Example management plan
Management plan for the protection and rehabilitation of riparian land
All details in this example plan are fictitious.
Important note: This management plan has effect through a statutory covenant entered into with the landowner and registered by the Department of Environment and Resource Management (Registration Number 768543753). The statutory covenant is registered over the land and is binding on future owners. The covenantee and party to this agreement is the Landsdowne Shire Council.
Administrative use only
Management Plan—Version 1
Date 01/08/2003
1. General property details
1.1 Property name and ownership details
Terrang
Michael Thomas JONES and Jessica Rachelle JONES as joint tenants
1.2 Real property description (Lot on plan, parish and county)
Lot 17 on Registered Plan No TP 39, Parish of Saxby, County of Nares
1.3 Area of property and covenanted area
Total property area 20 000 hectares
Total area protected by covenant 150 hectares (see attached plan)
2. Enterprise description, land use and attributes
2.1 Description and land use
The enterprise, which is fully developed, is principally a cattle-breeding operation that uses conservative grazing practices.
2.2 Conservation values
The covenanted area contains river she-oaks, river red gums and weeping bottlebrush which provide food and shelter for native animals. Additional plantings and protective measures planned will further stabilise the creek banks and enhance and/or increase conservation values.
2.3 Land types
The property is made up of two land units identified in the CSIRO publication Lands of the Findlay–Tannum area.
- The Downs country is referred to as Babarini–Blue Grass/Brown top plains.
- The Forest area is referred to as Bylong–Southern Sandy Forest.
2.4 Vegetation types and status
None of the regional ecosystems (REs) on the land is subject to clearing. All REs are 'not of concern'.
3. Issues
In the past, stock have been allowed free and uncontrolled access to the riparian areas, which has resulted in trampling of understorey vegetation, damage to creek banks, and fouling of water.
Vegetation has been removed from the riparian area in the past, and this has resulted in some stripping of topsoil and accelerated bank erosion.
4. Broad strategies
The landholder has undertaken first to stabilise the area by erecting fencing around the riparian area to prevent access by grazing livestock.
The second stage of work will include rehabilitation of the area involving the replanting of deep-rooted plant species. More detail is provided under 'Managing disturbances' and 'Restoration works' in sections 5 and 6.
5 Specific actions
5.1 Managing stock impacts
All riparian areas within the covenanted area will be fenced to exclude stock. Where water from the stream/river is required for stock, it will be piped to troughs situated outside the riparian area.
Stock may be watered from the stream/river if a formed access point is built at a carefully selected section of the streambank. (Details of the access point must be included in the map attached to this management plan.) A slope will be graded and protected using concrete, compacted gravel, or similar materials to form a walkway. Cross-stream fencing will be required to prevent animals from wandering along the streambank.
5.2 Retaining native vegetation cover
All indigenous riparian vegetation will be retained.
5.3 Managing works
Any minor works to be undertaken in any part of the riparian area will be done in a manner that causes the least amount of disruption.
5.4 Destruction of pests
The area will be maintained free of pest plants and animals.
5.5 Retention of dead trees and woody debris
No dead wood, whether standing or fallen, will be removed.
5.6 Storage of materials/rubbish
The area will not be used for the disposal of rubbish or for the storage of materials.
5.7 Soil, rocks and other minerals
Soil, rocks or other minerals will not be removed, introduced, or disturbed, save for work involving replanting and restoration.
6. Restoration works
6.1 Width and length of rehabilitated area
Land will be revegetated for at least 30 metres on either side of the watercourse for a distance of 250 metres as indicated on the attached plan.
6.2 Establishment of appropriate vegetation structure
The covenantee will plant a full range of plant life forms typical to the area to maintain diversity.
6.3 Management for different successional stages of development
Both long-lived and short-lived plants will be used to provide a mosaic of plant communities at different stages of development.
6.4 Incorporating plants which provide a range of food resources
Plants that provide a variety of food resources will be incorporated in the area. These will be species native to the region's indigenous plant communities.
7. Monitoring progress
A monitoring program will be incorporated into the rehabilitation project.
Monitoring will include both the plants (species and vegetation structure) and the animals (birds and mammals) using them, as well as water quality.
Monitoring will be undertaken annually.
8. Duration of management agreement
Duration of the management agreement based on this plan will be for five years from the date this agreement is signed. The management plan can be reviewed in consultation and agreement with the owner of the property and may be amended based on the outcomes of that review.
This management plan may be immediately reviewed in consultation with the owner, and amended based on that review if circumstances arise which require prompt action to be taken to rectify or minimise the effect of a threat to the riparian area protected. In these situations both parties to the covenant must agree to the changes proposed.
9. Administrative provisions
For details regarding release and indemnity, waiver, default, and settlement of disputes, refer to general machinery clauses used in the statutory covenant document.
10. Map of covenanted area
Attach plan of area of land which is covered by the convenant to the Management Plan.
Last updated 17 March 2011
