Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden Management Plan 2008-2018 (Cth)

Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

Management Plan 2008-2018

Foreword

Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden protect over 655 hectares of the remote Territory of Norfolk Island. Set in the south-west Pacific Ocean, the Territory provides a link between tropical and temperate oceanic island environments and is home to unique assemblages of flora and fauna.

The Park and Garden provide habitat and breeding areas for endemic species, migratory birds and large colonies of breeding seabirds. They protect remnant areas of subtropical rainforest and viney hardwood forest which once covered much of the Island.

Management of the National Park and Botanic Garden has a strong focus on the protection of existing native flora and fauna and habitat restoration through the control of invasive species, planting of native vegetation and implementation of erosion control measures.

The National Park and Botanic Garden provide educational, scientific, cultural and recreational opportunities for Norfolk Island residents and visitors and a valuable resource for the Norfolk Island tourism industry.

The Management Plan for the Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden has been prepared under provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and meets all the statutory requirements for a management plan under that Act.

Given the close proximity of the Park and Botanic Garden, the similar nature of the threats they face, and the management goals and strategies required, a combined management plan for the two Commonwealth reserves has been prepared for the first time.

A draft Management Plan was gazetted for public comment on 1 August 2007 and the period of public comment closed on 3 September 2007.The Plan was revised in light of comments received, in consultation with the Norfolk Island National Park Advisory Committee and the Administration of Norfolk Island.

This Management Plan will provide a firm foundation for the management of the Norfolk Island National Park and the Norfolk Island Botanic Garden for the next ten years.

Peter Cochrane

Director of National Parks

Acknowledgments

The Director of National Parks gratefully acknowledges the assistance and advice of members of the Norfolk Island National Park Advisory Committee, the Administration of Norfolk Island and the many individuals and organisations who contributed to the Management Plan.

Contents

Foreword i

Acknowledgments i

A description of Norfolk Island National Park 1
and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

Territory of Norfolk Island 2

Norfolk Island’s protected areas 2

Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden 2

Public reserves 2

The values of the Park and Botanic Garden 2

Heritage significance 3

Conservation significance 3

Management Plan for Norfolk Island National Park 7
and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

Part 1 Introduction 7

Background 7

1.1. Previous management plans 7

1.2. Structure of this Management Plan 7

1.3. Planning process 7

Introductory provisions 8

2.1. Short title 8

2.2. Commencement and termination 8

2.3. Interpretation (including acronyms) 8

2.4. Legislative context 10

2.5. Purpose, content and matters to be taken into account in a management plan 14

2.6. IUCN category and zoning 15

2.7. International agreements 16

2.8. Norfolk Island National Park Advisory Committee (NINPAC) 16

Part 2 How the Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island
Botanic Garden will be managed 17

IUCN category and zoning 17

3.1. Assigning the National Park and Botanic Garden to an IUCN category 17

Natural heritage management 18

4.1. Landscapes, soils and water 18

4.2. Native plants and animals 20

4.3. Managing adverse impacts of plants, animals and pathogens 23

4.4. Rehabilitation 26

4.5. Climate change 27

4.6. Bioprospecting (access to biological resources) 28

4.7. Botanic Garden—management of the living collection and herbarium 30

4.8. Forestry Area 32

Cultural heritage management 37

5.1. Conservation of cultural heritage values 37

Visitor management and use of the Park and Botanic Garden 39

6.1. Visitor use 39

6.2. Roads and tracks 41

6.3. Visitor safety 46

6.4. Commercial tourism and other commercial activities 48

6.5. Visitor information, education and interpretation 50

6.6. Community use of natural resources 51

6.7. Other activities 53

Stakeholders and partnerships 55

7.1. Neighbours, stakeholders and partnerships 55

Business management 58

8.1. Capital works and infrastructure 58

8.2. Compliance and enforcement 60

8.3. Assessment of proposals 61

8.4. Incident management 65

8.5. Research and monitoring 66

8.6. Resource use in Park and Botanic Garden operations 69

8.7. New activities not otherwise specified in this Plan 70

8.8. Management Plan implementation and evaluation 71

Appendices

A.Key result area outcomes relevant to Norfolk Island National Park 73
and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

B.EPBC Act listed threatened species occurring in Norfolk Island National 74
Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden (at November 2006)

C.EPBC Act listed migratory species occurring in Norfolk Island National 77
Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden (at November 2006)

D.EPBC Act listed marine species occurring in Norfolk Island National Park 80
and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden (at November 2006)

E.Management principles in Schedule 8 to the EPBC Regulations relevant to 81
Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

Maps

Location of Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden 5

Forestry Area 36

Access to Norfolk Island National Park (Mount Pitt Section) 43

Access to Norfolk Island Botanic Garden 44

Access to Norfolk Island National Park (Phillip Island Section) 45

Tables

Decision-making process and impact assessment procedures 63

Environmental impact assessment matters and considerations 64

Bibliography 84

Index 87

A description of

Norfolk Island National Park and

Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

Territory of Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island is located in the South Pacific Ocean at latitude 29°02’ S and longitude 167° 57’ E. The Territory of Norfolk Island includes Nepean and Phillip Islands—small, uninhabited islands that lie to the south of Norfolk Island—as well as several rocky islets near Norfolk Island’s coastline. Norfolk Island covers an area of 3455 hectares. It is approximately 1700 kilometres from Sydney, Australia, and 1100 kilometres from Auckland, New Zealand (Map 1).

Norfolk Island’s protected areas

Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

Norfolk Island National Park covers 650 hectares in two sections. The Mount Pitt Section on Norfolk Island itself covers 460 hectares. The other section comprises 190 hectares on neighbouring Phillip Island. The Norfolk Island Botanic Garden covers 5.5 hectares and is located near the Mount Pitt Section of the Park.

The Mount Pitt Section of the Park and the Botanic Garden were first established by the Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden Act 1984 (NI) when it came into force on 12 February 1985. These areas were subsequently declared a national park and botanic garden under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 (Cwlth) by proclamation under that Act on 31 January 1986 following a request of the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly. The Phillip Island Section of the Park was proclaimed under the Commonwealth Act on 24 January 1996.

In July 2000 the (Commonwealth) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) came into force and replaced a number of Acts relevant to the management of the Park and Garden including the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975. Since 16 July 2000, the Park and the Botanic Garden have been managed under the EPBC Act.

Public reserves

A number of public reserves are established in other areas of Norfolk Island under the Public Reserves Act 1997 (NI) and managed by the Conservator of Public Reserves, Norfolk Island Parks and Forestry Service. They include the 10 hectare Nepean Island, located approximately one kilometre off the coast of Norfolk Island.

The values of the Park and Botanic Garden

The natural values of the Park and Botanic Garden come from being part of the Territory of Norfolk Island. Set in the south-west Pacific Ocean, the Territory provides a link between tropical and temperate oceanic island environments. The remote location, coupled with colonisation by plants and animals dispersed over vast distances of ocean, means that the Territory of Norfolk Island is important for its values as habitat for endemic species, habitat and breeding areas for

species with limited distribution and migratory species including large colonies of breeding seabirds, and for its unique vegetation assemblages.

In addition to their natural values, the Park and Botanic Garden demonstrate dramatic landscape values, including the unique physical features of Phillip Island, spectacular cliffs on the main island and skylines featuring the Norfolk Island pine.

The Park and Botanic Garden values include historic cultural heritage values. The area which is now the Mount Pitt Section of the Park has been the site of a number of significant events in the human history of the island, including its discovery and settlement by Europeans and its defence during the Second World War. Both the Park and Botanic Garden include artefacts relating to the Second World War.

The Park and Botanic Garden provide educational, scientific, cultural and recreational opportunities for Norfolk Island residents and visitors and a valuable source of income for the Norfolk Island tourism economy.

Heritage significance

At the time of preparing this Plan, the Park and Botanic Garden are a ‘nominated place’ for the purpose of potential inclusion in the National Heritage List under the EPBC Act. The Mount Pitt Section of the National Park is an ‘indicative place’ for the purpose of inclusion in the Commonwealth Heritage List under the Act. Phillip Island is a listed place on the Commonwealth Heritage List.

Conservation significance

Oceanic islands are of particular biological significance as their flora and fauna are usually derived from the chance dispersal of plants and animals over vast distances of ocean. In isolation from other populations, and subject to different evolutionary pressures, many species evolve into endemic island forms.

Plants and animals which have evolved in an island ecosystem can be more vulnerable than those which have evolved in a more competitive environment. When new species are introduced to islands, local populations may suffer and extinctions occur. This has occurred on Norfolk Island.

As well as the impact that introduced species have on island populations, Norfolk Island has been subject to extensive land clearing for agriculture and housing. Much of Norfolk Island’s landscape has been transformed from that of a densely vegetated subtropical oceanic island to a highly modified pastoral landscape characterised by grazed kikuyu pastures bordered by remnant woodland. While these changes to the landscape may have favoured some species, they have disadvantaged others.

Of the 15 species and subspecies of birds endemic to Norfolk Island only seven definitely remain. The Island Thrush or Grey-headed Blackbird (Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus) has not been sighted for some time and may be extinct. Although listed as extinct at the time of preparing

this Plan, the White-breasted White-eye (Zosterops albogularis) has been sighted several times on Norfolk Island and its status under the EPBC Act may be reviewed. Four of the remaining endemic birds are listed threatened species under the EPBC Act, namely the Norfolk Island Morepork or Boobook Owl (Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata), the Norfolk Island Green Parrot (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cookii), the Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis xanthoprocta) and the Scarlet Robin (Petroica multicolor multicolor). Appendix B to this Plan provides details of the listed threatened species under the EPBC Act that occur in Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden.

The Norfolk Island Ground-Dove (Gallicolumba norfolciensis) is presumed to have become extinct in about 1800, due to over hunting and predation by introduced cats and rats.

There are two native reptiles—the Lord Howe Island (Norfolk Island) skink (Oligosoma lichenigera) and the Lord Howe Island (Norfolk Island) gecko (Christinus guentheri)—that are endemic to the Norfolk and Lord Howe Island groups. Neither is found on the main island but both species occur on Phillip Island and the gecko also occurs on Nepean Island and the small rocky islets of Moo’oo Stone and Bird Rock (Cogger 2004). Both are listed threatened species under the EPBC Act.

Of the 182 plant species native to Norfolk Island 46 are listed threatened species under the EPBC Act. The National Park and Botanic Garden are the refuge for many endemic species listed as threatened under the Act, including the entire populations of many of the 15 flora species that are listed in the critically endangered category. There are also 13 plant species endemic to Norfolk Island and Phillip Island which are not listed as threatened. The endemic Phillip Island glory pea (Streblorrhiza speciosa) is considered to be extinct. Appendix B provides details of the listed threatened species occurring in the National Park and Botanic Garden.

