Public Land

This map shows the location of State and National Parks in the East Gippsland region, and in nearby regions (as at January 2004). Parks Victoria manages Victoria's world class network of national, state, regional and metropolitan parks, other conservation reserves, many significant cultural assets, and Melbourne's bays and major waterways. The Parks Victoria Parkweb website (external link) provides information about each of Victoria's National and State Parks.

Most of the land in East Gippsland is in public ownership (roughly 87%), comprising mainly State Forest (approximately 1.3 million ha) and National Park. Reserves with protection of natural values as a principle objective (in accordance with Land Conservation Council recommendations) are regarded as conservation reserves for the purposes of the Gippsland and East Gippsland RFA reports. These include:

Current reserve system in East Gippsland:

Reserve Classification	Type of Reserve
Dedicated Conservation Reserve	Reference Area
	National Park
	State Park
	Coastal Park
	Regional Park
	Flora and Fauna Reserve
	Flora Reserve
	Wildlife Reserve
	Bushland Reserve
	Coastal Reserve
	Gippsland Lakes Reserve
	Streamside Reserve
	Natural Features and Scenic Reserves
	Cave Reserve
	Education Area
	Scenic Reserve
	Wildlife Co-operative Management Area

Under the East Gippsland Forest Management Plan (DCNR 1995) State forest is divided into either Special Protection Zone (SPZ), Special Management Zone (SMZ) or General Management Zone (GMZ). These zones are described as follows:

Special Protection Zone (SPZ) is managed for conservation. Timber harvesting is excluded and other activities (such as fuel reduction burning and grazing) are only permitted where they are compatible with maintenance of values of the zone. The SPZ complements the existing conservation reserves and portions form a network designed to link key elements of the overall reserve system.

The Special Management Zone (SMZ) is managed to conserve specific features, while catering for timber production under certain conditions. Management arrangements for areas in the SMZ are determined on a case-by-case basis according to the values present. Each area has a plan prepared which details if and under what conditions, timber harvesting may occur.

This management zone includes areas for conservation of fauna species, point localities (special management sites) of significant features (historic sites and isolated populations of key threatened plant species) and areas where modified timber harvesting techniques will be used to minimise the visual impact of harvesting and risks to catchment values.

The General Management Zone (GMZ) is managed for a range of uses, but timber production has a high priority. Secondary aims include protection of landscape values, provision of recreation and educational opportunities, fire protection and conservation to complement adjacent zones.

The GMZ also contains areas unsuitable for sawlog production due to steep slopes or low productivity. While activities such as fuel-reduction burning, harvesting of minor forest products (such as firewood, poles and honey), and recreation are permitted, these activities tend to be limited to small areas. Consequently, parts of the GMZ remain relatively undisturbed and contribute substantially to conservation, particularly the drier forest types and their associated fauna.

(C of A and State of Victoria, 1996).

The Parks, Flora and Fauna (PFF) Division of DSE is responsible for overseeing the management of Victoria's land and resources for their environmental, conservation and recreational values. PFF is responsible for supporting the conservation of historic places on public land, overseeing the management and use of Crown land.

Crown Land Management (within the Land Victoria Division of DSE) has a number of roles and responsibilities with respect to the management of public land within the East Gippsland region, including:

Acts on behalf of the Victorian Government as the agent for the Crown land outside of the parks and forests systems, the majority occupied by individuals and organisations/clubs other than the Department of Natural Resources and Environment;
Purchases, exchanges, sells, reserves and leases or licences land and property for DSE and other parts of Government;
Provides policy and a regulatory framework for the reservation, management and use of Crown land;
Facilitates major Government and private infrastructure projects through the commercial leasing, reservation and delegated management of Crown land;
Maintains the Crown land database covering relevant Crown allotments;
For the purposes of Native Title claims, researches and determines the tenure history of Crown land under claim and provides DSE policy input to the Government’s response to Native Title;
Coordinates responses to land use planning proposals on behalf of DSE;
Acts as a referral authority for proposed developments on private and Crown land;
Provides new information technology developments and initiatives to support cadastral and natural resource decision-making and program delivery.

Actual management of land use activities has been undertaken by Parks Victoria since December 1996. Its main purpose with respect to Crown land use is to conserve, protect and enhance environmental and cultural assets throughout the East Gippsland catchment region of Victoria.

References

Commonwealth of Australia and State of Victoria (1996). East Gippsland Regional Forest Agreement: Comprehensive Regional Assessment. AGPS, Canberra.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) (1995). Forest Management Plan for the East Gippsland Forest Management Area. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria.

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