6 COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT the Park for a variety of outdoor recreation Friends and volunteers and educational activities. Currently is no Friends of the Mitchell As Park managers, Parks Victoria will River National Park group, although a number endeavour to encourage sound management of groups from various backgrounds have actions by Park neighbours. Neighbours need either been involved, or expressed interest in to be made aware of their responsibilities as participating, in volunteer work. neighbours of the Park. Interested groups and individual volunteers There are major opportunities for the have the potential to make valuable community to become involved in contributions to park management, and management related activities, particularly in their assistance will be encouraged. the control of environmental weeds. Local schools could also assist in collecting data, for Aim example on water quality. Encourage volunteer involvement in managing the Park. Aims Increase community awareness of the Management strategies Park’s values and management activities. Encourage the formation of, and support, a Encourage conservation and sound Friends group for the Park. land management practices on private land adjoining the Park. Develop and evaluate a long-term volunteer strategy. Management strategies Liaise with local community groups and Community awareness land owners and, as appropriate, involve and Park neighbours them in relevant aspects of planning for Mitchell River National Park is and managing the Park. predominantly surrounded by State forest. Freehold neighbours on the northern and and encourage the application of, southern boundaries are mainly involved in the Good Neighbour Policy to management agriculture. Some adjacent land has issues on or near the boundary of the Park. considerable conservation value. A nearby caravan and camping park and a farm resort Promote conservation and sound direct considerable numbers of their clients to management principles to landholders in the Park. the catchment. Private landholders’ main interest in the Park Encourage private property owners relates to the management of fire, pest plant adjoining the Park to protect existing and animal control, and recreational native vegetation through the application of opportunities. voluntary conservation covenants and involvement in the Land for Wildlife A number of local groups, including scheme. schools, scouts and field naturalists, use
6 COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT Friends and volunteers Currently is no Friends of the Mitchell River National Park group, although a number of groups from various backgrounds have either been involved, or expressed interest in participating, in volunteer work. Interested groups and individual volunteers have the potential to make valuable contributions to park management, and their assistance will be encouraged. Aim Encourage volunteer involvement in managing the Park. Management strategies Encourage the formation of, and support, a Friends group for the Park. Develop and evaluate a long-term volunteer strategy. Community awareness and Park neighbours Mitchell River National Park is predominantly surrounded by State forest. Freehold neighbours on the northern and southern boundaries are mainly involved in agriculture. Some adjacent land has considerable conservation value. A nearby caravan and camping park and a farm resort direct considerable numbers of their clients to the Park. Private landholders’ main interest in the Park relates to the management of fire, pest plant and animal control, and recreational opportunities. A number of local groups, including schools, scouts and field naturalists, use the Park for a variety of outdoor recreation and educational activities. As Park managers, Parks Victoria will endeavour to encourage sound management actions by Park neighbours. Neighbours need to be made aware of their responsibilities as neighbours of the Park. There are major opportunities for the community to become involved in management related activities, particularly in the control of environmental weeds. Local schools could also assist in collecting data, for example on water quality. Aims Increase community awareness of the Park’s values and management activities. Encourage conservation and sound land management practices on private land adjoining the Park. Management strategies Liaise with local community groups and land owners and, as appropriate, involve them in relevant aspects of planning for and managing the Park. and encourage the application of, the Good Neighbour Policy to management issues on or near the boundary of the Park. Promote conservation and sound management principles to landholders in the catchment. Encourage private property owners adjoining the Park to protect existing native vegetation through the application of voluntary conservation covenants and involvement in the Land for Wildlife scheme.
Mitchell-River-National-Park-Management-Plan-accessible-version.docx