Copies of the Plan Can Be Obtained From: Parksvictoria

ChurchillNationalParkand

LysterfieldPark

August 1998

ManagementPlan

This1998planwasevaluatedin2009andwillcontinuetobeimplementedforafurtherfiveyears.

This Management Plan for Churchill National Park and LysterfieldPark is approved for implementation. Its purpose is to direct management of the Parks until the Plan is reviewed. It was finalisedfollowing consideration of the 17 submissions received on the Draft Plan.

Copies of the Plan can be obtained from: ParksVictoria

378CothamRoad

KEW VIC 3101

Parks Victoria Information Centre 35 Whitehorse Road

DEEPDENE VIC 3103

NRE Information Centre

Department of Natural Resources and Environment 8 Nicholson Street

EASTMELBOURNE VIC 3002

Parks Victoria LysterfieldOffice Reservoir Road

NARREWARRENNORTH VIC 3804

For further information on this Plan please contact:

LisaCourt-ChiefRanger,EasternMetropolitanDistrict

95622960

CHURCHILLNATIONALPARKAND

LYSTERFIELDPARKMANAGEMENTPLAN

May 2009

This1998planwasevaluatedin2009andwillcontinuetobeimplementedforafurtherfiveyears.

PublishedinAugust1998byParksVictoria 378CothamRoad,Kew,Victoria3101.

NationalLibraryofAustralia Cataloguing-in-Publicationentry

ParksVictoria.

ChurchillNationalParkandLysterfieldParkmanagementplan.

Bibliography.

ISBN0730666867.

1.Nationalparksandreserves-Victoria-Management.

2.ChurchillNationalPark(Vic.)-Management.

3.LysterfieldLakePark(Vic.)-Management.I.Title. 333.783099456

Cover: LysterfieldLake.

Printedonrecycledpapertohelpsaveournaturalenvironment

ChurchillNationalParkandLysterfieldPark takeinmuchofthesouthernsideofthe LysterfieldHills and form a valuable public landlinkbetweentheDandenongValleyand theDandenongRanges.

There are many opportunities for visitors to enjoy the Parks, including appreciating the nativevegetationandwildlifeofChurchill National Park, exploring LysterfieldLake, and walkingontheextensivetrailnetworkto discover panoramicviews. Forthe more energetic there are opportunities to walk through both Parks and beyond, all the way fromtheDandenongValleytotheDandenongRanges.

The Plan is a framework for the future managementoftheParksandwillensure protection of their conservation values.

I am confident that Churchill National Park and LysterfieldPark will continue to offer a range ofrecreationalopportunitiesandattractvisitors tothearea.

Ilookforwardtothecontinuingcommunity support for the management of these Parks, whichareanimportantpartofVictoria’s magnificent parks system.

MarieTehanMP Minister for Conservation andLandManagement

APPROVEDMANAGEMENTPLAN

ThisApprovedManagement Planhasbeen prepared under Sections 17 and 18 of the NationalParksAct1975(Vic.) and is approved forimplementation.

Rod GowansA/Director NationalParks

The Planprovidesthe basisforthe management of the two Parks until it is reviewed. It was finalisedfollowingconsiderationofthe17 submissions received on the Draft Plan.

ChiefExecutive ParksVictoria

TheParks,totalling1668ha,areascarce havenforwildlifeandpeoplecloseto Melbourne. Theirnaturalvalues,the LysterfieldLake and panoramic views of Melbourne and nearby ranges make the Parks an attractive setting for activities including picnicking, bushwalking, sailing, windsurfing and horse riding.

The two Parks, which are physically linked, will be managed as an integrated area for conservation and recreation.

Visitorswillbeabletoenjoyarangeofhigh qualityexperiencesinforestedandlake settings.

