Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve Interim Management Statement

INTRODUCTION

In 2001 the Victorian Government acquired land from Halsall’s to be protected and managed as Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve.

The Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve is located on Old Euroa Road northeast of Euroa and has a total area of approximately 220 hectares. It supports significant sized remnants of two threatened vegetation communities - Plains Grassy Woodland and Plains Grassy Woodland/Gilgai Wetland Mosaic. The acquisition of this property is of considerable significance for the protection of these communities and for the regional conservation of a number of threatened plant and animal species. Although, the property is partly cleared it is generally in good condition and strategically located to achieve a number of nature conservation objectives. Balmattum Reserve is of particular importance for the conservation of a suite of woodland bird species, many of which are threatened or declining within the region and across Victoria.
The initial management of the Reserve should be based on an understanding of the past and present management that has, at least to some extent, shaped the values that persist today. The use of strategic stock grazing for biomass control in parts of the reserve coupled with ongoing natural tree and forb regeneration and appropriate weed and pest animal control programs will largely ensure that the current values are maintained.
While it is important that initial management is conservative, the reserve also has considerable conservation potential that can be achieved through active management programs. This Interim Management Statement outlines the development of an adaptive management program designed to enhance faunal habitat by increasing structural and floristic diversity across the reserve and controlling threatening processes.

2. PURPOSE OF THIS INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

This Interim Management Statement will guide management of the Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve in the short term following its purchase and dedication as a new protected area.

The key purposes of this Interim Management Statement are to:

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  Develop a concise statement on the management arrangements required to enable Parks Victoria to establish the new reserve and maintain its existing values reflecting the relevant legislative, policy and conservation context for the reserve.
  

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  Provide direction on the establishment of appropriate monitoring to determine whether existing values are being maintained and short-term management objectives achieved.
  

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  Provide guidance on the development of future management programs through summarising broad options for enhancing the conservation values of the reserve.
  

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  Develop an adaptive management program including appropriate research and monitoring to determine the most effective long-term management to maintain and where possible enhance conservation values within the reserve.
  

Map 1. Location of Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve and other Public Land.




Water Frontage Reserve

Crown Land Reserve

Water Frontage Reserve


Violet Town

BALMATTUM NCR

Water Frontage Reserve

Euroa

3.