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Newsletter number 21

Spring 1999
A newsletter for people interested in the Australian Alps

Contents

Rare and exciting find in the Australian Alps!

Who would've expected that a routine inspection of a Peregrine Falcon nesting area would reveal arguably the rarest item of Aboriginal cultural heritage significance in the Australiana Alps national parks? An Aboriginal digging stick. And it was the Alps' own eagle-eyed Brett McNamara who found it!

Finding any wooden item of Aboriginal origin still remaining in the Australian Alps was considered so unlikely, that it took some persuading of various experts before it was authenticated. While these discussions raged, the Canberra Archaeological Society was successful in obtaining an ACT Heritage grant to study the site and the stick. Neither the local Aboriginal organisations nor the Heritage Council wanted the stick removed for further study; the stick remains on site in -situ.

The occurrence of a digging stick in the Australian Alps national parks is remarkable. The effects of sun, heat, bushfire, dampness, rain, frost and snow mitigate against the survival of wooden artefacts in situ. This digging stick was preserved because it was in an undercut of a cliff where the microenvironment is one of extreme aridity and shade. Its location beneath the undercut would also have protected the stick from bush fires.

What else was found on site? There were ten Aboriginal stone artefacts nearby and charcoal fragments which are most likely the result of one or more ancient campfires. To make a (relatively) comfortable living area at a cliff base composed of large boulders, 3 small areas had been cleared of rockfall.

There were no signs of art, engraving, scarred trees, quarrying activity or artefact grinding grooves. In fact, there was nothing to indicate to us what people were doing at this rugged steep and somewhat isolated area.

One exciting task carried out with the permission of the local Aboriginal organisations was to extract a tiny 0.08 milligram piece of wood to find the age of the stick, using the latest in carbon dating techniques. This process takes a few months and we do not have a result as yet.

Digging sticks were an indispensable part of a woman's tool kit and every woman owned one. Saplings of any tough wood were selected for their manufacture, shaped appropriately and then one or both ends were hardened in the fire. They were usually used in conjunction with a wooden container when collecting plant foods, tubers and small game. As the digging stick loosened the earth, the container was used to scoop out the soil.

Ethnographic records include references to the use of digging sticks in the Alps of south-east Australia. Richard Helms describes the digging stick as "The commonest implement, ...a plain stout cudgel about four feet long, sharpened and hardened in the fire at one end. It was used for digging out roots and other food from the ground and in case of need served for defensive purposes." Dawson writing about his boyhood in the Monaro in the 1830s and 1840s, describes another use of the digging stick: "They would have some great merry-making and corroborees, the lubras would sit around on their haunches with tom toms or native drums made out of a piece of skin or hide stretched tight across a piece of bark curled before the fire...they would beat these with their yam sticks or nulla nullas, and chant a native tune..."

That digging sticks were a valuable article is illustrated by Howitt's record of their having been an item at a trading event at Bega, involving exchange between groups from the Alps and the coastal region.

Why was such a valued object was left at this site? Was the stick forgotten at departure time, left for future use or discarded? Was it a case of 'don't forget the digging stick!' and someone did!

Moral to this tale: if you see any unusual wooden item in a sheltered position, it could be significant. Don't move it, but note the location, let your Manager know and contact your heritage officer. Who knows, you could become as infamous as Brett!

Debbie Argue Conservation Officer Heritage Unit Environment ACT

Tidbit's...

Happy 21st Edition...

Yes, you are currently reading the 21st edition of News from the Alps... . The first edition rolled of the presses way back in June 1987, declaring the newsletter as a first in a series to make people aware of "the work being achieved under the Memorandum of Understanding for Parks in the Australian Alps"

The first edition also carried a story on the inaugural works program and makes reference to the establishment of five working group. The working groups being:

It's interesting to note that out of the initial working groups established the Cultural Heritage Working Group is still in existence today. Fire and Pest Plants and Animals have been rolled into the Natural Heritage Working Group, with Public Awareness now been picked up under the charter of Community Relations Working Group.

Obviously since June 1987 a number of people have passed through the Alps program and its interesting to reflect upon those who first picked up the challenge, where are they today? You may recognised a couple of names...

