National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2010 Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, , October 2010 © The State of , National Parks Advisory Council 2010. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne Printed by Stream Solutions Printed on 100% recycled paper ISSN: 1834- 1209 (print) ISSN: 1834- 1217 (online) For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186 Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is not without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or audio, please telephone 136 186 or 1800 122 969 (TTY), or email [email protected]. This document is also available in PDF format on the Internet at Front cover: Lower Glenelg National Park (Photo: Parks Victoria) Foreword

This year was marked by the transition to new membership The council has consistently supported action to make of the National Parks Advisory Council (the council). Victoria’s park system more comprehensive. The council Three members retired at the end of their terms, one welcomed the passage of significant legislation passed in member was re-appointed and three new members were Parliament to create new parks and add areas to existing appointed. Together, new and continuing members bring parks in the River Red Gum region, East , and a diverse range of experience and expertise to the elsewhere in the state. The legislation provides for the provision of advice to the Minister for Environment and establishment of Traditional Owner Land Management Climate Change, Gavin Jennings MLC, as prescribed Boards for areas of public land, including parks. under the National Parks Act 1975 (the Act). During the year, the council provided advice to the Minister The council welcomed the strategic directions the Minister on a number of issues in various parks under the Act. provided for the council’s future program. A key area of this The council undertook a field visit to south-west Victoria program, besides its explicit statutory functions, is to advise in June to familiarise itself with issues associated with the Minister on the development of a forests and parks parks and protected area management, in particular park planning framework, in line with Securing our natural future: management planning in the broader context of natural A white paper for land and biodiversity at a time of climate resource management. Council members saw first hand the change. The paper gives direction towards more integrated key issues facing these parks, discussed the challenges planning across landscape and tenure boundaries. and opportunities for the planning of parks and surrounding The Minister expects the council to provide strategic areas with land managers and reflected more broadly on advice on the development of the framework as it relates strategic planning. to the Act to ensure that it achieves the desired outcomes The council has been ably supported in all its work by the for Victoria’s parks, including management plans which are Department of Sustainability and Environment along with effective in guiding the delivery of conservation outcomes. Parks Victoria. I am especially grateful to Kathleen Marcoux, The council is also expected to provide strategic advice on the council’s Executive Officer, for her diligence and support the implementation of Traditional Owner Land Management of our work. Boards and on the development of the associated management plans to ensure that they are consistent Finally, my thanks go to present members of the council with the objects of the Act. for their contribution to its deliberations. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing members of The state’s expanding parks system provides the people the council for their contributions to the council’s work. of Victoria with a basis for the protection of natural values Thanks also to my predecessor, Ian Harris, for his leadership and biodiversity, the maintenance of ecosystem services, as convenor of the council over nearly five years. I am a valuable buffer to climate change and wonderful grateful to Brian Martin for his role as acting convenor recreational assets. The council continues its commitment for the 26 March meeting. to play a constructive role in supporting the Minister in the protection of this natural and historic heritage for the ongoing enjoyment and benefit to the Victorian community.

Charles Lane Convenor 1 July 2010

National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 1 Contents

Foreword 1

Role of Council 3 Statutory responsibilities 3

The Act 3

Membership 3 Composition 3 Changes in membership during 2009–10 3 Current members 4

The council activities 5 Program 5 Meetings 5 Advice provided 5 Excisions 5 Leases 6 Earth resource consent 6 Field visit 6 Traditional Owners co-management 7 Landscape-scale planning 7 Monitoring and evaluation for management 8 Other park issues 9 Presentations to the council 10

The parks system 11

Administration 11 Expenditure 11 Whistleblowers Protection Act 11 Freedom of Information Act 11

