management strategy 2014–2019 filemanagement strategy 2014–2019 a five year plan. disclaimer...

Flinders Karawatha Corridor Management Strategy 2014–2019

A five year plan

Disclaimer

This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The Queensland Government holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties.

If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5470.

This publication can be made available in an alternative format (e.g. large print or audiotape) on request for people with vision impairment; phone +61 7 3170 5470 or email [email protected]

For more information about this strategy please email [email protected].

Prepared February 2014

#30390

Official Partners

ContentsForeword ............................................................................................................................... 3

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................... 4

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................... 5

Vision ............................................................................................................................... 5

From issues and opportunities to action ............................................................................ 5

How to use this strategy .................................................................................................... 5

Governance ........................................................................................................................... 6

Corridor management ............................................................................................................ 8

Biodiversity ....................................................................................................................... 8

Waterways and wetlands .................................................................................................. 10

Rural land use ................................................................................................................... 11

Cultural Heritage ............................................................................................................... 12

Recreation and scenic amenity .......................................................................................... 13

Managing infrastructure assets ............................................................................................. 14

Reporting, research and monitoring ....................................................................................... 15

Acronyms .............................................................................................................................. 16

Appendix 1 ............................................................................................................................ 17

Photograph index .................................................................................................................. 18

1

3

ForewordBalancing population growth and continued economic development with the need to preserve our diverse natural areas is essential for our state’s prosperity.

The Flinders Karawatha Corridor is an area of remarkable natural beauty and Aboriginal and European cultural heritage

Extending 60km from the Karawatha Forest on the outskirts of Brisbane, south to the Wyaralong Dam in the Scenic Rim, the corridor encompasses more than 56,350 hectares and is the largest remaining continuous stretch of open eucalypt bushland south of the Brisbane River.

Like many parts of South East Queensland, the area has also experienced increased population growth and development. Land uses include rural landholdings (including grazing and horticulture), rural residential, residential, sport and recreation providers, Wyaralong Dam, conservation parks and the Greenbank Military Training Area.

I am pleased to release the Flinders Karawatha Corridor Management Strategy which has been developed through the collaborative efforts of state and local government departments, non-government organisations and Traditional Owners.

Importantly, the Strategy is not a statutory planning program. It is a voluntary framework to guide future activity and balance economic development with environmental and lifestyle factors for visitors and residents.

It has been prepared to coordinate the efforts of people working, living and visiting the area and addresses key pressures, including rapid urban population growth, increasing demand for infrastructure, housing, and recreational services.

The Strategy also establishes arrangements to coordinate existing efforts of government, community and industry. For example, it includes practical actions such as weed, pest and fire management plans to ensure we protect the environmental, cultural, social and economic values of the area.

I commend the strategy to all residents and visitors to Flinders Karawatha Corridor and encourage interest groups to align their investment and efforts towards its implementation.

The Honourable Andrew Powell MP Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection

3

AcknowledgementsThe Traditional Owners are acknowledged for their previous and ongoing connection to country referred to as the Flinders Karawatha Corridor.

The generous contributions of the staff from the following organisations have made the preparation of this strategy possible:

• Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

• Commonwealth Department of Defence

• Jagera Daran Pty Ltd

• Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads

• Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

• Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

• Scenic Rim Regional Council

• Ipswich City Council

• Brisbane City Council

• Logan City Council

• Energex

• Seqwater

• Powerlink

• Queensland Outdoor Recreation Foundation

• Council of Mayors (SEQ).

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Executive SummaryThe Flinders Karawatha Corridor is the largest remaining continuous stretch of open eucalypt forest in South East Queensland (SEQ). The corridor extends from the 1200 hectare Karawatha Forest on the southern edge of Brisbane City, along Oxley Creek, through the Greenbank Military Training Area and south along the Teviot Range to Flinders Peak, Mt Joyce and Wyaralong Dam, north-east of Boonah.

Covering an area of over 56,350 hectares, it is recognised as one of SEQ’s most important regional biodiversity corridors, providing habitat and movement opportunities for a range of species that have state, regional and local significance. In addition, it supports scenic amenity, outdoor recreation and landscape heritage values of regional significance.

Significant heritage values relating to Aboriginal and European cultural heritage places are present. These places are protected under a range of planning, legislative and management frameworks at local, state and federal levels, partly due to the size of the corridor and the influence and interests of the different stakeholders.

