining proposals will require theapproval of the Ministerial Council as part ofthis process.

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• Any proposed exploration program is to besubject to an environmental impactassessment and appropriate environmentaland rehabilitation conditions.

• Any proposed exploration program is to beconducted according to the MineralExploration Code of Practice and each workprogram will be considered by the MineralExploration Working Group (MEWG) whichwill recommend appropriate conditions tothe Director of Mines. Site inspections will becarried out by MEWG representatives,before, during and after exploration activity.

• Any mining proposal will be subject to thisplan, the Mineral Resources Development Act1995 and the Environmental Management andPollution Control Act 1994 and will requirepreparation of an environmentalmanagement plan.

• The environmental impact assessment (forexploration) and the environmentalmanagement plan (for mining) will assessenvironmental impacts and detailprocedures that will be undertaken to avoidor mitigate them, put in place anenvironmental monitoring program anddetail requirements to rehabilitate the site oncompletion of works to the satisfaction of theDirector of Mines and the Director theService.

• Mining activities will not be permitted ifthey have an adverse impact on WorldHeritage values.

• Require all personnel of mining companiesauthorised to operate mining leases in theWHA to undergo an appropriate inductioncourse endorsed by the Service prior toentry, which covers the World Heritage andother natural and cultural values of theWHA and how they are to be protected.

• A bond commensurate with the scale of theprogram will be required to be depositedwith Mineral Resources Tasmania to ensureperformance and rehabilitation are to therequired standard as required under theMineral Resources Development Act 1995.

• Use of the Low Rocky Point track will bepermitted for exploration programs in theSouth West Conservation Area if approvedby the Service and the Mineral Exploration

Working Group. Upgrading and/orrealignment of the track to allow passage ofexploration, mining and track maintenanceequipment is permissible subject to the newproposals process, see page 66.

• As far as possible helicopters, light planes orboats should be used to access prospectiveground south of Macquarie Harbour. Ifvehicle access is necessary, low impactvehicles are the preferred form of transport.(See also Jetties, Moorings and Anchorages,page 138).

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Any exploration or mining program will be

subject to regular (at least annual)monitoring for environmental compliance.This will include monitoring of theenvironmental parameters outlined in anenvironmental management plan.

GrazingBACKGROUNDThe Central Plateau was an important summergrazing area for stock during last century and theearly part of this century. With the developmentof improved pastures in lowland areas thispractice dwindled.

However a number of graziers are keen to re-introduce the practice.

Recent research has indicated that a combinationof fire, rabbits and grazing has resulted in thedevelopment of widespread soil erosion on thePlateau.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTThe 1992 management plan placed a moratoriumon grazing on the Plateau for the life of the plan,while research and monitoring into the impactsof past practices was carried out.

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A study was initiated in 1991 to map the extentand severity of erosion in the area. For details ofthe study see Rehabilitation, pages 114–115. Themajor conclusion of importance to grazing is thatdomestic stock grazing should not be re-introduced to the Plateau.

OBJECTIVE• To maximise revegetation rates and

minimise erosion rates on degraded areas ofthe Central Plateau.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Domestic stock grazing will not be re-

introduced to the Central PlateauConservation Area.

• Liaise with graziers affected by thisdecision. Where appropriate, and inconsultation with community partnershipgroups, use graziers’ local knowledge of thearea to improve management practices.

• Investigate options to record the history ofthe practice of grazing on the CentralPlateau.

AquacultureBACKGROUNDAquaculture practices may cause impacts thataffect both onshore and aquatic environments.Onshore disturbances may include constructionof storage, accommodation, processing andpackaging facilities and roads. Impacts related tothe aquatic environment may include restrictionson public access to waterways, visual pollution,eutrophication (abnormally high levels ofnutrients in local waters), significant change and/or death of benthic communities, escape ofintroduced species and the killing of indigenousanimals (such as seals) to protect farms frompredation.

It is considered that aquaculture is incompatiblewith conservation of the natural and recreationalvalues of WHA waterways.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTAs a result of a plan developed in co-operationwith the inter-agency Marine Farm ManagementCommittee, aquaculture is currently permitted atsites in Macquarie Harbour outside the WHA butnot within the WHA because of conflicts withrecreation and conservation values. (The south-eastern end of Macquarie Harbour, within theWHA, is important for tourism and recreation asa natural setting for visits to the Gordon River,Sarah Island and the many small coves around itsshores. Birchs Inlet is part of the breeding area ofthe endangered orange-bellied parrot.)

The future of fish farming in Macquarie Harbourmay be partly dependent on the adoption ofproposals to manage heavy metal distribution inthe harbour (see Environmental Quality section,page 110).

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION• No farming of marine or freshwater species

will be permitted within the WHA.

Commercial FishingBACKGROUNDPort Davey is important as a resting place andrefuge in bad weather for commercial fishersoperating off the south-west coast. Somecommercial fishing occurs within the harbour,mainly for rock lobster and abalone, as well aslow intensity gill netting, which is indiscriminatein its take of species. The Marine ResourcesDivision within the Department of PrimaryIndustries, Water and Environment is responsiblefor the granting of licences for commercial fishing(see Statutory Powers in State Reserves, page195 ).

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Plastic and other waste generated by commercialfishers and other users pollute the WHA coastlineand can be hazardous to marine animals andbirds.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTOver the life of the 1992 plan, commercial fishinghas continued in the Port Davey area.

As noted previously, (see Identifying Values, page74) it is government policy to create (inconsultation with stakeholders) a marine reservein the Port Davey–Bathurst Harbour area.

At the time of writing the area is part ofSouthwest National Park; this conservation statusprotects the habitat of the area but not its marinelife. Declaring a marine reserve will assist inproviding protection of marine life as well as thehabitat in the area.

OBJECTIVE• To protect the unique species and habitat of

the Port Davey–Bathurst Harbour area.

• To create a marine reserve in the Port Davey-Bathurst Harbour area.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

Fishing• Develop a proposal for a marine reserve to

be established in and around the Port Daveyand Bathurst Harbour area in collaborationwith the Marine Resources Division of theDepartment of Primary Industries, Waterand Environment .

• The final boundaries of the marine reserveand any management arrangements will bedetermined after consultation has occurredwith major stakeholders and the public.

• Other restrictions on sea fishing (commercialor recreational) within parts of the WHA notincluded in the marine reserve will bedetermined by a specific fisherymanagement plan which will be required toundergo public consultation.

• Commercial fishing of freshwater eels,whitebait, lamprey or other freshwater orestuarine species will not be permitted.

Other• In consultation with the Marine Resources

Division and commercial fishingorganisations, continue to develop theMinimal Impact Boating program to educatefishers about appropriate practices to protectthe marine and coastal environment.

• Continue and expand liaison withprofessional fishing organisations andprocessors to minimise the use of plasticsand their disposal at sea.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor marine debris via surveys.

• Monitor impacts on selected biologicalcommunities, from commercial andrecreational diving.

Huon PineDriftwood Salvage

BACKGROUNDPrior to WHA listing, an agreement between theService and Forestry Tasmania was reachedregarding salvage of Huon pine from the shoresof Macquarie Harbour as a basis for reducingpressures on standing Huon pine elsewhere. Thearrangement allowed for Forestry Tasmania toissue commercial licences and non-commercialpermits for the collection of driftwood fromspecified parts of the shore up to high tide mark.Huon pine logs cut in the past continue to breakfree from the Gordon River banks and mostcommonly wash up on the beach west of the rivermouth.

Forestry Tasmania agreed to, and theCommonwealth accepted, World Heritagenomination of this area on the understanding thatthe existing arrangements for salvage wouldcontinue. Subsequently, the area was included inthe Macquarie Harbour Historic Site. Althoughremoval of beached Huon pine is contrary to

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standard management policy in Historic Sites, it isrecognised that, under existing controls andlevels, continuation of the practice has minimalenvironmental impact and is assessed by ForestryTasmania as being desirable to meet demand.

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENTCommercial salvaging of Huon pine has takenplace up to four times each year from 1992.Between January 1992 and December 1996, 300cubic metres of craftwood was collected fromMacquarie Harbour from areas near the GordonRiver mouth. Up to 20 permits for amateurcraftwood gathering have been issued each year.Between January 1994 and January 1997, ninecubic metres was collected under non-commercialpermits.

In 1995 the Service and Forestry Tasmania agreedto the continued issue of non-commercial permitsand commercial licences for Huon pinecraftwood collection until late 1997.

A revised agreement for Huon pine driftwoodsalvage has been developed based on theprescriptions of the plan. The objective andmanagement prescriptions below reflect themajor points of the agreement.

OBJECTIVE• To continue to provide for the salvage of

Huon pine driftwood from selected areas onMacquarie Harbour for commercial andamateur use subject to availability ofdriftwood, acceptable environmental impactfrom collecting activities and public opinionon this practice.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Provide for the salvage of Huon pine along

selected parts of the shores of MacquarieHarbour (excluding Sarah and GrummetIslands and the Gordon River and itsbanks).

• Conduct salvage operations in a mannerthat minimises environmental and viewfieldimpacts.

• Locate and time operations to avoidimpacting on the recreational and tourismexperience of other visitors to the area.

• Salvage of Huon pine driftwood will be inaccordance with an agreement signed by theheads of agency of the Parks and WildlifeService and Forestry Tasmania.

• Salvage is to be provided for through theissue of permits and or licences by ForestryTasmania staff in accordance with the headsof agency agreement.

• Continuation of the heads of agencyagreement is subject to the continuedavailability of driftwood, the impact ofsalvage activities on the environment andpublic opinion.

• Re-evaluate the salvage of Huon pinedriftwood as part of future managementplan reviews of this plan or more frequentlyif required.

• In co-operation with Forestry Tasmaniaoversee salvage activities and monitor anyimpacts.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Monitor and evaluate the impact of

driftwood salvage on the World Heritageand other natural and cultural values of theWHA in the following manner.

- Assess the sustainability of the driftwoodsupply (noting current and past volumessalvaged and the number of licences andpermits issued).

- Regularly monitor the environmentalimpact in salvage areas and work withlicencees to minimise impacts.

- Assess the attitude of the public todriftwood salvage through publicparticipation in the management planreview process and other mechanisms, ifrequired.

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Chapter 8

StatutoryPowers andPrivate Rights

8. Statutory Powers and Private Rights

STATUTORY POWERS IN STATE RESERVES 192

STATUTORY POWERS IN CONSERVATION AREAS 194

OTHER STATUTORY AUTHORITIES 194

PRIVATE LANDHOLDERS 196

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STATUTORY POWERS IN STATE RESERVESSection 24(1) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act1970 provides that certain statutory powers maynot be exercised in a State Reserve or GameReserve unless authorised by a management plan.The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 defines astatutory power as:

(a) a power under an enactment, other than anenactment in this Act, for the reservation ordedication of Crown Land for any purpose,or for the alienation of, or the grant ofprivate rights in or over, any such land, orfor the carrying out of any works or otheroperations on any such land; or

(b) a power that, under an enactment, otherthan an enactment in this Act, may beexercised by a public authority in relation toland vested in it.

A provision in a management plan whichauthorises the exercise of any such statutorypower (in effect, for the purpose of permitting theuse or development of a State Reserve otherwisethan under the powers conferred by the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970) will not take effectunless it has the approval of both Houses ofParliament.

This section is an account of statutory powerswithin the meaning of the National Parks andWildlife Act 1970 that are permitted to be exercisedin the State Reserves of the WHA providedParliament approves. Any conditions on theexercise of these powers are included. In addition,for some agencies, specific undertakings havebeen given in relation to their operations withinthe WHA. These undertakings are not arestriction on the use of a statutory power butrather a commitment by these agencies that theagency will carry out actions in the WHA inaccordance with these undertakings.

Electricity EntitiesSection 52 of the Electricity Supply Industry Act1995 provides electricity entities with the powerto carry out certain works on public land, beingworks associated with the generation,transmission, distribution and supply ofelectricity, and with the installation, operation,maintenance, repair, modification,supplementation and replacement of electricityinfrastructure. Other than in the case of worksdeclared by regulations under that Act to beworks of minor environmental impact, the

agreement of the authority responsible formanaging the public land is first required.Agreement can be given subject to conditionswhich the managing authority considersappropriate in the public interest.

An electricity entity is authorised to carry outworks under section 52 in accordance with thefollowing provisions. Where those works requirethe agreement of the managing authority, thefollowing provisions are to be taken into accountin giving that agreement.

DEFINITIONSManagement of installations designed to produceand distribute electricity includes three types ofactivity: replacement, renewal and redevelopmentwhich are defined below.

1. Replacement typically applies to acomponent which wears out eg a tower,turbine, lining of a canal. Replacement ofsuch items forms part of normalmaintenance work.

