biodiversity and Climate Change They're in our hands

PlaNNiNg for Climate ChaNge September 2015 No 262 point nepean leaSe Native vegetatioN CleariNg the fire next time east giPPslaNd owls Citizen SCienCe vNPa aNNual rePort 2014-15 Vnpa aGm You are warmly invited to this year’s vNPa annual general meeting on tuesday 6 october. the guest speaker will be ecologist and blogger Dr ian lunt on how to connect conservationists through their mobile phones. Be part of nature preSiDent Russell Costello DireCtor Matt Ruchel ContentS Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 3 From the President ABN 34 217 717 593 3 From the Editor Telephone: (03) 9347 5188 Facsimile: (03) 9347 5199 4-5 Lease lapses, development collapses E-mail: [email protected] 6-8 Planning for change Web: www.vnpa.org.au 8 Managing nature under a new climate VNPA’S VISION 9 Digging in for Grow West We share a vision of Victoria as a place with a diverse, secure and 10 Highway robbery healthy natural environment cared for and appreciated by all. 11 Vegetation clearing under review EDITORIAL COMMITTEE 12-13 The fire next time Matt Ruchel, Philip Ingamells, Chris Smyth. 14-15 A win for owls GETTING INVOLVED IN VNPA 16 Keeping the developers at bay Everyone can help in the conservation of Victoria’s wild and beautiful places. You can: 17 Parks Victoria update • make a donation 17 Andrew Schulz – a tribute • become a regular giver or member 18-19 NCR: Environmental governance • volunteer. You’ll be welcome in the office, on a campaign or in a park 20 Tackling rabbits and weeds • leave a bequest to VNPA in your will.

PUBLISHING POLICY Centre paGeS – Vnpa annual report 2014-15 All advertisements should be compatible with VNPA policies. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the VNPA Inc. of 21 Plundering paradise? the advertised product or service. The VNPA reserves the right to refuse 22-23 Vigilance or vigilantes? any advertisement at any time. 24 Technology supports data collection Park Watch may be quoted without permission provided that 25 Celebrating incredible citizen scientists acknowledgement is made. The opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the VNPA Inc. 25 Book offer Australia’s natural wonder: eucalyptus oil GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS 26 Les Smith, Best Friend You’re always welcome to contact the editor to discuss ideas for articles. Phone the VNPA or email [email protected]. Articles may be 27 Congratulations to Karen Alexander OAM submitted by email, on disk or as hard copy. Include your contact 28-29 In Parks: Werribee River Park details and brief biographical information. Photos, maps and 30-31 Pope Francis on caring for our drawings are needed too. Digital photos should be 300dpi and common home around 8cm by 12cm. 32 Book review CopY DeaDline for December 2015 Park Watch is 30 October 2015. Handbook of Road Ecology DeSiGn Mary Ferlin printinG Adams Print 32 Book review Where the slime mould creeps FRONT COVER Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) at 33 Book review Mt Buller – see article p. 6. Photo: Andrew Weeks. Against the Grain 33 Book review BACK COVER The Bush: Travels in the heart of Australia The Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) is listed as Threatened in Victoria, so the protection of more of its habitat is 34-35 Always a special place good news. See story p. 14. Photo: David Hollands. 36-37 Bushwalking on wheels Park Watch iSSn 1324-4361 38 Tributes

2 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 From the President PhOTO COurTesY russell COsTellO

This is my last ‘From the President’ – my three-year term is events. In creating this challenging new role, we have been able up. i would like to thank matt ruchel and the staff for their retain our NatureWatch Coordinator, Christine Connelly. incredible work and the assistance that they have given me Yasmin Kelsall represents us on the Government’s very welcome over that time. review of native vegetation clearing controls. I am sure those in the Our VNPA Council works as a smooth team. It has been a Department who wish to see these controls undermined by reliance pleasure to work with its members and I hope they all continue on broad-scale computer-generated maps and Mickey Mouse offsets on next year. will miss my regular ‘encouragement’. We were all sorry to lose Charles Street from Council due to I sometimes think that the ego boost of being the author of a new heath issues, after many years as our Hon. Secretary. He has system blinds a person to the primary goal of an environment put in tireless hours at meetings, taking detailed minutes and agency: protecting nature and natural resources. The earlier spearheading the campaign to see the Mount Stirling area emphasis on avoiding, or at least minimising, native vegetation protected. He will be sorely missed, though I am glad to see losses has certainly been replaced in most cases by a rush to allow that his campaigning is unwavering. clearing, with ineffective offsets. The recent disgraceful clearing of ancient eucalypts along the My thanks also go to all our other volunteers, without whom Western Highway described in this Park Watch comes down to the your association would be a shadow of its current effectiveness. lack of protection the current system gives to large old paddock Alhough staff form our critical backbone, volunteers greatly trees. Perhaps the review will turn this around. extend our capacity. The financial, administrative, communication and fundraising We have been through five years of governmental financial activities of VNPA continue to tick over due to the wonderful drought and have had few grants. Your Association might have work of Heath Rickard, Charlotte Kandelaars, Irina de Loche, foundered but for the support of our many donors. In the past Tilly Reynolds, Maxine Hawkins and Michael Howes. three years, things looked particularly grim but for the timely injection of generous sums from key donors. ThisPark Watch issue has a number of positive news stories. Many wouldn’t have happened without your continued support. Had we not had this support we would have had to downsize, I thank you all. • pW and would have lacked the capacity to face the repeated and concerted attacks on our parks and natural environment. russell Costello, Vnpa president We certainly welcome the positive attitude of the present State Government. For the first time in four years, we are being invited to consult and provide input to environmental policy. Indeed, there has been such a reversal that we are now stretched to meet the many requests and opportunities for consultation. Our capacity to offer input to, and perhaps influence, the current government’s programs still depends on From your generosity. I thank you all for your continued support. the editor Our incredibly talented Executive Director, Matt Ruchel, PhOTO: MArY ferlin Park Watch has taken the opportunity to take a well-earned six months Welcome to september and the vnPa annual long service leave. But he hasn’t entirely stepped down: he is report for 2014-15. representing us on a critical State Government stakeholder Many thanks to Chris Smyth for producing a great Park Watch reference group on forests. for June and enabling me to have a restorative break. Thanks also to Tilly Reynolds for her work on the Annual Report. Many of you will know our new acting Executive Director, Chris Smyth, for his valuable work on our marine and coastal strategies This edition again has a wide range of stories on current and for The Coast is Unclear, a revealing review of coastal conservation issues. Thanks to all our contributors. I hope planning and conservation. We are lucky to have him with us. you, the reader, will feel inspired to submit something too – an article, a letter, perhaps a book review. I’m always very happy to We also have Caitlin Griffith operating in a new role for the VNPA discuss ideas and suggestions. • pW as Community Education and Engagement Manager. She will michael howes oversee our nature programs, capacity building and community

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 3 Quarantine Station disinfecting complex, Point Nepean National Park.

lease lapses, development collapses

ChriS SmYth writeS about a biG DaY for point nepean national park. PhOTO: Chris sMYTh

