This is an educational exercise on plans of management. The presi is designed to accompany a verbal presentation and thus loses it shine without my words giving the backstory. It was interesting to note the large number of recreational uses of the park that many of us would not generally associate with a national park.

1. Paul Boundy
Develop a Plan of Management
Advanced Diploma of Applied Environmental Management
Ryde College
Northern Sydney Institute
March 2013

5. Significant Natural Area
Area of 840 hectares
Urban
Sydney Airport
Semi Rural 800 ha

6. 4 km
2 km

7. Waterfall Hike

9.  Commissioned by:
South Australian Department for
Environment and Heritage (DEH).
 Prepared by Consultant
Hassell Pty Ltd
 Prepared in pursuance of
Section 38 of the National Parks
and Wildlife Act 1972.
 Adopted June 2003
 94 pages long

10.  ‘Extensive’ Consultation ~ 2000-2001
 Consultants contracted to facilitate
 Community reference group met regularly
 Three public meetings were held
 “A number of the persons who made formal
submissions commented favourably on the
consultation process undertaken.”
 Draft plan publicly exhibited ~ June 2001
 57 written submissions - concerns with horse riding
 Stakeholders
 Friends of Belair National Park
 Friends of Old Government House
 Sturt Consultative Committee
 City of Mitcham
 Adelaide Hills Council
 Heritage branch of DEH
 Country Fire Service
 State Aboriginal Heritage Committee
 Coalition to Save Belair National Park

11. Natural Resources Cultural Heritage
Soils Aboriginal Heritage
Hydrology Colonial Heritage
Native Vegetation
Native Fauna Fire Management
Introduced Plants
Introduced Animals Infrastructure and Built Assets
Recreation and Commercial Activities and Other Landuses
Tourism Leases and Licences
Cycling ETSA Corporation
Horse riding Australian Rail Track Corporation
Tennis Courts / Ovals
Visitor Use Management Arrangements
Vehicle Access Community and Volunteer Involvement
Walking Trails Management Plan Implementation and Review
Orienteering
Children’s Play Facilities
Interpretive Information

12.  Introductory Spiel
 ‘Our Parks, Our Heritage, Our Legacy’
 Protecting biodiversity
 Providing corridor links between isolated reserves
 Close community relationships and participation
in protecting biodiversity and heritage.
 Forward
 by Minister John Hill including values & vision:
 Vision Statement
 Conserving, celebrating and appreciating
our natural and cultural heritage.
 Management Objectives
 Management Framework
 Management Context
 Management Prescription (Details)

13.  Management Objectives
 Strengthen the regional contribution of Belair National Park in the context
of the Mount Lofty Ranges natural environment and open space systems.
 Management Framework - Legislation
 Park Classification -NPW Act 1972, Wilderness Protection Act 1992
 Government Policy and Legislation
- NPW Act 1972 and other legislation listed in Appendix F
 Native Title Act 1993
 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999

14. South Australia Commonwealth
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Heritage
Animal and Plant Control Act (Agricultural Protection Act 1984
Protection and Other Purposes) 1986 Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Biological Control Act 1986 Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Catchment Water Management Act 1995 Conservation Act 1999
Coast Protection Act 1972 Native Title Act 1993
Country Fires Act 1989 Natural Heritage Trust Act 1996
Equal Opportunity Act 1984
Environment Protection Act 1993 International
Development Act 1993 Japan / China Australia Migratory Bird Agreements
Harbors and Navigation Act 1993 (JAMBA, CAMBA)
Heritage Act 1993 Ramsar Convention
Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981 World Heritage Convention
Mining Act 1971
National Trust of South Australia Act 1955
Native Title (South Australia) Act 1994
Native Vegetation Act 1991
Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986
Petroleum Act 1940
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1985
Roads (Opening and Closing) Act 1991
Recreational Greenways Act 2000
Soil Conservation and Land Care Act 1989
Water Resources Act 1997
Wilderness Protection Act 1992

