Lake Eildon National Park Management Plan 1997 - Parks Victoria

Lake Eildon National ParkJuly 1997This 1997 plan was evaluated in 2009 and will continue to be

LAKE EILDON NATIONAL PARKMANAGEMENT PLANJULY 1997This 1997 plan was evaluated in 2009 and will continueto be implemented for a further five years.

© Crown (State of Victoria) 1997A Victorian Government Publication. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced byany process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1986.This Approved Plan is based on a Draft Plan compiled by Biosis Research Pty Ltd under contract to theformer National Parks Service.Published in July 1997 by Parks Victoria378 Cotham Road, Kew, Victoria 3101.Note:In December 1996 Parks Victoria (PV) became responsible for the management of parksand other areas previously managed by the former National Parks Service (NPS) andMelbourne Parks and Waterways (MPW). For general information regarding ParksVictoria please call 13 1963, seven days a week.National Library of AustraliaCataloguing-in-Publication entryVictoria. Parks Victoria.Lake Eildon National Park management plan.Bibliography.ISBN 0 7306 6611 51. National parks and reserves - Victoria - Management.2. Lake Eildon National Park (Vic.). I. Victoria.Parks Victoria. II. Title.333.783099453Cover: Coller Bay from near Haines Saddle (Photo: Rawdon Sthradher).Printed on recycled paper to help save our natural environmentiiLake Eildon National Park

FOREWORDLake Eildon National Park, comprising theformer Fraser National Park and Eildon StatePark, is a major nature conservation area, aswell as a very popular destination for both Parkvisitors and visitors to the adjacent LakeEildon.As an important conservation reserve itincorporates a significant representation ofremnant Box Woodland in North East Victoria.Managed primarily for nature conservationpurposes, the Park will continue to provideopportunities for visitors to enjoy the naturalenvironment and magnificent adjacent lake andwaterways.The Coller Bay area will continue to serve as afocus for visitors. The camping areas will bemaintained and facilities for boat-basedvisitors, groups and visitors with limitedmobility will be improved.This Management Plan establishes the longtermmanagement framework to protect theimportant conservation and recreation values ofthe Park while recognising the importantcontributions the Park and adjacent LakeEildon make to the local tourism industry.As a result of the implementation of the Plan, Iam confident that the Park’s special featureswill be protected while visitors’ enjoyment isenhanced.I look forward to the community’s support forthe management of this important NationalPark, which is a significant part of Victoria’sparks system.Hon Marie Tehan MPMINISTER FOR CONSERVATIONand LAND MANAGEMENTLake Eildon National Parkiii

APPROVED MANAGEMENT PLANThis Draft Management Plan, has beenprepared under Section 17 of the NationalParks Act 1975 (Vic.) and is approved forimplementation.The Plan provides the basis for futuremanagement of Lake Eildon National Park. Itwas finalised following consideration of the 22submissions received on the Draft Plan.Mark StoneDirectorNational ParksJeff FloydChief ExecutiveParks VictoriaivLake Eildon National Park

SUMMARYLake Eildon National Park comprising theformer Fraser National Park (3750 ha) andEildon State Park (24 000 ha) has high scenicvalues. A range of flora and fauna not wellreserved elsewhere is present, including boxforests and woodlands, and a number ofsignificant species of native flora and fauna.The Park is also rich in cultural history.The Park provides a number of popularcamping areas on the shores of Lake Eildon.Lake Eildon National Park providesrecreational opportunities in a rugged setting,and offers an excellent base for boatingactivities. The Park is important in protectingthe integrity of the catchment for Lake Eildon.Park management will aim to protect the Park’snatural values and at the same time enablerecreational opportunities consistent with thesevalues. High quality visitor experiences will beprovided, building on the Park’s proximity toLake Eildon. The well developed facilities atFraser camping area and Jerusalem Creekcamping area will continue to cater for largenumbers of visitors and provide a range ofcamping and accommodation opportunities.Management directions for the Park aredescribed below.• Visitor enjoyment will be enhanced byexpanding interpretation programs toinclude activities in more camping areas,designing interpretation programs tointerest specific user groups (includingwater-based visitors) and developing aself-guided mining history tour.• Significant flora and fauna and othernatural and cultural features will beprotected and where appropriateinterpreted.• Visitor attractions, facilities and programswill be co-ordinated with those providedelsewhere in the region.• The Jamieson block will be managed as asemi-remote area.• Revegetation of cleared areas of the Parkwill be continued to improve soil andwater conservation, and habitat andnatural values.Lake Eildon National Parkv

viLake Eildon National Park

CONTENTSFOREWORDSUMMARYiiiv1 INTRODUCTION 11.1 Location and planning area 11.2 Regional context 11.3 Significance of the Park 21.4 Creation of the Park 31.5 Legislation and guidelines 31.6 Park management aims 42 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 52.1 Park vision 52.2 Management directions 52.3 Zoning 63 RESOURCE CONSERVATION 83.1 Geological and landform features 83.2 Rivers and catchments 83.3 Vegetation 83.4 Fauna 93.5 Landscape 103.6 Cultural heritage 114 PARK PROTECTION 134.1 Fire management 134.2 Pest plants and animals, and diseases 144.3 Soil conservation 155 THE PARK VISIT 185.1 The Park visitor 185.2 Visitor recreation activities and facilities 195.2.1 Vehicle access 195.2.2 Day visits 215.2.3 Camping 215.2.4 Bushwalking and cycling 265.2.5 Access for visitors with limited mobility 265.2.6 Fishing 285.2.7 Water sports 285.2.8 Horse riding 295.2.9 Orienteering and rogaining 29Lake Eildon National Parkvii

5.2.10 Dogs 295.2.11 Rock climbing, abseiling and adventure activities 295.2.12 Hunting 305.3 Visitor information, interpretation and education 305.4 Commercial tourism operations 315.5 Public safety 326 COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT 336.1 Friends and volunteers 336.2 Community awareness and Park neighbours 337 OTHER ISSUES 357.1 Authorised uses 357.2 Boundaries and adjacent uses 368 IMPLEMENTATION 38REFERENCES 39TABLES1 Management zones and overlays 72 Summary of recreational activities 203 Vehicle and walking track management 234 Existing and proposed visitor facilities 275 Priority management strategies 38APPENDICESI Significant flora 40II Significant fauna 41FIGURES1 Regional locality map End of Plan2 Management zones "3 Public land use and access management "4 Recreation management "viiiLake Eildon National Park

Introduction1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Location and planning areaLake Eildon National Park comprising theformer Fraser National Park and Eildon StatePark is situated in the northern foothills ofVictoria’s Central Highlands 90 km north-eastof Melbourne and 100 km south-east of Benalla(figure 1).The Land Conservation Council (LCC 1994)has proposed that the two Parks be managed asa single Park. Legislation to combine the twoParks to form Lake Eildon National Park waspassed in 1997.The Park abut the shores of Lake Eildon andfalls entirely within the catchment of that majorwater storage. It is dominated by ridges andsteep slopes.The Park adjoins mainly private land in thewest and State forest in the south, andVictorian Plantations Corporation (VPC) landor private land in the north.This management plan covers the followingareas:• Lake Eildon National Park comprises theformer Fraser National Park (3750 ha),which falls into two blocks – Fraser andWappan – and the former Eildon State Park(24 000 ha), which falls into three blocks –Jerusalem, Jamieson and Enterprise;• one area (about 165 ha) of adjacent MurrayGoulburn Water land at Mt Pinninger underconsideration for addition to the Park;• the 200 m State forest buffer area betweenLake Eildon (full supply level) and the Park,several small areas of State forest andCrown land that have been enclaved by thebuffer, and the Eildon Water Reserve.The nearby Delatite Arm Reserve and otheradjacent Crown land are not included.1.2 Regional contextThe Park lies at the intersection of geographicalareas. It is at the head of the Goulburn Valley,an area popular for its rural scenery, fishingand water-based recreation. The Park formspart of the northern boundary of the CentralHighlands, steep mountain country with ruggedscenery, high natural values and outdoorrecreational opportunities. To the north, thePark abuts the Mansfield region, one of thegateways to the Victorian Alps and a rural areawith many attractions for visitors. Within thisdiverse regional context, the Park contrastswith nearby rural areas, and provides relativelyeasy access to the rugged scenery of theCenthetral Highlands. The Park has particularvalue for visitors to Lake Eildon, both as asuperb setting when viewed from the Lake andas an area providing campsites and offering analternative to water-based activities.Other destinations within these regions include:• the towns of Eildon, Jamieson and GoughsBay;• Delatite Arm Reserve – a large summercamping area on the shores of Lake Eildon,adjacent to the VPC Delatite Pine Plantationclose to the northern boundary of theEnterprise block;• Natural and Scenic Features Reserves at MtTorbreck and Mt Terrible – high peaksclose to the Park; Mt Torbreck is used bybushwalkers and small numbers of crosscountryskiers, while Mt Terrible is mostlyvisited by four-wheel drivers and trail-bikeriders;• Cathedral Range State Park – a popularvenue for camping, walking and rockclimbing;• the Yarra Ranges National Park – a newpark containing some of the best mature wetforests and cool temperate rainforests inVictoria and containing much ofMelbourne’s water supply catchment, itprovides a range of recreationalopportunities, including day and overnightwalking, cross-country skiing, camping andpicnicking;• Alpine National Park (Wonnangatta-Moroka Unit) – east of the Park andconnected by State forest, this park hasmany walking tracks, four-wheel driveLake Eildon National Park 1

Introductiontracks and campsites in rugged mountaincountry;• Big River – a series of campsites in Stateforest along the Big River adjacent to thePark, mainly used by vehicle-basedcampers.1.3 Significance of the ParkLake Eildon National Park is a valuable part ofVictoria’s park system, which aims to protectviable, representative examples of the State’snatural environments occurring on public land.The Park represents Box Woodland and foothillforests within the National Parks system. ThePark also provides opportunities for visitors toenjoy and appreciate natural and historicalvalues, and make an important contribution tolocal and regional tourism.The Park has high scenic values, combiningopen country, woodland and rugged forestedridges with superb vistas to Lake Eildon andthe Alps. Because of its location on the edge ofareas largely cleared for agriculture, a range offlora and fauna not well reserved elsewhere ispresent, including Box Woodland and severalrare or endangered species of native fauna. ThePark also contains large areas of foothill forestsin good condition and areas of old-growth(identified by Natural Resources andEnvironment Central Highlands studies); thesealso support a range of rare and endangeredfauna.The Park is rich in history, with many goldmining relics, evidence of the area’s pastoralhistory and connections to the development ofEildon Weir.The Park provides recreational opportunities ina rugged setting that contrasts with thesurrounding areas. These include camping,walking, vehicle-based touring, four-wheeldriving, trail-bike riding and nature study.The Park has a number of camping areas on theshores of Lake Eildon.The Park is assigned to the IUCN Category II(National Parks) of the United Nations’ List ofNational Parks and Protected Areas. CategoryII areas are managed primarily for ecosystemconservation and appropriate recreation.The Park is listed on the Register of theNational Estate in recognition of its outstandingvalues and importance as part of our heritage.The significant features of the Park aresummarised below.Natural values• The presence of areas of foothill forest ingood condition that have been largelycleared or altered elsewhere, includinglarge areas of long unburnt and minimallydisturbed forest, and remnant box forests.• The occurrence of many significant plantand animal species.• The presence of important bat populationsin several disused mine shafts.• Rugged scenery, including several vantagepoints with panoramic views to the Alps.Cultural values• A range of sites, some of Regionalsignificance, reflecting the gold-mininghistory of the area, including WilsonsCreek Mining Area, Robbs Reward Mine,Black Creek Mines, OK Mine, SolferinoMines and Italian Gully Mines.• Relics of the area’s pastoral development– a stone fence on Steep Track, JerusalemCreek farmhouse sites, Bob Brier’s homesite and garden, Sunnyslopes Hut, PuzzleRange Spring and Stone’s outstation andstockyards.• Associations with the construction of LakeEildon (e.g. the old high voltage powerlineeasement) and drowning of the valleyswith submerged towns (e.g. Darlingford),buildings (e.g. Glen Hope/Benarahomestead) and other features (e.g.Darlingford Road and bridges).2 Lake Eildon National Park

IntroductionTourism and recreation values• Vehicle-based camping in a naturalenvironment with good access to LakeEildon.• Popular group camping areas.• Cabins at Fraser camping area; these alsohave good access for people with limitedmobility and the camping area generallyhas excellent opportunities for thesevisitors.• A network of short walks and bike rides inFraser camping area.• A range of recreational opportunitiesincluding camping, four-wheel driving,trail-bike riding, cycling, deer stalking andfishing.• Opportunities to experience a semi-remoteenvironment within easy access ofsurrounding non-remote attractions.• The diversity of park values and theirlocation create good opportunities foreducational and commercial outdooractivities.1.4 Creation of the ParkFollowing the purchase of grazing properties bythe State Rivers and Water Supply Commissionin connection with the construction of the LakeEildon project, some of the land that was notflooded was proposed as a national park. Anarea of 6600 acres (2670 ha) was declared asFraser National Park on 18 December 1957 asa result of the Fraser National Park Act 1957(Vic.). Subsequent additions (and a very smallexcision) brought the area to 3750 ha. ThePark was included on Schedule Two of theNational Parks Act in 1975.As a result of LCC (1977) recommendationsand the National Parks Act 1978 (Vic.), theformer Eildon State Park (24 000 ha) wasincluded on Schedule Three of the NationalParks Act on 26 April 1980. It was transferredto the new Schedule Two B (State Parks) on 23August 1989 as a result of the National Parks(Amendment) Act 1989 (Vic.).The two Parks were combined to form LakeEildon National Park, which was proclaimed on4 June 1997, as a result of the National Parks(Amendment) Act 1997 (Vic.).1.5 Legislation and guidelinesThe Park is reserved and managed under theNational Parks Act. The Act requires theDirector to preserve and protect the naturalenvironment of the Park and its natural andother features and, subject to this, to providefor the use of the Park by the public forenjoyment, recreation and education. The Actalso provides for appropriate research.The LCC (1977) recommended that EildonState Park be established to:• preserve and protect natural ecosystems;• protect sites of cultural importance;• supply water and protect catchments andstreams;• provide opportunities for recreation andeducation associated with the enjoyment andunderstanding of natural and culturalenvironments.The LCC (1994) recommended that the twoParks, together with the Mt Pinninger area (seesection 7.2), be combined to form Eildon-Fraser State Park. The Governmentsubsequently decided that the area should bereserved as Lake Eildon National Park.The part of the Big River Heritage Rivercorridor located in the planning area ismanaged in accordance with the HeritageRivers Act 1992 (Vic.) and LCCrecommendations (LCC 1991).The Park is managed in accordance with ParksVictoria guidelines for the management ofparks and with other guidelines and procedures,including:• Code of Practice for Fire Management onPublic Land (CNR 1995a);• Alexandra Region Fire Protection Plan(CNR 1995b);• Proposed Forest Management Plan for theCentral Highlands (NRE 1996).1.6 Park management aimsLake Eildon National Park 3