Major management directions are summarisedbelow:

provisionofnewwalkingandcycling trails, linking the two Parks and adjoining publiclandintheDandenongRangesand the DandenongValley; upgrading of trails

aroundLysterfieldLakeandbetweenthe Lake and Churchill visitor area; and developmentofseveralminorentrypoints to improve access to the Parks;

improvementofexistingfacilitiesinthe main visitor areas at LysterfieldLake and inChurchillNationalPark;

conservation of other areas of the Parks in anessentiallyundevelopedcondition;

re-establishmentofindigenousvegetation on degraded and pastured areas;

specialprotection for significant natural andculturalfeatures.

FOREWORDiii

SUMMARYv

1INTRODUCTION1

1.1Location and planning area1

1.2Regionalcontext1

1.3Significance of the Parks1

1.4CreationoftheParks2

1.5Legislationandguidelines2

1.6Park management aims3

2STRATEGICDIRECTIONS4

2.1Park vision4

2.2Managementdirections4

2.3Zoning5

3RESOURCECONSERVATION7

3.1Geological and landform features7

3.2Vegetation7

3.3Fauna8

3.4Landscape9

3.5Culturalheritage9

4PARKPROTECTION11

4.1Firemanagement11

4.2Pestplantsandanimals,anddiseases11

4.3Soil conservation12

5THEPARKVISIT13

5.1TheParkvisitor13

5.2Visitor recreation activities and facilities14

5.3Visitor information and interpretation19

5.4Commercial operations19

5.5Risk management and public safety20

6COMMUNITYAWARENESSANDINVOLVEMENT21

6.1Friends and volunteers21

6.2Community awareness and Park neighbours21

6.3Schools education21

7OTHERISSUES22

7.1Authoriseduses22

7.2Boundaries and adjacent uses22

7.3LysterfieldLakewatermanagement23

8IMPLEMENTATION24

REFERENCES25

TABLES

1Managementzonesandoverlays6

2Summary of recreation activities14

3Existing and proposed recreation facilities15

4Priority management strategies24

APPENDICES

1Significant flora26

2Significantfauna27

3Majorenvironmentalweeds29

4Management of roads and tracks30

FIGURES

1INTRODUCTION

1.1Location and planning area

ChurchillNationalParkandLysterfieldPark arelocatedonthesouthernfoothillsofthe DandenongRanges, 35 kilometressouth-east of the Central Business District of Melbourne (figure1).

This Management Plan covers 1668 ha in the following areas (figure 3):

ChurchillNationalPark(271ha);

LysterfieldPark(1397ha).

ItreplacespreviousplansforChurchill NationalPark(NPS1978)andrecreationuse atLysterfieldLake(CFL1986).

1.2Regionalcontext

The Parks are close to the south-eastern suburbs and adjoin the Pakenhamand Lysterfieldgrowth corridors (figure 1).

Theyareamajorcomponentoftheopenspace linksbetweentheDandenongCreekValleyand the DandenongRanges (MPW 1995).

Figure 2 shows other major open space parks andreservesinthearea,whichinclude:

DandenongRanges National Park – amajor touristattractionwithtalltreesand rainforest gullies;

PolicePaddocksReserve–abutsChurchill National Park and offers developed facilities and opportunities for active and passive recreationinnaturalbushland;

DandenongValleyParklands–offering a wide range of recreation opportunities in a semi-natural setting;

Birds Land Reserve –aYarraRangesShire Council bushlandreserve adjacent to MonbulkCreek and the Parks.

1.3Significance of the Parks

ChurchillNationalParkandLysterfieldPark make a valuable contribution to Victoria’s parks system, which aims to protect viable representativesamplesoftheState’snatural environments occurring on public land. Parks

alsoprovide opportunities for visitors to enjoy andappreciatenaturalandculturalvalues,and many make important contributions to tourism.

The Parks are assigned the IUCN Category III (Natural Monuments) of the United Nation’s ListofNationalParksandProtectedAreas. CategoryIIIareasaremanagedprimarilyfor protectionofoutstandingnaturalfeatures, recreation, education and research.

The Parks contain viable patches of relatively undisturbed native vegetation, which is scarce close to Melbourne. The forest types are similar to those on the western and southern slopes of the DandenongRanges National Park.

TheParksareamajorcomponentofhabitat linkingtheDandenongCreekValleyandthe DandenongRanges.