2. Renewal applies to larger components. Inrenewal the locations and generalappearance are similar to that existing butthe electricity entity needs to take account ofnew technology, design standards and safety.Examples of renewal include:

- raising the crest level of a dam withoutincreasing the full supply level of thestorage; alternatively increasing the sizeof a spillway;

- widening roads and canals;

- increasing the height of transmissiontowers;

- enlarging a switchyard by up to 50%;

- changing the number of penstocks whilstadhering to the original alignment;

- minor deviations to the route of a road orcanal or transmission line eg a few metresshift over 3 - 5 kilometres;

- a large deviation in a localised area, egrealigning a road or canal over a gully,not around it.

3. Redevelopment is where substantial changeto the layout and appearance is involved. Asignificant deviation to the route of atransmission line, the raising of lake levelsoutside of agreed operational plans orsignificant widening or realignment of acanal.

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CONDITIONSThe following conditions apply to works of minorenvironmental impact within the meaning ofsection 52 of the Electricity Supply Industry Act1995, and should be taken into account by themanaging authority when agreeing to works andoperations under that section.

• The electricity entity must operate, maintain,repair, renew its existing installations inaccordance with the HEC Operations Plan forthe WHA or any other mutually agreeddocument that replaces it.

• For the purpose of transmitting electricalenergy, the electricity entity may only utilise:

- those strips of land extending through theCradle Mountain–Lake St Clair NationalPark at its southern end where power linesnow run and

- the strip of land 60 metres wide extendingthrough the Southwest National Park,such land being 30 metres on either side ofthe centre line of the 220 kV transmissionline generally following the route of theGordon River Road and the Mueller Road

provided that on the reserves the electricityentity:

- takes all reasonable care to do as littledamage as possible, and

- does not, except in the case of anemergency, cut or construct any newaccess without the prior approval of theMinister for National Parks and Wildlifeand upon such conditions as the Ministermay see fit to impose.

• The waters in Lake St Clair must be managedin accordance with the Water ManagementStrategy for Lake St Clair. This aims toprevent or minimise shoreline erosion,maximise revegetation and enhance theaesthetics of the lakeshore environment (seeLake St Clair Erosion, page 80).

In particular the electricity entity is tomodify its operating rules for Lake St Clairto achieve the following targets:

- the lake level will be maintained above736.0 metres less than 2.0% of the timeand

- the lake level will be maintained above735.6 metres less than 6.0% of the time.

[The above targets are subject to thelimitations, qualifications and managementprescriptions noted on page 80].

• Where renewal projects potentially impact onthe World Heritage and other natural andcultural values of the WHA, the electricityentity must liaise with the Service to ensureappropriate environmental impact assessmentand mitigation strategies are followed. Theprocedure for assessment of the impact onnatural or cultural values of any significantrenewal of electricity entity installations willbe developed jointly between the electricityentity and the Service and will be based on theprocedures used by the Service for its minoractivities in the WHA (see minor pathway,New Proposals and Impact AssessmentProcess, page 67).

• An electricity entity may not redevelop oralter the configuration of existing schemes, orundertake the substantial enlargement of thesize of visible components or undertake newdevelopments within the WHA. Such actionsrequire amendment of this management plan,Environmental Impact Assessment and theapproval of the Ministerial Council. If suchactions are proposed they are to be consideredvia the New Proposals and ImpactAssessment Process, see page 66.

• No new facilities may be established in theWilderness Zone. Small scale, non-permanentfacilities may be considered in other zonesprovided that they do not involve earthworksor clearing. These may be permitted subject tothe approval of the Director.

• An electricity entity must manage areasvested in it, as far as practical, in a mannerthat is compatible with the surroundingNational Park or Conservation Area.

• Installations no longer required by anelectricity entity must be assessed for culturalsignificance and public safety. If not ofsignificance, they must either be removed, inconsultation with the Service and at theexpense of the electricity entity, or allowed todecay. The electricity entity must removeunsafe installations.

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Department of Infrastructure, Energy andResources, Transport Division (TD)STATUTORY POWERS AND CONDITIONS• Subject to the following conditions the

Minister administering the Roads and JettiesAct 1935 is authorised to carry out hisstatutory powers under that Act in relation toall State highways and subsidiary roadsconstructed and maintained by the TransportDivision (TD) within National Parks(including the Lyell Highway, the GordonRiver Road and roads at Cradle Valley andLake St Clair).

- Any reconstruction or realignment ofroads must take place only afterconsultation and agreement between theSecretary TD and the Director.

- In discharging obligations under theRoads and Jetties Act 1935, the SecretaryTD and that Department’s contractorsshall endeavour to minimise disturbanceto the natural environment.

- In consultation with the Service, the TDand that Division’s contractors mayremove vegetation from outside the roadreserve if this obscures road sightlines.Any clearing will be carried out withutmost care because of the need to retainattractive and natural views from thehighway. Fallen material will be removedfrom the reserve or dealt with so as not tocreate a fire hazard. Particular care willbe taken in karst catchments in the MtArrowsmith and Bubs Hill areas alongthe Lyell Highway.

- For the purposes of maintenance andupgrading of the roads within the WHA,the Secretary TD may, followingconsultation with the Director, authorisecontractors to extract material fromquarries along the Lyell Highway. Suchextraction of material may only occurfrom existing quarries and is conditionalupon assessment and conservation ofsignificant natural and cultural valuesand appropriate rehabilitation.

- No new quarries will be opened exceptafter consultation between the SecretaryTD and the Director and the issuing ofthe necessary licence by the Departmentof Primary Industries, Water andEnvironment.

- No existing quarries within the CradleMountain–Lake St Clair National Parkwill be used nor new quarries opened.

- No gravel or other resources from withina WHA State Reserve may be usedoutside the State Reserve.

UNDERTAKINGS• The Secretary TD will liaise with the Service

with a view to the permanent closure of theold quarry north of Bubs Hill that has brokeninto a limestone cave system.

• When economical and practicable, theSecretary TD will rehabilitate disused pitsand quarries that TD is responsible for inassociation with roadworks, in liaison withthe Service and in accordance with theprovisions of the Rehabilitation section, page114.

Surveyor-GeneralSTATUTORY POWERS ANDCONDITIONS• In consultation with the Director, the

Surveyor-General is authorised to continueto exercise all statutory powers under theSurvey Co-ordination Act 1944 in relation tothe establishment and maintenance ofexisting permanent survey marks locatedwithin the State Reserves provided that:

- The establishment of new permanentsurvey marks and associated beacons willbe minimised and is subject to thespecific approval of the Director.

- Access for surveying and maintenancepurposes is in accordance with thezoning scheme (see Zoning, page 54 andmap three). Helicopter access for thesepurposes is permitted in the Recreation,Self-Reliant Recreation and WildernessZones. No new vehicle tracks may beconstructed to Geodetic Survey Stations.

- Care will be taken to ensure thatenvironmental damage (such asvegetation clearance) is minimal, and thatappropriate measures are taken to avoidthe spread of plant pathogens.

UNDERTAKING• When the Surveyor-General is satisfied that

specific beacons or cairns of no historicalvalue are no longer required, the Surveyor-General will, after consultation with the

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Director, take the appropriate action to havesuch beacons or cairns removed. Priority willbe given to removal of surplus structuressituated within the Wilderness and Self-Reliant Recreational Zones.

Inland Fisheries Commission• The Inland Fisheries Commission is

authorised to exercise all of its relevantpowers under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995provided that, where works or activities areinvolved, it shall require the writtenapproval of the Director, and provided thatexotic fish are not released into any waterbody within the WHA that is not currentlyinhabited by them. Further releases of troutinto previously stocked lakes (includingLake Pedder) may occur.

Marine Resources Division of theDepartment of Primary Industries, Waterand Environment• The Minister administering the Living Marine

Resources Management Act 1995 is authorisedto exercise all of the Minister’s powers underthat Act in relation to the granting oflicences to take fish, provided such takingdoes not involve physical disturbance of thesea floor and provided that no licence,permit or other authority shall be issued formarine farming within the WHA. This doesnot preclude commercial diving for shellfishand other organisms, rock lobster fishing,gill and seine netting, trap fishing or linefishing.

Marine and Safety Authority of Tasmania• The Marine and Safety Authority of

Tasmania is authorised to exercise all of itspowers under the Marine and Safety AuthorityAct 1997 provided that, where it is proposedto install any new navigational aid or createany new structure, the works first have theapproval of the Director.

• The Marine and Safety Authority ofTasmania is authorised to continue tooperate and maintain the navigation light atWhalers Head, Port Davey.

Forestry Tasmania• Forestry Tasmania is authorised to exercise

its statutory powers under the Forestry Act1920 in relation to the use and maintenanceof the following roads for forestry activities:

Clear Hill Road, Holley Road, HarbacksRoad, Rufus Canal Road and South LuneRoad.

• Forestry Tasmania is authorised to use roadsthrough the Liffey State Reserve and theLiffey Forest Reserve for access to adjacentState Forest.

STATUTORY POWERS IN CONSERVATIONAREASUnder the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970,statutory bodies may exercise powers inConservation Areas without need for these to beprovided for in a management plan and approvedby both Houses of Parliament. However, section21(4) provides that a management plan mayprohibit or restrict the exercise of statutorypowers in Conservation Areas. The followingsections detail the ways in which the exercise ofstatutory powers are prohibited or restricted inthe Conservation Areas of the WHA.

Electricity EntitiesAny works carried out by an electricity entityunder section 52 of the Electricity Supply IndustryAct 1995 in Conservation Areas must be done inaccordance with the relevant conditions in theprevious section of this management planconcerning the exercise by the electricity entity ofthe electricity entity ’s statutory powers. Anelectricity entity is also required to:

• operate its facilities within the CentralPlateau Conservation Area only as specifiedin the Operations Plan;

• operate its facilities at St Clair Lagoon asspecified in the Operations Plan.

Department of Infrastructure, Energy andResources, Transport Division (TD)Any works carried out by the Ministeradministering the Roads and Jetties Act 1935 inConservation Areas must be done in accordancewith the relevant conditions in the previoussection of this management plan concerning theexercise by the Minister of the Minister’sstatutory powers. The Minister is also required to:

• liaise with the Service over works in the PineLake area;

• take particular care to minimise runoff andany other disturbance to the Liffey Rivercatchment. (The Lake Highway passes

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through the Liffey Forest Reserve and thereis a gravel pit below the highway within thereserve)

Inland Fisheries CommissionAny works or activities carried out by the IFC inadministering the Inland FisheriesAct 1995 inConservation Areas must be done in accordancewith the terms of the previous section of thismanagement plan concerning the exercise by theIFCof the IFC’s statutory powers. The IFC is alsorequired to manage the trout fishery inaccordance with a Trout Fishery ManagementPlan approved by the IFC and prepared inconsultation with the Service and anglers.

OTHER STATUTORY AUTHORITIESThis section covers activities by statutoryauthorities which are not affected by section 21and section 24 of the National Parks and WildlifeAct 1970.

Forestry Tasmania• The Forestry Act 1920 and Regulations will

continue to apply to WHA Forest Reserves.

• Forestry Tasmania is required to liaise withthe Service regarding the reviewing of non-statutory plans for the WHA Forest Reservesand significant actions that result from suchplans.

Resources Management Division of theDepartment of Primary Industries, Waterand Environment• The Service may authorise the use and

maintenance, but not expansion, of theexisting gauging station on the Davey Riverdownstream of the Crossing River.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority• It has been agreed with the Australian

Maritime Safety Authority that where aids tonavigation for vessels or any new structuresare involved such works shall:

- meet a demonstrated essential safetyneed;

- be subject to the satisfactory completionof the New Proposals and ImpactsAssessment Process (see page 66);

- be subject to any written conditionsimposed by the Director.

PRIVATE LANDHOLDERS(See section on Huts and Shacks for huts licencedto specific people, and commercial huts, page154).

BackgroundSeveral small freehold blocks are included in theWHA in the Vale of Rasselas and the southeasternpart of the Central Plateau Conservation Area.Because they are not reserved under the NationalParks and Wildlife Act 1970 this plan cannot applyto them. There is also an enclave of freeholdblocks surrounded or partly surrounded by theWHA (but not included in the WHA) in the upperMersey Valley at Lees Paddocks and Pine HutPlains. Access through the WHA by landholdersto freehold blocks is protected by an easement ofnecessity.

Previous ManagementAs funds have not been available, no offers by theService have been made for any of the privateland referred to above. No approaches have yetbeen made to the owners regarding managementagreements or the possibility of the lands beinggiven private reserve status.

Objective• To acquire, or seek management agreements

for, freehold blocks that are surrounded orpartly surrounded by WHA.

Management Prescription• As funds permit, approach owners of land

within or surrounded by the WHA regardingpurchase of the blocks for inclusion inreserves, or alternatively seek proclamationas private reserves under the National Parksand Wildlife Act 1970.

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Chapter 9

AdministrativeMatters

9. Administrative Matters

MANAGEMENT BASES 198

STAFFING 198

LAW ENFORCEMENT 199

AIRCRAFT USE FOR MANAGEMENT PURPOSES 199

USE OF NATURAL MATERIALS FOR

MANAGEMENT PURPOSES 200

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Management BasesBACKGROUNDThe WHA is located in both the northern andsouthern management regions of the Service. Theprincipal management centre for the WHA isHobart. This is where the majority of specialistand senior management staff are located. Asmaller centre in Launceston containsmanagement and some specialist staff for thenorthern area.