Land uses include rural landholdings (including grazing and horticulture), rural residential, residential, sport and recreation providers, Wyaralong Dam, conservation parks and the Greenbank Military Training Area.

The purpose of the Flinders Karawatha Corridor Management Strategy is to articulate a range of practical, coordinated and measurable management actions which combine to achieve the shared vision for the area described by the administrative boundary registered as the Karawatha-Greenbank-Flinders Peak Corridor under Section 57 of the Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Act 2011.

Vision‘That the diverse landscapes of the Flinders Karawatha Corridor are identified and managed to support the sustainability of its significant environmental, scenic, cultural, recreational, economic and tourism values and the liveability and wellbeing of existing and future regional communities and landowners.’

From issues and opportunities to actionThe strategy builds on the positive achievements of the past to focus on the following four thematic topics:

• Governance

• Corridor management

• Managing infrastructure assets

• Research and monitoring

Each topic is underpinned by objectives and actions.

The objectives provide a framework from which the success of the strategy will be ultimately evaluated.

How to use this strategyThis strategy includes a range of actions to ensure the long term protection of these social, cultural and environmental values and should be used in conjunction with the Flinders Karawatha Corridor Environmental Values and Land Use Report (EVaLU) maps.

The EVaLU maps contain benchmark data which have been generated using the best available data to provide a spatial representation on the extent, and in some cases the condition, of values at the time the data was collected. This allows the calculation of a benchmark (e.g. number of hectares of remnant vegetation) for the purposes of measuring change over time.

Appendix 1 shows the location of the Flinders Karawatha Corridor within South East Queensland.

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GovernanceObjective: To encourage coordinated community and government action to implement strategy actions.

ContextThe successful delivery of the strategy depends on maintaining and building support and ownership among all project partners. Engaging project partners provides an exchange of knowledge and information that improves outcomes.

To coordinate the efforts of people working in environment and natural resource management, and to guide sustainable development, the Flinders Karawatha Regional Panel will work to implement the strategy actions through to 2019.

The Flinders Karawatha Regional Panel reports to the Queensland Government, through the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection. The Panel also plays a key role in confirming priorities and monitoring implementation.

The Flinders Karawatha Regional Panel implements a collaborative, approach that includes the coordination of the roles of all three levels of government and project partners. This ensures an approach where the individual and collective land managers and regional decision-makers work collaboratively with investors and are more actively involved in planning, decision-making and implementation.

Minister for Environment and Heritage

Protection

Flinders Karawatha Regional Panel

Commercial operators, land owners and non

government organisations Flinders

Karawatha Corridor

6

The role of the Flinders Karawatha Regional Panel includes:

• preparing the strategy and Environmental Values and Land Use (EVaLU) maps for the overall development of the corridor by collaborating with regional and local project partners

• overseeing coordination, reporting, evaluation and improvement of the strategy

• liaising with state agencies and local governments during the assessment of development and activities that may significantly constrain the achievement of actions

• monitoring and providing information and analysis of EVaLU maps for state agencies and local governments.

Conservation of the environmental, social and cultural values will require a coordinated approach by governments and the community as the corridor encompasses a variety of tenures. Sound economies and healthy ecosystems are inter-dependent. Where community, industry and all levels of government recognise and agree on common nature conservation goals, cooperative activity can yield positive results.

Private landholders manage the majority of land and a priority of the strategy is to enhance and maintain the capacity of landholders to engage in local actions to achieve positive environmental outcomes. There are a variety of incentives available to landholders to financially assist property management, including fencing riparian areas, weed control and revegetation.

Ecologically sustainable tourism and recreation development has the potential to broaden the economic base of the region whilst nurturing and protecting its unique natural assets. A considered, systematic approach is necessary if optimal economic and environmental outcomes are to be achieved. 7

Action Responsibility (lead agency; key partners)

Facilitate coordinated internal (State Government) funding bids for landowners to manage corridor values.

DSDIP

EHP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

Conservation groups

Land care groups

Facilitate coordinated external (Commonwealth Government) funding bids for landowners to manage corridor values.

Commonwealth Government

Conservation groups

Land care groups

Encourage and support landholders to participate in property management planning activities for purpose of adopting sustainable land use practices.