Norfolk, Nepean and Phillip Islands and other smaller islets are important as nesting or roosting habitats for seabirds, such as the Whale Bird or Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata). The Japan–Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (JAMBA), the Republic of Korea–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (ROKAMBA), the Bonn Convention, and the China–Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (CAMBA) provide for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. Bird species listed under these agreements are protected under Part 13 of the EPBC Act as listed migratory species. Appendix C to this Plan sets out the listed migratory species that occur in the Park and Botanic Garden.

Map 1: Location of Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

Management Plan for
Norfolk Island National Park and
Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

Part 1 Introduction

Background

Part 1 of the document sets out the context in which the Management Plan for the Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden was prepared. It describes previous plans and the network of legislative requirements and international agreements which underpin the content of the plans.

This is the first time a single management plan for the National Park and Botanic Garden has been prepared.

1.1Previous management plans

The previous management plans for Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden were in operation for seven years and ceased to have effect on 28 June 2007.

1.2 Structure of this Management Plan

The structure of this Plan reflects the Parks Australia Strategic Planning and Performance Assessment Framework, a set of priorities based on Australian Government policy and legislative requirements for the protected area estate that is the responsibility of the Director of National Parks.

The outcomes in the Plan have been developed against the following key result areas (KRAs) set out in the Strategic Planning and Performance Assessment Framework:

KRA 1: Natural heritage management (see Section 4 of the Plan)

KRA 2: Cultural heritage management (see Section 5)

KRA 4: Visitor management and park use (see Section 6)

KRA 5: Stakeholders and partnerships (see Section 7)

KRA 6: Business management (see Section 8).

Not all KRAs apply to all reserves; KRA 3, Joint management and KRA 7, Biodiversity knowledge management, do not apply to Norfolk Island National Park or Norfolk Island Botanic Garden. Appendix A details outcomes for the KRAs, which are also used to structure the State of the Parks report in the Director of National Parks’ Annual Report to the Australian Parliament.

1.3 Planning process

Section 366 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) requires that the Director of National Parks prepare management plans for each Commonwealth reserve. Section 368 requires the Director to seek comments from members of the public and the relevant state or territory government.

Other stakeholder groups and individuals that were consulted during the preparation of this Management Plan include tourism industry representatives, scientists, fishing and photography interest groups, representatives from the Australian Government and Norfolk Island Assembly, government agencies, and community organisations.

Introductory provisions

2.1Short title

This Management Plan may be cited as the Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden Management Plan.

2.2Commencement and termination

This Management Plan will come into operation following approval by the Minister under s.370 of the EPBC Act, on a date specified by the Minister or the date it is registered under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, whichever is later, and will cease to have effect ten years after commencement, unless revoked sooner by a new plan.

2.3Interpretation (including acronyms)

In this Plan:

Australian Government means the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia

Bonn means the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention)

Botanic Garden means the Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

CAMBA means the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the Protection of Migratory Birds and their Environment

Commonwealth reserve means a reserve established under Division 4 of Part 15 of the EPBC Act

CSIRO means the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Department means the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts or such other department or agency that succeeds to the functions of the Department

Director means the Director of National Parks under s.514A of the EPBC Act, and includes Parks Australia and any person to whom the Director has delegated powers and functions under the EPBC Act in relation to Norfolk Island National Park and/or Norfolk Island Botanic Garden

EPBC Act means the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, including Regulations under the Act, and includes reference to any Act amending, repealing or replacing the EPBC Act

EPBC Regulations means the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 and includes reference to any Regulations amending, repealing or replacing the EPBC Regulations

Forestry operations means operations or activities connected with, or incidental to, planting, maintenance and harvesting of trees or other plants (as defined in the EPBC Act) including clearing, planting, felling, burning, sawing or other value adding, the use of fertilisers and chemicals, the use of pathogens or other biological controls, the construction and maintenance of tracks and roads, and the erection and maintenance of buildings such as a plant nursery

IUCN means the World Conservation Union

JAMBA means the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Birds in Danger of Extinction and their Environment

KRA means key result area. The seven KRAs developed by the Director of National Parks are set out in the Parks Australia Strategic Planning and Performance Assessment Framework

Management Plan or Plan means this Management Plan for the National Park and Botanic Garden, unless otherwise stated

Management principles means the Australian IUCN reserve management principles set out in Schedule 8 of the EPBC Regulations (see Appendix E)

Minister means the Minister administering the EPBC Act

NINPAC means the Norfolk Island National Park Advisory Committee

Norfolk Island Botanic Garden means the area declared as a reserve by that name under the NPWC Act and continued under the EPBC Act by the Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999

Norfolk Island National Park means the areas declared as a national park by that name under the NPWC Act and continued under the EPBC Act by the Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999

NPWC Act means the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 and the Regulations under that Act

Park or National Park means Norfolk Island National Park

Parks Australia means that part of the Department that assists the Director in performing the Director’s functions under the EPBC Act

Parks Australia staff means staff who are employees of the Department assigned to assist the Director of National Parks

ROKAMBA means the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Protection of Migratory Birds and their Environment

Territory means the Territory of Norfolk Island

2.4Legislative context

2.4.1EPBC Act

Objects of the Act

The objects of the EPBC Act as set out in Part 1 are:

(a) to provide for the protection of the environment, especially those aspects of the environment that are matters of national environmental significance; and

(b) to promote ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources; and

(c) to promote the conservation of biodiversity; and

(ca) to provide for the protection and conservation of heritage; and

(d) to promote a co-operate approach to the protection and management of the environment involving governments, the community, land-holders and indigenous peoples; and

(e) to assist in the co-operative implementation of Australia’s international environmental responsibilities; and

(f) to recognise the role of indigenous people in the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of Australia’s biodiversity; and

(g) to promote the use of indigenous people’s knowledge of biodiversity with the involvement of, and in cooperation with, the owners of the knowledge.

Establishment of the National Park and Botanic Garden

The Mount Pitt Section of the Park and the Botanic Garden were proclaimed under the NPWC Act on 31 January 1986. The Phillip Island Section of the Park was proclaimed under the NPWC Act on 24 January 1996. The NPWC Act was replaced by the EPBC Act in July 2000. The Park and the Botanic Garden continue as Commonwealth reserves under the EPBC Act pursuant to the Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999, which deems the Park to have been declared for the following purposes:

the preservation of the area in its natural condition

the encouragement and regulation of the appropriate use, appreciation and enjoyment of the area by the public

and deems the Botanic Garden to have been declared for the purpose of:

increasing knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of Australia’s plant heritage by establishing, as an integrated resource, a collection of living and herbarium specimens of Australian and related plants for study, interpretation, conservation and display.

Director of National Parks

The Director is a corporation under the EPBC Act (s.514A) and a Commonwealth authority for the purposes of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997. The corporation is controlled by the person appointed by the Governor-General to the office that is also called the Director of National Parks (s.514F of the EPBC Act).

The functions of the Director (s.514B) include the administration, management and control of the Park and Botanic Garden. The Director generally has power to do all things necessary or convenient for performing the Director’s functions (s.514C). The Director has a number of specified powers under the EPBC Act and EPBC Regulations, including the power to prohibit or control some activities and to issue permits for activities that are otherwise prohibited. The Director performs functions and exercises powers in accordance with this Management Plan.

Management plans

The EPBC Act requires the Director to prepare management plans for the Park and the Botanic Garden. When prepared, a plan is given to the Minister for approval. A management plan is a ‘legislative instrument’ for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 and must be registered under that Act. Following registration the plan is tabled in each House of the Commonwealth Parliament and may be disallowed by either House on a motion moved within 15 sitting days of the House after tabling.

A management plan for a Commonwealth reserve has effect for ten years, subject to being revoked or amended earlier by another management plan for the reserve.

See Section 2.5 in relation to EPBC Act requirements for a management plan.

Control of actions in Commonwealth reserves

The EPBC Act (ss.354 and 354A) prohibits certain actions being taken in Commonwealth reserves except in accordance with a management plan. These actions are:

kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a member of a native species; or

damage heritage; or

carry on an excavation; or

erect a building or other structure; or

carry out works; or

take an action for commercial purposes.

The EPBC Act (ss.355 and 355A) also prohibits mining operations being taken in Commonwealth reserves except in accordance with a management plan.

The EPBC Regulations control, or allow the Director to control, a range of activities in Commonwealth reserves, such as camping, use of vehicles and vessels, littering, commercial activities and research. The Director of National Parks applies the Regulations subject to and in accordance with the EPBC Act and management plans. The Regulations do not apply to the Director of National Parks or to wardens or rangers appointed under the EPBC Act. Activities that are prohibited or restricted by the EPBC Regulations may be carried on if they are authorised by a permit issued by the Director and/or they are carried on in accordance with a management plan or if another exception prescribed by r.12.06(1) of the Regulations applies.

As noted earlier, the Park and the Botanic Garden were declared under the NPWC Act, which was replaced by the EPBC Act on 16 July 2000. The EPBC Act has also replaced a number of other Commonwealth Acts, namely the:

Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975

Endangered Species Protection Act 1992

Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974

Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982

Whale Protection Act 1980

World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983.

The following parts of the EPBC Act may also be relevant to the management of the Park and Botanic Garden and the taking of actions in, and in relation to, the Park and Botanic Garden.

Environmental impact assessment

Actions that are likely to have a significant impact on matters of ‘national environmental significance’ are subject to the referral, assessment and approval provisions of Chapters 2 to 4 of the EPBC Act (irrespective of where the action is taken).

At the time of preparing this Plan, the matters of national environmental significance identified in the EPBC Act are:

World Heritage properties

National Heritage places

Ramsar wetlands of international importance

nationally listed threatened species and ecological communities

listed migratory species

Commonwealth marine areas

nuclear actions (including uranium mining).

The referral, assessment and approval provisions also apply to actions on Commonwealth land that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment and actions taken outside Commonwealth land that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land. The National Park and Botanic Garden are Commonwealth land for the purposes of the EPBC Act.

Responsibility for compliance with the assessment and approval provisions of the EPBC Act lies with persons taking relevant ‘controlled’ actions. A person proposing to take an action that the person thinks may be or is a controlled action should refer the proposal to the Minister for the Minister’s decision whether or not the action is a controlled action. The Director of National Parks may also refer proposed actions to the Minister.