IntroductionSections 4 and 17 of the National Parks Actprovide the main basis for management of thePark. The following management aims arederived from those sections and as such broadlygovern all aspects of park management.Resource conservation• Preserve and protect the naturalenvironment.• Allow natural environmental processes tocontinue with the minimum of interference.• Maintain biodiversity.• Conserve features of archaeological,historical and cultural significance.Park protection• Protect water catchments and streams.• Protect human life, the Park and adjacentland from injury by fire.• Eradicate, or otherwise control, introducedplants, animals and diseases.The Park visit• Provide opportunities for appropriaterecreation and tourism.• Promote and encourage an appreciation,understanding and enjoyment of the Park’snatural and cultural values and itsrecreational opportunities.• Encourage appropriate park use andvisitor behaviour, and foster aconservation ethic in visitors.• Take reasonable steps to ensure the safetyof visitors.Other• Provide for and encourage scientificresearch, surveys and monitoring that willcontribute to a better understanding andmanagement of the Park.• Co-operate with local and Stategovernment authorities, the communityand other interested organisations to assistin the management of the Park.4 Lake Eildon National Park

Strategic directions2 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS2.1 Park visionA future visitor to Lake Eildon National Parkfinds a diversity of natural environments andrecreational experiences within easy reach ofMelbourne and major regional centres. ThePark’s scenic values are high, combining opencountry, woodland and rugged forested ridgeswith superb vistas to Lake Eildon and the Alps.Key conservation values include the largenumber of significant native fauna present, thepresence of box forests that are largely clearedelsewhere, and large areas of foothill forests ingood condition and containing major areas ofminimally disturbed forest and old-growth. ThePark is rich in history, with many gold miningrelics, evidence of the area’s pastoral historyand connections to the development of EildonWeir. The diversity of park values and theirlocation within the State makes the Parkpopular for educational and commercialoutdoor activities, integrated closely with parkvalues.The Park is closely linked with Lake Eildon: itplays an important role in catchment protection,gives access to the Lake for many recreationalusers, allows for a range of recreationalopportunities that add variety to the waterexperience, and forms much of the superbvisual backdrop to the Lake. Strengtheningthese links are co-operative management of thelake shore in conjunction with GoulburnMurray Water, excellent recreational facilitiesthat encourage use of both the Park and theLake, and interpretation programs for waterbasedrecreationists. Visitors to the Lake andto the region are aware of park values andregularly include it in their activities, assistedby the provision of good access to attractionswithin the Park. The Park is popular with daywalkers (especially the former Fraser NationalPark area), and the former Eildon State Park toMt Torbreck (outside the Park) walking circuitis one of the most popular weekend bushwalksin the Central Highlands. Four wheel drivetouring within the Park remains a popular usein suitable areas, linked to touring routes inadjacent State forest.The Park serves as a recreational resource to abroad range of users, including residents of thelocal townships, and shows a very high level ofuse by educational and commercial outdooractivities groups. These user groups areinvolved in Park management activities throughvolunteer programs related to their activities inthe Park.2.2 Management directionsManagement directions for Lake EildonNational Park are outlined below.Resource conservation• A number of specific natural and culturalfeatures will be given special protection,with priority given to mining relics,mineshaft-dwelling bats and minimallydisturbed areas.• The Jamieson block will be managed as asemi-remote area, with no development oftracks or campsites.• Burning regimes will be designed tomaintain and enhance natural diversity andretain the old-growth values of sections ofthe Park; they will be co-ordinated withthe protection burning program to ensurethat they also contribute to enhanced fireprotection.Park protection• The Park’s fire protection strategy willprotect adjacent land and particular assets,especially towns, as well as the ecologicalvalues of the Park.• Water catchments and water quality willbe protected.• A pest plant and animal control programwill focus on key sites, target species andeffective control methods.• Seasonal restrictions on vehicle access willcontinue to protect some tracks, withmonitoring, rehabilitation and closure ifrequired.The Park visitLake Eildon National Park 5

Strategic directions• Visitor enjoyment will be enhanced byenlarging interpretation programs toinclude camping areas, designinginterpretation programs to interest specificuser groups (including water-basedvisitors) and developing a self-guided tourbased on the area’s mining history.• Current camping opportunities will bemaintained. A new boat-based camp atTaylors Creek will be developed, and alocation for an additional group campingarea will be investigated.• The mix of accommodation opportunitiesat Fraser camping area will be maintainedto ensure that its character remainsunchanged.• Commercial recreational activities andlarge group activities will be managed toensure that their impacts on other Parkvisitors and on park values are acceptableand sustainable.• Visitor attractions, facilities and programswill be co-ordinated with those providedelsewhere in the region.Community awareness and involvement• A co-operative management approach willbe sought with neighbours, public landmanagers, local government and privatelandholders to improve conservationmanagement on adjacent land, and toensure that their activities anddevelopments do not degrade park values.2.3 ZoningA park management zoning scheme has beendeveloped for the Park to:• provide a geographic framework in which tomanage the Park;• indicate which management directions havepriority in different parts of the Park;• indicate the levels and types of useappropriate throughout the Park;• assist in minimising existing and potentialconflicts between uses and activities, orbetween these and the protection of parkvalues;• provide a basis for assessing the suitabilityof future activities and developmentproposals.Three management zones apply to the Park:Conservation; Conservation and Recreation;and Recreation Development. In addition, twooverlays, a Special Management Area – PublicUtility and a Land Use Designation – Hunting,have been included to provide for non-standarduses. The Big River Heritage River corridoroverlays the 200 m buffer.Table 1 specifies zone and overlaycharacteristics, and their locations are shown onfigure 2.6 Lake Eildon National Park

Resource conservation3 RESOURCE CONSERVATION3.1 Geological and landformfeaturesThe Park is characterised by strongly dissectedmountainous terrain that has developed onclosely folded lower Devonian and Siluriansediments. Quartz dykes are intruded in someareas, notably Rocky Spur.There are few sites of geological orgeomorphological significance in or adjacent tothe Park. The great Cerberean Caldera was ahuge circular volcano about 27 km across. Thering fracture that marked its edges outcrops asRocky Peak (other outcrops are near Thorntonand Buxton). This huge volcano was activearound 380 million years ago. The centralsection has filled with volcanic rocks up to1500 m thick which now form the CerbereanRanges, including Mt Torbreck and LakeMountain (Birch 1994).Most of the geomorphological features in thePark are not susceptible to damage by visitors.Aims• Protect areas of significant geological andgeomorphological interest from damage.• Provide opportunities for appropriateresearch into, education about andappreciation of geological andgeomorphological sites.Management strategies• Monitor known sites of geological andgeomorphological significance.• Provide general interpretive materialsabout the Park’s geology and landforms,with specific interpretive materials on theCerberean Caldera.3.2 Rivers and catchmentsThe Park falls totally within the catchment ofLake Eildon. The areas of forested land in thePark deliver high quality water with very lowsediment and nutrient loads to the Lake,especially when compared with the run-off fromthe agricultural land to the north. The Park fallswithin the Goulburn-Broken Catchment andLand Protection Region.The Big River is a heritage river designatedunder the Heritage Rivers Act. Part of theheritage river corridor, outside the Park,overlays the adjacent 200 m buffer of Stateforest (see section 7.2). A separatemanagement plan is currently being preparedfor the heritage river.Aims• Protect and maintain the integrity ofcatchments within the Park.• Protect and enhance the heritage values ofthe Big River.Management strategies• Minimise the impact of management andvisitor activities on streams and catchmentsin the Park.• Liaise with the relevant RegionalCatchment and Land Protection Board inregard to park management activities.• Implement appropriate managementactions from the Big River Heritage RiverManagement Plan.3.3 VegetationThe map of Ecological Vegetation Classes(EVCs) prepared for the Central Highlandsindicates that six EVCs occur in the Park. Anotable feature is the large area of Herb-richForest and Grassy Dry Forest, much of whichhas been cleared where it once occurred onprivate land and which is poorly reserved in theregion. Less common EVCs are Heathy DryForest (in the Enterprise block), RiparianForest (especially along Whites Creek – muchof the original riparian vegetation is under thewaters of Lake Eildon), Damp Forest andMontane Dry Woodland (on ridge tops in theJamieson block). Isolated examples of BoxWoodland (not mapped) occur in the Park. Thevegetation of the former Eildon State Park is9 Lake Eildon National Park

Resource conservationrated as being of State significance (LCC1994).Most of the forests in the Enterprise block werenot burnt in the 1939 fires. Approximately 800ha adjacent to the Delatite Arm Reserve wereburn in a wildfire in January 1997. The forestson the eastern slopes of the Jamieson block arelittle disturbed. Such undisturbed dry forestsare very uncommon and are an importantaspect of the values of the Park. Old-growthareas are scattered through much of the Park,mainly on the Enterprise Plateau, southernJamieson block and in parts of the Jerusalemblock. There are a number of widespreadweeds in the Park, notably St Johns Wort, butmany areas remain where the vegetation is ingood condition with low levels of introducedplants.Some areas have been cleared in the past foragriculture, including much of the formerFraser National Park and small areas in theEnterprise block. These areas are generallyheavily weed invaded and show varying degreesof natural regeneration of trees and shrubs.There has been an active replanting program inparts of the former Fraser National Park.There has been a lack of botanical survey in thePark, except for the brief reconnaissance of theformer Eildon State Park by Smith (1980). Herecorded 232 native species and 47 introducedspecies, with five species noted as being ofconservation significance (appendix I). Onesignificant species (FFG listed), the LeafyGreenhood, occurs in the 200 m buffer areabetween the Park and Lake Eildon.The main factor that can influence the natureand condition of the native vegetation in thePark is fire. Fire management will need to takeecological factors into account to maintain parkvalues, and further survey is required in someareas to determine the appropriate fire regime.Firewood collection is a threat to nativevegetation in the vicinity of heavily used visitorareas around Coller Bay and Jerusalem Creek.Collection elsewhere within the Park hasminimal impact.Aims• Conserve native plant communities andmaintain their natural floristic diversity.• Provide special protection for, and increaseour knowledge of, significant plantcommunities and species.• Maintain appropriate ecological fireregimes.Management strategies• Manage plant species, communities andpotentially threatening processes listedunder the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act1988 (Vic.) according to approved ActionStatements.• Develop a monitoring program whichfocuses on key communities or species, inparticular the Leafy Greenhood.• Undertake further flora surveys andencourage flora research in the Park.• Undertake an assessment to define furtherbotanical sites of significance in the Park,and include these on the Sites Register.• Prohibit the collection of firewood fromwithin Recreation Development andConservation Zones.• Develop a firewood supply strategy for theRecreation Development and ConservationZones that:• minimises cost to Parks Victoria;• provides alternative supply methods;• encourages visitors to reduce their useof firewood and utilise low impactequipment.3.4 FaunaAlthough little is known about the fauna of thebulk of the Park, it is clearly an area ofconsiderable faunal diversity with a highnumber of significant species. This appears tobe due to three factors: the presence of largeareas of dry sclerophyll forest in good condition(much of it with no recorded disturbance), thepresence of small areas of habitat that are more10 Lake Eildon National Park

