1970 VICTORIA REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PARKS AUTHORITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30rH JUNE, 1968 Ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be printed, 15th September, 1970. By At~thority: C. H. RIXON, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MELBOURNE. No. 22.-7938/70.-PRICB 40 cents. NATIONAL PARKS AUTHORITY TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE, 1968 To the Honorable Sir Henry Bolte, K.C.M.G., M.L.A., Premier of Victoria, Melbourne, 3002. SIR, In accordance with the requirements of Section 15 of the National Parks Act 1958 (No. 6326), the Authority has the honour to submit to you for presentation to Parliament, its Twelfth Annual Report covering its activities for the year ended 30th June, 1968. THE AUTHORITY. The membership of the National Parks Authority during the year under review was as follows:- Chairman : The Honorable J. W. Manson, M.L.A., Minister of State Development. Deputy C~airman : J. H. Aldred, F.R.I.P.A. Members: A. J. Holt, Secretary for Lands ; A. 0. P. Lawrence, B.Sc. (Adel.), Dip. For. (Oxon.), Dip. For. (Canberra), Chairman, Forests Commission of Victoria; R. G. Downes, M.Agr.Sc., F.A.I.A.S., Chairman, Soil Conservation Authority; A. Dunbavin Butcher, M.Sc. (Melb.), Director of Fisheries and Wildlife; Dewar W. Goode, representing organizations concerned with the protection of native fauna and flora ; G. M. Pizzey, representing persons having a special interest in national parks ; E. H. R. Burt, representing the Victorian Ski Association ; G. E. Hindle, representing the Victorian Government Tourist Bureau ; L. H. Smith, M.Sc., D.Phil. (Oxon.), F.R.A.C.I., Director of National Parks. MEETINGS. Eleven meetings were held by the Authority during the year under review. The use of the Tourist Development Authority's Board Room up to November, 1967 is gratefully acknowledged. Due to the transfer at that time of the National Parks Authority's administration to the new State Public Offices in Treasury Place, subsequent meetings were held in that building in the Premier's Office Conference Room. The Special Committees for Proposed Parks, Sites and Buildings, Fire Protection, Classification and Budget also met during the year. STAFF. During the year the Authority obtained the services of an additional C-1 administrative officer who became the first full-time Secretary to the Wilson's Promontory National Park Committee of Management. His salary is paid from park revenue. 4 VISITS OF INSPECTION. The Authority visited the following national parks during the year :-Port Campbell, Wilson's Promontory, Churchill, Morwell, Fraser, Wyperfeld, Fern Tree Gully, Mount Richmond and Mount Eccles. Two proposed parks (Moonlight Head and Little Desert) were also inspected by the Authority. WORKS PROGRAMMES. As in previous years, works programmes were prepared by the Committees of Management and the Authority in consultation, following which " operations budgets " for the year ended 30th June, 1968 were prepared and approved by the Authority. FIRE PROTECTION. Designed to minimize the incidence and effect of wildfires in national parks, the planning of works by the Fire Protection Committee continued throughout the year. There were nine fires reported in national parks during the year under review. Five (two of substantial proportions) which occurred in Mallacoota Inlet National Park, are believed to have been the result of deliberate lighting by persons unknown. A small fire occurred in each of Churchill, Hattah Lakes and Kinglake National Parks ; whilst the largest fire, which was in Lind National Park, was the result of deliberate lighting. The Authority is grateful to the Forests Commission, Country Fire Authority volunteers and others for their help in suppressing these fires ; but again expresses its deep concern as to the origin of most of these fires, i.e., deliberate lighting by people. LEGISLATION. There was no legislation relating to Victorian national parks enacted during the year. LEASES AND PERMITS. Tidal River Cafe-Wilson's Promontory National Park. The plans referred to in the previous Annual Report have now reached the stage at which the modifications to the Tidal River Cafe have been substantially completed and arrangements are well in hand for the leasing of the cafe for a period of three years. Tidal River Store-Wilson's Promontory National Park. The present tenant of the Tidal River Store, Mr. F. K. Blunden, has completed nine years' occupation and steps are being taken, by public advertisement, to negotiate a new lease for a three­ year period. Tatra Development-Mount Buffalo National Park. The lease issued in 1964 to Tatra Development Pty. Ltd. to provide public accommodation and other facilities in the Cresta area of Mount Buffalo National Park is still in force and it appears that good progress is being made. PROPOSED NATIONAL PARKS. The Proposed Parks Sub-committee examined the following areas :- (1) Little Desert. In December, 