The first day of July is a significant for the destruction of threatened The VNPA, the community groups day of the year in any calendar. it’s the moonah woodland to build boardwalks it has worked with, and many people start of the financial year and also my and rock pools, while a Special Use across Victoria have welcomed the birthday, which i share with actors Zone in the Shire’s planning scheme lapsing of the lease, but it has brought Pamela anderson and dan aykroyd. would, among other things, have a predictable response from those who allowed subdivision. have been supporting the property But 1 July this year had even greater developer. significance. It was the day that a Under the clause, if these changes were property developer’s lease over 64 not in place by 1 July 2015 the lease They have claimed that there was hectares of Point Nepean National would lapse and compensation of up nothing wrong with the proposed Park lapsed. to $1 million could be sought. The development and that the Quarantine changes having not been made, the Station will now disintegrate from The developer and the Napthine lease lapsed. neglect, as there are so many buildings Government had signed the secret lease that it will cost a fortune to renovate just hours before the election caretaker master plan and maintain them, with no alternative period began in November 2014. It source of funds to do so. gave management rights to virtually At the time of its 1 July announcement, 20% of the national park’s accessible the Andrews Government committed No one is kidding themselves that the area (parts of the park are inaccessible to using the 2010 Master Plan for Point future planning, management and due to unexploded ordnance). Nepean to guide future planning, once funding for Point Nepean will be easy. a period of community consultation But the property developer’s supporters The lease would have allowed the had helped refresh and strengthen vastly exaggerate the challenge. developer to establish a luxury spa its provisions. and ‘wellness centre’ using geothermal buildings water extracted from beneath the The 2010 plan had remained in draft park, and also to demolish some form when the Brumby Government One of their frequent exaggerations is existing buildings, construct new ones, was defeated in 2010. The incoming the number of buildings that need to be erect boardwalks and rock pools in government refused to finalise it, maintained and used. Recently in the threatened coastal moonah woodland, preferring to establish in 2013 a policy Southern Peninsula News (3 August), and largely restrict park access to those for major tourism developments inside local Councillor Tim Rodgers was wealthy enough to afford it. national parks, and a new master plan quoted as saying that ‘75 buildings in for Point Nepean consistent with the precinct need to be brought up to Although the contents of the lease that policy. 21st century standard and used rather remain secret, a key clause became than left empty’. known when the Andrews Government The key difference between the 2010 announced its lapsing. This clause and 2013 master plans was that the Six of those buildings are in the said that the continuation of the lease earlier plan proposed just one new Police Point Shire Park and are being beyond 1 July 2015 was contingent building, a boutique hotel to be renovated for use by artists in residence on changes to the 2009 national park built on the footprint of two 1960s and for respite. In all, 18 of his ‘75 management plan and the Shire of barracks buildings. In contrast, the buildings’ have been removed by the Mornington Peninsula’s planning 2013 plan allowed for 'the replacement former community trust and Parks scheme. of non-significant buildings with Victoria, and it could be argued that new buildings' as well as other new another eight, with little heritage value The amendment to the 2009 buildings. This was a major departure and constructed during the Army’s management plan would have allowed from what the community had wanted. occupation, could also be removed.

4 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 That brings the number of buildings passenger waiting room, could be used come from government, but investment in need of use down to a little over 40. for a major interactive museum and will also need to come from philanthropic, Of those, around 11 are currently in interpretive display showing how the community, education and tourism use: three for weddings, receptions and Quarantine Station worked. organisations. In this way there will be a community events; two for information diversity of uses with the best interests of and administration; one as a new That doesn’t leave many to find a use Point Nepean National Park at heart. toilet block; another converted into an for. And any new uses should be those arrivals information display; and four that can make the most of the buildings The previous government used Point as museum and interpretive displays. as they are now and recognise their Nepean as a test case in its bid to expose our 19th century origins, rather than being conservation estate to major commercial These buildings are clearly not ‘empty’. gutted to create the flashy artifice of developments. The VNPA believes that the Cr Rodgers’ ‘21st century standards’. natural and cultural heritage in national budget accommodation This would involve minimal changes to parks needs protection, and this view is building interiors and a lesser need for shared by the majority of Victorians, as an Among the remainder are the 11 capital investment. Essential Research poll last year showed. influenza huts built during the flu epidemic of 1918 and 1919, which Yes, funds will be required to turn the I’m looking forward to the first day of July could easily be converted to budget Quarantine Station into a lively place 2016. I hope that by then there will have been camping accommodation for school that includes activities in education, even better news about the future of Point and community groups. Another eight, tourism, art, research and conservation, Nepean National Park and its Quarantine including the shower blocks and the and some of that money will need to Station. • pW

Which building, what use? The Quarantine Station has a number of heritage buildings that will be made available for adaptive euse.r Any proposed use should ensure that the heritage of each building is protected and maintained, and that the use supports the objectives of the national park. Below are notes about some of the buildings and some possible uses for them. What other adaptive reuse do you think could be possible and what community organisation might be interested in using the building?

Disinfecting Complex, Shower block and passenger waiting room hospital building 3 (1858-59) (1866-1925). See main photo. y use of roof for solar energy generation y refurbish as museum, education and interpretive centre and storage in new batteries, and with interactive, static and internet-based displays collection of water to be stored in tanks y Possible café/wine bar and/or interpretation for use on site y Ground floor theatrette showing images of Point Nepean history y several rooms upstairs refurbished in Influenza Huts (11) 1919 style consistent with 19th century use y ecologically sustainable but basic cabin accommodation for campers y spaces available for rent by community and school and tour groups (could have prefabricated built form organisations, artists, artisans inserted that preserves heritage fabric). one each for male and female y Ground floor for hire of equipment shower/toilet blocks and a third for use as a communal kitchen. the e.g. bikes, kayaks, diving and snorkel remaining 8 would be converted for use as twin share, family and gear with introductory classes dormitory cabin accommodation but no bathroom facilities y Ground floor gallery and artists in y spaces for events and workshops residence y First floor 4 one-bedroom apartments

badcoe hall (1963) medical Superintendent’s Quarters (1899) y Performance and meeting spaces y reception Centre leased to commercial operator y training and event centre y 5 boutique hotel suites y restaurant y Conferences PhOTOs: Chris sMYTh

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 5 Mountain Pygmy-possum boulderfield habitat (foreground) at Mt Buller, showing Planning impacts of fire and ski field development. changefor

Climate ChaNge Poses a sigNifiCaNt threat to our Parks aNd their Native flora aNd fauNa. we must PlaN for these eNviroNmeNtal ChaNges, saY biologists ian manSerGh, Dean heinze (la trobe uNiversitY) aNd anDrew weekS (melbourNe uNiversitY).

Climate change is already impacting victoria’s parks and parks and genetics reserves. Projections for a warmer and drier future, punctuated by extreme weather events and changed fire regimes, will Since the 1970s, Victoria has developed a very good system affect the succession and distribution of vegetation. of national parks and other reserves. Now covering over 17% of the state’s land area, this system largely developed from Such changes will be complex, and occur over different time remnants of public land left after 150+ years of alienation for scales. For example, the extent of Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus agriculture and other uses. regnans) forests could shrink radically as their seedlings are outcompeted by those of other montane species following Human population growth and habitat fragmentation are regeneration events such as fire or logging. major threatening processes affecting our biodiversity, making it more vulnerable to other threats. The parks are Amid these bleak predicted changes, there are important really man-made islands surrounded by different land uses policy issues that must be debated and resolved so that our that are inhospitable to many species. park system and biodiversity remain as robust as possible in the face of these challenges. As Darwin recognised, populations of flora and fauna on islands may become modified due to isolation (smaller gene Some simple propositions and contextual background may help pools) and/or more vulnerable to extinction. The island-like to rethink how we can best address many of these challenges. nature of our parks may be not sufficient for the long-term Luckily, there are tangible Victorian examples to help. resilience of natural populations.

6 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 PhOTO: Andrew weeKs Geneticist Andrew Weeks (left) and wildlife ecologist Dean Heinze inspect a wild-bred hybrid Burramys at Mt Buller. The matrilineal DNA was kept intact as only new males were translocated.