Field centres that manage parts of the WHA arecurrently located at Cradle Valley, Mole Creek,Trevallyn and Liawenee in the northern area andStrahan, Queenstown, Lake St Clair, Mt Field andDover in the south.

Devonport is Forestry Tasmania’s managementcentre for the WHA Forest Reserves.

OBJECTIVE• To decentralise management functions and

delegate management decisions andresponsibility to field bases as appropriate toincrease efficiency and effectiveness.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• The role of field centres in dealing with

management matters will be broadened overthe life of the plan and the delegation ofmany decisions will be moved from headoffice to senior officers in the field.

• The decentralisation of management tasks toManagement Areas and field centres willcontinue. Overall planning and mostspecialist functions will continue to be basedin Hobart and to a lesser extent, Launceston.

StaffingBACKGROUNDDay to day management of the WHA is primarilythe responsibility of the Service. At the time ofwriting 112 permanent employees are involved inWHA planning and management, with 59% ofthese based in the field.

Additional temporary staff (such as projectofficers, summer interpretive rangers, trackrangers and walking track construction workers)are regularly employed.

In addition to on-the-job training needed toundertake the normal management of the WHA,specialist training for staff is provided in lawenforcement, fire management, education andinterpretation, search and rescue, first aid,planning and administration.

OBJECTIVES• To ensure that adequate staff levels and

capacity are maintained in the long term tocarry out the provisions of this managementplan.

• To progressively develop staff expertise inWHA management.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Forward plan, develop and maintain the

management capacity to implement thisplan. Where necessary, provide training,recruit and/or contract personnel to providethe requisite skills and support.

• Progressively develop staff expertise inWHA management through staffdevelopment and training programsappropriate to their areas of responsibility.[KDO 10.3]

• Review the effectiveness of training inappropriate key areas to the achievement ofWHA management objectives.

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MONITORING AND EVALUATION• Regularly review the adequacy of staffing

arrangements to capably implement thisplan.

• Monitor changes in staffing levels and in thequalifications and training of Service staff.

Law EnforcementBACKGROUNDThe Service is responsible for enforcing theprovisions of the National Parks and Wildlife Act1970 and Regulations thereunder, the AboriginalRelics Act 1975, relevant parts of the Fire ServiceAct 1979 and the Crown Lands Act 1976 and itsRegulations.

The Division of Environment and Planning withinthe Department of Primary Industries, Water andEnvironment is responsible for the environmentalassessment of level 2 and other activities inaccordance with the Environmental Managementand Pollution Control Act 1994.

The Inland Fisheries Commission is responsiblefor ensuring that the provisions of the InlandFisheries Act 1995 and its regulations are observed.

Forestry Tasmania is responsible for enforcementof the Forestry Act 1920 and Regulations and partsof the Fire Service Act 1979 in Forest Reserves.

Responsibility for normal law enforcement withinthe WHA lies with the Tasmanian Police.

OBJECTIVE• To utilise legislation, enforcement

arrangements and land tenure that areappropriate to the achievement of WHAmanagement objectives.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS✓ As far as possible, utilise legislation,

enforcement arrangements and land tenurethat are appropriate to achieving WHA

management objectives, and which do notcompromise effectiveness and efficiency ofmanagement. [KDO 1.4]

✓ Ensure that Service staff and agents areaware of, and where necessary act on,current legal obligations and responsibilities.[KDO 1.5]

✓ Inform and/or make available to the publicand special interest groups informationrelated to the legislative requirements relatedto their activities or interests in the WHA.[KDO 1.5]

✓ Alert relevant authorities concerning anyperceived needs for changes to legislation,enforcement arrangements, that wouldspecifically enhance WHA managementobjectives.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION qq Document and regularly collate changes in

the powers of protection of the WHA or itsresources. (eg changes in legislation, landtenure, conservation status, regulations,permitted activities etc) [KDO 1.4]

q Regularly document the level ofcompliance/non-compliance withregulations and statutory provisions thatrelate to the WHA, and the extent to whichobligations of legal and other mandatespertaining to the WHA have been met.Monitor changes in the number and natureof prosecutable incidents in the WHA. [KDO1.5]

Aircraft Use forManagement Purposes

BACKGROUNDFixed wing aircraft and helicopters are invaluablefor management operations such as track repair inremote locations. However, as with scenic flights,management flights can disturb visitors.

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OBJECTIVE• To use aircraft for management purposes in

ways that minimise disturbance to visitors.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• As far as practical, management flights are to

adhere to the flight guidelines for scenicflights (see Aircraft Activities section p 134).

• Management flights are, as far as possible, tobe scheduled at times and on routes thatminimise disturbance to visitors.

• Helicopter and fixed-wing access to theWHA by research expeditions will be subjectto adherence to environmental guidelines.(See also pages 117–118)

Use of Natural Materialsfor Management

PurposesBACKGROUNDManagement practices make use of naturalmaterials such as split hardwood for trackcording, split shingles or shakes for hutreconstruction, gravel and rock for track surfacesand dressed timbers in structures such as visitorcentres or cooking shelters.

On a small scale some of these materials can beselectively obtained from within the WHAwithout causing major damage. The acceptabilityof such practices, their extent and theappropriateness of using materials that are rare orthreatened for reserve management purposes allrequire careful consideration.

OBJECTIVES• To provide facilities for visitors that match or

complement the environment.

• To use materials whose production can besustained and that are in keeping with goodland management practice.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS• Subject to prior assessment of the

significance of features, small scale use ofnatural resources from within the WHA mayoccur for approved management purposes.

• Species from within the WHA defined byKirkpatrick and Gilfedder (1988)29 asendangered, vulnerable or rare may not beused.

• Dead King Billy pine, pencil pine or Huonpine may be used if the roots are left in situfor site stabilisation.

• The use of rare timber species (obtained fromoutside the WHA) for reserve managementwill be restricted to situations where thereare no suitable alternatives (eg use of KingBilly shakes in restoration of a historic hut).

• Develop guidelines for the use of WHAresources for reserve management purposes.

29 Kirkpatrick, J.B.P. and Gilfedder, L. 1987 The BotanicalStatus of the Lemonthyme and Southern ForestsUnpublished report to the Lemonthyme andSouthern Forests Commission of Inquiry, Hobart.

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Chapter 10

Management ofAdjacent Areas

10. Management of Adjacent Areas

BACKGROUND AND CLARIFICATION OF THE

MEANING OF ‘ADJACENT AREA’ 202

PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT 202

OBJECTIVES 203

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS 203

MONITORING AND EVALUATION 205

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Background andClarification of the

Meaning of‘Adjacent Area’

This chapter is not part of the legal managementplan for the WHA, however it should be read inconjunction with that document. It providesgeneral policy advice for management ofadjacent areas and some specific policy guidancefor adjacent areas managed by the Service.

There are a number of areas that are adjacent tothe WHA whose management is influenced tovarying degrees by the WHA. Some adjacentareas (eg the area south of Cockle Creek, the‘Hartz hole’, and the Navarre Plains) wereproclaimed State Reserve after the most recentWHA listing, are managed by the Service andhave national park status. Such areas are coveredby this management plan (see page 15 for a fulllist) and are not dealt with further here.

Other areas such as the Southwest ConservationArea, Granite Tor Conservation Area and LakeBeatrice Conservation Area are adjacent to theWHA, are managed by the Service and will becovered by other management plans in thefuture. These are noted below.

There are still other areas that are under thejurisdiction of other agencies where the Service’srole is one of liaison. General policy guidance forthese is given below.

There are a number of facets of management ofthe WHA which need to be considered in theirregional context. For example, it is preferable fora variety of reasons, such as access and strategiclocation, that some management facilities andvisitor accommodation not be provided withinthe WHA itself. Similarly, the wilderness qualityof the area can only be retained by ensuring thatnatural viewfields from major vantage points aremaintained. The principles of managementtherefore recognise that adjoining lands should,as far as possible, be managed in ways that are

sympathetic to the objectives of management forthe WHA.

The attractions of the World Heritage Area havethe potential to create demand for developmenton adjacent land and in gateway communities.Local Government and regional planning canplay an important role in guiding the nature andextent of development in these importantentrances to the WHA. For example,development plans for gateway areas can outlinethe principles and requirements for planningapproval by designating appropriate precinctsfor development, outlining appropriate facilitiesand services that may be provided, presentingguidelines for the siting and design of buildings,and requirements for environmental andlandscape management.

Previous ManagementLAND STATUSThere have been several changes in the status ofland adjoining the WHA during the life of the1992 management plan, as detailed below.

• An area of 1.148 ha was added toMarakoopa Cave State Reserve on 4 July1995. This area is covered by thismanagement plan.

• The Mole Creek Karst National Park wasproclaimed on 13 November 1996. Thisincludes the former Marakoopa Cave StateReserve within the WHA and several otherformer reserves outside the WHA. The onlypart of the Mole Creek Karst National Parkwhich lies within the WHA is the formerMarakoopa Cave State Reserve (boundaryas at December 1989).

• The Conservation Area status of theSouthwest Conservation Area adjoining thewestern boundary of the WHA north ofMacquarie Harbour was revoked on 23December 1992.

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• The Granite Tor Conservation Area(formerly part of Southwest ConservationArea) was proclaimed on 25 December 1996.

• The Lake Beatrice Conservation Area(formerly part of Southwest ConservationArea) was proclaimed on 25 December 1996.

LAND MANAGEMENTDuring the life of the 1992 plan the followingmanagement actions have been undertaken inadjacent areas to the WHA in accordance with thecorresponding section of the 1992 plan.

- Draft site plans for the Cockle Creek andMelaleuca areas have been prepared andmade available for public comment. Thesecover the management of these areas indetail. Both still require finalisation.

- Surveys for Aboriginal sites have beenconducted on the coast south of MacquarieHarbour.

- A Conservation Plan has been prepared forthe Macquarie Heads Pilot and SignalStation.

- Fire management plans have been producedfor the Melaleuca area and the Lake BeatriceConservation Area.

Objectives• To foster management practices in lands

adjacent to the WHA that are sympathetic tothe objectives of management of the WHA.

• To assist nearby communities servicing theWHA to manage gateway areas in a mannercompatible with presentation of the WHA.

ManagementPrescriptions

✓ GENERAL ADJACENT AREA POLICYGUIDANCE [KDO 1.7]

• Liaise with all agencies with managementresponsibility to seek to ensure that anyplans, policies or operations in adjacent areasare, as far as possible, sympathetic to thevalues and presentation of the WHA.

• Liaise with local, regional and State planningand management agencies and communityinterests to foster a co-operative andintegrated approach to the provision anddevelopment of recreation and tourismopportunities, facilities and services inadjacent areas.

• Encourage the establishment of appropriateaccommodation and commercial facilities insuitable locations in adjacent areas.

• Liaise with relevant agencies in the planning,upgrading and maintenance of walkingtracks in adjacent areas that provide accessto the WHA. (See also Walking and WalkingTracks, page 172)

• Encourage and provide guidance regardingcomplementary management of areas andactivities outside the WHA to protect theWHA’s natural and cultural values.

AREAS MANAGED BY THE SERVICE BUTNOT COVERED BY THIS PLAN• Ensure that management plans for reserves

adjacent to the WHA managed by theService are developed and implemented insympathy with the aims of WHAmanagement while taking into account theneeds of other land uses in these areas.

• Prepare management plans for:

- the Southwest Conservation Area southof Macquarie Harbour;

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- the Southwest Conservation Area in theMelaleuca–Cox Bight area;

- the Granite Tor Conservation Area;

- the Lake Beatrice Conservation Area;

- Mt Field National Park;

- Hastings Cave State Reserve and

- Mole Creek Karst National Park.

As an interim measure, the managementprescriptions below will guide Servicemanagement of the areas listed.

South of Macquarie HarbourThe following management prescriptions willapply to the Southwest Conservation Area southof Macquarie Harbour.

Conservation and Protection of Natural andCultural Values• Continue to monitor the status of the orange-

bellied parrot in the area and protect itshabitat in accordance with the Recovery Planand the protection of other natural andcultural values.

• Continue to investigate the spread ofPhytophthora cinnamomi from this region intothe WHA with particular reference to themovement of aircraft and prescribeappropriate precautions.

• Continue to undertake identification surveysfor Aboriginal and historic culturalresources, to identify the nature and scope ofthe resource and the condition of, andimpacts affecting, the resources (for example,survey for inland Aboriginal resources,survey for mining sites, survey for convictsites). Implement protection, conservationand presentation measures as appropriatefor the identified resource.

• Take appropriate steps (including educationand regulation, if required, of recreationalvehicle users of the Low Rocky Point Track)to limit damage to Aboriginal sites and othervalues in the area.

• Map marram grass infestations and makerecommendations on eradication andmanagement (infestations in this areathreaten the WHA to the south).