Significant features are summarisedbelow.

Natural values

Areas of relatively undisturbed open forest with large mature trees.

Panoramic views across Melbourne and theDandenongRangesfromhighknolls androckyoutcrops.

Naturalbackdroptothesurroundingurban development.

A major wetland with many waterbirds, including migratory species.

Adiversityofwildlifeincludingmany significant species of birds.

A large population of Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

A Regional Site of Botanical and ZoologicalSignificance.

Cultural values

Disused aqueducts from the days when LysterfieldLake was used for water supply.

Ruins of old homesteads, dairies and disused quarries,reminders of previous landuses.

Tourism and recreational values

Quality picnic facilities in forested and lake settings.

A large waterbody(LysterfieldLake) offering sailing, windsurfing and swimmingopportunitiescloseto Melbourne.

Opportunities for extended walking and cyclingintheParksandtotheDandenong CreekValleyandtheDandenongRanges.

Bushlandofferingasenseofremoteness and tranquillityclose to Melbourne.

Opportunities for large group functions in anaturalsetting.

Opportunities for commercial operations to provide services, facilities and information for visitors.

1.4Creation of the Parks

Churchill National Park (originally 193 ha and referred to as DandenongNational Park) was created in 1939 by the reservation of asection oftheDandenongPolicePaddocks. The DandenongNational Park was gazettedon

12February1941. SirWinstonChurchillwas honouredin the renaming of the Park in 1944. Churchill National Park was included on ScheduleTwooftheNationalParksAct1975 (Vic.) in1975.

LysterfieldPark (originally 1151 ha) was included on Schedule 3 of the National Parks Act on19May1981asaresultoftheNational Parks(Amendment)Act1981(Vic.). ThePark wascreatedfollowingthedecommissioningof the LysterfieldReservoir (built in 1936) and placementofitscatchmentunderthe management of the then National Parks Service in1979. Minoramendmentsweremadetothe Parkin1984(1hanetaddition)and1988(road closure). It was opened to the public in 1986.

As a result of the NationalParks(Yarra RangesandOtherAmendments)Act1995 (Vic.)additionsweremadetoChurchill National Park (Churchill extension 78 ha) and

LysterfieldPark (Lysterfieldnorth-eastern extension125ha). Afurtherareaof121ha was added to LysterfieldPark as a result of the NationalParks(Amendment)Act1997(Vic.) (Lysterfieldwesternextension). These additionscompletetheimplementationofthe State Government’s strategy to link the Parks.

This strategy is a component of a broader strategytoestablishapubliclandcorridor linkingtheDandenongRangestothe metropolitan parks in the DandenongCreek Valley. That strategy commenced in 1971 with placement of a proposed public open space reservationonprivatelandbetweenthetwo Parks. Linking was achieved progressively by acquisitionsintheParishofNarreWarren. In 1990 the State Government acquired part of Crown Allotment 70A and part MonbulkPre- emptiveRight(ZANomineesland)abuttingthe north-eastboundaryofLysterfieldPark,and part of Crown Allotments 71, 72 and 73 (Kings land) abutting the eastern boundary of ChurchillNationalPark. Theacquisitionof part of Crown Allotments 59, 60 and 71 (Van Beersland)in1993completedthepublicland linkbetweentheDandenongValleyandBirds Land.

1.5Legislationandguidelines

ChurchillNationalParkandLysterfieldPark are reserved and managed under the provisions of the National Parks Act. The Act requires the Directortopreserveandprotectthenatural environment of the Parks and their natural and other features, and subject to this to provide for the use of the Parks by the public for enjoyment,recreationandeducation. TheAct alsoprovidesforappropriateresearch.

The Land Conservation Council (LCC 1994) recommendedthatLysterfieldParkshouldbe used and managed as a Regional Park and that the Lysterfieldextension (north-eastern extension)shouldbeadded. TheLCCdidnot makerecommendationsonthewesternhalfof LysterfieldPark,astheseareasareoutsidethe Melbourne 2 Study Area. The LCC noted that the Lysterfieldextension (north-eastern extension), Churchill National Park and LysterfieldPark should be managed as part of an integrated unit.

The Parks are managed in accordance with Parks Victoria guidelines for the management of parks and LCC recommendations, and with otherplansandguidelines,including:

PortPhillipAreaFireProtectionPlan(CNR 1992);

Melbourne Parks and Waterways Guide to Priorities for Melbourne’s Open Space Network(MPW1995);

Regional Strategy Plan (UYVDRA 1992).

1.6Park management aims

TheNationalParksAct,inparticularsections 4,17and18,providesthebasisfor managementoftheParks. Thefollowing managementaimsarederivedfromthose sections, and as such broadly govern all aspects of park management.

Resourceconservation

Preserveandprotectthenatural environment.

Allow natural environmental processes to continuewiththeminimumofinterference.

Maintain biodiversity.

Conserve features of archaeological, historical and cultural significance.

Parkprotection

Protect human life, the Parks and adjacent lands from injury by fire.

Eradicate, or otherwise control, introduced plants,animalsanddiseases.

TheParkvisit

Provideopportunitiesforappropriate recreation and tourism.

Promote and encourage an appreciation, understandingandenjoymentoftheParks’ naturalandculturalvaluesandtheir recreationalopportunities.

Encourageappropriateparkuseand visitorbehaviour,andfostera conservation ethic in visitors and an understandingofminimalimpact behaviour.

Take reasonable steps to ensure the safety ofvisitors.

Other

Provide for and encourage scientific research, surveys and monitoring that will contribute to a better understanding and management of the Parks.

Co-operatewithlocal,Stateandinterstate governmentauthorities,thecommunity and other interested organisationsto assist inthemanagementoftheParks.

2STRATEGICDIRECTIONS

2.1Park vision

AfuturevisitortoChurchillNationalParkand LysterfieldPark finds a forested haven, in strikingcontrasttosurroundingurban development. The Parks contain representative samplesofthebiologicalcommunitiesofthe southernfoothillsoftheDandenongRangesand are the major component of a bushlandcorridor linkingtheDandenongRangestothe DandenongValley. Thenativewetlands fringing LysterfieldLake are a protected habitat for fauna, including migratory birds. The exotic eucalypt plantations offer expansive areasforpassiverecreation.

High quality visitor facilities and interpretation ofnaturalandculturalvaluescaterforlarge numbers of visitors. There are opportunities for intensive water-based activities at LysterfieldLake, and recreation in natural settings elsewhere in the Parks. Many visitors enjoyviewsofMelbourneandtheDandenongRanges and take advantage of the Parks’ link withlong-distancewalkingandcyclingtrails along the bushlandcorridor through to the DandenongRangesandtheDandenongCreek.

2.2Management directions

Major management directions for the Parks are as follows.

Resourceconservation

Specialprotectionwillbegiventothe significant natural features, including wildlife habitat surrounding the headwaters of LysterfieldLake and the Eastern Grey Kangaroos in Churchill NationalPark.

Indigenousvegetationwillbeconserved.

Indigenousvegetationwillbere- established on degraded and pastured areasand,whereappropriate,inplantation areaswithinLysterfieldPark.

Developments outside day visitor areas at Lysterfieldand Churchill, except as indicated to improve visitor access (section

5)willbeavoided.

Healthy Eucalypt plantations within LysterfieldPark will be retained, as a setting suitable for recreation in popular recreationareas.

Significant cultural features will be protected.

The natural landscape will be conserved, and protected from the effects of developments.

Parkprotection

Indigenousplantandanimalcommunities will be protected from pest plants and animals.

Visitors, the Parks and adjacent lands will be protected from fire in accordance with the requirements of the Port Phillip Area FireProtectionPlan(CNR1992).

TheParkvisit

Newwalkingandcyclingtrailswillbe provided, linking the Parks, major features andadjoiningpublicland,andminorentry pointswillbedevelopedtoimproveaccess totheParks.

