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Statement of
Management Intent
Copeland Tops
State Conservation Area
1.
Introduction
This statement outlines the main values, issues, management directions and priorities of the
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for managing Copeland Tops State Conservation Area
(SCA). This statement, together with relevant NPWS policies, will guide the management of the
SCA until a plan of management has been prepared in accordance with the National Parks and
Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act). The NPWS Managing Parks Prior to Plan of Management Policy
states that parks and reserves without a plan of management are to be managed in a manner
consistent with the intent of the NPW Act and the ‘precautionary principle’ (see Principle 15).
2.
Management principles
State conservation areas are reserved under the NPW Act to protect and conserve areas that:
•
contain significant or representative ecosystems, landforms or natural phenomena or places
of cultural significance
•
are capable of providing opportunities for sustainable visitor or tourist use and enjoyment,
the sustainable use of buildings and structures, or research
•
are capable of providing opportunities for uses permitted under other provisions of the NPW
Act.
Under the NPW Act (section 30G), state conservation areas are managed to:
•
conserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem functions, protect natural phenomena and
maintain natural landscapes
•
conserve places, objects and features of cultural value
•
provide for the undertaking of uses permitted under other provisions of the NPW Act
(including uses permitted under section 47J such as mineral exploration and mining), having
regard to the conservation of the natural and cultural values of the state conservation area
•
provide for sustainable visitor or tourist use and enjoyment that is compatible with
conservation of the area’s natural and cultural values and with uses permitted in the area
•
provide for sustainable use (including adaptive reuse) of any buildings or structures or
modified natural areas having regard to conservation of the area’s natural and cultural
values and with other uses permitted in the area
•
provide for appropriate research and monitoring.
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Statement of Management Intent: Copeland Tops State Conservation Area
Land is reserved as a state conservation area primarily where mineral values preclude reservation
as another category. The NPW Act requires a review of the classification of state conservation
areas every five years in consultation with the Minister administering the Mining Act 1992.
3.
Context
Reservation details: Copeland Tops SCA was reserved on 1 July 2003.
Size: 2420 hectares.
Approximately 70 per cent of the SCA was formerly Copeland Tops State Forest, including 250
hectares that had been protected since 1992 as Copeland Tops Flora Reserve.
Copeland Tops SCA is located directly west of the village of Copeland, approximately 18 kilometres
west of Gloucester in the hinterland of the NSW mid north coast. The SCA is traversed by the
Scone Road. It is one of a number of parks surrounding Gloucester, indirectly linking Barrington
Tops National Park to the west, Woko National Park to the north, and The Glen and Berrico nature
reserves to the south. Adjacent areas are used for agriculture, primarily cattle grazing.
The SCA falls within the NSW North Coast Bioregion. It also lies within the administrative areas of
Gloucester Shire Council, Hunter Local Land Services and Forster Local Aboriginal Land Council.
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Statement of Management Intent: Copeland Tops State Conservation Area
4.
Values
•
The SCA protects stands of the endangered ecological community Lowland Rainforest in
the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions, including an easily accessible area of
dry rainforest dominated by shatterwood (Backhousia sciadophora). It also protects areas of
tall open eucalypt forest containing the endangered craven grey box (Eucalyptus largeana)
which is restricted to the local area.
•
The SCA has been identified as part of a regional corridor for wildlife movement, with
approximately 25 per cent of the SCA mapped as key habitat for forest animals. The 17
threatened animal species recorded in the SCA include a range of species from both open
forest and rainforest habitats, such as the sooty owl (Tyto tenebricosa), the masked owl
(Tyto novaehollandiae), the wompoo fruit-dove (Ptilinopus magnificus), olive whistler
(Pachycephala olivacea), yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) and spotted-tailed quoll
(Dasyurus maculatus). The endangered stuttering frog (Mixophyes balbus) is known to
inhabit creek lines and adjoining areas within the SCA.
•
The large number of old mining shafts and adits (mine entrances and tunnels) provides an
abundance of roosting habitat which may be suitable for microbat species. The eastern
bentwing-bat (Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis) is recorded in the SCA. Based on the
habitat present and nearby records, several other microbat species are predicted to occur.
•
The SCA includes the Mountain Maid Mine which is considered to be of potential State
Heritage significance for its history as an operating goldmine between 1876 and 1979,
making it one of the longest continually operating goldmines in New South Wales.
•
The Mountain Maid Precinct is an important tourist destination. This and the SCA’s other
recreational opportunities, including heritage walks, visitor facilities, cycling and horse riding,
help to support the Gloucester district’s local economy.
•
The history of goldmining and the presence of different vegetation communities, from dry
rainforest to dry sclerophyll forest in the SCA, provide a unique and important educational
resource for both school groups and the wider public.
5.
Issues
•
Pest animal species which occur in the SCA include European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes),
feral cats (Felis catus), wild dogs (Canis lupus sspp.) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa). There are
also isolated populations of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) restricted to small areas.
•
Weed species occurring in the SCA include lantana (Lantana camara), blackberry (Rubus
fruticosus agg.), crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora), mistflower (Ageratina riparia), and
several vines such as turkey rhubarb (Acetosa sagittata), moth vine (Araujia sericifera) and
Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia). A control program for lantana and crofton weed has
been in place at key sites in the SCA to reduce the spread of these species.
•
Bell Miner Associated Dieback is recorded from a number of sites in the SCA where it is
primarily affecting the regrowth of Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) in areas where
there is a dense understorey consisting mostly of native species.
•
The Mountain Maid Precinct is currently operating below its potential in terms of visitation
levels.
•
No Aboriginal sites are recorded in the SCA, however no systematic survey for sites has
been undertaken.