1967, the Lands Department reserved an area of 2,870 acres as a site for a national park. This included the Kiata Lowan Sanctuary Reserve (537 acres), and 2,300 acres of Crown land lying to the south, along with a connecting corridor of 33 acres. Reference was made to the negotiations for the purchase of this corridor land in the previous Annual Report. The ranger has recorded more than 1,200 visitors to the area during the year. Picnic tables and fireplaces were installed during the year. It is hoped that the dedication of this land as a national park will be effected in the near future. (2) Bendigo Whipstick. Following the preparation of a detailed report by a Technical Officer of the Authority, which the Committee examined in detail, the Authority is now considering other aspects of the proposal to establish a national park in the Bendigo Whipstick area. 5 (3) Wychitel!a Forest. The authority has examined a proposal to establish a national park in the Wychitella Forest area, but further investigations are deemed necessary. (4) Cape Everard. The Authority has made preliminary investigations with a view to recommending to the Government that a national park based on Cape Everard be established. Cape Everard is of great historical significance, because it was Captain Cook's Australian landfall in 1770. In addition, the surrounding country combines all the interesting features of a first-class national park. Investigations are proceeding. COMMITTEES OF MANAGEMENT. The membership of the Committees of Management for the various national parks is set out in Appendix 1. THE NATIONAL PARKS. At the close of the year there were twenty national parks in Victoria, located as shown in Figure I. Notes on each of the parks follow :- 1. WYPERFELD NATIONAL PARK. Committee of Management. There was one change in the membership of the Committee during the period under review. Mr. M. C. Downes, Fisheries and Wildlife Department representative, tendered his resignation on accepting an overseas appointment. Visitor Statistics. Some 6,400 visitors were recorded for the year by the part-time Ranger. Park Activities. Most of the entrance road to the Tourist Area was sealed by the Country Roads Board ; two small sections are awaiting realignment during more favourable weather. The drought conditions referred to in the previous Annual Report continued into the summer of 1967-68 making it imperative to construct an iron-clad water catchment. Such a catchment (75ft. x 120ft.) was completed in February, 1968, and now guarantees a supply of some 45-50,000 gallons of rain water for essential amenities in the tourist area. Although the park, its birds, animals and the vegetation all suffered greatly during the severe drought, once the rains came early in 1968, the condition of the park improved rapidly. However, many trees died and others will require a long period to recover in this dry area. Conservation. As mentioned in the previous Annual Report, Ararat High School students fenced off plots of Native Pines to aid their regeneration. It is pleasing to report that these pines withstood the rigours of the drought and are multiplying splendidly following the good rains. Vermin Control. Continuous measures to deal with the rabbit menace have succeeded in maintaining control of this pest. In this work, the Vermin and Noxious Weeds Destruction Board has played a most important part. Condition of the Park. The park generally is in good condition, apart from the effects of the drought on the trees. 6 2. KINGLAKE NATIONAL PARK. Committee of Management. There was no change in the membership of the Committee of Management. Visitors Statistics. The number of visitors during the year under review, together with fees paid, is shown in the table of comparative figures below. 1958-59. 1960-61. 1962-63. 1964-65. 1966-67. 1967-68. Number of Visitors . .. .. 16,000 21,000 35,000 44,700 63,000 71,600 Fees Paid (Dollars) . .. 825 1,574 2,068 2,088 3,519 4,617 Park Activities. During the year all fire-protection tracks were graded and maintained. Direction and mileage signs constructed by the staff were also erected along these tracks. Sealing of the Jehosaphat Gully parking area and Sugarloaf Peak Road were also completed, whilst further gravelling of the Mason's Falls Picnic Area and the maintenance of 7 miles of tourist walking tracks were undertaken. Some difficulty in keeping the water tank at Mason's Falls full during the peak summer visitor period was experienced due to the low capacity of delivery of the hydraulic ram pump. Planning has commenced with a view to providing a more adequate water supply. The Authority negotiated during the year for the purchase of a block of land at Jehosaphat Gully on which it is hoped eventually to erect a Ranger's residence. By the end of the year under review construction of a new picnic shelter had been commenced and the second toilet block at Mason's Falls (mentioned as under construction in the previous Annual Report) had been completed.