Wildlife protection

The EPBC Act also contains provisions (Part 13) that prohibit and regulate actions in relation to listed threatened species and ecological communities, listed migratory species, cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and listed marine species. Appendices B, C and D to this Plan list species that occur in the Park and Botanic Garden that are listed threatened species, listed migratory species and listed marine species under the EPBC Act.

Actions taken in accordance with a Commonwealth reserve management plan that is in operation under the EPBC Act are exempt from Part 13.

Heritage protection

As noted above, the EPBC Act has replaced the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975. The Register of the National Estate established under that Act continues under the Australian Heritage Council Act 2003. The National Park (including Phillip Island) is listed in the Register of the National Estate and the Botanic Garden is in the indicative list for possible inclusion in the register. Section 319A of the EPBC Act requires the Minister to have regard to information in the Register of the National Estate in making any decisions under the EPBC Act to which the information is relevant.

At the time of preparing this Plan, the Park and Botanic Garden are ‘nominated places’ for possible inclusion in the National Heritage List under the EPBC Act. The Mount Pitt Section of the National Park is an ‘indicative place’ for possible inclusion in the Commonwealth Heritage List under the Act. Phillip Island is listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List.

The EPBC Act National and Commonwealth Heritage protection provisions (ss.324A to 324ZC and ss.341A to 341ZH) relevantly provide:

for the establishment and maintenance of a National Heritage List and a Commonwealth Heritage List, criteria and values for inclusion of places in either list and management principles for places that are included in the two lists

that Commonwealth agencies must not take an action that is likely to have an adverse impact on the heritage values of a place included in either list unless there is no feasible and prudent alternative to taking the action, and all measures that can reasonably be taken to mitigate the impact of the action on those values are taken; and

that Commonwealth agencies that own or control places must:

i. prepare a written heritage strategy for managing those places to protect and conserve their Commonwealth Heritage values, addressing any matters required by the EPBC Regulations, and consistent with the Commonwealth Heritage management principles; and

ii. identify Commonwealth Heritage values for each place, and produce a register that sets out the Commonwealth Heritage values (if any) for each place (and do so within the time frame set out in their heritage strategies).

Penalties

Civil and criminal penalties may be imposed for breaches of the EPBC Act.

2.4.2Norfolk Island legislation

The Park and Garden are also established under the Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden Act 1984 (NI), which operates subject to the EPBC Act.

Under the Norfolk Island legislation, the senior officer responsible for the Park and the Botanic Garden is designated as the Park Superintendent. This position is currently filled by the senior Parks Australia officer on Norfolk Island who is generally known as the Park Manager.

2.5 Purpose, content and matters to be taken into account in a management plan

The purpose of this Management Plan is to describe the philosophy and direction of management for the National Park and Botanic Garden for the next ten years in accordance with the EPBC Act. The Plan enables management to proceed in an orderly way; it helps reconcile competing interests and identifies priorities for the allocation of available resources.

Under s.367(1) of the EPBC Act, a management plan for a Commonwealth reserve (in this case, the Park and the Botanic Garden) must provide for the protection and conservation of the reserve. In particular, each plan must:

(a) assign the reserve to an IUCN protected area category (whether or not a proclamation has assigned the reserve or a zone of the reserve to that IUCN category); and

(b) state how the reserve, or each zone of the reserve, is to be managed; and

(c) state how the natural features of the reserve, or of each zone of the reserve, are to be protected and conserved; and

(d) if the Director holds land or seabed included in the reserve under lease—be consistent with the Director’s obligations under the lease; and

(e) specify any limitation or prohibition on the exercise of a power, or performance of a function, under the EPBC Act in or in relation to the reserve; and

(f) specify any mining operation, major excavation or other works that may be carried on in the reserve, and the conditions under which it may be carried on; and

(g) specify any other operation or activity that may be carried on in the reserve; and

(h) indicate generally the activities that are to be prohibited or regulated in the reserve, and the means of prohibiting or regulating them; and

(i) indicate how the Plan takes account of Australia’s obligations under each agreement with one or more other countries that is relevant to the reserve (including the World Heritage Convention and the Ramsar Convention, if appropriate); and

(j) if the reserve includes a National Heritage place:

i.not be inconsistent with the National Heritage management principles; and

ii.address the matters prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of paragraph 324S(4)(a); and

(k) if the reserve includes a Commonwealth Heritage place:

i.not be inconsistent with the Commonwealth Heritage management principles; and

ii.address the matters prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of paragraph 341S(4)(a).

In preparing a management plan the EPBC Act (s.368) also requires account to be taken of various matters. In respect to the National Park and Botanic Garden these matters include:

the regulation of the use of the Park and Botanic Garden for the purpose for which they were declared

the protection of the special features of the Park and Botanic Garden, including objects and sites of biological, historical, palaeontological, archaeological, geological and geographical interest

the protection, conservation and management of biodiversity and heritage within the Park and the Botanic Garden

the protection of the Park and Botanic Garden against damage

Australia’s obligations under agreements between Australia and one or more other countries relevant to the protection and conservation of biodiversity and heritage.

2.6 IUCN category and zoning

As noted above, a management plan must assign a Commonwealth reserve to an IUCN protected area category. The categories are prescribed by the EPBC Regulations and correspond to the protected area categories identified by the IUCN:

IUCN category number	Protected area category
Ia	Strict nature reserve
Ib	Wilderness area
II	National park
III	Natural monument
IV	Habitat/species management area
V	Protected landscape/seascape
VI	Managed resource protected area

A management plan may divide a Commonwealth reserve into zones and assign each zone to an IUCN category. The category to which a zone is assigned may differ from the category to which the reserve is assigned (s.367(2)).

The provisions of a management plan must not be inconsistent with the management principles for the IUCN category to which the reserve or zone of the reserve is assigned (s.367(3)). See Section 3 for information on the National Park and Botanic Garden’s IUCN categories.

2.7 International agreements

This Management Plan must take account of Australia’s obligations under relevant international agreements. The following agreements are relevant to the Park and Botanic Garden and are taken into account in this Management Plan.

CAMBA

CAMBA provides for China and Australia to cooperate in the protection of migratory birds listed in the annex to the agreement and their environment, and requires each country to take appropriate measures to preserve and enhance the environment of migratory birds. Thirty species listed under this agreement occur in the Park and Botanic Garden.

JAMBA

JAMBA provides for Japan and Australia to cooperate in taking measures for the management and protection of migratory birds, birds in danger of extinction, and the management and protection of their environments, and requires each country to take appropriate measures to preserve and enhance the environment of birds protected under the provisions of the agreement. Thirty-five species listed under this agreement occur in the Park and Botanic Garden.

ROKAMBA

ROKAMBA provides for the Republic of Korea and Australia to cooperate in taking measures for the management and protection of migratory birds and their habitat by providing a forum for the exchange of information, support for training activities and collaboration on migratory bord research and monitoring activities. Twenty-eight species listed under this agreement occur in the Park and Botanic Garden.

Bonn Convention

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. Parties to this convention work together to conserve migratory species and their habitats. Twenty-two species listed under this convention occur in the Park and Botanic Garden.

Species that are listed under the above agreements and conventions are listed species under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Appendix C to this Management Plan describes listed migratory species found in the Park and Botanic Garden.

2.8 Norfolk Island National Park Advisory Committee (NINPAC)

The first management plan established NINPAC to advise the Norfolk Island Government and the Director of National Parks on the effective implementation of the management plan and on other matters relevant to the National Park and Botanic Garden. NINPAC members are appointed by the Director of National Parks.

Part 2 How the Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden will be managed

IUCN category and zoning

3.1 Assigning the Park and Botanic Garden to an IUCN category

Our aim

The Park and Botanic Garden are managed in accordance with an IUCN protected area category and relevant management principles to protect their values while providing for appropriate use

Measuring how well we are meeting our aim

Degree of management compliance with the relevant Australian IUCN reserve management principles

Background

As noted in Section 2.6, the EPBC Act requires this Management Plan to assign both the National Park and the Botanic Garden to IUCN categories. A management plan can also divide a Commonwealth reserve into zones and must assign each zone to an IUCN category (which may differ from the overall category assigned to the reserve). The EPBC Regulations (Schedule 8) prescribe the management principles for each IUCN category. The principles relevant to this Plan are set out in Appendix E.

The categories to which the Park and Botanic Garden are assigned are guided by the purposes for which they were declared (see Section 2.4, Legislative context). The purposes for which the Park was declared are consistent with the characteristics for IUCN protected area category II, national park. The purpose for which the Botanic Garden was declared is consistent with the characteristics for IUCN protected area category IV, habitat/species management area.

The Park is divided by this Plan into two zones—the Forestry Area (see Section 4.8) to be managed as IUCN category VI, managed resource protected area, reflecting the purposes for which the area is used; and the balance of the Mount Pitt Section of the Park and Phillip Island to be managed as IUCN category II, national park.

What we are going to do

Policies

3.1.1The National Park is assigned to IUCN protected area category II, national park.

3.1.2The Park is divided into two zones:

(a)the Forestry Area (Map 2) assigned to IUCN category VI, managed resource protected area

(b)the balance of the Mount Pitt Section of the Park and Phillip Island assigned to IUCN category II, national park.

3.1.3The Botanic Garden is assigned to IUCN protected area category IV, habitat/species management area.

Natural heritage management

The Mount Pitt Section of the Park consists of a small remnant (less than 10 per cent) of the subtropical rainforest which originally covered Norfolk Island. The remnant is subdivided into smaller communities: palm and tree fern forest; hardwood forest; and Araucaria-dominated forest.

The Botanic Garden contains a small remnant of the subtropical viney hardwood forest which once covered much of the island foothills. The small size of the remnants render the natural heritage values of the Park and Botanic Garden very sensitive to further disturbance.

The Botanic Garden and Park headquarters also house the living collection, aviaries, a display room and the herbarium.

As a result of vegetation destruction by introduced animals there is severe erosion on Phillip Island. Large areas are bare and the very small areas of surviving native vegetation are being added to by rehabilitation. The introduced weed African olive (Olea europaea cuspidate) is taking over large parts of Phillip Island.

The Park and Botanic Garden are the refuge of many endemic species including substantial proportions of many of the 15 flora species listed under the EPBC Act as critically endangered.

The Forestry Area of the Park contains timber production plantations, which were established and managed many years before the proclamation of the Park, and areas of remnant native vegetation.

Climate change has the potential to threaten Park and Botanic Garden values.

Introduced weeds, predators, competitors and pathogens are major threats to Park and Botanic Garden values.

