The Planner 30 September 2006
Broulee Island and Illawong Nature Reserves
Department of Environment and Conservation
PO Box 282
NAROOMA NSW 2546

DRAFT PLANS OF MANAGEMENT
BROULEE ISLAND AND ILLAWONG NATURE RESERVES

Our Association congratulates those responsible for these Draft Plans of Management. They give interesting information about the values of and threats to both reserves.

We support most of the strategies outlined in the Draft Plans in particular the high priority given to the control of weeds and fire in both reserves. However, we think that high priority should also be given to surveying and mapping the flora and fauna in Broulee and Illawong - there could be other threatened species discovered, cryptic orchids for example.

BROULEE NATURE RESERVE

2.1 Location, etc - paragraph 3.
The Plan should note the proposed change of zoning for the "adjoining forested hinterland" to 7(f1) Environmental protection - Coastal Lands Protection. It may even be gazetted as such by the time the nature reserve's Plan of Management is adopted.

The Plan should also mention somewhere that everywhere below the mean high water mark is in the Batemans Marine Park and should state the zoning - this should be finalized before the end of this year. The Draft Zoning Plan for the Marine Park shows the surrounding waters as a Sanctuary Zone. Our Association believes this is very appropriate for the waters and intertidal areas surrounding the Island.

3. Management Issues and Strategies

Public Use - We agree that people should be encouraged to stay near the shoreline, that vehicle access should be kept to the absolute minimum necessary for fire and weed control, and that camping, fires and new plaques should be prohibited.

Signs should also be kept to a minimum and in any case are invitations to vandals. It may be better to have booklets for sale (as cheaply as possible) at local outlets. The booklets can refer to numbered posts on the island and can give more information and be kept as souvenirs. They could also include information on Illawong Reserve and highlight the fact that vehicles are prohibited and people have to obtain permission from the relevant adjoining landowners to cross their land.

ILLAWONG NATURE RESERVE

3. Management Issues and Strategies

Natural Heritage - Adjoining owners have cleared into the Nature Reserve. These parts need to be revegetated and fences repaired if necessary. Ideally the boundaries of the reserve should be changed to swap the cleared land for undisturbed ecosystems.

Improving the hydrology of the wetland should be given high priority. It is crucial to restoring the health of the ecosystem especially given predictions of less rainfall in future due to climate change. The drain from Illawong Swamp, constructed by Council in 1976, should be blocked.

Public Use - We agree that use should be kept to a level that will have the minimum impact on this small reserve.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Draft Plans of Management

Jenny Edwards
Secretary