•
There are issues associated with cycling and horse riding on walking tracks in and around
the Mountain Maid Precinct, particularly the Hidden Treasure and Basin Loop tracks. These
activities conflict with walkers using these areas. Bushwalkers are occasionally observed
walking dogs in the SCA.
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Statement of Management Intent: Copeland Tops State Conservation Area
•
Some areas in the SCA were subject to disturbance by past mining and other land
management practices. Most of these areas are regenerating naturally, however there are
some sites, including a previously cleared area in the north-west section of the SCA, which
may require revegetation.
•
Straying stock are occasionally found in the SCA.
•
Illegal activities, such as firewood collection and the riding of unregistered motorbikes by
unlicensed riders, are issues particularly in the northern part of the SCA.
•
A section of the Basin Loop Track (Old Copeland Road) appears to partly traverse private
property where the old road deviates from a remnant public road corridor. That corridor also
currently traverses a small section of the SCA at this location. NPWS is currently assisting
Gloucester Shire Council to rationalise the status of this remnant cadastral corridor.
•
The numerous shafts and adits associated with the SCA’s mining history are a potential risk
to visitors and staff. Some shafts and adits have been mapped, however it is impractical and
cost-prohibitive to identify and map them all. In areas of high visitation, some shafts and
adits have had gates and grids installed. Signage has been installed at all entrances to the
SCA to highlight the safety issue.
•
There has been no legal fossicking in what is now the SCA since the late 1980s except as
part of guided gold panning activities in the Mountain Maid Precinct. However there has
been interest in undertaking recreational fossicking within the SCA. Under existing NPWS
policy, fossicking is generally not permitted in parks because of its impact on land stability,
cultural heritage, and native plants and animals. The endangered stuttering frog is
threatened by activities that may degrade water quality in the SCA. There are also safety
issues associated with the numerous shafts and adits throughout the SCA.
•
The SCA includes areas that are currently subject to three mining leases (including an
active mine which is leased until 2022), and is covered by a petroleum exploration licence.
6.
Key management directions
•
Fire is managed in accordance with the Copeland Tops State Conservation Area Fire
Management Strategy.
•
Pest management programs will be implemented in accordance with the NPWS Regional
Pest Management Strategy: Lower North Coast Region. Current priorities are the control of
lantana, crofton weed, madeira vine and wild dogs.
•
Educational opportunities will continue to be provided to encourage appreciation of the
SCA’s goldmining history and natural environment. The SCA will be promoted as a tourism
destination in partnership with relevant local and regional stakeholders.
•
Recreational activities will be provided for in the SCA (such as walking, cycling and horse
riding) which complement recreational opportunities provided in the surrounding district.
Signage will be installed and maintained indicating which trails are available for cycling and
horse riding, and prohibiting the walking of dogs in the SCA.
•
The rehabilitation of previously disturbed areas will be monitored, and revegetation assisted
where needed using locally indigenous species.
•
To minimise the risk of injury posed by mining shafts and adits, signs will be maintained
warning of the hazard and instructing visitors to use only established tracks, trails and roads.
Gates and grids will be installed and maintained over shafts and adits in locations of high
visitation.
•
Construction and maintenance of boundary fences will be encouraged to exclude stock from
the SCA. Subject to available resourcing, assistance may be provided to neighbours to
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Statement of Management Intent: Copeland Tops State Conservation Area
install stock-proof park boundary fencing in accordance with the NPWS Boundary Fencing
Policy.
•
Firewood collection and illegal motorbike riding will be monitored and additional regulatory
enforcement undertaken at appropriate times as required.
•
The status of the section of Basin Loop Track (Old Copeland Road) which appears to partly
traverse private property and a remnant road corridor through the SCA will be resolved, and
long-term access arrangements (e.g. easement, reservation or similar) will be sought to
formalise public and management access.
•
NPWS will liaise with existing mining lessees to develop and implement a practical
framework of access and management arrangements (consistent with the Memorandum of
Understanding between NPWS and NSW Trade and Investment) to ensure the safety of the
lessees, visitors and staff, and to minimise impacts on the natural and cultural values of the
SCA.
•
All management activities will be preceded by the preparation of an environmental
assessment or heritage assessment where this is a requirement of NPWS policy or
legislation.
•
Environmental repair and threat management programs, such as erosion mitigation
measures, pest management, and activities arising from threatened species requirements
may be implemented in accordance with NPWS policies and procedures.
•
Non-intrusive works may be undertaken where necessary to protect cultural heritage items
from further deterioration, to ensure the safety of visitors, to protect wildlife or to prevent
damage to park assets.
•
A plan of management will be prepared to set out the ongoing management objectives for
the SCA. The plan of management is a statutory document under the NPW Act which will be
available for public comment. NPWS will also encourage the community to contribute to the
ongoing conservation of the SCA by promoting and raising public awareness of its special
values.
For additional information or enquiries about any aspect of this SCA or this statement, contact the
NPWS Barrington Tops Area Office on (02) 6538 5300, or 59 Church Street, Gloucester, or PO Box
236, Gloucester, NSW 2422.
Disclaimer: This is a statement of intent to
guide the management of the SCA prior to
the development of a plan of management.
Any statements made in this publication are
made in good faith and do not render the
Office of Environment and Heritage liable for
any loss or damage. Provisions in the final
plan of management may vary from those
identified in this document as a result of new
information and community consultation. The
maps in this statement are intended to show
the SCA’s location and basic features only,
and are not suitable for use when navigating
to or exploring within parks.
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Published by:
Office of Environment and Heritage
59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000
PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232
Phone: (02) 9995 5000
ISBN 978 1 74359 680 7
OEH 2014/0463
June 2014
Statement of Management Intent: Copeland Tops State Conservation Area