Acknowledgements 12 The role of the council Membership The National Parks Advisory Council (the council) is Composition established under section 10 of the National Parks Act 1975 (the Act). In 2009–10, the responsible Minister The council consists of ten members of whom: was Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for Environment and • one is the Secretary to the DSE or his or her nominee Climate Change. • one is the Director of National Parks (defined under Statutory responsibilities the Act as the Chief Executive Officer, Parks Victoria) • eight are appointed by the Governor in Council of whom: Under section 11 of the Act the functions of the council - two must be persons with skills or experience relating are to: to the preservation and the protection of parks • advise the Minister generally in relation to the - one must be a person who is a professor or teacher administration of the Act and on particular matters in of ecology, biology or earth science at a university relation to that administration on which its advice is in Victoria sought by the Minister - one must be a person with experience in local • advise the Minister on any proposed excision from a government who resides in a municipality in which park referred to it by the Minister there is a park • submit to the Minister within three months after each year - four must be persons with experience in matters ending on 30 June a report on the performance of its affecting the interests of the community. functions during that year. In addition to these functions, the Minister is required to Changes in membership seek advice from the council in relation to the granting of: during 2009–10 • certain leases within parks, under sections 19(2), Members of the council are appointed for a period of up 30AAA and 31AA of the Act to three years and may be re-appointed. The terms of • consents in relation to various earth resources office of four members, Mr Ian Harris (also convenor), tenements and operations within parks, under Ms Kate Glenie, Associate Professor John Sherwood section 40(3) of the Act. and Mrs Deirdre Slattery, expired during 2009–10. On 20 April 2010, the Governor-in-Council appointed three new members to the council. Dr Charles Lane was The Act appointed as a member and convenor of the council, and The Act governs the protection, use and management of Dr Philip Moors and Dr Mary-Jane Rogers as members. Victoria’s parks system. It provides a strong framework for Associate Professor John Sherwood was re-appointed to ensuring that the use and management of the parks are the council. These appointments are for three years. compatible with the long-term maintenance of their The nominee of the Secretary to the DSE, Ms Nina Cullen, natural and cultural values. who was the Director, Parks and Indigenous Land Policy, The Secretary to the Department of Sustainability and was replaced by Mr Gary Howell, Acting Director, Environment (DSE) is responsible under the Act for Parks and Indigenous Land Policy. ensuring the appropriate management of parks in The council would like to acknowledge the significant accordance with the Act. Parks Victoria (PV), established contribution made by Mr Harris, both as member and under the Parks Victoria Act 1998, manages the parks convenor of the council, and by Ms Cullen, Ms Glenie and under a management agreement with the Secretary. Mrs Slattery as members. The council expresses its thanks to them for their contribution to the council over the years.

National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 3 Current members The members of the council as at 30 June 2010 were:

Dr Charles Lane (convenor) – a metropolitan resident Mr Brian Martin – a person with skills or experience relating with experience in matters affecting the interests of to the preservation and protection of parks. the community. Mr Martin has 20 years experience in senior management Dr Lane is the Executive Director of Support for with the Commonwealth and state governments, including Change Ltd, a non profit organisation. He has a strong national and international negotiations on environmental background in committee work, including experience policy, natural areas planning and natural resource program in chairing, and community engagement from both management. He brings to the council an extensive government and philanthropic perspectives. He brings experience in planning and management of protected areas. to the council his international experience of research, natural resources management and community engagement Dr Philip Moors – a person with skills or experience in land management, including with Indigenous communities. relating to the preservation and protection of parks. Dr Moors is the Director and Chief Executive of the Mrs Heather Gee – a person with experience in local Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. He has extensive government who resides in a municipality in which there experience in conservation and land management, is a park. including park management, at the state, national and Mrs Gee was a councillor with the Macedon Ranges Shire international levels. He also brings to the council many where she was also active in the areas of catchment years experience as a scientist in the field of ecology, and land management. She now resides on the conservation and management of mammals and birds. Mornington Peninsula and is an ambassador for the Dolphin Research Institute. Dr Mary-Jane Rogers – a rural resident with experience in matters affecting the interests of the community. Mr John Gray – a rural resident with experience in matters Dr Rogers is an active member of the Shepparton / affecting the interests of the community. Goulburn Valley community. She has been involved in Mr Gray has lived adjacent to the Goulburn River river red a range of community groups, including in the areas of gum forests for the past 50 years where he has served as a environment and community use of parks. Dr Rogers is municipal councillor for nearly three decades, a government also a part-time scientist with the Department of Primary appointee and elected member of two water and sewerage Industries and brings to the council many years of instrumentalities and a former member of catchment and experience in natural resources management issues and land protection and catchment management authority their effects on the rural community. (CMA) boards. Mr Gray continues to be involved with the management of a recreation reserve, community radio and Associate Professor John Sherwood – a university a CMA irrigation implementation committee. professor or teacher of ecology, biology or earth science. Associate Professor Sherwood is a teacher and a researcher Mr Gary Howell – Nominee of the Secretary to the DSE. at Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus. He has As of 30 June 2010, Mr Howell was the Acting Director, extensive experience in the area of earth science, marine Parks and Indigenous Land Policy Branch within the and freshwater science and environmental management. Forests and Parks Division, DSE. He brings to the council a sound knowledge of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Mr Lance Jennison – a rural resident with experience in matters affecting the interests of the community. Mr Mark Stone – Director of National Parks. Mr Jennison is a resident of Bacchus Marsh. He has Mr Stone is the Chief Executive Officer of Parks Victoria. extensive experience in the area of emergency and risk management planning and in supporting Victorian councils in complying with legislative responsibilities. He brings to the council his experience of natural resource management and his long-standing involvement in community committees.