Fire Management• As far as practicable and appropriate, make

provision for the protection of the WHA

from the spread of fires initiated outside itswestern boundary.

Rehabilitation• Initiate erosion control and rehabilitation

measures as appropriate in consultation withMineral Resources Tasmania.

Access• Monitor recreational vehicle use in the area

and take appropriate management action.

Melaleuca – Cox Bight• Finalise and implement the draft Melaleuca

site plan.

Conservation and Protection of Natural andCultural Values• Survey the natural and cultural resources of

the area.

• Interpret local natural and cultural features.

• Liaise with commercial and private aircraftoperators to ensure that their operationscause minimal disturbance to orange-belliedparrots.

• Control feral cats and starlings whichpredate on orange-bellied parrots, orcompete with them for nest sites.

• Investigate the factors affecting cultural sitesand implement appropriate protectionmeasures.

Fire Management• Conduct fuel reduction and habitat

management burns in accordance with thefire management plan.

Rehabilitation• Encourage rehabilitation of exposed gravel

areas resulting from past mining activity.

Visitor and Park Management Facilities• Undertake minor upgrading and

rationalisation of camping areas at Cox Bightto minimise environmental degradation.

• Maintain the existing overnight walkers’huts at essentially their present spartanstandard in conjunction with the lessee andcontinuing voluntary assistance from groupssuch as the Launceston Walking Club. Ifappropriate, undertake minorimprovements.

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Mineral Exploration and Mining• Seek to ensure that the current consolidated

mining lease at Melaleuca is cancelled oncethe existing lessee ceases mining. [It is notedthat compensation may be payable underSection 94(4) of the Mineral ResourcesDevelopment Act 1995.]

Access• Allow the extension of the existing airstrip,

providing that it does not intrude to within30 metres of Moth or Melaleuca creeks andmaintains the same alignment as the presentairstrip. [This decision is based on safetygrounds to allow the safe operation ofaircraft that currently use the strip, not toallow faster or larger aircraft.]

Monitoring andEvaluation q KDO 1.7

• Monitor the extent to which plans for areasadjacent to the WHA take account of theWHA and propose management inaccordance with protection of the WHA’svalues.

• Monitor the extent to which developmentsor activities in areas adjacent to the WHAhave enhanced or detracted from theheritage values of the WHA and/or thepresentation of those values.

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206 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Glossary of Terms

The following definitions and explanatory notesaim to clarify the meaning of key words andphrases used in the plan.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

✓, q SymbolsUsed to identify major management (✓) andmajor monitoring (q) and evaluationprescriptions respectively. See Objectives and KeyDesired Outcomes — how they will be Achievedand Evaluated, page 31 for further explanation.

Aboriginal LandLand where title has been handed back to theAboriginal community under the Aboriginal LandsAct 1995. This includes three areas in the WHA,see table 1 page 14 and map 2 page 215.

BiodiversityThe variety of life forms: the different plants,animals and microorganisms, the genes theycontain and the ecosystems they form. It isusually considered at four levels: geneticdiversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversityand community diversity. (Australian NaturalHeritage Charter)

CommunityRefers to the public in general or in some cases toa particular group of people that have interests incommon, eg the local community, Aboriginalcommunity, the bushwalking community etc.

ConserveIn general, to keep in a sound or unimpairedstate, especially in the long term; to set aside fromuses that could cause damage or degradation.More specifically, to look after a place by all theprocesses and actions needed so as to retain itsnatural and cultural significance. This includessuch processes and actions as protection,maintenance, monitoring, restoration etc (Specificdefinition based on Australian Natural HeritageCharter and Burra Charter).

CulturalEverything that is socially learned and shared bymembers of a society; of or relating to thecultivation of the mind or manners especiallythrough artistic or intellectual activity; of or

pertaining to the sum total ways of living built upby a group of humans which is transmitted fromone generation to another.

Cultural LandscapeCultural Landscapes: these represent thecombined works of nature and man. They areillustrative of the evolution of human society andsettlement over time under the influence ofenvironmental, social, economic and culturalforces. They often reflect specific techniques ofsustainable land use, considering thecharacteristics and limits of the naturalenvironment they are established in, and aspecific spiritual relation to nature. OperationalGuidelines for the Implementation of the WorldHeritage Convention, UNESCO, Feb 1995.

Earth ProcessesThe interactions, changes and evolutionarydevelopment of geodiversity over time.(Australian Natural Heritage Charter)

Ecological ProcessesAll those processes that occur between organisms,and within and between populations andcommunities, including interactions with the non-living environment, that result in existingecosystems and bring about changes inecosystems over time. (Australian Natural HeritageCharter)

Established Practices (Traditional Practices)The term ‘established practices’ is usedthroughout this plan in relation to non-Aboriginaltraditional practices. This removes confusion withAboriginal traditional practices and is inaccordance with terminology used in other States.Established practices include a range of activitiesundertaken in the area prior to it becoming areserve. These may include, but are not limited to,hunting, horseriding, fishing (live bait fishing),hut and track construction and maintenance,grazing, taking dogs into the area, four wheeldrive use, patch burning and use of campfires.

Evolutionary ProcessesGenetically-based processes by which life formsare believed to change and develop overgenerations. (Australian Natural Heritage Charter)

Fuel StoveA fuel stove is a device for cooking that:

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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- does not, during normal operation, affect thesoil or vegetation surface it is used on (eg nocoals that can burn into peat soil or hotmaterial that may harm vegetation);

- does not use fuel from the local environment(eg may run on shellite, methylated spiritsand other fuels, but not using twigs, sticks orwood from the local environment) and

- does not leave any residue in the localenvironment.

Examples of fuel stoves include liquid fuel stovesmade by Trangia, MSR and Optimus and gas-fuelled stoves.

Fuel Stove Only Area (FSOA)A FSOA is an area where only fuel stoves may beused for cooking or warmth and where opencampfires are not allowed. The only exceptions tothis are:

- in emergencies where a fire needed forsurvival reasons and

- in designated fire sites (usually located inVisitor Services Zones or Sites with suppliedfireplaces).

GeodiversityThe range of earth features including geological,geomorphological, palaeontological, soilhydrological and atmospheric features, systemsand earth processes. (Australian Natural HeritageCharter)

Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s)The main results, products or end-points whichmanagement of the WHA is focused on achieving.See page 31.

NaturalExisting in, or formed by, nature; existing in awild condition; existing independently ofpeople’s activities or with minimal levels ofhuman interference. In Australia, it is recognisedthat Aboriginal practices dating back thousandsof years have shaped present-day plant andanimal communities. It is sometimes argued thatprehistoric indigenous people who lived asubsistence existence without the aid of moderntechnology formed a part of the ‘natural’ ecology.

Natural DiversityThe variety of life forms, natural features,landscapes, formations etc. Natural diversity

includes biodiversity and geodiversity.

Natural and Cultural HeritageNatural and cultural values which are consideredof sufficient natural or cultural significance toensure their conservation and transmission tofuture generations. The phrase extends themeaning of heritage beyond ‘world heritage’ toinclude other values of, for example, global,national or regional significance.

Natural significance means the importance ofecosystems, biological diversity and geodiversityfor their existence value, or for present or futuregenerations in terms of their scientific, social,aesthetic and life-support value. (AustralianNatural Heritage Charter)

Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic,scientific or social value for past, present or futuregenerations. (The Burra Charter)

Natural ProcessesEcological, evolutionary and earth processes.

Natural and Cultural ValuesThe phrase ‘natural and cultural values’ is usedthroughout this plan to refer to the full spectrumof natural and cultural attributes or resources, ie itextends meaning beyond ‘heritage’ to includeresources of a common nature and resources oflimited or local significance.

Overarching Management ObjectivesThe highest level of objectives of this plan; themain aims which guide management of theWHA; the ‘big picture’ of what management ofthe WHA is trying to achieve.

PresentTo introduce, show, exhibit, reveal quality to, orbring before the mind of a person, audience or thepublic.

ProtectIn general, to keep safe from damage ordegradation. More specifically, to take care of aplace by maintenance and by managing impactsto ensure that natural and cultural significance isretained. (Specific definition based on AustralianNatural Heritage Charter)

RehabilitateTo improve the condition of degraded values soas to restore their natural and cultural

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208 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999

significance. In relation to disturbed or degradedland: to restore to a former or proper condition orstate, for example through reshaping the landsurface, stabilising soil, and re-establishingvegetation.

RestoreIn general, to bring back or attempt to bring backto a former, original or normal state. Morespecifically:

In relation to natural values:

To return existing habitats to a known past stateor to an approximation of the natural conditionby repairing degradation, by removingintroduced species, or by reinstating species orelements of habitat or geodiversity that existedthere naturally at a previous time. (AustralianNatural Heritage Charter)

In relation to cultural values:

To return the existing fabric of a place to a knownearlier state by reassembling existing componentswithout the introduction of new material. (BurraCharter).

Wilderness(For more detail on this definition and furtherqualifications on its use, see Wilderness, page 91).

In general, an uncultivated, wild region in whichthe natural ecology is undisturbed.

More specifically, an area that is, or can berestored to be:

- of sufficient size to enable the long-termprotection of its natural systems andbiological diversity; and

- substantially undisturbed by colonial andmodern technological society; and

- remote at its core from points of mechanisedaccess and other evidence of colonial andmodern technological society. (Wilderness inAustralia: Robertson et al)

Wilderness Quality(for more detail on this definition and furtherqualifications on its use, see Wilderness, page 91)

Refers in general terms to the remote and naturalcharacteristics of an area. More specifically,wilderness quality refers to a measureddetermination which recognises a continuum ofwilderness quality from high to low, and which isbased on the characteristics of:

- remoteness from settlement,

- remoteness from access,

- apparent naturalness,

- biophysical naturalness.

World Heritage ValuesWorld Heritage values are natural and culturalheritage that is of outstanding universal valueand which enables an area to meet therequirements, under the guidelines, for listing as aWorld Heritage site.

Article 1 of the World Heritage Conventiondefines ‘cultural [world] heritage’ as:

- Monuments: architectural works, works ofmonumental sculpture and painting,elements or structures of an archaeologicalnature, inscriptions, cave dwellings andcombinations of features, which are ofoutstanding universal value from the pointof view of history, art or science;

- Groups of buildings: groups of separate orconnected buildings which, because of theirarchitecture, their homogeneity or their placein the landscape, are of outstandinguniversal value from the point of view ofhistory, art or science;

- Sites: works of man or the combined worksof nature and of man, and areas includingarchaeological sites which are of outstandinguniversal value for the historical, aesthetic,ethnological or anthropological points ofview.

Article 2 of the World Heritage Conventiondefines ‘natural [world] heritage’ as:

- Natural features consisting of physical andbiological formations or groups of suchformations, which are of outstandinguniversal value from the aesthetic orscientific point of view;

- Geological and physiographical formationsand precisely delineated areas whichconstitute the habitat of threatened species ofanimals and plants of outstanding universalvalue from the point of view of science orconservation;

- Natural sites or precisely delineated naturalareas of outstanding universal value fromthe point of view of science, conservation ornatural beauty.

Glossary of Terms

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209Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999

AAbbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Aboriginal

- community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96, 100-103- consultation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102- heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96- involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 100-103- land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 16, 206- management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100-103- values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Abseiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144Accommodation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131-133Adamsfield Conservation Area

- fossicking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147-148- horseriding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150- mineral exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185- Mineral Exploration Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61- tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Adjacent land (see also Neighbours)- policy guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203- Service managed areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203-205- use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17

Advisory committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 64- Interaction with partnership groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105- Satisfaction with WHA management . . . . . . . . . . . . 50-51

Aircraft- activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133-134- landings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134-135- use for management purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199-200- zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Amendments (to plan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44- Mt McCall track/Kia Ora hut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44- process for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84-89- aquatic/marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16- introduced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87-89

Antarctic Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165Apiary management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 184-185Aquaculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187Area

- of plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 17- of WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,15

Australian Maritime Safety Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

BBait fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146Bathurst Harbour - Port Davey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

- boating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138- diving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145- erosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137- Motorised Boating Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61- marine reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Beech Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 17Beekeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 184-185Benchmark areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Bernacchi Training Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165, 154Best practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 49Bicycle riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Bikes, road and mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Biodiversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-77, 83, 86Bird River track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168Boats, boating(see also Motorised Boating)

- anchorages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137-138- moorings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136-139- motorised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136-139

Boundary- coastal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16- map two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215- WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 16-17

Bushwalking (see also Walking) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172-175

CCabins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132Camping (see also Concessions and Guided Tours) . . . . 139-140Campfires (see also fuel stove only areas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109Canoeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141Caravans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140Cave(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79, 80

- tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181Caving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141-144Central Plateau

- erosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114-115, 116- fisheries management plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 147- grazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186-187- horseriding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148-151- hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151-152- huts and shacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152-154- Orienteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164- statutory powers in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195-196- vehicle tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166-169

Civil enforcement (of management plan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-45Climbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144Commercial

- concessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177-179- filming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182- fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187-188- guided tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179-181- huts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180-181- tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175-181