Resource conservationtypical of the fertile private land that is nowmostly cleared, and the large numbers of oldmine shafts that support cave-dwelling bats (seesection 3.6). The Park is one of the mostsignificant areas for bats in Victoria.The known native fauna comprises 34mammals, 89 birds, 17 reptiles, ten amphibiansand three freshwater fish (NRE database 1997).Fauna surveys would undoubtedly expand theselists. A number of significant species occur inthe Park (appendix II), including one bird ofNational significance (Regent Honeyeater), oneamphibian of National significance (SpottedTree Frog), four mammals of State significance(Brush-tailed Phascogale, Eastern HorseshoeBat, Common Bent-wing Bat, Large-footedMyotis), two birds of State significance(Powerful Owl, Sooty Owl) and one freshwaterfish of State significance (Mountain Galaxias).There are unconfirmed records of two furthermammals of State significance (Spot-tailedQuoll, Smoky Mouse). One bird of Nationalsignificance (Regent Honeyeater) and onemammal of State significance (Brush-tailedPhascogale) are recorded from the formerFraser National Park(appendix II).Sambar are present within the Park. Little isknown about the effects of deer on flora andfauna values. Deer stalking is allowed on aseasonal (winter) basis in defined sections ofthe Park (see section 5.2.12)Aims• Conserve native fauna and maintain theintegrity of their habitats.• Provide special protection for, and increaseknowledge of, significant fauna species.• Maintain appropriate ecological fire regimesin all habitat types.Management strategies• Manage fauna species, communities andpotentially threatening processes listedunder the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Actaccording to approved Action Statements.• Develop a monitoring program whichfocuses on key populations or species, inparticular species of National or Statesignificance.• Minimise habitat alteration processes, suchas fire and vehicle access, especially in theEnterprise block and other little-disturbedor old-growth areas.• Protect key bat roosting sites in mine shaftsby prohibiting access. Monitor colonies(not during winter hibernation) and protectif visitor impacts become unacceptable.• Conduct fauna surveys or encourage andsupport appropriately skilled volunteergroups to conduct surveys according to aprioritised survey plan. Priorities forsurvey include general area surveys(Jamieson and Enterprise blocks, RockySpur) and specific species (Smoky Mouse,Spot-tailed Quoll, Regent Honeyeater,Brush-tailed Phascogale, Spotted TreeFrog, bats in mine shafts).3.5 LandscapeThe Park has high scenic values, combiningopen country, woodland and rugged forestedridges with some superb vistas to Lake Eildonand the Alps. The open nature of the semiclearedareas in the Fraser block is popularwith visitors and provides a range of long viewsto the Lake and the hills beyond; the potentialof revegetation programs to close off popularviews should be monitored. Elsewhere, thedissected topography and the forest cover tendto restrict views to the short and middledistance except at key viewing points, whichoffer panoramic vistas to visitors. Relativelyaccessible viewing points include MerloLookout, Points Mead and Highett, ForsythPoint and several points along Taylors CreekRoad. Other viewing points – The Pinnacle,Highett Point Track and several other locationsin the Enterprise block – require access byfour-wheel drive or moderately strenuouswalks.Mount Pinninger provides one of the mosteasily accessible and impressive views; it isadjacent to the Park and was recommended foraddition by the LCC (1994).Lake Eildon National Park 11

Resource conservationAreas of the Park that have a semi-remotenature often look directly onto Lake Eildon orto other non-natural areas. The use anddevelopment of these areas can significantlyaffect the visual experience of Park visitors.More generally, Park management activitiesand structures and activities on adjacent landhave the potential to adversely affect landscapequalities.There is a major PowerNet easement throughthe Park for the Eildon-Mt Beauty 220 kV line.Appropriate revegetation using low growingnative species could reduce the visual (andecological) impacts while maintaining accessand safety needs.Aim• Minimise visual impacts on the naturallandscape, especially those visible frommajor viewing points and semi-remote areas.Management strategies• Minimise the visual impacts of managementactivities both inside and outside the Parkby:• locating all facilities utilising bestpractice design, taking into account theneed to protect landscape values;• improving the landscape qualities ofdegraded areas and monitoring theeffects of revegetation programs onpopular views;• encouraging public utilities and otherservice providers to minimise the visualintrusion of easements through carefulsiting and design, and sensitivevegetation management.• Encourage local government to includeappropriate visual management measuresin their planning controls.3.6 Cultural heritageThe rich valleys of the upper Goulburnsupported an Aboriginal population of somehundreds of members of the Yauung-Illam-Baluk tribe at the time of Europeancolonisation.The flooding of the valleys by Lake Eildon hasinundated the areas most likely to containAboriginal sites, since the steep dry ridges ofthe Park would have been used much lessfrequently. There do not appear to have beenany archaeological surveys of the Park, and theHeritage Services Branch, Aboriginal AffairsVictoria, does not record any sites for the Park.Aboriginal cultural sites are protected under theArchaeological and Aboriginal RelicsPreservation Act 1972 (Vic.), and theAboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderHeritage Protection Act 1984 (Cwlth).The Park is rich in sites relating to Europeanheritage. These relate to three main themes:gold-mining, pastoral development, and theconstruction of Lake Eildon and drowning ofthe valleys. These sites are mainly found in theFraser and Jerusalem blocks.The gold-mining sites are of at least regionalsignificance and most have a variety of featurespreserved. This, plus the number of mine sitesin relatively close proximity, means that theassociated heritage values are high and that thesites are a major feature of the Park. TheWilsons Creek Mining Area, Robbs RewardMine, OK Mine and Solferino Mines have thepotential to become major Park attractionsthrough the development of appropriate accessand interpretive facilities.There are safety issues associated with mineshafts and access into shafts should beprevented where appropriate. Several of themine shafts are known or likely to supportimportant colonies of bats (see section 3.4).There is a further mining site at Mt Pinninger,an area that is a possible addition to the Park,which contains a highly significant bat colony.The site’s historical significance has not beendetermined.The pastoral sites are generally less wellpreserved. Stone’s outstation and stockyardsnear Station Creek is a well preserved site ofregional or State significance. The stone fenceson Steep and Pinnacle Tracks are relativelydifficult to access but are an interesting feature.There is a range of historic sites affected by theconstruction of Lake Eildon, such as theDarlingford Road, which roughly follows the12 Lake Eildon National Park

Resource conservationfull supply level contour and thus appears anddisappears as it winds around the ridges and aswater levels fluctuate, while the JerusalemCreek site and the Glen Hope/Benarahomestead are examples of the Lake forcingpeople off their land. The homestead onlyemerges at times of very low water level, whenit is a popular attraction.Aims• Identify, protect, and where appropriateinterpret Aboriginal archaeological sites ofsignificance.• Encourage Aboriginal involvement in themanagement of the Park.• Identify, record and assess the significanceof historic places and artefacts.• Protect all historic places and, ifappropriate, conserve significant places.• Use historic places, where appropriate, forthe enjoyment of Park visitors and as aresource for education and recreation.Management strategies• Support further studies to identifyAboriginal heritage values requiringmanagement and protection.• Liaise with the Heritage Service Branch,Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, in relation toidentification and management ofAboriginal sites.• Liaise with the Wurundjeri Tribe LandCompensation and Cultural HeritageCouncil with respect to management ofAboriginal heritage.• Identify, record, assess, manage andinterpret historic sites and features in linewith Parks Victoria guidelines.• If consistent with conservation plans:• develop access and interpretivefacilities at Wilson Creek mining area;• fence Deep Shaft;• protect the Eastern Horseshoe Batcolony by installing entrance grill;• construct access walking track (roundtrip);• prepare information sheet or include inother Park publications;• install appropriate signage orinformation shelter.• Investigate developing safe access andinterpretive facilities at Solferino Mines,Robbs Reward Mine and OK Mine; ifappropriate develop sequentially in theorder listed. Negotiate agreements withadjacent landowners to gain access to thewhole of Robbs Reward Mine and OKMine.• Prepare a guide to the changes caused inthe area by the flooding of Lake Eildon inconsultation with Goulburn Murray Water,possibly using the Darlingford Road as athematic link. Develop the guide for waterbasedvisitors but include usefulinformation for other Park visitors.• Investigate the development of interpretivefacilities at Stone’s outstation andstockyards near Station Creek inconjunction with the development of anexpanded day walk network in that block.• Include basic information on the SteepTrack stone fence in Park interpretivematerials but do not provide signage orother interpretive facilities at the site.• Prepare conservation plans according tothe guidelines of the ICOMOS BurraCharter in consultation with localcommunities to guide development andmanagement actions at significant historicplaces.Lake Eildon National Park 13

Park protection4 PARK PROTECTION4.1 Fire managementThe National Parks Act requires the Director ofNational Parks to ensure that appropriate andsufficient measures are taken to protect parksfrom injury by fire, and the Forests Act 1958(Vic.) requires NRE to undertake fireprevention and suppression on public land. Nomajor fires have occurred in either Park forabout 50 years and much of the land escapedthe 1939 fires. Small fires occurred in 1983adjacent to the Park in the Delatite PinePlantation, and in 1986 in the Jamieson block;both were rapidly controlled. Approximately800 ha in the Enterprise block were burnt in1997.Current fire protection measures are inaccordance with the Code of Practice for FireManagement on Public Land (CNR 1995a) andthe Draft Alexandra Regional Fire ProtectionPlan (CNR 1995b). The draft Fire ProtectionPlan aims to protect life, property and otherassets, protect areas of natural and culturalvalue, and reduce the incidence and extent ofwildfire. The main pre-suppression tool used tocontrol the spread of wildfire is fuel reductionburning. Site protection is provided by smallareas that are burnt frequently to maintain verylow fuel levels (Priority 1 Burning Zones).Strategic corridors are regularly burnt tomaintain low fuel levels (Priority 2 BurningZones). Fire protection takes priority overecological management in these zones, but bothare considered. Less frequent burning on amosaic basis is proposed in the bulk of the Park(Priority 3 Burning Zone). Priority 3 BurningZones allow some flexibility to incorporateecological management into burning regimes.Some areas are planned to be not burnt(Priority 5 Burning Zone).The main features of the draft plan are:• Priority 1 Burning Zones to protect ParadisePoint and Goughs Bay;• Priority 2 Burning Zone along Skyline Roadand to protect Paradise Point and Jamieson,and the Jerusalem Creek camping areas;• Priority 3 Burning Zone surrounding ItalianGully north to Station Ck, in the Enterpriseblock and along the north and eastboundaries of the Jerusalem and Jamiesonblocks;• Priority 5 Burning Zones in the remainder ofthe Park.Also relevant is a strategic burning corridor onthe western and southern side of the Eildon-Jamieson Road between Eildon and Big River.The plan includes provision for the maintenanceof the Park’s fire access tracks, and for liaisonwith private landholders and the CFAconcerning fire management in boundary areas.Aims• Protect life, property and park values frominjury by fire.• Minimise the adverse effects of fires and firesuppression.• Maintain fire regimes appropriate to theecology of native flora and fauna.• Promote public awareness of firemanagement within the Park.Management strategies• Implement the relevant section of theAlexandra Regional Fire Protection Plan.• Publicise and enforce fire regulations andrestrictions on the use of fire within thePark. Rangers will patrol areas of highpublic use during periods of high firedanger.• Undertake necessary fire pre-suppressionworks and burning in accordance with thedraft Alexandra Regional Fire ProtectionPlan.• Use least disturbance suppressionstrategies wherever practicable in the Park,including:• fireline construction using hand crews;• air attack;Lake Eildon National Park 14

Park protection• back burning from existing roads,tracks or breaks;• using existing roads, tracks andtopographic features as control lines.• Rehabilitate fire control lines and otherdisturbed areas resulting from fireprotection and suppression activities assoon as possible after the fire/burn.• Document sites with significant flora, faunaand cultural values and seek to modify theFire Protection Plan appropriately.• Incorporate new research findings into firemanagement, including into the review ofthe Fire Protection Plan.• Prepare sub-plans for the protection orecological fire management of specificareas; i.e. undisturbed old growth forestsin the Enterprise and Jamieson blocks.4.2 Pest plants and animals, anddiseasesPest plants in the Park can be placed into fivegroups in terms of management: those that arewidespread in the regenerating pasture areas inthe Fraser block (e.g. St Johns Wort, pasturegrasses and weeds); those that are common andwidespread in native vegetation (e.g. St JohnsWort, Tutsan); those that are widespread butrestricted to disturbed areas (Blackberry,thistles); those that are uncommon andrestricted (Horehound, English Broom, Gorse,Spanish Heath, Ivy); and those that areuncommon but widespread (fruit trees, pines,most other exotic species).Some pest plants are now so widespread that itis very difficult to reduce their distributionwithin the Park, although further spread can becontrolled. Others are currently localisedinfestations that could be effectively controlledby herbicides or other direct managementtechniques.Pest animals in the Park includes feral cats anddogs, foxes and rabbits. Sheep can stray intothe Park. Starlings, Blackbirds and SongThrushes also occur but are not common.Feral cats and dogs are most common neartownships. Control of these species is likely tobe ineffective and should only be consideredwhere there is a specific need (e.g. a problemdog worrying campers, or a need to protect aspecific rare species from cats). There aregrowing indications that foxes are the majorproblem predator of native fauna, so generalcontrol measures may be worthwhile. Foxcontrol by baiting can have negative effects onnative predators, such as Spot-tailed Quolls, aspecies that may occur in the Park. There isalso evidence that the presence of Dingoes (butnot dogs) reduces fox numbers.Rabbits are generally not a problem in the Parkin areas of native vegetation but are a problemelsewhere and continued control is needed toprevent major problems.Cinnamon Fungus and other soil-bornepathogens are not known in the Park at present.Aims• Control, and where possible eradicate,weeds and other introduced plants.• Minimise the introduction and spread ofweeds into and through the Park.• Control introduced animals.• Prevent the introduction of CinnamonFungus into the Park.• Minimise the impact of control programs onnative flora and fauna.Management strategies• Undertake, as a priority, control oflocalised infestations of invasive pestplants (e.g. Horehound, English Broom,Gorse, Ivy, Spanish Heath).• Control widespread but uncommon woodyweeds, such as fruit trees and pines,perhaps using volunteers.• Prepare a pest plants management plan tomonitor and treat target species that arepresent or threatening the Park to reduceor prevent major infestations fromspreading, control minor infestations anderadicate new infestations.Lake Eildon National Park 15