Areas of the Park and Botanic Garden are either completely denuded of vegetation or are heavily infested with weeds.

Some ecological processes, such as nutrient cycles, have been severely damaged.

4.1 Landscapes, soils and water

Our aim

Protect the landscape, soil and water values of the Park and Botanic Garden.

Measuring how well we are meeting our aim

Extent to which the landscape, soil and water values of the Park and Botanic Garden have been maintained and/or restored

Number of significant erosion events in the Park and Botanic Garden

Extent to which water in run-off and recharge areas is free of persistent chemicals as a result of management actions

Background

Landscapes

Mount Pitt and Mount Bates, both in the Park, are the highest peaks on Norfolk Island. Together with their extensive stands of Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla), they form a dominant visual element of the Norfolk Island landscape.

Popular summit viewing areas provide panoramic views of much of the island, the surrounding sea, Nepean Island and Phillip Island. Views of the spectacular coastal scenery can be enjoyed from the Captain Cook Monument.

Viewing areas, including in particular the summits of Mount Pitt and Mount Bates and the Captain Cook Monument area, are major assets for the tourism industry.

There is critical community infrastructure including communication aerials and associated infrastructure on the summit of Mount Pitt. Most of the utilities in the Park, including electricity and telephone lines, are underground.

The degraded Phillip Island landscape is being rehabilitated to establish a cover of native vegetation.

Soils

Norfolk Island’s volcanic soils are nutrient rich, friable and porous. They do not hold moisture well, so native vegetation is susceptible to stress during long dry periods. This applies not only to species such as the little filmy fern (Crepidomanes saxifragoides) that require moist, shaded areas, but also to some trees on Norfolk Island. Large amounts of soil have been lost from Phillip Island through erosion. The nature of Phillip Island’s soils makes revegetation a difficult task.

Water

Precipitation on Norfolk Island occurs mainly through rainfall with some fog-drip. The Park and Botanic Garden are thought to be major recharge areas for Norfolk Island’s aquifers and hence for the community’s water supplies. The Park and Botanic Garden are also catchments for surface run-off.

There is no natural surface water on Phillip Island.

Sections 354 and 354A of the EPBC Act prohibit certain actions being taken in the Park and Botanic Garden except in accordance with this Plan, including actions affecting members of native species, damaging heritage, excavation, construction and other works. Sections 355 and 355A of the Act prohibit mining operations except in accordance with this Plan.

The EPBC Regulations prohibit certain activities relevant to protecting the landscapes, soils and water in the Park and Botanic Garden, including release of harmful and polluting substances (r.12.14(3)), and use of poisonous substances (r.12.15), unless done in accordance with this Plan or a permit issued by the Director under the EPBC Regulations.

Issues

Maintaining landscape values while allowing for the functioning of critical community infrastructure on the summit of Mount Pitt as well as for viewing the island’s landscapes.

Visitor and tourist industry access to viewing areas.

Managing erosion.

Maintaining water quality in aquifer recharge and surface run-off areas.

What we are going to do

Policies

4.1.1Actions taken under this Plan must be taken in a manner that will minimise impact on Park and Botanic Garden values.

4.1.2Consultation will take place with the Norfolk Island Government with respect to critical community infrastructure on the summit of Mount Pitt.

4.1.3The tourism industry will be consulted on access to viewing areas.

4.1.4Actions taken under this Plan must be taken in a manner that will minimise soil erosion, control sediment and reduce the impact on aquifer recharge and surface water run-off.

4.1.5Persistent chemicals which may adversely affect the quality of surface water and/or water in aquifer recharge areas must not be used.

4.1.6Water will be managed to minimise adverse impacts on, and enhance, Park and Botanic Garden values.

4.1.7Actions covered by ss.354 and 354A of the EPBC Act may be taken for the purposes of managing water, landscapes and soils.

4.1.8Mining operations must not be carried on in the Park or Botanic Garden.

Actions

4.1.9Place utilities underground in the Park and Botanic Garden where practicable or screen with native plantings.

4.1.10Manage vegetation, including clearing, to maintain significant views.

4.1.11Maintain and regularly update the existing pictorial record of changes to Phillip Island landscapes.

4.1.12Assess chemical use for any potential adverse impact on values, aquifer recharge and surface run-off prior to their use.

4.1.13Where practicable collect and store water in the Park and/or Botanic Garden including for species propagation, revegetation, and safety.

4.2 Native plants and animals

Our aim

Maintain or improve the distribution and abundance of species native to Norfolk Island, and the ecosystems and processes upon which they depend.

Measuring how well we are meeting our aim

Extent to which the distribution and abundance of EPBC listed plants and animals are maintained at current levels or improved

Extent to which the distribution and abundance of non-listed native species are maintained or improved

Background

Norfolk Island has many naturally occurring (native) species which are listed threatened species under Part 13 of the EPBC Act (in the critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable category).

Other species that occur are listed migratory and marine species under Part 13.

The Park and Botanic Garden also contain species which, while not listed, are significant for other reasons. For example the Norfolk Island pine is significant because of its contribution to landscape values, its role in island ecosystems and the cultural value placed on it by the Norfolk Island community. The white oak (Lagunaria patersonia) is significant because of its role as a food source for listed species such as the Norfolk Island Green Parrot and the Lord Howe Island (Norfolk Island) gecko.

Species listed under Part 13 of the EPBC Act at the time of preparing this Plan are at Appendices B, C and D to this Plan.

Given the small size of the Park and Botanic Garden and the distribution of many species beyond the Park boundary, achieving our aim depends on both on- and off-Park actions. Therefore cooperation with the Norfolk Island Government and community is vital. Two important processes under way at the time of preparation of this Plan are development of the Norfolk Island Multi-species Recovery Plan under the EPBC Act for listed threatened species, and the Regional Natural Resource Management Plan.

The Multi-species Recovery Plan will identify many of the priorities for species-directed management actions on and off the Park. It will incorporate existing recovery plans for the Norfolk Island Scarlet Robin, Norfolk Island Golden Whistler and Norfolk Island Green Parrot.

It is a normal ecological process of islands that self-introductions occur over time.

In order to achieve the aims of this Management Plan, the Director may need to move native species, including species listed under Part 13 of the EPBC Act, within the Park and Botanic Garden, out of the Park and Botanic Garden and/or into the Park and Botanic Garden.

The achievement of our aim also depends fundamentally on reducing or managing adverse impacts of plants, animals and pathogens including native species (see Section 4.3), rehabilitating natural ecosystems (see Section 4.4) and rigorous quarantine measures.

Under ss.354 and 354A of the EPBC Act a person may not kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a member of a native species except in accordance with a management plan. The EPBC Regulations also prohibit taking animals and plants into the Park or Botanic Garden, and cultivating plants in the Park or Botanic Garden.

Actions taken in accordance with this Plan in relation to members of species listed under Part 13 of the Act are exempt from prohibitions that would otherwise apply under Part 13.

Flora

182 plant species are native to Norfolk Island. The National Park and the Botanic Garden are the refuge for about 40 endemic species, including substantial proportions of the populations of many of the 15 flora species considered to be critically endangered.

Fauna

Of the 15 species and subspecies of birds endemic to Norfolk Island, only seven definitely remain.

Nest maintenance, and predator and competitor control have been successful in increasing Green Parrot and Norfolk Island Morepork numbers in the wild.

The two native mammals recorded from Norfolk Island—Gould’s wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii) and the Eastern free-tail bat (Mormopterus norfolkensis)—are thought to be locally extinct.

The two native reptile species found in the Norfolk Group—the Lord Howe Island (Norfolk Island) gecko (Christinus guentheri) and the Lord Howe Island (Norfolk Island) skink (Oligosoma lichenigera)—are considered extinct on Norfolk Island but still occur on Phillip Island. The introduced Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) has recently been recorded at three sites on Norfolk Island and has been implicated in the decline of some native gecko species in other parts of its range.

The Park and Botanic Garden have a rich diversity of terrestrial molluscs but it is thought that the introduction of rats and feral fowl Gallus gallus may have had a severe impact on this group of species.

Issues

A high proportion of the Park and Botanic Garden species are listed threatened species under the EPBC Act.

The Park and Botanic Garden provide habitat for listed threatened, migratory and marine species.

Many of the native species in the Park and Botanic Garden have very small populations, and/or have only a single population.

There is insufficient knowledge for management of some species.

Monitoring trends in the status of many species is challenging, particularly on Phillip Island where access is difficult.

The viability of many native species will depend upon actions taken inside and outside the Park and Botanic Garden.

What we are going to do

Policies

4.2.1Priority will be given to actions under this Plan aimed at improving the conservation status of listed threatened species.

4.2.2Priority will be given to actions under this Plan that have systemic benefits for more than one species.

4.2.3Research and monitoring will be managed in accordance with Section 8.5 of this Plan (Research and monitoring).

4.2.4The Director may take actions concerning native species, including species listed under Part 13 of the EPBC Act, that are otherwise prohibited by the Act where they are necessary to implement this Plan, or where they are otherwise necessary for preserving or protecting the Park and the Botanic Garden values, protecting or conserving biodiversity, or protecting persons or property in the Park and Botanic Garden.

4.2.5Native plant material may be taken in and from the Park in accordance with a permit issued under the EPBC Regulations.

4.2.6Taking of native plant and animal species that involves access to biological resources will be managed in accordance with Section 4.6, Bioprospecting.

Actions

4.2.7Contribute to regional natural resource planning and multi-species recovery planning and associated implementation processes.

4.2.8So far as practicable implement multi-species recovery plans, and relevant threat abatement plans for listed threatened species.

4.2.9So far as practicable take other actions that may improve or maintain the conservation status of species native to Norfolk Island.

4.2.10Collaborate with other agencies to establish additional populations of the Norfolk Island Green Parrot, and of other species where necessary, consistent with this Management Plan.

4.3 Managing adverse impacts of plants, animals and pathogens

Our aim

Control or eradicate weeds, feral animals and destructive pathogens.

Measuring how well we are meeting our aim

Changes in the extent of weed coverage in the Park and Botanic Garden

Number and coverage of new weed species

Changes in the status of introduced predators and competitors

Changes in the impact of pathogens and competitors

Background

The prescriptions in this Section support the aims of Section 4.2 ie maintaining or improving the distribution and abundance of species native to Norfolk Island, and the ecosystems and processes upon which they depend.

Native species may on occasions impact negatively impact on other native species and in extreme circumstance may require control action.

Many plants and animals have been introduced to Norfolk Island by humans, including some native species within the meaning of the EPBC Act. Several pose a major threat to the native species of Norfolk Island.