Community (see also public consultation and community participation)

- engagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 63-66- groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64- interest area(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 105- links with interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128- participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98- partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Concessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177-179Conflict resolution process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Conservation

- status of WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-16Conservation Area

- definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15- statutory powers in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195-196

Conserving values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75-76Consultation,

- Aboriginal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101-102- community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105- general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48-49- for review of plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20- public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-45, 48-49

Convention, World Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-18, 28Cradle Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127, 160, 171Crafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147-148Craftwood, huon pine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188-189Criteria for World Heritage listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Cultural

- criteria for World Heritage listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23- heritage management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95-100- landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89-91, 98- practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102- values of the WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

DDefence force exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165-166Definitions

- abbreviations and general terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2- glossary of technical terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206- reserve types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-16

Department of- Primary Industry and Fisheries - Marine Resources Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195- Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Transport Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193-194, 195-196

INDEX

Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Index

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210 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999

Development, assessment of proposals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-71Disabled Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130Diversity,

- biological . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-78, 83, 86- geological . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-78, 78-81- natural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-78

Diving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145Dogs

- companion dogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106- hunting dogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

EEducation

- programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127- value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25- visitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125-128- walker education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Economic values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-25Effluent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112-113Environmental

- impact assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69, 71- management plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-71- quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110-114

Erosion- Bathurst Harbour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137, 138- Central Plateau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114-115, 116- Gordon River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137, 139- Lake St Clair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-81- rehabilitation of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114-116

Established practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103-106Evaluation

- programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31-41- of WHA management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49-51, 53

Events, Special . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163-164Exercises, police and RAAF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165-166

FFacilities, (see also Infrastructure, and Visitor Services Sites andZones)

- development of tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175-177- new . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177- visitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169-172

Farm Cove- hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Fauna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84-89Film, filming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182Fire

- management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106-110- research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 109-110- suppression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107- use in huts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Fishing- commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187-188- Inland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145-147

Floatplanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133-135Four Wheel Drive (see Vehicles (4wd)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166-169Forest Lag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180, 181Forest Reserve(s)

- definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16- management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20- statutory powers in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

Forestry Tasmania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195, 196Fossicking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147-148Freehold land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 16, 196Fuel stove only areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-20, 45-46

GGame reserve, definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Geoconservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78-81Geodiversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76, 77, 78-81Geographic Information Systems (GIS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 75Gordon River

- boating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137, 139Glossary of technical terms(see also Definitions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206Grazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186-187

Guided tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179-181

HHartz ‘hole’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 17HEC (see Hydro Electric Corporation)Helicopters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133-135, 200Historic

- heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97- site, definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Hobbies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147-148Honey production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184-185Horse riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148-151Hunting

- areas and access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61- areas and access (map 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217- Central Plateau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152- dogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152- Farm Cove and Braddon River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151- general provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151-152

Huon pine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 147-148- driftwood salvage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188-189

Huts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152-154- commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180-181

Hydro-Electric Corporation- administered areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 16- administered areas (map 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215- Lake St Clair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-81- statutory powers in conservation areas . . . . . . . . . . . 195- statutory powers in state reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . 192-193

IIdentifying values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74, 76Impact(s),

- assessment of new proposals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-72- minimising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120, 121- visual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90-91

Implementation (of management plan)see also Works Program

- general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45-46- key focus areas for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51-54- priorities for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45, 46- responsibility for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Information, visitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125-128Infrastructure (see also Statutory Powers)

- for guided tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179-181- visitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

Inland Fisheries Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 145-147,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194, 196

International Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Internet site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 125, 127Interpretation (see also Concessions and Guided Tours) . 125-129Interpretive programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126-127Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Issues, management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

JJane River track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167Jetties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136, 138Julian Lake track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166-167, 169

KKarst management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79-80, 141-144Key Desired Outcomes (KDO’s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31-41

definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Key Focus Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51-54

LLake(s)

- Floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16- Pedder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115, 136, 138- St Clair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-81, 136-138

Land- Aboriginal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 14, 16, map 2: page 215- freehold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 14, 16, map 2: page 215- status of adjacent areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202-203

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Land (cont.)- tenure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-16- use adjacent to WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17, 202-205

Landscape(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89-91- cultural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89-91

Law enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199Leases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178Licences

- apiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184- commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Lees Paddocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Legislation (see also International Agreements and Law Enforcement)

- Commonwealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18- National and State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28, 199

Low Rocky Point track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167, 168, 204

MMaatsuyker Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 57Management, (see also Implementation)

- Aboriginal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100-103- bases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198- Commonwealth–State arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-20- community partnerships for . . . . . . . . . . . 63-66, 104, 105- ecologically sustainable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120- framework for WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-41- key focus areas of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51-54- key prescriptions of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31-41- objectives for WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30- obligations of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-18- plan (see Plan)- principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-30- review of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-45, 46, 48- use of natural materials for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

Maps- location of WHA (map 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13- Tenure (map 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215- Zoning (map 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216- Zoning - northern section (map 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217- Visitor Facilities and Recreation (map 5) . . . . . . . . . . 218

Mapping, wilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54, 94Marine

- and Safety Authority of Tasmania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195- animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85- park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74, 188

Media (see also Filming) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127-128Melaleuca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204-205Memorials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156-157Mineral

- exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185-186- exploration area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 185-186Monitoring

- and evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50-51, 53- programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31-41, 50-51

Motorised Boating- Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60-61- limits on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Mountain bikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135-136Mt McCall track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 166-168Municipalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

NNational park, definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Natural

- criteria for World Heritage listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22- processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-78- values of the WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Navarre Plains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 17Neighbours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65-66, 202-203New proposals assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-72Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112, 113, 114Nomenclature Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

OObjectives, overarching management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Orienteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164Overlay areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 60-63

Overland Track- Recreation Zone plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59- Water quality monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110-113

PPatons Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167, 168-169Permits

- access to Pedra Branca and Mewstone rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138- bicycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136- caving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141-144- companion dogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106- feral animal control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89- for huon pine salvage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188, 189- fossicking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148- horse riding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149, 150- hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152- orienteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164- recreational vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168-169- scientific research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118- special events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163- walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Phytophthora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82, 84Picnicking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155-156Pillans Lake track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167, 169Pine Lake dieback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83,84Plan(s)

- area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 14, 15, 17, map 2 - 215- amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46-48- environmental management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-71- implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 44-49- period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 46, 48- review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 46-48- site (see Site Plans)

Planning process- for changes to plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46- 48- for review of ‘92 WHA plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Plant(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82-84- dieback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82, 83, 84- disease management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Plaques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156Pollution

- major polluting event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113- noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111, 113- water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111, 112, 113

Port Davey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74- bank erosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137- marine reserve proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Presentation(see also Concessions and Guided Tours) . . . . . . . . . . 52, 120-182

- general management prescriptions . . . . . . . . . . . 120-121- of cultural heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Primary production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183-189Private landholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Priorities (for plan implementation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Proposals, new . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-72Protected area, definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Protecting values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75, 76Public

- consultation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 48-49- redress and civil enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45- safety and risk management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157-158

Publicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127Pump House Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66, 133

QQuarantine area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61, 84, 172

RRafting (see also Concessions andGuided Tours) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141Raglan Range track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167Recherche Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205Recreation

- opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129-131- and Tourism Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 60, 120,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131, 133, 140,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170, 171, 176-177,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180-181

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Recreational- driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166-169- values of the WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Reefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Reference areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Rehabilitation (see also Restoring values) . . . . . . . . . . . . 114-116Research, scientific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 116-118

- approval for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 117-118- honey bees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

Reserve types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 16Resource extraction values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Restoring values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75-76, 114-116Review

- process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46-48- process for ‘92 WHA plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Risk management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157-158Roads (see also Vehicle tracks) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158-161Rogaining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

SSaw Back Range track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167, 168Scenic flights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133-135Scientific

- area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62- approval for research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 118- permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117, 118- research and monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116-118- research values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Scuba diving (see Diving)Search and rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158Sewerage (see Effluent)Shacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152-154Sightseeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158-161Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161-162Site plans

- accommodation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132- camping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140- Cockle Creek–Recherche Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203, 205- Maatsuyker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57- Melaleuca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203, 204- picnicking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155-156- Pump House Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65, 132- visitor facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171-172

Sites of special significance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Skiing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162-163Special events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163-164Sponsorship, commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156Standing camps, temporary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180, 181State Reserve(s)

- definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12- statutory powers in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192-195

Statutory Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192-196St Clair Lagoon Conservation Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Staffing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198-199Surfing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164-165Surveyor-General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

TTemporary Standing camps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180-181Tenure, land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-16Tours, guided . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179-181Tourism

- assessment of development proposals . . . . . . . . . . . 66-72- commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175-181- developments adjacent to WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17, 177- links with interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128- strategy (see Recreation and Tourism Strategy)- values of the WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-25

Tracks- publication of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58-59,174- walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172-175- vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166-169

Traditional practices (see Established Practices)Training exercises (police and RAAF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165-166Trout fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145-147

VVandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158Values

- Aboriginal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101- conserving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75, 76- cultural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-24, 95-100- identification of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74, 76- landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90- natural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23- of the WHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-25- protecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75, 76- recreational . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24, 129-131- restoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75, 76- tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-25

Vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82-84Vehicle(s) (see also Roads)

- 4WD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166-169- oversnow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154-155- tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166-169

Visitor(s)- accommodation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131-133- activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129-181- advice for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157-158- education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127- facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169-172- health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-114- information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125-129, 157- interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125-129, 157- numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122-123- profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121-122- quality of experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123- research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121-125- safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157-158- surveys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Visitor Services Sites and Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59-60, 171-172Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64-65

WWater

- catchment management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25- quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111, 112, 113

Walking (see also Concessions andGuided Tours) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172-175- party sizes for commercial tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180- Track Management Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 172-175- tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172-175

Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 127Weeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Western Lakes (Central Plateau) (see also CentralPlateau Conservation Area)

- tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166, 167, 169WHA (see also World Heritage Area)

- definition of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 17Wilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91-95

- definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91-92- mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54, 94- measurement of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92-93- recreational experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93, 94- zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57-58

Works program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45-46World Heritage

- convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 28- criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22- list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22- obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18- values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-25, 51-52

World Heritage Area- area . . . . . . . 13, 14, 17 (also map 1, p 13 & map 2, p 215)- boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17- Consultative Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19- cultural values of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-24- land tenure of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-17- listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18- location (map 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13- management arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19- Ministerial Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19- natural values of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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213Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999 Index

World Heritage Area (cont) …- nomination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18- presentation of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 119-182- recreational values of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24- regional context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-25- Standing Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 127

ZZones

- Wilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57-58- Self-Reliant Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58-59- Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59- Visitor Services Zone/Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59-60- overlay areas to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60-63

Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54-63

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214 Tasmanian Wilderness WHA Management Plan, 1999

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RECHERCHE BAYPRION BAY

COXBIGHT

Stephens Bay

PORT DAVEY

NYE BAY

Endeavour Bay

VarnaBay

BirthdayBay

FarmCove

BirchsInlet

KellyBasin

MACQUARIE

Trial Harbour

HARBOUR

SPEROBAY

HIBBSBAY

ELLIOTTBAY

BATHURSTHARBOUR

PayneBayJames

KellyBasin

Louisa Bay

South CapeBay

Surprise Bay

New

HarbourWilson

Bight

Window Pane Bay

Wreck Bay

Mulcahy Bay

Pine Cove

PORTESPERANCE

StandBa

SOUTHPORT

PORT

CYGN

ET

HUON RIVER

Pict

onRi

ver

River

River

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Huon

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Franklin

River

Deni

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Flor

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eRi

ver

D'