The first ever AALC comprised of:

Another interesting aspect of note, is that out of the four Agency Logo's used in the first edition only two are the same today .the Gang-Gang and the Lyrebird!

Since June 1987 a number of Program Coordinators have also passed through the Alps program, each bringing to the newsletter their own little creative touches. Over the years News from the Alps still remains the most effective vehicle for communicating the tangible benefits of a unique cross border cooperative management program.

Happy 21st edition...

BMcN

Call for Project Proposals 2000/2001

It's time to consider and develop the 2000 /2001 cooperative works program for the Australian Alps national parks.

Criteria for projects are listed below, however if you believe a proposed project is of high value to the improved management of the Australian Alps (but outside the criteria) please submit it also for consideration by the Liaison Committee.

The timetable for consideration of project proposals is shown in the table below.

Project Proposal Forms are available from and could be returned to

Brett McNamara, Program Coordinator
ph. (02) 62071694, Fax. (02) 62072901

Criteria for projects under the Australian Alps - Co-operative Management Program

All project proposals are considered on their merits in terms of implementation of the Australian Alps Strategic Plan 1996-99 (Copies are available from Brett McNamara). Projects have the greatest chance of success if they also meet the following criteria:

The Liaison Committee will consider supporting on-ground works (on a cost-sharing basis with an Agency) where the project:

The AAnp program is operated on a budget of only $400,000 pa, and while no funding limits are set, for guidance, project funding in the range of $5,000 to $50,000 per annum should be considered.

An application form should be completed for each project proposal.

Project proponents are strongly urged to speak directly with Working Group convenors to determine the working group priority for future projects.

Working Group Convenors are

Timetable for consideration of project proposals
31 August 1999 Opening of Call-for-Projects
29 Oct 1999 Close of Call-for-Projects
1 Nov - 31 Dec 1999 Working Groups meet to assess and rate project proposals within 3-yr Strategic view
1- 2 February 2000 Presentation by Working Group Convenors of project proposals and AALC considers preliminary listing of project proposals.
  AALC "In-principle " support given to project proposals
Feb 2000- April 2000 Working groups refine "in -principle support" projects and determine implementation processes
27 - 28 April 2000 Final presentation by Working Group Convenors, AALC endorses details of projects and implementation
May - June 2000 Working Groups call for external tenders if required
July 2000 Working Groups commence projects
   

Science in High Places

Revisiting the Ecological Baseline

A previous AALC project "Science in High Places" (Griffiths & Robin 1994) looked at the cultural significance of scientific sites across the Australian Alps. Following on from this project, the AALC commissioned the establishment of a Scientific Sites Database. The aims of the current project were to produce a report and complete a database to document the scientific sites established in AAnp's reserves; to review the database of sites and to identify which sites, if any, should be re-surveyed or re-established for assessment and further monitoring.

Jo Clarke in New South Wales has been carrying out the majority of the project work. This includes constructing the database to store all Scientific Sites across the Australian Alps and compiling those records for NSW. For ACT and Victoria, Brian Terrill and Warwick Papst, respectively, have documented the Scientific Sites for their respective states and produced a report detailing the process and outcomes.

To date the project has produced a number of exciting outcomes:

To use and view the Australian Alps national parks Scientific Sites Database contact one of the following agencies:

Stream Health Monitoring in the Australian Alps

The use of biological rather than chemical methods for assessing water quality has been increasing in the last decade. The Australian River Assessment Scheme (AUSRIVAS) has been developed and provides a standardised, easy to use, and rapid method for assessing the relative health of streams. AUSRIVAS models compare predicted and observed benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages to detect ecological status of streams. The application of the AUSRIVAS approach and the development of an "Alps" model will introduce "river health" as a focus for catchment management initiatives in the Australian Alps National Parks. Also, the project will provide a benchmark of stream condition in the Alps.

Stage 1 of the project was completed in 1998/99. This entailed a literature review of water quality studies in the Alps and the design of a sampling strategy, with reports on both of these components available now.

Stage 2 will involve the sampling of approximately 95 sites, analysis of data, development of the "Alps" model, and holding information seminars for park staff. So stay tuned for the dates of the seminars nearest to you.