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

EHP

Land care groups

Provide information to private landholders and others on emerging outdoor recreation markets and support participation.

QORF

EHP

Seqwater

Provide information to landholders on emerging carbon farming markets and support participation.

Offset brokers

EHP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

Provide information to landholders on the environmental offsets programs available and support participation.

EHP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

Offset brokers

Where appropriate, invest offset liabilities, generated within the South East Queensland Bioregion, within the administrative boundary.

EHP

DSDIP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

Infrastructure providers

Apply the single State Planning Policy strategic biodiversity corridor mapping to enable a coordinated and integrated approach to managing offset investment.

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

DSDIP

EHP

DoD

Offset brokers

Identify funding sources/options available to landholders, community groups, councils for environmental activities/projects.

The Flinders Panel

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Corridor managementBiodiversity

Objective: To preserve and enhance remnant, significant and riparian vegetation in viable corridors to enhance biodiversity, and facilitate wildlife movement and gene flow.

ContextIn a region that has lost a large proportion of its vegetation cover in the last 100 years, Flinders Karawatha Corridor provides a refuge of enormous importance. It supports 28,786 hectares of remnant vegetation (51.2% of the total area) and 31.3% has state biodiversity significance in the South East Queensland Biodiversity Planning Assessment.

Significant areas of conservation estate include the Karawatha Forest, White Rock-Spring Mountain Conservation Estate, Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate, Mt Perry Conservation Park, Flinders Peak Conservation Park and the Mt Joyce Recreation Park.

Twenty-seven Regional Ecosystems are represented and 16 of these have a biodiversity status of endangered or of concern. A range of vegetation communities exist, including rocky hills, eucalypt forest and wetlands that are home to threatened fauna species, including koalas, wallum froglets, powerful owls, brush-tailed rock wallabies and black-breasted button-quails. It is nature on the doorstep of Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan cities.

Vegetated corridors between tracts provide opportunities for gene flow and animal movement that can increase flora and fauna population viability. Large numbers of smaller, but significant areas of bushland are present and provide vital refuges for wildlife. Activities to connect them to the larger tracts, and with each other, will enhance corridor networks in South East Queensland.

Connectivity of landscapes is recognised as a critical component in maintaining ecosystem functionality and meeting community needs. Ecosystems do more than just sustain wildlife. Crucial habitats provide ecosystem services that range from enhancing water quality, to creating recreational opportunities, to ensuring the pollination of crops. These ecosystem services contribute to the sustainability of local and regional communities and the economy of South East Queensland.

9

Action Responsibility (lead agency; key partner)

Identify key areas on public and privately-owned land for protection and revegetation to enhance connectivity and buffer high value environmental assets.

EHP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

DSDIP

Encourage local government to utilise funds obtained from environmental levies for land purchases within the administrative boundary.

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

EHP

Encourage and support landholders to participate in Land for Wildlife, VCA and Nature Refuge programs, if available.

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

EHP

Conservation groups

Land care groups

Continue to engage with Australian Government on the future of Greenbank defence training area and seek to enhance the ecological value of the area.

The Flinders Panel


BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

Develop an integrated corridor weed and pest management plan to coordinate on ground control actions.

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

DAFF



Conservation groups

Land care groups

Landowners

Investigate potential for developing an integrated Fire Management Plan for the Corridor region.

The Flinders Panel

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

SEQFBC

QFRS (rural & local)

Landowners

Investigate initiatives to create funding streams to allow for voluntary purchases of land.

EHP

Waterways and wetlandsObjective: To maintain or improve the water quality of waterways and wetlands.

ContextWaterways provide important refuges for plants and animals from the potential effects of climate change. Ecosystem processes, the lifecycles of aquatic species and the distribution and abundance of aquatic life may be affected where natural flow regimes are disrupted. The headwaters for the Oxley, Flagstone, Bundamba, Purga and Woollaman Creeks, amongst others, are located within the mountainous areas of the Corridor. Preservation of the environmental values of this area is vital for the protection of water quality.

Water resources provide clean water for human consumption, environmental flows, recreation, and agricultural and industrial uses. Water-based ecosystems and associated riparian areas provide habitat for many plants and animals. Wetlands filter sediment and excess nutrients from water, resulting in improved water quality.