4 National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 The council activities Program Advice provided Over the past several years, the council has adopted a During the year, the council advised the Minister as required thematic approach to its deliberations. In addition to its under the Act. The council was requested to provide advice explicit statutory responsibilities, the council’s annual to the Minister on park excisions and on the granting of program included particular themes adopted by the council certain leases and a consent in relation to a proposed each year. In 2009–10, the council’s program focussed on earth resources operation. the following: Excisions • Traditional Owners involvement in park management; The Minister requested advice from the council under • the Greater Alpine National Parks management planning section 11(1)(aa) of the Act in regard to several proposed process; and park excisions as outlined below. The proposed excisions • Securing our natural future: A white paper for land and and the council’s advice are summarised below. biodiversity at a time of climate change. Croajingolong National Park In May 2010, the Minister provided the newly appointed Proposal: Excision of an area of about 70 hectares council with strategic directions for its work program. comprising part of a runway approach path at Mallacoota Besides its explicit statutory responsibilities, the council was Aerodrome, which requires maintenance in accordance with requested to contribute strategic advice in relation to parks Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) obstacle limitation management planning as it relates to parks established standards for aerodrome airspace, including ensuring that under the Act. This advice will be provided within the scope vegetation does not intrude into the defined airspace. The of section 11 of the Act over 2010–11. The field visit held former Land Conservation Council recommended in 1987 in June 2010 focussed on park management planning. that the cleared approach path be excluded from the park During 2009–10, the council held four meetings and one and managed as part of the aerodrome. field visit. An induction session and the new council’s first The council considered the proposal at its 26 March 2010 meeting were held on 18 June 2010. Members of the meeting. The council agreed that the area is better managed council attended a symposium on Fire Ecology in October as part of the aerodrome than as part of the national park 2009 and the Healthy Parks Healthy People congress in and supported the excision. April 2010. Meetings Proposal: Excision of an unused road reserve totaling approximately 1 hectare that is incorrectly shown as a The council held four meetings on the following dates: part of the park. The council considered the proposal at Meeting 248 14 August 2009 its 26 March 2010 meeting and supported the excision. Meeting 249 26 March 2010 Lerderderg State Park Proposal: Excision of 0.7 hectares located on the boundary Meeting 250 18 June 2010 of the park containing part of a house and otherwise Meeting 251 24 June 2010 disturbed land. The council considered the proposal at its 14 August 2009 meeting and supported the excision.

Beechworth Historic Park Proposal: Excision of a disturbed area of approximately 0.25 hectares which contains a vehicle track that provides access to freehold land on the edge of the park. The council considered the proposal at its 26 March 2010 meeting and supported the excision.

