September 2018 No 274 Rediscovering the Spot-Tail

Home , Dandenong Ranges, Strathbogie Ranges

REDISCOVERING THE SPOT-TAIL QUOLL SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 STATE ELECTION 2018 CENTRAL WEST FORESTS GREAT OCEAN ROAD THREATENED? DJA DJA WURRUNG JOINT MANAGEMENT WESTERN PORT BAY AT RISK PLUS VNPA ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 Be part of nature From the President

PRESIDENT Euan Moore As we approach the state election in frogs. Having imagined this future, then We must also move away from DIRECTOR Matt Ruchel CONTENTS November, it is important to consider let us think big and work towards it so inappropriate plans for tracks and the state of Victoria's environment that it becomes reality. If we don’t try buildings within our national and state Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 3 From the President and what is needed to protect our we are doomed to failure and important parks. These are often promoted by ABN 34 217 717 593 unique and diverse flora and fauna. species in our environment will continue those who see an opportunity for Telephone: (03) 9341 6500 4 Updates In recent years there have been very the slide towards extinction. private benefit at public expense, and E-mail: [email protected] 5-7 Rediscovering a rarity few improvements in the protection if it all falls over then the public picks Web: www.vnpa.org.au The creation of new protected areas or management of our natural up the cost as the promotors walk 8 National parks creation needs a jump start has also stalled over the last two environment. Protection of areas in away. Low impact infrastructure which OUR VISION governments (see page 8). Currently threatened ecosystems has stalled, caters for all walks of society is what The Victorian National Parks Association vision is to 9 Nature’s needs it is the lowest it has been since the and funding is still not back to the is required. The grand designs must ensure Victoria is a place with a diverse and healthy natural early 1950s, yet there are still many 10-12 Forests of the Central West 2011 or 2012 levels, even before we be left outside the park where they can environment that is protected, respected and enjoyed by all. ecosystems where the level of protection consider the impacts of inflation. rise or fall without public subsidies. Everyone can help in the conservation of Victoria’s wild 13 Walking the Beeripmo clearfell trail? is well below international standards. and beautiful places. To find out how you can help, visit Proper funding and management of In some cases, such as lowland Politicians who really care about their 14-15 Plucking the goose that lays the golden egg? www.vnpa.org.au/support or call us on (03) 9341 6500. our park system could have very real grasslands, even if all that remains was electorates should be advocating for benefits to the community, particularly protected we would still not reach those 16 We can deal with deer more resources for our protected EDITOR for smaller communities in regional international benchmarks. When we areas, more staff for our national Meg Sobey 17 Community call to protect the areas. There was a time when the role call for new protected areas, it is often parks, and ambitious invasive species Strathbogie Forest of park rangers included liaising with met with a response from opponents control programs. They should also PUBLISHING POLICY the public and providing information calling for 'balance'. Yes we do need be arguing for the protection and All advertisements should be compatible with 18-19 Healing Land about the park. This encourages balance, but contrary to their complaints, good management of our environment VNPA policies. Publication of an advertisement people to spend more time exploring to achieve this balance in these cases for the health benefits that brings does not imply endorsement by the VNPA Inc. of the 20 Our beaches are not racetracks! the park, and also spend more time in would actually involve restoring the many (see page 9). • PW advertised product or service. The VNPA reserves nearby towns where they contribute natural areas that have already been the right to refuse any advertisement at any time. CENTRE PAGES – VNPA Annual Report 2017-18 to economic activity. Additional staff damaged through exploitative actions. Euan Moore, VNPA President Park Watch may be quoted without permission also means additional people in the provided that acknowledgement is made. The opinions 21-23 AGL’s plan to industrialise Western Port Bay community and more demand for of contributors are not necessarily those of the VNPA Inc. services such as schools and doctors Community planting a greener future 24-25 Marine national parks policy adrift making these more viable. All this GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS is before we take into account the 26 Should alternative truths capture THANK YOU TO ALL THE woodland, the second included a lovely You’re always welcome to contact the well-documented community health Mount Buffalo? VNPA MEMBERS AND black box swamp and a section of editor to discuss ideas for articles. benefits from spending time in nature. SUPPORTERS WHO JOINED Tatiara Creek. Phone the VNPA or email [email protected] 27 Will power go to Parks Victoria’s head? These benefits are greater than the current parks budget. TWO RECENT COMMUNITY On Sunday 15 July, close to 200 green COPY DEADLINE for December 2018 Park Watch 28-29 Natural pathways PLANTING EVENTS, PROJECT There is also an enormous unmet thumbs helped plant 5,433 new trees at is 19 October 2018. HINDMARSH AND GROW WEST. the 13th Grow West Community Planting 30-31 Push for threatened species reform need for the control of invasive species across the state (see page 16). Invasive Day. This year, the planting day was held DESIGN Mary Ferlin PRINTING Adams Print VNPA has been supporting and 32 Introducing our new plants and animals occupy both public at Sheoak Hill, a 552 hectare former involved in these two annual events FRONT COVER NatureWatch Coordinator and private land. They don’t distinguish cropping and grazing property nestled from their inception. A spot-tail quoll (also known as tiger quoll) by ownership. We need strong policies, between Brisbane Ranges National Park 33 The power of one (or two) has been recorded for the first time in decades backed by long-term strategies and The 21st Project Hindmarsh tree and Werribee Gorge State Park, in the Rowsley Valley. The goal of this project at Mount Baw Baw in the Central Highlands. 34-35 In Parks: Terrick Terrick National Park funding, and enforcement of control planting extravaganza was held Read all about amazing rediscovery on page 5. measures to reduce their impact. Let over the 6-8 July weekend and is to re-establish a link between the two Photo: Lucia Griggi, courtesy of the 36 Tribute: Guy Williams us imagine what our state would be like was a great success. Over 100 parks by managing existing vegetation, Conservation Ecology Centre. if we were able to remove feral pests volunteers descended on Kaniva controlling weeds and rabbits, and 37 Book Review: such as cats, foxes, deer and other to take part, planting 12,000 plants revegetating both the flats as well as the Park Watch ISSN 1324-4361 Wattles of the Mount Alexander Regions hoofed mammals; quolls, bandicoots, at two sites at Dinyarrak, near shallow and highly erodible hillsides. Authorised by Matt Ruchel, Executive Director, 38 Diving into ReefWatch bettongs and the like would have a the South Australian border. The Thanks to all the hard-working Victorian National Parks Association. chance to flourish, as would many first a remnant grey box - buloke volunteers of both events! • PW Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053. 39 Wild Families: Teeny, tiny nature of our endangered birds, reptiles and

2 PARK2 WATCHPARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 2018 274 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 3 Be part of nature From the President

2 PARK2 WATCHPARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 2018 274 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 3 UPDATES

Help stand up for Victoria’s nature this election

Logging in THE 2018 STATE ELECTION IS ONLY WEEKS AWAY. There is no sign that political parties are serious about creating new parks national parks for our forests – so we are ramping up our campaign to protect our forests, ruled out – thanks threatened wildlife and our unique marine and coast. Our eastern forests are in dire need of protection, with intensive logging to your action continuing in Victoria’s Central Highlands, East Gippsland and the Central West in critically endangered wildlife habitat, old growth forests and rainforests. Now logging is taking place in western Victoria in the last small fragments of forests that remain, including Mount Cole near Ballarat.

national parks to be logged (see We need to put the pressure on right now and let the government know that CC FLICKR CUNNINGHAM, JOSHUA PHOTO: page 15 Park Watch June 2017). voters in marginal electorates and across Victoria want better protection for A spot-tail quoll. nature across the state. But all your emails to both the state government and the Will you join the campaign? There are lots of ways to get involved. We need opposition to reject these calls you to help us: Milan Stupar was guided where wolves still howl in by intuition and historical the mountains and brown have been successful! • Letterbox in your local area. hints when he began bears are numerous,” • Letter box in strategic seats (some suburban travel involved). Rediscovering The Victorian Environment searching for an elusive Milan says. • Hand out fliers at train stations. Minister Lily D’Ambrosio made a native animal in the • Help in the office to prepare materials. public commitment that: Central Highlands. “This connection with a rarity nature continued when “The Andrews Labor Government We can’t do it without you! Contact Sarah ([email protected]) His hunch resulted in the I came to Australia as a has no intention to find out more or visit www.vnpa.org.au/state-election-2018 AN AMAZING STORY OF INDIVIDUAL lawyer and keen bushwalker refugee at twelve years of to log in National Parks.” to sign up straight away. taking the initiative to set up PERSEVERERANCE IN THREATENED age. I continued to immerse SPECIES PROTECTION IS SHARED And Shadow Environment Minister Can you show your support for the creation of the new Great Forest remote sensing cameras in myself in nature, by heading out HERE BY BERNIE MACE AND Nick Wakeling has responded National Park by displaying this sign in your front yard or window just the right place. into our parks and state forests that: “The Liberal Nationals do not in the lead up to the election? Please email [email protected] MILAN STUPAR. at most opportunities, exploring and On 25 April this year, he finally saw support the logging of National or call (03) 9341 6500 • PW photographing my experiences. Parks or any public land managed what he had been looking for. His footage exclusively for conservation or the successfully recorded a large male spot-tail “I became fascinated with the quoll a few protection of water catchments.” quoll, Dasyurus maculatus, in the forests of the Central years ago, and the more I read the more I realised just Highlands, near Mount Baw Baw. how rare these animals are, particularly here in Victoria. National parks are the cornerstone of efforts to protect nature and The species has not been reliably recorded in the Central “I decided to purchase a remote sensing camera and try ensure native species survive Highlands for decades, and has not been systematically my luck in photographing this cryptic marsupial. and thrive. We thank you all for surveyed for evidence of a remnant population. continually standing up for these “After trying a few different locations, over a period of important natural spaces. PW Milan is a Biological Science graduate from Monash six months, from Mount Samaria State Park, Strzelecki • University, but it was his strong personal interest in these Ranges and Toorongo Plateau, I was able to finally If you would like to further support mysterious marsupials that motivated his actions. photograph one near the southern slopes of Mount Baw our work protecting Victoria’s Baw in Erica State Forest.” national parks, please donate today. “My love for nature developed early in my life, when I used to spend a lot of time in my grandparents’ village, high up There were only historical records of the spot-tail quoll in in the remote and pristine mountains of northwest Bosnia, the area. The entire Victorian population of the species is Continued overleaf

4 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 5 UPDATES

Help stand up for Victoria’s nature this election

Back in March, the logging There are many threats to Victoria’s coast, including the public beaches of industry called for Victoria’s Belfast Coastal Reserve being invaded by commercial racehorse trainers. national parks to be logged (see We need to put the pressure on right now and let the government know that CC FLICKR CUNNINGHAM, JOSHUA PHOTO: page 15 Park Watch June 2017). voters in marginal electorates and across Victoria want better protection for A spot-tail quoll. nature across the state. But all your emails to both the state government and the Will you join the campaign? There are lots of ways to get involved. We need opposition to reject these calls you to help us: Milan Stupar was guided where wolves still howl in by intuition and historical the mountains and brown have been successful! • Letterbox in your local area. hints when he began bears are numerous,” • Letter box in strategic seats (some suburban travel involved). Rediscovering The Victorian Environment searching for an elusive Milan says. • Hand out fliers at train stations. Minister Lily D’Ambrosio made a native animal in the • Help in the office to prepare materials. public commitment that: Central Highlands. “This connection with a rarity nature continued when “The Andrews Labor Government We can’t do it without you! Contact Sarah ([email protected]) His hunch resulted in the I came to Australia as a has no intention to find out more or visit www.vnpa.org.au/state-election-2018 AN AMAZING STORY OF INDIVIDUAL lawyer and keen bushwalker refugee at twelve years of to log in National Parks.” to sign up straight away. taking the initiative to set up PERSEVERERANCE IN THREATENED age. I continued to immerse SPECIES PROTECTION IS SHARED And Shadow Environment Minister Can you show your support for the creation of the new Great Forest remote sensing cameras in myself in nature, by heading out HERE BY BERNIE MACE AND Nick Wakeling has responded National Park by displaying this sign in your front yard or window just the right place. into our parks and state forests that: “The Liberal Nationals do not in the lead up to the election? Please email [email protected] MILAN STUPAR. at most opportunities, exploring and On 25 April this year, he finally saw support the logging of National or call (03) 9341 6500 • PW photographing my experiences. Parks or any public land managed what he had been looking for. His footage exclusively for conservation or the successfully recorded a large male spot-tail “I became fascinated with the quoll a few protection of water catchments.” quoll, Dasyurus maculatus, in the forests of the Central years ago, and the more I read the more I realised just Highlands, near Mount Baw Baw. how rare these animals are, particularly here in Victoria. National parks are the cornerstone of efforts to protect nature and The species has not been reliably recorded in the Central “I decided to purchase a remote sensing camera and try ensure native species survive Highlands for decades, and has not been systematically my luck in photographing this cryptic marsupial. and thrive. We thank you all for surveyed for evidence of a remnant population. continually standing up for these “After trying a few different locations, over a period of important natural spaces. PW Milan is a Biological Science graduate from Monash six months, from Mount Samaria State Park, Strzelecki • University, but it was his strong personal interest in these Ranges and Toorongo Plateau, I was able to finally If you would like to further support mysterious marsupials that motivated his actions. photograph one near the southern slopes of Mount Baw our work protecting Victoria’s Baw in Erica State Forest.” national parks, please donate today. “My love for nature developed early in my life, when I used to spend a lot of time in my grandparents’ village, high up There were only historical records of the spot-tail quoll in in the remote and pristine mountains of northwest Bosnia, the area. The entire Victorian population of the species is Continued overleaf

4 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 5 First sighting: a still from the footage The first image is of Erica State Forest, near Milan Stupar recorded of a spot-tail where the spot-tail quoll was recorded. quoll near Mount Baw Baw. The second is a logging coupe in close proximity to the site.

Continued from previous page critically low. Anyone who has tried to find them anywhere A different approach is needed, in the state knows just how hard it is to get a glimpse of and surely human ingenuity can the elusive creatures, even in known habitat areas, when find a way to remove fox from the their numbers are now so limited. environment without wiping out the dwindling population of our On hearing of this successful recording, Bernie Mace, magnificent spot-tail quoll. a retired Materials Scientist with a long-held interest in carnivorous marsupials, was prompted to contact Milan. Some lessons to be learned from With personal experience sighting quolls in Victoria and this timely discovery are: Tasmania, Bernie lives in Toolangi and has been collecting 1. There is much to learn about the evidence (mainly anecdotal observations) for years, complexities and components particularly since the horrific experience of the Black of ecosystems, and this spot-tail Saturday bushfires in 2009. quoll, an adult male, represents a species whose presence in this

This latest verification of the continued existence of this STUPAR MILAN PHOTOS: very rare animal in the Central Highlands forests has region we could only speculate signalled the need for exhaustive efforts to study and about prior to obtaining this conserve this important remnant population. photographic evidence. 2. It was photographed in an area of mixed age and mixed Much has been said about the extinction of the thylacine, What is a quoll? species native forest, containing many large mature and how stupid we were to lose such a significant and trees. This helps to illustrate the value of maturing obviously threatened species, despite strong warnings The spot-tail quoll is a marsupial carnivore, and in fact, the native forests, with remnant stands of old growth, for from concerned scientists. The eastern quoll has already largest surviving example of this genre on the Australian the biodiversity they can support. We know from past been lost from mainland Australia, from an extremely mainland. This species is also known as the tiger quoll. studies of the spot-tail quoll that it prefers to live in healthy population base at the turn of the 20th century. The spot-tail quoll is distinctive because of its strongly mature forest, containing tree hollows that represent den Let us learn from these tragic errors and take appropriate spotted coat, and has this feature continuing along the tail. sites for daylight security, as well as supporting a rich action to not only save the spot-tail quoll from extinction, Other species of quoll, such as the eastern quoll Dasyurus IMAGE: JOHN GOULD, F.R.S., MAMMALS OF AUSTRALIA, VOL. I I VOL. AUSTRALIA, MAMMALS OF F.R.S., GOULD, JOHN IMAGE: DOMAIN PUBLIC 1863. LONDON, 52, PLATE compliment of resident prey species that are necessary but to ensure its return to a healthy population. viverrinus, do not have spots on the tail, so are instantly There are only historical records of Dasyurus maculatus in the area. dietary options for a hungry quoll. distinguishable from this largest member of the family. Australia’s deplorable record of mammal extinctions is well What action is needed to help the quoll known, and our leaders must take responsible action to The spot-tail quoll is the most arboreal of the Dasyurus to survive? reverse the previous negative trends. A genuine respect for family, with sharp claws, clasping toes and serrated unrecognised, acutely in danger of being lost. In such areas, nature and for its effective stewardship must be prioritized pads on the feet to assist in tree climbing. It also has appropriate action could save them from local extinction. Their needs are simple: habitat, particularly old growth at this time. very powerful jaws, can prey successfully on animals forests with plenty of hollow-bearing trees and good Under state law of the Fauna and Flora Guarantee Act 1998 heavier than itself, and has been described as very agile connectivity across the landscape; food supply from As the necessary scientific advice is now overwhelming and forestry regulation in the Central Highlands Regional in pursuit of prey, such as possums, in the forest canopy. healthy populations of prey species; and an absence of and being more urgently communicated, there are no Forest Agreement (RFA) region, the species requires a It has a well-deserved reputation for ferocity in its hunting threats such as poison baiting programs, predation or longer any excuses for inaction. 500-hectare Special Protection Zone (SPZ) where logging behaviour. On the Australian mainland, the spot-tail quoll is competition from feral predators, and human disturbance. the top-order marsupial predator, however in the most part operations will be prohibited. This requirement has been Milan and Bernie hope more action to protect the spot-tail there are insufficient individuals to effectively perform this acknowledged by VicForests and the Minister of the Local extinctions are stepping stones to diminishing gene quoll and its habitat is forthcoming. vital role on a landscape scale. Environment Lily D’Ambrosio in the media. However, the pools, and ultimately, to total extinction. state government has decided to use a weaker Special “We hope that the Victorian community can band together and figure out a way to protect the species for future It is mainly nocturnal in its habits, which helps to explain Management Zone (SMZ) which covers a larger area of Consequently, saving them requires the following generations now that we have evidence of their ongoing its ‘secretive’ reputation. It has huge home ranges, needing 1,000 hectares, but allows for half of it to be logged in responses as a minimal starting point: existence in the Central Highlands.” PW large areas of intact habitat. the future. • • We must retain all old growth forest, in all areas where Conservation status An intended logging operation, less than two kilometres from this precious habitat remains. the spot where the quoll was found, was suspended, but is • We must minimise all processes that are destructive The spot-tail quoll is listed as endangered under still on the logging schedule. Months later we are still waiting Take Action: to native forests, particularly clear fell logging, and the national Environment Protection and Biodiversity for this permanent protection to be put in place. transition the timber industry into plantations. Write or email the Victorian Environment Minister Conservation Act 1999. and ask for better protection for spot-tail quolls and We look forward to seeing details of action to implement • We must put an end to, or greatly refine, poison baiting the immediate introduction of a 500-hectare Special However, the native forest timber industry is exempt from these protection measures around this most recent as employed in feral predator control programs. Protection Zone around the recent sighting. these national environmental laws due to Regional Forest sighting location. • We must increase public (and official) awareness of the The Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio MP Agreements (RFAs). As well as the major and ongoing threat of habitat loss, existence and significance of these beautiful animals. Level 16 These animals are incredibly cryptic in their behavior and, regular programs of poison baiting in wide-spread areas • We must prioritize the need for action to protect them, 8 Nicholson Street consequently, can be easily overlooked in areas subject to of Victoria are potentially devastating for this animal. It is including stronger environmental laws at both state East Melbourne logging or other threatening human activities. The Erica admitted in official government documents that females and and federal level, and immediate introduction of a Victoria, 3002 State Forest and Toolangi State Forest are cases in point, juvenile quolls can be killed by 1080 doses designed for fox 500-hectare special protection zone around the recent lily.d'[email protected] where remnant populations have been hanging on largely and wild dogs. sighting at Mount Baw Baw.