Some introduced predators, in particular rats and cats, have not become established on Phillip Island which has allowed populations of some native species which have become locally extinct on Norfolk Island to survive on Phillip Island. Examples include the Lord Howe Island (Norfolk Island) gecko (Christinus guentheri) and the Lord Howe Island (Norfolk Island) skink (Oligosoma lichenigera).

Quarantine to prevent new weeds, predators, competitors and pathogens from entering Norfolk Island, or from crossing to Phillip Island, is critical to maintaining Park and Botanic Garden values.

Weeds and other problem plants

Without action weeds (introduced plants) would destroy most Park and Botanic Garden values.

The main Norfolk Island weed species are red guava (Psidium cattleianum var. cattleianum); African olive (Olea europaea africana); Hawaiian holly (Schinus terebinthifolius); lantana (Lantana camara); William Taylor (Ageratina riparia); kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum); wild tobacco (Solanum mauritianum); Formosan lily (Lilium formosanum); bleeding heart (Homolanthus populifolius); and morning glory (Ipomoeia cairica).

Weeds suppress or eliminate native plants and the animals that depend on them. They can alter the structure as well as the species composition of vegetation. Impacts on animals can include the loss of food and nest hollows. Woody weeds (guava, African olive and Hawaiian holly) dominate significant areas of the Park.

Weed management is the major demand on resources for management of the Park and Botanic Garden.

Overabundance of a native plant species at a particular location may have the potential to impact on other native species.

Feral animals

Feral animals pose major threats to the native species of Norfolk Island. Major predators include the black rat (Rattus rattus), the Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans), the house cat (Felis catus) and feral fowl (Gallus gallus). They are a major threat to listed threatened species under the EPBC Act. None are present on Phillip Island.

Predation by rodents

Rodents eat birds, bird eggs, nestlings, reptiles, invertebrates (including land snails) and fruit, seeds and flowers. The Polynesian rat was probably introduced about 800 years ago by Polynesian explorers. The black rat was introduced later, possibly as late as 1943, and is considered to be the most destructive predator on Norfolk Island today. Park management has implemented an extensive rat control program since 1992. In March 2006 predation by exotic rats on Australian offshore islands of less than 1000 square kilometres (100 000 hectares) was listed as a key threatening process under the EBPC Act.

Predation by feral cats

Feral cats (Felis catus) eat birds, nestlings and reptiles. They are a major threat to several listed species and many other native species. The Norfolk Island Green Parrot is listed in the Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats (Environment Australia 1999) as one of the species for which feral cats are a known or perceived threat.

Cats are controlled through trapping and removal. Parks Australia also subsidises a cat desexing program. National priorities for cat control are defined in the Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats.

Predation and competition by other introduced and native species

Introduced bird species such as the Common Starling (Sternus vulgaris) compete with the Green Parrot and the Morepork for nesting sites. Once filled with starlings’ nesting material the hollows will not be used by the Parrot or the Owl.

The Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), introduced to Norfolk Island and known locally as the Red Parrot, is a direct competitor of the endangered Green Parrot. It eats similar foods and has similar nesting requirements. It is also more aggressive than the native bird species.

Colonies of introduced honey bees (Apis mellifera) frequently occupy tree hollows which might otherwise be used by nesting birds. Hives found in the Park are removed where practicable.

Feral fowl have increased their range and numbers on Norfolk Island. Anecdotal observations indicate that in the Park and Botanic Garden feral fowl are changing the soil moisture regime through extensive disturbance of litter, may be reducing numbers of some invertebrates (land snails in particular) and are possibly aiding the spread of the root rot fungus Phellinus noxius.

Native species may also impact adversely on one another from time to time or at particular locations.

Pathogens

In general, pathogens of native plants and animals in the Park and Botanic Garden are poorly known. Two pathogens are known to have had a significant impact on Park and Botanic Garden values—psittacine circovirus disease (PCD), commonly known as ‘parrot beak and feather disease’, and the root rot fungus Phellinus noxius.

PCD was listed as a key threatening process under the EPBC Act in 2001 and the Threat abatement plan for beak and feather disease affecting endangered psittacine species was released in 2005 (DEH 2005). The threat abatement plan identifies the Norfolk Island Green Parrot as being adversely affected by PCD.

The root rot fungus Phellinus noxius has been identified as being the principal pathogen causing dieback of Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla).

Issues

Weeds, introduced predators, competitors and pathogens are major threats to Park and Botanic Garden values.

Management of these threats is expensive.

Our understanding of some of the threats and their management is insufficient.

The introduction of the Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) and the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) in the past ten years raises concerns that current quarantine arrangements are insufficient to protect Park and Botanic Garden values.

What we are going to do

Policies

4.3.1Reduce the weed threat to Park and Botanic Garden values.

4.3.2Reduce the threat of introduced predators, competitors and pathogens to Park and Botanic Garden values.

4.3.3Increase knowledge and adapt management responses.

4.3.4Work with the Norfolk Island Government to improve quarantine outcomes.

4.3.5Quarantine Phillip Island from Norfolk Island introductions.

4.3.6The Director may take actions concerning native species, including species listed under Part 13 of the EPBC Act, that are otherwise prohibited by the EPBC Act where they are necessary to manage adverse impacts on other native species.

Actions

4.3.7Remove weeds, giving priority to those that pose the greatest threat to species listed as threatened under the EPBC Act (in the critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable categories).

4.3.8Poison and/or trap rats.

4.3.9Trap cats and subsidise cat desexing clinics.

4.3.10Take measures to mitigate the impacts of introduced predators, competitors and pathogens. Measures may include rat-proofing listed birds’ breeding sites and removing starling nesting material from Morepork nest boxes.

4.3.11Seek the cooperation of the Norfolk Island Government to minimise the risk of further introductions of weeds and feral predators, competitors and pathogens to Norfolk Island.

4.3.12Maintain and promote guidelines to inform visitors and tour operators about the risks of introducing weeds, feral animals, competitors or pathogens to Phillip Island.

4.3.13Include quarantine requirements in permit conditions for tour operators taking tours to Phillip Island.

4.3.14Provide information to the Norfolk Island community advising them of the threat of introductions and the actions they can take to protect their native plants and animals.

4.3.15Assess vehicles and equipment entering the Botanic Garden to determine the likelihood of infection occurring and whether steam-cleaning is required.

4.4 Rehabilitation

Our aims

Revegetate with native plants areas that have been denuded or which have been cleared as a result of weed management actions.

Repair, where appropriate, ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycles.

Measuring how well we are meeting our aims

Extent of additional native vegetation coverage

Progress in implementing, or in establishing preconditions for, translocations or reintroductions in the Park and Botanic Garden

Background

The Park and Botanic Garden have been subject to a long history of disturbance which has caused disruption of ecological processes, species extinctions and major reductions in the extent and quality of ecosystems.

Much vegetation in the Park and Botanic Garden has either been destroyed completely by introduced herbivores or has been displaced by weeds. Some specific ecological processes have been severely damaged or destroyed by past actions.

The extent of the historical damage means that it is not feasible to aim to restore the Park and Botanic Garden to the state which existed prior to the beginning of either Polynesian or European impacts. For example, it is not practical to recover the extinct species or to reclaim the huge amounts of soil and nutrients lost to sea from Phillip Island.

However, progress can be made towards significant improvements in the state of the remaining ecosystems, the status of species, preventing the further destruction of remaining ecological processes, and re-establishing native vegetation in areas that have been totally denuded of vegetation or overrun by weeds.

The removal of over 100 000 breeding Providence Petrels (Pterodroma solandri) over 100 years ago had a major impact on the nutrient status of the Park.

Translocation and/or reintroduction of species lost in some areas of the Park and Botanic Garden create options to improve rehabilitation outcomes.

Issues

Large areas of the Park and Botanic Garden are either completely denuded of vegetation or very heavily infested with weeds. The denuded areas and areas cleared of weeds require actions to aid revegetation.

Some ecological processes have been severely damaged by past policies and actions.

What we are going to do

Policies

4.4.1Revegetate denuded areas, and areas cleared of weeds, with native vegetation.

4.4.2Phillip Island rehabilitation priorities will include the denuded north-eastern slope above the dykes area.

4.4.3Repair ecological processes.

Actions

4.4.4Collect seed and propagate native plants for use in revegetation.

4.4.5Take species-focused actions, such as aerial layering of the Phillip Island hibiscus (Hibiscus insularis), to promote recovery of species listed as vulnerable, threatened or critically endangered.

4.4.6Establish and maintain a nursery in the Forestry Area, in cooperation with the Norfolk Island Government.

4.4.7Maintain a nursery on Phillip Island.

4.4.8Maintain water management works in the Park and Botanic Garden to provide water to propagate native plants or for other management purposes.

4.4.9Where appropriate reintroduce or relocate species with a particular focus on those that play a major role in ecological processes.

4.5 Climate change

Our aim

Adapt Park and Botanic Garden actions to climate change.

Measuring how well we are meeting our aim

Progress in identifying the impact of climate change

Extent to which actions have been modified to take into account climate change impacts

Background

The impacts of human-induced climate change have the potential to require major adaptations to management actions in the Park and Botanic Garden.

Predictions about regional impacts of human-induced climate change are uncertain but may include changes to precipitation, changes to temperature, changes to the frequency of extreme events and changes to sea levels.

Certain aspects of the Park and Botanic Garden may require adaptive management. For example, increased incidences of prolonged dry hot periods as a result of climate change may have disproportionately high adverse impacts on Park and Botanic Garden values because of the soil’s poor moisture holding capacity.

An increased incidence of prolonged hot dry spells may increase the probability of wildfires in the Park and Botanic Garden. While wildfires have not happened up to now, there is very little doubt that the flora would be very fire sensitive and would not recover from a hot wildfire.

Changes to sea level may have a profound effect on seabird numbers as marine prey species either change behaviour or change in abundance.

Issues

Climate change impacts on the Park and Botanic Garden are not known with enough certainty to mandate specific actions at the time of preparing this Plan.

Adapting management actions to anticipate and respond to climate change impacts on Park and Botanic Garden values will be important.

There are likely to be changes in the probability of wildfire.

Policies

4.5.1Adapt actions to address adverse impacts of climate change.

4.5.2Seek to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases resulting from Park operations.

4.5.3Support cross-agency fire response plans.

Actions

4.5.4Monitor climate patterns and their impacts and adapt actions accordingly.

4.5.5Examine ways to reduce emission of greenhouse gases.

4.5.6Cooperate with Norfolk Island agencies to ensure that fire response plans are in place and effective.

