Moreton Island Management Plan
To be implemented from 1 July 2007 |
The vision statement for Moreton Island:
Moreton Island will be managed as a relatively undisturbed coastal landscape where people will continue to access and enjoy the island's regionally unique, nature-based recreational activities. Conservation of the island's natural and cultural heritage will be the key focus of management on the island.
Moreton Island Management Plan aims to protect cultural heritage sites and balance conservation with sustainable recreation and tourism through a variety of strategies. Below are the main changes this plan aims to achieve.
- New camping booking system will ensure reliable access to campsites and protect the islands natural and cultural values from adverse human impacts. Seasonal variation will allow for an overall increase of 12.5% with reduced numbers in peak times but increase in off-peak times. This will allow for:
- Reduced visitor impacts on wildlife, particularly shorebirds that are adversely affected by beach camping and beach driving.
- Maintenance of the campgrounds (mowing and weed control) and campground infrastructure (toilets and signage) which requires quiet periods to allow access by rangers and contractors.
- Sustainable use of toilet facilities that may not cope with peak usage all year. Water supply for showers and toilets is limited and may not be sustainable at peak levels throughout the year.
- Resting of campsites for ecological regeneration and to allow rangers to perform other duties including prescribed burning and conservation and cultural heritage management programs.
- A variety of camping experiences from isolated and secluded sites to a more social setting during peak times.
- Management zones (PDF, 191K)* across the island will assist with management of its natural, cultural and recreational values. Zones set out access, facilities development, recreation opportunities, interpretation requirements and management requirements.
- Special protection zones - managed primarily to protect natural and cultural resources. Significant shorebird habitat (Mirapool Lagoon, Heath Island, Reeders Point) and freshwater habitats (Lake Jabiru-Spitfire Creek area) are included in this zone. Facilities and access tracks will be limited to the boundaries to prevent undue disturbance of these values.
- Conservation zones - will support fragile ecosystems or species, or areas of cultural significance from degradation by human disturbance. Low key nature-based activities will be permitted but no other visitor facilities or infrastructure.
- Conservation and recreation zones (1 & 2) - will provide the majority of recreational activities and include established campgrounds and beach camping. Vehicle and walk tracks and visitor facilities, infrastructure and interpretation will be provided in zone 1 with vehicle access limited along trafficable beaches with no formed vehicle tracks in zone 2.
- Beach safety zones - will reduce pedestrian-vehicle interactions and provide greater safety for beach pedestrians.
- Currently the beaches at Tangalooma Resort and Cowan Cowan township are closed to vehicle access. This will be extended to include the beaches adjacent to the campgrounds at North Point and Comboyuro Point.
- A 30km/hr vehicle speed will be introduced to improve pedestrian safety around busy meeting points. The beaches adjacent to Ben-Ewa campground, The Wrecks campground and the barge landing areas at Reeders Point, The Wrecks and Bulwer will have a 30km/hr vehicle speed.
- Special protection zones - will reduce undue disturbance of shorebirds at critical high tide roosting sites.
- A 30km/h and no high tide vehicle access will be trialled on the beach at Mirapool.
- Designated routes for quads, trikes and trail bikes (residents and landholders only) to ensure continued use of these vehicles while providing greater pedestrian safety and reduced impacts on sensitive dunes ecosystems, shorebird roosting sites and culturally sensitive midden sites. These will be restricted to major vehicle thoroughfares within the recreation area and national park.
- Management actions to be undertaken by QPWS include;
- Fire Management Strategy taking into account the ecological requirements of the different vegetation communities.
- Pest Plant Control Strategy covering weed species identification, distribution and control and monitoring methods.
- Humane feral pig and goat eradication program.
- Develop Cultural Management Strategy in close liaison with Quandamooka and relevant historical societies.
- Upgrade and maintain visitor facilities including the redesign of Blue Lagoon and Comboyuro Point campgrounds.
- Undertake a Sustainable Visitor Capacity assessment to determine appropriate use between commercial, independent and Aboriginal use of camping and day-use facilities. Replace commercial operator permits with commercial agreements taking into account carrying capacities of individual sites.
* Requires Acrobat Reader
Last updated: 30 March 2007