6 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 7 First sighting: a still from the footage The first image is of Erica State Forest, near Milan Stupar recorded of a spot-tail where the spot-tail quoll was recorded. quoll near Mount Baw Baw. The second is a logging coupe in close proximity to the site.

6 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 7 Ten Conservation Priorities for the Victorian state election VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION 1) New national parks and conservation areas in eastern Victoria (east of the 2018 Hume Highway), including the Great Forest National Park, East Gippsland Emerald Link, Strathbogie Fores. Also include Mount Stirling in to the Alpine National Park. Comprehensively review and replace the outdated and obsolete Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) for Eastern Victoria, and abolish VicForests. 2) New national parks and conservation areas in western Victoria (west of the National parks creation Nature’s Hume Highway), including completing the VEAC investigation into Central West Victoria to better protect the Wellsford, Wombat, Mount Cole and Pyrenees forests. There should also be a new assessment carried out in the far south- needs a jump start Needs west in the area between the Little Desert and Grampians national parks. IN NOVEMBER 2017, THE ANDREWS GOVERNMENT WAS TRACKING OUR DIRECTOR MATT RUCHEL Abolish the antiquated Western Regional Forest Agreement. Establish the long- AS THE WORST PERFORMER IN TERMS OF PARK CREATION OVER THE OUTLINES TEN CONSERVATION promised Murray River Park and remove cattle grazing from the Murray shores. LAST 60+ YEARS. NOW, WITH ONLY WEEKS TO GO BEFORE THE NEXT PRIORITIES FOR THE 2018 3) Private land conservation: Dramatically increase capital in the Trust for Nature ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 24, HAS THE SITUATION CHANGED? VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION. Revolving Fund by between $30 – $40 million. A ramped up Victorian Revolving Fund is a financially effective way of scaling up private land nature protection to In November last year, VNPA changed, and these types of zonings formal role in fulfilling Australia’s VNPA has produced a detailed around 60,000 – 70,000 additional hectares over four years. An increase would strategically highlighted the failing of are not permanent protection and commitments under the Convention policy document which has been allow for priority land across the state, including coastal, urban fringe or large the state government to add to the cannot be counted in any calculation on Biological Diversity (CBD), an provided to all major political parties. agricultural holdings, to be acquired, protected (covenanted) and resold. national parks and protected area of additions to the national protected international treaty that must be The document, Natural Victoria: estate. The analysis compared the area estate. Conservation groups taken seriously. Securing Nature for Victorian Families 4) Natural Melbourne: Fast track delivery of the western grassland reserves by track record of governments over welcomed the announcement – Nature Conservation Policy Ideas increasing upfront funding for acquisition of grassland in the 15,000-hectare the last several decades (see pages but called on the government to It is clear that the Andrews government for the 2018 Victorian State Election, area on Melbourne’s western and northern fringe. Create a Naturally 6-10 Park Watch December 2017). incorporate the Kuark Forest into the and the previous Baillieu/Napthine outlines over 40 individual policy Marvellous Melbourne Plan, which would add smaller high-conservation areas adjacent Errinundra National Park. Coalition government are now neck recommendations, addressed within to the metropolitan and regional parks network. On 14 July 2018, Victoria’s and neck as the worst performing This has not been committed to. four themes: 5) Marine and coastal protection: Drop the ban on creating new marine national Environment Minister Lily governments on national park creation parks and undertake a review of the comprehensiveness, adequacy and D'Ambrosio, and Gunaikurnai Protected areas are defined by over the last half century. With a • Protecting special places: representativeness of Victoria’s marine protected areas. Protect beaches and Traditional Owner Aunty Doris Paton, the International Union for the benchmark gap of around 1.5 million a world-leading national parks shore-nesting birds by banning commercial horse training on all beaches, formally announced the creation Conservation of Nature (IUCN) hectares in public conservation areas (a and conservation estate for including on Belfast Coastal Reserve. Establish new coastal parks under the of the Brataualung Forest Park as follows: “A protected area is larger gap if private land is included), all Victorian families. National Parks Act 1975 at key sites such as the Moolap wetland. in the Strzelecki Ranges. A new a clearly defined geographical political parties need to do better. While • Managing nature for 2,390-hectare forest park is the first space, recognised, dedicated and it is too late for this term, committing to future generations: making 6) Core national parks funding: While Parks Victoria manages about 18 per cent package of land, and a total of 8,500 managed, through legal or other creating a Great Forest National Park, Victoria a world-leading of the state and some of the state’s key urban parks, as well as waterways hectares will be gradually handed effective means, to achieve the long new parks around the Emerald Link, the conservation manager. and local ports, it receives less than 0.5 per cent of the state budget. A core back over the coming years. term conservation of nature with Strathbogies, Central Western Victoria • Growing a strong and healthy funding increase of $50 million per year, with subsequent annual increases associated ecosystem services or even new marine parks would be a of at least $15 million in core government funding (non-tied) in forward This package was originally community: Victorians active and cultural values”. They have a very good place to start. • PW in nature. estimates, would bring Parks Victoria back up to speed. This would enhance announced under the Brumby Labor funding for hundreds of skill-based positions such as rangers, as well as government. However, Forest Parks, • Securing a natural future: resourcing improved long-term land management programs. legislation and policy that can a type of reserve created under the Parks created Ratio: Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, are under the National guarantee the survival of our 7) Stop the invasive invasion: Commit to a statewide control and containment Period Days in office New parks per day Parks Act or strategy in parks and across the landscape to reduce or end the impact of feral not officially counted as part of the in office (Ha) natural heritage. formal protected area estate. While equivalent. (Ha) game species, especially deer, and other problem pest animals. This needs they do outlaw large-scale industrial 1882-1955 108,036 A snapshot of ten 'Conservation a specific program that engages integrated control of these pest species, logging, they have less restrictive 1955-1972 (Bolte) 98,450 6,288 15.66 Priorities' for the Victorian state including eradication in key areas, listing deer as a pest species, improving provisions for recreation, allow fire 1972-1982 (Hamer/Thompson) 781,932 3,508 222.90 election are outlined here. research funding for targeted baits and other control methods. wood collection and, in some cases, 1982-1992 (Cain/Kirner) 1,961,097 3,837 511.10 We are realistic. While it is unlikely 8) Wandering Victoria one short walk at a time: Enhance the approach to the selective or speciality timber logging. 1992-1999 (Kennett) 127,864 2,570 49.75 that any of major parties would regional visitor economy and protect the integrity of the parks estate by 1999-2010 (Bracks/Brumby) 364,473 4,060 89.77 focusing on the hundreds of day, half-day and shorter walks in parks, instead If this new park was included in the adopt all of these policies in full, the 2010-2014 (Baillieu/Napthtine) 9,918 1,464 6.77 of developing new large-scale multi-day walks and associated infrastructure. calculations, the government would document provides a framework and This would focus on attracting people to accommodation in and around have created 9,560 hectares of new 5.2, or 6.9 if suggestions for policy which would 2014 –Aug 2018 (Andrews Govt) * 7,170 1,376 (31 Aug 2018) Brataualung Forest help protect and enhance our unique existing towns and villages. parks in this term, still 358 hectares Park is counted.* short of the previous Coalition natural heritage. If fully implemented, 9) Act on extinction: Commit to being a leader in the protection of threatened government’s total (though on a the package would cost between species, with a new approach developed by an independent commission of *Calculation 1: 7,170 ha / 1,376 day = 5.2 ha per day. Calculation 2: 7,170 ha + 2,390 ha = 9,560 ha/ 1376 days in $300 – $400 million over four years. ‘days in office’ basis they would be office = 6.9 ha per day in office at the end of August 2018. inquiry to frame new legislation, and set up programs and institutions needed slightly ahead). Currently the state spends around to reverse the decline. * Assumes days in office to 2017 anniversary of state election. Historical days in office were obtained from VEC two to three per cent of its total www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/results-historical-vicpremiers.html 10) Protect wetlands and riversides: Continue to fund and implement the regional On 27 March 2018 the Victorian budget directly on management of riparian action plan to improve management of public and privately-owned Government announced that a total **Calculation of ratio assumes Anglesea Heathlands addition to Great Otway National Park, which is currently the environment, water and planning. riparian land for at least $15 million per year ($65 million over four years), and of 2,500 hectares of the Kuark Forest, before parliament and the addition of the 650 ha Woowookarung Regional Park (Canadian Regional Park), near The required extra investment would Ballarat, which is not reserved under the National Parks Act, though some of the provisions of the Act apply and it systematically review and identify freshwater areas (refugia) likely to facilitate north-west of Orbost, will be set aside increase this expenditure by around is managed by Parks Victoria. survival of organisms under threat from climate change. as a Special Protection Zone where half a percent. By comparison, the ***This table includes only reserves created under the National Park Act and its predecessors and does not include logging is banned. The official zoning other types of conservation reserves. The data for this analysis largely uses the creation of parks data from Parks budget for North East Link freeways You can read more detail these points and our state election policy and advocacy does not yet appear to have been Victoria plus recent additions parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/639857/Creation-of-Parks.pdf is $16.5 billion. • PW work on our website: www.vnpa.org.au/state-election-2018

8 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 9 Ten Conservation Priorities for the Victorian state election VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION 1) New national parks and conservation areas in eastern Victoria (east of the 2018 Hume Highway), including the Great Forest National Park, East Gippsland Emerald Link, Strathbogie Fores. Also include Mount Stirling in to the Alpine National Park. Comprehensively review and replace the outdated and obsolete Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) for Eastern Victoria, and abolish VicForests. 2) New national parks and conservation areas in western Victoria (west of the National parks creation Nature’s Hume Highway), including completing the VEAC investigation into Central West Victoria to better protect the Wellsford, Wombat, Mount Cole and Pyrenees forests. There should also be a new assessment carried out in the far south- needs a jump start Needs west in the area between the Little Desert and Grampians national parks. IN NOVEMBER 2017, THE ANDREWS GOVERNMENT WAS TRACKING OUR DIRECTOR MATT RUCHEL Abolish the antiquated Western Regional Forest Agreement. Establish the long- AS THE WORST PERFORMER IN TERMS OF PARK CREATION OVER THE OUTLINES TEN CONSERVATION promised Murray River Park and remove cattle grazing from the Murray shores. LAST 60+ YEARS. NOW, WITH ONLY WEEKS TO GO BEFORE THE NEXT PRIORITIES FOR THE 2018 3) Private land conservation: Dramatically increase capital in the Trust for Nature ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 24, HAS THE SITUATION CHANGED? VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION. Revolving Fund by between $30 – $40 million. A ramped up Victorian Revolving Fund is a financially effective way of scaling up private land nature protection to In November last year, VNPA changed, and these types of zonings formal role in fulfilling Australia’s VNPA has produced a detailed around 60,000 – 70,000 additional hectares over four years. An increase would strategically highlighted the failing of are not permanent protection and commitments under the Convention policy document which has been allow for priority land across the state, including coastal, urban fringe or large the state government to add to the cannot be counted in any calculation on Biological Diversity (CBD), an provided to all major political parties. agricultural holdings, to be acquired, protected (covenanted) and resold. national parks and protected area of additions to the national protected international treaty that must be The document, Natural Victoria: estate. The analysis compared the area estate. Conservation groups taken seriously. Securing Nature for Victorian Families 4) Natural Melbourne: Fast track delivery of the western grassland reserves by track record of governments over welcomed the announcement – Nature Conservation Policy Ideas increasing upfront funding for acquisition of grassland in the 15,000-hectare the last several decades (see pages but called on the government to It is clear that the Andrews government for the 2018 Victorian State Election, area on Melbourne’s western and northern fringe. Create a Naturally 6-10 Park Watch December 2017). incorporate the Kuark Forest into the and the previous Baillieu/Napthine outlines over 40 individual policy Marvellous Melbourne Plan, which would add smaller high-conservation areas adjacent Errinundra National Park. Coalition government are now neck recommendations, addressed within to the metropolitan and regional parks network. On 14 July 2018, Victoria’s and neck as the worst performing This has not been committed to. four themes: 5) Marine and coastal protection: Drop the ban on creating new marine national Environment Minister Lily governments on national park creation parks and undertake a review of the comprehensiveness, adequacy and D'Ambrosio, and Gunaikurnai Protected areas are defined by over the last half century. With a • Protecting special places: representativeness of Victoria’s marine protected areas. Protect beaches and Traditional Owner Aunty Doris Paton, the International Union for the benchmark gap of around 1.5 million a world-leading national parks shore-nesting birds by banning commercial horse training on all beaches, formally announced the creation Conservation of Nature (IUCN) hectares in public conservation areas (a and conservation estate for including on Belfast Coastal Reserve. Establish new coastal parks under the of the Brataualung Forest Park as follows: “A protected area is larger gap if private land is included), all Victorian families. National Parks Act 1975 at key sites such as the Moolap wetland. in the Strzelecki Ranges. A new a clearly defined geographical political parties need to do better. While • Managing nature for 2,390-hectare forest park is the first space, recognised, dedicated and it is too late for this term, committing to future generations: making 6) Core national parks funding: While Parks Victoria manages about 18 per cent package of land, and a total of 8,500 managed, through legal or other creating a Great Forest National Park, Victoria a world-leading of the state and some of the state’s key urban parks, as well as waterways hectares will be gradually handed effective means, to achieve the long new parks around the Emerald Link, the conservation manager. and local ports, it receives less than 0.5 per cent of the state budget. A core back over the coming years. term conservation of nature with Strathbogies, Central Western Victoria • Growing a strong and healthy funding increase of $50 million per year, with subsequent annual increases associated ecosystem services or even new marine parks would be a of at least $15 million in core government funding (non-tied) in forward This package was originally community: Victorians active and cultural values”. They have a very good place to start. • PW in nature. estimates, would bring Parks Victoria back up to speed. This would enhance announced under the Brumby Labor funding for hundreds of skill-based positions such as rangers, as well as government. However, Forest Parks, • Securing a natural future: resourcing improved long-term land management programs. legislation and policy that can a type of reserve created under the Parks created Ratio: Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, are under the National guarantee the survival of our 7) Stop the invasive invasion: Commit to a statewide control and containment Period Days in office New parks per day Parks Act or strategy in parks and across the landscape to reduce or end the impact of feral not officially counted as part of the in office (Ha) natural heritage. formal protected area estate. While equivalent. (Ha) game species, especially deer, and other problem pest animals. This needs they do outlaw large-scale industrial 1882-1955 108,036 A snapshot of ten 'Conservation a specific program that engages integrated control of these pest species, logging, they have less restrictive 1955-1972 (Bolte) 98,450 6,288 15.66 Priorities' for the Victorian state including eradication in key areas, listing deer as a pest species, improving provisions for recreation, allow fire 1972-1982 (Hamer/Thompson) 781,932 3,508 222.90 election are outlined here. research funding for targeted baits and other control methods. wood collection and, in some cases, 1982-1992 (Cain/Kirner) 1,961,097 3,837 511.10 We are realistic. While it is unlikely 8) Wandering Victoria one short walk at a time: Enhance the approach to the selective or speciality timber logging. 1992-1999 (Kennett) 127,864 2,570 49.75 that any of major parties would regional visitor economy and protect the integrity of the parks estate by 1999-2010 (Bracks/Brumby) 364,473 4,060 89.77 focusing on the hundreds of day, half-day and shorter walks in parks, instead If this new park was included in the adopt all of these policies in full, the 2010-2014 (Baillieu/Napthtine) 9,918 1,464 6.77 of developing new large-scale multi-day walks and associated infrastructure. calculations, the government would document provides a framework and This would focus on attracting people to accommodation in and around have created 9,560 hectares of new 5.2, or 6.9 if suggestions for policy which would 2014 –Aug 2018 (Andrews Govt) * 7,170 1,376 (31 Aug 2018) Brataualung Forest help protect and enhance our unique existing towns and villages. parks in this term, still 358 hectares Park is counted.* short of the previous Coalition natural heritage. If fully implemented, 9) Act on extinction: Commit to being a leader in the protection of threatened government’s total (though on a the package would cost between species, with a new approach developed by an independent commission of *Calculation 1: 7,170 ha / 1,376 day = 5.2 ha per day. Calculation 2: 7,170 ha + 2,390 ha = 9,560 ha/ 1376 days in $300 – $400 million over four years. ‘days in office’ basis they would be office = 6.9 ha per day in office at the end of August 2018. inquiry to frame new legislation, and set up programs and institutions needed slightly ahead). Currently the state spends around to reverse the decline. * Assumes days in office to 2017 anniversary of state election. Historical days in office were obtained from VEC two to three per cent of its total www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/results-historical-vicpremiers.html 10) Protect wetlands and riversides: Continue to fund and implement the regional On 27 March 2018 the Victorian budget directly on management of riparian action plan to improve management of public and privately-owned Government announced that a total **Calculation of ratio assumes Anglesea Heathlands addition to Great Otway National Park, which is currently the environment, water and planning. riparian land for at least $15 million per year ($65 million over four years), and of 2,500 hectares of the Kuark Forest, before parliament and the addition of the 650 ha Woowookarung Regional Park (Canadian Regional Park), near The required extra investment would Ballarat, which is not reserved under the National Parks Act, though some of the provisions of the Act apply and it systematically review and identify freshwater areas (refugia) likely to facilitate north-west of Orbost, will be set aside increase this expenditure by around is managed by Parks Victoria. survival of organisms under threat from climate change. as a Special Protection Zone where half a percent. By comparison, the ***This table includes only reserves created under the National Park Act and its predecessors and does not include logging is banned. The official zoning other types of conservation reserves. The data for this analysis largely uses the creation of parks data from Parks budget for North East Link freeways You can read more detail these points and our state election policy and advocacy does not yet appear to have been Victoria plus recent additions parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/639857/Creation-of-Parks.pdf is $16.5 billion. • PW work on our website: www.vnpa.org.au/state-election-2018

8 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 9 Draft recommendations

MOUNT COLE – PYRENEES WELLSFORD Public land use category National park, State park

Conservation park Regional park Forests Nature reserve Bushland reserve of the Historic reserve 15km State forest Bendigo Central West Water production reserve Community use reserve Other public land ± Investigation area boundary HIGHLIGHTING Recommended change in public land use VICTORIA’S 'OTHER' 073.75 .5 15 22.530 FORESTS WORTHY km OF PROTECTION.