National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 5 Leases In addition to the implementation of the specific management The council was consulted on the granting of three leases and mitigation measures proposed by Origin, the council in parks under section 19(2) of the Act. The lease proposals requested that adequate safeguards be put in place to and the council’s advice are summarised below. protect the park’s values. Conditions included that Origin: • provides for adequate on-ground daily coordination Dandenong Ranges National Park of the works Proposal: Granting of a new lease of an area of up to • communicates daily with Parks Victoria’s nominated one hectare pursuant to section 19(2)(a) of the Act representatives to SkyHigh Victoria Pty Ltd for the refurbishment and the operation of a kiosk and café at the • takes the necessary steps to avoid impacts on Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground. The 20-year lease Hooded Plovers and their habitat, including: comprises four terms of five years each. - protection of the habitat by implementing protection zones around known habitat and sites of recent records, The council considered the lease proposal at its including appropriate fencing; and 18 June 2010 meeting and supported the granting of the lease. - limit movements and disturbance at Hooded Plover breeding sites by erecting appropriate signage and by ensuring that workers are briefed appropriately; The council considered two lease proposals respectively • takes the necessary steps to avoid impacts on plant under sections 19(2)(a) and 19(2)(b) of the Act in relation species, including identification and avoidance of each to the Lakes National Park at its 18 June meeting. As of individual plant of national and/or state significance 30 June, the council was awaiting additional information • takes the necessary steps to ensure that any potential to finalise its advice. impacts on cultural values are mitigated by avoiding Earth resource consent both known sites of cultural value and sites that may be discovered while undertaking the survey works. Bay of Islands Coastal Park The Minister requested the council’s advice in accordance Field visit with section 40(3) of the Act on an application by A field visit to far south-west Victoria was held on Origin Energy Resources Ltd (Origin) to explore for 24 and 25 June 2010. The objective of the visit was hydrocarbons (as a part of a larger program) by seismic to consider and understand issues associated with survey in the Bay of Islands Coastal Park. management planning, including: The council considered the application for consent at its • landscape-scale planning 26 March 2010 meeting and gave conditional support to • cross-tenure matters the proposal, provided that further specific measures be included to protect environmental, social and cultural values. • native title and joint management • key issues facing parks The council based its decision on the understanding that the data acquisition technology and methods used for the • continuous improvement of park management. proposed survey present negligible potential impact and The field visit allowed the council to investigate issues that no significant social, cultural, environmental or visitor associated with park management planning in the context experience impact are expected within the Bay of Islands of broader natural resource management. The council learnt Coastal Park as a result of the survey. first hand about the key issues facing the south-west parks and reflected more broadly on strategic planning. The council reported on key learnings from the visit. The council’s key learnings, views and recommendations are summarised below.

6 National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 Traditional Owners co-management Landscape-scale planning At Mount Eccles National Park, the council was briefed At Discovery Bay Coastal Park, Discovery Bay on the Native Title Settlement Framework and joint Marine National Park and Mount Richmond National Park, management. The council had the opportunity to discuss the council observed first hand and discussed with the local with members of the Budj Bim Council the learnings from land managers the challenges and opportunities for planning its co-management experience so far. Members also saw in areas where there are competing interests and where the newly constructed weir that will hold water again in parks abut private lands. Management planning in the Lake Condah in the Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area, broader natural resource management context and and discussed with Gunditjmara representatives the future cross-tenures matters were discussed. management plans for the lake and nearby Aboriginal At Cobboboonee National Park and Cobboboonee cultural sites in the context of the national park. Forest Park, the council had the opportunity to discuss The council was of the view that the south-west region with Parks Victoria officers the process underway for offers an excellent opportunity for co-management to park management planning. ‘learn by doing’. Arising from the field visit, the council: During the field visit, the council was also briefed on the • recommended that co-management activities in the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority and the south-west region be sufficiently resourced so that they proposed institutional changes and review of the regional have optimal conditions for success given the high level catchment management strategy. of goodwill amongst Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal The council was informed that Parks Victoria had partners in the region adopted three levels of management plans for parks: • was of the view that, elsewhere in the state, variation a 15-year strategic plan, a five-year implementation plan in stakeholders might best be accommodated by and a one-year action plan. The council noted that the longer not prescribing a single process for co-management, term plans are likely to be very general and that all plans and that plans should be tailored in response to would require different levels of public consultation. local circumstances. The council was informed that the planning for the south-west parks would use the interactive internet system known as ‘wiki’ to gather comments from the public and involve them in writing the plan. The system is currently being used in planning for the Greater Alpine National Parks. Arising from this field visit, the council: • recognised the benefits of landscape planning but was of the view that the landscape-scale planning proposed for the south-west parks, combined with proposed coordinated planning of parks and adjoining State forest, could result in more general plans that would be of less use to managers and the public • indicated that a focus must be retained on the protection of national parks values, notwithstanding the move to landscape-scale planning. The importance of these values should not be diminished in the development of cross-tenure planning • recommended that management plans continue to have specific management objectives and management strategies. Management strategies for each park should be clearly identified • was of the view that the 15-year strategic plans for parks may not contain the detailed proposals that are of interest to many members of the public • noted the importance of involving the public at all levels of planning, i.e. strategic, implementation and action plans • encourages Parks Victoria to continue conventional public consultation methods and to validate the effectiveness of Lower Glenelg National Park (Photo: Parks Victoria) the ‘wiki’ method before starting to use it more widely.