Managing waterways and wetlands to control weeds and pests, and the retention of riparian vegetation, will assist in protecting water quality within the region and for downstream users.


Manage water quality through the adoption of erosion and sediment control measures during construction phase.


Ensure compliance for erosion and sediment control.

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC, EHP

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Rural land useObjective: To raise awareness, and encourage the adoption of, sustainable land management practices by all land managers to meet the needs of existing and future communities.

ContextGood quality farming land is a limited resource. The protection and sustainable management of agricultural land is important to safeguard the capacity of the region to produce food, fibre and other materials for communities.

Land use and development has caused several forms of land degradation and impacts that need to be addressed. Overuse or irreversible loss of healthy soils could have significant environmental, economic or social impacts for a region in the future. Healthy soils and high levels of vegetation cover reduce the movement of excess nutrients and sediment in water runoff into streams. Soils and the crops and grasslands they support are potentially large reservoirs for storing carbon.

An important aim of this strategy is to encourage the adoption of land management practices and rehabilitation measures that address identified problems to sustain longer-term productivity and reduce environmental impacts. The management of grass cover to manage soil erosion and landslip is fundamental to the sustainable management of land resources. By improving land condition, the productive potential of grazing lands is increased and biodiversity is enhanced.


Provide information and examples of ‘good practice’, when available, that may assist landholders in the growth and sustainability of the agriculture industry.

DAFF

Land care groups

Cultural HeritageObjective: To identify and protect Aboriginal and European cultural heritage values.

ContextIndigenous and European archaeological and culturally significant sites have been identified within the corridor. A range of planning, legislative and management frameworks are in place to protect these places. By protecting the heritage, other values inherent in the landscape are also protected.


Engage Traditional Owners to identify their aspirations for Aboriginal cultural heritage management.

Jagera Daran Pty Ltd

EHP

Identify and protect European cultural heritage values.

EHP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

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13


Prepare a recreation strategy that:

• identifies economic value of nature-based recreational use and ecotourism opportunities

• identifies key sites for future recreational and ecotourism opportunities that minimise impacts on corridor values and respect the rights of existing residents

• manages existing recreational sites to minimise impacts on other key corridor values.

QORF

Council of Mayors(SEQ)

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

Recreation and scenic amenityObjective: To promote the development of ecologically sustainable recreation opportunities and maintain scenic amenity.

ContextExisting landscapes provide significant areas of community green space and recreational opportunity. Mt Joyce Recreation Park at Wyaralong Dam provides a range of water and land based recreational opportunities. Bushwalking, mountain biking, horse riding and various other outdoor pursuits are undertaken in a number of areas of high scenic amenity. Trail horse riding clubs conduct rides on public and private property.

The scenic amenity is characterised by a network of peaks, creeks, lowland forests, forested ridges and semi-cleared valleys. Flinders Peak, Ivory’s Rock, Spring Mountain, Mt Goolman and Mt Joyce are spectacular geological features close to rapidly urbanising areas. The area is a gateway to the national parks of the Scenic Rim, including the World Heritage Area-listed Main Range National Park.

Further development of sustainable, nature-based recreational opportunities has the potential to contribute substantially to the local economy. Landholders may also benefit from potential tourism opportunities in the region.

14

Managing infrastructure assets

Objective: To work with local government and infrastructure providers to minimise the impacts of existing and future infrastructure.

ContextSeveral major infrastructure corridors exist including motorways, major roads, power lines, water and gas pipelines and rail. Infrastructure intersects wildlife habitat in many ways. A Department of Transport and Main Roads study commissioned in 2010 identified 81 locations where artificial physical barriers exist.

There are a number of committed infrastructure developments that have the potential to impact biodiversity values in the future. Improving the planning, management and usage of common service corridors has both environmental and economic benefits and can minimise impacts.


Avoid/reduce impacts on connectivity and environmental values during strategic planning and detailed design stages for new infrastructure.


EHP

DSDIP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

Local government

Avoid/reduce impacts on connectivity and environmental values during construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure.


Work with infrastructure providers early in planning processes to identify opportunities for co-locating compatible infrastructure within existing or future sites/corridors.

The Flinders Panel

EHP

DSDIP


Undertake a review of proposed and existing infrastructure for adverse environmental impacts.