Some are home to endemic and vulnerable species, others contain WOMBAT – MACEDON habitats that if protected would fill gaps in the formal reserve system. In 2010 we released our report Better Protection for Special Places which assessed many of these forests of the Central West as being suitable for protection under the National Parks Act. VNPA welcomes the recommendations in the draft Central West Investigation released by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) on 31 August (see overleaf for detail). The recommendations more than triple the total area within national and state parks in the Central West, adding to Victoria’s conservation estate and protecting more than 350 threatened species. No everything is rosy though, 45km as there are some significant Ballarat shortcomings around Mount ! Locality map Cole and Mount Lonarch forests, Bendigo with only minor additions to the conservation estate. We must ensure the next government, whoever that may be, commits to implementing VEAC's ! Ballarat recommendations. Melbourne ! Submissions close Geelong 55km 31 October 2018 ! Melbourne More information for making a submission on our website: For more detailed map, visit 30km www.vnpa.org.au/veac-central-west www.veac.vic.gov.au/investigation/ Ballarat central-west-investigation/maps 10 PARK WATCH • NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 11 Draft recommendations

MOUNT COLE – PYRENEES WELLSFORD Public land use category National park, State park

Wellsford Forest (7,122 hectares) Pyrenees Forest Walking the Where: Just 15 kilometres north-east of the historic goldfields town of Bendigo. (15,790 hectares) Values: Dominated by eucalypts, wattles and wildflowers, it’s a place to explore and Where: 180 kilometres from enjoy Victoria’s box-ironbark forests as they recover from a long history of logging. Melbourne and 70 kilometres Beeripmo clearfell trail? north-west of Ballarat in the popular The forest provides important habitat for threatened wildlife: brush-tailed phascogale, DO YOU KNOW THE EXTENT OF LOGGING AT MOUNT COLE? wine region. diamond firetail, grey-crowned babbler, speckled warbler, and the nationally endangered MATT RUCHEL REVEALS WHAT IS GOING ON OUT WEST. swift parrot. It offers excellent examples of recovering forest, and contains native Values: This high conservation value bushland of high conservation significance, linking patches in the north and south. forest is home to 240 species of native Mount Cole has long been a popular 87 per cent of Ecological Vegetation The Timber Utilisation Plan released Threats: Logging operations with seven areas scheduled (including one withs plants and over 100 bird, 15 mammal swift parrot records); gold mining/prospecting; poorly maintained and illegal tracks and 16 reptile species including legless bushwalking, camping and picnic Classes (EVCs) in the forest are by VicForests in mid 2017 identified causing erosion; and rubbish dumping. lizards, bearded dragons and tree spot for generations of people under-represented in the Central 47 logging coupes at Mount Cole. from Ballarat and Melbourne. But Victorian Uplands bioregion. Mount Of the 36 used for timber production VEAC recommends: goannas. A range of threatened species have been recorded including powerful its amenity, ambience and ecology Cole contains small patches of three coupes covering 1,267 hectares, Wellsford Forest to include an addition of 3,950 hectares to the Bendigo Regional owls, brush-tail phascogales, diamond are being wrecked by an industrial endangered and two vulnerable 19 are flagged as ‘multi-staged Parks and the creation of a 3,160-hectare Wellsford Nature Reserve which would firetails and a significant old tree site. logging trial. vegetation types. management’, which is a type of cover almost half of the Wellsford Forest. selective logging. 17 coupes covering Threats: Logging operations, with 18 It is also currently being assessed as Timber harvesting with axe and 330 hectares are flagged as ‘even- areas scheduled (including one with part of the Victorian Environmental cross cut saw began during the mid aged management’ – essentially powerful owl records); gold mining/ Assessment Council’s Central West 1840s. It was closed to logging in clearfell industrial logging. This is prospecting; poorly maintained and Investigation. 1918 due to over harvesting. Timber illegal tracks causing erosion; and the equivalent of 186 MCG football Wombat Forest (45,100 hectares) harvesting was reopened from 1947, grounds being razed to the ground. stock grazing. Just off the Western Highway, Mount by the Forests Commission, until it Where: Between Daylesford, Woodend and Ballan. Cole State Forest is 25 kilometres See the photos www.vnpa.org.au/ VEAC recommends: was merged with the environment protect/logging-mount-cole Values: Large, beautiful forest with huge diversity including over 360 indigenous plant from the township of Beaufort department in 1993. Pyrenees Forest upgraded to and an hour west of Ballarat. This and 180 native animal species. The Wombat bossiaea and Wombat bush-pea occur A team of VNPA staff recently travelled nowhere else but Wombat Forest. Contains 25 rare, vulnerable or threatened plants a new Pyrenees National Park of small patch of forest (around 9,000 According to the 2012 Department to the site to assess the situation. We and 15 threatened fauna species such as the spot-tail quoll, growling grass frog, 16,076 hectares, and a new Pyrenees hectares) rises to almost 900 metres. of Sustainability and Environment found at least five of the 17 clearfell powerful owls, and brush-tail phascogale. Regional Park of 4,160 hectares. (now Department of Land, Water and coupes have been logged in the last few The Beeripmo Walk is one of Planning): “… in the 2000's timber Threats: Logging operations with 50 logging areas scheduled; gold mining/ years, assumably as part of VicForests Victoria’s most popular walking harvesting was significantly scaled prospecting; feral animals; weeds; poorly maintained tracks and signage; and three-year trial – two had been logged tracks. It can be done as a day or back and is largely a by-product of poorly-planned prescribed burning. in the past six months, with at least overnight walk, and rewards walkers land management activities.” by winding through cool fern gullies one just finished. Some of the future VEAC recommends: Smaller reserves and tall forests, taking in views This is certainly not the case six areas flagged for clearfell logging have Wombat Forest to have significant additions, with an increase in the protection (8,420 hectares +) significant conservation values. They of around 28,000 hectares in a new Wombat-Lerderderg National Park and 9,000 across the surrounding hills of both years on. need to be retained to ensure long term hectares in a new Wombat Regional Park located in two parts. Values: A raft of smaller state forest Mount Cole and Mount Buangor. areas all have important natural values, Lying on the edge of the Pyrenees In 2014, on the eve of the Victorian ecological health of the area. including over 100 different plant species wine region there is potential for state election, the former Napthine and records for threatened fauna species. increases in tourism. government controversially gave The VEAC recommendations for These small but important areas include the government logging agency Mount Cole fall short, with much of Mount Cole Forest (9,000 hectares) Cobaw Forest, Waterloo Forest, Trawalla Mount Cole State Forest VicForests control of logging the area left open to intensive logging, Forest and Musical Gully Forest. Some was identified as having high operations in the west of the state, and the Wimmera River headwaters Where: Just off the Western Highway, 25 kilometres from the township of Beaufort, have endemic species such as the unique conservation values under VNPA’s including Mount Cole. VicForests lacking any protection. See our and an hour west of Ballarat. Ben Major grevillea (also called the Small Parks Project in 2010. There licensees are currently harvesting website for more information about Values: Small patch of forest (around 9,000 hectares), rising to almost 900 metres drooping grevillea) restricted to a small are 130 species of birds, nine around 1,000 cubic metres in making a submission into VEAC's where snow gums can be found. It is home to one of Victoria’s most popular walking area north of Beaufort, near Waterloo. threatened fauna species and Mount Cole as part of it ‘community Central West Investigation: tracks, the Beeripmo Walk. Its forest harbours over 130 different native birds, nine Others such as Cobaw include highly thirteen threatened flora species forestry’ program. www.vnpa.org.au/veac-central-west threatened fauna species, 13 threatened flora species, three endangered vegetation significant habitat with threatened occurring in the forest. • PW types and two vulnerable vegetation types, under-represented elsewhere in Victoria’s fauna such as eastern pygmy-possum, formal reserve system. powerful owl, brush-tailed phascogale and brown treecreeper. Threats: Forty per cent of the area is zoned for some sort of logging including A 25-hectare area logged within the last six months. clearfell. Little of the accessible high production timber forests at Mount Cole have VEAC recommends: been protected in national parks or other reserves. See more overleaf. Creation of a new Cobaw Conservation VEAC recommends: Park (2,453 hectares); new Hepburn Conservation Park (2,714 hecatres); new Mount Buangor National Park to be extended by 1,406 hectares, incorporating under- Waterloo Nature Reserve (1,695 hectares); represented EVC Grassy Dry Forest, protecting endangered Mount Cole grevillea. Also and new Ben Major Nature Conservation well as creating a 1,088-hectare Ben Nevis Nature Reserve on the northern flanks. Reserve (3,229 hectares), combining the Mount Cole and Mount Lonarch are the big losers in the draft recommendations, with existing Flora Reserve with adjacent bush. much of the area left open to logging. The recommendations fail to even protect the Dozens of new and expanded Bushland integrity of the Beeripmo Walk or the headwaters of the Wimmera River. Reserves.

12 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARKPARK WATCH WATCH • SEPTEMBER • SEPTEMBER 2018 2018 NO NO 274 274 13 13 PHOTO: VNPA PHOTO: Continued from previous page

12 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARKPARK WATCH WATCH • SEPTEMBER • SEPTEMBER 2018 2018 NO NO 274 274 13 13 PHOTO: VNPA PHOTO: Plucking the goose that lays the golden egg? PHOTO: TRAVELLERS TRAVEL PHOTOBOOK, FLICKR CC FLICKR PHOTOBOOK, TRAVEL TRAVELLERS PHOTO:

THE TOURISM INDUSTRY EYES OFF THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD, AS THE COALITION ANNOUNCES A NEW AUTHORITY TO MANAGE CROWN LAND, REPORTS MATT RUCHEL.

The Great Ocean Road is more than Port Campbell National Park, the home Great Ocean Road Coast Committee The other public land managers We have met with and written to the There is ample opportunity for a road; it delivers spectacular access of the Twelve Apostles, is for most (GORCC) that currently manage Crown include the Department of Coalition seeking clarification, including encouraging a suitable range to some iconic land and sea scapes, of its extent a very narrow coastal Land along the coast.” Environment Land, Water and a clear statement that the proposal: of major and minor tourism including the Twelve Apostles, but strip of land between 150 metres Planning, who control 9,771 developments on private land. While • rules out changing management also the Great Otway National Park and 700 metres wide. That means “The Great Ocean Road is an iconic hectares, much of it Otway Forest we acknowledge there may be a role and control by Parks Victoria of with its lush forests and beautiful its coastal heathlands (home to rare Victorian landmark and is home to Park, but also a range of coastal for better coordination and planning any national parks and other high beaches. It features some of our and threatened species like the rufous some of the state’s most significant reserves such as Bells Beach along the Great Ocean Road, it is conservation value crown land under most important national parks and bristlebird and metallic sun orchid) are environmental assets including the Coastal Reserve and various their care. important that it is managed by Parks protected areas. especially vulnerable to pest plant and 12 Apostles, Bells Beach, and the river frontages. Victoria, an appropriately qualified animal invasions, as well as sudden Otways.” (www.vic.liberal.org.au/ • rules out allowing large scale and constituted management agency In 2016-2017, direct tourism along the coastal erosion. Those impacts are News/2018-08-03/liberal-nationals- There are a large number of private development or long-term dedicated to the difficult job of to-create-new-authority-to-protect- Great Ocean Road was worth $495 predicted to increase under climate smaller areas (over 70) ranging development leases in national maintaining and improving the health the-great-ocean-road) million (up 18.7 per cent compared change, not to mention visitors and from coastal reserves to tennis parks and high conservation value and integrity of our remaining natural to 2015-16), and indirect tourism was tourism infrastructure. The park is crown land. While VNPA supports sensitive moves clubs managed by Committees of areas (see page 27). worth an extra $498 million to the largely backed by cleared private land. to increase tourism opportunities Management, either community- We have also written to the Andrews Great Ocean Road economy. Of the almost $1 billion in economic along the Great Ocean Road, we based, local council, or even other Government to seek understanding According to the tourism industry, government departments, totalling benefit generated in the region, The tourism industry argues that assert strongly that it must not of their position. The Coalition policy the investment will reposition the about 4,000 hectares dispersed much can be attributed to its natural the ‘jewel in the crown’ of our natural happen in a way that compromises was welcomed by some local tourism Shipwreck Coast as a world-class over the planning area. values – the vast majority currently assets, the Great Ocean Road, is now the integrity of the important national groups, but little has been said publicly tourism destination. To jobs-and- managed by Parks Victoria. The operating at the edge of capacity. parks and other areas of high by the Labor Government. growth obsessed political parties VNPA would be deeply concerned, maintenance and enhancement of (www.tourismisvictoriasbusiness. in the lead up to a likely close state conservation value in the process. and opposed to, any change Land protected under the National a healthy natural landscape – the com.au) election, the Great Ocean Road There is around 110,000 hectares of of tenure or management Parks Act is not just done on a goose that lays the golden tourism ‘golden goose’ could draw a lot of public land within five kilometres of responsibility for ‘designated whim, but usually after an extensive egg – is inadequately funded. Surely, The tourism lobby is calling for the attention – indeed it already is. state government to invest $150 the coast (both land and sea) between crown land’ in high conservation consultation process, and requires some of the revenue generated from million in stage two of the Shipwreck In early August, the Coalition fired the Geelong and Warrnambool. The bulk areas. This would include reserves legislation to pass through both these natural drawcards should be Coast Master Plan. They are also first shot, announcing that it would of this, about 87 per cent, is managed under the National Parks Act, houses of parliament. It also helps invested back into park management. calling for $3 million for further create a new Great Ocean Road by Parks Victoria, of which just under Crown Land (Reserves) Act, and fulfil various national and international Instead of duplicating Parks Victoria, planning of four iconic Victorian Authority “to manage designated Crown 80 per cent is protected under the other coastal reserves. After commitments. The delisting of a presumably at considerable expense, walks, including the Falls to Hotham Land along the Great Ocean Road”. National Parks Act (75,000 hectares of all, it is the natural beauty and national park is rarely if ever done, it would be better to fund the existing Alpine Crossing and a Croajingolong terrestrial parks and 12,000 hectares of integrity of the landscape and its except for minor boundary changes. park management body properly. Coastal Wilderness Walk. Their media release of 3 August 2018 marine national parks and sanctuaries). ecology which makes the Great A change to national park tenure A healthy, well looked-after goose states: “This new authority will replace The rest is a range of smaller coastal, Ocean Road such as special place and management would be akin will continue to lay golden eggs for Great care needs to be taken to existing organisations including local bushland and nature conservation popular with visitors and tourists. to delisting, which would cause many decades to come, as well as ensure that the integrity of the natural government, Parks Victoria, Department reserves protected under the Crown Parks are the best way to protect widespread community concern and ensuring our great natural heritage areas is protected and enhanced. of Land, Water and Planning and the Land (Reserves) Act. and manage this. take some years to resolve. is protected. • PW

14 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 15 Plucking the goose that lays the golden egg? PHOTO: TRAVELLERS TRAVEL PHOTOBOOK, FLICKR CC FLICKR PHOTOBOOK, TRAVEL TRAVELLERS PHOTO:

THE TOURISM INDUSTRY EYES OFF THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD, AS THE COALITION ANNOUNCES A NEW AUTHORITY TO MANAGE CROWN LAND, REPORTS MATT RUCHEL.

14 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 15 We can deal Community with deer call to THERE ARE REAL SOLUTIONS TO VICTORIA’S DEER protect the PROBLEM, BUT IT WILL NEED COMMITMENT FROM Strathbogie GOVERNMENT VNPA'S PARKS PROTECTION CAMPAIGNER PHIL INGAMELLS. Forest

It seems an insurmountable problem: MULDOON LINDA PHOTO: A DEDICATED COMMUNITY Significant areas up to one million deer in Victoria, The Kurrajong, the seed pod pictured here, is one of Gippsland’s most stately trees, but is now AROUND THE STRATHBOGIE of the forest have the population growing by 200,000 seriously threatened by the Victoria’s deer plague. RANGES HAS FOR THE not recovered to 300,000 thousand a year, and an LAST FIVE YEARS BEEN from logging and apparently powerful lobby group FIGHTING TO PROTECT THEIR the subsequent demanding protection for a ‘quality most characteristic trees, the stately shooting (already employed for deer UNIQUE PATCH OF FOREST, forest regeneration hunting experience’. kurrajong, is now in trouble. The adult in South Australia, Canada and New WRITES BERT LOBERT attempts. The trees are fine, but deer are feasting Zealand) should be used to keep AND MATT RUCHEL. greatest threat is the But two things are emerging to on any regenerating seedlings and deer from Victoria’s High Plains. deliberate logging change this situation. destroying young saplings. of the highest But the ultimate control tool is a conservation value

They are now united in seeking better CAMPAIGN FOREST STRATHBOGIE OUR SAVE PHOTO: First, widespread dismay over the Deer are causing road accidents, targeted and humane bait. It will protection of this special place from areas remaining many impacts of deer is growing. and due to their size, the accidents enable strategic action across the logging, poorly planned fuel reduction Forest represents only secure habitat in the entire Strathbogie Ranges. The Secondly, effective and humane are serious. A survey by the Invasive landscape, potentially removing burning and other threats in the lead up in the entire Strathbogie Ranges for logging of both Parlours’ Creek and control methods either exist or are Species Council of deer accidents deer from many areas, decreasing to the November state election. the long-term survival of hundreds of Barjarg Flat coupes, in 2016, 2017 and well into development. in just the Illawarra region of New impacts in others, while still allowing forest-dependent species. 2018, respectively, brought conflict and South Wales has shown that, of 107 recreational hunting. A number of The Strathbogie Ranges are confrontation. The plan to log another Support for deer control • A total of 34 flora and fauna accidents recorded in recent years, researchers are already working approximately 150 kilometres north- 360 hectares in core greater glider threatened species are known from is growing fast 28 resulted in injuries to people and on this, supported by some federal east of Melbourne, separated from the habitat in the coming years highlights the the Strathbogie Forest including: one resulted in death. funding. What is needed now is a main part of the Great Dividing Range incompatibility of native forest logging and Farmers across Victoria, from far East greater glider, squirrel glider, eastern funding boost, maybe $1 million by the Goulburn and Broken Rivers, threatened species conservation. Gippsland to the Mallee, are dealing Control tools are here, pygmy possum, brush-tailed a year for the next three years, to east of Euroa and north of Mansfield. with large numbers of deer invading phascogale, powerful owl and Local community and businesses are or on the way enable the control we need. their land. That invasion is attracting Their isolation from the main range, barking owl. supportive of better protections for the a plethora of rogue hunters after an Effective control of deer has That might seem a lot of money, their geology and topography, together • The Strathbogie Forest supports Strathbogie Forest. Both Liberal and Labor easy ‘drive by’ hunt. And they, in turn, happened before. In 1924, an but it’s a very cheap solution to a with their proximity to arid, inland one of the healthiest known parties have previously recognized the are placing a burden on country police outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease growing feral pest animal problem Australia, have combined to developed populations of the greater glider need for improved protections for the who are now being called out at night in California quickly spread from that has the capacity to invade the a unique combination of landforms; in Victoria. Strathbogie Forest, but are yet to deliver. to deal with them. cattle to native white-tail deer in the rest of the country. No one would a characteristic biota that is notably • Less than two per cent of the forests of the Sierras. A sense of Save Our Strathbogie Forest Campaign blink at a $3 million solution to different to the adjacent ranges to the Strathbogie Ranges is permanently Landcare groups working for urgency produced real action. Some (formerly the Strathbogie Sustainable Forest the cane toad problem, but the east and south has evolved as a result. protected in reserves. Only 3.5 per many years replanting creek-sides 43 separate camps were set up in Group) is calling for commitments from deer issue is rapidly approaching cent of the Strathbogie Forest has and natural corridors with native the rugged mountains, housing a In the last 150 years, the Strathbogie all political parties and a future Victorian the same scale. We should act permanent protection. species have seen their hard-won few hundred hunters. It took about Government for the formal protection of the before the problem gets very Ranges have lost 74 per cent of their gains trashed by feral deer, and nine months, but more than 22,000 • The Strathbogie Forest contains Strathbogie Forest under the National Parks expensive indeed. native forest cover. Two mammal peri-urban councils are uniting deer were killed and the outbreak species, the spot-tailed quoll and yellow- more than 13,000 hectares of Act. The new park should encompasses unreserved herb-rich foothill against the growing menace on was quarantined.* Victoria will soon release its draft bellied glider possum, are thought all of the existing state forest and other forest and 3,800 hectares of Melbourne’s fringe. Deer Management Strategy. • PW to have become locally extinct in the associated public land. They have, with the We can make a very good start in Strathbogie Ranges in the last 20 years. unreserved grassy dry forest that support of VNPA, produced and released An ever-increasing range of Victoria by earnestly employing * Managing a National Crisis: The 1924 would address the shortfall in a new report, Protecting the Strathbogie threatened plant species is being highly professional hunters, able to Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak in The 24,000-hectare Strathbogie Forest the protected area network in the Forest: A Community, Biodiversity & Policy seriously impacted, causing dismay act humanely, in the most vulnerable California by Kendrik A. Clements. in the east is by far the largest remnant Central Victorian Uplands bioregion, Imperative. It can be viewed here: amongst Victoria’s botanists and areas of the state. In the Alpine California History. Vol 84 Number 3, of native forest remaining in the as identified by the Victorian www.strathbogiesustainableforests. ecologists. Even one of Gippsland’s National Park, for example, aerial Spring 2007. Strathbogie Ranges. The Strathbogie Environment Assessment Council. wordpress.com • PW

16 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 17 We can deal Community with deer call to THERE ARE REAL SOLUTIONS TO VICTORIA’S DEER protect the PROBLEM, BUT IT WILL NEED COMMITMENT FROM Strathbogie GOVERNMENT VNPA'S PARKS PROTECTION CAMPAIGNER PHIL INGAMELLS. Forest

16 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 17 Left: For Dja Dja Wurrung, the wedge-tailed eagle, or Bunjil, the creator being, bestows the laws and ceremonies that ensure continuation of life on Jaara, the people.

PHOTO: ED DUNENS, FLICKR CC

species that signify the cues for Native Title Services Victoria (NTSV) ceremonies, hunting, gathering, was established in 2003. This was “Dja Dja Wurrung Country is a cultural breeding times and movements, with the same year I was elected as its landscape that is more than just tangible the transition of seasons interpreted first Chairperson. NTSV adopted a objects; imprinted in it are the dreaming through cultural values and beliefs. proactive engagement with Traditional stories, Law, totemic relationships, This is where new fire regimes, built Owner groups across Victoria, and the songs, ceremonies and ancestral spirits, on the knowledge of old fire regimes, work resulted in the introduction of which give it life and significant value to can be trialled to reach a benchmark the Traditional Owner Settlement Act Dja Dja Wurrung People... Their Country in biodiversity and use this important in 2010. is shaped from the belief system that tool in reshaping the land for future all things have a murrup (spirit) – generations. This is where traditional The Traditional Owner Settlement water, birds, plants, animals, rocks and ecological knowledge and modern- Act offers a streamlined approach to mountains. The Dja Dja Wurrung People day science can bridge to shape a settling native title claims by allowing see all the land and its creatures in a methodology to manage Country in claim groups to negotiate their claims holistic way, interconnected with each a way that is inclusive, evolutionary, directly with the state government. We other and with the people (RSA 2013).” sustainable and holistic. didn’t want the Federal Court telling Traditional Owners who was and who My family traces our ancestors to wasn’t a Traditional Owner over their before European colonisation; I am ancestral land. The new Act meant visitor experience in the parks through the a descendant of Dja Dja Wurrung that settlements could be reached sharing of Dja Dja Wurrung culture is just Ancestor Caroline Malcolm, and since and implemented sooner and that one of the outcomes hoped for from the 24 October 2013, I am recognised as stronger working relationships are implementation of the plan. a Traditional Owner of my Country. built up with the state government Like its development, the implementation As a Dja Dja Wurrung Person, I which in turn enables better of the plan will also require great feel a strong spiritual and cultural management of state land in Victoria. connection to Country and am bound collaboration, which the Dja Dja Wurrung to the land by our traditional belief After lengthy negotiations, the Dja Dja people welcome. We have great optimism GRAHAM ATKINSON IS CHAIRPERSON system that has its origins in our Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation for the future of these parks under joint OF THE DHELKUNYA DJA LAND MANAGEMENT BOARD. Dreaming and Song Lines. Today, Dja signed the historic Recognition and management. We also hope future plans PW Dja Wurrung descendants continue in Settlement Agreement (RSA) 2013 with will continue with these innovations. • the footsteps of their ancestors and the state of Victoria. The draft Joint Management Plan for the proudly assert their culture, customs A cornerstone of this is the Joint Dja Dja Wurrung Parks is available at: Manyangurr ngulumbara dhelkunya the parks, and provide recognition and abide by Bunjil’s lore – without Management Plan for the Dja Dja www.dhelkunyadja.org.au Djandaki murrupi: We meet together to to Dja Dja Wurrung People in the conflicting with any Australian laws. Wurrung Parks, which sets out a return good health to Country and Spirit. cultural landscape. Graham will be our guest speaker at VNPA’s The need to connect and care for plan for the six parks that have been Annual General Meeting on 9 October 2018. On the 30 August 2018, in Bendigo, It has been a long journey to attaining Country is the force that drives the granted to the Dja Dja Wurrung People on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, an this recognition of our People’s journey towards land justice for as Aboriginal title. This is a new form of important milestone for the Dja rights and responsibilities to care Aboriginal People in recent decades. title in Victoria, and although a form of Dja Wurrung People of Central for Country, a cherished aspiration In the bigger picture, addressing past freehold, the holders of Aboriginal title Victoria was quietly marked with the of the Dja Dja Wurrung People. injustices is the journey towards cannot sell or transfer the land, and the Dhelkunya Dja Land Management For me it has involved nearly two reconciliation and healing the Nation, state retains the right to “occupy, use, Board adopting the first Joint decades of persistent work in the land and remains an ongoing journey as control and manage the land”.

Management Plan (JMP) for the Dja Dja justice space. LAND DJA DHELKUNYA PHOTO: BOARD MANAGEMENT we deal with unfinished business and Joint management of the parks must Wurrung Parks. closing the gap between Indigenous The Dhelkunya Dja Land Management be consistent with the legislation Manyangurr ngulumbara dhelkunya Djandaki murrupi Joint management here recognises and mainstream Australia. We meet together to return good health to Country and Spirit These are the Greater Bendigo and Board (DDLMB) worked in close that the Traditional Owners have a under which the parks were created Draft Joint Management Plan

Kara Kara national parks, Kooyoora collaboration with the Dja Dja significant connection to their Country, The Dja Dja Wurrung People lodged e.g. the National Parks Act. Aboriginal for the Dja Dja Wurrung Parks: and Paddys Ranges state parks, Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and in turn, have inherent rights their first Native Title claims in 1998 title does not change the uses Hepburn Regional Park and Wehla (DDWCAC), Dja Dja Wurrung and responsibilities to care for their and 1999 in response to the passing for which the public lands have STRATEGY Nature Conservation Reserve. Enterprises (trading as Djandak), Country. It listens to the voices and of the Native Title Act 1993. The claims been set aside for recreational and Parks Victoria, and Conservation wisdom of the Traditional Owners in only covered four small areas of conservation purposes in the broader Together with many partners we have Management to develop our plan. managing the parks estate in Victoria. crown land. sense. We consulted widely to engage delivered, for the Minister’s approval, CSIRO brought to the process an a broad range of community input a sophisticated and comprehensive innovative and empowering model of Dhelkunya Dja means 'Healing Land' When two of these didn’t pass the to shaping the plan, and worked parks management draft plan, which participatory planning and working or 'to make good Country' in the Dja registration test, I became actively hard to get the balance right for all involved in the claim. In 2000, the will protect natural, historic and with Aboriginal Communities that Dja Wurrung language. Country is park users, while ensuring that the Dhelkunya Dja Land Management Board cultural values in these six Victorian provided opportunities to shift the understood on many levels with signs of individual claims were successfully environment, history and culturally April 2018 parks, empower the Traditional paradigm of parks management particular culturally significant species amalgamated into ‘Whole of Country significant values of the parks are Owners in the joint management of in Victoria. and interaction with them. It is these Claim’, but progress was slow until the protected. The potential to enhance

18 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 19 Left: For Dja Dja Wurrung, the wedge-tailed eagle, or Bunjil, the creator being, bestows the laws and ceremonies that ensure continuation of life on Jaara, the people.

PHOTO: ED DUNENS, FLICKR CC

18 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 19 ANNUAL REPORT arree nnoott 2017–2018 eaches a CC FLICKR STANIC, MICK PHOTO: The Bogong High Plains will have a chance Our B to heal with the removal of feral horses. President’s Report Euan Moore The last After years of campaigning and Count, while a new cohort of volunteers twelve months protesting we have at last seen the took part in the first Sea Slug Census of continued to be release of a management plan for Point Western Port and Port Phillip Bays.

PHOTO: CHRIS SMYTH CHRIS PHOTO: very busy for the Nepean National Park, which allows for Back on land our NatureWatch program Racehorses galloping up Belfast Coastal Reserve. organisation, acceptable uses of the old quarantine with no shortage station while maintaining the important continues to expand into new areas, THE FINAL MANAGEMENT PLAN HAS BEEN RELEASED FOR THE of issues for our natural values of the park. VNPA staff with teams of local volunteers deploying BELFAST COASTAL RESERVE – AND IT’S NOT GOOD, REPORTS campaign staff have put in many hours working with motion sensing cameras to photograph NATURE CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNER SHANNON HURLEY. to work on. community groups and planners to wildlife and song meters to record the achieve this result, and I congratulate sounds of the forest. In December Our natural areas them on the success of their efforts. NatureWatch celebrated its tenth The Belfast Coastal Reserve Final Management Plan The plan is unbalanced and incompatible with protecting on land and at sea continue to face threats anniversary, and ten years of Grass (see: www.engage.vic.gov.au/belfast) entrenches the race the original purposes of the reserve, which is to conserve its from invasive species, inadequate resources While Point Nepean has been a win for Tree monitoring in the Brisbane Ranges for management, inappropriate development, horse industry on our public beaches. natural, cultural and recreational values. nature, inappropriate development plans National Park. We’re immensely proud and the grand designs of those who seek to continue to plague some of our other of this program, which is a leader in The plan allows 175 racehorses or more per day ploughing It’s a coast, not a race course. It is hard to see how the beach profit from the public estate. national parks. Planned redevelopment citizen science. up and down these beaches between Warrnambool of the Chalet area at Mt Buffalo is an amenity and threatened species habitat will be protected One of our major ongoing campaigns is Community engagement is an important and Port Fairy. This number more than doubles what ecological and economic disaster in under this plan. to have commercial racehorse training part of VNPA’s work. It is how we the current interim license allows for, which is only up to the making, where profits, if any, would removed from the Belfast Coastal Reserve encourage people to appreciate our 65 horses per day. The Andrews Government is blatantly ignoring community where it represents a threat to the nationally be taken by the private sector and costs will be transferred to the public. natural environment and create a desire concern, as submissions suggested that commercial horse endangered hooded plovers, as well as other to protect it. We are starting young with The Andrews Government has set a terrible precedent for training was not supported by the majority of the local coastal flora and fauna, and to the public at The proposed Falls to Hotham Alpine essentially commercialising Victoria’s public beaches. Crossing is another scheme, and is our Wild Families events for families community. large who may wish to visit these beaches. with children under 10. These events Currently the state government through inappropriate for the Alpine National Commercial racehorse training will take place at four encourage families to get out in the bush Entrenching and expanding commercial racehorse training in regulation and planning is supporting and Park. It would require excessive locations within the reserve – Levys Beach, Hoon Hill, infrastructure and servicing and and provide education/entertainment the reserve is a concern for the wider Victorian community. subsidising a single powerful industry, to the Rutledges Cutting, and Killarney Beach. These include discourage traditional bushwalkers from materials to engage the children. It sets a terrible precedent for Victoria’s coastal planning and detriment of all other Victorians. The process important breeding and nesting sites for shorebirds the route. It also presents a high risk for We continue to provide an extensive management, reflecting poorly on the Andrews Government. that is being used to allow racehorse training bushwalking and activities program led including the nationally threatened hooded plover. The plan at this location also represents a threat to all people who attempt the walk without itself identifies the impact on coastal dune vegetation and proper equipment. by volunteers which enables members VNPA supporters from across Victoria have already delivered other sandy beaches in the state. and non-members to enjoy our parks and shorebirds from “habitat degradation from disturbance over one thousand letters and petitions on this issue to VNPA has also continued our other areas. The excursions group has of horse training activities” as high – even after Invasive species represent one of the relevant ministers. campaigns for better governance of also offered a good range of day trips to management action. biggest threats to our natural areas, yet action to control them is rarely adequate or our natural areas. Good governance is many of our members. We are currently looking at all options to overturn the effective. VNPA has been campaigning for essential if our flora, fauna and natural This clearly shows that commercial racehorse training is too Finally I would like to express my sincere damaging parts of the plan. many years for better control of invasive estate are to be protected. In this area great a risk, and should not be permitted within the reserve. thanks to everyone who has in various species such as feral horses and deer. we have advocated for better laws to ways contributed to VNPA over the last You can act by contacting the ministers who have the power Towards the end of the year we saw some protect marine and coastal areas, an To accommodate the increase in commercial racehorse year: our hardworking staff, who in spite to change the course of the plan. They need to know you positive moves from government on this improved Flora and Fauna Guarantee training, to meet Occupational Health Safety Requirements of the pressures maintain a friendly office are disappointed in the final plan, and want commercial front, with the release of Parks Victoria’s Act, and more funding to manage our and other rules, the racing industry will be required to environment that is always a pleasure to racehorse training in the reserve overturned. For help doing Feral Horse Strategic Action Plan which will protected areas. There have been some build new infrastructure such as carpark expansions for visit; our volunteers who help in so many a greater number of horse floats, installation of fencing, so, visit: www.vnpa.org.au/our-beaches-are-not-racetracks. focus on Alpine areas, an indication that our small gains in this area, but much less than is needed for sound management ways, as BWAG or excursions leaders, barriers and other structures. campaigning is getting results. There is still much work ahead to protect this highly of our natural heritage. serving on committees or contributing We have been engaged in a large range to policy development, campaigns and significant coastal reserve, its threatened species and their Horses can be trained at purpose-built facilities, but our of management plans and strategies, and Our citizen science programs continue to the running of the organisation; and shorebirds, like the sensitive Aboriginal cultural heritage habitats, and its cultural values; and to ensure our beaches have responded very positively to draft gain strength and expand into new areas. finally, our many donors, supporters and sites in the reserve, can’t be relocated. remain a place for Victorians to safely enjoy. • PW co-management park plans prepared by Our ReefWatch program saw a record Members – without whom we simply the Gunnaikurnai (Gippsland) and Dja Dja 700 volunteer divers and snorkelers would not exist. Thank you for your Wurrung (central Victoria) Traditional Owners. taking part in the Great Victorian Fish support and generosity.

20 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 VNPA ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 Statement by Members of the Council In accordance with a resolution of the Council of the VNPA, the members of the Council LNG tanker transferring LNG to FSRU. Financial declare that: This is what the Gas Import Facility The members of the Council have could look like. Report determined that the Association is 1. The financial statements and notes comply with Australian Accounting Standards AGL’S PROPOSAL FOR A HUGE Abridged Audited not a reporting entity and that this and give a true and fair view of the financial position of the VNPA as at 30 June 2018 PERMANENT FLOATING LNG SHIP IN Special Purpose special purpose financial report should and its performance for the year ended on that date; WESTERN PORT BAY COMES WITH HUGE RISKS, Financial Report be prepared in accordance with the 2. At the date of this statement there are reasonable grounds to believe that the VNPA EXPLAINS SHANNON HURLEY AND THE for the year ended accounting policies outlined in Note will be able to pays its debts as and when they fall due; 1 to the financial statements and SAVE WESTERNPORT GROUP. 30 June 2018. 3. This declaration is signed in accordance with subs 60.15 (2) of the ACNC Regulation 2013. the provisions of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 and the This statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the Council and is Australian Charities and Not for Profits signed for and on behalf of the Council by: Commission Act 2012. Gary Allan (Treasurer) & Euan Moore (President) dated this 6th day of September 2018.

INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2018 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2018 REVENUE 2018 2017 ASSETS 2018 2017 Operating Activities $ $ Current $ $ Appeals and Donations 916,357 892,299 Cash and Cash Equivalents 1,466,626 1,107,925 Bequests 195,673 8,763 Receivables and Inventory 31,370 16,275 Grants & Sponsorship 206,068 207,017 Total Current Assets 1,497,996 1,124,200 Membership Fees 92,441 98,223 Non-Current Interest income & Sundry Sales(1) 51,108 49,799 Fixed Assets (WDV) 62,220 67,894 Total Income 1,461,647 1,256,101 TOTAL ASSETS 1,560,216 1,192,094 EXPENDITURE LIABILITIES Employment Expenses 848,587 864,327 Current and Non-Current 751,887 556,522 Campaigns, Projects, Activities & Education 111,164 125,868 TOTAL LIABILITIES 751,887 556,522 Office & Administration 165,001 157,043 NET ASSETS 808,329 635,572 Printing/Publications/Web 73,028 68,513 Funded by: Accommodation & Insurance 97,299 102,556 Total Association Funds 808,329 635,572 Total Expenses 1,295,079 1,318,307 Under the instruction of the Auditor, this information is CURRENT YEAR OPERATING SURPLUS (DEFICIT) 166,567 (62,206) presented differently than in previous years. Comprised as The full Independent Auditor’s Report will be tabled at Individual bequests received in excess of $25,000(2) 159,575 the forthcoming Annual General Meeting as part of the Audited Financial Statements and the full text of the GENERAL OPERATING SURPLUS (DEFICIT) FOR YEAR $6,992 (62,206) Report will be available at www.vnpa.org.au. Independent Audit Report: As in previous years, the Auditor’s have issued a qualified Audit Opinion on the annual financial statements on the basis that it is not feasible for organisations such as VNPA to implement accounting controls over all cash collections from donations prior to their initial processing in the accounting records. (1) This statement includes a net contribution of $5,348 from the Bushwalking and Activities Group (2017: $6,194) (2) It is Council Policy to transfer all individual bequests in excess of $25,000 to reserves. The Reserve Policy is designed to assist with future variability in income and act as a means to strengthen the long term future of VNPA. Please contact the office to get more information. AGL’S PLAN TO

VNPA’s work to protect Victoria’s natural places is only possible thanks to the support of Donors, partners & supporters dedicated and generous donors and partners. Our key supporters are listed below. INDUSTRIALISE DONORS: RedBoats Friends of the Earth ENGIE AND LNG HOEGH COURTESY PHOTO Academy of Scuba The Nature Conservancy Friends of the Prom Anonymous Malcolm Shore Geelong Environment Council WESTERN PORT BAY The Arnold Foundation Tree Pot Geelong Field Naturalists Club Aquability Victorian Government Greening Australia Aquatic adventures scuba Grow West Western Port Bay is a Port and the Mornington PROJECT PARTNERS: Hindmarsh Landcare Network Australian Diving Instruction unique tidal bay and wetland Peninsula are up in arms about Bank Australia 1st Gisborne Scouts Killarney Coastcare Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron Academy of Scuba La Trobe University with remarkable environmental a potentially disastrous gas project which Coastcare Victoria Albert Park Yachting and Angling Club Living Links and recreational values right on the fringe of could put it all at risk. Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Belfast Coastal Reserve Action Group Marine Care Point Cooke Melbourne – including the protected areas of French The Dara Foundation Birdlife Australia Marine Care Ricketts Point Island, Churchill Island and Yaringa marine national What is the project? Coastcare Victoria Dive and Dive Melbourne Water parks.The bay has an exceptionally high productivity of Connecting Country Mount Worth & District Landcare Group Diveline marine vegetation that supports a very wide range of The AGL Gas Import Facility project proposes to permanently Dive2U Deakin University Museums Victoria invertebrates, fish and marine mammals. moor a gigantic 300-metre long floating storage and Equity Trustees Limited Department of Environment, Land, Queenscliff Environment Forum Water and Planning regasification unit (FSRU) at Crib Point jetty, right in the waters Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife Queenscliff Community Association Dive 2U Western Port Bay contains one of the most southerly of this ecologically sensitive bay. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) Gras Foundation Trust Save Our Strathbogie Forest Campaign Diveline extents of mangroves in the world, and the largest Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Save Westernport would be imported by similarly sized foreign-owned bulk Earthcare St Kilda Kaplan Dascalu Fund, a sub-fund of the Southern Cross University remaining saltmarsh areas for Victoria. It is also an tankers. The LNG is unloaded into the FSRU for regasification. Australian Communities Foundation Eco Insights The Royal Society of Victoria internationally significant Ramsar site, recognised for Loftus-Hills Fund, a charitable fund of the Environment East Gippsland The University of Melbourne protecting over 10,000 migratory shorebirds, including But there’s more ... Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation Environmental Justice Australia Victorian Environment Friends Network the critically endangered eastern curlew that feeds on Environment Victoria Melliodora Fund, sub-fund of the Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council itsextensive intertidal mudflats and wetlands. From Crib Point, there would need to be a new gas pipeline built – Australian Communities Foundation Far West Friends of the Hooded Plover The Wilderness Society (Victoria) 60 kilometres worth all the way to Pakenham. A pipeline easement Ocean Divers Flora Fauna Research Collective Wombat Forestcare Port Phillip Ecocentre Friends of Bunyip State Park It is for this reason VNPA is not alone in standing for its 15 metres wide would pass through significant vegetation of VicNature2050: VNPA co-hosted VicNature2050 Scuba Culture Friends of Brisbane Ranges National Park protection. Local community groups spanning Western Warringine Park (south of Hastings) and through farmland. with The Royal Society of Victoria, Arthur Rylah Sea All Dolphin Swims Queenscliff Friends of Kurth Kiln Institute, La Trobe University, Greening Australia, Sealife Melbourne Friends of Mount Worth State Park Bio 21 Institute, University of Melbourne and the Continued overleaf Southern Cross University Friends of Point Addis Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 21 VNPA ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 CHRIS AND LOUISE FROM THE LOCAL SAVE WESTERNPORT GROUP REPORT BACK FROM THEIR COMMUNITY. AGL comes with huge risks to our special Western Port Bay wonderland. But not on our watch. Local communities of Crib Point, Bittern, Balnarring and Somers, have been out in force opposing AGL’s plans. So far we have: yy Had over 200 people turn out at AGL community meetings in Balnarring and more than 100 people at Crib Point. yy Rallied 450 people at the Hastings foreshore. yy Presented to local councils on our concerns. yy Collected 2,250 signatures on petitions to deliver to state parliament. yy Individuals are displaying their opposition with ‘No AGL’ signs on their fences.

At first very few local residents knew about the community meetings, and many WESTERNPORT SAVE PHOTO: areas did not have meetings at all. But this was soon turned around. As a result Hands up at a community meeting to opposing AGL's of the hard work and persistence by many concerned locals we spread the plans for Western Port Bay. word far and wide through the broader community and additional information sessions were held. 450 concerned community members turned out to rally. The increasing frustration and outrage of residents at each meeting is clear. Very basic questions about lighting, noise, exact route of the pipeline and vegetation clearing, exclusion zones and gas tankers remain unanswered. There is also concern about the risk to our local economy, with estimates of tourism providing 5,000 full time equivalent jobs – a third of all employment in the Bass Coast council area. The Gas Import Facility will provide just 43

PHOTO: PARKS VICTORIA PARKS PHOTO: specialist jobs. The beautiful Duchers Swamp, French Island National Park, Western Port Bay. Continued from previous page Our Western Port Bay is too precious to risk. This is why so many of us are standing together in the face of potentially detrimental projects until our concerns are addressed. Our community will not stop until Western Port Bay is safe. Why the concern? Where does the project sit politically? To find out more visit us at savewesternport.org and follow the links to

• The process to convert LNG to pressurized gas for transportation The project has so far been openly criticised by federal Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. VNPA PHOTO: via pipeline requires 450 million litres of organism and plankton- ministers and the state opposition, but has been rich seawater to be sucked in, sterilised, and chlorinated, and welcomed by the Andrews Government. It has the then returned into the bay up to seven degrees colder than the potential to be the latest political skirmish in the national surrounding waters. Fish, penguins and even seals could be energy debate. Prom, working with scientists, tourism trapped on the intake grills and drown. operators and community groups to AGL argue that this is about addressing shortfalls of eradicate marine pests. • Chlorine will be released into the surrounding seawater as a gas supply and driving down gas prices for Victoria. Meet by-product of the process to prevent the build-up of marine The Andrews Government has welcomed this, despite After spending the past two years organisms on the facility. This could have potentially devastating repeatedly claiming that Victoria has no shortage of gas. our new working to protect our Great Barrier Reef impacts on the surrounding marine life. Australia’s Energy Market Operator confirmed in their with the Australian Marine Conservation • The increased number of ships coming into Western Port Bay report released in June 2018 that there is no gas shortage Society, I saw the importance of working increase the potential for incidences of spills and collisions with in Victoria (www.aemo.com.au/gas/national-planning- campaigner with communities and how they could marine life. VNPA has done previous work on the impacts of oil and-forecasting/gas-statement-of-opportunities). Media SHANNON HURLEY use their voice to enact change at spills on bird life, mangroves, seagrass and saltmarsh, including reports also quote latest research from Macquarie Equities HAS HIT THE GROUND the government level to protect our video simulations here: www.vnpa.org.au/save-western-port saying importing LNG into the south-east could further environment. My highlights from this boost east coast gas prices rather than lower them. RUNNING AS OUR • Increasing greenhouse gas emissions could contribute an NEW ADVOCATE FOR role were an trip to Poland to shine an international spotlight on the GBR at the additional 150,000 tonnes of extra carbon dioxide to the Either way, it appears that the AGL proposal is an VICTORIA'S NATURE. environment, at a time when we should be transitioning to opportunistic project, with relatively short-term horizons, World Heritage Committee Meeting, and renewable energy. which could have real long-term impacts on Western leading a roadtrip to train volunteers in • In fact, the bay should be protected for its immense value for Port Bay. I am very excited to have recently joined much-loved native animals and community organising for the reef. ‘blue carbon’ – Western Port Bay seagrass and mangroves VNPA as the new Nature Conservation their environments were declining. I am excited to return back to Victoria store up to 40 times more carbon than a tropical rainforest! What’s next? Campaigner, and I cannot wait to I also loved working with people, – my home. I am thrilled to be working (www.thebluecarboninitiative.org/new-manual-for-measuring- meet you! which lead to my first job in the VNPA along with other state and local conservation groups with the VNPA, which includes all of you. assessing-and-analyzing-coastal-blue-carbon) environment sector as a Park Ranger. will be working to stop the project from going ahead. At the I grew up swimming at Victoria’s This took me across the state to To empower the Victorian community • There are a number of threatened species that could be affected very least we are urging for the project to be subject to a full stunning beaches and picnicking among Wilsons Promontory, Queenscliff and to take action to achieve change at from both aspects of the project. From the pipeline these include: the and thorough environmental assessment at both state and the spectacular Mountain Ash trees in the Mornington Peninsula to share the local and government level is my endangered southern brown bandicoot and coastal saltmarsh (listed federal levels before a final decision is made. • PW the Dandenong Ranges National Park my love for our Marine National biggest mission. as a threatened community under The Environment Protection and on weekends away with my family. This Parks and Sanctuaries. Biodiversity Conservation (EBPC) Act 1999). From the Gas Import is what first sparked my love for nature. I hope to meet many of you along Facility: two species of ghost shrimp, and critically endangered I then took on a role as a marine this adventure we have together in As I grew older, I started to see first- project officer with Parks Victoria, protecting the incredible nature Victoria migratory birds such as the far eastern curlew and curlew sandpiper. Further information about the project: • Impacts on the local community and farmers through the building www.vnpa.org.au/western-port-bay-risk hand and hear stories about how our which took me back to the pristine has to offer. • PW of new infrastructure and risk of explosions.

22 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 23 CHRIS AND LOUISE FROM THE LOCAL SAVE WESTERNPORT GROUP REPORT BACK FROM THEIR COMMUNITY. AGL comes with huge risks to our special Western Port Bay wonderland. But not on our watch. Local communities of Crib Point, Bittern, Balnarring and Somers, have been out in force opposing AGL’s plans. So far we have: yy Had over 200 people turn out at AGL community meetings in Balnarring and more than 100 people at Crib Point. yy Rallied 450 people at the Hastings foreshore. yy Presented to local councils on our concerns. yy Collected 2,250 signatures on petitions to deliver to state parliament. yy Individuals are displaying their opposition with ‘No AGL’ signs on their fences.

22 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 23 Discovery Bay Marine National Park Nursery grounds for Southern Right Whales Twelve Apostles Marine National Park Rugged cliffs and spectacular rock stacks system. It is current government policy that no new marine national Point Addis Marine National Park MARINE parks will be created”. Haunt of the mysterious Weedy Sea Dragon Mallacoota

Both major parties have previously Melbourne Lakes Entrance NATIONAL stated their support for a ban on new

marine parks. The ALP policy was Geelong Portland PARKS POLICY announced at the 2014 election as Warrnambool part of their aim to target one million Anglesea Seaspray TASMAN SEA recreational fishers, in response Port Campbell Wonthaggi ADRIFT to a policy announcement from Apollo Bay SOUTHERN OCEAN the Coalition. Marine National Parks BASS STRAIT Banning something that provides Marine Sanctuaries enormous ecological, economic and social benefits simply does not make Beware Reef sense. In the case of the Andrews Marine Sanctuary WE MUST KEEP Government, it undermines decades The value of Victoria’s Tremendous biodiversity ADVOCATING FOR of leadership in this area. What is marine network with over 80 fish species VICTORIA'S MARINE particularly perplexing is that around

PROTECTED AREAS SAYS HURLEY SHANNON PHOTO: this same period the federal Gillard The wild beauty of Victoria’s southern SHANNON HURLEY. government announced the world's coast and marine environment draws millions of visitors each year largest network of marine protected Ninety Mile Beach areas in Australia. While this was – to stroll on beaches and peer into later wound back by the Abbot rock pools, to watch seabirds riding Marine National Park coastal breezes, to surf and paddle, government, it nevertheless begs the Vast underwater plains rich in sea life In 2002, Victoria took a grand preceeded the Victorian Environment and explore underwater reefs and question, what has happen to Labor’s environmental stand that inspired and Assessment Council (VEAC)). sponge gardens. the world and influenced a nation, vision and leadership in this space? Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park following almost two decades of Their management has never These attractions reflect the great The Victorian Branch of the ALP Underwater caves and sponge gardens science, consultation and debate. been perfect, and there are still diversity of habitats – sandy significant gaps. 2018 Platform, (a document signed shores and muddy flats, estuaries, The Bracks Labor government off at the state party conference) saltmarshes, cliffs, rocky reefs, proclaimed 13 new marine national A 2012 VNPA assessment found notes: “Labor has a proud record seagrass meadows, kelp forests – parks and 11 marine sanctuaries, at least 20 additional areas of high of achievement in Victoria with the inhabited by a multitude of life forms, Importantly, recreational fishers this. Even if Victoria’s marine protected many unique to Victoria. We have protecting 5.3 per cent of Victorian conservation significance worthy of creation of marine national parks” and nation-wide are in support of areas were doubled – to bring us closer a richer diversity of species in our marine waters and their unique protection, and many shortfalls in the commits to “maintain existing Marine marine sanctuaries: to international benchmarks of 10 per existing reserve design. National Parks and reserves”. What coastal backyard than most other cent protection – 90 per cent of our marine life. • 91 per cent of NSW fishers think it lacks is the commitment required temperate seas worldwide. Our waters state’s marine waters would still be Similarly, VEAC's May 2017 State-wide sanctuaries are a good idea; But how the politics have drifted on to complete the reserve system in have the world's greatest diversity of available for fishing. Assessment of Public Land, stated red and brown seaweeds, sea mosses, marine protection since. Victoria, and instead commits to “… • 88 per cent of fishers surveyed that “…it is evident from preliminary crabs, shrimps and sea squirts. continue to investigate measures to gave support in principle to the Many of the recreational fishing groups assessments based on available Victorians are extremely lucky – protect marine biodiversity”. From Discovery Bay in the west, establishment of sanctuaries in have been coy so far in the lead up to around 90 per cent of the plants and information that the existing system protecting deep reefs dotted Western Australia; the state election. The Peak Fishing animals in Australia’s southern waters of no-take marine protected areas It is even more disappointing that we with colourful sponge gardens, • 66 per cent of South Australian fishers body, VRFish, do not mention marine are found here and nowhere else has some gaps in representation, and have lost of sense of leadership for to Cape Howe in the east that believe sanctuaries are a good idea national parks in any of their election on the planet. The diversity of these individual marine protected areas may our diverse marine places when a only protects both cool and warm-water just months after the establishment requests, but seek “...to protect access waters is even greater than in the not meet the adequacy criterion.” a mere 5.3 per cent of the coastline species – Victoria offers countless of that state’s marine park network. to our fishing locations, gain access celebrated Great Barrier Reef. lies within no-take area marine parks experiences of exceptional coastal to closed areas and address conflict”. VEAC’s Recommendation 21, that in the first place. and marine environments. Port Looking ahead The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Yet despite the high value of our “Victoria’s marine environment be Phillip Bay provides some of the Party has been pushing the ‘right to southern waters and their need for reviewed for the comprehensiveness, Globally, there is a goal of achieving most accessible right on Melbourne’s When it was created, Victoria’s marine fish’ legislation and have a long-held protection, the future of new marine adequacy and representativeness 10 per cent protection of coastal and doorstep, with Ricketts Point the network was claimed to be a “world- stance against national parks – marine parks in Victoria uncertain. of its marine protected areas ...” was marine areas by 2020 (CBD Aichi perfect place to introduce kids to class marine protected area network”. or terrestrial. essentially rejected by the Andrews Biodiversity Target 11. www.cbd.int/ the wonderland of life living among How will the world look back on Where are we at now? Government, which instead agreed sp/targets) sandstone rock pools. And Western Victoria’s leadership in this space? A formal policy banning new marine to do a broader values assessment. Port Bay’s immense value for ‘blue national parks is much like agreeing The original designation of the The Andrews Government’s response Public support is high for Victoria's carbon storage’, with seagrass and There are certainly no shortage with the coal lobby on climate change Victorian marine protected areas on the 12 December 2017 explicitly marine national parks and mangroves, as found in Yaringa and of threats faced by our marine – at its core it is a rejection of science. network was an outcome of ruled out new marine national sanctuaries, with a 2013 assessment Churchill Island Marine National Parks, communities. We cannot resist Let's hope the major parties see the recommendations from the parks: “The review will not include commissioned by the Victorian stores up to 40 times more carbon adaptation and resilience at a time sense and leave the door open to Environment Conservation Council’s recommendations to expand Coastal Council finding that 93 per than a tropical rainforest! when our species need it the most, and once again making Victoria a leader in Marine Investigation 2000 (which Victoria’s marine protected area cent of respondents support them. protected areas are a key tool to achieve marine protection. • PW

24 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 25 Discovery Bay Marine National Park Nursery grounds for Southern Right Whales Twelve Apostles Marine National Park Rugged cliffs and spectacular rock stacks system. It is current government policy that no new marine national Point Addis Marine National Park MARINE parks will be created”. Haunt of the mysterious Weedy Sea Dragon Mallacoota

Both major parties have previously Melbourne Lakes Entrance NATIONAL stated their support for a ban on new marine parks. The ALP policy was Geelong Portland PARKS POLICY announced at the 2014 election as Warrnambool part of their aim to target one million Anglesea Seaspray TASMAN SEA recreational fishers, in response Port Campbell Wonthaggi ADRIFT to a policy announcement from Apollo Bay SOUTHERN OCEAN the Coalition. Marine National Parks BASS STRAIT Banning something that provides Marine Sanctuaries enormous ecological, economic and social benefits simply does not make Beware Reef sense. In the case of the Andrews Marine Sanctuary WE MUST KEEP Government, it undermines decades The value of Victoria’s Tremendous biodiversity ADVOCATING FOR of leadership in this area. What is marine network with over 80 fish species VICTORIA'S MARINE particularly perplexing is that around

24 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 25 Mount Buffalo National Park will now be managed by a new Parks Victoria, acting with unambiguous responsibility to administer the clear conservation objectives of Victoria’s National Parks Act. Fire management policy, however, remains with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Should alternative truths capture Buffalo? Will power go to Parks Victoria’s head? ‘HOPEFULLY IT WILL’, SAYS PHIL INGAMELLS, REPORTING ON A CHANGE OF LEGISLATION THAT COULD HAVE FAR REACHING A PROPOSAL FOR MEGA DEVELOPMENTS ON MOUNT BENEFITS FOR OUR NATIONAL

BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK HAS MISREPRESENTED PARKS AND RESERVES. INGAMELLS PHIL PHOTO: WELL-ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLES AND PLANS FOR PARK MANAGEMENT, SAYS PHIL INGAMELLS. Parks Victoria was brought into the Under successive governments • A few responsibilities remain with

PHOTO: PHIL INGAMELLS PHIL PHOTO: world in 1996 under the parentage Parks Victoria’s budget dwindled as the Secretary of the Department The Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group’s plan for developments includes a highly intrusive, of the Kennett government. Its birth its responsibilities grew. Its ambition of Environment, Land, Water and quite unnecessary, aerial walkway over The Gorge, one of the plateau’s finest natural attractions. was in line with that government’s to successfully manage Victoria’s and Planning, most notably ‘purchaser-provider’ model for public biodiversity became lowered, and fire management. When the self-appointed Mount For example, they claimed their Critically, there is one document Buffalo’s institutions: the Secretary of the the environment department’s • Arrangements for Traditional Owner Buffalo Destination Advisory Group proposal is in line with Tourism would-be developers failed to refer to at environment department would be obligations to mandate the standard co-management of parks, wherever published their ‘Vision for Mount Victoria’s Nature-based Tourism all: the current Victorian Government’s responsible, under Victoria’s National of management, required by its that has been or will be determined, Buffalo’ last year, they claimed they Strategy (2008-2012), because it Tourism Leases in National Parks: Guidance Parks Act 1975, for our national parks obligations under the National Parks remain unchanged. had ‘ticked all the boxes’. would “heighten nature-based tourism Note. Perhaps it was omitted because and reserves, but Parks Victoria Act, weakened. awareness”. But that strategy actually it would be hard to create an alternative would be engaged as the provider of In the minister’s speech to Parliament Over two full pages, they proudly opposes major developments inside interpretation of its core objective: management services. The ‘purchaser-provider’ model for outlining the reasons for the changes to outlined how their scheme for a parks, stating instead that “in general, improving management of Victoria’s the Act, she said: “Rather than encouraging developments The former National Parks Service was conservation estate may have been plethora of spa hotels, bars, shops significant built infrastructure should “A strengthened Parks Victoria … will inside national parks, tourism amalgamated with Melbourne Parks an inspired notion in principle, but it and assorted other commercial be located adjacent to a park, and sited help better realise the benefits to the developments will be encouraged to and Waterways, and the new statutory faded to a chimera in practice. developments they proposed for and constructed in such a way as to environment and the community of be sited on private or other public land authority, Parks Victoria, was fully the park was aligned with 13 state be compatible with the conservation well-managed parks and reserves, and outside parks, in locations that are more fledged in 1998, operating under its and local government plans objectives of the adjoining park”. A big change for will enable it to be a world-class park and strategies. likely to bring economic benefits directly own Parks Victoria Act 1998. And they claimed they were to regional towns. This is consistent park management management agency equipped to tackle Parks Victoria was effectively the increasing management challenges But their claims of compliance were addressing Victoria’s High Country with the worldwide trend for resorts and Now, under a radically revised Parks contracted to manage 4.1 million of the twenty-first century.” largely waffle, or just plain wrong. Destination Management Plan (2013) largescale tourism developments to be Victoria Act 2018, responsibility for hectares of the state’s Crown land, by “incorporating various forms of located outside national Parks.” implementing the strong conservation VNPA asked for a new structure short stay accommodation”. But while most of which was under the National The claim, for example, that the There is one more government strategy objectives of the National Parks Act for Parks Victoria in our influential that plan asks for revitalisation of the Parks Act, with several thousand proposals are in line with Victoria’s that doesn’t get mentioned: the Victorian rests squarely and unambiguously Nature Conservation Review 2014. We historic Mount Buffalo Chalet, it does smaller reserves managed under a Climate Change Adaptation Plan Visitor Economy Strategy Action Plan with Parks Victoria. The new pointed out that “Parks Victoria, a not call for additional developments series of other Acts – not to mention a (2017-2020) was based on (2016-2020). It called for a Visitor PV Act also transfers a range of separate authority with responsibility within the national park. Indeed, range of waterways, piers and jetties. statements like: “The Mount Buffalo Experience Plan for Mount Buffalo, and responsibilities under a number of for management of protected areas, Vision is for a resilient, adaptable the plan grew from the North East is unable to set its own policies it was commissioned by Parks Victoria, But the child was wilful and its other Acts directly to Parks Victoria, and diverse range of products and Victoria: Tourism Gap Analysis (2012), and priorities, despite having the but was inexplicably dumped before it guardian preoccupied. Expectations of such as the Crown Land Reserves services to become established which cited eight examples of luxury greatest knowledge of protected area went out for public consultation. improved performance and economy, Act 1987 and parts of the Port which will reduce the region’s eco accommodation that could be management. (www.vnpa.org.au/ and stronger accountability, faded Management Act 1995 that relate otherwise high vulnerability to emulated in the region, such as: It’s time to revert to Parks Victoria’s wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ fairly quickly. In a few years Parks to waterways. climate change”. Really? Kangaroo Island’s Southern Ocean well-conceived plan to simply restore NCR-Chapter5.pdf) Victoria had established a degree Lodge; Sweden’s Treehotel; Germany’s the majority of the main Chalet building. The new arrangement has a few of independence, in some years The new changes are an improvement, Sometimes a quote or two from Baumgefluester Resort; and Victoria’s Then we can concentrate on the important features: scarcely communicating with the and hopefully they will lead to better a peripheral paragraph was cited Dunkeld Eco Lodges. But all of the important task of looking after the park, various iterations of the environment • It enables the Environment Minister management of our prime natural areas. as compliance with a document, eight examples cited are actually its plants and its animals, in line with department, located only a kilometre to issue a ‘statement of obligations’ But Parks Victoria will also have to claim, ignoring that document’s clearly situated on public land adjacent to one more document the group ignored: or two away but seemingly at times in to Parks Victoria, setting out the and be given, the funds and expertise stated core objectives. parks, or in private bushland. Victoria’s National Parks Act. • PW another country. broad expectations of the Minister. needed to fulfil its important role. • PW

26 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 27 Mount Buffalo National Park will now be managed by a new Parks Victoria, acting with unambiguous responsibility to administer the clear conservation objectives of Victoria’s National Parks Act. Fire management policy, however, remains with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Should alternative truths capture Buffalo? Will power go to Parks Victoria’s head? ‘HOPEFULLY IT WILL’, SAYS PHIL INGAMELLS, REPORTING ON A CHANGE OF LEGISLATION THAT COULD HAVE FAR REACHING A PROPOSAL FOR MEGA DEVELOPMENTS ON MOUNT BENEFITS FOR OUR NATIONAL

26 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 27 Left: Candlebark and red stringybark dominate the ecological corridor along the Channel. Top right: Old yellow box along Burgoynes Lane. The paddock on right is completely cleared. Bottom right: Granitic outcrops and ecological corridor on the slopes of Mount Alexander. PHOTOS: GEOFF LACEY GEOFF PHOTOS: natural Along country lanes The pattern of connections At South Gap we left the aqueduct and While the channel provides a major walked uphill to the west along Faraday– north-south corridor in the region, there Sutton Grange Road. We had lunch on are many elements in the ecological pathways a high spot with splendid views of the network. Branches of Sandy Creek have southern slopes of Mount Alexander, with intermittent cover, that becomes denser their grassy groundstorey, large granitic downstream to the east as it approaches VNPA MEMBER GEOFF LACEY TAKES US FOR A WALK ALONG AN ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR IN CENTRAL VICTORIA. outcrops and belts of trees here and there, the Coliban River. Myrtle Creek has good including a continuous belt along the road. cover and flows north, then east into the We came across additional bird species, Coliban. The tree-lined roads provide good Ecological corridors Moons Lane to South Gap There is a great charm in walking along shrike-thrush, yellow robin, superb including the common bronzewing, yellow- corridors that link up with the channel and this beautiful lane and I felt at home in fairy-wren, white-eared honeyeater, Our parks and reserves are the main In August 2016 I walked with a friend tufted and yellow-faced honeyeaters. with branches of the two creeks. such country. The appearance of the striated and spotted pardalotes, reservoirs of biodiversity in Victoria. along the Coliban Main Channel and woodland varies continually along the willy wagtail, magpie and welcome We then headed south, away from the The old trees are of special importance But these are not isolated. The rural some adjacent quiet roads. It was a walking track. Sometimes one tree swallows. Pallid and fan-tailed aqueduct, along McKittericks Road. This is in these remnants. They provide a countryside is criss-crossed by cold but sunny day. We started from species dominates and then another. cuckoos proclaimed the spring. lined with manna gum, candlebark, yellow protective environment for the small corridors rich in remnants of the original Moons Lane, Sutton Grange (not far box, drooping sheoak, blackwood, black plants, birds and other animals. ecosystems. The corridors run along from where the channel goes under The tree trunks come in untidy textures We crossed a branch of Sandy Creek wattle and Sydney green wattle, which rivers and creeks, roadsides and railway the Calder Freeway) and headed north. from white on the candlebark to dark Walking along such ecological corridors and noted small granitic outcrops on was in bright flower. A beautiful sight was reserves, forming a rich ecological grey or mottled, in sunlight and shadow. is a wonderful experience; it leads The channel reserve is a 100-metre wide the hillslopes to the north-west. In the an ephemeral wetland with sedges and network that connects the reserves of us into a deeper appreciation of the strip of woodland, bordered by open The ground is covered in rich green creek bed, we examined a fractured rushes, bordered with mature manna intact bushland. land. We can more readily perceive farmland. (This section is not open to grasses, or else low shrubs or leaf and block, part covered with moss and gums and candlebarks. the structure of the landscape, with These corridors make possible the the public and permission is required to bark litter. Sedges grow dense in the lichen. Some farms to the north have The ecological condition of the farmland its ridges and drainage lines – how spread of indigenous plants and the daily go there.) The land is gently undulating, waterlogged patches. been cleared and are grassy. Others varies. Some farms have retained much it all holds together. We can observe foraging and migratory movements of with soils of fairly low fertility on a retain mature trees. of the woodland, but others have largely the pattern of the vegetation and the mammals and birds. Patches of remnant bedrock of granodiorite. There are Some of the adjacent farms have We crossed McKittericks Road where cleared it. We continued south into importance of the connection for bushland on farms enhance their benefit. wineries on the higher and steeper land retained plenty of trees, including the channel winds its way through Burgoynes Lane. There are some large mammals and birds. And we experience towards Mount Alexander to the north. mature red stringybark – isolated or as An interesting example of a corridor remnant woodland. The trunk of one steeper granitic hills. The channel clusters of narrow-leaf peppermint along the joy of their presence. • PW in central Victoria is the reserve along The overstorey trees include stringybark leans well over, with a long crosses over Myrtle Creek which is the road and in one farm paddock. These the Coliban Main Channel (an open candlebark, yellow box, red stringybark lined with dense wattles and eucalypts, are rare in this district. A big old yellow forked branch extended down as if to For more information on the gravity water channel built in the late and cherry ballart. At the time of including candlebark and swamp gum. box, with twisted branches and ragged protect it. trees, see B. Slattery, E. Perkins 1870s) from Fryers Range State Forest European settlement this undulating There is a large patch of remnant bark, stands nearby. We passed patches & B. Silver, Eucalypts of the This linear reserve supports a variety (near Elphinstone) to Mt Alexander granitic country was covered in open vegetation on the west side of the of silver wattle in bloom, a clump of Mt Alexander Region, Friends of Regional Park and the Greater Bendigo woodland that included the eucalypt of bird species. We saw many crimson channel, and some big yellow box on blackwood and, in places, a groundstorey the Box-Ironbark Forests (2016). National Park. species present today. rosellas; also the kookaburra, grey farmland. Ten kangaroos passed by. of native grasses.