Biodiversity conservation is a prime purpose of the park system, so it is useful to look at this through the prism of a key driver, populations – the essential link between species and genetic conservation. TheInternational Convention on Biodiversity Conservation (1992), and subsequent national and state policies, correctly make the conservation of ecosystems, species and genetic diversity a key objective. In Victoria, the protection of genetic diversity has been interpreted as ‘preservation of local genetic stock’. To date this has served us reasonably well, but it has become a rigid conservation policy that needs re-thinking as environmental PhOTO: Andrew weeKs conditions change. This policy interpretation neglects the issues of small ‘island- like’ populations that have a limited genetic base from which to adapt and are ultimately vulnerable to further losses of diversity through in-breeding. Such processes are probably already present in a range of threatened fauna. A cursory look at the historical distribution of species such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Peremeles gunni) and Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon nasuta) shows range fragmentation, with consequent smaller and smaller populations that disappear over time, sometimes quite rapidly. This is the ‘extinction vortex’. Work with the Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) on Mt Buller has demonstrated the devastating rapidity of genetic erosion, but has also highlighted a new technique for recovery. We suspect it has much broader applicability right now. Gene pool mixing

In Victoria, the two regional populations of Burramys were genetically distinct but healthy in the late 1990s (as was the NSW population). All were high on the index of genetic PhOTO: iAn MAnsergh variation (heterozygosity). Yet by 2002, the genetic variation of Fire near Mt Feathertop in February 2013, taken from Burramys habitat at the isolated Mt Buller population had crashed, the population Mt McKay which was burnt in 2003 and again in 2007. Climate change projections indicate increased bushfire risk. being less than 50 in 2010. The dramatic decline was due to large-scale ski field expansion in the 1980s and 90s that resulted in habitat destruction and This example of wild-to-wild gene pool mixing saw the fragmentation. This compromised the functioning of the ‘foreign’ males mating and producing a genetically more population and left it more vulnerable to fox and feral cat predation. robust population on Mt Buller. As a management action it has been highly successful, the size of the population now This was the fastest genetic erosion recorded for a mammal being comparable to when it was first discovered in 1996 globally, to a point where the population had become terminally (i.e. around 300 adults). inbred. All modelling indicated extinction, so in 2006 a captive breeding program was established with the aim of producing A key consideration was the wild-wild translocation of males genetically robust individuals that could be released on Mt Buller only, as this maintained the matrilineal DNA, therefore as management addressed threatening processes. preserving the maximum ‘Bullerness’ of the population while introducing new genes and enhancing genetic variation. The intention was to cross-breed Mt Buller females with genetically distinct males from the other regional population at Certain extinction was avoided by this innovative science. Mt Hotham. Unfortunately this program, which focused on gene Further, the gene pool mixing was accomplished at 1-2% of the pool mixing in captivity, failed to produce adequate numbers of cost of the unsuccessful captive breeding program, with less genetically reinvigorated animals for release. disruption to the wild population and individual animals, and unambiguous measures of success and for monitoring. In the wild the situation was progressively becoming grimmer as genetic variation continued to plummet. In this desperate These results challenge us to re-evaluate the policies of situation it was decided to use wild-wild translocations of ‘quarantining’ local genetic provenances, and also the efficacy of genetically healthy Mt Hotham males directly to Mt Buller in expensive management actions such as captive breeding, when the breeding season of October 2010. less intrusive and more efficient techniques prove to be effective. Continued overleaf

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 7 Continued from previous page

Changing environmental conditions, in combination with Comprehensive biolink zones could be relatively easily planned current policies, more or less doom small, genetically isolated over the large areas of public land surrounding the Great Divide populations with a low genetic capacity to adapt. These and East Gippsland. Indeed, there are proposals for a new policies also affect revegetation efforts, with overly zealous national park to conserve Leadbeater’s Possum. requirements for ’local provenance’ creating a mindset in some Biolink zones linking this park to other forested and relatively conservationists of resistance to informed gene-pool mixing. natural areas would be a good example of leadership in The policy should be tweaked from ‘preserving all local genetic policy shift, and help our biodiversity to adapt to a changing provenance’ to ‘making more genetically diverse and robust environment. local populations that are more adaptable, while at the same In other areas, private landholders and Landcare groups are time maintaining elements (lineages) of local provenance’. becoming involved in the development of biolink zones. We now Sound genetic science suggests that revegetation programs a need a systematic review of nature conservation on private land should use a mix of species including 60% of local provenance as well as a comprehensive plan for the development of biolinks (genes), 30% intermediate distance and 10% long distance on private and public land. along a dispersal line that currently experiences the projected 1 Gene pool mixing and biolink zones are initiatives that both climate for the local site . come from the same concept of maximising ‘self-adaptation’ – Birds and bees mix the pollen, and the most suitable plants for letting species do what they do best for long-term population the site survive and carry the maximum local and introduced health, with cost-effective minimal intrusion. genetic variation into future generations. They are also tangible examples of the objectives of Victoria’s far-sighted Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988): “to guarantee Biolink zones that all taxa of Victoria's flora and fauna … can survive, flourish Biolinks were developed in Victoria to increase ecological and retain their potential for evolutionary development in the wild connectivity across the landscape, particularly between … and to ensure that the genetic diversity of flora and fauna is national parks and other large areas of remnant vegetation. maintained.” Both actions build evolutionary capacity into our conservation management! Biolink zones help enable individuals and thus populations to move across the landscape as local conditions change, in turn The present State Government has put the issue of climate change helping alleviate the adverse issues of isolated ‘islands’ and back on the agenda, and the Environment Minister wants the state habitat fragmentation. to become a leader in the field. Let’s keep the discussion going!• pW This concept, and gene pool mixing, can also applywithin large dedicated to the late Joan kirner (1938-2015), minister for parks. For example, Victoria’s Alpine National Park has rare Conservation and Premier of victoria. and threatened species often persisting naturally in isolated 1. Sgrò c, Lowe A. & hoffmann A. (2010), Building evolutionary populations. Identification of climate ‘refuges’ and biolinks to resilience for conserving biodiversity under climate change. connect them would increase their resilience to future changes. Evolutionary Applications 4: 326–337 managing nature under a new climate

It’s definitely time to investigate ways to manage Victoria’s natural heritage under the impacts of climate change. no matter what mitigation measures Symposium are likely to be put in place by the world’s governments, we will still be faced Managing Victoria’s Biodiversity with a changed climate scenario. under Climate Change in a move aimed at readying land managers, or anyone else concerned with What practical steps can we take to help Victoria’s native species and protecting our natural areas, a symposium “managing victoria’s biodiversity ecosystems survive the impacts of climate change? under Climate Change” is planned for 8-9 october. organised by the vNPa, the royal society of victoria and the university of Melbourne, it will bring together some of our best scientific minds, experienced land managers, non-government organisations and others. some of the anticipated climate impacts under current emission levels are considerable. by 2050 sea levels may have risen by 25cm, snowpack reduced by 50%, major bushfires would be more common, and heatwaves up to four times more frequent. the presentations and extensive discussion periods of the symposium will look at issues like pest plant and animal invasions, fire impacts, ecosystem connectivity, the importance of assisting genetic diversity and ways to identify climate refugia. 2015 OCTOBER 8-9 Ground floor conference room, Bio 21 Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville VIC 3052 after the symposium, the information gathered will be compiled by ecologist dr ian lunt, and published on line. Organised by for more information about the symposium, please contact the Vnpa. Major sponsors

