AN APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT OF A COMPLETE KARST SYSTEM - COOLEMAN PLAIN, KOSCIUSKO NATIONAL PARK, N.S.W.

Andrew Spate, Investigations Officer, Karst, N.S.W. National Parks & Wildlife Service

INTRODUCTION

The Cooleman Plain (7,700 hectares) and Yarrangobilly (17,700 hectares) Management Units were recently identified in the 1982 Kosciusko National Park (KNP) Plan of Management as two of five "areas of outstanding natural resources" within the Park. These two areas are to be managed with the emphasis on protecting the integrity of the karst. The plan of management calls for the preparation of "karst area management plans" for each of the Units (1.1% and 2.5% respectively of the Park). The recognition of the need for these plans and the appointment of specialist karst investigation officer indicates the importance that the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is placing on karst.

Access to Cooleman Plain is by the 17 kilometre Blue Waterholes trail which connects two all-weather gravelled roads which are normally closed by snow between June and October - in poor snow years access is possible throughout the year. The nature of the terrain and soils is such that the Blue Waterholes trail rapidly becomes impassable in wet weather to both two and four wheel drive vehicles even with wheel chains. Once the grasslands of Cooleman Plain are reached vehicles can drive practically to any part of the Management Unit. There are a large number of illegally created tracks, some most inappropriately sited on aesthetic and/or management grounds.

The area is within three hours drive from Canberra and Wagga Wagga as well as many smaller towns; it is a well known attraction to many classes of visitors with information on access and the many and spectacular resources being available in a number of books and magazine articles. These publications, and the local population who have strong historical ties with the area, do not necessarily have ethics adjusted toward national park philosophies. Conflicts often arise both between user groups and users and the Service. Antagonism to Service management efforts is widespread in KNP from many classes of user levels of vandalism and other unhelpful behaviour coupled with the "normal" restrictions on finance and staff make management of this area quite difficult and occasionally very frustrating.

BACKGROUND

The following extract from the 1982 KNP Plan of Management fairly concisely sets the background to the "karst area management plan" for the Cooleman Plain Management Unit.

"The outstanding natural resources of this area include:

• the Cave Creek gorge and waterfalls
• the Blue Waterholes springs
• many caves, sinkholes and related features on the limestone which are of outstanding scientific, educational and nature conservation significance.
• many other features of outstanding geological interest - including geological type sections, fossil sites and some particularly interesting mineral occurrences.
• the sites of a very substantial number of internationally significant scientific research investigations - especially into the hydrology and geomorphology of limestone terrain and into inverted treelines.
• several Aboriginal sites.
• scenery consisting of a broad grassy plain rimmed by a series of timbered hills and peaks
• a wide range of montane and subalpine vegetation.
• numerous other natural features of considerable scenic interest and scientific, educational and nature conservation significance.
• many special recreation opportunities including walking, caving and fishing.

The Management Unit contains a number of man-made features including:

• The Coolamine Homestead complex including the homestead and various outbuildings, introduced deciduous trees, fences and yards, and many other relics - in many respects the most outstanding single complex of historic buildings in the entire Park, which are classified by the National Trust and listed on the Register of the National Estate.
• Harris and Bill Jones (New) Huts and the ruins of Spencers Hut. Several small mining sites and prospects.
• management trails.
• several old or illegal vehicular trails.
• various fences.
• scientific experimental sites and geological drill sites.
• camping area, rubbish bins and pit toilet at the Blue Waterholes.

Management of the Cooleman Plain area will take account of: the vulnerability of the caves to disturbance and the extremely complex drainage network of the caves and the entire limestone area; the sensitivity of the soils and plant communities to damage under some conditions; the outstanding value (and vulnerability) of the Aboriginal sites and historic places, especially the Coolamine Homestead complex; and the desire of considerable numbers of people to use the area for various forms of recreation. The Service, in consultation with user groups and specialists, is currently preparing a karst area management plan for this Management Unit. This plan will be made available to the public. Management of this area will be in accordance with the objectives and practices specified in Sections 1.1 and 1.2 of the Plan and will be subject to those other sections of the Plan that are shown for this Management Unit in the legend on the Summary Map.

ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVES

• to maintain the outstanding scenic qualities of the Blue Waterholes and Cave Creek gorge. To maintain the waters and aquatic communities of the streams and cave systems in as natural a condition as possible.
• to protect the caves and the significant features they contain from disturbance.
• to maintain, present and interpret the outstanding historic character of the Coolamine Homestead area and of other historic places.

ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Cave management

The limestone caves and related geomorphic features of the Cooleman Plain area are of outstanding scientific importance. Some of the caves are extremely vulnerable to damage, others are quite dangerous. Some have interesting historic associations and some are quite suitable for any responsible person to visit.

Both the management of a series of caves with these many different attributes and the protection of the important features of the cave systems are complex tasks. The configuration and nature of the caves means that presenting them to the public as conventional tourist 'show' caves (such as at Yarrangobilly) is not practical. Management options for each cave include access for any properly equipped party, or controlled access for groups with specially qualified leaders, speleological groups and scientists. Whatever different options are ultimately implemented for each site, it is essential that the system of management controls be clear, consistent and, above all, workable. The karst area management plan will include:

• a management classification of caves and related features, defining objectives and management practices for each.
• an interpretation programme to provide visitors with an awareness of the natural features and environmental processes of Cooleman caves, and the scope to experience different aspects of them.
• guidelines to ensure that the objectives for each class of features can be achieved.
• specification of research priorities.
• a list of management works or operations required to protect or rehabilitate any site.
• Copies of the Cooleman karst area management plan will be available to the public.

Coolamine Homestead

The complex of buildings, fences, yards, introduced trees and other historic features in a natural setting at Coolamine Homestead is one of the outstanding historic resources of the Park. It includes a series of timber buildings of varying construction style dating from the 1880s.

Coolamine is the most complete l9th century homestead surviving the Park, and is an important component of the pastoral history of New South Wales. The site is on both the 'Recorded' list of the National Trust and the Register of the National Estate.

The features have been subjected to considerable impact from campers using slabs and other timber from the buildings as firewood. Since 1976 one collapsed wing of the main house and most of the wall timbers of the oldest building have been completely destroyed in this way. The ready access to the homestead by vehicle has accelerated the problem and contributed to the removal of portable historic relics. Members of the Kosciusko Huts Association have attempted to halt the decay with various emergency maintenance works but neither they nor Service officers have been able to halt the vandalism. Short term stabilisation followed by restoration, maintenance and protection of the site must have priority. Provision of adequate site supervision and protection is seen as the key long term problem.

The Service, in consultation with technical experts, historic conservation bodies, and community interest groups, will undertake a detailed management study of the Homestead to determine future management and to draw up the necessary technical specifications. Management of the Coolamine Homestead and its environs will be part of, and subject to the provisions of the karst area management plan. The study will consider the following options:

• arresting decay, and maintaining the site more or less in its present condition, and allowing camping in and around the buildings
• allowing camping only nearby, not in the buildings.
• prohibiting camping.
• restoring the remaining buildings as closely as possible to their former condition with the above camping options.
• restoring and reconstructing the entire complex as closely as possible to its original form with the above camping options.

In addition, for each of such options, it must be decided how the site will be managed and presented: open at all times with or without regular on-site supervision or with periodic surveillance: open during the day only; or open only on specified days and/or times.

Access

To overcome the present problems of erosion, track damage and vandalism the karst area management plan will investigate the control of access to, and visitor use of, the natural and cultural resources of the Management Unit. The Blue Waterholes Track may be relocated and reconstructed in accordance with the objectives and practices specified in 1.1 and 1.2 above, and will be subject to those other sections of the plan that are shown for this Management Unit in the legend on the Summary Map. Vehicular trails within the Management Unit (except for management trails and public access routes) will be rehabilitated.

Car-based camping

Large numbers of people camp at the Blue Waterholes, which is now leading to significant environmental disturbance and alternatives will need to be provided. Two new camping areas will be developed off the Blue Waterholes Track - both of them outside the catchments of the cave systems. One will be about one km off the Long Plain Road near the headwaters of Peppercorn Creek and the other in the timbered area behind Pockets Hut. Each location has reliable water and firewood and will be equipped with fireplaces and pit toilets. In conjunction with the relocation of parts of the Blue Waterholes Track that part of the existing camping area among the Blue Waterholes themselves will be closed to vehicles and vehicle-damaged areas will be rehabilitated.

