Hyde Park Management Plan

124 Pages·2008·2.03 MB·English

Hyde
Park
Reserve
Hartley

Plan of
Management

April 2008

Prepared by Lithgow City Council
HYDE PARK RESERVE HARTLEY
PLAN OF MANAGEMENT

Hyde Park Reserve
Plan of Management
Prepared by

March 2008

Acknowledgements
Staff of the Community and Culture Division, Community and Corporate Department
of Lithgow City Council prepared this plan of management with financial assistance
from the NSW Department of Lands.

Valuable information and comments were provided by:

(cid:131) NSW Department of Lands
(cid:131) Wiradjuri Council of Elders
(cid:131) Gundungurra Tribal Council
(cid:131) members of the Wiradjuri & Gundungurra communities
(cid:131) members of the local community and neighbours to the Reserve
(cid:131) Lithgow Oberon Landcare Association
(cid:131) Central Tablelands Rural Lands Protection Board
(cid:131) Lithgow Rural Fire Service
(cid:131) Upper Macquarie County Council
(cid:131) members of the Hartley District Progress Association
(cid:131) Helen Drewe for valuable input on the flora of Hyde Park Reserve
(cid:131) Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
(cid:131) Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Canberra
(cid:131) Tracy Williams - for valuable input on Reserve issues & uses
(cid:131) Department of Environment & Conservation (DECC) NW Branch
(cid:131) Dave Noble NPWS (DECC) Blackheath
(cid:131) DECC Heritage Unit Sydney
(cid:131) Photographs T. Kidd

This Hyde Park Plan of Management incorporates a draft Plan of Management
prepared in April 2003.

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PLAN OF MANAGEMENT

FOREWORD 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6

PART 1 – INTRODUCTION 7
1.0 INTRODUCTION 8
1.1 PURPOSE OF A PLAN OF MANAGEMENT 8
1.2 LAND TO WHICH THE PLAN OF MANAGEMENT APPLIES 9
1.3 GENERAL RESERVE DESCRIPTION 10
1.4 BACKGROUND AND HISTORY 12
1.5 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 13
1.6 PROFILE OF STUDY AREA 14
1.7 SURROUNDING LAND USE AND REGIONAL CONTEXT 15
1.8 STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN OF MANAGEMENT 16
1.9 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION 16

PART 2 – LEGISLATION AND POLICY FRAMEWORK 17
2.0 LEGISLATION AND POLICY FRAMEWORK 18
2.1 CROWN LANDS ACT 1989 18
2.1.1 Requirements of a Plan of Management for a Crown Reserve 18
2.1.2 Use and Management of Crown Land 19
2.1.3 Principles of Crown Land Management 20
2.1.4 Plan of Management Preparation 21
2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ACT 1979 21
2.3 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICIES (SEPPS) 21
2.4 REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS (REPS) 21
2.5 LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS (LEPS) 21
2.5.1 Zoning 22
2.5.2 Land Management Purposes 22
2.5.2 Development Proposal Assessments 23
2.6 LEGISLATION AND POLICY 24
2.6.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 24
2.6.2 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 24
2.6.3 Threatened Species Legislation Amendment Act 2004 25
2.6.4 National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974 25
2.6.5 Noxious Weeds Act 1993 26
2.6.6 Local Government Act 1993 26
2.7 LINKS TO OTHER PLANS AND PROGRAMS 27
2.7.1 National and Regional Programs 27
Weeds of National Significance 27
The National Weeds Strategy 27
NSW Invasive Species Plan 2007 - 2015 27
NSW Biodiversity Strategy 27
Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Action Plan 27
Hawkesbury Nepean River Health Strategy 28
Hawkesbury Nepean Draft Weeds Strategy 28
2.8 COMMUNITY CONSULTATION 28
2.9 IMPLEMENTATION 30
2.9.1 Accountability 30

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PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
PART 3 – BASIS FOR MANAGEMENT 31
- RESERVE DESCRIPTION AND VALUES 31
3.0 BASIS FOR MANAGEMENT 32
3.0.1 Overarching Vision 32
3.0.2 Vision Statements 32
3.0.3 Heritage 33
3.0.4 Environment 33
3.0.5 Lithgow City Council Management Plan 35
3.1 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 36
3.1.1 Reserve Characteristics 36
3.1.2 Landform, Geology and Soils 38
3.1.3 Native Vegetation 39
3.1.3.1 Significant Species 42
3.1.4 Native Fauna 45
3.1.5 Hydrology 46
3.1.6 Fire 48
3.2 CULTURAL HERITAGE 49
3.2.1 Aboriginal Heritage 49
3.2.2 Non-Aboriginal Heritage 52
3.3 LANDSCAPE VALUES AND VISUAL AMENITY 53
3.4 COMMUNITY VALUES AND SOCIAL PROFILE 54
3.5 EDUCATIONAL VALUES 55
3.6 PROGRAMS OF WORK 56
3.6.1 Historic Known Works & Activities 56
3.6.2 Planned Programs of Works 56
3.7 CURRENT & POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND USES 57
3.7.1 Surrounding Land Use and Subdivision 57
3.7.2 Reserve Access 59
3.7.3 Recreational Activities 62
3.7.4 Unrestricted Vehicle Use 65
3.7.5 Drainage, Erosion and Water Quality 67
3.7.6 Signage 69
3.8 INTRODUCED SPECIES 70
3.8.1 Plants 71
3.8.2 Animals 73
3.8.3 Insects 74
3.8.4 Fungi and Pathogens 74