Further information about the project is available from Mark Lintermans, phone (02) 6207 2117

Feral Horse Monitoring

The Australian Alps national parks in conjunction with Parks Victoria have began a monitoring project to assess the environmental impact of Feral Horses in the Cobberas area of the Alpine National Park. This project was initiated by the 'Friends of the Cobberas' and funded by the AALC and Parks Victoria.

The primary focus of the project has been to develop, through a consultancy, a long-term vegetation monitoring program which will enable measurement and assessment of the level of impact (or risk) that feral horses have on the vegetation condition of the Alpine National Park in the Cobberas area. The study areas incorporate the alpine wet heathland and snow-gum grassy woodland broad vegetation communities.

The project specifically involves three parts:

This is a pilot project which could potentially be replicated in other vegetation communities, in order to develop a better understanding of the impact of horses on a broader range of alpine vegetation. The annual monitoring and data collection will be carried out by the 'Friends of the Cobberas' volunteer group, under the guidance of Parks Victoria staff.

The monitoring program that has been developed is scientifically sound, and will, in the long-term, deliver comprehensive findings about specific impacts of horses on these alpine vegetation communities. The resultant data, along with the wealth of knowledge that exists within relevant stakeholder groups and the enthusiasm of the volunteers will hopefully enable land management agencies across the alps, to cooperatively develop a strategy for the management and monitoring of feral horses into the long-term

With the appropriate balance of scientific data and community involvement, it can be guaranteed that such strategies will have the necessary support to succeed and, to ultimately conserve, protect and enhance these outstanding natural areas.

For more information on the project contact

Scott Perkins
Project Manager
Parks Victoria
(03) 5155 9235

Heritage Buildings Training for Alps Staff

During May 1999 over 20 staff attended the Heritage Buildings Training Course which was commissioned by the Cultural Heritage Working Group.

The course was designed, organised and run by Canberra historian Matthew Higgins. Participating staff came from the Alps parks in the ACT, NSW and Victoria, and there were also staff from parks and reserves beyond the official Alps areas, including Tasmania.

The course aimed to introduce key principles, skills and information required for the conservation of heritage buildings in the high country. It achieved this through a careful mix of theory and practice, through discussing the principles underlying conservation work and then showing how this work was undertaken in the field. Presenters at the course included heritage professionals, members of the Kosciusko Huts Association (KHA), and park staff.

The course began in Canberra on Monday 3 May with a series of formal sessions that included spoken papers, video, slides etc. Papers looked at the Burra Charter and conservation plans, and how these documents were applied on site. The KHA's method of operations was explained, and selected park staff were able to talk of conservation work in their areas. Participants received details of tradespeople working in the heritage building field, and also a copy of the recently published NPWS Guide to Building Conservation Works.

Then on Tuesday participants visited London Bridge Homestead (Googong Foreshores), and Brayshaws Hut and Westermans Homestead (Namadgi), where presenters explained how these significant places had been conserved over several years of effort. Next day the group walked to Waterhole Hut (Namadgi) and after assessing the site, carried out a series of tasks which included the scarfing of a post, the replacement of two rafters in the roof, and the sorting and identification of materials from the collapsed chimney and verandah to enable these elements to be later reconstructed.

On the last day, at Currango Homestead (Kosciuszko), the group learned of the conservation work carried out there by NPWS and then attended a traditional timbercraft session during which staff were able to use tools like broadaxe and adze etc. Tasks here included squaring of a corner post, adzing of a bottom plate, splitting of roof shingles, use of a mortising axe and splitting of slabs. Many of these materials will be used in an Alps hut in due course.

The course also included after-dinner speakers on a wide range of topics. Catering in the bush was by courtesy of Bungendore SES who contributed to the convivial nature of the experience. Feedback indicates that the course was an outstanding success, and was highly regarded by those who attended.

Having a go at Historic Huts

A participants perspective...

"The old fellas would have been shocked to see a woman using a broad axe" declared Stuart Garner as he scrutinised Candy Candaria's' newly acquired skill in traditional timbercraft. Candy was one of 16 participants on the Heritage Buildings Training Course, run by the Australian Alps Liaison Committee from the 3rd to the 6th May.