8 8 PArk PArk wAtch wAtch • September• September 2015 2015 No No 262 262 digging in for grow West vNPa members aNd frieNds headed to baCChus marsh oN 19 JulY to JoiN other voluNteers aNd helP restore the area’s biodiversitY. some 200 volunteers of all ages Above: VNPA members, gathered in the sunshine on ironbark friends and other planters road near bacchus marsh for the at the planting site. Members of India-based 10th annual grow West community charity Dera Sacha Sauda planting day, planting around 5,000 (in brown overalls) were indigenous seedlings to help a family again a big help. restore trees and shrubs on their farm, Left: The VNPA’s Ruth and improve biodiversity links. Stirling (centre) and fellow planters ready to get those Species selected for planting included seedlings in the ground. Fragrant Saltbush, Tree Violet, Right: Landowner John Kangaroo Apple, Cassinia, Golden Lakey joined in the and Black Wattle, Blackwood, Red and planting and explained his Yellow Box, Red and Yellow Gum, and family’s plans for the farm. Drooping Sheoak. PhOTOs: grOw wesT

The Grow West program has provided location to develop our farm business,” future they want from their properties more than a million trees over the John said. and for their children, and to look at past ten years, focusing on the upper projects like Grow West to help them.” Werribee catchment and creating “Our niece and her family have bought the vegetation corridors to connect farm next door and jointly we are running John Cutler, Grow West chairman, Brisbane Ranges National Park to Saler cattle, Ryeland sheep and Boer goats, said the program’s popularity and Werribee Gorge State Park and through which are sold directly to Melbourne longevity is a mark of its success to Lerderderg State Park, with planting restaurants as sustainable meat. and sustainability. on more than 100 private properties over that period. “We’re working to make our property “I see it as being inter-generational, as environmentally and productively I see it as being here for the next Emma Muir, Grow West planting day sustainable as possible.” 50 years,” he said. coordinator, thanked the volunteers for their help with the ongoing program. Their whole-farm approach is restoring Port Phillip & Westernport CMA’s the non-arable areas of the property, Grow West coordinator Helena “I’m proud to be part of such an fencing waterways and planting strategic Lindorff, who has been with the important environmental project, windbreaks. program since its inception, praises helping the community with on- the transformation of the region, ground works to deliver the Grow West “Through Grow West, we’ve been which has over 100 landholders and vision: 10,000 hectares revegetated that supported in tackling the weeds and pest thousands of volunteers involved with link the three parks, help weed control animals and planting native trees to help remarkable results. and restore degraded land,” she said. repair degraded areas, turning them into habitat for wildlife and providing a more Grow West conducts its community This year, the planting was on John and manageable landscape for farming,” planting days in partnership with Tristia Lakey’s 105 hectare property in John said. the VNPA, local landholders and the Rowsley, close to Werribee Gorge State Friends of Werribee Gorge and Long Park. They purchased the property “Having so many volunteers come and get Forest Mallee. • pW in 2012, knowing they had a major stuck into planting is fantastic and truly restoration project on their hands. appreciated.” for information on how to get involved in future initiatives, either “We were looking for a property that “We’d encourage farmers and land as a volunteer or a landholder, see needed some TLC and was an ideal managers everywhere to think about the www.growwest.com.au

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 9 The massive scar left by clearing for the new divided road.

highway robbery PhOTO: dOn BuTCher

The car highlights the great size and most vnPa members will be aware age of many of the trees felled. of the recent appalling loss of around 880 large old eucalypts as part of the duplication of the Western highway between ballarat and stawell. The trees were felled in the section between beaufort and ararat.

Many of the trees had hollows used by birds and other animals. VicRoads had approval only for the removal of the 221 trees they estimated would need to be cleared. But this did not include many more ‘scattered’ trees in the path of the road, which were felled for debatable safety reasons. Pressure from a local group, Western Highway Alternative Mindsets (WHAM), forced VicRoads to admit

the mistake and revise plans for the PhOTO COurTesY whAM next section to be widened, between Buangor and Ararat. focus on behavioural change to increase The VNPA believes that, like The VNPA applauds WHAM members’ safety. anyone else, public authorities energy and persistence in the face of a such as VicRoads should have to powerful bureaucracy. The power and speed of modern cars, obtain permits for clearing native and the increased traffic from a growing vegetation, and that VicRoads must The revised plans include using population, as well as a ‘safety at any cost’ give the protection of existing native concrete and wire rope barriers to policy, are related issues. vegetation a much higher priority. stop vehicles running off the road and hitting a tree, rather than removing the Another major problem is that VicRoads We are in grave danger of losing the trees themselves, and so narrowing the was exempted (in an unfortunate move ecological and habitat value of our area to be cleared. by the former Brumby government) from roadsides, as well as their variety, having to gain permits for removing native character and beauty – not to mention These design improvements are vegetation. their importance for carbon capture positive, but won't do much to reduce and storage. • pW the impact of the road through hilly Yet in many parts of Victoria, roadsides land. The best option is to minimise often have the best, or sometimes the only, see also book review on p. 32. road widening as far as possible, and native vegetation remaining. michael howes

10 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 Valuable remnant native vegetation like this example along the Western Highway should be strictly protected. vegetation clearing under review vNPa habitat CamPaigNer YaSmin kelSall rePorts that, as it Promised, the aNdrews goverNmeNt is reviewiNg the PhOTO COurTesY whAM Native vegetatioN CleariNg laws, aimiNg to see them ‘seNsiblY ProteCt seNsitive in December 2013 contained all by the former Department of vegetatioN’. the elements that we had expressed Environment and Primary Industry, concerns about. now Department of Environment, victoria is the most cleared state in Land, Water and Planning). australia, yet we’re still losing large This policy, which has now been in amounts of native vegetation operation for more than a year, has The current review seeks to address some every year. been criticised from a number of of the issues identified. It is concurrently quarters as well as the VNPA. Issues reviewing the Biodiversity Strategy and The Clearing Laws, or Victoria’s of concern have largely remained the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act as well, Native Vegetation Permitted Clearing same as those above. and it is planned that each review will Regulations as they’re officially known, take note of the others. sit within the Planning and Environment The present policy has a number of Act 1987 – which also has the purpose features that differ from the earlier The aim is to conclude the review of the of facilitating development. And Native Vegetation Management Permitted Clearing Regulations relatively development usually takes precedence. Framework. These include: quickly, with the release of a new draft the removal of the explicit policy by the end of 2015 or early 2016. The role of such regulations may be • requirement to ‘avoid clearing’ A formal submission period will debated, but the fact remains that they as a first consideration accompany this. are the main tool we have to manage, and hopefully reduce, the vegetation • a move away from assigning a The government has held a series clearing that is occurring with proportionate value to Large of twelve community stakeholder increased development. Old Trees workshops across the state, nine of them • specific offsets for threatened species in regional areas. They’ve also consulted After ten years of operation of (which may be seen as a positive, and with specific stakeholder groups and are Victoria’s former regulations, the Native has certainly had an impact in the running some surveys of groups that use Vegetation Management Framework way offsets are measured) the regulations, such as local government (DNRE 2002), the former state the introduction of a more explicit and ecological consultants. Coalition Government reviewed them • up-front assignation of ‘risk’ which and developed the current policy. Additionally, a Stakeholder Reference then dictates the level of assessment Throughout that review, the VNPA Group, with ten members including the and requirements for those seeking a and many others provided submissions VNPA, has been appointed and is now permit to clear and feedback on many of the ideas meeting to provide input to the process. that emerged. • a move away from the ‘like for like’ We have met twice already, and two offset approach more workshop-style meetings are One of the most frequently cited issues • a move away from considering planned. • pW was the modelled mapping products the scarcity of separate vegetation which became a fundamental element types (by bioregion) or ecological to find out more about the review, of the new policy. Other concerns communities including the terms of reference, visit related to the potential loss of local moves towards considering habitat www.delwp.vic.gov.au/environment- ecological values and large old trees, • value on a statewide perspective, and and-wildlife/biodiversity/ and depleted and rare vegetation types towards a reliance on offset market not being valued. You can also register to receive forces for regulation updates via email from Our submissions were largely • a reliance on computer-generated nativevegetation.review ignored, and the policy that emerged models and calculations (generated @delwp.vic.gov.au

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 11 The fire next time we have to take aNother good hard look at bushfire maNagemeNt, aNd we should do it Now, saYs phil inGamellS. it should be possible to manage or hard work. It’s a reflection of the fire in the landscape in ways that impossible expectation placed on our will help to save lives and protect fire managers – that they’ll be able infrastructure, and also give great to save everyone’s life through fuel support to our natural heritage. reduction burns.

