The Bouddi National Park Draft Plan of Management closed for review and comment 30 September 2019.
Public exhibition of the draft plan provided an important opportunity for members of the community to have a say in the future management of Bouddi National Park.
The plan was prepared using a new format which is presented as 2 separate documents:
- The draft plan of management which is the 'legal' document that will be provided to the Minister for formal adoption. This is the document we sought your feedback on.
- The draft planning considerations document which is a supporting document that includes detailed information on park values (e.g. threatened species and cultural heritage) and threats to these values. A summary of this information is provided in the plan of management.
Bouddi National Park is significant because of its natural and cultural values. The park lies within the traditional Country of the Guringai and Darkinjung people. More than 70 Aboriginal sites containing more than 200 objects have been recorded in the park and nearby areas.
It is located on the NSW Central Coast and includes diverse landscapes from beaches and steep cliffs through to rainforest and heathland. The coastline in Bouddi National Park has spectacular rocky-cliff headlands, rock platforms, bays, beaches, barrier dunes and lagoons. It also includes 287 hectares of ocean floor and overlying offshore waters known as the Bouddi Marine Extension.
There are significant nature-based tourism and recreational opportunities in Bouddi National Park including camping, fishing, beach activities, bushwalking, mountain bike riding, birdwatching, photography and nature study. There are excellent bushwalking opportunities, including the iconic Bouddi Coastal Walk.
Over 600 plant species within 22 vegetation communities have been recorded within the park, including 5 threatened plant species any many others of regional conservation significance. The diversity of habitats in the park supports populations of 275 native vertebrate species: 135 bird species, 49 mammals (including 5 marine mammals), 30 reptiles, 11 frogs and over 50 fish. Of these, 34 species are listed as threatened under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
What is a plan of management?
Parks and reserves established under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 need to have a plan of management. The plan includes information on important park values and provides directions for future management. The plan of management is a legal document, and after the plan is adopted all operations and activities in the park must be in line with the plan. From time to time plans of management are amended to support changes to park management.
The National Parks and Wildlife Act sets out the matters that need to be considered when preparing a plan of management. These matters are addressed in the supporting Bouddi National Park Draft Plan of Management: Planning considerations document. This document will be updated where appropriate, for example, to include new information on the values of the park (e.g. new threatened species) or new management approaches (e.g. a new pest management technique) or new park programs.
Why is a plan being prepared now?
The current plan of management was approved in 1985 and many things have changed in the last 34 years, so a new plan is needed. The draft plan has been substantially updated to take account of new information and plans guiding fire, pest, weed and threatened species management. This new plan of management includes new areas gazetted as part of the park since the last plan.
The new plan proposes to:
- deliver a mountain bike plan which may be implemented after environmental assessment and public exhibition
- investigate and protect important clay heathlands and threatened ecological communities
- improve management of the Bouddi Marine Extension
- add further management, protection and interpretation of Aboriginal values and sites in consultation with the Aboriginal community
- protect shared historic sites including relic non-invasive exotic species
- monitor for the impacts of sea level rise and respond where possible
- supporting volunteers in the management of the park
- support better use and enjoyment of park facilities including an iconic coastal walk.
When will the plan of management be finalised?
At the end of the public exhibition period in September 2019, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will comprehensively review all submissions, prepare a submissions report and make any necessary changes to the draft plan of management. The Central Coast Regional Advisory Committee and the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council will then review the plan along with the submissions and report, as required by the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
Once their input has been considered and any further changes made to the plan of management, we provide the plan to the Minister for the Environment. The plan of management is finalised when the Minister formally adopts the plan under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. Once a plan is adopted it is published on the Department website.
How can I get more information about the draft plan?
For further information on the plan of management please contact the NPWS Park Management Planning Team on 02 9585 6595.