Bay of Fires Project

Bay of Fires Conservation Area and Humbug Point Nature Recreation Area Experience – led Site Plan

Bay-of-FiresThe Bay of Fires Community Coastcare project Background:

In December 2008, NRM North received confirmation that, in partnership with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and Tourism Tasmania, an application made under the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country – Community Coastcare program, had been successful and eligible for funding. The project “Protection and enhancement of a fragile coastal ecosystem in the Bay of Fires Conservation Area” was initiated following regional review of coastal management needs, and in recognition of the impact that increasing visitation and recreational use is having, and is predicted to have, on the natural and cultural assets of the Bay of Fires and surrounding areas.

This project does not incorporate any processes relating to the Bay of Fires National Park proposal, which is a separate process.

The project encompasses a number of components, including:

  • - Development of a site plan (including community and stakeholder consultation) to guide on-ground activities;
  • - Cultural heritage and natural values surveys of key sites;
  • - Collection of native seeds and propagation of local provenance plants for revegetation;
  • - Weed and planting field days;
  • - Implementation of priority on-ground activities;
  • - Signage.

Consultation for this planning component was undertaken by Inspiring Place and Anna Housego from 2nd to 6th May 2009. Campers and day visitors were surveyed, briefings and discussions were held with key stakeholder representatives, the wider community was invited to participate in feedback interviews, and community representatives participated in an experience workshop that formed part of this site planning process. The culmination of this input has been the preparation of the final draft version of the site plan. This document is now entering review phase and invitations are open for final comment before the site planning process is completed in preparation for prioritisation of on-ground works.

Specific details regarding the site plan document:

While the site plan provides guidance for on-ground management activities, it is not a Management Plan. The area addressed by the site plan is not included in the Bay of Fires National Park proposal, and while there may be synergies between these processes, they are separate and there is no duplication between them. The role of the site plan is to allow stages of site improvements and protection of values at risk to be implemented on the ground.

While the site plan refers to the Binalong Bay visitor site as a recommended key location for visitor management, the implementation component of this project does not include this site, and any proposed activities undertaken at this site are done so as part of a separate project managed by the Break O’Day Council. Comments relating to the Binalong Bay visitor site project must be addressed to the Break O’Day Council.

Providing comment on the final draft: Has now CLOSED