2 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS Park vision A pest plant and animal control A future visitor to Mount Samaria State Park strategy which identifies key sites, finds a Park valued for its semi-remote target species and methods of control atmosphere and interesting features, and will be prepared. offering a variety of appropriate recreational Degraded will be rehabilitated. opportunities. The most popular activities are walking, camping, picnicking and nature Vehicle access will be seasonally study. The Park is being managed for restricted where required to protect conservation and recreation consistent with its vehicle tracks and to minimise erosion. State Park and IUCN status and with an The Park increasing understanding of its diverse natural environments. The experience of relative remoteness will be retained. A high quality visitor experience is encouraged through high standard Existing picnic and camping facilities interpretation of the Park’s values. Visitor will be upgraded. facilities are sensitively managed and are in Visitor enjoyment of the Park will be keeping with the Park’s isolated and enhanced by improving interpretation atmosphere. In conjunction with other of the Park’s natural and cultural parks and reserves, the Park is being features. increasingly valued as an important part of the nature-based tourism opportunities in the area. Surveys will be conducted to better Careful and sensitive management by NRE, determine visitor needs and assisted by Friends and other volunteer expectations. groups, ensures that the Park’s values are being maintained for future generations. Zoning A Park management zoning scheme has been Management directions developed to: Major management directions for the Park provide a geographic framework in are outlined below. which to manage the Park; Resource conservation indicate management directions have priority in different parts of the Park; Significant species and communities will be monitored, and threats to these indicate the types and levels of species and communities identified and use appropriate throughout the managed. Park; Visitor impact on significant and assist in minimising existing and sensitive natural features such as the potential conflicts between uses and significant plant communities, and activities, or between and the cultural features such as the sawmill protection of Park values; relics, will be minimised. provide a basis for assessing the suitability of future activities and Park protection development proposals. Fuel reduction burning will be managed Two principal management zones and one in accordance with the Benalla Regional overlay designation applies to the Park. Fire Protection Plan and the Code of Table 1 specifies the management zone and Practice for Fire Management on Public overlay characteristics and figure 1 shows the Land. location of those areas.
2 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS Park vision A future visitor to Mount Samaria State Park finds a Park valued for its semi-remote atmosphere and interesting features, and offering a variety of appropriate recreational opportunities. The most popular activities are walking, camping, picnicking and nature study. The Park is being managed for conservation and recreation consistent with its State Park and IUCN status and with an increasing understanding of its diverse natural environments. A high quality visitor experience is encouraged through high standard interpretation of the Park’s values. Visitor facilities are sensitively managed and are in keeping with the Park’s isolated and atmosphere. In conjunction with other parks and reserves, the Park is being increasingly valued as an important part of the nature-based tourism opportunities in the area. Careful and sensitive management by NRE, assisted by Friends and other volunteer groups, ensures that the Park’s values are being maintained for future generations. Management directions Major management directions for the Park are outlined below. Resource conservation Significant species and communities will be monitored, and threats to these species and communities identified and managed. Visitor impact on significant and sensitive natural features such as the significant plant communities, and cultural features such as the sawmill relics, will be minimised. Park protection Fuel reduction burning will be managed in accordance with the Benalla Regional Fire Protection Plan and the Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land. A pest plant and animal control strategy which identifies key sites, target species and methods of control will be prepared. Degraded will be rehabilitated. Vehicle access will be seasonally restricted where required to protect vehicle tracks and to minimise erosion. The Park The experience of relative remoteness will be retained. Existing picnic and camping facilities will be upgraded. Visitor enjoyment of the Park will be enhanced by improving interpretation of the Park’s natural and cultural features. Surveys will be conducted to better determine visitor needs and expectations. Zoning A Park management zoning scheme has been developed to: provide a geographic framework in which to manage the Park; indicate management directions have priority in different parts of the Park; indicate the types and levels of use appropriate throughout the Park; assist in minimising existing and potential conflicts between uses and activities, or between and the protection of Park values; provide a basis for assessing the suitability of future activities and development proposals. Two principal management zones and one overlay designation applies to the Park. Table 1 specifies the management zone and overlay characteristics and figure 1 shows the location of those areas.
Mount-Samaria-State-Park-Plan-accessible-version.docx