Those things are the main objectives The Department (now revamped as of Victoria’s Code of Fire Practice, the Department of Environment, with protection of human life being Land, Water and Planning – DELWP), the overriding priority. They are hard together with everyone else involved priorities to argue against. in fire policy and management, should be going back to the drawing board. And since the extraordinarily rigorous recommendations of the Victorian They should be looking at a whole Bushfires Royal Commission, and the series of options very seriously, broad acceptance of them, you’d hope most of which have been Royal we are well on the way to achieving Commission recommendations all those objectives. along, but were ignored or partly neglected while fuel reduction became But the former Department of the main game in town. Environment and Primary Industry’s (DEPI’s) own assessment of its Let’s look at the primary objective performance in managing fuel levels first: saving human lives. in Victoria over the 2013-14 year Managing fire ignition points should be ringing alarm bells. The best way to save people from For key objective number one, to a bushfire is to avoid one. A recent minimise the impact of fire on human internationally published scientific aerial attack. This would involve an life, communities and infrastructure, study said that working hard to DEPI’s self-assessment was that “The investment in the hundreds of millions avoid ignition points is cost-effective of dollars, but given the $4 billion cost outcome has not been achieved, but is a management. manageable risk.” of the Black Saturday fires, it would be a There are a few good options here: responsible investment for Victoria – one And with objective number two, to of the most fire-prone places in the world. 1. Rather than burying most maintain or improve the resilience of (On Black Saturday, a fire that started natural ecosystems, DEPI repeats that power lines, it would be sensible to encourage (if not actually near Ferntree Gully in the Dandenongs “The outcome has not been achieved, was extinguished almost immediately but is a manageable risk.” mandate) local power generation for people in remote areas. This because a helicopter was nearby.) could be answered by solar and/ That’s right, the department well-designed private shelters responsible for managing Victoria’s or wind generation, backed up by fuel reduction program is unable other means if need be. We’ll never stop every fire, and we’ll never to protect our lives and our 2. On severe fire weather days, there get everyone to leave their home early in infrastructure, and is failing our should be a very conspicuous case a fire comes. But people can survive remarkable natural heritage. The presence of police on bush roads a fire at their home if they have a well- claim that the risk is manageable and tracks, to discourage fire-bugs. designed fire bunker. remains unexplained. 3. We should radically improve our The Royal Commission saw this as such an The Department’s failure is not caused capacity for rapid attack on fires important issue that it put out an urgent by of a lack of expertise, commitment where they start, especially through interim report calling for approved designs

12 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 The pressure for fuel reduction burning (such as here in Canadian State Forest near Ballarat) has led to many burns being done when the understorey is too dry, resulting in extensive areas of canopy scorch (lower photo). Beekeepers are concerned that this can hold back the full blossoming of eucalypts for many years. If that’s true, it must affect native insects as well as birds and mammals.

own expert committee. That group of most of those things have been acted fire scientists and ecologists almost on. But communities remain largely universally recommended burning unaware that the department cannot 5% of the ‘foothill forests’ (largely our guarantee their safety through its fuel stringybark forests), and that that reduction program. program should be monitored as an experiment. This should change, and regional communities should be invited to The 5% statewide target has been have input into all fire mitigation strongly criticised in three consecutive tools, not just annual fuel reduction reports by the Commission’s own plans. implementation monitor, and the recent investigation of the target where does that leave our by Victoria’s Inspector General of natural heritage? Emergency Services has recommended that it be replaced by strategic fuel Fortunately (and we need some reduction objectives. good fortune in the fraught fire management story), all the above This should come as no surprise, methods aimed at saving lives, if because many published scientific implemented, would also help to save studies have already pointed out that, our much-troubled natural areas. while lowering fuel loads in remote Victoria’s natural areas may never have locations can impact a fire for a time, experienced such frequent fire as we’ve the most important places to reduce seen in recent years. Many ecological fuel are as close as possible to the

PhOTOs: Phil ingAMells communities are mostly below their buildings and people it is intended accepted ‘tolerable fire intervals’, and to save. very few areas of Victoria have long- for personal bushfire shelters, and a (Quite often that means reducing fuel unburnt vegetation remaining. national standard was adopted before on private land, something the 5% In addition, many thousands of old the Commission put out its final public land target didn’t ask for at all!) recommendations. hollow-bearing trees have been felled improved planning to protect workers engaged in fuel reduction programs. But virtually nothing has been heard regulations from government agencies since. By stopping many fires at their While there were initial moves to Well-designed bushfire bunkers will ignition point, and concentrating fuel restrict buildings on fire-prone definitely save lives. There should be reduction programs at the population land, or even buy back such land, a public education program to this interface, we can allow for ecologically they were soon largely abandoned effect and, most usefully, no-interest well-advised burns in more remote by government. We need much loans available for people to install areas. stricter planning controls on building one at home. in fire-prone areas, and clearer With climate change predictions for recommendations for appropriate increasing frequency of severe fire reducing fuel where it is planting around buildings. weather, there will be more big fires most effective in the future, and more inquiries Community education will follow. The Commission’s recommendation to burn 5% of Victoria’s public land The Royal Commission made a One day we might get this right, each year for fuel reduction was number of recommendations about the but the earlier that happens the not actually recommended by its need for community education, and better. • pW

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 13 A win for owls

Jill redwood of enVironment eaSt GippSlanD reportS on the Group’S SuCCeSSful leGal CaSe to proteCt more areaS of foreSt. the Vnpa ConGratulateS eeG on thiS Great reSult. PhOTOs: dAvid hOllAnds

Masked (left) and Sooty Owls, threatened forest birds. They need large areas of forest to survive. threatened species (DEPI). The loss of prime habitat for The owls themselves would either have threatened wildlife was horrendous. perished or been forced to find new Owls are the ‘eagles of the night’, top- territory – most of which would already order predators. A pair of large forest The eight-week fire burnt and have been occupied. owls needs between 1,000 and 4,500 destroyed thousands of large hollow- hetares of mostly mature or old-growth bearing trees. Add to the bushfire EEG formally requested the then forest to survive and breed. damage the Department’s management Coalition Government’s Environment of the fires (felling thousands of Ministers Peter Walsh and Ryan Smith With the impacts of logging and ‘hazardous’ trees along tracks and to urgently review the owl zones. We more frequent bushfires, such large roads, as well as dragging fire around asked that they replace burnt zones areas are becoming increasingly the landscape for weeks), and the toll with new unburnt owl habitat known rare. This is why the Sooty, Powerful on wildlife was shocking. to support owls, but which were on the and Masked Owls are now listed as logging schedule. threatened under Victoria’s Flora and It was especially disastrous for those Fauna Guarantee Act. species dependent on the limited The Ministers refused. This effectively forests with old trees and large hollows. subjected these threatened owls, And where owls and their habitat are already in trouble, to a double protected, so are frogs, bandicoots, EEG believed there were clear whammy. gliders, lace monitors and a myriad of obligations under law to review other wildlife species. and replace the fire-impacted eeG speaks for the owls owl protection zones called Owl The 2014 fires, which burnt over Management Areas, 46 of which were On behalf of the owls, EEG decided 170,000 ha of forest in East Gippsland, impacted as a result of the 2014 fires. to launch its fourth legal challenge in destroyed vast areas within Snowy September 2014 against DEPI and its River National Park, parts of Some zones suffered very severe fire logging agency, VicForests – which Errinundra National Park, and that killed trees and ‘evaporated’ the agreed to halt logging in 90 stands adjoining state forests. understorey. Others had less severe of potential owl habitat that were fire through them but still lost hollow- identified while the case went ahead. Much of this area was deliberately bearing trees, along with much ground burnt by the then Department of cover – both essential for the owl’s Thanks to the efforts of local ‘citizen Environment and Primary Industries prey species. scientists’ from the Goongerah

14 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 Burning heap of roadside trees at Ellery Creek Track, bulldozed (probably unnecessarily) as part of ‘fire management’. PhOTOs: Jill redwOOd

A Manna Gum tree with hollows becomes a chimney during the 2014 fires. Volunteer Rena went into burnt areas with feed to help keep surviving wildlife alive.

