REQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE Assignment Background Cool Temperate Rainforestwith Rare Flora/Timber- State Park A new State Park named Walngaran (AboriginalWord for Riverbank)in the Lan districtof Tasmania has recently been declared. Tasmania boasts Australia's largest reserves of cool temperate rainforest, most of it protected as part of the island'sWorld Heritage-listedWilderness. The state government has made the area accessible due to its tourism value, on the basis of its pristine environment, historic significanceand the abilityto see rare and beautiful flora and fauna. State Parks ServiceTAS (SPST) now showcases this wildernessarea by making itaccessibleforenvironmentallysensitivetourism that respectsWorld Heritage values while allowing people of all ages and abilitiesto experiencethe beauty of the area. Walngaran State Park comprisesan area of approximately900 square kilometres. Itisalmost rectangular in shape and has the Narawantapu River running through its centre in an East-to-West flow. An old abandoned mining settlement is located on the Northern bank of the Narawantapu River. Major River - The Narawantapu The Narawantapu River ismore pristineand intactthan any other that is easilyaccessibleinTasmania even though there was industry on the river in the past. Some other facts about the river: • There are at least 10 unnamed waterfalls between the current settlement and the sea. • In some spots the riveris as deep as 45 metres next to the banks, particulariyso in the area next to the current settlement. • Salt water can run below fresh water in the riveras far as the settlement. Fish in the river include ocean running trout, brook trout, eels and quinnet salmon. • The river is navigable for 20 kilometres from the mouth to the settlement, and then 15 kilometres inland beyond the settlement. The river drops around 150m over its length. There has been gold and osmiridium mining and Huon Pine logging in the area in the past. To some extent the river has been saved due to inaccessibility - the river mouth is a treacherous channel to navigate and therewere no roads to the area in past eras. There are two Huon Pine habitatsthat are relativelyeasy to access. There is nowhere else in the world that you can see the amount of Huon Pine that you can on the Narawantapu River and SPST expect this to be a significant drawcard for the area. Significant Fauna In addition, this area is home to the only Australian population of Eastern Quails, and a Parks Program has been established to study the population and increaseawareness of theirplightas a threatened species. Eastern quolls are about the size of a small domestic cat and on average weigh around one kilogram, measuring 48-58 cm includinga 17-24 cm tail. They have a tapering snout, short legs, and erect ears (see Figure 1). Environmental Threats Human activities pose the greatest threats to rainforest. The two most devastating are fire (most fires result from eitherdeliberate or accidental burning and in the last century over seven per cent of Tasmanian rainforest has been burnt) and the inadvertent spreading of Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi), especially at the edge of rainforest or along roads as people and vehicles move through the area. 2 IP ageREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE Figure 1 - Eastern Spotted Quoll vicinityof Walngaran State Park Climate There are two distinct cool temperate rainforest seasons experienced inTasmania. One iscold, long and wet, and the other is a short, dry and foggy summer. During the cold, long wet season the temperature can drop below freezing (-5°C)) and during the short, drier, foggy season the temperature rarely goes above 27°C. In summer the weather iscool, and fog/drizzle supplies enough moisture to sustain the rainforest. The fog/drizzle can yield 18-30 cm (7-12 in) of precipitation each summer. The rainforestsare characterised by a number offeatures: • Over 1,200 mm of rain isreceived in a year, but some isolated patches occur in much drier areas; • Particular trees are dominant, such as myrtle, leatherwood, celery-top pine, sassafras, Huon pine, pencil pine, King Billy pine or deciduous beech - The Walngaran State Park contains perhaps the largest swathe of accessible young and maturing Huon Pine in the world; • Disturbances, such as fire, are not required for species to reproduce and in fact most disturbance allows in light-dependant, short-lived competitors. Infrastructure and Amenities Projects SPST has a strategic plan, based on three phases, for the sensitive development of the area: • Phase 1 - 'WalngaranWild RiverExperience'—improved camping grounds/amenities,and had a focus on developing riverinfrastructure, amenitiesand activities. In addition, the WRE locale has access to a National Broadband Network Servicevia satellite. This phase isnow complete. • Phase 2 - Walngaran Wild River Experience Information Management System - to provide staff, organisationalheadquarters and touristsalikewiththe informationthey need to manage, contributeto or enjoyWild RiverExperience,now that access is provided to the internetvia the extant NBN satellite link. This is the phase of interestto you. • Phase 3 - 'Walngaran Wilderness Walks'— major development/refurbishment of walking trails and tracks, for a range of abilities,along the riversand creeks. This isa future phase. • Phase 4 - 'Walngaran Wilderness Stays'—redevelopment of the old mining huts as tourist exhibits, refurbishment of the old mining hotel into accommodation, and development of a range of accommodation options(basicto boutique)with supportingfood and beverageoptions. This is a future phase. 