Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve Interim Management Statement

BALMATTUM

NATURE CONSERVATION RESERVE
Interim Management Statement

PARKS VICTORIA

September 2001.

This Interim Management Statement was written by James Ross¹ and Dr. Doug Robinson² for Parks Victoria.


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Tony Long, Glenn Mawson, Anne Casey and Tracey Stolman of Parks Victoria provided project management, advice and information. Tim Barlow (Trust for Nature), Chris Smith, Brian Nelson, Geoff Barrow, Julie Flack (Parks Victoria), Sue Berwick, Chris Ashe (DNRE), Gary Washusen (Shire of Strathbogie) and Ian Chanter all provided advice and information.
Euroa Environment Group and Birds Australia provided the original stimulus for the creation of this important conservation reserve.

Cover Photo:
Gilgai Wetland with Swamp Billy-buttons (Craspedia paludicola). Doug Robinson.

1. 
   - 7 Rushall Street, Fairfield (Victoria) 3078
   
2. 
   - RMB 2036, Violet Town (Victoria) 3669
   

SUMMARY OF MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND DIRECTIONS

INTERIM MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

• 
  Maintain existing conservation values and biodiversity across the area.
  

• 
  Protect and maintain native vegetation communities and habitat for significant flora and fauna.
  

• 
  Restore and enhance native vegetation communities and fauna habitat.
  

• 
  Control short and long-term processes that will affect conservation values.
  

• 
  Facilitate scientific research and environmental monitoring.
  

• 
  Conserve features of archaeological, historical and cultural significance.
  

• 
  Allow for the future development of limited areas for public education and appreciation of grassy woodland conservation.
  

• 
  Cooperate with local, State and interstate government authorities, the community and other interested organisations to assist with the management of the Reserve.
  

INTERIM MANAGEMENT DIRECTIONS
THREATENED SPECIES: Maintain and enhance habitat for rare or threatened flora and fauna and control or eliminate processes that threaten populations of these species. Ensure that the Reserve is managed to provide suitable habitat for woodland fauna occurring in the region.
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ZONES: Manage vegetation in accordance with the three vegetation management zones identified.
STOCK GRAZING: In general, exclude stock grazing from relatively intact areas. Maintain stock grazing as a primary tool for controlling biomass in the Reserve where this is required in the short term.
VEGETATION RESTORATION: Implement revegetation programs to restore shrub and tree cover within specific areas of the Reserve and enhance floristic and habitat diversity across the Reserve.
RESEARCH AND MONITORING: Establish survey programs for flora and fauna. Establish a comprehensive monitoring framework to assess overall management and to compare the outcomes of different management regimes.
TRIAL ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT REGIMES: Establish trials to investigate the potential benefits of alternative management regimes including grazing and burning.
PEST PLANTS AND ANIMALS: Control and where possible eliminate pest plants and animals, especially where they pose an immediate threat to significant species or communities.
KANGAROOS AND NOISY MINERS: Monitor and, where necessary, control Eastern Grey Kangaroo populations to ensure that the population is maintained at a level that allows for sustained vegetation recovery within the Reserve. Remove Noisy Miners from the Reserve and monitor effects.
ROAD RESERVES: Investigate incorporation of unused, unlicensed road reserves into the Reserve and undertake active management programs on Old Euroa Road.
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 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: Identify and protect cultural and heritage values throughout the Reserve.
LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION: Develop vegetation links on roadsides, stream reserves and with nearby remnants and assist and encourage adjoining landholders to protect woodland conservation values.


CONTENTS

SUMMARY OF MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND DIRECTIONS

1. 
   INTRODUCTION 1
   
2. 
   PURPOSE OF THIS INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT 1
   
3. 
   DESCRIPTION 3
   
4. 
   SUMMARY OF CONSERVATION VALUES 3
   

NATURE CONSERVATION 3

HERITAGE CONSERVATION 6

5. 
   MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES 7
   
6. 
   MANAGEMENT CONTEXT 8
   

HISTORICAL 8

STRATEGIES & PLANS 8

PAST MANAGEMENT 8

VEGETATION RESPONSE TO MANAGEMENT 9

7. 
   THREATENED SPECIES CONSERVATION 12
   

TEMPERATE-WOODLAND BIRD COMMUNITY 12

GREY-CROWNED BABBLER 13

BUSH STONE-CURLEW 13

SWIFT PARROT 13

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FAUNA 15

FRAGRANT LEEK-ORCHID 15

SWAMP BILLY BUTTONS 15

BULOKE 15

8. 
   INTERIM MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS 17
   

OVERALL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK 17

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ZONES 17

STOCK GRAZING 20

VEGETATION RESTORATION 20

TREE DIEBACK 21

RESEARCH AND MONITORING 22

FIRE 23

PEST PLANTS 25

PEST ANIMALS 25

KANGAROOS 26

NOISY MINERS 26

ROAD RESERVES 26

INFRASTRUCTURE 27

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & VISITORS 28

HERITAGE PROTECTION 28

9. 
   LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION 30
   
10. 
    FUTURE MANAGEMENT ISSUES 31
    

RE INTRODUCTION OF THREATENED FLORA AND FAUNA 31

PREDATOR-PROOF/KANGAROO-PROOF FENCING 31

WOODLAND THINNING 31

REFERENCES 32

APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1: FLORA 35

APPENDIX 2: FAUNA 37

APPENDIX 3: VEGETATION COMMUNITIES OF BALMATTUM RESERVE (BERWICK IN PREP) 38

APPENDIX 4: HABITAT REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNIFICANT WOODLAND FAUNA 40

APPENDIX 5: GRAZING MANAGEMENT 42

APPENDIX 6: REPORT ON HERITAGE FEATURES 43

APPENDIX 7: INDIGENOUS HERITAGE – INITIAL REPORT 44

APPENDIX 8: ADJOINING LANDHOLDERS 45

MAPS
MAP 1. LOCATION OF BALMATTUM NATURE CONSERVATION RESERVE AND OTHER PUBLIC LAND 2

MAP 2. BALMATTUM NATURE CONSERVATION RESERVE 4

MAP 3. CURRENT AND RECENT LOCATIONS OF THREATENED FAUNA 14

MAP 4. THREATENED FLORA 16

MAP 5. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ZONES 18

MAP 6. PRIORITY WEEDS 24

TABLES

TABLE 1. WOODLAND SPECIES SUITABLE FOR ESTABLISHMENT IN THE RESERVE 21

TABLE 2. PRIORITY WEED SPECIES 25

1.