4.5.7Fire bans may be declared under the EPBC Regulations (r.12.30) in the Park and Botanic Garden during periods of high fire risk.

4.5.8Fire-breaks and litter reduction in the Forestry Area will be used to reduce the likelihood of wildfire in the plantations.

4.6 Bioprospecting (access to biological resources)

Our aim

Access is provided to biological resources while ensuring the Park and Botanic Garden values and the interests of the Director are protected.

Measuring how well we are meeting our aim

Extent to which the Director is satisfied with benefit-sharing arrangements entered into for commercial access to biological resources.

Background

Access to biological resources (also known as bioprospecting) is the taking of biological resources of native species for research and development of any genetic resources, or biochemical compounds, comprising or contained in the biological resources.

Access to biological resources in Commonwealth areas, such as the Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden, is regulated under the EPBC Act. Section 301 of the Act authorises Regulations to be made to control the activity. ‘Biological resources’ are defined by the Act (s.528) as including genetic resources, organisms, parts of organisms, populations and any other biotic component of an ecosystem with actual or potential use or value for humanity. ‘Genetic resources’ are defined as any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin that contains functional units of heredity and that has actual or potential value for humanity.

Part 8A of the EPBC Regulations is made under s.301 to regulate access to biological resources. Key features of Part 8A in relation to Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden are as follows:

Any person who wants to access biological resources must obtain a permit from the Minister.

The ‘access provider’ must agree to the taking of biological resources. The access provider for Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden is the Director.

Where access is sought for commercial purposes or potential commercial purposes there must be a benefit-sharing agreement with the relevant access provider and the benefit-sharing agreement must provide for reasonable benefit-sharing arrangements.

Where access is sought for non-commercial purposes:

(a)written permission must be obtained from the relevant access provider

(b)a statutory declaration must be given to the access provider declaring, among other things, that any biological resources taken are not intended to be used for commercial purposes, that a written report will be given to the access provider on the results of any research into the biological resources, that samples will not be given to other people (other than a specified research institution) without permission of the access provider, and that the person(s) given access will not carry out, or allow others to carry out, commercial research or development unless a benefit-sharing agreement is in place with the access provider.

There must be an assessment of the environmental impact of the proposed access if it is likely to have more than a negligible environmental impact.

Access to biological resources is also covered by ss.354 and 354A of the EPBC Act if the resources are members of a native species and/or if access is for commercial purposes. Access is covered by r.12.10 of the EPBC Regulations if it is in the course of scientific research; in that case access must be in accordance with this Plan.

Issue

There is a need to facilitate appropriate access to biological resources and to avoid duplication of processes particularly in relation to the issuing of permits.

What we are going to do

Policy

4.6.1Access may be had to biological resources in accordance with a permit issued by the Director under the EPBC Regulations, and:

(a)where access is sought for non-commercial purposes the person has provided the Director with an undertaking that is consistent with the requirements of Part 8A of the EPBC Regulations

(b)where access is sought for commercial purposes, or potential commercial purposes, the person has entered into a benefit-sharing agreement with the Director that is consistent with Part 8A of the Regulations. The benefit-sharing agreement must provide for reasonable benefit-sharing arrangements.

4.7 Botanic Garden—management of the living collection and herbarium

Our aims

Establish and maintain a living collection representative of Norfolk Island’s vascular flora.

Maintain the Botanic Garden as a focus for education, interpretation and tourism activities.

Maintain the subtropical viney hardwood forest in the Botanic Garden.

Maintain a herbarium of Norfolk Island’s flora.

Measuring how well we are meeting our aims

Extent to which the living collection contains a representative sample of Norfolk Island’s vascular flora

Level of use of the Botanic Garden for education, interpretation and tourism-related activities

Extent to which the subtropical viney hardwood forest vegetation in the Botanic Garden is maintained

Level of maintenance of the herbarium collection and its availability for education and research

Degree to which the herbarium collection represents Norfolk Island’s native vascular terrestrial flora

Background

The Botanic Garden, which covers an area of 5.5 hectares and is adjacent to the Park, is located on Mission Road near the Mount Pitt Road entrance to the Park.

As noted in Section 3.1, IUCN category and zoning, the purposes for which the Botanic Garden was declared are consistent with the characteristics for IUCN protected area category IV, habitat/species management area, and the Botanic Garden will be managed in accordance with the management principles set down in Schedule 8 of the EPBC Regulations and listed in Appendix E.

Of particular relevance to the Botanic Garden is the final category IV principle which provides that:

If the reserve or zone is declared for the purpose of a botanic garden, it should also be managed for the increase of knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of Australia’s plant heritage by establishing, as an integrated resource, a collection of living and herbarium specimens of Australian and related plants for study, interpretation, conservation and display.

The Botanic Garden fulfils varied functions as set out in the aims. The living collection, display and herbarium provide a rich source of horticultural and botanical information.

Its infrastructure, including the living collection, the display, the herbarium, the aviary and the tracks, provides a comprehensive picture of the Park for education, interpretation and tourism-related activities. A boardwalk has been established to provide wheelchair access to the top of the Botanic Garden, and its winding tracks and dense vegetation provide an excellent opportunity for visitors to experience the ‘jungle’ feel of the Botanic Garden.

Issues

There is a need to balance visitor access and safety against the conservation and maintenance of the living collection.

The Botanic Garden’s infrastructure must continue to support education, interpretation and tourism-related activities.

The subtropical viney hardwood forest remnant is ageing. There is concern for visitor safety as older trees become infested with native borers and are pulled down by the weight of native vines.

What we are going to do

Policies

4.7.1The Botanic Garden will continue to place a strong focus on education, interpretation and tourism-related activities.

4.7.2The Director may take actions covered by ss.354 and 354A of the EPBC Act for the purpose of managing the Botanic Garden’s living collection and herbarium.

4.7.3As a priority, the subtropical viney hardwood forest will be maintained.

4.7.4The living collection and the herbarium will give priority to vascular plants native to Norfolk Island but may include non-vascular plants and non-native plants for education purposes.

Actions

4.7.5Maintain the living collection, the herbarium, the display, the aviaries, and the walking tracks.

4.7.6Maintain the Botanic Garden’s infrastructure to reflect the focus on education, interpretation and tourism-related activities.

4.7.7Supplement the herbarium with a collection of plant images.

4.7.8Forward duplicates of specimens added to the herbarium to a reputable scientific institution(s).

4.7.9Explore options for making seeds and/or germplasm available to the Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, or similar projects.

4.7.10Manage vegetation in the Botanic Garden to ensure visitor safety.

4.8 Forestry Area

Our aims

Provide an area for sustainable native species timber production for the Norfolk Island community.

Approved forestry operations generate resources, and profits derived from the sale of harvested timber and other forestry products benefit the Norfolk Island community.

Maintain and/or enhance native biodiversity.

Allow for compatible Park visitor use.

Measuring how well we are meeting our aims

Extent to which the Forestry Area is used for forestry operations

Level of success in maintaining or enhancing remnant native vegetation areas

Level of success in rehabilitating weed-infested areas unsuitable for forestry operations with native vegetation

Extent to which appropriate visitor use is made of the Forestry Area

Background

The Forestry Area (see Map 2) was originally cleared for banana plantations during the 1930s but after the collapse of the banana industry developed into a series of dense thickets of weeds, mainly African olive. The area was included in the then Mount Pitt Reserve as an area reserved for forestry purposes in 1955 and was later declared a public reserve under the Norfolk Island Commons and Public Reserves Ordinance 1936 (NI). Some sections adjacent to the western boundary of the Forestry Area were cleared of olive and eucalypt plantations were established.

The boundary of the Forestry Area, as defined in the first management plan for the Park (1984), was based on an assessment of the extent of heavily weed-infested forest using aerial photography. The boundary was surveyed and marked on the ground during 1992–93. The Forestry Area includes several small areas of remnant native vegetation. Because of steep gradients and/or unsatisfactory soils, biodiversity conservation, or for other reasons, some areas may be considered unsuitable for future plantation development.

At the time of preparing this Plan the primary purpose of the Forestry Area is to produce native species timber for the Norfolk Island community through forestry operations. The forestry operations incorporate a plant nursery. Previous management plans have provided for the operations to be conducted. The operations have been carried on by the Norfolk Island Parks and Forestry Service.

Previous management plans also provided for woody weed-infested areas to be cleared and planted with Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) for the purpose of production forestry. Some parts of the Forestry Area that are infested with weeds may be unsuitable for forestry operations for reasons such as soil quality or steep slopes.

Norfolk Island community, 19, 20

see also roads and tracks

CaptainCook Monument viewing area, 19, 58

captive breeding program, 50, 51

cars, see vehicles

cats, 24, 26

chemicals, 20, 34

Chief Executive Instructions, 69

China–Migratory Birds Agreement (CAMBA), 9, 16, 77–8

Chord area track, 47, 48

climate change, 27–8

clothing, 39

commemorative markers, 53, 54

commencement of Management Plan, 9

commercial activities, 48–50

bioprospecting, 29, 30

research, 67

see also tourism and tourism industry

Common Starling, 24, 26

Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997, 71

Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines, 60

Commonwealth Heritage List, 13–14, 38

management plans and, 15

Commonwealth land, 13

Commonwealth reserves, 11–13, 71

commercial activities prohibited in, 49

interpretation of term, 9

management plans, 8, 11–12, 14–15

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 56

communication systems, 48

Mount Pitt summit infrastructure, 19, 20

radio, 47, 60

community infrastructure, 19, 20

community use of resources, 51–3

competitors, 21, 24–5, 26, 68

see also quarantine

compliance and enforcement, 14, 60–1

conservation of cultural heritage values, 13–14, 37–8

conservation significance, 3–4, 74–80

Forestry Area remnant vegetation, 32

Conservator of Public Reserves, 2, 50, 56

construction industry, 34

see also capital works and infrastructure

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention), 16, 77–8

Cordyline obtecta, 52

costs, see finance

counselling after incidents, 66

craft industry, 34, 52–3

Crimson Rosella, 24

critical community infrastructure, 19, 20

CSIRO, 9, 58

cultural heritage, 13–14, 37–8

Customs Service officers, 60

databases, 68

debriefing after incidents, 66

decision-making, 48

impact assessment procedures and, 63–4

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 71–2

Director of National Parks, 11–12, 71–2

Annual Report, 8, 72

assessment of proposals, 63; recovery of costs, 62

bioprospecting and, 28–30

capital works and infrastructure, 59

EPBC Act planning requirements, 8, 11

forestry operations authorisations, 33–4

incident management, 66

interpretation of term, 9

land leases, subleases and licences, 70

research and monitoring, 67, 68

Risk Watch List, 47, 48

safety responsibilities, 47, 65

vehicle access controls, 46

see also Norfolk Island National Park Advisory Committee; permits

disabled access, 31, 42, 46

Disaster and Emergency Management Act 2001, 65

Disaster and Emergency Management Plan, 47

distance, 2

dogs, 40

ecological process, repair of, 26–7

economic value, 3

education, see information, education and interpretation

egg collecting, 52, 53

emergencies, see safety

endangered species, see threatened species

endemic species, see native plants and animals

energy management, 69

enforcement and compliance, 14, 60–1

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act), 2, 10–15, 71

bioprospecting (access to biological resources) provisions, 29

compliance and enforcement, 14, 60–1

Director's powers to grant permits, leases and licences, 70

environmental impact assessment provisions, 12–13, 61–2

heritage protection requirements, 13–14

interpretation of term, 9

key threatening processes under, 24

listed marine species under, 52, 80; research involving, 67–8

planning process requirements, 8, 11–12, 14–15

threatened species under, see threatened species

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Regulations 2000 (EPBC Regulations), 12, 71

