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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. Page 1 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. Page 2 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. Page 3 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 Page 4 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. Page 5 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