15.  Management Context
The context to be considered to manage the park
 Park Features such as close proximity to Adelaide and its microclimate
 Community Values
 Purpose of the Park
- Buildings Heritage Listed on State and Federal Registers
- Park classified as a Natural Monument
(IUCN1 category III2) to be protected in perpetuity.
1International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
2Biodiversity associations with a historical or spiritual site
 Regional Input
- Biodiversity Plan for Mount Lofty Ranges
- State Mountain Bike Plan
- Kaurna Aboriginal culture and heritage
- Study the feasibility of walking trail to Black Hill Conservation Park

16.  Management Prescription
Objectives, Strategies and Actions
 Conservation Zoning
 Hydrology – Creeks – Patawalonga Catchment
 Natural ‘Resources’
- Protect Greybox and Redgum Woodland communities
- Arresting and reversing biodiversity loss
 Fauna – Echidna, Antechinus, Possums, Western Grey Roo, Bush Rat, Bats
Southern Brown Bandicoot – Endangered (EPBC) & Vulnerable (NPW)
Southern Bell Frog – Vulnerable (EPBC)
19 species of reptiles – including the Eastern Brown Snake
137 native bird species
 Seasonal fox control
 Phytophthora
 Weed control including
along rail line

17.  Zone 1 - High Environmental Significance
 Minimal impact activities allowed
 Walking, Bird watching and Photography
 Exclusion of all other activities Horses, Dogs, Bikes
 Zone 2 - Natural Bushland
 Low-impact activities allowed
 Allow dogs on leads, controlled horse and bike riding
 Weed control program

18. Zone 1 – Minimal impact activities
Zone 2 – Low-impact activities

19.  1836 Settling of colony of Adelaide
 1840’s Government farm for agisting sick horses & stock
 1858–1880 Governor's summer residence
 1881 Public fought to keep land as a public reserve
 1891 National Park declared
 Second NP in Australia and 10th in the world
 Park had a recreation vs conservation focus
 1927 Nine sports fields and 42 tennis courts
 1929-1945 The Depression - timber felling – golf course raised funds
 1963 500,000 visitors for year - most arriving by car
 1972 NPWS improved NRM …yet…
 1973 golf course redeveloped amid controversy

20.  Overland train line Adelaide to Melbourne
 52 Tennis Courts
 Caravan Park
 Golf Course and Country Club
 Historic Buildings
 Horse Riding
 Cycling
 Bushwalking
 On leash dog walking
 Native Plant Nursery

21.  Belair station in operation today
 ‘National Park’ station closed 1987
and now demolished
 ‘Overland’ train to Melbourne
passes through 3 times a week

22. Belair Country Club
and Golf Course
 Weddings
 Parties
 Seminars

23. Belair National Park
Caravan Park

24. Dog walking is allowed along designated
walking trails providing that it is
 on a lead and
 it remains under the owner’s
effective control at all times
The park is part of a several regional
walking and horse riding trails
Cycling
 Road – Approved on seal roads
 Trail – Not Approved but proposed for some tracks
 Down Hill – Not Approved or proposed

26.  DEH and others hold leases on several other areas

27.  Twelve nationally threatened species
 Leafy Greenhood & Pale Leak-orchid (V)
 Black-eared Miner Manorina flavigula melanotis (E)
 Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia (E)
 Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum anachoreta (CE)
 Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor (E)
 Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus (E)
 Southern Bell Frog Litoria raniformis (V)

28.  One small outbreak found in 2003.
 Movement of soil, by bikes, horses, walkers and vehicles
may cause further spread.
 Earth moving operations need planning

30. Any Questions?
References
 Department for Environment and Heritage, 2003, Belair National Park Management
Plan, Adelaide, South Australia.
 Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, n.d. Belair National Park,
viewed 28 Feb 2013,
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Adelaide_Hill
s/Belair_National_Park
 Google Maps, 2013, viewed 1 March 2013.