Environment Centre (GECO), the owl Planning) had an obligation under the In particular, the Department and records we used for planned logging East Gippsland Forest Management VicForests have agreed to: areas were recent and well recorded, Plan to revise the owl protection zones. • move nine stands of old-growth giving us good legal ammunition to forest off the logging schedule and argue our case. The owls’ Action Statements under the FFG Act also require the into protection zones (including The other ‘ammunition’ (besides the department to review, research and Brown Mountain) dedicated team from Bleyer Lawyers) monitor the three species. We believe • put a four-year moratorium on was state legislation, including the this has not been done. another 16 stands of prime owl Forests Act and the Flora and Fauna habitat planned for clearfelling Although we were disappointed that Guarantee (FFG) Act. the new Labor government chose • increase the size of all owl protected The latter stipulates that in East to continue along the legal path for areas in East Gippsland that are Gippsland for the three threatened another seven months, the out-of- below legal minimums court settlement in mid-July secured forest owl species, there must be task biologists to study owls post- a number of areas as new protection • between 100 and 131 zones per species fire and consider if additional owl zones. set aside, containing good quality protection measures are needed habitat and ranging from 500 to 800 ha We are pleased that the government carry out assessments of burnt per zone (though biologists believe this • now accepts it must do more work to owl zones is extremely inadequate to support a ensure that the three threatened large pair of owls). forest owl species survive. • pay a portion of EEG’s considerable legal costs. These zones are often ‘doubled up’ the details for more than one owl species for We look forward to working with the expediency, meaning that prey and All up, over 2,000 ha have been set Department on these East Gippsland resources are reduced for both species. aside for owl protection as a result of owl protection measures over the next the agreement reached, as well as some year, while continuing to demand EEG believed the environment assessments and studies to determine permanent protection for all remaining department (now DELWP, Department whether new protection zones are mature and old-growth forests and of Environment, Land, Water and necessary. their dependent wildlife. • pW

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 15 Keeping the developers at bay phil inGamellS uPdates us oN CommerCial develoPmeNts iN Parks.

Mount Buffalo Chalet in its heyday, ca 1912. Climate change predictions make it clear that the mountain will not remain the winter playground of earlier days. PhOTO: hisTOriC PlACes COlleCTiOn, delwP since the change in government in outdoor education, and getting young the recent signing of a 50-year lease for victoria, the pressure has been taken people into our parks brings health, access to Arthurs Seat State Park. off developments in parks. our finest sociological and economic benefits to the The local community group ‘Save our natural areas are, thankfully, free whole community. Seat’ has been concerned about the loss of of private developers holding The revamp also creates a rare chance vegetation along the skylift route, the size 99-year leases. to bring the park office, work centre of the new buildings at the top, including But let’s look at a few projects currently and a visitor information centre back to a restaurant, and the scenic impact of the in action around the state. the Chalet complex, allowing the other project’s large and bright blue gondolas. buildings scattered across the park to be Mount Buffalo Chalet removed and restoring the plateau to its Grampians peaks trail former natural grandeur. The historic Chalet at Mount Buffalo This 144km multi-day walking track from National Park is currently undergoing The Chalet revamp will cost the taxpayer north to south through Grampians National a much-needed revamp – largely considerably, so it’s only appropriate that Park has had, since it was proposed, a a process of restoring and reviving the broad community, and the park itself, variety of options for accommodation along the front half of the building, and should benefit. the way. The original concept was for basic demolishing the hotch-potch of hikers’ shelters, and little else. additions at the rear. Quarantine Station, point nepean national park Then, matching the previous Victorian The partial demolition received the government’s push for private tourism blessing of Heritage Victoria (and the This has been an unnecessarily infrastructure in national parks, the VNPA). What we don’t know is what protracted battle involving a range proposal changed to a series of seven will be there in the future. of governments and developers, and privately built and operated serviced various schemes and dreams, for many lodges along the way. They would have The VNPA is opposed to any years now. For an update, see the story had kitchens and en suite bathrooms, and suggestion that a new private on p. 4. required road access for servicing. development could be encouraged on the footprint of the demolished arthurs Seat chairlift One section of the trail has now been sections. There is no need for the completed, and state and federal funding With the closure and then demolition of Chalet to re-establish its previous will ensure its completion. However, there is the old chairlift to Arthurs Seat in 2006, outsized growth. no longer any mention of the private lodges. after a series of safety concerns, there has And we are not at all convinced that always been enthusiasm by governments While this is primarily the result of the the chalet should, in the future, be the and some developers to replace it with a current government’s lack of enthusiasm for preserve of high-end tourism. ‘bigger and better’ one along roughly the private developments in parks, apparently same route. no tourism operators actually expressed Mount Buffalo has always had the interest in the scheme. potential to be a really top-rate youth One of these proposals, the $16m hostel or school education centre. Arthurs Seat Skylift, has progressed It seems there are preferred locations for The plateau is one of the best places through various planning processes and tourism investment: outside, but adjacent in Victoria for safe but adventurous is set for completion by late 2016, after to, our parks. • pW

16 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 Parks victoria update

When a regional services restructure (The VNPA too is concerned that the CEO Dr Bill Jackson announced his was announced by Parks victoria Ceo restructure may result in fewer rangers resignation in March, continuing in dr bill Jackson about two years ago, it ‘on the ground’ in parks in the longer the role until June. He has now become was stated that the restructure would term. We would like to hear from Parks Chairman of the Thin Green Line reduce the number of higher-grade Victoria in relation to this concern.) Foundation that supports rangers positions in a top-heavy organisation worldwide. The VNPA commends him and create more lower-grade positions, Meanwhile, many staff ‘matched’ to for carrying out a difficult role under an resulting in additional rangers. new positions still have no idea what unsympathetic government, and wishes their roles are, and Corporate Services him well in his new role. In fact the opposite seems to have (Head Office) staff are still going happened. through a ‘realignment’. A new CEO, Bradley Fauteux from Canada, has just been announced. As part of the restructure, Rangers in There have also been changes to Mr Fauteux is currently Managing Charge have been replaced by Team weekend roster arrangements for Director of Ontario Parks and a Board Leaders in parks and by Area Chief rangers and other field staff. Staff are Member of the Canadian Parks Council. Rangers, some of whom manage one now permitted to work a maximum He will start work at Parks Victoria on park while others are responsible of only 20 weekend days per year. This 16 November. Chris Rose will continue for several. means that some staff have had their as Acting Chief Executive until then. weekend days (and thus their rostered Many rangers and Field Service Officers weekend allowance) cut by 50%. Mr Fauteux was quoted recently as received promotions as a result of the saying: “... in environmentalism and restructure, but not all of the resulting Internal management discussion on conservation, I don’t think there is lower-grade vacancies have been this issue commenced over two years a higher calling than being part of a filled, and many positions have just ago apparently without discussion with Friends group.” Sounds encouraging! disappeared from the organisational PV staff affected. chart. There are now fewer rangers and The VNPA welcomes Mr Fauteux and FSOs than before. Bargaining for a new Parks Victoria looks forward to working with him. • pW Enterprise Bargaining Agreement for The CPSU has written to Parks 2016 will begin soon. CPSU organisers thanks to the CPsu (Community Victoria asking if it intends to fill all the will visit PV work centres over the next and Public sector union) for positions on the organisational chart few months to discuss the claim for the information supplied. presented as part of the restructure. new Parks Agreement. michael howes

