Statement of
Management Intent
Doodle Comer Swamp
Nature Reserve
1.
Introduction
This statement outlines the main values, issues, management directions and priorities of the
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for managing Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve.
This statement, together with relevant NPWS policies, will guide the management of the reserve
until a plan of management has been prepared in accordance with the National Parks and Wildlife
Act 1974 (NPW Act). The NPWS Managing Parks Prior to Plan of Management Policy states that
parks and reserves without a plan of management are to be managed in a manner consistent with
the intent of the NPW Act and the ‘precautionary principle’ (see Principle 15).
2.
Management principles
Nature reserves are reserved under the NPW Act to protect and conserve areas containing
outstanding, unique or representative ecosystems, species, communities or natural phenomena.
Under the NPW Act (section 30J), nature reserves are managed to:
•
conserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem functions, and protect geological and
geomorphological features and natural phenomena
•
conserve places, objects, features and landscapes of cultural value
•
promote public appreciation, enjoyment and understanding of the reserve’s natural and
cultural values
•
provide for appropriate research and monitoring.
The primary purpose of nature reserves is to conserve nature. Nature reserves differ from national
parks in that they do not have the provision of visitor use as a management purpose or principle.
3.
Context
Reservation details: Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve was reserved on 21 January 2011.
Size: 890 hectares.
Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve is situated in south-west New South Wales, less than
3 kilometres west-south-west of the small town of Henty, approximately 56 kilometres south-west of
Wagga Wagga and 61 kilometres north-west of Albury. It falls within the NSW South Western
Slopes Bioregion, and the administrative areas of Wiradjuri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Murray
Local Land Services and Greater Hume Shire Council.
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Statement of Management Intent: Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve
Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve was previously private property (‘Doodle Cooma West’)
purchased in 2010 under the National Reserve System Program. In February 2013 a further 208
hectares of swamp land was purchased, to the east of the existing reserve, and will be added to the
nature reserve (not currently shown in the diagram). The park would then protect about half of a 20square kilometre ephemeral wetland considered to be of national significance. The small catchment
size and the relatively unaltered water regime are the main reasons Doodle Comer Swamp is of
high conservation value. Doodle Comer Swamp is listed in the Australian Government’s Directory of
Important Wetlands in Australia. There are only five wetlands in the NSW South Western Slopes
Bioregion that are listed on this database, and of these, Doodle Comer Swamp is the only one
included the National Reserve System.
Doodle Comer Swamp is the largest wetland of its type in southern New South Wales, and, when
full, it attracts large numbers of threatened and protected waterbirds. The reserve also protects
three endangered ecological communities and provides important potential habitat for threatened
mammals.
Doodle Comer is Aboriginal for ‘sweet water’ and there is abundant evidence of Aboriginal
occupation in the area. The swamp has always been a significant resource and cultural gathering
place providing the Wiradjuri people with an extensive range of resources. Doodle Comer
represents a broader significant cultural landscape which links a series of swamps within southern
Wiradjuri Country.
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Statement of Management Intent: Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve
4.
Values
•
Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve protects the best regional example of a relatively
unregulated, mature and healthy river red gum woodland in an ephemeral wetland setting.
•
The swamp has always been a significant resource and cultural gathering place for the
Wiradjuri People. Many sites of Aboriginal significance have been recorded within
10 kilometres of the swamp including artefact scatters and scarred trees. In response to the
cultural heritage values of the site, the local Aboriginal community has nominated the
swamp for declaration as an Aboriginal Place under the NPW Act.
•
Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve contains small areas of the endangered ecological
community White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland listed under the NSW
Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). These areas are also likely to
conform to the definition of the critically endangered ecological community White Box –
Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland listed
under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act). Populations of this ecological community have been significantly reduced and
remnants are often degraded and highly fragmented. This woodland community provides
important habitat for a diverse range of threatened species, particularly in relation to
breeding opportunities in tree hollows.
•
The reserve also contains small areas of two other endangered ecological communities
listed under the TSC Act: Sandhill Pine Woodland in the Riverina, Murray-Darling
Depression and NSW South Western Slopes bioregions; and Inland Grey Box Woodland in
the Riverina, NSW South Western Slopes, Cobar Peneplain, Nandewar and Brigalow Belt
South Bioregions (Grey Box Woodland). The latter is also likely to conform to the definition
of the endangered ecological community Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy
Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-Eastern Australia, listed under the
EPBC Act.
•
The reserve’s wetland and migratory bird habitat is potentially important for protected and
threatened birds such as the brolga (Grus rubicunda) listed as vulnerable under the TSC
Act, and Latham’s snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) and the white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus
leucogaster) listed as marine and migratory under the EPBC Act.