Park protection• Minimise disturbance in native vegetationinvaded by species such as St Johns Wortbut make no other broad-scale controlefforts unless a new and effective controltechnique is developed; control spot areasusing herbicides where there is a specificneed (e.g. to encourage regeneration or tomaintain weed-free areas).• Control cats and dogs where there is aspecific problem or identified highpopulation levels.• Prepare and implement a fox control planthat aims for targeted and effective control.• Do not use baits near any known orsuspected Spot-tailed Quoll populations.• Continue to control rabbits.• Work with adjacent landholders, localgovernment and other land managers todevelop an integrated and co-operativeapproach to pest plant and animalmanagement.• Encourage local government to use locallaws and the planning system to assist inthe control of pest plants and animals onadjacent private land.• Monitor for the presence of CinnamonFungus in the Park; if detected, manageCinnamon Fungus infections in accordancewith Parks Victoria guidelines.PinesThere is a small area at Stillmans Point whichhas been planted with pines by the formerForests Commission. The LCC hasrecommended that the area be replanted withnative species (LCC 1977). The pines are anintrusion of exotic vegetation into an otherwisenatural area of the Park and there is an ongoingproblem with the spread of pine wildings intothe surrounding Park areas. However, some ofthose who camp at Stillmans Point enjoy thepine forest environment. The area will have tobe closed temporarily during rehabilitation.There are a few pine trees at Jerusalem Creekassociated with the sites of early settlements.These appear to be of little historic value andare causing the spread of pine wildings into thePark which are degrading the Park’s naturalvalues. Native vegetation is well developedaround them.The Victorian Plantations Corporation (VPC)manages a large pine plantation at the DelatiteArm, between the Park and the Delatite ArmReserve. This plantation is currently beingharvested and will be replanted and managed asa productive plantation. There is considerableinvasion of the adjacent Park areas by pinewildings. Control of wildings in areas adjacentto coupes has been undertaken as harvestingoccurs; there are, however, some very widelydispersed wildings that will require furthercontrol.Aim• Control and where possible eradicate pinetrees in the Park.Management strategies• Remove the pines at Stillmans Point andreplant with native species; plan removal tominimise negative effects on the campingarea. Control wildings in adjacent areas.• Remove pines at Jerusalem Creek.• Prepare a program to control pine wildingsin consultation with the VPC.4.3 Soil conservationRevegetationRevegetation effort in the Park has beenconcentrated in the Fraser block. The approachis to match species to topography and soils andutilise local seed, and it has achievedconsiderable success. Erosion control measuresand soil ripping are undertaken prior toplanting. There is also some natural seedlingregeneration around existing remnant trees, butthe rate of spread has generally been lower thanthat achieved from active revegetation.Revegetation has proceeded in an incrementalmanner, working out from Coller Bay and16 Lake Eildon National Park

Park protectionaiming to have high success in well preparedsites of limited size, rather than a broad scaleapproach with likely poor establishment rates.Tunnel and gully erosion is a problem in theFraser block on cleared areas, and erosioncontrol and revegetation proceed together.Plantings are only of tree species; as the treesbecome established, weeds such as St JohnsWort and pasture grasses decline around themand some native understorey species becomeestablished.Plantings are generally undertaken byprofessional works crews. Some valuablevolunteer contributions have been made.However, the extent of the works is such thatthe efficiency and experience of work crewsresults in much greater productivity and is vitalto the completion of yearly targets.The revegetation program also represents afairly large input of time and effort that mayhave relatively small returns in terms ofbiodiversity conservation (although it may bethat it will assist the nationally endangeredRegent Honeyeater).There is little need for revegetation in otherblocks of the Park, although there is a largecleared area on the north-east side of HighettRidge in the Enterprise block and somedegraded areas around popular campsites.Natural revegetation is occurring only veryslowly, so a revegetation program may also beappropriate there.Aim• Revegetate cleared areas of the Park wherenecessary for soil or water conservation orfor habitat enhancement.Management strategies• Prepare and implement revegetation plansfor Fraser and Wappan blocks and theHighett Ridge area that set clear andjustified goals for revegetation, set out aworks program (5-10 years) and addressvisual and visitor experience issues.Soil conservationThe land systems in the Park has been mapped(Rundle 1977) and their erosion hazardsassessed. The Eildon and Maintongoon landsystems cover over 75% of the Park and have ahigh erosion hazard. Water erosion is generallynot a problem where there is good vegetationcover, but it can rapidly occur when the soil isdisturbed either by mechanical means (such astrack construction or maintenance) or bynatural processes such as fire. Of particularconcern is track surface erosion on routesleading directly to the Lake Eildon foreshoreAs the Park falls within a Special Area Planunder the Catchment and Land Protection Act1994 (Vic.), all works within 200 m of LakeEildon full supply level must be approved bythe Upper Goulburn Catchment Co-ordinator.Aims• Prevent and control soil erosion caused byvisitor and management activities.• Use the erosion hazard mapping of the Parkin planning and management decisions.Management strategies• Prevent sedimentation inputs into LakeEildon by:• rationalising the track network insusceptible locations, closing trackswhich are either poorly located orduplicated;• undertaking regular maintenance anddrainage works on remaining tracknetwork;• closing susceptible tracks seasonally.• Use land capability analysis to determinethe most appropriate sites for any futuredevelopments.• Document and publish successfulrevegetation techniques developed in thePark so that other managers can benefitfrom this knowledge.Lake Eildon National Park 17

Park protection• Ensure appropriate measures are taken tominimise soil loss after fuel reductionburns and wildfires, including immediatebarring and breaching of tracks andfirelines.• Liaise with, and seek approval from, theUpper Goulburn Catchment Co-ordinatorwhen planning works within 200 m of LakeEildon full supply level.18 Lake Eildon National Park

The Park visit5 THE PARK VISIT5.1 The Park visitorLake Eildon National Park allows for a rangeof visitor experiences:• the Park provides a diversity ofopportunities created by the interface of landand water;• the Fraser block has well developed campingfacilities and cabins, combined with anetwork of short walks and bike tracks,which allow opportunities for recreation in asemi-natural setting for visitors not seekingchallenging activities in remote or difficultterrain;• the rugged and semi-remote terrain createsopportunities for four-wheel drivers andother recreationists seeking moreadventurous activities, although a lack ofwalking tracks currently limits its appeal tobushwalkers;• people primarily focused on boatingactivities can camp in a bushland settingadjacent to Lake Eildon in the Park.There is limited information on segmentation ofvisitors. Recent surveys suggest that there maybe some identifiable visitor activity groups:scout and school groups, family-based campers,water-skiers, day walkers, commercialadventure tourists, deer hunters, boatclub/marina users, special events participantsand spectators, and four-wheel drive and trailbikeusers. The major camping areas appearsto attract different groups at different times ofthe year.Total annual visitor numbers for the Park areunclear, but in the period 1980-1994 rangedfrom 83 600 to 175 000 per year in the Fraserblock and from at least 6700 to 24 000 atJerusalem Creek. Both these figures areunderestimates, being based on the use ofspecific camping areas. Visits to the Park arestrongly seasonal and appear to be affected bythe water level of the Lake, reflecting the highuse of the Park by people visiting primarily forwater-based activities on Lake Eildon. Theseseasonal lows could be partly overcome by cooperativemarketing with other attractions, andthe development of appropriate special eventsand land-based outdoor educationalopportunities.The semi-remote areas of the Park is relativelylittle visited. This is surprising given that mostother remote or semi-remote areas areconsiderably further from major populationcentres. It can be expected that use of theseareas will increase. Their values andaccessibility have already been recognised by arange of commercial operators, and this usewill also increase. The management of theseareas in relation to Lake Eildon, with itsemphasis on motorised boating and theprovision of relatively sophisticated boatingfacilities at some points, will becomeincreasingly important.The Park falls within the Goulburn MurrayWaters Tourism Region, yet the strength of thePark is not related to the image of the broaderregion and the Park does not appear to benefitfrom the marketing or image of the region as awhole. The Park could turn this into a strengththrough developing a series of tourist themesthat can be marketed both separately and withinthe regional strategy. The Park has a hightourism potential because of its high qualitynatural assets and closeness to Melbourne.There is considerable potential to package thosenatural assets with other parks and attractionsof the region (e.g. food and wine) and withactivities or special events.Providing for the visitorThe visitor services strategy for the Park willaim at providing for the key experiencesoutlined above. Opportunities to participate inthese experiences will be enhanced in severalways. Fraser camping area will be upgraded ina number of minor but important aspects tomeet the needs of specific user groups better, toenhance their amenity and aesthetics and toreduce conflicts between user groups; and thewalking track and bike track network will beextended and upgraded. There is considerablepotential as a destination for visitors withlimited mobility, and suitable facilities will be afeature of the enhancements. Water-based19 Lake Eildon National Park

The Park visitvisitors to the Park will be made aware of thePark’s broader values through targetedinterpretation programs and information.Enjoyment of semi-remote areas will beencouraged through the development of day andovernight walks, including the investigation of anew walk linking the Park to the populardestination of Mt Torbreck in adjoining Stateforest. Boat-based campers, deer hunters andwalkers will enjoy camping facilities developedat Taylors Creek. The Jamieson block will bemanaged as a semi-remote area with nofacilities and limited public vehicle access.Aims• Provide for visitors in accordance with theabove overview of future management forvisitors.• Develop an understanding of the profilesand preferences of each user group.• Provide a range of recreation opportunities,services and facilities that match these userprofiles and preferences, consistent withpark values.• Provide opportunities for tourism activitiesbased on the Park’s distinctive qualities andcompetitive advantage.• Support and complement broader tourismactivities and opportunities within theregion.• Ensure that tourism within the Park issustainable and consistent with park values.Management strategies• Permit recreational activities inaccordance with table 2.• Provide and maintain facilities andservices which highlight, but are in keepingwith, the Park’s distinctive character(tables 3 and 4, and sections 5.2 and 5.3).• Apply current market survey findings onvisitor profiles, patterns of behaviour,expectations and preferences to assist inpark management.• Establish a program to determineappropriate levels of recreational activityconsistent with protecting recreationalexperiences and park values.• Encourage all visitors to adopt minimalimpact techniques and to adhere to codesof conduct appropriate to their activity.• Monitor visitor numbers and use to ensureadequate provision of facilities consistentwith appropriate types and levels of use.• Determine carrying capacities in sensitiveareas, as necessary to ensure that theenvironment and the visitor experience areprotected.5.2 Visitor recreation activities andfacilities5.2.1 Vehicle accessPrimary access to the Park is via the GoulburnValley Highway from the south and theMansfield-Woods Point Road from the north.Important two-wheel drive access routes areSkyline Road (to Fraser block), JerusalemCreek Road, Eildon-Jamieson Road (Jerusalemand Jamieson blocks), and Walsh Road(Enterprise block). The main access roads aremaintained by the Shires of Murrindindi andDelatite. Parks Victoria maintains the minorroads and tracks in the Park.Maintenance works have been recentlyundertaken on several tracks within theJerusalem and Enterprise blocks, howevermany of the tracks within these blocks stillprovide potential sedimentation sources into theadjacent Lake Eildon as they fail to meetcurrent road construction standards (see alsosection 4.3). Similarly, most tracks within theJamieson block are both actively eroding andpractically untrafficable. They need to beeither brought up to currently utilised standardsor closed.20 Lake Eildon National Park

The Park visitTABLE 2SUMMARY OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIESACTIVITYMANAGEMENT ZONES AND OVERLAYS1 2 3 4 5Picnicking N Y Y Y YCamping N Y Y NA YWalking Y Y Y Y YVehicle based touring N YC YC YC YCBicycle riding YC YC YC YC YCHorse riding N N N N NOrienteering/Rogaining N Y Y Y YRockclimbing/Abseiling N YC YC NA YCFishing N/A Y Y Y YFirewood collection N Yes N Yes YesMotor boating (including launching and mooring) NA Y Y Y YHunting N N N N YCDogs N N YC N N1 Conservation Zone 4 Special Management Area - Public Utility2 Conservation and Recreation Zone 5 Land Use Designation - Deer Hunting3 Recreation Development ZoneY Appropriate YC Conditional; refer to relevant section for detailsN Not appropriate N/A Not applicableThe opportunity also exists to formalise thesemi-remote characteristics of the Jamiesonblock by closure of tracks (except tomanagement vehicles), enabling bushwalkingand mountain bike riding to be encouraged.All tracks in the Fraser block are managementvehicles only, although bicycles are allowed onseveral.A schedule of seasonal road and track closuresis prepared each year to ensure that the trackson highly erodible soils are not damaged byextensive wet weather use. Temporary roadand track closures can also occur where publicsafety is at risk or where the road may bedamaged. The Victorian Association of Four-Wheel Drive Clubs (VAFWDC) is consultedduring the preparation of the schedule ofseasonal road and track closures.The Alexandra Motorcycle Club conducts anavigation rally annually in the Jerusalemblock. Conflicts with other visitors have beenreduced in recent years through priornotification of other Park users by the Club.The Club also contributes some volunteerassistance to track upkeep. Trail-bike ridingoff tracks is a problem at the Delatite ArmReserve that affects adjacent areas of the Park.Four-wheel drive touring is becomingincreasingly popular in the Enterprise block,adjacent to Delatite Arm Reserve. Severaltracks within the block have been recentlyupgraded to cater for increased use and preventactive soil erosion. The track along thePowerNet powerline easement is well gradedand leads to a superb viewing point. It iscurrently closed to vehicles but it would seemappropriate, after PowerNet approval, toconsider formally linking it to the Park tracknetwork and opening it on a seasonal basis.Such opening should be undertaken with dueregard to other potential touring routerationalisations in the block.Aims• Provide and maintain an appropriatenetwork of roads and vehicle tracks forvisitor use, management purposes andaccess to adjacent public land.21 Lake Eildon National Park