Existing facilities in the Parks will be improvedbyextendingandupgradingthe swimmers-only areas and boat rigging area at LysterfieldLake, and installing new and improved picnic facilities at Churchill NationalPark.

Interpretative services for the Parks will be improvedbyprovidingnewandwider opportunities for worthwhile visitor experiences.

Visitorswillbeencouragedtoexplorethe Parks’naturalenvironment,particularlyduringthecoolerweather,andtoenjoythe extensive recreation opportunities.

Schoolandcommunitygroupswillbe encouraged to use the Park.

Current market survey findings on visitor profiles,patternsofbehaviour,

expectationsandpreferenceswillbeused inplanningparkmanagement.

A signs plan for the Parks, including designguidelines,willbepreparedand implemented.

Community awareness and involvement

Awareness and pride in the Parks andtheir natural,culturalandrecreationvalueswill bepromoted.

Public support and involvement in park managementprogramswillbeencouraged.

2.3Zoning

Aparkmanagementzoningschemehasbeen developedto:

provideageographicframeworkinwhichto manage the Parks;

indicatewhichmanagementdirectionshave priorityindifferentpartsoftheParks;

indicatethetypesandlevelsofuse appropriatethroughouttheParks;

assistinminimisingexistingandpotential conflicts between uses and activities, or betweenthoseandtheprotectionofpark values;

provideabasisforassessingthesuitability offutureactivitiesanddevelopment proposals.

Two management zones apply to the Park –Conservation and Recreation, and Recreation Development.

In addition, special protection areas and special management areas are used to summarise requirementsadditionaltothoseofthe underlyingprimarymanagementzones.

Table1specifiesthemanagementzoneand overlay characteristics, and figure 3 shows their location.

Strategicdirections

TABLE 1MANAGEMENTZONESANDOVERLAYS

ZONEOVERLAY

CONSERVATIONANDRECREATION

RECREATIONDEVELOPMENTSPECIALPROTECTIONAREA

SPECIALMANAGEMENTAREA

AREA/LOCATION1646 ha; 98.7% of the planning

area. MostoftheParks.

22 ha; 1.3% of the planning area. Mainvisitorareas.

39.7ha;2.4%oftheplanning area. Northernreachesof LysterfieldLake.

618 ha; 37 % of the planning area.Areassurrounding LysterfieldLakedominatedby plantations.

VALUESNativevegetation(relatively weed-freetoweed-infested), non-indigenouseucalypts, pasture and most of the Lake.

Siteswithsubstantialfacilities innaturalandsemi-natural settings.

Wetlandareas,breedinghabitat forwaterbirds.

Exoticeucalyptplantations providing opportunity for passive recreation. A small section is occupied by the Park Depot and Lake wall.

Areas occupied by major transmission lines.

GENERALMANAGEMENTAIM

Protect natural environments and provide for sustainable dispersed recreation activities and small-scale recreation facilities without significant impactonnaturalprocesses.

Provide primarily for high use visitor nodes with a concentration of recreation and/orinterpretationfacilities.

Protectspecificnaturalor culturalvaluesinspecificareas and sites where a special management focus is required.

Highlight areas or sites where specialmanagementprovisions areneededtoprovidefora particularnon-standarduseor activity.

7ChurchillNationalParkandLysterfieldPark

Resourceconservation

3RESOURCECONSERVATION

3.1Geologicalandlandform features

The planning area’s main landform features are the LysterfieldHills and LysterfieldLake.

Hornfelsformsthemajorridgeofthe LysterfieldHills and there are granodiorite outcrops on the north and south mid to lower slopes.

The ridgeline and major spurs of the planning area have many large exposed granitic rocks that form impressive vantage and interest points.

Generallythegeologicalandlandformfeatures are not subject to damage from visitor use.

Aim

Minimisetheimpactofmanagement activities and visitor use on significant landformfeatures.

Managementstrategy

Monitorimpactofvisitoruseonexposed graniterocks.

3.2Vegetation

The planning area includes a significant amount of viable, relatively undisturbed forest, but muchoftheindigenousvegetationhasbeen subjectedtosomelevelofdisturbancefrom previous land uses including timber harvesting, quarrying, grazing, dam construction and clearing for power lines. There are also several non-indigenous eucalypt plantations, and large areasofpasture.

