Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve Interim Management Statement

Dams

The property has three dams all of which are in fair to good condition and hold ample water for the stocking requirements of the Reserve and for fire control. Stock access to the dam in the southwestern corner may be problematic due to restoration requirements in this area. Consideration should be given

to either piping water from this dam to a trough, or if it is not required for stock, to lowering the dam and

allowing more water to flow along the southwestern drainage line.

Fencing

All boundary fencing must be maintained in stockproof condition. Fencing on the southern and northern boundaries is generally in good condition and requires little maintenance. Fences on the eastern

boundary and along Old Euroa Road have damaged sections and require some maintenance.

Additional fencing is required to exclude stock grazing from areas of VMZ1 and VMZ3 (see Map 5). These fences are only required to prevent sheep movement and may be only necessary for the medium term. Fence construction should take place in summer when the ground is dry and damage to vegetation will be minimal. Electric fencing could be used for stock control where this is practical.

Signs

Signs notifying the public of the existence of the Reserve should be erected at the southwestern, northwestern and northeastern corners. The signs should inform the public that all plants and animals

are protected within the Reserve and that firewood collection and hunting are not permitted.

INTERIM MANAGEMENT DIRECTIONS – INFRASTRUCTURE

Provide and maintain adequate fencing and access tracks for the management and protection of the Reserve. Erect signs to notify all persons of the status of the Reserve.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & VISITORS
Special Interest Groups

Parks Victoria will meet on an annual basis with community representatives including neighbours, Trust for Nature, CFA, Shire of Strathbogie, indigenous organisations and conservation groups to discuss the

ongoing management of the Reserve and address issues of concern as they arise.
Friends of the Grey-crowned Babbler, Birds Australia and the Euroa Environment Group (as well as local landholders) have all expressed interest in assisting with on-going management and research connected with the Reserve in accordance with this Interim Management Plan. Such co-operation and assistance should be encouraged and supported.

Visitor Management

Public awareness of the Balmattum Reserve is likely to be relatively low outside the local community and special interest groups. It can be expected that a small number of groups and individuals may wish

to visit the Reserve especially in spring and early summer.

Major constraints on visitation are that:

• 
  the site supports rare and threatened species;
  
• 
  domestic stock will be present; and
  
• 
  there are no visitor facilities within the Reserve and limited information about it.
  

The following procedures on visitor access should be adopted:

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  Only passive recreation based on the conservation values of the Reserve be permitted;
  
• 
  Visitors should visit the Reserve with organised groups and notify Parks Victoria staff.
  
• 
  Publicity and information regarding the site must be consistent with the management objectives;
  
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  No vehicles, including bicycles, should be allowed within the Reserve except for management purposes;
  
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  No pets or horses should be allowed within the Reserve; and
  
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  All gates must remain locked.
  

In the first few years following its reservation it is unlikely that the level of visitation will conflict with the conservation management objectives for the grassland. However, the potential effects of recreational use such as trampling of vegetation, weed spread, disturbance to fauna and interference with research and monitoring should be noted.

Plant and Firewood Collection

Any collection of plant material for propagation must be conducted under permit and must be for legitimate conservation purposes only. The management of Balmattum Reserve and other sites in the region will require considerable vegetation restoration in the future. Accordingly, any collecting of seed

or other material within the Reserve must only be for use within protected sites within the local region.

Firewood collection or collection of wildflowers or other plant parts will not be permitted within the Reserve or adjoining road reserves. Old Euroa Road is a ‘significant roadside for nature conservation’.


INTERIM MANAGEMENT DIRECTION – COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND VISITORS

Encourage and support community groups and local landholders to be involved with the management of the Reserve. Control and manage visitation to ensure that public access does not threaten conservation

values.


HERITAGE PROTECTION
All historic and cultural heritage sites within the Balmattum Reserve should be identified and marked on relevant management maps. Specific guidelines for the management of Aboriginal heritage sites should be developed. Further advice on the identification, management and interpretation of historic and cultural sites within the Reserve should be sought.

Known sites within the Reserve have received relatively little study and more information could be gained from these areas (See Appendix 7). Further survey for indigenous heritage features should be conducted. However this survey should be postponed until the grass cover is reduced to a level where a detailed ground survey can also be conducted. Prior to commencing any further survey, the Traditional Owners and appropriate Aboriginal Council should be determined, and notified of and invited to attend the survey.

Aboriginal Affairs Victoria is yet to be notified of the scar trees and grafted ring tree. It is recommended that notification does not occur until after grass mass is reduced. Notification would involve a site visit with AAV and would probably occur during additional survey work. Following full survey work, all Aboriginal archaeological and cultural sites recorded, will come under the protection of the Victorian Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972 and the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984.
The biggest threats to the site and the scar trees and possible artefacts are from fire and illegal wood (including firewood) removal. In the event of fire, controlled or otherwise, trees must be protected.
Individual scar trees must not be signed or otherwise specially marked.
The Shire of Strathbogie should be notified of the grafted ring tree on the Old Euroa Road Reserve. It is located well away from the road edge and should be safe from mechanical disturbance. In the event of fire, the tree should be foamed down and/or raked around.
INTERIM MANAGEMENT DIRECTION – HERITAGE PROTECTION

Identify and protect cultural and heritage values throughout the Reserve.

9.