DSDIP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

EHP


Develop a coordinated funding and delivery plan to implement the recommendations of the Transport and Main Roads Flinders to Greenbank-Karawatha Ecological Corridor Study (2011).

DSDIP


EHP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

15

Reporting, research and monitoring

Objective: To facilitate coordination of reporting, research and monitoring activities.

ContextCoordinated reporting on actions that deliver on the strategy is essential to assessing how extent and condition of environmental, social and cultural aspects of the strategy change over time. This is essential to the review and improvement process for the strategy.

Coordinated reporting and monitoring of actions will allow for a closer assessment of progress towards achievement of the vision and to address challenges.

Developing a coordinated monitoring, evaluation and improvement system will allow for integrated feedback on the effectiveness of actions. Data on the condition and extent of the region’s natural, cultural and social values will be iteratively assessed against the EVaLU maps so that trends can be established.

A coordinated monitoring system will also guide the investment of funds, energy and time to deliver on actions. As evaluation proceeds, adjustments and improvements can be made as required.

Existing landscapes offer the potential for a range of research and monitoring projects, including environmental, economic, cultural heritage and social. Significant scientific research has been undertaken and much of this research has been utilised to inform management actions in this strategy. Several major universities have active research programs in the area and this information is invaluable in guiding management decisions.

It is important that threatening processes are reviewed and that targets or goals are identified for conserving and improving the region’s values.


Develop a robust program logic including suitable sustainable development indicators to frame monitoring efforts and inform management interventions.

EHP

DSDIP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

Incorporate the Rapid Condition Assessment into the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

The Flinders Panel

Integrate existing monitoring activities with the state-wide monitoring, evaluation and improvement framework.

EHP

DSDIP

Report bi-annually on the progress of actions in the strategy

The Flinders Panel

Work with research institutions and corridor partners to coordinate key research questions, identify information gaps and promote research and monitoring in deficient areas.

The Flinders Panel

Develop fauna and flora species recovery plans where necessary.

The Flinders Panel

Ensure major investment projects have associated monitoring plans and outcomes from monitoring effort to inform future investment.

DSDIP

EHP

BCC, ICC, LCC, SRRC

16

AcronymsBCC Brisbane City Council

CoM (SEQ) Council of Mayors (SEQ)

DSDIP Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

DAFF Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

DoD Department of Defence

ICC Ipswich City Council

LCC Logan City Council

TMR Department of Transport and Main Roads

EHP Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

QFRS Queensland Fire and Rescue Service

QORF Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation

SRRC Scenic Rim Regional Council

SEQFBC South East Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium

17

Appendix 1Corridor Location Map

18

Photograph index

Lookout to Flinders Karawatha Corridor Environment and Heritage Protection

Karawatha Forest Brisbane City Council



Glossy black-cockatoo Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

Boonah Tuckeroo Cupaniopsis tomentella Glenn Leiper

Karawatha Wetlands Brisbane City Council

Rural Scene, looking to Flinders Karawatha Corridor Ipswich City Council

Brushtailed Rock Wallaby Bruce Thomson

Thyme-leafed Honey-myrtle Melaleuca thymifolia Brisbane City Council

Plunkett Mallee Eucalyptus cutisii Glenn Leiper

Rural wetland in the Corridor Environment and Heritage Protection

White Rock Logan City Council

White Rock Outcrop Ipswich City Council

Karawatha Wetlands Brisbane City Council

19

Flinder Karwatha Corridor Leanne White, Environment and Heritage Protection

Mountain biking Scenic Rim Regional Council

Koala R Booth, Logan City Council

Horse riding, Western Trailhead Seqwater

Undullah waterway Logan City Council

Stockyards, Harding’s Paddock Leanne White, Environment and Heritage Protection

Karawatha overpass Brisbane City Council

Powerlines Flinder Karawatha Corridor Environment and Heritage Protection

Recreation within the Corridor Scenin Rim Regional Council

Green-thighed frog Litoria brevipalmata Steve Wilson

Tullawong cave overhang Jagera Daran Pty Ltd

Exclusion fencing Logan City Council

Mt. Flinders Ipswich City Council

Rural Scene, looking to Flinders Karawatha Corridor Peter Filet

Teviot Brook riparian vegetation, Flagstone Logan City Council

For more information about this strategy please email [email protected].

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