Dowds Morass State Game Reserve near Sale andreW sChulz – part of Andrew's management area. after his 49th birthday, he died at home A tribute with his family after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease. So what might Andrew want you to know about him? I imagine he would just want to be known as someone who did the best for his area, his staff and the public he served. Most people would agree that rangers across the state should be appreciated and respected for their dedication to the protection of our wonderful parks and reserves, but perhaps a special place belongs to those who, like Andrew, PhOTO: PeTer lAwrenCe commit to one area for most of their working lives. until recently andrew schulz was state game reserve wetlands around lake Wellington and holey Plains Parks victoria ranger in Charge at the He started at Sale as a maintenance crew state Park to the west. sale office. his area of management worker for the then Fisheries and Wildlife stretched from The lakes nP and Andrew had worked in this area for Department and worked his way up the gippsland lakes Coastal Park to the over three decades. But sadly, just ladder until he became ranger in charge.

Continued on page 39

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 17 VNPA NAture COnservATiOn reView environmental governance

the vNPa Nature CoNservatioN review looks at the maNagemeNt of our Natural eNviroNmeNt. vNPa voluNteer eVelYn feller summarises this ChaPter aNd also lists PhOTO: PArKs viCTOriA eNviroNmeNtal aCtioNs uNder Our pest plant and animal problems, such as the growing numbers of deer in our parks, are partly the the aNdrews goverNmeNt. result of shortcomings in environmental governance in terms of laws, responsibilities and resources.

environmental governance is the An independent regulator with Victoria needs a new biosecurity system of laws, implementation requirements to report on enforcement law to give appropriate priority to mechanisms and institutional and outcomes should be established. preventing new invasive species and arrangements for environmental provide institutional structures and protection and biodiversity limited planning and data: reviews tools to manage existing invasive conservation. of Victoria’s biodiversity approach species more effectively. have criticised the lack of an overall Achieving the many essential reforms biodiversity strategy and of a clear Federal involvement: the recommended in the NCR involves articulation of statewide priorities, Commonwealth has no direct legal addressing the following deficiencies. objectives and targets. means to intervene when state governments undermine the integrity lack of integration and coordination: In addition, knowledge of Victorian of national parks, so environmental laws, administration, programs and biodiversity is deficient in many areas, groups recommend that parks should plans are poorly integrated, leading including the conservation status also be protected under federal to inefficiencies and conflicting and trends of many species and the environmental laws. As well, there objectives. The important 2009 Land effectiveness of different management should be federal funding for special and Biodiversity White Paper ‘Securing techniques. park management programs. our Natural Future’ was the closest the government came to a comprehensive An urgent priority is to develop a nature Climate change approach, but it was not implemented. conservation strategy that matches nature conservation with well-defined targets Victoria should be responding to the The Victorian Auditor-General has and effective measures. threat of climate change by: reported many instances of inadequate reducing the state’s greenhouse leadership and coordination, for limited disclosure: it is not possible • gases through conserving carbon example in marine biosecurity. There to gain a clear understanding of the sinks such as forests, and preventing has also been too little strategic state’s environmental performance from carbon-emitting activities such as planning, resulting in an ad hoc and the government’s public reports. State clearing fragmented approach to biodiversity agency performance measures in the conservation. annual budget papers are not linked to • ensuring that responses to climate environmentally meaningful measures in change are ecologically sustainable Weak laws and enforcement: state of environment or catchment reports. • reducing threats to nature and Victoria’s environmental laws are improving habitat quality complex, fragmented and outdated, low commitment and priority: because and fail to mandate sufficient priority of the previous government’s low political funding for biodiversity conservation. The commitment to the environment, previous state government weakened funding is extremely inadequate and The failure of past governments to environmental laws and treated them environmental progress made under invest sufficient public funds to arrest as an impediment. earlier reforms slipped back. environmental decline in Victoria is

18 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 resulting in enormous economic as well may be considered in the review of There has been a restructuring of as environmental and social costs. the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act the department responsible for the (see below). environment (now Department of Without investment now, future Environment, Water, Land and Planning, Victorians will inherit further loss of The Andrews Government is also DEWLP) to remove Agriculture, which natural capital and spiralling costs for committed to developing a new is now in a separate department. Parks restoration and threat mitigation. marine and coastal act to better Victoria has been restructured but there integrate law in this area. It has has been little structural change in the Only a small proportion of the established an expert panel to identify environment department. • pW Victorian budget has been allocated and analyse the key challenges to support nature conservation, and to marine and coastal health and government agencies are unable to management in Victoria. environmental actions by meet their fundamental environmental the andrews Government obligations. Till 2015 Parks Victoria biodiversity law received just 0.6% of the state budget to although there has not manage 15% of the state’s land area and In mid-2013, 667 taxa and been much institutional and 5% of its marine area. communities were listed as threatened legislative change under the under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee andrews government so far, As pointed out in June Park Watch, Act, but many other species need it has addressed a number of Parks Victoria has also not been formal listing. Action plans need environmental issues left by the allocated its proper share of public to be developed for many species, previous government. money collected in the Parks and and compliance, monitoring and Reserves Trust Fund. y Cattle grazing has been enforcement improved. removed from the alpine Because knowledge of Victoria’s National Park and red gum A review of the Flora and Fauna parks. biodiversity and how to manage it Guarantee Act is now under way, y the proposed large private is still poor, there is a great need for and a new Biodiversity Strategy, development in Point Nepean funding to improve this knowledge. to be completed by 2016, is being Funding decisions for the environment National Park has been developed. The VNPA is represented stopped. should: on the Stakeholder Reference group • fund core programs and not rely for this. y the government has started on external funding public consultations on native institutional structures vegetation management • allocate guaranteed long-term rules and development of a funding and processes biodiversity strategy. • allocate funding to support and The NCR states that a new structure y in the recent state budget train volunteers is needed for Victoria’s environmental the andrews government • be transparent and available for and sustainability agencies. These has increased Parks victoria’s public review. agencies should be based on the allocation by $21 million over four years and allocated $11 following principles: The NCR proposes the establishment million for infrastructure of a Victorian biodiversity fund to • each agency must have clear upgrades of buildings, roads support programs necessary to build objectives, functions and targets and toilet blocks. the resilience of Victoria’s ecosystems. • regulatory roles should be y there is to be a review of the Climate Change act. update: governance separated from policy setting and management to avoid conflicts of y a committee has been set reform actions interest up to deal with riparian management issues, with $20- Just as the NCR was completed in 2014, environmental regulators should • 30 million in funding allocated. the state government changed. Here be independent y there have been public is a summary of the Andrews Labor • ecological sustainability and Government’s progress in improving meetings about the promised biodiversity conservation should Yarra river act. environmental governance. be core principles in all government y a state of the bay report is departments integration of laws being prepared (geographical • accountability with regular extent is yet to be A new consolidated Victorian reporting and independent audits determined). Environment and Conservation Act is needed.