The Park visit• Minimise the impact of vehicle use and trackmanagement on the Park’s natural andcultural values, and on opportunities forsemi-remote recreation.Management strategies• Manage and permit the use of roads andvehicle tracks in accordance with ParksVictoria guidelines, table 3 and figure 3.• Encourage adherence to the VAFWDC’sCode of Ethics.• Continue to implement seasonal roadclosures as necessary in consultation withthe VAFWDC.• Continue to liaise with trail-bike clubs tofacilitate joint management of vehicletracks and organisation of rally events;establish similar contacts with local fourwheeldrive clubs.• Liaise with the Shires to ensure a cooperativeapproach to the management ofthe roads they manage adjacent to thePark.• Make all vehicle tracks except Lake Track,in the Jamieson block ‘managementvehicles only’ tracks to minimisesedimentation inputs into Lake Eildon andto provide a semi-remote region within thePark. Consider increasing patrols of thisarea by boat.• Investigate continued four-wheel drivevehicle access for approved clubs only, totracks proposed to be closed to the publicas ‘management vehicle only’ tracks, inconsultation with the VAFWDC.• Negotiate opening of the PowerNetpowerline track in the Enterprise block tofour-wheel drive vehicles.• Rationalise access track networks withinthe Enterprise block to minimise sedimentinputs into Lake Eildon.5.2.2 Day visitsThe scenic nature of parts of the Park,combined with its proximity to regional andlocal holiday areas and population centres,makes the Park an attractive location for theday visitor. Day visits from Melbourne alsooccur, many as part of coach tours.Day visitor facilities in the Park are mainly inFraser camping area, with a few at JerusalemCreek. They include picnic areas, interpretivefacilities, nature trails and walking tracks aswell as facilities for people with limitedmobility (see section 5.2.5). They are generallyadd-ons to the camping areas and there is noclear focus for day visitors. There is also littlemarketing of the Park to day visitors.Aim• Maintain and improve existing day visitorfacilities to provide a range of day visitexperiences, consistent with protecting parkvalues.Management strategies• Provide day visitor facilities in accordancewith figure 4 and table 4.• Allow camp-fires only in fireplacesprovided (see section 3.3).• Monitor visitor use to ensure adequateprovision of facilities and appropriatelevels of use.• Expand the network of day walking tracksin the Fraser block (see section 5.2.4).• Investigate the feasibility of an integratedvisitor facility, which could also serve as afocus for day visitors.5.2.3 CampingThe Park has a number of main campinggrounds with facilities (in Fraser camping areaand Jerusalem Creek), in addition to boat-basedcamping areas with toilets only (MountaineerCreek, Coopers Point and Big River Arm), anda hunting camping area with no facilities atO’Toole Flat.22 Lake Eildon National Park

The Park visitThe demand for camping is closely related towater levels. The campsites in Fraser campingarea are mostly in coves rather than on points,so when the water level recedes the campsitesare a considerable distance from the water.This is especially a problem at Candlebarkwhen family campers need to drag their craft aconsiderable distance, often through mud, to theLake. Space for boat trailers is a problemduring the peak season, creating congestion inthe camping areas. Many campers prefer tohave their trailers close to their campsites, forsecurity reasons, rather than at the parkingbays; however, there are few campsites wherethere is additional space for a trailer.The group camping areas at Devil Cove,Candlebark and Jerusalem Creek are popularand there appears to be enough demand for anadditional group site.There is a need to continue to revegetate areassurrounding campsites – especially aroundFraser camping area – that receive heavy use(see section 4.3), and to create designatedwalkways through the camping areas andboardwalks to the Lake to reduce impacts.There have been problems with boat-basedcamping, especially with fires in non-designatedplaces and during restrictions, and with theimpact of random camping on the foreshore.These activities mostly occur in the 200 mbuffer and have therefore been difficult topolice. Moreover, people have littleunderstanding of the complexities of theregulations and control of the shoreline area.The existing boat-based camping areas arepopular, though there are not enough sitesduring peak times. Boat-based camping areasraise some management difficulties as they aregenerally only accessible by water and areremote from other park management activities.At present there are five unserviced and twoserviced cabins at Fraser camping area. Theseare popular in peak periods but under-used atother times. Year-round use of the cabins couldbe increased by improved marketing, andadditional facilities, such as group lodges,could be developed or investigated.Existing visitor facilities could also beupgraded. Commercial operators have beeninvited to operate the commercial facilities inthe Park. Their contract could also include theupgrading and managing of other, non-revenueproducing visitor facilities in the campingareas.There is an increasing demand for more sitessuitable for caravans, especially in Frasercamping area. Caravans may compete directlywith the existing cabins and if caravans wereencouraged additional pressure for poweredsites and other facilities could be created.Many existing sites are suitable for caravans.They should remain available to caravans butthe development of more caravan specific sitesis not considered appropriate in the Park.There is currently little demand for dispersedcamping in the Park except from deer hunters.O’Toole Flat and Taylors Creek have beendesignated as camping areas for deer hunters.Deer hunting is a winter activity and sharedcamping areas are unlikely to lead to conflictswith other users who visit mainly in summer.The demand for dispersed sites by bushwalkerscan be expected to increase as walking tracksare constructed.Some commercial operators are allowed tocamp at sites not designated for generalcamping. While the impact on these sites iscurrently considered low, they should becarefully monitored and only made availableunder permit.Aims• Provide opportunities for a range ofcamping experiences while minimisingimpacts on park values.• Continue to charge appropriate fees for theuse of vehicle-based camping facilities.Management strategies• Provide camping facilities as outlined infigure 4 and table 4.• Allow camping only at designatedcampgrounds and camping areas.• Redesign some campsites at Frasercamping area to provide places for boatLake Eildon National Park 23

The Park visitTABLE 3VEHICLE AND WALKING TRACK MANAGEMENTNAME CLASS CURRENTSTATUSPROPOSEDSTATUSMANAGEMENT/ACTION RATIONALEVehicle TracksAird Inlet Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedAllans Peak Track (from Fire Break 3 O C Very steep.1a to Goughs Bay)Allans Peak Track (to Fire Break 3 O O1a)Allans Peak Track PlantationLinks Tracks (3)3 O C Duplication ofaccess.Blowhard Spur Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedBrians Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedCable Track 3 MVO MVO OvergrownDevass Gully Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedDevil River Track 2 MVO MVO UnchangedDingo Track 3 MVO MVO Duplication ofaccess.Eagle Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedEntrance Road 1 O O UnchangedEstate Spur Tracks 3 MVO MVO UnchangedFerny Creek Track 3 O C Duplication ofaccess.Forsyth Point Track 3 O C No through road.Gap Track 3 O O UnchangedHighett Point Track (Highett Point 3 O O Unchangedto SEC RoadJeep Track Link 3 O C Duplication ofaccess.Jerusalem Track 2 O O UnchangedJimmy Spur Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedJims Track 3 O O UnchangedKeg Spur Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedLake Track 3 O O UnchangedWill be subject toSeasonal Closure.Lake Track 1 3 O MVO Make MVO toenhance remotesetting.Lake Track 2 3 O MVO Make MVO toenhance remotesetting.Lake Track 3 3 O MVO Make MVO toenhance remotesetting.Lake Eildon National Park 24

The Park visitTable 3 (cont.)NAME CLASS CURRENTSTATUSPROPOSEDSTATUSMANAGEMENT/ACTION RATIONALELake Track 4 3 O MVO Make MVO toenhance remotesetting.Lakeside Link 3 MVO MVO UnchangedLavell Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedLong Gully Link 3 O C Duplication ofaccess.M.W. Divide Track 3 O O UnchangedMagazine Spur Track 3 O O UnchangedMallets Track (east) 3 O O UnchangedMallets Track (west) 3 O O UnchangedMerlo Lookout Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedMiddle Spur Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedMountaineer Creek Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedPinnacle Track (Gap Track to3 O O UnchangedPinnacle)Pinnacle Track (Pinnacle to Taylors 3 O O UnchangedCreek Track)Rhonda Track 3 O O UnchangedScott Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedSebastopol Creek Track 3 O C Close; duplicatesaccess.SEC Easement Road 2 MVO O Opening willrequire agreementof PowerNet.Sheep Dip Link 3 O C Duplication ofaccess.Sims Track 3 O O UnchangedSims Track (Gap Track link) 3 O O UnchangedSteep Track 3 O O UnchangedStillmans Track 3 O MVO Adjacent toConservation Zone.Taylors Creek Track 2/3 O O UnchangedWappan Track 1 3 MVO MVO UnchangedWappan Track 2 3 MVO MVO UnchangedWater Track 3 MVO MVO UnchangedWebb Track 3 O O UnchangedWilson Creek Track 3 O O Unchanged; subjectto SeasonalClosure.Wombat Track(i) to Rhonda Track(ii) Rhonda Track to Lake33OMVOOCUnchangedVery steep;alternative access towater available.Lake Eildon National Park 25

The Park visitTable 3 (cont.)NAME CLASS CURRENTSTATUSPROPOSEDSTATUSMANAGEMENT/ACTION RATIONALEWoolshed Creek Track 3 O C TraversesConservation Zone.Walking TracksAuriferous Spur Track C W W UnchangedBolte Bay Track C W W UnchangedCandlebark Nature Walk B W W UnchangedLakeside-Devil Cove Track B W/Cy W/Cy UnchangedPerfect Cure Creek Nature Walk B W W UnchangedPinnacle Walking Track B W W UnchangedRocky Spur Track B W W UnchangedSheoak Nature Walk B W W UnchangedWallaby Bay Track B W W UnchangedKEY:CLASS1 = all weather road2 = dry weather 2WD road3 = 4WD trackB = well defined walking track with good but unmade surfaceC = well defined walking track but rougher and steeper than class B tracksSTATUSO = open to public vehiclesMVO = management vehicles, walkers and cyclists onlyC = close and revegetateW = walkers onlyCy = cyclists permitted (walking track)trailers; charge a boat trailer fee for suchsites.• In conjunction with Goulburn MurrayWater, develop a Code of Practice forboat-based camping and distribute widelyto other agencies and commercialoperators, and at boat launching areas.• Retain the group camping areas atCandlebark and Devil Cove, and considera suitable location for a group campsite atJerusalem Creek.• Investigate the development of grouplodges and further cabins in the Fraserblock, possibly by a commercial operator.• Maintain existing facilities for caravans atcurrent level.• Investigate the provision of boardwalks atkey locations to assist access to the waterin times of low water levels.• Provide, under permit, designatedcampsites for commercial operators, andmonitor impact.• Improve promotion and marketing of thecabins at Fraser camping ground toincrease year-round use.• Encourage low impact camping practices.• Allow camp-fires only in fireplacesprovided (see section 3.3).26 Lake Eildon National Park

The Park visit5.2.4 Bushwalking and cyclingBushwalking (mainly day walks) is popular inthe Park. There are six walking tracks in theFraser block which range from 1.4 km to 13.5km. Due to the size of the block the lengths ofwalks available is limited. There is potential toextend these tracks to create some round tripsand, if access through intervening private landcan be negotiated, to extend walking into theWappan block. There is also a need to providefor dispersed camping.Elsewhere in the Park there is a lack of walkingtracks, forcing walkers to use four-wheel drivetracks which often have rough surfaces, steepgrades and the potential for conflict with fourwheeldrive vehicles and motor cycles. There isconsiderable potential to develop walking tracksin the Rocky Spur area and on the StillmanPlateau. A Rocky Spur walking track couldconnect to Mt Torbreck and the TorbreckRange outside the Park to create a superbweekend circuit. The proposed closure of thevehicle tracks in the Jamieson block has thepotential to encourage bushwalking and cyclingthere (see section 5.2.1).Cycling, especially mountain biking, occurs atrelatively low levels outside the Fraser blockbut is gaining popularity.The Fraser block currently has a 4.5 km cyclingtrack along the foreshore between Lakeside andDevil Cove. This track could be extended toconnect into a loop system providing cyclistswith a round trip. This same path along theforeshore should also be extended up to thecabins, to link all campsites. Somemaintenance works are required on the track tocater better for cyclists.A number of tracks in the Fraser block are opento cyclists but this is not well known; cyclingopportunities could be promoted more actively.The existing MVO tracks have the potential tobe further developed into a better network forboth cycling and walking.Aims• Provide a range of opportunities forwalking, consistent with park values.• Increase awareness of the opportunities forwalking in the Park.• Provide opportunities for cycling on roadsand tracks consistent with maintaining parkvalues and minimising conflicts with otherusers.Management strategies• Maintain the existing network of walkingtracks in accordance with table 3. Expandthe walking track network in the Fraserblock to create some round trips and toconnect to the Wappan block.• Improve selected tracks for bicycles.• Seek the co-operation of the Forests Serviceto develop two new walking track circuits -Wilson Creek-Rocky Spur (with aconnection to Mt Torbreck outside thePark) and on the Stillman Plateau - inconsultation with bushwalking clubs.• Develop improved maps and interpretativematerials for walking and cycling in thePark.• Encourage bushwalking clubs to developsemi-remote overnight walking routes inconsultation with PV and consistent withmaintaining park values.• Permit cycling on all roads and vehicletracks including management vehicle onlytracks (unless specifically closed to bicyclesfor safety or soil conservation reasons),with seasonal closures to apply to bicyclesalso (table 3).• Continue to allow cycling on specifiedwalking tracks in the Fraser block (table3).• Encourage adherence to the Mountain BikeCode (CNR 1993a).5.2.5 Access for visitors with limitedmobilityThere are some facilities which cater for accessby persons with limited mobility in the Frasercamping area but none elsewhere. TheLake Eildon National Park 27

TABLE 4EXISTING AND PROPOSED VISITOR FACILITIESThe Park visitSITEDEFINEDCAMPSTOILETSPICNICTABLESFIREPLACESWATERSUPPLYWALKINGTRACKPARKINFO.MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND COMMENTSBlue Gum Flat E Caters for organised groups only withpermission.Candlebark E E E E E E Caters for group camping.Coopers Point E E Caters for boat-based visitors. Pines to beharvested and area to be revegetated withnative species; site will be closed duringharvesting.Devil Cove E E E E E E Caters for group campingForsyth Flat E E E E E Day visitor area.Jerusalem Creek E E E E E E E Day visitor and camping area. Additionalsite for group camping to be investigated.Lakeside E E P E E E E Camping area.Mountaineer Creek E E E E Boat-based camping.O’Toole Flat E P Caters for deer hunters; unloaded firearms tobe allowed in deer season.Stockyard Bay E E E E E E Day visitor area (including Herb FitzroyShelter).Taylors Creek E E P Cater for boat-based visitors, walkers anddeer stalkers; unloaded firearms to beallowed in deer season.KEY: E = existing; P = proposedLake Eildon National Park 28

The Park visitcabins were designed to give people withlimited mobility the opportunity to experienceVictoria’s Parks. They have not been activelypromoted and the facilities are not well used.Aim• Encourage visitors with limited mobility toexperience the Park through provision ofappropriate opportunities and facilities.Management strategies• Promote Fraser camping area as a suitabledestination for visitors with limitedmobility.• Investigate the provision of a range ofactivities suitable for adventurous peoplewith limited mobility.• Conduct an audit of all facilities in thePark, including park furniture, paths andbridges, to determine whether they aresuitable for use by people with limitedmobility.• Design new facilities, and upgradeappropriate existing facilities and selectedtracks used by people with limited mobility.5.2.6 FishingStream and lake fishing are popular in the Park.While fishing is generally compatible with parkvalues, the effects of informal access tracks inriparian areas should be monitored. Concernshave been raised about the impact of illegalcollection of frogs for bait on populations ofthreatened species.Aim• Provide fishing opportunities whileminimising conflict with other park values.Management strategies• Permit recreational fishing in the Park.• Monitor access tracks to fishing sites andprepare a strategy to close and rehabilitateinappropriate tracks, provide alternativetracks where necessary and stabilise tracksthat are to remain in use.• Prohibit bait collection in streams.Provide basic on-site interpretiveinformation regarding the conservationstatus of the species at streams found tosupport the Spotted Tree Frog.5.2.7 Water sportsMany people use the Park to gain access toLake Eildon for water sports including powerboating, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing andcanoeing. This has led to the development ofinfrastructure such as boat ramps, trailerstorage and fuel storage areas.Motorised water sports can lead to conflictswith other Park users, especially because ofnoise, and to safety concerns. Jet skiing inparticular is seen by some Park users as aproblem. There are currently restrictions on thespeed and use of jet skis, and Goulburn MurrayWater is able to apply further restrictions wherenecessary. The enforcement of regulations onthe water can be difficult; education may assistin resolving current problems.House boats often moor off the Park andoccupants may come ashore to light camp firesor for camping. These activities affect both thePark and the 200 m buffer.Aims• Continue to provide access to Lake Eildonthrough the Park for water sports atappropriate sites.• Minimise conflicts between Park users andwater sports activities.Management strategies• Continue to provide boat launchingfacilities at Fraser and Jerusalem Creekcamping areas.• Prepare a Code of Practice for boats,house boats and jet skis in conjunction withGoulburn Murray Water and relevantstakeholder groups, and publicise inconjunction with the proposed boat-basedcamping Code of Practice.• Encourage and assist Water Police andGoulburn Murray Water in developing29 Lake Eildon National Park

The Park visitwater safety and interpretation programs inthe Park at peak times.• Investigate methods to simplify boatstorage, fuel storage and fuel provisionissues.5.2.8 Horse ridingThere is currently little demand for horse ridingin the Park. The National Horse Trail runsclose to the Park and there is a seldom-usedhorse camping area with no facilities in Stateforest at Big River. Horse riding is currentlyallowed on tracks open to public vehicles. Thelack of appropriate facilities such as horseyards may be one reason why the Park is notutilised by horse riders; the closer proximity ofother suitable areas to notable tourist use pointsis probably the main factor.The steep terrain and erodible soils of the Parkmakes it unsuitable for horse riding. As moresuitable areas exist near Lake Eildon, and asdemand for horse riding within the Park is low,it is not considered appropriate to cater forhorse riding in the Park.Aim• Provide recreation experiences consistentwith protecting park values.Management strategy• Protect soils by not permitting horseriding.5.2.9 Orienteering and rogainingOrienteering and rogaining are currently minoractivities in the Park, although several majorevents have been conducted. The Park hassuitable terrain for these activities but there ispotential for damage to significant flora and tosoils in some areas.Aim• Minimise the impacts of orienteering androgaining on Park visitors and park values.Management strategy• Allow orienteering and rogaining in thePark (except in the Conservation Zone)under permit as special events inaccordance with Parks Victoria guidelines.5.2.10 DogsDogs are not permitted in the Park. They are,however, allowed at Jerusalem Creek campingarea and within several campsites adjacent tothe Big River which are within the 200 m Stateforest buffer surrounding Lake Eildon. Dogsare not allowed for deer hunting in the Park.Aim• Minimise the impacts of dogs on parkvalues.Management strategy• Maintain current access for dogs in theJerusalem Creek camping area and BigRiver campsites.5.2.11 Rock climbing, abseiling andadventure activitiesThe Park does not provide good opportunitiesfor rock climbing and abseiling. Theseactivities can cause erosion, vegetation damageand loss, and disturb fauna (e.g. cliff nestingbirds), and can create safety problems if rocksor other materials are dislodged.Adventure activities are undertaken by a varietyof organised groups and commercial operators.Most do not require facilities and occur awayfrom tracks (e.g. survival courses, bushnavigation). Such activities should only occurunder permit and their impacts should bemonitored.Aim• Provide limited opportunities for rockclimbing, abseiling and adventure activitiesin the Park only where consistent withmaintaining park values, minimisingconflicts with other Park users andmaintaining public safety.30 Lake Eildon National Park

The Park visitManagement strategies• Prohibit rock climbing and abseiling exceptunder permit conditions that protect parkvalues and other Park users.• Allow continued use of The Pinnacle ropescourse by authorised commercial touroperators and educational groups, subjectto permit.• Ensure that adventure activities undertakenby groups and commercial operators aresustainable, in appropriate sections of thePark, and subject to a permit.5.2.12 HuntingDeer stalking without dogs is permitted on aseasonal basis in the Big River area. Stalkingalso occurs in the 200 m buffer and adjacentforest inliers surrounding the Enterprise block,as no PV/Forests Service managementagreement has so precluded it (see section 7.2).The Park is considered to be an important areafor deer stalking because of the large numbersof Sambar present, and the Park’s proximity toMelbourne. There is little conflict between deerstalkers and other users of the Park because thedeer hunting season is in winter. Campingareas for deer hunters are discussed in section5.2.3. Sambar are protected wildlife but littleis known about their ecological impacts;stalking may exert some level of control but thisis likely to be minor.No other hunting is allowed in the Park.Aims• Provide opportunities for deer stalkingwithout dogs where and when appropriate.• Minimise the impact of deer stalking onpark values.Management strategies• Continue to allow deer stalking withoutdogs on a seasonal basis only in theSpecial Management Area:• in the Jamieson block and part of theJerusalem block (see figure 2);• in the adjacent 200 m buffers subject toappropriate gazettal followingformalisation of the Section 19Cmanagement agreement (see section7.2).• Encourage deer stalkers to adopt minimalimpact practices and to be aware of parkvalues.5.3 Visitor information,interpretation and educationInterpretation activities have traditionally beenconcentrated at Fraser camping area(publications, holiday programs, guided walks,Ranger talks, etc.), with relatively few activitiesor facilities elsewhere, other than the provisionof Parknotes and some Ranger talks andactivities at Jerusalem Creek during peakperiods.There are few interpretive facilities within thePark, other than the nature walks at the Fraserblock and Jerusalem Creek. The provision ofinterpretative signs in the Big River area hasrun into problems with vandalism.The Park does not have a focus forinterpretation activities and informationdissemination, and there is a lack of integratedinformation about the Park and the region. Avisitor information centre serving the region hasrecently opened in Alexandra.Interpretation has tended to be aimed at thosewho already have an interest in the naturalenvironment. There are opportunities toenlarge the audience by targeting groups suchas water-based visitors through such activitiesas boat-based interpretation tours. Manywater-based Park users are not reached by thecurrent Park information and interpretivematerial, especially those who do not launchfrom Fraser camping area. There isconsiderable potential to reach these groups viaboat clubs and commercial hire operators. Theinvolvement of other stakeholders (e.g. WaterPolice, Goulburn Murray Water) in someinterpretation programs could both add to theinterest for Park users and strengthen crossorganisationalrelations. Fraser camping areais visited by many school groups and there isvalue in becoming aware of the informationLake Eildon National Park 31

The Park visitneeds of these groups and providing tailoredinformation to them. The bus tours that visitFraser camping area, which tend to be for oldervisitors, may also benefit from a similarapproach.Potential interpretation themes include:• mining history;• the history associated with the flooding ofthe valleys (including what to see as waterlevels drop in dry years);• flora and fauna;• resource management issues (e.g.revegetation, weeds);• Koori history;• the Park as seen from the water (e.g. a selfguidedboat tour based on the oldDarlingford Road and both emergent anddrowned features).Aims• Provide interpretation opportunities andfacilities which enhance visitors’appreciation of the Park and provokeinterest in the area’s natural and culturalenvironment.• Orientate visitors to the Park and itsfeatures.Management strategies• Develop an interpretation plan for thePark. Consider the themes listed above inthe development of interpretiveinformation.• Continue to provide interpretationprograms during peak visitor periods andextend the interpretation programs toregularly include Jerusalem Creek campingarea.• Develop interpretation programs aimed atspecific user groups: water-based users,school groups, scouts, service groups,older tour groups.• Develop a self-guided tour around themining history, ensuring that historicvalues are protected.• Investigate the development of a boat-basedself-guided tour, perhaps based around theold Darlingford Road, which follows theedge of the Lake, rising in and out of thewater.• Provide adequate visitor orientationinformation and safety messages at keyvisitor nodes.• Establish and implement monitoring andmaintenance schedules for all interpretivefacilities.• Undertake regular evaluation ofinformation and interpretation programsrelated to the Park.• Involve other stakeholders (e.g. WaterPolice, Goulburn Murray Water) in someinterpretation programs to add to theinterest for Park users and strengthencross-organisational relations.• Liaise with the operators of the visitorcentre at Alexandra to promote the Parkand disseminate Park information.• Liaise with commercial operators and boatclubs to act as distribution points forinterpretive material.5.4 Commercial tourismoperationsIt is likely that the image of Lake Eildon andwater-based activities is stronger in the mindsof most tourists than that of the National Parkand the land-based opportunities on offer.The Park is used as the venue for a range ofspecial events, as is the adjacent Lake Eildon,including motor cycle navigation rallies,triathalons and rogaining. There is potential tofurther promote sections of the Park for specialevents, but impacts on other Park visitors andnatural values will need to be carefullycontrolled.32 Lake Eildon National Park

The Park visitThe Park and its surrounds also has acompetitive strength in the opportunities itoffers for outdoor education and recreationleadership activities, for both private andcommercial groups. A number of commercialtour operators use the Park and are licensed byPV; however, only a few use the Park regularly.The main types of tour operators are thoserunning outdoor leadership courses oradventure activities, personalised fishing tours,and coach operators who may have a stopoveror day trip to the Park.Additional value may be realised by having afocus for their park activities, and byinvestigating their expectations andrequirements further. This competitiveadvantage may also be better developed by cooperativemarketing with other parks andnatural attractions in the vicinity.Commercial tourism operators can providevaluable assistance with promotion of thePark’s National Park profile and improvingvisitor awareness.There is considerable potential for commercialoperators to further develop the use of the Park(see section 5.2.3). Tour operators do notgenerally conflict with the majority of uses asthey mostly use the Park in off-peak seasons.Aim• Provide opportunities for special events andcommercial tourism services consistent withPark management objectives, and giveappropriate assistance to operators.Management strategies• Allow appropriate and sustainablecommercial tour activities subject to apermit and commercial user fees. Permitsshould specify performance criteria inrelation to impacts on the Park and onother users.• Liaise with the operators of integratedvisitor facilities in the region and assistwith provision of information on the Park.• Prepare an information package forcommercial operators including permitrequirements and fees, information on thePark’s opportunities and values, andsustainable practices.• Prepare in accordance with Parks Victoriaguidelines a special events strategy for thePark that sets out appropriate types ofevents, permit requirements, guidelines tocontrol impacts and impact-related feestructure and liaise with organisers andtourism authorities to ensure that they areaware of the strategy.5.5 Public safetyThe climate and topography of the Park and inparticular mines and caves (section 3.6)presents inherent dangers and risks to Parkvisitors which may be increased by remotenessand limited access. Wildfire is a potentialhazard during drier times of the year.Nonetheless, the semi-remote areas of the Parkprovides an opportunity for challenge and selfreliancewhich should be respected whenplanning for visitor safety.PV has a responsibility to ensure that Parkvisitors are aware of safety issues and riskswithin the Park. The Victoria Police isresponsible for search and rescue operations.Within the Park such operations would usuallyinvolve PV, the State Emergency Service andother groups under police supervision.Aim• Promote and encourage safe practicesamong visitors and staff.Management strategies• Manage the Park in accordance with riskmanagement guidelines.• Contribute to Displan planning for searchand rescue within the Park.• Provide adequate training for staff indealing with emergency situations.Lake Eildon National Park 33