3 I PageREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE Your Focus ison Phase 2 -Walngaran Wild River Experience Information Management System Under current arrangements, SPST is responsible for running the WRE, and has an 'in-house' contract that providesthe bulk of additional staffingand services. The in-housecontractorisresponsibleto the onsiteSPST staff. The new WRE IMS will provide all staff(SPST and Contractor), Parks Headquarters and touristsalikewith the informationthey need to manage, contributeto or enjoyWild RiverExperience. SPST see this system as the best means to bring in sufficient income to support the sustainment ofWRE in the longerterm through re-investingin improvements atWRE (not so much the future projectswhich will be funded separately). They believethat in terms ofvisitorsand the widercommunity the IMS willallow them to build a sense of community and may even allow for special interestgroups to hold theirregular gatherings each year. Current Capabilities WRE has provided a number of infrastructure and services as part of the Phase 1 Project - Wild River Experience (see Figure 2). Annex A provides a draft Activities Map of the area, showing relevant features. Save the Quoll Program Huon Habitat Experience Tourism Experiences \Q\ River & Photography Experience - Powered Boat _Kayak & Canoe Hire Facility [-Waterfalls and Kayaking Q[ fow and Paddle Experience Wild Walks Experience '•Visitor Information Services Visitor Accommodation / Amenities ~^ WRE Services and Infrastructure Bait Shop Communal Cooking Area/Shelter Barbeques Tent Platform Sites Non-powered Sites Camper/Camper Van Area Toilet Bathroom Shower Block Operations Management /•Human Resources Finance [€><-SPST-Parks Staff Operations Staff Administration Staff Support Services Business Development Waste Removal Road Maintenance IQl-Track Maintenance Vehicle Maintenance Supply Services Schools 1^,-Marketing^ Groups ' [-Friends of the Quoll •Sales Figure 2 - Wild River Experience Infrastructure and Services 4| PageREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE Tourism Experiences Save the Quoll Program (STQP) The Tasmanian spotted quoll is now wholly protected—it has been listed as Endangered by the Federal and State governments, as well as listed on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The Save the Eastern Spotted Quoll Program was established in 2010 following concern for the decline of the population numbers of quoll due to a previously unknown form of cancer. The core activity of the Save the Quoll Program (STQP) at WRE is funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments and is overseen by a Steering Committee. The program is coordinated by the State Parks Service Tasmania. The program is now in its second, five-year stage. Each stage of the program has a distinct purpose. Stage 1 - The first stage of the STQP was aimed at characterising the emerging disease and its impacts on the quoll and developing effective disease mitigation strategies. During this stage, the program successfully identifiedthe highly unusual nature of the disease and the means of its transmission. In addition major advances were made with mapping the distribution of the disease, understanding aspects of the impact on demography and breeding patterns. Stage 2 - Stage 2 aims to establish an Insurance Population to secure the speciesfrom extinction,monitor the impact of the disease in the wild and develop an array of facilitiesfor holding the species in wild and semi-wild populations. As part of this stage, SPST is focused on: • Promoting awarenessof the Quoll to locals and visitorsthough providingguided access to semiwild quoll populations. • Establishing a 'Friendsof the Quoll' club that will allow members of the public, philanthropic organizations, schools, and other special interest groups (such as bushwalking clubs) to: o get to know the quoll population and monitor their progress; o have an opportunityto donate through sponsoringtheirown quoll for a set period of time; o receive updates on the progress of the STQP; o visitthe STQP and have discounted access to visitorguided information tours of the quoll habitat, including night visits; and o be eligiblefor discounts for other activitiesconducted in the WRE. • Establishing a donation funding scheme that is accessible to the public, able to be overseen the Parks HQ and visible to Parks Staff at WRE. The WRE IMS will support ticketingto visitthe facilityand will provide access to hand-held recorded visitor information relevant to the program. Huon Habitat Experience Parks Tasmania advise that 'Estimates of the area of living Huon pine vary, but are in the order of 10, 500 hectares. In addition there are about 800 hectares of standing, fire-killed pine. The current area of remaining pine is the remnant of a much wider originalrange that has been reduced by fire, inundation, logging and mining. Today most of the remainingstands are well protected withinreserves, the majority within the World Heritage Area' such as WRE1. There are two Huon Pine habitats that are relativelyeasy to access withinWRE. There is nowhere else in the world where you can see the amount of Huon Pinethat isaccessibleon the Narawantapu Riverand SPST expect this to be a significantdrawcard for the area. Visitorswill access the northern Huon Pine Habitat by foot and bridge, whilethe southern Huon Pine Habitat will only be accessibleby water. http://www.parks.tas. gov. au/file.aspx?id=6575 5 I Pa geREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE The WRE IMS will support ticketing and the provision of hand-held recorded visitor information that tourists can take with them when accessing the Habitat via the water or by foot. SPST will need to be able to identifytourist numbers, names and contact details and be able to record visitorentry to the park. Experience operators will need to be able to confirm correct tickets and numbers of visitors. River & Photography Experience - Powered Boat This Experiencecomprises a boat tripto see the shipwreck(Raging River - see Annex A), waterfall (unimproved) and ocean mouth. There is a lot of old timber that has shifted from the river bottom to the ocean mouth that makes this a treacherous area, but one of great interestto those who study the logging history of the river (see a picture of the area in Figure 3). This trip might also includes photo opportunities, food and beverage options. A landing dock is provided near the rivermouth (see Figure 4) to enable tourists to alight and walk the remaining 800m to the coast. The WRE IMS would be expected to support ticketing,and provide a 'see-before-you-buy'experience accessible to tourists in home locations. Visitors will be able to book package options for food and drink. Kayaking • Kayak & Canoe Hire Facility - Boating and Kayaking: o Waterfall Access. There are at least 10 unnamed waterfalls between the current settlement and the sea, SPST has provided access to two of these by river (with plans for tracks at a later stage). One of the waterfalls is 'unimproved' as itis possibleto see the falls from the Narawantapu River (see Figure 5), however the second waterfall is sited inland at thejunction of Raging River and Narawantapu River (see Annex A) - ithas around 150m of track, and is builtto accommodate boats and kayaks (see Figure 6 and Figure 7). o Tourists may bring theirown boats/kayaks. Powered boats may also be brought in to the area. For safety reasons, all boats/kayaks and trip intentionsmust be logged. o SPST also provides a 'one stop shop' facilityfor those who do not have theirown kayak or canoe, including one and two-person kayaks, and sit-on-top kayaks. • Tow and Paddle Experience: o SPST provides a service that allows kayakers/canoeists to travel upriver and return back to the settlement in good time via the provision of 'tows' up the Rapid River and the western Huon Pine Habitat area on the Narawantapu River. Tourists are able to enjoy a long, peaceful paddle downstream back to the settlement. This service must be booked in advance, for each option. • The WRE IMS would be expected to support ticketing,and provide a 'see before you buy' experienceaccessible to tourists via the internet in home locations. Visitors will be able to book package optionsforfood and drink. Items including safety gear, paddles, and canoe/kayaktypes must be able to be selected and accounted for upon issue and return. Wild Walks Experience A number of walks are available along the riverbanks in the WRE vicinity. Each walk is named, and along the way there are features of natural interestsuch as tree types, fungi types, fern and native bush types and points of interestsuch as the shipwreck, and the old miners' huts. WRE want to provide visitorssome form of self-guided information using a local Wi-Fi system so that relevant information is displayed on the visitor'sdevice when in proximity to particularfeatures. Self-guided visitorequipment is a paid/booked capability, but access to the walks is otherwise free. The WRE IMS would be expected to allow visitorsto book self-guide equipment in advance. 6| PageREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE Visitor Information Services General visitor information is provided by SPST staff from their shop front. Contractor staff members also assist at the kiosk and provide central access to self-guided tour equipment for all facilities. The WRE IMS would includethe provisionofthe self-guidevisitorequipment, as well as access to the Internet to manage bookings, to issue tickets (tickets should also be able to be printed at home by visitors before they arrive at the WRE), and to allow for visitors to sign up to the STQP, or make donations. Fishing Visitors can fish by boat or on the banks of the river. The Bait Shop has all of the gear required, which may be booked ahead, or may be available without booking first. This includes rods, buckets, bait and drinks. The WRE IMS would allow the BaitShop to manage itsstores, includingprovisioning/resupply,sales and hire of equipment. Wild River Experience Infrastructure A major role for the WRE will be to support SPST in the management of the WRE infrastructure, its maintenance and status. Current infrastructure includes: • The Bait Shop. • Roadways. There are limited roads and all have unfinished surfaces. • Accommodation: o Visitors: • Hard standing is provided for pitching tents. The tented areas are separated from each other and blend into the surrounding bush. An example photo is shown in Figure 8. • Dedicated (non-powered) area for caravans and campervans (15 spaces are provided for each). • All sites require booking and payment. SPST has contracted this function out. o SPST Staff - accommodation area is provided for a postered staff of 4 SPST persons; rosters work on a two weeks on/one week off rotation. There is an emergency staff person on call from SPST Headquarters if required. o Operator Staff - accommodation is provided, as well as the Parks Information Kiosk. • Cooking/Communal Areas: o The communal area allows visitors to cook their food under cover, and gather at meal times. A photo isshown at Figure 9. This sheltercan accommodate up to 50 people. Management requirements are relatively low. o Basic barbeque areas are provided (approximately 10), and are gas operated due to fire restrictionsin the area. SPST wish to monitor and record the usage of gas in order to ensure sufficientsupplies are available. • Toilet/Bathroom Facilities. Toilet amenities are provided and a shower block, with a time-limited 'pay as you go' hot water system (bulk gas storage). SPST wish to monitor and record the usage of gas in order to ensure sufficientsuppliesare available. 