Casuarina Coastal Reserve

The Reserve has undergone a review and is set to add an extra 34 ha to the existing 1500 ha footprint with the addition of Lot 9458.

The picturesque Reserve protects about 1500 ha of coastal habitats between the estuaries of Rapid Creek and Buffalo Creek and adding this piece of land to the Reserve benefits conservation because it is home to dry monsoon rainforest, endangered Black-footed Tree-rat and Croton habrophyllus, the host plant for the endangered Atlas Moth.

It also provides an improved connection between the Reserve and the neighbouring Buffalo Creek Management Area, which is owned by the Commonwealth and managed by Parks and Wildlife.

Part of the review and the inclusion of lot 9458 is to bring management of the Reserve and Lot 9458 under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 (TPWCA), as management is currently under the Crown Lands Act 1992 (CLA).

By bringing management of the Reserve and the new area of land under the TPWCA, the land will be managed by Parks and Wildlife in perpetuity, with improved powers to manage the land for its conservation, cultural and recreational values.

This will also involve developing a statutory Plan of Management, which will go out for a public comment period to allow Territorians to have their say on the future management of the declared park and to suggest possible future names for the Reserve and newly incorporated land.

Changes to the Reserve are in line with the NT Parks Masterplan 2023-2053 goals (p42), which is to grow the estate to create a strengthened and expanded NT system of parks and reserves.

A summary of the process is below which aligns to the top level of the project phases:

1. Administrative transfer of Lot 9458 for inclusion into the Reserve, which occurred in December 2023
2. Declaration of the Reserve and Lot 9458 as a park (section 14(2) TPWCA)
   1. A section 14(1) Report, which outlines the values of the Reserve and additional land, will be provided for public comment for a period of 60 days
   2. Public submissions will then be collated and sent with the Report to the Administrator of the Northern Territory for consideration
   3. The Administrator, if they choose, will by notice of Gazette declare the Reserve and Lot 9458 a park
3. Once declared, a statutory Plan of Management will then be drafted (section 18 TPWCA) in consultation with key stakeholders
   1. The draft plan will be released for public comment for a minimum period of one month
   2. Public submissions will be collated, the draft plan amended if required, and the final plan and a public submissions report sent to the Minister for Parks and Rangers for presentation to the Administrator
   3. The Administrator may accept the Plan of Management, after which the Minister will present the plan to the Legislative Assembly
   4. If the plan is not disallowed by the Legislative Assembly, then after 7 sitting days the Plan of Management comes into operation

The public comment period has now closed and feedback is under review.