Community awareness and involvement6 COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT6.1 Friends and volunteersCurrently there is no Friends group for eitherPark, but Park staff are encouraging theformation of one. One difficulty in establishingsuch a group has been that the majority of Parkusers are from Melbourne; current efforts areconcentrating on local people and groups.Individual groups with specific interests in thePark have carried out single tasks in the Parkrelated to their area of interest, and schoolgroups have played a volunteer role in the Park,especially in undertaking monitoring studies.There are also a number of projects suitable forsingle volunteers, such as students.The organisation and supervision of volunteerwork can involve considerable Ranger time andis not always cost effective. Use of volunteersshould concentrate on encouraging effective andknowledgeable groups with a long-term interestin the Park, who can make high valuecontributions at low organisational cost to thePark.Volunteers need and deserve recognition fortheir work and may withdraw their work if theyperceive that they are being exploited. Theyshould be given worthwhile work to do and bemade aware of its importance to the Park.Aim• Encourage volunteer involvement inmanagement of the Park.Management strategies• Encourage the formation of, and support, aFriends group for the Park.• Develop and evaluate a long-termvolunteer strategy which incorporates theskills and interests of volunteer groups inpark management activities, including aregister of suitable projects, e.g. volunteerguides program.6.2 Community awareness andPark neighboursFreehold land abuts the Fraser block, the northend of the Jerusalem block and the east end ofthe Enterprise and Jamieson blocks, and there isa large area of pine plantation owned by theVPC along the northern edge of the Enterpriseblock. Although the Park is close to a numberof towns and hamlets and abut areas of privateland, there appears to be a lack of community‘ownership’ of the Park by the neighbouringcommunities.There is a management plan for the VPC pineplantation (CMPSF 1994). This plan does notmention any specific management actions toensure that adjacent park values are notaffected. There has been co-operation at theoperational level between the VPC and PV onmatters such as controlling pine wildings in thePark. The Victorian Plantations CorporationAct 1993 (Vic.) does not allow for recreationmanagement on its land.Aims• Increase public awareness and community‘ownership’ of the Park, its values andmanagement.• Encourage conservation and soundmanagement practices on adjacent privateland.Management strategies• Liaise with local instrumentalities,community groups and landholders and, asappropriate, involve them in relevantaspects of planning and managing thePark.• Apply, and encourage the application of,the Good Neighbour Policy to managementissues on or near the boundaries of thePark.• Encourage the Shires of Murrindindi andDelatite to develop planning strategies forland adjacent to the Park, includingLake Eildon National Park 34

Community awareness and involvementconsideration of overlay controls in theirplanning schemes to protect park values.• Ensure involvement in the preparation ofamendments to Shire Planning Schemes,with the aim of minimising adverse effectsof private land developments on parkvalues, and ensure that permit applicationsthat may affect the Park are referred to PVfor comment.• Investigate the purchase of areas ofadjacent private land which becomeavailable for purchase if they are critical tothe integrity of the Park or haveparticularly high conservation values.• Continue to co-operate with the VPC andensure that their management plansspecifically address the maintenance ofadjacent park values in the future.• Liaise with adjacent landholders to addressissues that may affect the Park or adjoiningland.• Encourage the use of instruments such asConservation Covenants and conditions onplanning permits to assist in ensuringappropriate management of adjacentprivate land.Lake Eildon National Park 35

Other issues7 OTHER ISSUES7.1 Authorised uses7.1.1 Gravel extractionThere are three gravel quarries within the Park,two on Taylors Creek Road and one in theFraser block. They provide gravel for usewithin the Park. The two quarries on TaylorsCreek Road are major visual intrusionsadjacent to one of the prime access routesthrough the Jerusalem block. Currentmanagement practices are not consistent withbest practice quarry management. Quarrying isgenerally an inappropriate activity in aConservation and Recreation Zone, but thereare cost implications in closing both quarries.The quarry in the Fraser block has a relativelylow visual impact.One major cause of the spread of CinnamonFungus is the use of infected gravel on roadsand tracks. Cinnamon Fungus is not knownwithin the Park yet. One advantage ofcontinuing to use the quarries within the Park isthat potentially contaminated material fromoutside does not have to be imported.There is a further quarry on private landadjacent to the Enterprise block that hasencroached slightly into the Park. This quarryis managed by the Shire of Delatite.Revegetation and rehabilitation works for thearea concerned have been agreed upon with theShire and a rehabilitation plan is beingprepared.Aims• Continue to provide material for road andfacility upgrading and construction withinthe Park.• Minimise the environmental and visualimpacts of quarrying.Management strategies• Retain the quarry in the Fraser block toprovide gravel for use within the Park andupgrade site management, including weedcontrol and control of runoff andsedimentation; review after five years.• Rationalise the quarries on Taylors CreekRoad by closing one after the existingstockpile is exhausted. Retain the other toprovide gravel for use within the Park butupgrade site management, including weedcontrol and control of runoff andsedimentation and screen the quarry usingmounds and revegetation.• Continue to liaise with the Shire of Delatiteregarding the rehabilitation of the quarrysite adjacent to the Enterprise block.• Regularly monitor quarries for CinnamonFungus.7.1.2 ApicultureThe effect of introduced bee species onindigenous flora, fauna and natural processes isnot fully understood. There is currently noprovision for apiary sites in the former FraserNational Park but there are ten sites in theformer Eildon State Park. The LCCrecommendations for the Park provide forcontinued existing use but no additional use.Aim• Allow apiculture in accordance with LCCrecommendations and Parks Victoriaguidelines.Management strategies• Maintain availability of apiary sites in theformer Eildon State Park.• Review existing apiary site locations in theformer Eildon State Park and providealternative sites as appropriate.7.1.3 Public utilitiesThe Park contains a number of utilityeasements including PowerNet powerlines andTelstra telephone lines. The telephone lines areunderground and there is no necessity tomaintain an easement. However, access maybe required if a fault develops. The largesteasement is the 220 kV Eildon-Mt BeautyLake Eildon National Park 36

Other issuespowerline that crosses the Enterprise block; thisis a major visual intrusion into the Park.Office of Surveyor General, NRE and privatesurveyors rely on a number of trigonometricalstations within the Park. Access to thesemarkers is required by surveyors.Aims• Provide for the appropriate use andmaintenance of existing public utilities in thePark.• Minimise the impacts of the constructionand maintenance of utility corridors andinstallations on the Park.Management strategies• Liaise with the Office of Surveyor General,PowerNet, Telstra and other utilities andservice providers with existing facilities inthe Park to ensure that maintenance andnew works are consistent with maintainingpark values.• Encourage a co-operative approach tominimising the visual impact of existingeasements and to controlling erosion andweeds.• Ensure existing public utilities are coveredby an appropriate consent.• Continue to liaise with PowerNet to allowpublic access along the 220 kV easement inthe Park (see section 5.2.1).7.1.4 Other usesThere is an unlicensed TV repeater stationwithin the Jerusalem block. The Armyoccasionally carries out training in that Parkalso.Aim• Allow other uses in the Park in accordancewith Parks Victoria guidelines only wherethey do not affect park values andalternative sites are not available.Management strategies• Investigate the appropriateness of the TVrepeater station; license under Section 26of the National Parks Act or remove, asappropriate.• Continue to allow defence force training inthe Park in accordance with Parks Victoriaguidelines.7.2 Boundaries and adjacent usesThe bulk of the public land adjacent to the Parkis either State forest or the 200 m buffer alongthe shore of Lake Eildon. There is a large areaof pine plantation owned by the VPC along thenorthern edge of the Enterprise block.NRE manages the adjacent Big River Stateforest and there has been a history ofappropriate management adjacent to the Park.The management of the 200 m buffer iscomplex and administratively cumbersome.The current situation is that Goulburn MurrayWater controls the water; the shoreline isgenerally controlled by Goulburn MurrayWater but by the Eildon Water ReserveCommittee of Management (PV on behalf ofGoulburn Murray Water) adjacent to theformer Fraser National Park (and there arespecial Goulburn Murray Water controls nearthe dam wall - outside the Park), while the 200m buffer is State forest jointly managed byGoulburn Murray Water and PV staff but notpart of the Park. In addition, there is a seasonalprohibition on the lighting of fires within 400 mof the water along the southern shore.The LCC (LCC 1994) recommended that the200 m area above full supply level should bereserved for water supply purposes andrecognised that Goulburn Murray Water hasultimate responsibility for water quality.However, the LCC also recommended thatGoulburn Murray Water and the NRE reachagreement regarding management policies forthe buffer and that these policies should beimplemented by PV and the buffer managed aspart of the Park. The Action Statement underthe Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act for LeafyGreenhood also commits the Department toreaching such an agreement.Lake Eildon National Park 37

Other issuesAn agreement between PV and GoulburnMurray Water has been proposed on thesematters. This agreement is essentially that thePark Regulations apply to all land uncoveredby water below the Park’s boundaries and thatthis area would be managed by PV staff onbehalf of Goulburn Murray Water. This is agenerally appropriate and simple solution, but itrequires modification in the Big River area andat the marina sites in Jerusalem Inlet. It issuggested that Park regulations should notapply on the eastern side of Big River betweenDudleys Flat and the Big River Bridge on theEildon-Jamieson Road, nor at the marina sites.There are a number of boundary anomalies inthe Enterprise block. There are several smallenclaves of State forest between the Parkboundary and the 200 m buffer.A block of private land between the Fraserblock and the Wappan block has beensuggested for purchase in order to link the twoblocks.An area north-west of Mt Pinninger is freeholdland owned by Goulburn Murray Water. TheLCC has recommended that it should be addedto the Park (LCC 1994). It is a popularlookout with excellent views; there is also amine shaft in the area containing an importantroost site for a large number of Common BentwingBats.Aims• Minimise conflicts between park values andsurrounding land use.• Clearly define the boundary of the Park.Management strategies• Continue negotiations with the ForestsService and Goulburn Murray Water toreach an agreement on management of the200 m buffer and any area of the Lakeexposed when the Lake is not filled tocapacity and to rationalise applicableregulations.• Prepare a management agreement (underthe provisions of Section 19C of theNational Parks Act) with the SecretaryNRE and Goulburn Murray Water toensure the 200 m buffer, enclaves of Stateforest between the boundary and the bufferand exposed Lake areas are managed byPV.• Ensure through liaison with the VPC thattheir management plans specificallyaddress adjacent park values.• Continue to negotiate with GoulburnMurray Water for the transfer of land northeast of Mt Pinninger for inclusion into thePark.• Investigate linking the Park blocks whenand if appropriate land becomes availablefor purchase.38 Lake Eildon National Park

Implementation8 IMPLEMENTATIONA three-year rolling implementation program will be prepared for the Park to ensure efficientimplementation of the Plan. Priorities for management are identified in table 5 as an initial step in thisprocess.TABLE 5PRIORITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIESMANAGEMENT STRATEGYSECTION IN PLANResource conservationManage Leafy Greenhood populations according to approved ActionStatement 3.3Protect bat roosting sites in mine shafts 3.4Prepare a conservation plan for Wilsons Creek mining area 3.6Protect cultural sites 3.6Park protectionImplement Regional Fire Protection Plan within the Park, using leastdisturbance strategies where practicable 4.1Control localised invasive pest plants 4.2Control woody weeds 4.2Prepare and implement a fox control plan 4.2Remove pines at Stillmans Point and revegetate with indigenous species 4.2Prepare revegetation plans for Fraser and for Highett Ridge 4.3The Park visitDevelop and maintain visitor facilities 5.1, 5.2, 5.3Manage commercial tour operators in accordance with Parks Victoriaguidelines, and provide commercial tour operators with an informationpackageExplore the possibility of opening the PowerNet track in the Enterprise blockto public vehicles 5.2.1Develop new walking track circuits 5.2.4Develop an interpretation plan for the Park 5.3Develop access and interpretive facilities at Wilsons Creek mining areaconsistent with the conservation plan 3.6, 5.3Develop interpretation programs for water-based users 5.3Monitoring and researchUndertake flora and fauna surveys 3.3, 3.4Monitor visitor numbers and use 5.1OtherNegotiate management agreements with Goulburn Murray Water & ForestsService 7.25.4Lake Eildon National Park 39

ImplementationREFERENCESBirch, W.D. 1994, Volcanoes in Victoria,Royal Society of Victoria, Melbourne.CMPSF 1994, Delatite Plantation ManagementPlan, consultants report to VictorianPlantations Corporation, (unpub.).CNR 1993a, Mountain Bike Code, Departmentof Conservation and Natural Resources,Victoria.CNR 1993b, Leafy Greenhood Pterostyliscucullata, Action Statement No. 54,Department of Conservation and NaturalResources, Victoria.CNR 1995a, Code of Practice for FireManagement on Public Lands, Departmentof Conservation and Natural Resources,Victoria.CNR 1995b, Draft Alexandra Regional FireProtection Plan, Department ofConservation and Natural Resources,Victoria.CNR 1995c, Threatened Fauna in Victoria -1995, Department of Conservation andNatural Resources, Victoria.LCC 1977, Final Recommendations -Melbourne Study Area, Land ConservationCouncil, Melbourne.LCC 1991, Rivers and Streams SpecialInvestigation, Land Conservation Council,Melbourne.LCC 1994, Final Recommendations -Melbourne Study Area District 2 - Review,Land Conservation Council, Melbourne.NPS 1995, National Parks and ConservationReserves - Guidelines and ProceduresManual, Department of Conservation andNatural Resources, Victoria.NRE 1996, Proposed Forest ManagementPlan for the Central Highlands,Department of Natural Resources andEnvironment, Victoria.NRE database 1997, Atlas of VictorianWildlife, Department of Natural Resourcesand Environment, Victoria.Rundle, A.S. 1977, A study in the catchment ofLake Eildon, Soil Conservation AuthorityTechnical Communication No. 11.Smith, P.G. 1980, Report of Vegetation ofEildon State Park, National Parks ServiceVictoria, (unpub.).Personal communicationsWhite, M., former CNR Botanist40 Lake Eildon National Park