•
The reserve also protects known habitat for other threatened birds such as the vulnerable
grey-crowned babbler (eastern subspecies) (Pomatostomus temporalis temporalis), and the
endangered bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) listed under the TSC Act, and the
superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) listed as vulnerable under both the TSC Act and the
EPBC Act.
•
Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve protects important woodland habitat and is
considered likely to support threatened bats, squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) and
other threatened mammals. There is potential for threatened frogs and other reptiles to reoccupy the swamp.
•
The endangered austral pillwort (Pilularia novae-hollandiae) listed under the TSC Act and
the vulnerable floating swamp wallaby-grass (Amphibromus fluitans) listed under both the
TSC Act and the EPBC Act are likely to be present within the reserve.
•
There are several unique granite knolls extruding from the swamp bed.
5.
Issues
•
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Management of Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve requires consideration of the
frequency and extent of inundation and how this affects the reserve’s values and the
Statement of Management Intent: Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve
swamp’s ability to adapt to change. For management purposes the reserve has three states:
inundated, damp/drying and dry.
•
Populations of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cats (Felis catus) are present within Doodle
Comer Swamp Nature Reserve and represent a serious threat to wetland birds and
woodland mammals.
•
Large numbers of exotic carp have been present in the swamp when inundated, causing
damage to the freshwater environment, especially aquatic plants.
•
Paterson’s curse (Echium plantagineum), viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare), thistles (Cirsium
spp.), introduced grasses and other herbaceous weeds occur within the reserve.
•
Sharp rush (Juncus acutus) and dock weed (Rumex sp.) infestations occur during periods of
inundation.
•
The Henty sewerage plant currently discharges into the swamp. There may be issues to do
with nutrient loadings during periods of both inundation and dry.
6.
Key management directions
•
Fire is managed in accordance with the Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve Fire
Management Strategy.
•
Pest management programs will be implemented in accordance with the NPWS Regional
Pest Management Strategy: Southern Ranges Region. Current priorities include reducing
the impact of weeds on the Grey Box Woodland endangered ecological community and
controlling foxes as part of a community program to protect neighbouring livestock. There is
potential for future programs targeting feral cats and feral fish following further assessment.
•
A watching brief will be maintained on developments and changes in the catchment. NPWS
will work in partnership with Murray Local Land Services to protect and enhance the
condition of the catchment.
•
Grazing within the reserve has been happening for approximately the past 100 years. The
option to graze has been retained as a management tool, since reservation, to periodically
reduce the fire hazard due to the close proximity to Henty, or to reduce exotic cereal
grasses and promote native species growth. Periodic grazing will not occur in designated
regeneration areas and only during periods when the soil is dry and the aquatic
macrophytes have set seed and become dormant.
•
There will be ongoing monitoring of native vegetation, and native animal and aquatic
species in relation to drought and flood events. The monitoring plan will be revised as
necessary.
•
Ongoing community engagement will be undertaken to ensure consideration of community
aspirations.
•
The conservation issues with Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve are such that adaptive
management is crucial. Management will respond to new information, monitoring outcomes,
community input and the timing of the swamp’s inundation and drying cycles. The threshold
for action will be scoped in the development of the reserve’s plan of management.
•
Communication will continue with Greater Hume Shire Council regarding the Henty
sewerage plant, with the potential for integrating management of the issues relating to the
plant.
•
All management activities will be preceded by the preparation of an environmental
assessment or heritage assessment where this is a requirement of NPWS policy or
legislation.
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Statement of Management Intent: Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve
•
Environmental repair and threat management programs, such as erosion mitigation
measures, pest management, and activities arising from threatened species requirements
may be implemented in accordance with NPWS policies and procedures.
•
Non-intrusive works may be undertaken where necessary to protect cultural heritage items
from further deterioration, to ensure the safety of visitors, to protect wildlife or to prevent
damage to park assets.
•
A plan of management will be prepared to set out the ongoing management objectives for
the reserve. The plan of management is a statutory document under the NPW Act which will
be available for public comment. NPWS will also encourage the community to contribute to
the ongoing conservation of the reserve by promoting and raising public awareness of its
special values.
For additional information or enquiries about any aspect of this reserve or this statement, contact
the NPWS Tumut Office on (02) 6947 7000 or 7a Adelong Road, Tumut NSW 2720.
Disclaimer: This is a statement of intent to
guide the management of the reserve prior
to the development of a plan of
management. Any statements made in this
publication are made in good faith and do
not render the Office of Environment and
Heritage liable for any loss or damage.
Provisions in the final plan of management
may vary from those identified in this
document as a result of new information and
community consultation. The maps in this
statement are intended to show the
reserve’s location and basic features only,
and are not suitable for use when navigating
to or exploring within parks.
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Published by:
Office of Environment and Heritage
59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000
PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232
Phone: (02) 9995 5000
ISBN 978 1 74359 463 6
OEH 2014/0151
June 2014
Statement of Management Intent: Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve