CONTENTS Department of Parks and Wildlife 2015–16 Yearbook CONTENTS Acknowledgement This yearbook was prepared by the Public About the Department’s logo Information and Corporate Affairs Branch of the Department of Parks and Wildlife. The design is a stylised representation of a bottlebrush, or Callistemon, a group of native For more information contact: plants including some found only in Western Department of Parks and Wildlife Australia. The orange colour also references 17 Dick Perry Avenue the WA Christmas tree, or Nuytsia. Technology Park, Western Precinct Kensington Western Australia 6151 WA’s native flora supports our diverse fauna, is central to Aboriginal people’s idea of country, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre and attracts visitors from around the world. Western Australia 6983 The leaves have been exaggerated slightly to suggest a boomerang and ocean waves. Telephone: (08) 9219 9000 The blue background also refers to our marine Email: [email protected] parks and wildlife. The design therefore symbolises key activities of the Department The recommended reference for this of Parks and Wildlife. publication is: Department of Parks and Wildlife 2015–16 The logo was designed by the Department’s Yearbook, Department of Parks and Wildlife, senior graphic designer and production 2016 coordinator, Natalie Curtis. ISSN 2203-9198 (Print) ISSN 2203-9201 (Online) Front cover: The Gap lookout at Torndirrup National Park, Albany. Photo – Peter Nicholas/ December 2016 Parks and Wildlife Copies of this document are available Back cover: Aerial view of a Kimberley river in alternative formats on request. system. Photo – Peter Nicholas/Parks and Wildlife Murchison River Gorge, Kalbarri National Park. Photo – David Pearson/Parks and Wildlife Department of Parks and Wildlife Yearbook 2015–16 CONTENTS Department of Parks and Wildlife 2015–16 Yearbook Planning officer Michael Roberts ignites a prescribed burn at Millstream Chichester National Park. Photo – Judy Dunlop/Parks and Wildlife Department of Parks and Wildlife Yearbook 2015–16 1 CONTENTS Contents Acknowledgement ii Commercial operations licences 21 Other joint management arrangements Effective management of the Contents 2 Filming permits 21 currently in negotiation 33 conservation reserve system 51 List of tables and figures 4 Naturebank 21 Support to the Conservation Management planning 51 and Parks Commission 34 Director General’s year in review 5 Legislation and policy 22 Management action 51 Other initiatives 34 Good Neighbour Policy 52 Highlight: Tradition and science merge Legislation 22 Memoranda of understanding 34 in joint management arrangements 8 Policy 22 Recovery and management World and national heritage 34 of threatened species and ecological Recreation activities and trails 23 Operational highlights Regional activities 35 communities, significant species Trails WA 23 and ecosystems 53 – Parks Management 11 Goldfields Region 35 Bibbulmun Track 23 Recovery of threatened species 53 Planning for management 11 Kimberley Region 36 Cape to Cape Track 23 Native plants 54 Acquisition and administration Midwest Region 36 Mountain biking 23 Threatened Flora Seed Centre 56 of protected areas 12 Pilbara Region 38 Munda Biddi Trail 24 Native animals 56 Reserve acquisition 12 South Coast Region 39 Motorised recreation 24 Recovery of threatened ecological Leasing activities 12 South West Region 39 Community involvement 26 communities 68 Apiary site management 12 Swan Region 40 Volunteer awards and activities 26 Restoration 69 Park presentation and resource protection 12 Warren Region 41 Tourism and marketing 28 Recovery planning 69 Capital park improvements 13 Wheatbelt Region 42 Campground booking and Wetland conservation 70 Royalties for Regions park improvements 14 Regional Parks 42 information system 28 Ramsar and nationally significant wetlands 70 Roads 14 Highlight: New canopy adventure Visitor research 28 Wetlands mapping and evaluation projects 70 Recreation planning and design 15 for WA reserve 44 Visitor use monitoring 30 Management of marine wildlife 72 Enriching the visitor experience 17 Visitor satisfaction survey program 30 Operational highlights Management of commercial activities Interpretive planning and design 17 Astronomy 31 involving native animals and plants 74 Community liaison, consultation – Wildlife Management 46 Formal management arrangements Regulation 74 and advisory services 17 Legislation, policy and plans 46 with Aboriginal people 32 Flora and fauna licensing 74 Guided interpretive programs 17 Biodiversity conservation legislation 46 Karajarri 32 Damage and dangerous fauna licences 77 Aboriginal liaison, consultation Ngarla 32 Regional nature conservation plans 48 and heritage 18 Wildlife interaction licences 80 Nyangumarta 32 Kimberley Science and Conservation Planning and relationship-building 18 Strategy 48 Offences 81 Dambimangari 33 Education and training 18 Strategic Assessment of the Perth Managing system-wide threats 84 Miriuwung-Gajerrong 33 Cultural heritage 19 and Peel Regions/Perth and Peel Green Invasive species control 84 Yawuru 33 Business management 20 Growth Plan for 3.5 Million 49 Introduced pest animal management 87 Burrup (Murujuga) 33 Park passes and fees 20 Establishment of the conservation Management of environmental weeds 88 South West Native Title Settlement 33 reserve system 50 Commercial operations and events 21 Plant disease management 89 2 Department of Parks and Wildlife Yearbook 2015–16 CONTENTS Altered hydrology and salinity 90 Maintenance and enhancement Bushfire training and development 126 Assessment of land and resource use of biodiversity and other forest values Prescribed fire planning and impacts on public reserves and biodiversity in State forest and timber reserves 107 risk management 126 conservation assets 91 Health and vitality in natural landscapes 107 Bushfire preparedness on Building biodiversity knowledge 92 Management of soil disturbance unallocated Crown land 127 Biological inventory 92 in timber harvesting 108 Interagency bushfire management 127 Taxonomy and biotic collection Implementation of fauna habitat zones 108 Key efficiency and effectiveness management in the WA Herbarium Forest monitoring and research 108 indicators 127 collection 96 Providing for harvesting, regeneration Highlight: Exchange program builds Fire and biodiversity research projects 97 and growth of forest products in fire management expertise 128 Information and data management 98 accordance with the Forest Management Plan 2014–2023 and guided by the Encouraging public understanding and Operational highlights – principles of ecologically sustainable support for biodiversity conservation 99 Riverpark Management 131 forest management 109 Provision of biodiversity conservation Integrated planning support 109 Constructed wetland projects 131 support and advice for private land 99 Management system for approvals, Animal ethics 101 Wharf Street wetland 131 monitoring and compliance 110 Highlight: Education pack puts Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary wetland 131 Forest auditing 110 focus on threatened species 102 Ellen Brook wetland 132 Provision for harvesting, regeneration Fish array project 132 Operational highlights and growth of forest products 114 Western school prawn restocking Silvicultural guidance 114 – Forest Management 104 and monitoring project 132 Monitoring of areas subject to timber Implementation of approved forest Riverbank Funding 133 harvesting and associated treatments 114 management plans and government Fishing line bin project 134 policies and programs 104 Highlight: Forest management Swan Alcoa Landcare Program 134 Forest Management Plan 2014–2023 104 on display 116 2015–17 Light Industry Program 135 Regional Forest Agreement for Operational highlights Fish Communities Index 135 the South West Forest Region of Western Australia 105 – Fire Management 119 Great Gardens workshops 135 Maintaining partnerships and Bushfire season 119 Dolphin Watch 135 community involvement 106 Prescribed burning 122 Highlight: Fishing line bin project Research 106 Operations, planning and interagency reeling in fishing waste 136 Inventory, assessment and cooperation 126 modelling of natural resources 106 Aerial bushfire suppression operations 126 Flannel flower (Actinotus leucocephalus). Bushfire detection 126 Photo – Mark Brundrett/Parks and Wildlife Department of Parks and Wildlife Yearbook 2015–16 3 CONTENTS List of tables and figures Table Page Operational area Description Table Page Operational area Description 1 12 Parks Management Apiary site permits at 30 June 2016 on Parks and 20 111 Forest Management Summary of incidents WIldlife–managed lands by land category 21 112 Forest Management Habitat retention 2 20 Parks Management Breakdown of park pass distribution 2015–16 22 112 Forest Management Crop tree assessment 3 20 Parks Management Fees waived – estimated visitors by region 23 112 Forest Management Crop tree tops disposed and not disposed 4 20 Parks Management Breakdown of RAC park pass sales 2015–16 24 113 Forest Management Erosion control 5 26 Parks Management Register of volunteer numbers and contribution 25 114 Forest Management Silvicultural objectives 6 66 Wildlife Management Native animal translocations undertaken as part of the implementation of recovery and interim recovery 26 115 Forest Management Trends in the area of native forest harvested plans and other conservation initiatives in 2015–16 27 119 Fire Management Bushfires by land category from 2013–14 7 71 Wildlife Management Management plans