The course aimed to introduce Alps field staff to the principles, skills and information required for conservation of heritage buildings. In other words, after completing the course, when confronted with an old tin hut in an advanced state of decay that 'something needs to be done about', instead of getting that stressed feeling and a desire to take long service leave until the problem goes away, course participants could boldly go forth and save the ailing abode from sinking into obscurity. Such was the usefulness of the course that facilitator Matthew Higgins put together, all this was achieved in just 4 days!

The first day dealt with the heavy stuff; Mike Pearson's presentation Don't be afraid of the Burra Charter reassured participants that they could tackle that old tin hut while David Scott explained that Conservation plans made easy was not a contradiction in terms. Pip Giovanelli's session Conservation of vernacular buildings: applying the policy - explaining the techniques was of great practical use to field staff in that he illustrated how he has dealt with the disparities which can exist between heritage conservation ethics and physically conserving a building in the real world

Day 2 dawned bright and sunny and entailed a drive in the country to London Bridge Homestead, Googong Foreshores. ACT ranger Dave Whitfield showed how field staff at the reserve have been able to restore a homestead that was, according to some, beyond help. The afternoon was spent in the southern end of Namadgi at Brayshaw's and Westerman's Huts. The Kosciusko Huts Association has extensively restored both and Maurice Sexton and Allan Bendall explained some of the trials, tribulations and techniques involved. Course participants then languished overnight at the Mt Clear Campground. All can now verify that the campground really is located in a frost hollow.

Day 3 was another perfect Namadgi day. After defrosting first thing, the group headed to Waterhole Hut, which is the next major restoration project to be undertaken by KHA in Namadgi. Participants worked out what the priorities were for the site then set about doing the work. The collapsed chimney and veranda were measured and drawn, broken rafters replaced, a burnt out upright scarped and significant fabric salvaged for later use. Under the guidance of David Scott, Maurice Sexton and Allan Bendall, a great deal was achieved in a short period of time.

Then it was off to Currango Homestead in Kosciuszko National Park, via the Snow Goose at Adaminaby (hut restoration is very thirsty work). Once the cross border pool challenge was complete we arrived at Currango on darkness to be greeted by the after dinner presenter Harry Hill bearing some wonderful pumpkin soup he had cooked. Harry continued to spoil us for the rest of the evening and following day with his amusing anecdotes and gourmet delights.

The final day involved a tour of Currango with David Scott followed by the timbercraft exercise under the excellent tuition of Stuart Garner and David Eddy. Participants learnt how to split slabs, square posts, make shingles and use an adze and broad axe with varying degrees of success.

Overall, the course was well worth attending. Matthew Higgins achieved a good balance of theory and practical exercises. The final two days spent carrying out conservation works were particularly useful. The course will be repeated and I would recommend it to all Alps field staff. It was good fun too!

Amanda Carey
Ranger
Namadgi National Park

Evaluation of Minimal Impact Codes

An evaluation of the seven Australian Alps Minimal Impact Codes by consultant Dr Elizabeth Beckmann has shown that they are effective at communicating messages of minimal impact behaviour to Alps users, but that distribution methods need improving.

The study involved extensive consultation across the Australian Alps region with a range of stakeholders, including about 60 recreation user groups and ecotourism operators, more than 100 park visitors and about 30 Alps national parks and information centre staff. While most target audiences showed good awareness of the basic Minimal Impact messages, the more specific messages still need stressing through effective education. While park users would prefer minimal impact information to come directly from Australian Alps national park staff, especially rangers, there was strong support for the Code leaflets.

Dr Beckmann identified strengths and weaknesses in the Codes, and made recommendations for distribution, and for effective redevelopment when present stocks are exhausted.

Visitor Monitoring Workshop

The following is a participant perspective on a recent workshop held on visitor monitoring, the workshop was the first in a series of 'Best Practice' workshops schedule over the next two years...

It is generally first impressions that last and it was my pleasure to discover that my experiences at the Australian Alps national parks Visitor Monitoring Workshop were as enjoyable and worthwhile throughout the seminar as they were at the start. The venue set amongst the autumnal gardens of the LaTrobe University, Beechworth Campus was spectacular and the camaraderie that quickly developed amongst the participants was most welcoming.

The presenters were well prepared, informative and when appropriate, very humorous. They painted vivid pictures of a variety of experiences, problems, solutions and situations related to visitor monitoring. One tends to get wound up in one's own situation and it is both informative and salutary to realise that there are other people/places having the same experiences as you as well as those having vastly different ones, and all related to visitors in our parks and resorts!

Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided a more casual and often very valuable opportunity to meet and network with the other participants. People from a wide variety of locations shared anecdotes and wisdom over a glass of wine and good food. Competition was fierce in the Australian Alps trivia quiz with much controversy over some of the questions and answers.

As a participant from an Alpine Resort, rather than a National Park, it was gratifying to share in the collective enhancement of knowledge and to connect with people who are both passionate and like minded about their area. I congratulate Cath and all the organisers and look forward to further gatherings.

Elisa Bertuch
Executive Officer - Corporate Services
Mount Hotham Resort Management
P.O. Box 188
Bright Victoria 3741

Phone - (03) 5759 3550
Fax - (03) 5759 3693

Website - http://www.mthotham.com.au

Recreational Opportunity Mapping

The Recreation and Tourism Working Group identified the need to establish a model that park managers could use to gather information and assist in making decisions about recreational settings and activities within the Australian Alps national parks.

After the initial pilot study completed in 1998 which developed a recreation planning model, Missing Link was commissioned to undertake Stage 1 to determine a set of potential sites where the model should be applied.

The objectives of Stage 1 were to identify and map individual unit areas representing a class from the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS); to identify recreational activities and facilities for each area mapped with a ROS class; and to identify visitor management issues for each area mapped. The project also aimed to identify the areas with the greatest visitor management issues for potential application of a recreation planning model and to involve parks staff in the data collection and in doing so, increase their understanding of visitor management.

The project brief for Stage 1 of the Recreation Strategy focused on documenting and mapping the current recreation settings across the Australian Alps National Parks. There is still further scope for analysing the results of this stage of the project and to improve the decision making process regarding the implementation of the recreation planning model in strategic areas.

Community Benchmark Awareness Survey

The Community Relations Working Group have engaged the services of Worthington Di Marzio, a market research firm from Melbourne, to identify community needs, levels of satisfaction and establish benchmarks for community awareness of the Australian Alps national parks cooperative management program.

These findings will be used in the development of future community awareness and visitor management programs. Worthington Di Marzio have undertaken qualitative and quantitative research with two key audiences being Australian Alps rural residents and park visitors. The overall survey will provide useful data and information on the general awareness levels and satisfaction with the Australian Alps national parks.

This project represents a joint effort with the Recreation and Tourism Working Group; an initiative designed to allow a closer working relationship between the groups.

The mountain protected areas network of WCPA/IUCN

Because of the three-dimensional nature of mountains, their heterogeneity of environments within short distance, their geologic dynamism, their being usually less accessible, and their climatic extremes, the management of mountain protected areas around the world has many common elements not usually shared by other kinds of protected areas.

They also have a higher proportion of inhabitants from vanishing cultural minorities and a higher concentration of sacred sites. There are tough problems of search and rescue and altitude health problems. Fragile alpine environments are difficult to restore if overuse occurs. They are the critical upper watersheds of the world's rivers. These and several other special characteristics of mountain environments create a strong community of interest and concern among managers of protected areas and scientists who work in them.

These factors help to explain the community of interest and camaraderie of a network of some 390 managers and scientists around the world who work in mountain protected areas. It also includes some alpinists and mountain trekkers who seriously support mountain protection. Sixty- four countries are represented, and some of the world's most spectacular or well-known National Parks, World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves or other protected area (PA) designations.

The Network's glue is provided by the Mountain Theme of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), based in Gland, Switzerland. The WCPA Vice-Chair for Mountains is Professor Lawrence (Larry) Hamilton. In Australia, Lee Thomas from Environment Australia is the Vice Chair on the WCPA Steering Committee for Australia and New Zealand.

Along with Linda, Larry produces a newsletter "Mountain Protected Areas UPDATE" as a free quarterly to help keep Network members in communication, and aware of what is going on in the mountain world. This is volunteer work, though expenses are met by a modest budget from WCPA for the newsletter and a few other activities each year.

A gratifyingly large number of Network members have been able to engage in workshops and conferences sponsored by WCPA or other parts of IUCN, and this strengthens our interaction and sense of community. For instance, in 1995 with WCPA seed money of only US$4,000 and heroic fundraising efforts by Australian AALC partners, we were able to organise a travelling seminar/workshop on Transborder Cooperation in Mountain Protected Areas.

This was held at several sites in the Australian Alps and brought together 35 network members from sets of border parks around the world. The working groups produced a set of guidelines to which we added case studies, and produced a booklet "Transborder Cooperation in Protected Area management" (Hamilton, Mackay, Worboys, Jones and Manson, 1996) which was a joint effort between the Australian Alps Liaison Committee and WCPA/IUCN.

A very real product and benefit of the Network which is more difficult to quantify, is the function of putting people with similar interests in touch with one another. But good examples come to light from time to time. For instance, a formal park partnership between national park Alpi Marittime (Italy) and Huascaran National Park (Peru) was initiated through UPDATE, and it is now sanctioned by both governments and financially supported by EUROPARC. A partnership between New York State's Adirondack Park and Italy's Abruzzo national Park also grew out of contacts made through the Network.

In spring 1998 a Regional Coordinator was appointed for Africa, Peter Blignaut, and he is now promoting regional activities and issues a regional newsletter (drawing on UDPATE). We hope to have such a regional group for Australia/New Zealand and steps are being taken, with Graeme Worboys. Meanwhile however, through Brett McNamara and the AALC, Brett has generously offered to reproduce and distribute UPDATE to Australian Alps staff who would like to receive it. If you would like to receive your own copy of UPDATE direct, please contact Brett.

And, because our funds available were about to become insufficient to maintain the newsletter, AALC has made a donation to ensure its continuance through the year 2000. The whole Network is much indebted to you folks.

This is being done under the World Commission on Protected Areas/IUCN with the belief that there is value in inter-regional exchange. Australian readers are urged to send pertinent information about his or her Mount Protected Area experience to the Mountain Vice-Chair at the address given.

With kind regards.

Professor Lawrence (Larry) Hamilton,
342 Bittersweet Lane
Charlotte Vermont 05445
USA

Murray mallee partnership

Sometime ago the Australian Alps national parks provided a presentation to a number of interested parties who were keen to learn from the Alps program regarding the establishment of a cross border cooperative management arrangement... . Recently the Murray Mallee partnership became a reality...

'Conservation without Borders'

A new partnership in conservation has recently been established within the Murray Mallee.

Launched in Mildura on 12 March 1999 by State Ministers, Government representatives and the Commonwealth, the partnership brings together the Department of Environment, Heritage & Aboriginal Affairs and Bookmark Biosphere Trust in South Australia, Parks Victoria and Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Victoria, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service and Environment Australia.

The partners have established a Memorandum of Understanding which aims to protect the mallee region within the Murray Darling Basin and will officially ' remove the borders' in conservation of the Murray Mallee country.

The partners have agreed to, where possible and appropriate: -

A Steering Committee of Trevor Miles,(Chairman), Parks Victoria, Ken Stokes, DEHAA, Neil Ward, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Greg Hayes, DNRE, Mike Harper, Bookmark Biosphere Trust and Paul Jewell, Environment Australia along with an Operations Committee of Andrew Marshall, Parks Victoria, Paul Seager, DEHAA, Jo Gorman NSW Parks Service, Peter Kelly, DNRE and Andy McQuie is currently in the process of developing a Directions Paper for 1999 - 2002 which will address a number of specific objectives.

One of the early projects that the partnership is working on is the development of an integrated Murray Mallee Touring map which will highlight the conservation values of the mallee and areas of particular interest to tourists.

For more information contact

Ken Stokes, Regional Manager, Department of Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal
ph. (08) 85952111

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