activities prohibited, 19, 40, 41, 49, 53, 54

bioprospecting (access to biological resources) provisions, 29

compliance and enforcement, 14, 60–1

fire ban declarations under, 28

interpretation of term, 9

management principles (Schedule 8), 10, 81–3

research provisions, 67

environmental impact assessment, 12–13, 61–2, 64

Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999, 11

environmental work practices and activities, 69

equipment, 35, 41

firearms etc. covered by r.12.18, 40, 41

for first aid, 48

steam-cleaning, 26

erosion, 18, 20

Forestry Area, 34

establishment, 2, 11

Forestry Area, 32

NINPAC, 16

eucalypt plantations, 34

European discovery and settlement, 37–8

evaluation of Management Plan, 71–2

excavation, see capital works and infrastructure

exotic species, see introduced species

extinct birds, 3–4, 74

extinct plants, 4

fauna, see animals

Federal Police, 60

fencing, Forestry Area, 35

feral animals, 22, 24–5, 26, 68

Asian house gecko, 22

Forestry Area, 35

feral fowl, 24, 25, 68

finance, 3, 69, 71, 72

assessment of proposal costs, 62

bioprospecting benefit-sharing agreements, 29, 30

forestry operations costs, 33

incident response service costs, 65, 66

rehabilitation costs after capital works, 59

research funding, 68

fire protection, 28

firearms, 40, 41

first aid training, 48

Fishing Club hut, Phillip Island, 47, 59

fixed ropes, 47, 48

flora, see plants

Flora and Fauna Society, 50

Fly Neighbourly Agreement, 49

flying, see aircraft

food supplies, 39, 48

footwear, 39

Forestry Area (forestry operations), 32–6

commercial activity applications, 50

fire protection, 28

interpretation of term, 9

IUCN category, 17

nursery, 27, 32

plants used in traditional crafts, 53

visitor use, 34, 40, 46

Formosan lily, 24

four-wheel drive tours, 46, 49

fowl, feral, 24, 25, 68

Fraud Control Guidelines, 60

free-tail bat, 22

fruit, 52

funding, see finance

furniture industry, 34

geckos, 4, 21, 22, 25

genetic (biological) resources, access to, 28–30

germplasm, 31

global positioning system technology, 32

glory pea, 4

Golden Whistler, 4, 21

Gould's wattled bat, 22

Green Parrot, 4, 21, 23

in Botanic Garden aviary, 50, 51

threats to, 24, 25

greenhouse gas emissions, 28, 69

Grey-headed Blackbird, 3

guava, 23, 24, 49, 52

guide (seeing-eye) dogs, 40

guns, 40, 41

harvesting by community, 51–3

Hawaiian holly, 23, 24

herbarium collection, 30–1

heritage protection, 13–14, 18–38

hibiscus, 27

historic cultural heritage, 13–14, 37–8

honey bees, 25

horse riding, 40, 49

house cats, 24, 26

human history, 37–8

human-induced climate change, 27–8

hunting equipment, 40, 41

implementation of Management Plan, 71–2

incident management, 65–6

information, education and interpretation, 50–1

compliance and enforcement issues, 61

databases, 68

historical and other cultural significance, 38

introduced species and threats to native plants and animals, 26

roads and tracks, 46

safety, 47

infrastructure, see capital works and infrastructure

injuries, see safety

insects, 25

installations, see capital works and infrastructure

insurance, Forestry Area, 34

integrated lock system, 47

international agreements, 9, 10, 16, 77–9

interpretation activities, see information, education and interpretation

interpretation of terms, 9–10

introduced species, 23–6

entry into Park, 40

research and monitoring, 68

self-introductions, 21

see also feral animals; weeds and other problem plants

invasive species, see introduced species

invertebrates, 24, 25, 68

Island Thrush, 3

IUCN, 10

Australian IUCN reserve management principles, 10, 81–3

category and zoning, 15–16, 17

Japan–Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (JAMBA), 10, 16, 77–9

Kew, 31

key result areas (KRAs), 8, 73

kikuyu, 3, 24

land area, 2

land leases, subleases and licences, 70

land snails, 25

landscapes, 3, 18–20

lantana, 23

large public gatherings, 53, 54

law enforcement, 14, 60–1

leaflets, see brochures and publications

leases relating to land, 70

legislation, 2, 10–15, 65

see alsoEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999; Norfolk Island legislation

Legislative Assembly, 2, 8, 57

Legislative Instruments Act 2003, 11

lemons, 49, 52

licences relating to land, 70

listed marine species, 52, 80

research involving, 67–8

litter, 25, 28

living animal displays, 50, 51

living collection, Botanic Garden, 30–1

location, 2

see also maps

lock system, integrated, 47

Lord Howe Island gecko, 4, 21, 22

Lord Howe Island skink, 4

maintenance of capital works and infrastructure, 60

Botanic Gardens, 31

Forestry Area, 35

maintenance of roads and tracks, 46, 48

Forestry Area, 34

mammals, 22

'Management Plan', 10

implementation and evaluation, 71–2

see also previous management plans

management plans, legislative provisions covering, 8, 11–12, 14–15

management principles, 10, 81–3

manufactured resource use, 69

see also vehicles

mapping, 32, 35

roads and tracks, 46

maps, 5

Botanic Gardens, 44

Forestry Area, 36

Mount Pitt Section, 43

PhillipIsland, 45, 46

marine species, listed, 52, 80

research involving, 67–8

media, 54

migratory birds, 4, 16, 77–9, 80

regulation of activities in relation to, 13; research and monitoring, 67–8

Millennium Seed Bank, 31

mining operations, prohibition of, 12, 20

Minister, 9, 11

appointment of rangers and wardens, 60

assessment of proposals, 13

bioprospecting (access to biological resources) permits, 29

interpretation of term, 10

molluscs, terrestrial, 22

monitoring, see research and monitoring

monuments, erection of, 53, 54

Moo'oo Stone, 4

Morepork, 4, 21, 24, 26

morning glory, 24

motor vehicles, see vehicles

motorcycles, 46

MountBates, 19, 43

Mount Pitt, 19, 20, 43, 69

Mount Pitt Road, 30, 41, 43, 58

Mount Pitt Section, 2, 5, 18, 32

commercial activities within, 49

community use of resources, 52

cultural heritage management, 13–14, 37–8

IUCN category, 17

roads and tracks, 40, 41, 42; map, 43

visitor use, 40

mountain bike riding, 40, 49

mountain rush, 52

multi-species recovery planning, 21, 23

National Heritage List, 13–14, 38

management plans and, 15

'National Park', 10

National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, 2

native plants and animals, 3–4, 20–7, 74–80

bioprospecting (access to biological resources), 28–30

research and monitoring involving, 67–8

see also birds; plants

natural heritage management, 18–36

natural resource use, 69

bioprospecting, 28–30

by community, 51–3

natural values, 2–3

neighbours, see stakeholders and partnerships

NepeanIsland, 2, 4, 5, 19

nesting sites, 4, 21, 24–5, 26

new issues and proposals, 70

NINPAC, see Norfolk Island National Park Advisory Committee

Norfolk Island, 2–5

Norfolk Island Assembly, 2, 8, 57

'Norfolk Island Botanic Garden', 10

living collection and herbarium, 30–1

Norfolk Island Commons and Public Reserves Ordinance 1936, 32

Norfolk Island Conservator of Public Reserves, 2, 50, 56

Norfolk Island Disaster and Emergency Management Plan, 47

Norfolk Island Flora and Fauna Society, 50

Norfolk Island free-tail bat, 22

Norfolk Island gecko, 4, 21, 22

Norfolk Island Golden Whistler, 4, 21

Norfolk Island Government, 16, 55, 56, 57

forestry operations, 33; nursery, 27

management of adverse impacts, 25, 26

Mount Pitt infrastructure consultation, 20

Norfolk Island Green Parrot, see Green Parrot

Norfolk Island Historical Society, 38

Norfolk Island legislation, 52, 60, 65

establishing Park and Botanic Gardens, 2, 14

public reserves, 2, 32

Norfolk Island Morepork, 4, 21, 24, 26

Norfolk Island Multi-species Recovery Plan, 21

'Norfolk Island National Park', 10

Norfolk Island National Park Advisory Committee (NINPAC), 16, 56, 57

assessment of proposals, 62

commercial activity permits, 50

forestry operation reports provided to, 34

mountain bike riding permits, 40

research activity and monitoring reports provided to, 68

Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden Act 1984, 2, 14

Norfolk Island palm leaves, 52

Norfolk Island Parks and Forestry Service, 58

Conservator of Public Reserves, 2, 50, 56

forestry operations, 32, 33

Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla), 18, 19, 21

community use of resources, 52

dieback cause, 25

Forest Area plantings, 32

Norfolk Island residents, 55–7

access to Phillip Island, 46

information about introduced species and threats to native plants and animals, 26