EN

TR

Ray

Watts

River

River

Louisa

River

River

River

RiverSpring

River

Old

Huon

River

River

Plenty

River

River

River

Tyenna

Styx

LittleDenison

RiverRiver

River

River

River

River

Hardwood

Giblin

Mulcahy

Lewis

River

Rive

r

River

Rive

r

Rive

r

RiverSprent R

Sorell

SpenceRiver

River

Andrew

RiverHibbs

Rive

r

Modder

Rive

r

River

Garfield

KingRiver

River

River

River

Badge

r River

Tasman R

Duck

Paradise

RIVER

Violet

River

r

Creek

Cr

Newdegate

Ck

Ck

Rt

Ck

Rive

r

Rive

r

Dund

as

Stan

ley

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r

Wils

on

Rive

r

Rive

r

Rive

r

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hwel

l

Vale

Penc

il

PineCk

Iris

Hatfield

Bulgobac R

R

River

Rive

r

Rive

r

Dove

Campbell

Hansons

River

River

River

Wallace River

River

Fish River

Mer

sey

James

Chalmers

CkCreek

River

River

Nelson R

R

South

Sophia

George

Murchison

River

Patons Clarence R

Serpentine Ck

Navare R

River

R

River

Loddon

AdelaideRiver

Counsel

Beech

Cree

k

River

River

Derwent

River

River

Rive

r

River

Jane

Jane

Smith

OlgaRiver Albert

River

River

Erebus

Algonk

ianRt

Rt

Alma

Balaclava

Collingwood

Eldon

Eldon

Creek

Fury

River

Rive

r

Riv

Med

way

River

Que R

Que R

Cold

stre

am

Heaz

lew

ood

Ram

say

Farrell

RtRiver

River

Rocky River

Yellow Cr

Henty

LittlePiney

Stringer

Cr

Heemskirk

R

Henty

Yolande

Henty River

Tully

Brad

don

Bird

R

Spero

Hales

Wan

dere

r

Mainwaring

Huds

on

Urquhart R

Pine Creek

De Witt

River

Frankland

Dodds

Anne

North

Collins

River

Rive

r

River

Crossing

Crossing

Rive

r

River

Old

New

Salisbury R

PictonRiver

River

Esperance

Arve

R

Roberts

Cracroft

South

Cape

Catamaran

Rt

R

River

River

RiverLune

RiverSolly

D'Entrecasteaux

RIVER

RIVE

RGORDON

FRAN

KLIN

Max

wel

l

Gell

Poka

na

River

Gordon

Black

River

Little Pine

Pine

Tumbledown

Creek

Lake

LAKE

RIVE

R

Breton

Rt

River

River

River

River

Rive

r

Nive

Niv

e

Little R

Ouse

Shann

on

River

Rive

r

Brushy

Eden Liffe

y

Rive

r

Ma

Lobs

ter

Meander

Rive

r

Rt

Rt

Mersey

MinnowR

River

Meander River

Rt

Clyde

BobsRt

Gordon

River

RiverDee

Repulse R

Broa

d

River

River

River

Clyd

e

Ouse

Rive

r

Rive

r

Princes

sR

Moonpeelyata

Canal

Produced byDept. Primary Industries, Water & Environment

1970/99

LAND TENURE

Forest Reserve (FR) and Conservation Area

Hydro Electric Corporation (HEC) and Conservation Area

Private

Aboriginal Land (AL)

Conservation Area (CA)

Protected Area & Conservation Area (PA &CA)

National Park (NP) / State Reserve (SR) / Historic Site (HS) Game Reserve (GR) / Nature Reserve (NR) Reserve boundary (white line)

MAP 2 LAND TENURE WITHIN WORLD HERITAGE AREA

Includes areas approved by Parliament to become reservesbut not yet declared (January 1999).See Tenure Changes and Additions (page 17) and Table 2 (page 15).

0 20 40km

FRANKLIN-GORDONWILD RIVERS

NATIONAL PARK

Macquarie Harbour HS

Farm Cove GR

Kuti KinaCave AL

BallawinneCave AL

AdamsfieldCA

Maatsuyker I CA

Wargata Mina AL

Marble Hill CA

CRADLE MOUNTAIN-LAKE ST CLAIR

NATIONAL PARK

WALLS OFJERUSALEM

NATIONAL PARK

CENTRAL PLATEAUCONSERVATION AREA (CPCA)

&PROTECTED AREA (CPPA)

Drys Bluff FRMeander FR

CPCA

CPCA

CPCA

CPCA

Mole CreekKarst NP

DevilsGullet SR

St Clair Lagoon CA

Liffey FR

Liffey FallsSR

SOUTHWESTNATIONAL PARK HARTZ MOUNTAINS

NATIONAL PARK

Port Davey Track

South Coa st Track

South Coast Track

Port

Dav

eyTrac

k

Fr enchmans Cap Trac

k

Overland

T rack

Overland

T rack

Mt King William II

Mt King William III

National Highway

Primary (A route)

Secondary (B route)

Minor (C route)

Vehicular Track

Foot Track

sealed unsealed

B19

C319

Mt King William I

World Heritage Area boundary (WHA)

215Tasm

anian Wilderness W

HA

Managem

ent Plan, 1999

Page 217: Tasmanian Wilderness Tasmanian World MANAGEMENT PLAN … · Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999 7 desired outcomes is presented, along with the main measures