7\PageREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE Wild River ExperienceManagement Arrangements and Requirements Your company has been hired to provide requirements practice expertise and support for the design of the Wild River ExperienceInformation Management System (WRE IMS). The SPST is the Business Owner; a copy of SPST's organisational chart is at Annex C. Note that a specific Project Manager (PM) has been appointed withinSPTS. The PM will be working on various elements of all three remaining stages of the Walngaran Park's development but will be the contact person for your work (they will not manage your work, but represent SPST). Director Operationswill be able to provide limited guidance and advice. You may also wish to seek advice from the Regional Manger North-West and various other staff members. SPST will be paying for the WRE IMS and thus want to oversee the design process. They advise the following additional considerations: • There is no requirement for satellite communications solutions other than the extant link into the NBN. This would be beyond scope/out of budget. • Local Wi-Fi hot spots could be considered as part of the design. • Management wish to be able to manage all of the functionsshown in Figure 2 through the IMS, including reporting back to SPST Headquarters. • It is likelythat portable data devices will be required to support many of the functionsshown in Figure 2. The operatingenvironment and securityare two significantconsiderations. • Battery lifefor hand-held devices may be a concern and will need to be considered. • Many visitors are likely to be younger/older/less experienced in terms of the use of technology. Itwould be helpful ifvisitordeviceswere relatively easy to use/intuitive. • The ability to manage logistic support will be a very important aspect of the IMS. 8 I P ageREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE ^—^ Figure 3 - Ocean/RiverMouth Figure 4 - Landing at River Mouth 9 I PageREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE Figure 5 - Unimproved Waterfall Access Figure 6 -Waterfall Area Steps 10 I Pag eREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE ^"^71t%5^. ^Tir^y- '*'»''• '.^ y^; Figure 7 - Steps from River/Tie-Up Point .. '.«sF. ' W-'»K"i •»•"•• ;if*^—.-. -. Figure 8 - Tent Platforms 11 I PageREQUIREMENTS PRACTICE S2 2016 ASSIGNMENTS WALNGARAN PHASE 1 - WILD RIVER EXPERIENCE Figure 9 - Communal Area 12 I Pa geANNEX A - ACTIVITIES MAP Walngaran National Park Small Country Town 2 hours Rural City (Hospital) 3. 5 hours Rural Township 1.5 hours Huon Pines Shipwreck Ocean River/FlowDirection Unsealed Road Fishing Canoe/Boat Coastal Township ' 50 minutesANNEX B - PHYTOPHTORA MANAGEMENT Phytophthora Management As itwill never be possible to record and advise the publicwhere all Phytophthora root rot infectionsare, simple actions are recommended that can be applied by anyone and everywhere. These simple actions are listed below: Keep your bushwalking gear clean (this reduces the chance of you spreading Phytophthora root rot, or, weeds in the bush). Between walks wash your boots, gaiters etc in water with a little soap and rinse off. The dirty waste water may contain Phytophthora root rot so don't dispose of this on your garden. Instead tip itdown a drain that connects to a septic tank or a sewage system as this will most likely destroy any fungus present. Wash mud from your boots and gaiterswhere ever you come across a wash-down station On some Tasmanian walking tracks there are wash-down stations for bushwalkers to wash mud from their boots and gaiters. These wash-down stations are well signposted, and instructionsare given at the site. Ifyou come across one please use it. When you use your tent pegs, toilet trowel or anything else that is placed in the soil, wash or wipe them clean of dirt at the place they became soiled before moving on. Do not dig up soil or plants from the bush (on public land you will need a permit to do this from the managing agency anyway); you may unwittingly collect Phytophthora root rot as well. Keep your car or 4WD clean (this will reduce the chance ofyou spreading disease, or weeds, in the bush). Clean your vehicle between trips. Use a high pressure hose and don't forget to clean the underside of the vehicle, wheel arches etc. Cleaning is best done at a commercial car wash or where dirty water will drain into a storm water system or a grassed area (not your garden beds). 14| 8 eANNEX C - STATE PARKS SERVICES TASMANIA HEADQUARTERS - ORGANISATION CHART General Manager Project Manager Walngaran State Park Director Commercial and Business Services Business Services Support Projects and Procurement Reserved Land Leases & Licences Crown Land Services Executive Support Officer Manager Visitor Services Planning Services Historic Heritage Community Programs Tourism Services Director Operations [Regional Manager North-] West/West Regional Manager South Regional Manager North Assets & Information Management Systems File Management Manager Safety Manager Environmental Manager 15 I Pa Re