AppendicesAPPENDIX I SIGNIFICANT FLORASCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS REF.Botrychium australe Austral Moonwort vulnerable inVictoriaSmith (1980)Desmodium varians Slender Tick-trefoil rare in Victoria M. White, pers.comm.Hypsela tridens Hypsela vulnerable inVictoriaPterostylis cucullata Leafy Greenhood vulnerable inAustralia andVictoria, FFG*Smith (1980)CNR (1993b)Wurmbea biglandulosa Glandular Early Nancy rare in Victoria Smith (1980)* FFG = listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.41 Lake Eildon National Park

AppendicesAPPENDIX II SIGNIFICANT FAUNASCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUSGalaxias olidus Mountain Galaxias iLitoria spenceri Spotted Tree Frog E, e, FFGMiniopterus schreibersii Common Bent-wing Bat r/c, FFGMyotis adversus Large-footed Myotis rNinox strenua Powerful Owl r, FFGPhascogale tapoatafa Brush-tailed Phascogale r, FFGPhascogale tapoatafa Brush-tailed Phascogale r, FFGRhinolophus megaphyllus Eastern Horseshoe Bat r/c, FFGTyto tenebricosa Sooty Owl r, FFGXanthomyza phrygia Regent Honeyeater E, e, FFGXanthomyza phrygia Regent Honeyeater E, e, FFGStatus categories (CNR 1995c):E endangered within Australiae endangered within Victoriar rare within Victoriar/c restricted colonial breeding or roosting species within Victoriai insufficiently known within VictoriaFFG listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.42 Lake Eildon National Park

HIGHWAY●BenallaKingBrokenVALLEYFREEWAYReef HillsParkMIDLANDRiverRiverHIGHWAYGOULBURNHUMEMt. SamariaState ParkGoulburn● SeymourGOULBURNRiverLake EildonNational Park● MansfieldLakeEildonMt. Buller - Mt.Stirling AlpineResortMt. Buller●FREEWAYVALLEY●YeaHWY.Yea●AlexandraEildon●Jamieson● JamiesonRiverAlpineHUMERiverPlentyYarraKinglakeNationalParkMELBAHIGHWAYRiver●RiverMAROONDAHHealesvilleHIGHWAY● Marysville●Mt. TorbreckCathedral RangeState ParkYarra RangesNational ParkLake MountainAlpine Resort● MatlockMacalisterNationalParkLicola ●MELBOURNE● WarburtonRiver● PowelltownBaw BawNational ParkTanjilDandenong●Gembrook ParkBunyipState Park● NeerimSouthMoondarraState ParkThomson●EricaRiverPRINCESRiverTyers ParkLa Trobe● Frankston●WarragulFREEWAYMoe●RiverMorwell●Traralgon●Figure 1 LAKE EILDON NATIONAL PARKREGIONAL LOCALITY MAP0 20 40 60G/6481.01KilometresMelbourne ●★Cartography by Natural Resource Systems 1997.

LAKE EILDONNATIONAL PARKFigure 2 MANAGEMENT ZONES0 1 2 3 4 5KilometresG/6481.02HighwaySealed roadMajor unsealed roadMinor unsealed roadVehicular trackWalking trackLake Eildon National Park boundaryOther Parks & ReservesPublic Land boundaryPowerNet Transmission LineSoftwood PlantationsConservation ZoneConservation and Recreation ZoneRecreation Development ZoneSpecial Management Area -Public UtilityLand Use Designation -Deer HuntingMt Pinninger proposed additionCartography by Natural Resource Systems 1997.OLD TONGA ROADCreekBurntGULLYEILDONDELATITERIFLE BUTT ROADROADMONKEYROADMANSFIELDHowes CreekPiriesHIGHETTCHAPELRIDGEHILL ROADRIVERDELATITEPLANTATIONWOODSROADBAYDELATITETRACKWoolshedGOUGHSPOINTROADARMGoughs BayWALSHROADCreekALANSPEAK ●TRACKTRACKROADPEAKALANSMacsCoveINLETHOWQUAHowquaEILDONDARLINGFORDREACHINLETMtPinninger●JERUSALEMLAKENO 3LAKELAKE TRACKTRACKWEBBJERUSALEMTRACKGOULBURNTRACKTRACKRHONDATRACKSTEEPINLETSimpsonsCREEKNO 1CreekWombatKnob●WOMBATWilsonsCREEKCreekROADCreekTRACKRIVERHeffernansBIG RIVERCABLEROADGooleys BridgeCUMMINGSGAPLAKETRACKTAYLORSROADNO 2JAMIESONBarnewallsTRACKFryingpanBALD HILLGAPARMGullyKnowlesCreekJamiesonCreekTRACKTKCreekWoodsWATERCREEKCreekJerusalemThe PinnacleGap●JAMIESONTaylorsTRACKPINNACLEGAPSIMSShingle Hut Ck.CreekTRACKGOULBURNTRACKRockyPeakTRACK●TERRIBLECk.O'ToolesRIVERBurnt BridgeLongROADBULLDOGFLATFryersGullyEILDONKevingtonWhitesWARBURTONMt Torbreck●Torbreck StationTRACKBIGCreekCreek●RIVERBIGTAPONGA RIVERCreekStillROADROADMt. TerribleRIVERLAKEInletSTILLMANSDryCreekCreekWhitehorseGullyWoolshedColler BayBolte BayLAKEMALLETROADJIMSROADHILLCREEKEILDONROADCreekGullyHorseRIVERHIGHWAYSnobsROYSTONAqueductRIVERRUBICON RIVERStationCreekGullyItalianCreekPerfect Cure CreekU.T.Candle BarkCreekGOULBURNGOULBURNVALLEYRUBICONRIVERAndrewsCreekLITTLEStoneBayTaylorBayTAYLORBAYROADROADSnobsCreekFallsMountaineerDevilsRiverThorntonEILDONROADSnobsCreekFALLSSNOBSDRYCREEKRubiconROYSTONRUBICON RIVERROADROADROADMAINTONGOONSKYLINEFRASERBLOCKROADDEVILSSKYLINERIVERROADEILDONROADRUBICONROADTHORNTONTAGGERTYSTILLMANPTCOOPERSPT●Mt Enterprise●ROADRANGEBLUECATHEDRALRANGESTATE PARKWAPPANBLOCKENTERPRISEBLOCKJAMIESONBLOCKJERUSALEMBLOCKRIVER

LAKE EILDONNATIONAL PARKFigure 3 PUBLIC LAND USE &ACCESS MANAGEMENT0 1 2 3 4 5G/6481.03KilometresHighwaySealed roadMajor unsealed roadMinor unsealed roadVehicular trackWalking trackPowerNet Transmission LineSoftwood PlantationsLake Eildon National ParkOther ParkProposed addition to ParkState ForestMt Torbreck Alpine ResortReservePublic land boundary● ● ● ● ●Proposed managementvehicles & walkers onlyExisting managementvehicles & walkers onlyPermanent closureSeasonal closureCartography by Natural Resource Systems 1997.OLD TONGA ROADCreekBurntGULLYEILDONDELATITERIFLE BUTT ROADROADMONKEYROADMANSFIELDHowes CreekPiriesHIGHETTCHAPELRIDGEHILL ROADRIVERDELATITEPLANTATIONWOODSROADBAYDELATITETRACKWoolshedGOUGHSPOINTROADARMGoughs BayWALSHROADCreekALANSPEAK ●● ●● ● ● ●TRACKTRACK●● ● ●● ● ● ● ●ROADPEAKALANSENTERPRISEBLOCKMacsCoveINLETHOWQUAHowquaEILDONDARLINGFORDREACH● ●● ● ● ● ●INLETMtPinninger●JERUSALEMLAKE● ● ● ● ●● ● ● ● ●NO 3LAKELAKE TRACK●● ● ● ● ●TRACKWEBBJERUSALEMTRACKGOULBURNINLET● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●TRACKTRACKRHONDATRACKSTEEPSimpsonsCREEKNO 1JAMIESONBLOCKCreek● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●●● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●WombatKnob●WOMBATWilsonsCREEKCreekROADCreekTRACKRIVERHeffernansBIG RIVERROADGooleys BridgeCUMMINGSGAPLAKETRACKTAYLORSCABLEROADNO 2JAMIESONBarnewallsTRACKFryingpanBALD HILLGAPJERUSALEMBLOCK●ARMGullyKnowlesCreekJamiesonCreekTRACKTKCreekWoodsWATERCREEKCreekJerusalemThe PinnacleGap●JAMIESONTaylorsTRACKPINNACLEGAPSIMSShingle Hut Ck.CreekTRACKGOULBURNTRACKRockyPeakTRACK●TERRIBLECk.O'ToolesRIVERBurnt BridgeLongROADBULLDOGFLATFryersGullyEILDONKevingtonWhitesWARBURTONMt Torbreck●Torbreck StationTRACKBIGCreekCreek●RIVERBIGTAPONGA RIVERCreekStillROADROADMt. Terrible●RIVERROADLAKEWAPPANBLOCKMountaineerMAINTONGOONWhitehorseCreekStationCreekGullyStoneBayGullyItalianWoolshedCreekInlet● ●● ●●● ●●●● ● ● ● ● ●● ●● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●● ● ● ●Perfect Cure CreekSKYELINEU.T.● Mt EnterpriseSTILLMANPTColler BayFRASERBLOCKSTILLMANSCandle BarkROADCreekBolte BayTaylorBayDEVILSLAKEGullySKYELINERIVERROADTAYLORHorseDevilsRiverBAYROADROADEILDONROADEILDONRIVERGOULBURNThorntonSnobsCreekHIGHWAYMALLETVALLEYGOULBURNRUBICONDryCreekFALLSROADSNOBSROADJIMSSnobsRUBICONROADHILLSnobsCreekFallsRIVERROADTHORNTONCREEKTAGGERTYDRYEILDONROADCREEKRubiconRANGEROYSTONCreekROADROYSTONRUBICON RIVERAndrewsRIVERRUBICON RIVERBLUECreekAqueductROADROADCATHEDRALRANGESTATE PARKLITTLERIVER

LAKE EILDONNATIONAL PARKFigure 4 RECREATION MANAGEMENT0 1 2 3 4 5KilometresG/6481.04HighwaySealed roadMajor unsealed roadMinor unsealed roadVehicular trackWalking trackLake Eildon National ParkOther Parks & ReservesPublic Land boundaryPowerNet Transmission LineSoftwood Plantations● 1 - 13Existing Recreation Facilities1. Mountaineer Creek2. Devil Cove3. Candlebark4. Boat launching ramp5. Forsyth Flat (Day visitor area)6. Stockyard Bay (Day visitor area)7. Stockyard Bay8. Lakeside9. Coopers10. Jerusalem Creek11. Jerusalem Creek (Day visitor area)12. O'Toole Flat13. Taylors CreekCartography by Natural Resource Systems 1997.OLD TONGA ROADCreekBurntROADGULLYLAKEEILDONDELATITERIFLE BUTT ROADROADWAPPANBLOCKMONKEYROADMANSFIELDHowes CreekMountaineerMAINTONGOONWhitehorseCreekStationPiriesHIGHETT1 ●CreekGullyCHAPELRIDGEHILL ROADGullyItalianRIVERDELATITEPLANTATIONStoneBayWOODSROADDELATITEWoolshedCreekBAYInletTRACKWoolshedARMPerfect Cure CreekSKYELINEGOUGHS2U.T.POINTROADGoughs BayWALSH● Mt EnterpriseSTILLMANPTColler Bay3 ●●FRASERBLOCKCreekCandle BarkCreekINLETHOWQUAGOULBURNGOULBURN●COOPERS ●8 PTALANSPEAK ●Bolte BayTaylorBayENTERPRISEBLOCKLAKEEILDONEILDONMtDARLINGFORD●REACHPinningerSnobsCreekWombatKnob●10●● 11TRACKJERUSALEMBLOCKSnobs●Creek13FallsSTILLMANS9●ROAD●67● 4● 5ROADTRACKTRACKROADPEAKALANSDEVILSGullySKYELINERIVERROADMacsCoveTAYLORHorseDevilsRiverBAYROADHowquaROADINLETJERUSALEMLAKENO 3LAKELAKE TRACKTRACKWEBBJERUSALEMTRACKROADEILDONTRACKTRACKRHONDATRACKSTEEPRIVERGOULBURNThorntonINLETSimpsonsCREEKHIGHWAYNO 1JAMIESONBLOCKCreekWOMBATVALLEYRUBICONWilsonsMALLETDryCREEKCreekCreekRDTRACKCreekRIVERGooleys BridgeHeffernansBIG RIVERCABLEROADFALLSCUMMINGSGAPLAKETRACKTAYLORSROADJAMIESONBarnewallsROADSNOBSROADNO 2JIMSSnobsRUBICONFryingpanBALD HILLGAPARMGullyKnowlesCreekHILLRIVERJamiesonCreekTRACKTKCreekROADROADTHORNTONWoodsWATERCREEKCreekJerusalemCREEKTAGGERTYDRYThe PinnacleGap●EILDONROADJAMIESONTaylorsTRACKPINNACLEGAPSIMSCREEKRubiconShingle Hut Ck.CreekTRACKRANGEGOULBURNTRACKRockyPeakTRACK●TERRIBLECk.●12O'ToolesROYSTONLongCreekROADRIVERBurnt BridgeROADFryersGullyROYSTONAndrewsBULLDOGFLATWhitesCreekRUBICON RIVERBLUECreekEILDONKevingtonWARBURTONMt Torbreck●RUBICON RIVERTorbreck StationAqueductTRACKBIGCreekRIVERROAD●ROADCATHEDRALRANGESTATE PARKRIVERBIGTAPONGA RIVERCreekStillROADLITTLERIVERROADMt. Terrible●RIVER