National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 7 Koala (Photo: DSE/McCann)

Monitoring and evaluation for management At Mount Eccles National Park, the council was briefed In Lower Glenelg National Park, the council was briefed on on koala over-browsing and the related fertility control the Glenelg Ark and Glenelg Eden pest and weed control program. Arthur Rylah Research Institute scientists are projects and associated monitoring programs. Glenelg involved in ongoing monitoring of the koala fertility control Ark is one of three six-year, landscape scale, fox control program in the park. Since the program’s inception in 2004, and monitoring programs (the others are Southern Ark koala numbers have dropped from an unsustainable park and Grampians Ark). The monitoring program, designed in population of more than 10 000 animals to approximately conjunction with scientists from the Arthur Rylah Research 6 000 now. A similar contraceptive implant project is Institute, aims to provide statistically meaningful data on operating on French Island. The project will be formally the effectiveness of control actions on both predator reviewed by Arthur Rylah scientists this year. (fox and cat) and prey species (long-nosed potoroos, Arising from this field visit, the council: brush tail possums and southern brown bandicoots). • strongly supported the application of sound The Glenelg Eden project is in its early stages and uses scientific methodologies to quantify the outcomes a combination of GPS and GIS technologies to map the of management actions distribution of weeds in the south-west region. Parks Victoria • was of the view that the application of new assessment has used these technologies in projects to map weed control and monitoring technologies such as GIS and GPS offer works in the Cobboboonee National Park and the location opportunities to base landscape planning on more detailed of individual pine trees in Lower Glenelg National Park. information to achieve better outcomes. This has allowed much better targeting of future management activity.

8 National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 Other park issues Invasion of the national parks in the south-west region by Pinus radiata from adjacent pine plantations is a major problem. In Lower Glenelg National Park, pine tree densities up to 120 per hectare have been recorded. The council learned of an experiment that allows a commercial pine harvester to collect mature trees from Crawford River Regional Park. Harvested areas are then targeted for control burning by DSE to remove immature trees. Arising from this field visit, the council: • raised the issue of park values being compromised in these settings and recommended that all means to Members of the National Parks Advisory Council and remove these plants in a cost effective manner should DSE and PV staff at Lower Glenelg National Park be investigated (Photo: Charles Lane). • recommended that greater attention be given to the challenge presented by different land uses and the presence of weed and pest species on lands abutting national parks. Reference areas in national parks were discussed with Parks Victoria staff. In Lower Glenelg National Park, two of the three reference areas suffer from pine infestation and some have access tracks for fire control. These reference areas were not regularly monitored and had little active management. Parks Victoria staff requested clearer guidelines on appropriate management of reference areas. Arising from this field visit, the council: • recognises the importance of reference areas and suggested that some of these areas do not appear to be managed in accordance with their intended purpose • suggested that it would be appropriate for the Minister to request the Reference Areas Advisory Committee to prepare a policy statement with clear guidelines on appropriate future management.

National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 9 Presentations to the council Presentations given to the council by DSE, PV and other interested parties were an important input to the council’s work and assisted understanding of park management issues relevant to the council’s role.

Table 1 provides details of the presentation to the council.

Table 1: Presentations and briefings to the council in 2009–10

Title Presenter Date

Presentations at meetings

The Greater Alpine National Parks planning Louise Rose, Project Manager, 14 August 2009 Alpine Planning, PV

Native Title Settlement Framework Gary Howell, Acting Director Parks and Indigenous Land Policy, Forests and Parks Division, DSE

Boards of management Sarah Kitchen, Senior Project Officer, Indigenous Land Policy and Native Titles, Forests and Parks Division, DSE

Proposal to rename St Arnaud Range National Park Neil McCarthy, General Manager, Parks Victoria 26 March 2010

Presentations during the field visits

Overview of the landscape and the south-west parks Don Tumney, Ranger in Charge, PV 24 June 2010

Park management planning in the context of Lisa Saxton, Manager broader natural resource management planning Forests Policy and Projects, DSE

Natural Reserve System policy and framework Helen Fedoroff, Acting Director, Parks and Indigenous Land Policy, DSE

Landscape planning: challenges and opportunities Don Tumney, Ranger in Charge, PV for the management of the south-west parks Christine Wrench, Planner, PV Jason Walker, Planner, PV

Management planning and cross-tenure matters Lisa Saxton, Manager Forests Policy and Projects, DSE