PART 4 – ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 75
4.0 ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 76
4.1 OBJECTIVES TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE VALUES OF HYDE PARK RESERVE 76
4.2 MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 77
4.2.1 Landform, Geology, Soils and Water 77
4.2.2 Native Plant and Animal Conservation 78
4.2.3 Fire Management 80
4.2.4 Cultural Heritage 81
4.2.5 Visitor Use and Recreation 83
4.2.6 Future Management Opportunities 85

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PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
PART 5 – MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 87
5. MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS 88
5.1 VISION FOR PLAN OF MANAGEMENT 88
5.2 MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES 88
5.3 PROPOSED MANAGEMENT 89
5.3.1 Track Closures and Conservation Earthworks 90
5.3.2 Brushmatting 91
5.3.3 Vehicle Management 91
5.3.5 Revegetation Strategy 92
5.4 MONITORING AND REVIEW 93
5.5 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 95
5.6 REFERENCES 95

APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Noxious Weed Control Classes 96
Appendix 2: Noxious Weed Declarations for Upper Macquarie County Council 97
Appendix 3: Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Schedules 103
Appendix 4: Key Threatening Processes 103
Appendix 5: Priority Action Statements (PAS) for Asterolasia buxifolia 104
Appendix 6: Geological Map Sheet of Hyde Park and surrounds 105
Appendix 7: Soils Landscape Map of Hyde Park and surrounds 106
Appendix 8: Media Release RBG 107
Appendix 9: Management Implications - Legislation and Planning Instruments 108
Appendix 10: Native Flora List 111
Appendix 11: Native Fauna List 113
Appendix 12: Cultural Heritage Assessment Overview 118
Appendix 13: Artefact Identification 119
Appendix 14: Selected Artefact Photos – Hyde Park Reserve 120
Appendix 15: Community Survey Summary 2007 121
Appendix 16: Summary of Written Submissions 123
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PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
FOREWORD

A Plan of Management (PoM) is a document that provides the framework for managing a
land resource. It explains “why, how and by whom” the subject area should be managed.

In October 2007, Council as the Corporate Trust Manager for Hyde Park Reserve began the
preparation of a draft Plan of Management (DPoM), for Crown Reserves R.97 and R.95074,
which have been reserved for Public Recreation and Public Purposes. Lithgow Council
acknowledges the financial grant contribution provided by the Department of Lands Public
Reserves Management Fund to assist with the preparation of the Plan. The principle reason
for preparing the draft plan over the Reserve is to deal with issues impacting upon the area
and to ensure the plan complies with the Crown Lands Act 1989.

Lithgow City Council presently manages Hyde Park Reserve as a bushland reserve that
supports passive recreation, including bushwalking, picnics, and swimming. The Plan of
Management describes these current usages in the reserve, and will describe future planned
usage and management strategies for the Reserve. After Council approves the draft plan of
management and the Department of Lands considers it satisfactory, it will be, (pursuant to
Cl. 35 of the Crown Land Act 1989 – Regulation), placed on public display and a notice
published in the NSW Government Gazette and local newspaper.

The exhibition period of the draft plan provides an opportunity for public comment. After
submissions have been received and considered, it is forwarded to the Minister for Lands for
adoption. Once the Minister adopts the plan, Council as Trust Manager of the Reserve
should only undertake uses, activities, or developments consistent with the finalised Plan of
Management.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Hyde Park Reserve is an 18ha bushland reserve on the banks of the River Lett. The Reserve
is well-known throughout the local community and has historically been a popular place for
swimming and passive recreation. Hyde Park Reserve has significant natural, cultural, and
recreational values. Two significant populations of flora species inhabit the Reserve, as well
as containing significant cultural heritage values, and associations with early Blue Mountains
expeditions.

Current unrestricted recreational activities have increased substantially in recent years,
resulting in many of the values associated with Hyde Park Reserve being impacted upon
requiring addressing and remediation.

This Plan of Management aims to ensure Hyde Park Reserve retains its environmental,
scenic, cultural and social values and that key issues relating to the management of the
reserve are addressed. The key strategies and recommendations is summarised and
outlined further in Section 4.
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HYDE PARK RESERVE HARTLEY
PLAN OF MANAGEMENT

Hyde Park
Plan of Management
Part 1 – Introduction

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HYDE PARK RESERVE HARTLEY
PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose of a Plan of Management
Lithgow City Council has prepared this Plan of Management to document the key values of
‘Hyde Park Reserve’ (Crown Reserves R.97 and R.95074) and guide its ongoing
management, future use and development. Underpinning the Plan of Management is the
involvement of stakeholders and the community in determining the values that are important
and how these should be protected and enhanced. Pursuant to s. 112 of the Crown Lands
Act 1989, Council has notified the Minister of its intention to prepare a Plan of Management
for the Reserve and consent to prepare the Plan of Management was granted in June 2006,
with financial assistance extended from the Minister for Lands.