Approximately half of the Lysterfieldnorth- eastern extension supports native vegetation. Thisvegetationisrelativelyweedfreeand contains the largest trees in the planning area. More than half of the Lysterfieldwestern extension supports native vegetation. There is some weed infestation but sites that have not beengrazedforsometimeareregenerating naturally and a revegetationprogram has commenced.

LysterfieldPark is a regional site of botanical significance (UYVDRA 1989a). The Park is a refuge for a large number of native species and contains regionally significant species that are uncommoninboththeEasternHighlandsand Gippsland(appendix1).

Eightregionallysignificantvegetation communitieshavebeenidentifiedinthe planning area: Herb-rich Forest (14% of the planningarea),ValleyForest(3.3%),Shrubby Foothill Forest (3.9%), Damp SclerophyllForest(4.1%),HeathyWoodland(7.2%),

RiparianForest(1%),SwampScrub(6.0%) and artificially created wetlands (Cook 1994; Chealet al. in prep.). Some stands of relatively weed-free Swamp Scrub are the most undisturbedexamplesofthiscommunityinthe Melbourne region. A small area of HeathyWoodland in Churchill National Park is adjacent to power lines and prone to disturbance from maintenance works. The canopy of Messmate intheDampSclerophyllForest in LysterfieldPark is suffering from severedieback,whichmayberelatedtolarge BellMinercoloniesortoinfectionby Cinnamon Fungus. Rarespeciesthatoccurin thiscommunityrequireprotectionfromfire managementactivities.

A total of 167 native species has been recorded in the planningarea, including more than 30 regionally significant species (appendix 1).

The plantations (636 ha) within the LysterfieldPark were first established in the early 1950s and includes ten species of eucalypt. They create a forested setting for recreation but some are showing signs of poor health or growth.

Aims

Conserve native plant communities, as far

aspracticable,intheirnaturalcondition,and maintaingeneticdiversity.

Provide special protection for significant plant species and communities.

Restoreindigenouscommunities.

Revegetatepasture areas, degraded indigenouscommunitiesandplantations withindigenousspecies.

Restore native vegetation to areas infested withintroduced plants.

Increaseknowledgeofsignificantplant speciesandcommunities.

Managementstrategies

Preparearevegetationplanforthe planningarea,givingprioritytopasture sitesontheChurchillextension(10ha), Lysterfieldnorth-easternextension(60ha), andLysterfieldPark(10ha),andretaining importantviews(section3.5).

Assessthehealthandgrowthpotentialof theplantations. Revegetateplantation areaswhichareunsuitableasrecreation settings.

Monitorsignificantspecies.

Collectandstoreseedfromlocal provenancesofoverstoreyandunderstorey speciestomeettheParks’revegetation requirements.

InvestigatethediebackofMessmatein LysterfieldPark(section3.3and4.2).

Minimisefireprotectionslashinginareas ofDampSclerophyllForestinChurchill NationalPark(consistentwithachieving fireprotectionobjectives)andmonitor vegetation.

3.3Fauna

Native faunal habitat has been severely modifiedanddegradedwithintheextensive areasofplantationsandpasture. Despitethis, the fauna of the Parks is very diverse because oftherangeofvegetationcommunitiesand variety of habitats, including the Lake and wetlands. Over 200 native species have been recorded, including 15 listed as threatened in Victoria, and over 40 considered significant at the State and Regional level (NRE 1998; UYVDRA 1989b) (appendix 2).

Twenty-sevenspeciesofmammalsoccurinthe Parks,includingtheKoala,EasternGrey Kangaroo,BlackWallabyandPlatypus

(SOS1994).

A total of 172 species of birds has been recorded in the planning area. LysterfieldPark isaRegionalSiteofZoologicalSignificance (UYVDRA 1989b). LysterfieldLake environs areasignificantviablewaterbird,habitatclose to Melbourne. This wetland allows opportunitiesforfeeding,breedingandrefuge for at least 26 species of waterbirds, including the migratory Latham’s Snipe and regionally significantwaterbirdssuchastheDarter,Little Egret,PiedCormorantandGreatCrested Grebe. The wetlands are protected from disturbance.