Most of the underground drainage of the entire Cooleman limestone comes to the surface at the Blue Waterholes, and any camping effluent, particularly from toilets, discharged in the catchment may quickly pollute the Blue Waterholes themselves.

The karst area management plan will develop procedures for the management of the Blue Waterholes area to provide for public access to the features but to minimise the effects of visitor use. After the two new camping areas specified above have been developed the Blue Waterholes area will be managed for day use. A car-parking area will be provided and areas previously damaged by camping wilt be rehabilitated. The pit toilet at the Blue Waterholes will be removed.

Back-country developed camping

There is more scope for dispersed back-country camping than for car-based camping, although some problems remain in a limestone area. Such camping would not be permitted at the Blue Waterholes or near other features where there is risk of groundwater contamination. The Cooleman karst area management plan referred to above will specify areas in which no form of camping will be permitted."

THE KARST AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN

This plan is virtually complete in draft form but planning proved to be much more time consuming than originally contemplated; lack of resources has meant that the resources inventory portion of the plan is much reduced. The discussion of the Cooleman plan is under the section headings used in the plan with comment where appropriate.

SUMMARY

- a summary of management objectives and practices and of the scheme of operations (i.e. the implementation of the plan)

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Plan
- previous planning and KNP plan requirements.

1.2 Statement of resources and values
- a brief statement on the natural and cultural resources and the values currently placed upon them.

1.3 History of acquisition
- how and when the area was acquired.

1.4 Past and present uses
- as it says.

2. MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

- a detailed statement of the Services objectives for the area.

3. APPROPRIATE USES

- discussion of what the Service considers are appropriate uses in this environment.

4. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

The core of the plan

4.1 Access
- vehicles
- horses
- other
- discussion of access problems and formal statement of Service policy on the above classes of access.

4.2 Camping
- vehicle based within the Management Unit
- vehicle based without the Management Unit
- non-vehicle based within the Management Unit
- discussion of camping problems and formal statement of Service policy on camping; plans for new facilities.

4.3 Cave Access
- classification system and results of classification, formal statement of Service policy on cave access. This is a completely rethought approach to cave access at Cooleman and recognises the use currently made of the caves. A programme of protection and interpretation is also outlined.

4.4 Cultural resources

4.4.1 Aboriginal sites and relics

4.4.2 Historic sites
- these are defined in the KNP plan where management guidelines are set out. Both Coolamine Homestead and Harris Hut are to be managed as such sites.

4.4.3 Other huts
- the future of the three other huts within the Management Unit is outlined.

4.4.4 Mines
- interpretative and other management needs of the two former mines are outlined

4.4.5 Other European settlement sites
- interpretative and other management needs of the original occupation site and other sites are outlined.

4.5 Interpretation and visitor contact
- overall policies for interpretation and interpretation facilities are discussed together with the specific objectives to be addressed by interpretation programmes.

4.6 Fire
- an overall fire management plan is being prepared for KNP. This section outlines the specific fire management policies to be followed in this karst area as well as delineating access, water points and sensitive areas.

4.7 Exotic species
- requirements for the control of exotic plants and animals are outlined

5. CAPITAL WORKS, MAINTENANCE, STAFF REQUIREMENTS

- detailed works programmes, staff requirements and a scheme of operations (plan implementation) are presented.

6. RESEARCH NEEDS

- research needs and avenues are spelt out. These are largely in the biological science arena although further archaeological survey is needed.

7. APPENDICES

7.1 Cave classification

7.2 Conditions for cave access

7.3 Conservation brief for Coolamine Homestead

7.4 Rehabilitation works requirements

7.5 Interpretation facilities
- specifications for signs, leaflets and facilities for interpretation aids.

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

- a list of published works on the Management Unit.

Discussion

This paper outlines an approach to the management of a whole karst system. The plan outlined here arose as a result of a draft plan of management for KNP which was subject to a great deal of public comment and review. By-and-large comment supported the Service policies or went further and suggested quite specific and autocratic measures for future management of the area.

The plan is not a "karst area management plan" but is rather a "people management plan" which is not as idealistic as previous prescriptions for karst area management presented by the Service may have appeared. Perhaps the importance of karst is not emphasised enough, but the general principles have been followed and the plan is "achievable" rather than perfect. The Service will need, however, to make a firm commitment in staff and financial resources, albeit at a relatively low level, if the plan is to work.