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Westbury

New Norfolk

Hamilton

Bothwell

Deloraine

Queenstown

Zeehan

Franklin

Huonville

Rosebery

Hadspen

Strahan

LAUNCESTON

Dover

CygnGeeveston

Ranelagh

Westerway

Maydena

Cres

Bracknell

Carrick

MoleCreek

Tullah

Waratah

Cradle Valley

Pencil Pine

Weegena Elizabeth Town

Exton

RenisonBell

Gormanston

Regatta Pt

Chudleigh

Meander

Bishopsbourne

Whitemore

Hagley

Liffey

Poatina

Miena

MoinaGowrie Park

Lymington

Cradoc

Southport

G

GlenHuon

Port Huon

Crabtree

Lune RiverIda Bay

Catamaran

Lucaston

RosegarlandMacquarie Plains

Gretna

Lachlan

Ouse

Tarraleah

Derwent BridgeBronte Park

Wayatinah

Ellendale

National Park

Plenty

Bushy Park

Strathgordon

SavageRiver

Liena

Moltema

Cluan

Liawenee

ReynoldsNeck

Breona

Guildford

Toiberry

BlackwoodCreek

Glenore

Cramps

Tods

Flintstone

Waddamana

D

Glenora

Uxbridge

Karanja

Woodstock

Judbury

Lonnavale

Strathblane

Elders

Lawrenny

Osterley

Strickland

Hollow Tree

MagraHayes

Moogara

Fentonbury

Tyenna

Fitzgerald

Boye

Mt Lloyd

QuambyBrook

ClaudeRoadStaverton

Paradise

Dunorlan

Caveside

WesternCreek

Mayberry

LorinnaRed Hills

Needles

Montana

Beulah

LowerBeulah

GoldenValley

Lemana

Selbourne

Westwood

Weetah

ReedyMarsh

Williamsford

Trial Harbour

GranvilleHarbour

Corinna

South Franklin

Castle ForbesBay

Cairns Bay

WattleGrove

SurgesBay

Waterloo

Glendevie

SurveyorsBay

Raminea

Luina

Hideaway Bay

Cockle Creek

Teds Beach

Adamsfield

DunrobbinBridge

PolicePoint

PetchysBay

GlaziersBay

The Steppes

Wilburville

Lynchford

Melaleuca

Bernacchi

SassafrasCreek

Erriba

Osmaston

TalbotsLagoon

LakeLea LAKE

CETHANA

LakeGairdner

LakeParangana

LAKEROWALLAN

L MackenzieLakeBalmoral

L Lucy Long

L Ada

L Nameless

JulianLakes

PillansLake

LAKEAUGUSTA

DoveLake

LakeMcRae

LakeWill

LLouisa

L Adelaide

L Ball

LakeMeston

Junction LLing Roth LsOrion

Lakes

L Payanna

LakeSappho

LAKE ST CLAIR

L Undine

Guelph Basin

DeeLagoon

BRADYS LAKE

L Binney

TungatinahLagoon

WayatinahLagoon

LakeCatagunya

LakeBelton

LAKE

GORDON

LAKE PEDDER

LakeJudd

PromontoryLake

Lake Cracroft

Lake GeevesL Sydney

Oval Lake

NewRiver

Lagoon

SouthportLagoon

Pine Lake

Lake Picton

LakeRiveaux

HartzLake

LakeJupiter

Lake Fenton

LakeDobson

ClunyLagoon

LakeRepulse

MeadowbankLake

L Daphne

L Curly

L Richmond

L Rufus

L George

L Vera

LakeMargaret

LakeSpicer

LakeRolleston

L Julia

CumberlandLake

L WestwoodL Selina L Plimsoll

LakeBeatrice

BronteLagoon

MossyMarsh

Pond

Shadow Lake

L Petrarch

Travellers Rest Lake

Clarence Lagoon

L Ina

L Lenone

L Norman

L Malbena

L Naomi

L Rotuli L Flora

Lake Fergus

Little PineLagoon

DoubleLagoon

ShannonLagoon

PenstockLagoon

LAKE

ECHO

GREAT

LAKE

ARTHURS LAKE

Gunns Lake

Little Lake

WOODS LAKE

Lagoonof Islands

LakeBigJim

PineTierLagoon

Laughing Jack LagoonLAKE KIN

G WILLIAM

LAKE

LAKE PIEMAN

BURB

URY

LakeSamuel

L Olive

LakeMyrtle

Three Arm Lake

LakeFanny

L Bill

ChaliceLake

CloisterLagoon

L Ayr

Lake

Mackintosh

Lake

Murchison

Mt La Perouse

PindarsPeak

IRONBOUND RANGE

ADAMSONSPEAK

Mt Norfolk

Mt Vero

Mt Pearce

Drys Bluff

Mother LordsPlains

WesternBluff

BorradailePlains

QuambyBluff

ProjectionBluffIronstoneMtn

FisherBluff

Deception Pt

CLUANTIERS

Mt Cattley

MiddlesexPlains

BLACK BLUFF

GOG RANGE

MT ROLAND

Mt Claude

EmuPlains

Mt Charter

Mt Ramsay

Mt Meredith

BlackguardsHill

Mt Farrell

Mt Heemskirk

Mt Agnew

Mt Zeehan

HentyDunes

PROFESSORRANGE

Mt Lyell

FRENCHMANS CAP

Mt Owen

Mt Tyndall

Mt Sedgewick

Eldon Peak

DU C

ANE

RAN

GE

TRAVELLER

GREAT PINE TIER

CHEY

NE

RAN

GE

ADAM RANGE

WENTWORTH HILLS

RAGLAN RANGE

ENGINEER RANGE

ELLIOT RANGE

CRACROFT HILLS

SURVEYOR RA

DENISON

RANGE

GORDON RAN

GE

FRANKLAND

PROPSTING

D 'AGUILAR RANGE

CHAR

LES

RAN

GE

THE RAZORBACK S PICTON RANGE

RAY

RAN

GE

RUGB

Y

RAN

GE

ERSK

INE

R

ANGE

MELALEUCA RAN

GE

NEW

HARBOUR

RANGE

DE WITT RANGE

RAY RANGE

RED

POI

NT

HIL

LS

SOUTH WEST CAPE RAN

GE

SPIRO RANGE

RowittaPlains

Arthur Plains

A R T H U R

RANGE

RANGE

WHITE

MONOLITHRANGE

LAW

SON

RAN

GE

FOLDED RANGE

R A N G E

THE

CORONETSSENTINEL RANGE

Vale of Rasselas

LODDON RANGE

WILLIAM

KING

RANGE

DECE

PTIO

N

R

ANGE

HAM

ILTO

N

RAN

GE

JUNC

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RA

SAWBACK RA

TWELVETREES RA

KING

NORWAY

RANGE

PRIN

CE

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W

ALES

RANG

E

PRIN

CESS

R

ANGE

NICHOLLS RAN

GE

MT OLYMPUS

MT OSSA

Mt Jerusalem

Blue Peaks

Forty Lakes

G R E A T

W E S T E R N

T I E R S

Clumner BluffWild Dog

Tier

SAN

DBAN

KSTI

ER

Mt PelionWest

Granite TorHigh Tor

VictoriaPeak

February

Plains

VictoriaPass

Nelson Valley

Mt Sorell

Mt Rufus

MtArrowsmith

Mt RonaldCross

GoodwinsPeak

MT FIELD WEST

Mt Mueller

FrodshamsPass

WesternPlains

WES

TCO

AST

RAN

GEW

EST

COAS

TRA

NGE

Mt Darwin

MTMURCHISON

CRADLE MTN

Mt Read

Mt Romulus

Mt Remus

Devils

Ravine

Mt Livingstone

a Hill

MEREDITH RAN

GE

Mt Bischoff

Mt Cleveland

Mt Donaldson

BILLY RANGE

Mt Picton

MT WEDGE

Mt Sprent

TheStarfish

IbsensPk

PRECIPITOUSBLUFF

Mt VictoriaCross

MT BOBS

WESTPORTAL

HARTZ PK

HARTZ MTNS

Bare Hill

STH CAPE RANGE

Burns Pk

MtBlack

TableHd

Mt Jukes

EldonBluff

Mt FIincham

Mt McCall

Mt Humboldt

Mt Alma

Mt Lee

Mt Lewis

Mt Osmund

Mt Bowes

Tim Shea

TIGE

RRA

NGE

Mt Blackwood

Mt Spode

Black T

Mt Reid

Clear Hill

Mt Bethune

Youngs S L

MiseryPlateau

Mt Solitary

ScottsPkMt Giblin

McPartlanPass

Rookery

Plain

MT ANNE

MT ORION

Mt Frederick

MT WELD

SNOW

Y RANGE

SCOT

TS

DIV

IDE

Mt ElizaLots Wife

Mt Styx

GALLAGHERPLATEAU

Mt Hesperus

Piners Pk

MooresValley

Mt Pollux

FEDERATION PEAK

Mt LouisaMt Counsel

Mt Norold

Bobs

Kno

bs

LOSTWORLD

PLATEAU

DaveyGorge

White HorsePlains

Mt Hean

Crossing

Plains

DOUBLE PK

RippleMtn

CracroftGorge

Mt Melaleuca

Mt Karamu

Mt Rugby

Wylds Craig

Gre

Nicholas SL

Mt Penny WestBarren Tier

Bradys LORatsCastle

W

AlmaPass

RANGE

THE

PLEI

ADES

C Sorell MacquarieHds

Pt St Vincent

Hilliard Head

South WestCape

Cox Bluff

Sloop Pt

Sophia Pt

Liberty Pt

Rum Pt

Gould Pt

Oce

anBe

ach

Gorge Pt

Pt Hibbs

High RockyPoint

Low RockyPt

Elliot Pt

Brier Holme Hd

Svenor Pt

North Hd

DaveyHd

Telopea PtRed Pt

Settlement Pt

Pt Cecil

PtVivian

Shoemaker Pt

Whale Hd

Fishers Pt

Eliza Pt

Esperan

South CapeSouth East Cape

HavelockBluff

Hopwood Pt

Pump House Pt

CynthiaBay

De Witt I

Maatsuyker I

MAATSUYKERGROUP

SloopRocks

Walker I

Louisa I

Ile du Golfe

Cou

P

Southport I

Egg

Is

Flat Witch I

Breaksea I

Mutton Bird I

Brazendale I

Reynolds I

PhilipsI

Sarah I

HastingsCaves

1327

1338

696

1120

1109

1255

1157

1146956

1425

1439

1339

952

1146

771

800

595

747

1058

1120

1160

1224

1226

635

1153

1188

508

77

1144

734

793

368

1443

1147

1449

1439

981

1617

1353

12311339

1545

14431297

1226

856

1001

781

1420

1275

1359

295

846

1168

MA

P 3

RECHERCHE BAYPRION BAY

COXBIGHT

Stephens Bay

PORT DAVEY

NYE BAY

Endeavour Bay

VarnaBay

BirthdayBay

FarmCove

BirchsInlet

KellyBasin

MACQUARIE

Trial Harbour

HARBOUR

SPEROBAY

HIBBSBAY

ELLIOTTBAY

BATHURSTHARBOUR

PayneBayJames

KellyBasin

Louisa Bay

South CapeBay

Surprise Bay

New

HarbourWilson

Bight

Window Pane Bay

Wreck Bay

Mulcahy Bay

Pine Cove

PORTESPERANCE

StandaBa

SOUTHPORT

PORT

CYGN

ET

HUON RIVER

Pict

onRi

ver

River

River

Weld

RIVER

DERWENT

Huon

Rive

r

Rive

rGi

blin

Dave

y

WandererRiver

Whyte

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r

Rive

r

Rive

r

Sava

ge

Dona

ldso

n

Rive

rFo

rth

Franklin

River

Deni

son

River

Flor

entin

eRi

ver

D'

EN

TR

Ray

Watts

River

River

Louisa

River

River

River

RiverSpring

River

Old

Huon

River

River

Plenty

River

River

River

Tyenna

Styx

LittleDenison

RiverRiver

River

River

River

River

Hardwood

Giblin

Mulcahy

Lewis

River

Rive

r

River

Rive

r

Rive

r

RiverSprent R

Sorell

SpenceRiver

River

Andrew

RiverHibbs

Rive

r

Modder

Rive

r

River

Garfield

KingRiver

River

River

River

Badge

r River

Tasman R

Duck

Paradise

RIVER

olet

iver

er

Creek

r

Newdegate

Ck

Ck

Rt

Ck

Rive

r

Rive

r

Dund

as

Stan

ley

Rive

r

Wils

on

Rive

r

Rive

r

Rive

r

Sout

hwel

l

Vale

Penc

il

PineCk

Iris

Hatfield

Bulgobac R

R

River

Rive

r

Rive

r

Dove

Campbell

Hansons

River

River

River

Wallace River

River

Fish River

Mer

sey

James

Chalmers

CkCreek

River

River

Nelson R

R

South

Sophia

George

Murchison

River

Patons Clarence R

Serpentine Ck

Navare R

River

R

River

Loddon

AdelaideRiver

Counsel

Beech

Cree

k

River

River

Derwent

River

River

Rive

r

River

Jane

Jane

Smith

OlgaRiver Albert

River

River

Erebus

Algonk

ianRt

Rt

Alma

Balaclava

Collingwood

Eldon

Eldon

Creek

Fury

River

Rive

r

Riv

Med

way

River

Que R

Que R

Cold

stre

am

Heaz

lew

ood

Ram

say

Farrell

RtRiver

River

Rocky River

Yellow Cr

Henty

LittlePiney

Stringer

Cr

Heemskirk

R

Henty

Yolande

Henty River

Tully

Brad

don

Bird

R

Spero

Hales

Wan

dere

r

Mainwaring

Huds

on

Urquhart R

Pine Creek

De Witt

River

Frankland

Dodds

Anne

North Collins

River

Rive

r

River

Crossing

Crossing

Rive

r

River

Old

New

Salisbury R

PictonRiver

River

Esperance

Arve

R

Roberts

Cracroft

South

Cape

Catamaran

Rt

R

River

River

RiverLune

RiverSolly

D'Entrecasteaux

RIVER

RIVE

R

GORDON

FRAN

KLIN

Max

wel

l

Gell

Poka

na

River

Gordon

Black

River

Little Pine

Pine

Tumbledown

Creek

Lake

LAKE

RIVE

R

Breton

Rt

River

River

River

River

Rive

r

Nive

Niv

e

Little R

Ouse

Shann

on

River

Rive

r

Brushy

Eden Liffe

y

Rive

r

MacLobs

ter

Meander

Rive

r

Rt

Rt

Mersey

MinnowR

River

Meander River

Rt

Clyde

BobsRt

Gordon

River

RiverDee

Repulse R

Broa

d

River

River

River

Clyd

e

Ouse

Rive

r

Rive

r

Princes

sR

Moonpeelyata

Canal

Produced byDept. Primary Industries, Water & Environment

1970/99

ZONES

Visitor Services Zone

Visitor Services Site

Recreation Zone

Self-Reliant Recreation Zone

Wilderness Zone

UNZONED

Aboriginal Land

Private Land within WHA

OVERLAY AREAS

Hunting Area

Hunting Access Area

Quarantine Area (no access)

Mineral Exploration Area

Motorised Boating Area

Remote Area Management Site

OUTSIDE WHA

Visitor Services Centre

Visitor Services Site World HeritageArea boundary

MAP 3 WORLD HERITAGE AREA ZONING

For greater detail of zone boundaries refer to more detailed maps held by the Parks and Wildlife Service.

(Located at Maatsuyker Island)

0

20

40km

Zoning includes areas approved by Parliament to become reserves but not

yet declared (January 1999).See Tenure Changes and Additions

(page 17) and Table 2 (page 15).

Port Davey Track

South Coa st Track

South Coast Track

Port

Dav

eyTrac

k

Fr enchmans Cap Trac

k

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T rack

Overland

T rack

Mt King William II

Mt King William III

National Highway

Primary (A route)

Secondary (B route)

Minor (C route)

Vehicular Track

Foot Track

sealed unsealed

B19

C319

Mt King William I

HuntingAccessAreas

216Tasm

anian Wilderness W

HA

Managem

ent Plan, 1999

Page 218: Tasmanian Wilderness Tasmanian World MANAGEMENT PLAN … · Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999 7 desired outcomes is presented, along with the main measures

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Gormanston

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Meander

Bishopsbourne

Whitemore

Hagley

Liffey

Poatina

Miena

MoinaGowrie Park

Derwent BridgeBronte Park

Liena

Moltema

Cluan

Liawenee

ReynoldsNeck

Breona

Guildford

Toiberry

BlackwoodCreek

Glenore

Cramps

Tods

Flintstone

Waddamana

QuambyBrook

ClaudeRoadStaverton

Paradise

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Caveside

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LakeGairdner

LakeParangana

LAKEROWALLAN

L MackenzieLakeBalmoral

L Lucy Long

L Ada

L Nameless

JulianLakes

PillansLake

LAKEAUGUSTA

DoveLake

LakeMcRae

LakeWill

LLouisa

L Adelaide

L Ball

LakeMeston

Junction LLing Roth LsOrion

Lakes

L Payanna

LakeSappho

LAKE ST CLAIR

L Undine

DeeL

BRADYS LAKE

L George

LakeMargaret

LakeSpicer

LakeRolleston

woodL Selina L Plimsoll

LakeBeatrice

BronteLagoon

Shadow Lake

L Petrarch

Travellers Rest Lake

Clarence Lagoon

L Ina

L Lenone

L Norman

L Malbena

L Naomi

L Rotuli L Flora

Lake Fergus

Little PineLagoon

DoubleLagoon

ShannonLagoon

PenstockLagoon

LAKE

ECHO

GREAT

LAKE

ARTHURS LAKE

Gunns Lake

Little Lake

WOODS LAKE

Lagoonof Islands

LakeBigJim

PineTierLagoon

Laughing Jack LagoonLAKE KIN

G WILL

LAKE

BU

RBUR

Y

LakeSamuel

L Olive

LakeMyrtle

Three Arm Lake

LakeFanny

L Bill

ChaliceLake

CloisterLagoon

L Ayr

Lake

Mackintosh

Lake

Murchison

Mt Pearce

Drys Bluff

Mother LordsPlains

WesternBluff

BorradailePlains

QuambyBluff

ProjectionBluffIronstoneMtn

FisherBluff

Deception Pt

CLUANTIERS

Mt Cattley

MiddlesexPlains

BLACK BLUFF

GOG RANGE

MT ROLAND

Mt Claude

EmuPlains

Mt Charter

Mt Farrell

Mt Lyell

Mt Owen

t Tyndall

Mt Sedgewick

Eldon Peak

DU C

ANE

RAN

GE

TRAVELLER

GREAT PINE TIER

CHEY

NE

RAN

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RAGLAN RANGE

LOD

MT OLYMPUS

MT OSSA

Mt Jerusalem

Blue Peaks

Forty Lakes

G R E A T

W E S T E R N

T I E R S

Clumner BluffWild Dog

Tier

SAN

DBAN

KSTI

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Mt PelionWest

Granite TorHigh Tor

VictoriaPeak

February

Plains

VictoriaPass

Nelson ValleyMt Rufus

MtArrowsmith

Mt King William I

Mt Ronald

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TRA

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WES

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GE

MTMURCHISON

CRADLE MTNMt Romulus

Mt Remus

Devils

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k

t Jukes

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Mt FIincham

Mt Alma

Mt Blackwood

Mt Penny WestBarren Tier

Bradys LORatsCastle

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RANGE

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r

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r

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Campbell

Hansons

River

River

River

Wallace River

River

Fish River

Mer

sey

James

Chalmers

CkCreek

River

River

Nelson R

R

South

Sophia

George

Murchison

River

Patons Clarence R

Serpentine Ck

Navare R

River

R

River

Lodd

Alma

Balaclava

Collingwood

Eldon

Eldon

Creek

Fury

River

Rive

r

R

Med

way

River

Que R

River

Little Pine

Pine

TumbledownCreek

Lake

LAKE

RIVE

R

Breton

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River

River

River

River

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r

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Niv

e

Little R

Ouse

River

Rive

r

rushy Eden Lif

fey

Rive

r

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ter

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Rive

r

Rt

Rt

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MinnowR

River

Meander River

Rt

Clyde

Prin

cess

R

Moonpeelyata

Canal

20km0

Produced byDept. Primary Industries, Water & Environment

1970/99

ZONESVisitor Services Zone

Visitor Services Site

Recreation Zone

Self-Reliant Recreation Zone

Wilderness Zone

UNZONEDPrivate Land within WHA

OVERLAY AREASHunting Area

Hunting Access Area

Quarantine Area (no access)

Motorised Boating Area

OUTSIDE WHA

Visitor Services Centre

Visitor Services Site

World Heritage Area boundary

MAP 4 WORLD HERITAGE AREANORTHERN ZONING

MA

P 4

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Overland

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National Highway

Primary (A route)

Secondary (B route)

Minor ( C route)

Foot Track

Vehicular Track

sealed unsealed

C319

B19

217Tasm

anian Wilderness W

HA

Managem

ent Plan, 1999

For greater detail of zone boundaries refer to more detailed maps

held by the Parks and Wildlife Service.

Zoning includes areas approved by Parliament to become reserves but not yet declared (January 1999).

See Tenure Changes and Additions (page 17) and Table 2 (page 15).