28 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 29 Left: Candlebark and red stringybark dominate the ecological corridor along the Channel. Top right: Old yellow box along Burgoynes Lane. The paddock on right is completely cleared. Bottom right: Granitic outcrops and ecological corridor on the slopes of Mount Alexander. PHOTOS: GEOFF LACEY GEOFF PHOTOS: natural Along country lanes The pattern of connections At South Gap we left the aqueduct and While the channel provides a major walked uphill to the west along Faraday– north-south corridor in the region, there Sutton Grange Road. We had lunch on are many elements in the ecological pathways a high spot with splendid views of the network. Branches of Sandy Creek have southern slopes of Mount Alexander, with intermittent cover, that becomes denser their grassy groundstorey, large granitic downstream to the east as it approaches VNPA MEMBER GEOFF LACEY TAKES US FOR A WALK ALONG AN ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR IN CENTRAL VICTORIA. outcrops and belts of trees here and there, the Coliban River. Myrtle Creek has good including a continuous belt along the road. cover and flows north, then east into the We came across additional bird species, Coliban. The tree-lined roads provide good Ecological corridors Moons Lane to South Gap There is a great charm in walking along shrike-thrush, yellow robin, superb including the common bronzewing, yellow- corridors that link up with the channel and this beautiful lane and I felt at home in fairy-wren, white-eared honeyeater, Our parks and reserves are the main In August 2016 I walked with a friend tufted and yellow-faced honeyeaters. with branches of the two creeks. such country. The appearance of the striated and spotted pardalotes, reservoirs of biodiversity in Victoria. along the Coliban Main Channel and woodland varies continually along the willy wagtail, magpie and welcome We then headed south, away from the The old trees are of special importance But these are not isolated. The rural some adjacent quiet roads. It was a walking track. Sometimes one tree swallows. Pallid and fan-tailed aqueduct, along McKittericks Road. This is in these remnants. They provide a countryside is criss-crossed by cold but sunny day. We started from species dominates and then another. cuckoos proclaimed the spring. lined with manna gum, candlebark, yellow protective environment for the small corridors rich in remnants of the original Moons Lane, Sutton Grange (not far box, drooping sheoak, blackwood, black plants, birds and other animals. ecosystems. The corridors run along from where the channel goes under The tree trunks come in untidy textures We crossed a branch of Sandy Creek wattle and Sydney green wattle, which rivers and creeks, roadsides and railway the Calder Freeway) and headed north. from white on the candlebark to dark Walking along such ecological corridors and noted small granitic outcrops on was in bright flower. A beautiful sight was reserves, forming a rich ecological grey or mottled, in sunlight and shadow. is a wonderful experience; it leads The channel reserve is a 100-metre wide the hillslopes to the north-west. In the an ephemeral wetland with sedges and network that connects the reserves of us into a deeper appreciation of the strip of woodland, bordered by open The ground is covered in rich green creek bed, we examined a fractured rushes, bordered with mature manna intact bushland. land. We can more readily perceive farmland. (This section is not open to grasses, or else low shrubs or leaf and block, part covered with moss and gums and candlebarks. the structure of the landscape, with These corridors make possible the the public and permission is required to bark litter. Sedges grow dense in the lichen. Some farms to the north have The ecological condition of the farmland its ridges and drainage lines – how spread of indigenous plants and the daily go there.) The land is gently undulating, waterlogged patches. been cleared and are grassy. Others varies. Some farms have retained much it all holds together. We can observe foraging and migratory movements of with soils of fairly low fertility on a retain mature trees. of the woodland, but others have largely the pattern of the vegetation and the mammals and birds. Patches of remnant bedrock of granodiorite. There are Some of the adjacent farms have We crossed McKittericks Road where cleared it. We continued south into importance of the connection for bushland on farms enhance their benefit. wineries on the higher and steeper land retained plenty of trees, including the channel winds its way through Burgoynes Lane. There are some large mammals and birds. And we experience towards Mount Alexander to the north. mature red stringybark – isolated or as An interesting example of a corridor remnant woodland. The trunk of one steeper granitic hills. The channel clusters of narrow-leaf peppermint along the joy of their presence. • PW in central Victoria is the reserve along The overstorey trees include stringybark leans well over, with a long crosses over Myrtle Creek which is the road and in one farm paddock. These the Coliban Main Channel (an open candlebark, yellow box, red stringybark lined with dense wattles and eucalypts, are rare in this district. A big old yellow forked branch extended down as if to For more information on the gravity water channel built in the late and cherry ballart. At the time of including candlebark and swamp gum. box, with twisted branches and ragged protect it. trees, see B. Slattery, E. Perkins 1870s) from Fryers Range State Forest European settlement this undulating There is a large patch of remnant bark, stands nearby. We passed patches & B. Silver, Eucalypts of the This linear reserve supports a variety (near Elphinstone) to Mt Alexander granitic country was covered in open vegetation on the west side of the of silver wattle in bloom, a clump of Mt Alexander Region, Friends of Regional Park and the Greater Bendigo woodland that included the eucalypt of bird species. We saw many crimson channel, and some big yellow box on blackwood and, in places, a groundstorey the Box-Ironbark Forests (2016). National Park. species present today. rosellas; also the kookaburra, grey farmland. Ten kangaroos passed by. of native grasses.

28 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 29 The Places You Love alliance has The Australian Senate is currently 2037 strategy. The process included developed a four point plan. holding an inquiry into Australia's one round of public submissions faunal extinction crisis. This includes and a series of meetings with 1) Create strong national the wider ecological impact of stakeholders. According to the environment laws that genuinely faunal extinction, the adequacy of summary of submissions: “The protect Australia’s natural Commonwealth environment laws, submissions received in response to environment. The Australian existing monitoring practices, and a the Consultation Paper indicated a Government must retain strong appetite among contributors responsibility for, and effectively range of other matters. for even broader-scale reforms to protect, current Matters You can see our submission here: biodiversity regulation in Victoria”. of National Environmental www.vnpa.org.au/publications/ Unfortunately, this appetite was Significance. National oversight submission-australias-faunal- largely ignored. must be expanded to a broader extinction-crisis set of matters to ensure The amendments at best can be more effective and efficient Thank you to all our supporters described as a ‘neatening up’, and environmental protection of: who also made submissions (now fall well-short of strengthening • Australia’s national parks and closed). And thank you to everyone legislation to address the extent reserves; who joined VNPA, our fellow national of the problem or match the scale • Critical habitat and climate parks associations from other states, of the issue. The Bill is in many refugia for threatened species; and other environmental groups and ways a missed opportunity. It • Impacts from land clearing; organisations from across the country retains many of the same powers, • Greenhouse gas emissions and in Canberra earlier in September for and remains largely discretionary, air pollution; the Stand Against Extinction Rally. subject to political winds and whims. • Water resources; Ecosystems More work needs to be done to and wetlands of national Meanwhile in Victoria flora and strengthen the legislation, and more Push for significance; fauna protection flops resources to combat the problem on • Protecting against invasive many fronts. species; Amendments to Victoria’s key piece The biggest change has been to the threatened • National biodiversity hotspots; of threatened species legislation process for listing of species. The and The Flora and Fauna Guarantee current FFG Act largely only lists • Vulnerable ecological Act 1988 have been introduced to species as ‘threatened’. The common species reform communities. state parliament. While the FFG Amendment Bill 2018 has passed assessment method, which is used PHOTO:CAITLIN GRIFFITH PHOTO:CAITLIN 2) Establish an independent the lower house, it is unclear with the in federal legislation and many other The golden sun moth is listed as endangered in Victoria. National Sustainability current backlog of the upper house jurisdictions, has subcategories – THE LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES IS GROWING AT AN Ever-increasing urban development puts more and Commission. The Commission if it will pass there. The Greens have extinct; extinct in the wild; critically more pressure on its grassland habitat. ALARMING RATE, AND THEY NEED BETTER PROTECTION AT will be responsible for developing also moved amendments. endangered; endangered; vulnerable; BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS, SAYS MATT RUCHEL. plans, setting standards and and in the case of a taxon of fish, reporting on performance. In its current form it will prove conservation dependent. inadequate in addressing the scale of 3) Establish an independent Over 2,000 species and ecological and ecological communities, are rules to implement state laws, through our extinction trajectory. The review of the FFG Act by the National Environmental department had a narrow scope, communities are listed as threatened considered threatened with extinction. the Code of Forest Practice. In another Protection Authority (EPA). with extinction nationally. example VNPA is campaigning on, the The problems with the current lacked substantiative consultation Threatened species are allegedly The EPA will conduct transparent horse racing industry gets special access FFG Act are well documented, and and was largely undertaken without protected through a web of legislation environmental assessments and In the last 200 years Australia has to public land at the Belfast Coastal the consultation undertaken to date an eye to what was really needed at national and state levels that has inquiries as well as undertake had one of the worst extinction Reserve, and interests of threatened highlights the need for better legislative to deal with the extinction crisis. been developed over the last 50 years. monitoring, compliance and records in the world. species that live there like the beach- protection to be put in place. Perhaps a leaf should be taken out enforcement of environmental So far our country’s threatened species nesting shore bird the hooded plover, are of the EPA review process, and an In Victoria, the situation is worse. conditions and standards. The Andrews Government’s 2014 laws appear to work only if there is not a put second. The hooded plover is listed as independent review undertaken by election policy was to “…review the Since European settlement over half commercial interest wanting to use the one of the federal government’s 20 priority 4) Guarantee community rights appropriately qualified experts to of the state’s native vegetation has same space. In reality, they are weak, bird species, and as vulnerable under the and participation. Strengthening Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act”, scope the real reforms needed to been cleared, and 18 species inconsistent and subject to a great deal federal and Victorian law. community rights and increasing and the ALP party platform 2014 protect our unique flora and fauna. of mammal, 2 birds, 1 snake, of political discretion. participation is critical to was to “modernise threatened Likewise, if states cannot regulate 3 freshwater fish, 6 invertebrates Need for stronger national improving the accountability of, species protection to adopt world’s Decisions often ignore science and adequately enough, perhaps the and 51 plants have become extinct. nature laws and access to, environmental best practice”. ecological health objectives if a federal government will be forced decision-making. Between one quarter and one third of commercial interest is involved. Notably, There is an ongoing push by conservation The review was undertaken by the to take a stronger leadership role. In all of Victoria’s terrestrial plants, birds, industrial logging of native forests is groups across the country, including VNPA, More detail here: www.placesyoulove. Department of Land, Water and reality, both jurisdictions need to act to reptiles, amphibians and mammals, exempt from national environmental calling on federal parliamentarians to org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ Planning in a parallel process to stop extinction, through both stronger along with numerous invertebrates laws and have their own special set of strengthen our national environmental laws. PYL-policy-briefer-June2018.pdf developing the statewide Biodiversity laws and proper funding. • PW

30 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 31 The Places You Love alliance has The Australian Senate is currently 2037 strategy. The process included developed a four point plan. holding an inquiry into Australia's one round of public submissions faunal extinction crisis. This includes and a series of meetings with 1) Create strong national the wider ecological impact of stakeholders. According to the environment laws that genuinely faunal extinction, the adequacy of summary of submissions: “The protect Australia’s natural Commonwealth environment laws, submissions received in response to environment. The Australian existing monitoring practices, and a the Consultation Paper indicated a Government must retain strong appetite among contributors responsibility for, and effectively range of other matters. for even broader-scale reforms to protect, current Matters You can see our submission here: biodiversity regulation in Victoria”. of National Environmental www.vnpa.org.au/publications/ Unfortunately, this appetite was Significance. National oversight submission-australias-faunal- largely ignored. must be expanded to a broader extinction-crisis set of matters to ensure The amendments at best can be more effective and efficient Thank you to all our supporters described as a ‘neatening up’, and environmental protection of: who also made submissions (now fall well-short of strengthening • Australia’s national parks and closed). And thank you to everyone legislation to address the extent reserves; who joined VNPA, our fellow national of the problem or match the scale • Critical habitat and climate parks associations from other states, of the issue. The Bill is in many refugia for threatened species; and other environmental groups and ways a missed opportunity. It • Impacts from land clearing; organisations from across the country retains many of the same powers, • Greenhouse gas emissions and in Canberra earlier in September for and remains largely discretionary, air pollution; the Stand Against Extinction Rally. subject to political winds and whims. • Water resources; Ecosystems More work needs to be done to and wetlands of national Meanwhile in Victoria flora and strengthen the legislation, and more Push for significance; fauna protection flops resources to combat the problem on • Protecting against invasive many fronts. species; Amendments to Victoria’s key piece The biggest change has been to the threatened • National biodiversity hotspots; of threatened species legislation process for listing of species. The and The Flora and Fauna Guarantee current FFG Act largely only lists • Vulnerable ecological Act 1988 have been introduced to species as ‘threatened’. The common species reform communities. state parliament. While the FFG Amendment Bill 2018 has passed assessment method, which is used PHOTO:CAITLIN GRIFFITH PHOTO:CAITLIN 2) Establish an independent the lower house, it is unclear with the in federal legislation and many other The golden sun moth is listed as endangered in Victoria. National Sustainability current backlog of the upper house jurisdictions, has subcategories – THE LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES IS GROWING AT AN Ever-increasing urban development puts more and Commission. The Commission if it will pass there. The Greens have extinct; extinct in the wild; critically more pressure on its grassland habitat. ALARMING RATE, AND THEY NEED BETTER PROTECTION AT will be responsible for developing also moved amendments. endangered; endangered; vulnerable; BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS, SAYS MATT RUCHEL. plans, setting standards and and in the case of a taxon of fish, reporting on performance. In its current form it will prove conservation dependent. inadequate in addressing the scale of 3) Establish an independent Over 2,000 species and ecological and ecological communities, are rules to implement state laws, through our extinction trajectory. The review of the FFG Act by the National Environmental department had a narrow scope, communities are listed as threatened considered threatened with extinction. the Code of Forest Practice. In another Protection Authority (EPA). with extinction nationally. example VNPA is campaigning on, the The problems with the current lacked substantiative consultation Threatened species are allegedly The EPA will conduct transparent horse racing industry gets special access FFG Act are well documented, and and was largely undertaken without protected through a web of legislation environmental assessments and In the last 200 years Australia has to public land at the Belfast Coastal the consultation undertaken to date an eye to what was really needed at national and state levels that has inquiries as well as undertake had one of the worst extinction Reserve, and interests of threatened highlights the need for better legislative to deal with the extinction crisis. been developed over the last 50 years. monitoring, compliance and records in the world. species that live there like the beach- protection to be put in place. Perhaps a leaf should be taken out enforcement of environmental So far our country’s threatened species nesting shore bird the hooded plover, are of the EPA review process, and an In Victoria, the situation is worse. conditions and standards. The Andrews Government’s 2014 laws appear to work only if there is not a put second. The hooded plover is listed as independent review undertaken by election policy was to “…review the Since European settlement over half commercial interest wanting to use the one of the federal government’s 20 priority 4) Guarantee community rights appropriately qualified experts to of the state’s native vegetation has same space. In reality, they are weak, bird species, and as vulnerable under the and participation. Strengthening Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act”, scope the real reforms needed to been cleared, and 18 species inconsistent and subject to a great deal federal and Victorian law. community rights and increasing and the ALP party platform 2014 protect our unique flora and fauna. of mammal, 2 birds, 1 snake, of political discretion. participation is critical to was to “modernise threatened Likewise, if states cannot regulate 3 freshwater fish, 6 invertebrates Need for stronger national improving the accountability of, species protection to adopt world’s Decisions often ignore science and adequately enough, perhaps the and 51 plants have become extinct. nature laws and access to, environmental best practice”. ecological health objectives if a federal government will be forced decision-making. Between one quarter and one third of commercial interest is involved. Notably, There is an ongoing push by conservation The review was undertaken by the to take a stronger leadership role. In all of Victoria’s terrestrial plants, birds, industrial logging of native forests is groups across the country, including VNPA, More detail here: www.placesyoulove. Department of Land, Water and reality, both jurisdictions need to act to reptiles, amphibians and mammals, exempt from national environmental calling on federal parliamentarians to org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ Planning in a parallel process to stop extinction, through both stronger along with numerous invertebrates laws and have their own special set of strengthen our national environmental laws. PYL-policy-briefer-June2018.pdf developing the statewide Biodiversity laws and proper funding. • PW

30 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 31 NATURE WATCH

Introducing our new NatureWatch Coordinator THE POWER OF LEADING OUR LAND-BASED CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM IS THE PERFECT ROLE FOR SERA BLAIR WITH HER FAMILY CURTIS THE PHOTO: EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN THREATENED SPECIES CONSERVATION AND ONE COMMUNITY-LED PROJECTS. (or two) PHOTO COURTESY SERA BLAIR SERA COURTESY PHOTO