A Plan of Management is a document available to the community to provide clear guidelines
for the management of the land. A Plan of Management establishes directions for planning,
resource management and maintenance of public land and is intended for use by Council
staff and for the information of the public in general.

Methods used by council to gain information for this document included:

• A review of relevant literature

• Community consultation, and

• Utilizing specialist knowledge from relevant agencies and stakeholders.

The planned outcomes of the plan are to:

• Provide an inventory of environmental, social and economic values;

• Provide a link to policies and statutes that influence reserve management;

• Identify environmental and cultural issues within the reserve and provide guidance for
strategic management; and

• Provide an action plan to guide natural area management works.
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PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
1.2 Land to which the Plan of Management Applies
The Plan of Management applies to crown land known as ‘Hyde Park Reserve’ which
comprises Reserve 97 reserved for Public Recreation and Public Purposes notified on 10th
January 1881 and is described as Lot 7011 DP 1028430 with an area of approximately 9.57
hectares. It is situated on the southern bank of the River Lett.

Hyde Park also comprises Reserve 95074 reserved for Public Recreation notified on the 5th
June 1981. The land is described as Lot 342 DP 41316 of 6.44ha, and Lot 7010 DP 1028429
of approximately 2.08ha, with a combined area of approximately 8.5 hectares. The total area
of all three parcels is 18 hectares. An unsealed road (Hyde Park Lane), extends for
approximately 1.7kms from Mid Hartley Rd to reach the Reserve, but is not a part of the
Reserve (Figures 5 & 6).

The trustee of R.97 is the ‘Hyde Park Reserve Trust’ appointed in the NSW Government
Gazette on the 4th August 2000, whilst the ‘Lett Public Recreation Reserve Trust’ which was
appointed on the 7th January 2000 in the NSW Government Gazette, is the trustee of
R.95074. Lithgow City Council was appointed the Corporate Trust Manager of both of the
Trusts as notified in the NSW Government Gazette #25 on the 18th February 2000. Lithgow
City Council is responsible for the care, control and management of the Reserve under
Section 92 of the Crown Lands Act 1989. Hyde Park Reserve is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: ‘Hyde Park Reserve’ crown land parcels on the northern and southern banks of the
River Lett

The current boundaries of the southern section of Hyde Park Reserve have historic
incursions from both the neighbouring land and the Reserve into each other’s properties.
Historic clearing and the installation of fence-lines have delineated incorrect boundaries
between the two properties. This has resulted in a section of what is considered to be part of
Hyde Park, belonging to the neighbour, and areas under pasture being a part of the Reserve.
Opportunities exist to redress and resolve this issue, outlined in section 4.2.6.
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PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
1.3 General Reserve Description
Hyde Park Reserve is located 1.8kms to the northeast of Hartley NSW in the Lithgow Local
Government Area (LGA) in the Parish of Lett, County of Cook. Hyde Park Reserve is located
on the northern and southern banks of the Lett River within the broader Coxs River
catchment (Figures 1, 4 & 14) 15 km to the east of Lithgow township. The Coxs River
catchment drains from a series of creeks beginning in the northeast from Mt Victoria and
Dargan/Bell flowing into the River Lett in the Hartley Valley and then into the Coxs River.
These headwaters of the catchment drain from escarpment areas that bound the Hartley
Valley before flowing into the River Lett.

The site is located at the north eastern end of the Coxs’ River catchment at an altitude of
approximately 750-800m above sea level, with land areas covered by the Topographic Map:
Hartley 8930-4-N.

The reserve is accessed by an unsealed length of Crown Road, beginning at the property
named “TullyDonnell” which is 500m from the Great Western Highway off the Mid Hartley
Road. This 1.7km narrow road is tree-lined and fenced and runs between paddocks and sub-
divided properties, to a previously gated fence that is the entrance to the reserve.

Hyde Park Reserve is a well-vegetated bushland reserve, with no formal infrastructure or
facilities. The reserve is fenced along its entire boundary, with some breaches on the east
and western boundaries.

The River Lett flows through the reserve for a length of approximately 700m, and has at least
one deep pocket of water popular for swimming within a small rocky gorge. Adjacent
landholders on the northern bank have fenced paddocks, some distance back from the river
with the steep terrain appearing to restrict stock incursions into the reserve.

Locals and tourists use
the reserve primarily for
swimming throughout
warmer months, as well
as camping and
picnicking, which over
the last decade has
accelerated greatly due
to recent subdivisions
within the Hartley
Valley, the removal of
stock and gate,
unrestricted access,
and increased local
knowledge.

Figure 2: The rocky
granite gorge on the
River Lett flowing
downstream into the
swimming hole.
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