Coastal planning and park interface Don Tumney, Ranger in Charge, PV

Fragmentation issues in the south-west region Don Tumney, Ranger in Charge, PV

Park and freehold land interface management issues Christine Wrench, Planner, PV Jason Walker, Planner, PV

Monitoring program in the south-west region and Justin Cook, District Manager, the Lower Glenelg pest and weed control project Far South West, DSE David Ryan, Senior Ranger, PV

Co-management: Budj Bim Council and Mr Tom Day, Senior Project Officer, 25 June 2010 learnings of the co-management experience Gunditj Mirring Corporation and convenor Budj Bim Council, Ms Denise Lovett, Chief Executive Officer, Gunditj Mirring Corporation

Native Title Settlement Framework Helen Fedoroff, Acting Director, Parks and Indigenous Land Policy, DSE

CMA institutional changes Glenelg-Hopkins CMA Mary Johnson, Catchment Partnership Manager, Regional Catchment Strategy Glenelg Hopkins CMA

Koala overbrowsing and the Bernadette Hoare, koala management and fertility program Natural Values Program Co-ordinator, PV

10 National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 Whistleblowers Protection Act The parks system The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 is designed to As at 30 June 2010, there were 138 parks and reserves in protect people who disclose information about serious Victoria, with a total area of 3.4 million hectares managed wrongdoing within the Victorian Public Sector and to under various provisions of the National Parks Act 1975. provide a framework for the investigation of these matters. These areas comprised 45 national parks, 3 wilderness The Protected Disclosure Coordinator for DSE acts as parks, 25 state parks, 13 marine national parks, 11 marine an agent for Council to receive disclosures under the sanctuaries, 11 marine and/or coastal parks or reserves, Whistleblowers Protection Act, and applies departmental 14 other parks and reserves, and 16 non-scheduled areas. procedures in managing disclosures. Disclosures may also In addition, there were 19 wilderness zones and 22 remote be made directly to the Ombudsman. The contact details for and natural areas within 13 national parks, and 4 designated the Protected Disclosure Coordinator and Ombudsman are: water supply catchment areas within 3 national parks. Jennifer Berensen On 8 December 2009, 105 hectares comprising nearly Manager Privacy and Ombudsman Liaison all of the heritage-listed Quarantine Station and the Department of Sustainability and Environment adjoining intertidal zone were added to PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002. National Park. On 29 June 2010, four new national parks Telephone: 9637 8697 (Barmah, Gunbower, Lower Goulburn and Warby-Ovens), Facsimile: 9637 8128 three new other parks (Gadsen Bend, Kings Billabong and Email: [email protected] Nyah-Vinifera) and additions to six existing parks were created under the Act. Barmah and Warby Range state No disclosures were made to the Coordinator parks were incorporated into the new Barmah and in relation to the council. Warby-Ovens national parks. Freedom of Information Act The council is an agency under the Freedom of Information Administration Act 1982 and it complies with the procedures prescribed under which members of the public may gain access Expenditure to information held by agencies. A decision to release The council employs no staff. DSE provides the council information is made by an authorised officer. with a part-time executive officer to support its work. The authorised officer is the DSE Freedom of Information The council complied with DSE policies in performing its Manager, Mr Luke Brown (03) 9637 8585. functions throughout the reporting period. Financial and other information relating to the Financial Management An application fee applies. Act 1994 is included in DSE’s annual report for 2009-10. The fee from 1 July 2010 is $23.90.

Table 2: Expenditure incurred by the council in In 2009–10, no request under the Freedom of Information undertaking its responsibilities Act 1982 was made to the council.

2008–09 2009–10 Meeting fees $12 220 $4 860 Other operating $23 717 $19 965 expenses Total $35 937 $24 825

National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 11 Acknowledgements The council expresses its thanks to the staff of the Forests and Parks Division of DSE for their assistance throughout the year. The council would also like to thank Ms Kathleen Marcoux, Executive Officer of the council, for her support. The council also thanks DSE and Parks Victoria staff for providing information at the council meetings and at the field visit of parks. Their commitment to parks is vital to the protection of the State’s parks system. Further copies of this report and information on the council can be obtained from: Executive Officer National Parks Advisory Council c/- Forests and Parks Division Department of Sustainability and Environment Level 2, 8 Nicholson Street East Melbourne Vic 3002.

12 National Parks Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-10 www.dse.vic.gov.au