A RETIRED OPTOMETRIST CHANGED THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT GRASS-TREES, SHARES PHIL INGAMELLS. I am very excited to be the new habitat, in 2005 I started Friends of people. I look forward to meeting NatureWatch program coordinator! I Leadbeater’s Possum. This group other keen VNPA citizen scientists am a long-term follower of VNPA and brought together amazing people out in the field! • PW From time to time, individual native survives in scattered, highly have immense respect for the amazing with a shared passion and dedication species become listed as threatened fragmented populations. job such a small, dedicated group of to saving this species and their under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee (FFG) Act. But that only He also found that, unlike many other people do. forest habitat. We battled industries, Ecotours and walking grass-trees, the grey grass-tree could governments, bushfires and leeches happens when someone nominates a

be highly susceptible to fire, actually INGAMELLS PHIL PHOTO: I came to Australia from Canada 19 in the High Country, species, and backs up that nomination to fight for their survival while showing 42 per cent mortality after one years ago, following my Australian with compelling evidence. Top: Peter and Helen Curtis in their beloved ‘Warbies’. engaging the broader community in East Gippsland observed fire event. This meant they husband. Before I moved here, I spent the issue. I left the group after ten When Wangaratta optometrist Peter should be protected from planned burns. Inset: Long unburnt grey grass-trees, many years living in Borneo studying wild and beyond soon after a mass-flowering. years, and it is still going strong and Curtis retired some years ago, he spent orangutans. I was also lucky enough Are you curious about the natural world? is now part of an amazing networks much of his time assisting his wife Even more disturbingly, he could to spend time caring for orangutans Imagine immersing yourself in nature of community-led projects working Helen with flora surveys in the Warby- see their gradual decline through vulnerable plants. Most particularly, he was who were orphaned by poaching of while we share our love and knowledge spreading infestations of root-rotting distressed that Parks Victoria had neither to save Victoria’s amazing mountain of the environment with you. Ovens National Park. destruction of the rainforest. This work ash forests and all the biodiversity Phytophthora. the finances nor the staff to administer the galvanised my passion for threatened they contain. Peter, according to his son, had saving protective dose he knew could help species conservation, so when I arrived a remarkable set of qualities: he By 2013, his research had significantly the Warby Range grass-trees. at our new home in Healesville, I set to I went on to complete a PhD was community minded, restlessly contributed to the listing of the grey Phoning and writing from his bed, he was work learning about local threatened investigating community attitudes intelligent, and obsessive. For many grass-tree as threatened under the FFG determined to pass on his knowledge to species. As a forest ecologist, my towards a range of issues in years these qualities had made him Act. But he didn’t stop there. anyone who would listen, or anyone who husband taught me about Leadbeater’s threatened species conservation in prepared to ‘rattle the cage’ and He researched the application of might do something to get the park’s possum. I was amazed to learn their Victoria. I learned that extinction is challenge conventional wisdom. ‘phosphonate’, a chemical known to not acceptable to Victorians, that managers to act. conservation issues were so similar Let us arrange the accommodation, Noting the impact of a control burn that protect plants from Phytophthora, we want our government to be the driving, the walks and talks. Even to those of orangutans – both losing escaped through a stand of very old establishing that an appropriate Hopefully, the many years and countless acting to save species, and that the your meals appear like magic. Enjoy the habitat to paper production. grass-trees in the ‘Warbies’, he engaged strength, with consecutive applications volunteer hours Peter and his wife Helen community believes they have many companionship of a small group of spent building our understanding of like-minded nature lovers and return in a twenty-year obsession that led one-two months apart, could safely and My first job in Australia was at roles in conservation as landowners, nature and working to protect it will be home refreshed, informed and invigorated. eventually to a PhD from La Trobe effectively be applied and would not Earthwatch and, ironically, I managed pet-owners and voters. With this University. harm nearby plants. rewarded by action from Parks Victoria. the Leadbeater’s possum project where knowledge and my experience It is, after all, the agency the community volunteers went into the field with coordinating and participating in Gippsland High Country Tours He established that the grass-trees Late last year I visited Peter, who was has appointed as nature’s custodian. scientists to monitor the species and citizen science projects, I jumped of the Warby Ranges were not your spending the last months of his life their habitat. This introduced me to at the chance to work with VNPA’s Phone (03) 5157 5556 everyday austral grass-tree, but the bedridden in a Wangaratta nursing Peter Curtis was posthumously awarded an OAM in this year’s Queen’s Birthday the amazing value of citizen science in NatureWatch program. It is a perfect www.gippslandhighcountrytours.com.au similar grey grass-tree (Xanthorhoea home. He had every reason to rest conservation. Realising forest planning fit for me and I have instantly felt at glauca), which was once widespread on his laurels, but he was determined honours list. • PW was failing to protect Leadbeater’s home with such a wonderful group of in north-central Victoria but now to do what he could to protect these David and Trish Curtis contributed to this story. Advanced Ecotourism Certification. Est. 1987

32 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARKPARK WATCH WATCH • SEPTEMBER • SEPTEMBER 2018 2018 NO NO 274 274 33 33 NATURE WATCH

32 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARKPARK WATCH WATCH • SEPTEMBER • SEPTEMBER 2018 2018 NO NO 274 274 33 33 You might be lucky to glimpse the critically endangered plains-wanderer in the park. IN PARKS

Terrick Clockwise from left: Reigels Rock. The original section of the Terrick park includes Palaeozoic National Park granite outcrops. One of the nationally- significant grassland paddocks. There are about 200 indigenous archaeological sites including this scar tree. Views from the top of Mount Terrick Terrick.

GEOFF DURHAM REVISITS THE ONLY NATIONAL PARK IN THE VICTORIAN RIVERINA BIOREGION. PHOTO: MATTHEW RODGERS, FLICKR CC FLICKR RODGERS, MATTHEW PHOTO: DURHAM GEOFF PHOTOS:

Terrick Terrick National Park, 225 Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands cypress pine in Victoria. It is crossed the crow flies, but probably about three The picnic area, at the base of Mount kilometres north-west of Melbourne, Investigation, further additions, by a network of gravel tracks with times this. It is a riparian woodland wildlife Terrick Terrick, has an information 13th Annual Friends Weekend has a split personality. The split is including twelve scattered outlying seasonal closures and includes corridor with river red-gum, black box shelter, tables and composting toilets, Terrick Terrick National Park three ways – land with trees and nationally-significant grassland a 100 hectares Reference Area. and tangled lignum, and is habitat of the but no water and no fires. Camping Davies homestead site rocky outcrops, flat grassland with paddocks, have increased the area Download the Parks Victoria Visitor threatened species carpet python, barking is free at the adjacent camp ground. 2.30pm Friday 5 October to very few trees, and Bendigo Creek. to 6,390 hectares. The farmland Guide for a map. owl and the Victorian endangered grey- A short, steep walking track leads to noon Sunday 7 October 2018 purchases have been made with crowned babbler. the trig point from which there is a All invited. Free event. Camping sites available. The name Terrick Terrick is of The park's grasslands, complemented 360 degree view. Pyramid Hill (187 Commonwealth and state funds. yy Wildflower display yy Presentations Aboriginal derivation, although there by Trust for Nature covenanted My first visit was an Easter walk in the metres) is about 15 kilometres north- and nature walks yy Working bees The original section of the park state park in 1994. In 1997, on a National is uncertainty about its meaning. The farmland, are of national significance. west, Mount Hope 20 kilometres yy Mini-bus tours country is the territory of the Dja Dja includes Palaeozoic granite outcrops, They have numerous endangered Parks Advisory Council inspection of the north, and the silos of Mitiamo five Enquires: 5480 9254 or Wurrung people and associated notably Mount Terrick Terrick, flora and fauna species, notably grasslands, we were caught in the open kilometres south. Mount Hope and [email protected] clans. There are about 200 indigenous Bennetts Rock and Reigels Rock, annual buttons and pepper grass, the in a sudden violent squall, with wind so Pyramid Hill were named and climbed archaeological sites including middens, with outwash slopes and evidence hooded scaly-foot legless lizard and strong I had to clutch a fence post to by Major Mitchell in 1836. Part of the 2018 Naturally Loddon Spring Festival rock wells, and scarred trees. of gravel extraction and erosion the quail-like plains-wanderer, listed avoid being thrown to the ground. We The Mitiamo Silos are still operating, control works. The vegetation prior to as critically endangered nationally and retreated to the bar of the Mitiamo Hotel but the Swan Hill passenger train no piggeries, pet food factory, salt works and Terrick Terrick State Park (2,493 European settlement was a mosaic at number four on the world’s most to dry out. In 2006 I attended the first longer stops at the railway station. It is quarry. Filipino families are an integral part hectares), covering the forest and of grey and yellow box eucalypts important bird list. meeting of the Friends of Terrick Terrick a sign of the times that the hotel has of the community. There are shops, a café, woodland area, was created in and white cypress woodlands with National Park at the Davies homestead a well-maintained museum and many 1988 as a result of the 1985 Land some buloke. Now it is mostly an Bendigo Creek is often dry, although and was fortunate enough to see plains- not only closed, but has been removed, as has the police station, and the community organisations. We stayed at Conservation Council Murray Valley open forest-woodland of white it usually retains pools of water. It wanderers. My most recent visit was in the old-style, friendly, Victoria Hotel. Area Final Recommendations. cypress pine, due largely to extensive runs generally north, and ends in Kow April this year. It was very dry and not school is now a private residence. A general store (with fuel) survives. Extended to the north-east by the regeneration following a wildfire in the Swamp. This section in the park is a the season for wildflowers. In spring, If your interest is in national parks, car addition of former farmland, Terrick 1880s, and subsequent silvercultural narrow strip of streamside reserve the everlastings (and Paterson’s curse) The township of Pyramid Hill is a touring, walking, birds or grassland Terrick National Park (3,770 hectares) activities that have reduced the meandering through grassland from can be spectacular. In 24 hours the only contrast to Mitiamo. The train stops ecology, you should visit Terrick Terrick was created in 1999. Following the density of grey and yellow box. This Hopper Road to Balderstone Road, overnight campers had seen 40 species here with twice daily service to and National Park. There is no other like it in Environment Conservation Council is the most significant area of white a distance of about 15 kilometres as of birds. from Melbourne. It has industries – the Victorian parks system. • PW

34 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 35 You might be lucky to glimpse the critically endangered plains-wanderer in the park. IN PARKS

GEOFF DURHAM REVISITS THE ONLY NATIONAL PARK IN THE VICTORIAN RIVERINA BIOREGION. PHOTO: MATTHEW RODGERS, FLICKR CC FLICKR RODGERS, MATTHEW PHOTO: DURHAM GEOFF PHOTOS:

34 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 35 BOOK REVIEW Tribute Wattles of the GUY WILLIAMS Mount Alexander 14 SEPT 1959 – 9 DEC 2017 Region

BY BERNARD SLATTERY, ERN PERKINS AND BRONWYN SILVER, FRIENDS OF THE BOX-IRONBARK FORESTS, 2018. PAPERBACK, 112 PAGES, RRP $10.00 PLUS $3 POSTAGE AND HANDLING. ENQUIRIES AND SALES: PO BOX 322, CASTLEMAINE, 3450 OR WWW.FOBIF.ORG.AU

Adding to their popular guides to mosses and eucalypts, each, plus notes on similar species and where to see them. Castlemaine-based VNPA member Bernard Slattery The full-page photos are really beautiful. and his co-authors and helpers have produced a most As well, there are interesting sections on introduced attractive and useful pocket guide to 20 species of wattles and weeds, five reasons for having wattles in wattles found in the local bushland. Many have a much your garden and how to grow them, origins of the names wider distribution. ‘acacia’ and ‘wattle’, and more. The wattle descriptions, in concise, friendly and non- A terrific, well-designed book that every plant enthusiast technical language, are complemented by excellent colour should have and/or give as a present! PW photographs and drawings that really help you identify • and appreciate the species. There’s a ‘quick look’ box for Review by Michael Howes

Guy and Mardi enjoying a VNPA bushwalk near Cape Schanck in 2014. PHOTO: SUE O’BRIEN SUE PHOTO:

While enjoying a quiet Saturday afternoon walk with his environment, not being wasteful, self-competence and partner Mardi, and dog, Jamie, Guy Williams was killed in personal responsibility. At times these values might make his a shocking car accident in the lower Yarra Valley. Mardi life appear quite abstemious or stringent, but there was little was critically injured, airlifted to the Trauma Unit at Royal place in Guy’s life for what he might consider self-indulgent Melbourne Hospital and did not leave hospital for over one costly pleasures, experiences or material goods. hundred days. Thankfully she is now progressing towards restored health. Although basically living with only the company of his dog amongst the dry bush on the hill in Steels Creek, he very much Guy had planned and led bushwalks under the auspices of the enjoyed company, especially when it was accompanied by Victorian National Parks Association over a period of at least good food and good wine. He enjoyed conversation about ten years. He and others particularly enjoyed the weekend current affairs and politics, having a good memory for details base camps, and the Christmas – New Year base camp. and a strong opinion on the competence (or not) of politicians. It was on one of these events that he met Mardi. Together Guy presented as a quiet, self contained man – but he they earned the respect and affection of fellow bushwalkers, certainly had a good sense of humour. He leaves memories many of who became repeat attendees on Guy’s sometimes of a man comfortable in his own skin, with considered values fast-paced walks. While some of his companions on walks and opinions – a man who was deeply committed to the enjoyed conversations and even bird watching, Guy was fit protection of the environment and considerate enjoyment of and enjoyed the walking. Of more recent times the requests the bush. He was both respected and liked. to slow his pace a bit had started to have a slight effect. He will be missed.• PW Guy was a man who lived his life by his strong principles nspiration and beliefs. He cared very much about protecting the Written by Sue O’Brien. A celebration of Guy’s life was held on 7 April. OUTDOORS Leading adventures for 20 years.

36 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 37 BOOK REVIEW Tribute Wattles of the GUY WILLIAMS Mount Alexander 14 SEPT 1959 – 9 DEC 2017 Region

Guy and Mardi enjoying a VNPA bushwalk near Cape Schanck in 2014. PHOTO: SUE O’BRIEN SUE PHOTO:

36 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 37 REEF WILD WATCH FAMILIES

Diving in to ReefWatch! NICOLE MERTENS JOINS THE TEAM ON OUR MARINE CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM.

'Best image' award winner in the Sea Slug Census. PHOTO: NICK SHAW NICK PHOTO:

During my studies I worked for a Marine Discovery Centre based at Henley Beach Join Nicole for two upcoming Teeny, tiny nature in South Australia, and it was here that I ReefWatch projects! On your next family adventure, a great way to get really involved with your discovered my passion for environmental environment is to try to find teeny, tiny things – including animals, rocks and plants. education, science communication and Sea Slug Census returns outreach. I really enjoyed working with The inaugural Melbourne Sea Slug Because the smallest insects and flowers might only be two millimetres in size, community and school groups on citizen Census was held on the weekend you need to look closely to see them. This activity is a great opportunity to Over the years I’ve had many science projects, including stormwater 21-22 April in Port Philip and Western discover detail and things you might not normally see. people ask what my dream job monitoring and marine debris. To help Port bays, and had the largest turnout Optional things to take: would be. I would have to say it’s a spread the message around marine ever involved in the six years the • a ruler to do some measuring. pretty difficult question to answer, debris I developed a litter survey incursion Sea Slug Census has been running • a magnifying glass so you can get a closer look. but I knew it would be something for schools, focusing on the links in locations around Australia. The • a camera with a macro function. that involved engaging people with between our land and coasts. It was very best image taken during the census our marine environment in exciting rewarding to see the positive ideas and was awarded by Bob Burn (Victorian Some things to consider before starting: and meaningful ways. That’s why real changes that sprung forth from the nudibranch expert) to Nick Shaw, • Where would be a good place to look for each of these things? I’m so very thrilled to be involved in data we collected and discussed with our (pictured above). Congratulations also • What will we do to make sure we are safe? ReefWatch and to join the fantastic schools and volunteers. go to Rebecca Lloyd who spotted the • How will we care for this place and the plants and animals who live here? team at VNPA. most sea slugs over the weekend – 17! I see citizen science as a valuable All the results can be found here Always remember to consider safety on your outdoor adventures, always keep My lifelong love for our tool not just for plugging gaps in www.vnpa.org.au/programs/ your hands and feet where you can see them, and don’t handle wildlife. temperate seas led me to our knowledge, but for creating a sea-slug-census. Get ready for the More about Wild Families: www.vnpa.org.au/wild-families • PW study marine ecology from an connection to nature and a desire second Melbourne Sea Slug Census to protect it. I’m very excited for our will be held from 12-15 October! undergraduate degree through See if In the bush: By the sea: Things to think about or discuss to a PhD at Adelaide University. ReefWatch's OysterWatch and Sea Great Victorian Fish Count 2018 I was interested in how Slug Census projects in particular as you and • Insect • Sea snail for each of your tiny findings: human impacts at the local I think it’s great to shine a spotlight on Following the success of 2017’s your • Bird • Crab • How big is it? (e.g. nutrient pollution) and global the status of our weird and wonderful Great Victorian Fish Count (read the family full report here: www.vnpa.org.au/ • Plant • Shell • Where was it? (e.g. climate change) level invertebrates which often get overlooked, or group • What was it doing? impacted on marine ecosystems but are vital to the health of our oceans. programs/great-victorian-fish-count), • Flower • Rock • How did it get here? and shifted the balance between I hope I see you out there, whether it’s for planning for the 2018 event is well can find • Leaf • Fish underway, with the splash off date set key players in these communities. a rock-ramble whilst hunting nudibranchs the very • Is there anything here that might eat it? for 17 November – 16 December. • Fungi • Plant/ I found it fascinating how very little or getting ready to join in on the Great tiniest • Rock algae • What is good about being this size? For both these events, join the • What would be difficult about being this size? attention is given to our southern Victorian Fish Count! • PW of the • Animal coasts and reefs compared to their ReefWatch mailing list to be the first to following • What can I do to make sure it is safe? northern counterparts, despite know where and when you can join in: home Nicole will be working in the position things: • What else did you find while looking for being just as important, beautiful, of ReefWatch Project Officer alongside www.vnpa.org.au/reefwatch/sign-up tiny things? and diverse. ReefWatch Coordinator Kade Mills.

38 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 39 REEF WILD WATCH FAMILIES

Diving in to ReefWatch! NICOLE MERTENS JOINS THE TEAM ON OUR MARINE CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM.

'Best image' award winner in the Sea Slug Census. PHOTO: NICK SHAW NICK PHOTO:

38 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 PARK WATCH • SEPTEMBER 2018 NO 274 39 It’s gotamembershipforminside,and thereturn postageisfree. Enclosed inthiseditionof Park Watch isabrochure you cangive to afriend. Please contact a friend today andinvite them to joinusasaVNPA Member. kind ofworldyou wantto live in. Choosing to becomeaMember makes astatement aboutyour values –it’s aboutstandingupforthe When Iwalkinto meetingswithgovernment to argue thecase,you’re withme–standingupforwhat’s right. You environmental campaignsare won,thatyou knowthatwhenimportant were there; thatyou helped. about enjoying thegreat outdoorsthrough bushwalkingandotheractivities. As aVNPA Member, you knowmembership isasmuchaboutputtingyour values into practice asitis to becomeaMember ofthe Victorian National Parks Association. But you canhelp–andthat’s whytoday I’m askingyou to invite oneofyour friends speaking upfortheenvironment andotherpublicissuesare underattackfrom governments. if wedon’t protect ourendangered speciestoday wewilllosethem forever. Charitiesandorganisations Some ofourmostloved creatures are onthe verge ofextinction, ourprecious natural placesunderthreat – National Parks Association. for current andfuture generations –thank you for beingaMemberoftheVictorian Thank you forbeingthekindofpersonwhocares aboutprotecting ournationalparks – Executive Director, Victorian National Parks Association Matt Ruchel Victoria’s NationalParks CAN YOUHELP? strong advocate strong advocate many voices BACKED BY NEED A

PHOTO: ED DUNENS