Page 219: Tasmanian Wilderness Tasmanian World MANAGEMENT PLAN … · Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, 1999 7 desired outcomes is presented, along with the main measures

Piemancted Area

CRADLE MOUNTAIN

LAKE ST CLAIR

NATIONAL PARKPART OF TASMANIAN WILDERNESS

WORLD HERITAGE AREA

WALLS OF JERUSALEM

NATIONAL PARKPART OF

TASMANIAN WILDERNESSWORLD HERITAGE AREA

CENTRAL PLATEAUCONSERVATION AREA (CPCA)

ANDPROTECTED AREA (CPPA)

PART OF TASMANIAN WILDERNESSWORLD HERITAGE AREA

CENTRAL PLATEAUPROTECTED AREA

FRANKLIN - GORDON

WILD RIVERS

NATIONAL PARK

PART OF TASMANIAN WILDERNESSWORLD HERITAGE AREA

SOUTHWEST NATIONAL PARK

PART OF TASMANIAN WILDERNESSWORLD HERITAGE AREA

MOUNT FIELDNAT PARK

HART℡ MOUNTAINSNATIONAL PARK

MOLE CREEK KARSTNATIONAL PARK

Westbury

New Norfolk

Hamilton

Bothwell

Deloraine

Queenstown

Zeehan

Franklin

Huonville

Rosebery

Hadspen

Strahan

LAUNCESTON

Dover

CygnGeeveston

Ranelagh

Westerway

Maydena

Cres

Bracknell

Carrick

MoleCreek

Tullah

Waratah

Cradle Valley

Pencil Pine

Weegena Elizabeth Town

Exton

RenisonBell

Gormanston

Regatta Pt

Chudleigh

Meander

Bishopsbourne

Whitemore

Hagley

Liffey

Poatina

Miena

MoinaGowrie Park

Lymington

Cradoc

Southport

G

GlenHuon

Port Huon

Crabtree

Lune RiverIda Bay

Catamaran

Lucaston

RosegarlandMacquarie Plains

Gretna

Lachlan

Ouse

Tarraleah

Derwent BridgeBronte Park

Wayatinah

Ellendale

National Park

Plenty

Bushy Park

Strathgordon

SavageRiver

Liena

Moltema

Cluan

Liawenee

ReynoldsNeck

Breona

Guildford

Toiberry

BlackwoodCreek

Glenore

Cramps

Tods

Flintstone

Waddamana

D

Glenora

Uxbridge

Karanja

Woodstock

Judbury

Lonnavale

Strathblane

Elders

Lawrenny

Osterley

Strickland

Hollow Tree

MagraHayes

Moogara

Fentonbury

Tyenna

Fitzgerald

Boye

Mt Lloyd

QuambyBrook

ClaudeRoadStaverton

Paradise

Dunorlan

Caveside

WesternCreek

Mayberry

LorinnaRed Hills

Needles

Montana

Beulah

LowerBeulah

GoldenValley

Lemana

Selbourne

Westwood

Weetah

ReedyMarsh

Williamsford

Trial Harbour

GranvilleHarbour

Corinna

South Franklin

Castle ForbesBay

Cairns Bay

WattleGrove

SurgesBay

Waterloo

Glendevie

SurveyorsBay

Raminea

Luina

Hideaway Bay

Cockle Creek

Teds Beach

Adamsfield

DunrobbinBridge

PolicePoint

PetchysBay

GlaziersBay

The Steppes

Wilburville

Lynchford

Melaleuca

Bernacchi

SassafrasCreek

Erriba

Osmaston

TalbotsLagoon

LakeLea LAKE

CETHANA

LakeGairdner

LakeParangana

LAKEROWALLAN

L MackenzieLakeBalmoral

L Lucy Long

L Ada

L Nameless

JulianLakes

PillansLake

LAKEAUGUSTA

DoveLake

LakeMcRae

LakeWill

LLouisa

L Adelaide

L Ball

LakeMeston

Junction LLing Roth LsOrion

Lakes

L Payanna

LakeSappho

LAKE ST CLAIR

L Undine

Guelph Basin

DeeLagoon

BRADYS LAKE

L Binney

TungatinahLagoon

WayatinahLagoon

LakeCatagunya

LakeBelton

LAKE

GORDON

LAKE PEDDER

LakeJudd

PromontoryLake

Lake Cracroft

Lake GeevesL Sydney

Oval Lake

NewRiver

Lagoon

SouthportLagoon

Pine Lake

Lake Picton

LakeRiveaux

HartzLake

LakeJupiter

Lake Fenton

LakeDobson

ClunyLagoon

LakeRepulse

MeadowbankLake

L Daphne

L Curly

L Richmond

L Rufus

L George

L Vera

LakeMargaret

LakeSpicer

LakeRolleston

L Julia

CumberlandLake

L WestwoodL Selina L Plimsoll

LakeBeatrice

BronteLagoon

MossyMarsh

Pond

Shadow Lake

L Petrarch

Travellers Rest Lake

Clarence Lagoon

L Ina

L Lenone

L Norman

L Malbena

L Naomi

L Rotuli L Flora

Lake Fergus

Little PineLagoon

DoubleLagoon

ShannonLagoon

PenstockLagoon

LAKE

ECHO

GREAT

LAKE

ARTHURS LAKE

Gunns Lake

Little Lake

WOODS LAKE

Lagoonof Islands

LakeBigJim

PineTierLagoon

Laughing Jack LagoonLAKE KIN

G WILLIAM

LAKE

LAKE PIEMAN

BURB

URY

LakeSamuel

L Olive

LakeMyrtle

Three Arm Lake

LakeFanny

L Bill

ChaliceLake

CloisterLagoon

L Ayr

Lake

Mackintosh

Lake

Murchison

Mt La Perouse

PindarsPeak

IRONBOUND RANGE

ADAMSONSPK

Mt Norfolk

Mt Vero

Mt Pearce

Drys Bluff

Mother LordsPlains

WesternBluff

BorradailePlains

QuambyBluff

ProjectionBluffIronstoneMtn

FisherBluff

Deception Pt

CLUANTIERS

Mt Cattley

MiddlesexPlains

BLACK BLUFF

GOG RANGE

MT ROLAND

Mt Claude

EmuPlains

Mt Charter

Mt Ramsay

Mt Meredith

BlackguardsHill

Mt Farrell

Mt Heemskirk

Mt Agnew

Mt Zeehan

HentyDunes

PROFESSORRANGE

Mt Lyell

FRENCHMANS CAP

Mt Owen

Mt Tyndall

Mt Sedgewick

Eldon Peak

DU C

ANE

RAN

GE

TRAVELLER

GREAT PINE TIER

CHEY

NE

RAN

GE

ADAM RANGE

WENTWORTH HILLS

RAGLAN RANGE

ENGINEER RANGE

ELLIOT RANGE

CRACROFT HILLS

SURVEYOR RA

DENISON

RANGE

GORDON RAN

GE

FRANKLAND

PROPSTING

D 'AGUILAR RANGE

CHAR

LES

RAN

GE

THE RAZORBACK S PICTON RANGE

RAY

RAN

GE

RUGB

Y

RAN

GE

ERSK

INE

R

ANGE

MELALEUCA RAN

GE

NEW

HARBOUR

RANGE

DE WITT RANGE

RAY RANGE

RED

POI

NT

HIL

LS

SOUTH WEST CAPE RAN

GE

SPIRO RANGE

RowittaPlains

Arthur Plains

A R T H U R

RANGE

RANGE

WHITE

MONOLITHRANGE

LAW

SON

RAN

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FOLDED RANGE

R A N G E

THE CORONETS

SENTINEL

RANGE

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LODDON RANGE

WILLIAM

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RANGE

DECE

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ANGE

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ANGE

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MT OLYMPUS

MT OSSA

Mt Jerusalem

Blue Peaks

Forty Lakes

G R E A T

W E S T E R N

T I E R S

Clumner BluffWild Dog

Tier

SAN

DBAN

KSTI

ER

Mt PelionWest

Granite TorHigh Tor

VictoriaPeak

February

Plains

VictoriaPass

Nelson Valley

Mt Sorell

Mt Rufus

MtArrowsmith

Mt RonaldCross

Mt King William II

Mt King William III

GoodwinsPeak

MT FIELD WEST

Mt Mueller

FrodshamsPass

WesternPlains

WES

TCO

AST

RAN

GEW

EST

COAS

TRA

NGE

Mt Darwin

MTMURCHISON

CRADLE MTN

Mt Read

Mt Romulus

Mt Remus

Devils

Ravine

Mt Livingstone

a Hill

MEREDITH RAN

GE

Mt Bischoff

Mt Cleveland

Mt Donaldson

BILLY RANGE

Mt Picton

MT WEDGE

Mt Sprent

TheStarfish

IbsensPk

PRECIPITOUSBLUFF

Mt VictoriaCross

MT BOBS

WESTPORTAL

HARTZ PK

HARTZ MTNS

Bare Hill

STH CAPE RANGEBurns Pk

MtBlack

TableHd

Mt Jukes

EldonBluff

Mt FIincham

Mt McCall

Mt Humboldt

Mt Alma

Mt Lee

Mt Lewis

Mt Osmund

Mt Bowes

Tim Shea

TIGE

RRA

NGE

Mt Blackwood

Mt Spode

Black T

Mt Reid

Clear Hill

Mt Bethune

Youngs S L

MiseryPlateau

Mt Solitary

ScottsPkMt Giblin

McPartlanPass

Rookery

Plain

MT ANNE

MT ORION

Mt Frederick

MT WELD

SNOW

Y RANGE

SCOT

TS

DIV

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Mt ElizaLots Wife

Mt Styx

GALLAGHERPLATEAU

Mt Hesperus

Piners Pk

MooresValley

Mt Pollux

FEDERATION PEAK

Mt LouisaMt Counsel

Mt Norold

Bobs

Kno

bs

LOSTWORLD

PLATEAU

DaveyGorge

White HorsePlains

Mt Hean

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DOUBLE PK

RippleMtn

CracroftGorge

Mt Melaleuca

Mt Karamu

Mt Rugby

Wylds Craig

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Bradys LORatsCastle

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Pt Cecil

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HavelockBluff

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BirchsInlet

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MACQUARIE

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QUEENSTOWN

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BIRD RIVER

KELLY BASINSARAH ISLAND

HERITAGE LANDING

SIR JOHN FALLS

FRANKLIN RIVER

LIAWENEE

LAKE ST CLAIR

WAYATINAH

THE NEEDLES

JUNCTION HILL(CREEPY-CRAWLY

NATURE TRAIL)

GEEVESTON

HUMBOLDT DIVIDE

COCKLE CREEK

HASTINGS CAVES

DOVER

HARTZ MOUNTAINS

EDGAR CAMPGROUNDHUON CAMPGROUND

MELALEUCA

WEDGE RIVER

TEDS BEACH

CRADLE VALLEY

ANTHONY ROADLOOKOUT

MT FIELD

0

20

40km

LEGEND

Produced byDept. Primary Industries, Water & Environment

1970/99

World Heritage Area

World Heritage Area boundary

Includes areas approved by Parliament tobecome reserves but not yet delared (January 1999).See Tenure Changes and Additions (page 17) and Table 2 (page 15).

CENTRAL PLATEAUCONSERVATION AREA

DEVILS GULLET/ LAKE MACKENZIE

DONAGHYS HILL

DOVER

COLLINGWOOD RIVER

BIRD RIVER

KELLY BASIN

HERITAGE LANDING

FRANKLIN RIVER

JUNCTION HILL

GEEVESTON

HUMBOLDT DIVIDE

COCKLE CREEK

R

HASTINGS CAVES

R

HARTZ MOUNTAINS

EDGAR CAMPGROUND

HUON CAMPGROUND

RMARAKOOPA CAVE

LIFFEY VALLEYLOOKOUT

MEANDER FOREST RESERVE

LIFFEY FALLS S.R. AND LIFFEY F.R.

LIAWENEE

RI

LAKE ST CLAIR

RI

MOUNT FIELD

RI

THE NEEDLES

MELALEUCA

R

PENCIL PINE

RI

NELSON FALLS

QUEENSTOWN

R

STRAHAN

R

R

I

SIR JOHN FALLS

SARAH ISLAND

WAYATINAH

WEDGE RIVER

TEDS BEACH

CRADLE VALLEY

R

ANTHONY ROAD LOOKOUT

Facilitiesto be maintained

Facilities to be considered fordevelopment

Facilities to be considered for upgradnig

I R

Cara

vans

Huntin

g

Kios

k

Campin

g A

rea

Picn

ic Are

aTo

ilets

Disable

d Acc

ess

Bushw

alking

Accom

modat

ion

(fee

)

Fishin

gBoa

ting

Horse

Ridi

ng

Visit

or C

entre

Rang

er

Natur

ewalk

Visit

or In

form

ation

and I

nter

pret

ation

OUTSIDE WHA

Visitor Services Centre

Visitor Services Site

INSIDE WHA

Visitor Services Zone

Visitor Services Site

MAP 5 WORLD HERITAGE AREAVISITOR FACILITIES & MAJOR RECREATION FEATURES

Port Davey Track

South Co ast Track

SouthCoast Trac

PortD

aveyTrack

Frenchman s Cap

Tra

c

Overland

Trac

Overland

Trac

VarnaBay

Mt King William II

Mt King William III

National Highway

Primary (A route)

Secondary (B route)

Minor (C route)

Foot Track

Vehicular Track

sealed unsealed

B19

C319

Mt King William I

218Tasm

anian Wilderness W

HA

Managem

ent Plan, 1999