The planning area supports several species of reptilesincludingtheWhite-lippedSnakeand Black Rock Skink, and seven species of frogs.

EasternGreyKangaroosarefoundthroughout the planning area but most are contained within theperimetercyclonefenceatChurchill NationalPark. ThispopulationofEastern Grey Kangaroos, estimated to be between 70 and 150, bred from eight kangaroos released intoChurchillNationalParkin1969. The healthofthismobmaybethreatenedby inbreeding, and release into a larger area of the Parksisdesirable.

Theperimetercyclonefenceeffectively excludes most pest animals (except foxes) and protectsparkassets(sections4.2and5.2.2). There are also several unconnected sections of cyclonefencearoundtheperimeterofthe planning area. Completion of the perimeter fencing around the boundary south of WellingtonRoadwouldbebeneficial.

Faunal records were collected in the Parks mainly in the 1970s and early 1980s. More information is required on distribution, abundance and ecology, particularly of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

The large populations of Bell Miners in the Parksmaybelinkedtotheseveredefoliationof mature Messmates and may be affectingthe presence and abundance of other species.

Resourceconservation

Aims

Protect native fauna from management and visitor activities.

Maintain the genetic diversity of fauna.

Increaseknowledgeofthedistributionand managementofsignificantspecies.

Managementstrategies

Monitorthepresenceandhabitatof significantspecies(appendix2)and manageaccordingtoapprovedFloraand FaunaGuaranteeActionStatements.

Enhancefaunalhabitatbyrevegetatingclearedland(section3.2)andcontrolling weedspecies(section4.2).

Investigatethehealth,populationsizeand habitatrequirementsoftheEasternGrey Kangarooswithintheperimeterfencingat ChurchillNationalPark,andmonitorand manageaccordingtoexpertadvice.

Subjecttoexpertadviceonpopulation dynamics,habitatrequirements,completion ofnecessaryperimeterfencingand regenerationofindigenousvegetationtoa maturitythatcanwithstandbrowsing, removethebarriertokangaroomovements betweenthefencedareainChurchill NationalParkandotherareas.

Monitoreucalyptdiebackandinvestigate thelinkwithBellMinerpopulations. Seek expertadviceifdiebackspreads.

Encouragewildlifesurveys,particularlyin areaspreviouslynotsurveyed.

Monitorthepresenceofkoalasand platypus.

3.4Landscape

PanoramicviewsoftheDandenongRangesand surrounding foothills, and of south-east Melbourne and the city centre, are available from the northern ridgeline of the Parks. Part oftheridgelineoverlookstheLysterfieldValley,aRecordedNationalTrustLandscape

(NTA1981)whichfeatureslargeflatrocksand tors, mostly on adjoining private land.

LysterfieldLake catchment, also a Recorded NationalTrustLandscape(NTA1981),has views of forest largely unimpaired by built structures. LysterfieldLakeisanattractive waterbodywith its northern reaches fringed by swamp vegetation and waterbirdhabitat.

Visualintrusionsincludehighvoltagepower lines and pylons across Churchill National Park, vegetation control work beneath the lines, vegetation clearance for firebreaks to the west ofthe Lake, extensive quarrying to the north, anincompletehousingsubdivisionand retarding basin to the south, and views of powerlinesoverthedamwallatLysterfieldLake.

Aims

Maintain opportunities for panoramic views within and from the Parks.

Rehabilitate, ameliorate or minimiseundesirable visual intrusions.

Managementstrategies

Maintainopportunitiesforpanoramic viewsfromtheLysterfieldHillsLookout.

Screen,wherepossible,theBoraland Pioneerquarryoperationsfromthe LysterfieldHillswalkingtrack.

Screen,wherepossible,electricity transmissionlinesfromviewfromthemain recreationnodeatChurchillNational Park.