use of resources, 51–3

Norfolk Island Scarlet Robin, 4, 21

Norfolk Island skink, 4

Norfolk Island Tourist Board, 57

Norfolk Island Volunteer Rescue Squad, 47

notice boards, 50, 51

nurseries, 27, 32

NWPC Act (National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975), 2

occupational health and safety, 65

Forestry Area, 34

Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991, 65

palm fronds, 49, 52

Palm Glen, 42, 52

'Park', 10

Park Manager, 14, 56

assessment of proposals, 63

forestry operation reports to, 34

Park Superintendent, 14

Parks and Forestry Service, see Norfolk Island Parks and Forestry Service

Parks Australia, 55

Compliance and Enforcement Manual, 60

information available from, 50

interpretation of term, 10

Strategic Planning and Performance Assessment Framework, 8

Parks Australia staff, 57, 71–2

appointment as rangers or wardens, 60

assessment of proposals, 62

first aid training, 48

health and safety, 65

incident response procedures, responsibilities etc., 66

interpretation of term, 10

parrot beak and feather disease, 25

parrots, 24

see also Green Parrot

partnerships, see stakeholders and partnerships

pathogens, 25, 26, 68

Forestry Area, 34

see also quarantine

PCD, 25

penalties, 14

permits, 48, 54, 70

bioprospecting (access to biological resources), 29, 30

capital works and infrastructure, 59

commercial activities, 46, 49, 50; quarantine requirements, 26

community use of resources, 52

firearms and hunting equipment, 41

forestry operations, 33–4

mountain bike riding, 40

native plant material movement, 22

research and monitoring, 67, 68

vehicles, 46

pests, 22, 23–6, 68

Forestry Area, 35

see also weeds and other problem plants

Phellinus noxius, 25

PhillipIsland, 2, 56

artificial structures, 59, 60

commercial activities on, 49

cultural heritage management, 13–14, 37–8

Fishing Club hut, 47, 59

impacts of introduced species, 18

IUCN category, 17

landscapes, 19, 20

maps, 5, 45, 46

native plants and animals, 4, 27, 52, 74–6, 80; monitoring difficulties, 22

nursery, 27

Parks Australia hut, 48

quarantine, 23, 25, 26, 40

soils, 19, 26, 47

water, 19

Whale Bird eggs harvested from, 52, 53

PhillipIsland, visitors to, 39, 40, 41

accommodation, 59

information provided to, 51

Norfolk Island residents, 46

safety, 47, 48

walking tours, 49

walking tracks, 45, 46

PhillipIsland glory pea, 4

PhillipIsland hibiscus, 27

photographic records

PhillipIsland landscapes, 20

plants, 31

physical impairments, access for people with, 39, 42, 46

pine, preservative treated, 59

pine knots, 52

pines, see Norfolk Island pine

'Plan', see 'Management Plan'

planning process, 8

plant nurseries, 27, 32

plantations, see Forestry Area

plants, 20–7

bioprospecting (access to biological resources), 28–30

Botanic Garden living collection and herbarium, 30–1

community use, 52–3

conservation significance, 3, 4, 75–6

research and monitoring involving, 67–8

wildfire threat, 28

see also Forestry Area; Norfolk Island pine; remnant native vegetation; revegetation; soils; weeds and other problem plants

plaques and commemorative markers, 53, 54

police, 60, 65

policies, 54, 70

adverse impacts of plants, animals and pathogens, 25

assessment of proposals, 62

bioprospecting (access to biological resources), 30

Botanic Garden living collection and herbarium, 31

capital works and infrastructure, 59–60

climate change, 28

commercial activities, 49

community use of resources, 52

cultural heritage management, 38

Forestry Area, 33–4

incident management, 66

IUCN category and zoning, 17

landscapes, soils and water, 20

Management Plan implementation and evaluation, 72

native plants and animals, 22

rehabilitation, 27

research and monitoring, 67–8

roads and tracks, 46

stakeholders and partnerships, 57

visitor information, education and interpretation, 51

visitor safety, 48

visitor use, 40–1

Polynesian rat, 24

precipitation, 19, 28

predators, 21, 22, 24–5, 26, 68

see also quarantine

previous management plans, 8

capital works and infrastructure developments, 58

establishment of NINPAC, 16

Forestry Area, 32

proclamation, 2

propagation, 27

see also revegetation

proposals, assessment of, 12–13, 61–4

protected areas, 2

psittacine circovirus disease, 25

public gatherings, 53, 54

public liability insurance, Forestry Area, 34

public reserves, 2, 32

Public Reserves Act 1997, 2

public safety, see safety

public toilets, 58

publications, see brochures and publications

quarantine, 23, 25, 51

native plant material movement, 22

timber, including preservative pine, 59

tour operator permits, 26

radio, 47, 60

Mount Pitt summit infrastructure, 19, 20

rainfall and precipitation, 19, 28

rangers, 12, 60, 61

rats, 24, 26

recovery planning, 21, 23

research and monitoring, 68

species-focused actions, 27

recreational activities, 39–50, 53–4

Forestry Area, 34

see also tourism

red guava, 23, 24, 49, 52

Red Parrot, 24

Regional Natural Resource Management Plan, 21

Register of the National Estate, 13

rehabilitation, 26–7

after new capital works, 59

Forestry Area, 35

see also revegetation

reintroduction of species, 21, 27

remnant native vegetation, 18

Botanic Gardens, 18, 31

Forestry Area, 32, 34, 35, 36

renovations, see capital works and infrastructure

repairs, see capital works and infrastructure

reptiles, 4, 21, 74

Asian house gecko, 22, 25

Republic of Korea–Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (ROKAMBA), 10, 16, 77–8

research and monitoring, 66–8

climate change, 28

involving bioprospecting (access to biological resources), 29

PhillipIsland, 60

research reports, 68

reserves, 2, 32

see also Commonwealth reserves

resource use, see natural resource use

revegetation, 26–7

Forestry Area, 32, 34

PhillipIsland, 19, 60

reviews

incident management procedures, 66

Management Plan, 72

PhillipIsland track network map, 46

risk monitoring and management systems, 48

visitor information, education and interpretation, 51

risk management, 47–8

Risk Watch List, 47, 48

roads and tracks, 39, 41–6, 54, 59

activities permitted/prohibited on, 40

Botanic Gardens, 31

to Chord area, 47, 48

Forestry Area, 34, 40, 46

safety inspections, 48

rock-climbing, 53, 54

rodents, 22, 24, 26

root pathogens, 25, 34

ropes, fixed, 47, 48

rosellas, 24

RoyalBotanic Gardens, Kew, 31

run-off areas, 19, 20

safety, 40, 46–8, 53–4, 72

Botanic Gardens subtropical viney hardwood forest remnant, 31

Forestry Area, 34

incident management, 65–6

tour operator capacity, 49

visitor information about, 51

weather conditions, 41, 46; Phillip Island, 47

Scarlet Robin, 4, 21

scenic flights, 49

scientific research, see research and monitoring

sea levels, 28

airspace above, 49

seabirds, see migratory birds

Second World War, 37

seeds, 27, 31

seeing-eye dogs, 40

self-introductions, 21

short title, 9

signage, 51

interpreting historical and other cultural significance, 38

roads and tracks, 41, 46; to Chord area, 47

skinks, 4

snails, 25

soils, 18–20

climate change impacts, 28

feral fowl impacts, 25

Forestry Area, 32, 34

PhillipIsland, 19, 26, 47

Sooty Tern, see Whale Bird

sporting meetings, 53, 54

staff, see Parks Australia staff

stakeholders and partnerships, 55–7

advising on outcomes of assessment of proposals, 62

consulted during planning process, 8

fire response plans, 28

incident management, 66

see also Norfolk Island Government

starlings, 24, 26

steam-cleaning, 26

structures, see capital works and infrastructure

subleases relating to land, 70

subtropical viney hardwood forest remnant, Botanic Gardens, 18, 31

surface run-off areas, 19, 20

technical audit of Management Plan, 72

temperature, 28

termination of Management Plan, 9

terns, see Whale Bird

terrestrial molluscs, 22

'Territory', 10

threat abatement plans, 23

beak and feather disease (PCD), 25

predation by feral cats, 24

threatened species, 3–4, 12, 74–6

recovery planning, 21, 23, 27

regulation of activities in relation to, 13; research and monitoring, 67–8

see also Green Parrot

timber, 34, 59

see also Forestry Area

toilets, public, 58

tourism and tourism industry, 3, 8, 48–50, 56, 57

Botanic Gardens, 31

Forestry Area, 34, 46

information provided to, 26, 50, 51; on safety, 47, 48

operator introduced species and quarantine requirements, 26

PhillipIsland, 40

viewing areas, 19, 20, 47, 58

Tourist Board, 57

tracks, see roads and tracks

training, 72

in first aid, 48

incident management, 65, 66

rangers and wardens, 60, 61

translocation of species, 27

trees, see plants

use of Park and Botanic Gardens, 39–54, 69

bioprospecting, 28–30

by community, 51–3

see also Forestry Area

utilities, 19, 20

values, 2–3

cultural, 37–8

Forestry Area remnant vegetation, 32

vegetation, see plants

vehicles, 41, 42, 46, 49

all weather access, 43

emergency access, 47

Forestry Area, 35

steam-cleaning, 26

VHF radio network, 60

viewing areas, 19, 20, 47, 58

visitors, 34, 39–54

survey, 68

see also information, education and interpretation; quarantine; safety; tourism and tourism industry

Volunteer Rescue Squad, 47

volunteers, 57

vulnerable species, see threatened species

walking, 40, 49

walking tracks, see roads and tracks

wardens, 12, 60, 61

waste management, 69

PhillipIsland, 60

wood and wood products, 34, 53

water, 18–20, 28, 69

visitor safety, 39, 48

weapons, 40, 41

weather conditions, 41, 46, 47

climate change, 27–8

weeds and other problem plants, 3, 23–4, 25, 26–7, 68

Forestry Area, 32, 34, 35

PhillipIsland, 18

waste wood and woodchips from clearing operations, 53

see also quarantine

Whale Bird, 4

eggs, 52, 53

wheelchair access, 31, 42

White-breasted White-eye, 4

white oak, 21

wild tobacco, 24

wildfires, 28

wildlife, see native plants and animals

William Taylor, 24

wood waste and woodchips, 34, 53

World Conservation Union, see IUCN

World War II, 37

ISBN: 978 0 642 553 898

This work is copyright. Apart for any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Director of National Parks. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to:

The Assistant Secretary
Parks Australia South
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601

Director of National Parks Australian business number: 13051 694 963

An electronic copy of the Plan is at and additional hard copies are available free of charge from the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Community Information Unit (phone 1800 803 772).

All images by Michael Nelson unless otherwise indicated

Front cover image of Morepork chick (Ninox novaeseelandiae) – Photo: Joanna Raikes

Back cover image of community volunteers – Photo: Ron Ward

Maps – Environmental Resources Information Network

Designer – Design Direction

Editor – Elizabeth Hutchings Editing

Indexer – Michael Harrington