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 19 Yes, it’s a rabbit burrow! tackling rabbits and weeds linDen Gillbank of the sChool of historiCal aNd PhilosoPhiCal studies, the uNiversitY of melbourNe,

rePorts oN a mallee PhOTO: JennY rOllAnd missioN iN JuNe. i try to commemorate the Queen’s internationally significant, being birthday appropriately. recognised under the Ramsar Convention. As her subjects, we and our invading forefathers have caused enormous We camped at Lake Mournpall damage to Australian ecosystems and campground, with River Red Gums their original managers. Rabbits are fringing the lake and Black Box and a big part of the environmental mallee further back. The weather damage package. was kind: breath-condensing early mornings and clear crisp days. So a rabbit-focused weekend is a perfect commemoration of the While the canoeists paddled off in royal birthday. search of the wetland weeds Elodia,

Cabomba and Arrowhead, we PhOTO: Chris dunn Thanks to Euan Moore and his landlubbers searched for warrens and Checking out aquatic weeds. discussions with rangers at Hattah- weeds within grids decided by rangers. Kulkyne National Park, south of Mildura, Queen’s birthday weekenders Alert eyes and supple necks were Olive, Noogoora Burr and Bridal Creeper. contribute to the park’s ongoing rabbit essential. After lining up at 10 metre We left our way-pointed warrens for control program. The weekend is intervals, we walked forward, each professional rabbit controllers to destroy. becoming an annual VNPA event. searching ahead within a 10m wide corridor – 5m on each side. The volunteers are part of a five-year Although few targeted weeds were found, we came across too many incursions program organised by the Mallee CMA Staying in line is relatively easy when of such other weeds as Tree Tobacco, and Parks Victoria to control rabbits in roped together as, for example, Thornapple and Horehound. the park. The volunteers back up work when hawkweed-hunting in treeless done by contractors. vegetation, but here we relied on visual As well as the generous camaraderie and contact with the hi-vis vest of the As in previous years, some of us were diverse expertise and interests of my fellow warrener on each side of us. repeat ‘warreners’ and others were warreners, my most cherished memory is newcomers. of magnificent ancient River Red Gums, Maintaining our ‘correct’ relative sometimes growing far from present positions while carefully searching We also searched for certain priority surface water and even bigger than the around trees and in shrub thickets weeds – those targeted for control by grand old trees around Lake Mournpall. the Mallee CMA. was challenging. It required lots of looking sideways, forwards and, for These huge gentle giants rely on And this year, a new activity was those carrying a GPS tracking device, groundwater, and are the last of their available: canoeing in search of aquatic downwards. cohort, which germinated centuries ago on weeds. Lucky us! the fringe of retreating floods. Outliving As well as recording our actual search- their fellow seedlings and saplings, they Hattah-Kulkyne is a grey-green routes, GPS units helped keep us from were mature trees when white invaders first island in an ocean of cleared land. diverging too far from our starting brought saws and grazing stock to the area. Its sometimes ephemeral lakes and GPS position and were used to create their associated creeks, billabongs waypoints to mark the positions of Will the groundwater be recharged and floodplains are precious, and warrens and any African Boxthorn, sufficiently for their future survival?• pW

20 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 Annual report 2014-2015

President’s report russell Costello

What an amazing Whether we are entering another It may also lead the many fleeting year! We started golden time for the environment visitors to our site to stay, find what they on the financial remains to be seen, but the signs are looking for, return regularly, and ropes, opposing are much better. The Environment perhaps become supporters. many government Minister has already reversed some actions that were of the negatives of her predecessor, We all want our Association to grow. damaging the including alpine cattle grazing and And with your help, it will. environment, and the Point Nepean lease, with more with a massive under review. and potentially CounCil memberS expensive court We are now working with the case looming on Alpine cattle grazing. government on a number of fronts, president: Russell Costello (Conservation And then came recovery. though our capacity to meet the & Campaigns; executive; governance, requests for input, even with volunteer Policy & legal; membership & It was a year of two contrasting halves. In support, is being severely stretched. marketing and education & events) the first, we were defending the natural Vice president: Euan Moore (executive; environment against one attack after With government grants such a rarity and philanthropic trusts still membership & marketing and another, and were totally excluded from education & events) government consultation. In the second, recovering from the GFC, we need consultation was reinstated and there was a reliable income to serve your Secretary: Charles Street (Conservation expectations. renewed optimism for a range of positive & Campaigns; executive; governance, environmental achievements. Policy & legal) to June 2015; Regular Giving has been steadily Michael Forster (executive; finance growing by about 10% per year. In one of my President’s introductions I governance; Policy & legal; education Our monthly donors now contribute pointed out the poor performance of the & events) from June 2015 around 8% of our income. This is former Coalition administration compared really important to us. treasurer: Gary Allan (executive; with those of the past, particularly the finance; governance, Policy & legal) golden era of the Hamer Government and As Regular Giving grows, particularly Ann Birrell (executive; governance, Conservation Minister Bill Borthwick. Regular Giving Plus (which includes Policy & legal) membership), our revenue becomes This time, we had environmentally steadier and more predictable. That Russell Bowey (bushwalking & activities disastrous policies, a developer’s paradise makes program planning so much group) at the expense of the environment, national easier. I encourage you to consider Michael Feller (Conservation & park ‘sales’ through 99-year leases and no it if you can. Campaigns) environmental achievements of note. Our Executive Director Matt Ruchel Deborah Henry (bushwalking & activities What’s our take-home message? That we mentions many of the achievements group; membership & marketing and must work closely with all sides of politics of the past 12 months. In addition, education & events) to encourage the development of sound Council has elected to invest in a Bruce McGregor (Conservation & environmental platforms. I’m certain that new on-line system for managing Campaigns, executive) failing the environmental test in the eyes membership, contacts, payments and of the community contributes to electoral Kyle Matheson (finance; governance, so much more. Our clunky old system Policy & legal) failure, and even to one-term governments. was costing too much staff time. Libby Smith (membership & marketing We survived these difficult years because The next step is to develop a new and education & events) of our very generous donors, our hard- website, linked to the new system, to James Thyer working staff and volunteers, and provide a smooth service to all. This eventually because of a change of will make online enquiries, payments note: Committee memberships in brackets State Government. and event registration much easier.

NATURAL VICTORIA Conservation Priorities for Victoria’s Natural Heritage CATTle PhOTO: Phil ingAMells; nATurewATCh PhOTO: TrACeY KOPer, vCMC. PT nePeAn PhOTO: MATThew MACKAY, inner lighT PhOTOgrAPhY; The year in review executive director matt ruchel

When I look We now look forward to helping develop back on this a more permanent and sustainable future past year, I’m for the site which maintains its significant NATURE CONSERVATION REVIEW 2014 reminded what natural, cultural and recreational values. Public Summary can be achieved We continued our role in working with the support on complex policy issues such as fire of like-minded management, native vegetation controls, and passionate On the organisational front, with your grassland protection and urban growth, people in small support our funding base remains stable. and protection of biodiversity state-wide. organisations We worked hard through the year to like the VNPA. As part of this, we released our fourth improve our operations and capacity, Nature Conservation Review – Natural and service and support our members The past 12 months saw a change in Victoria, conservation priorities for and supporters, with the difficult job of government at the November state Victoria’s natural heritage – which introducing a new database. election, and a change in the atmosphere synthesises the condition of, threats for conservation in Victoria. Our Our community engagement and to and challenges facing our unique education work such as NatureWatch ongoing defence of natural areas has natural areas. taken on a more positive outlook, with continued to flourish, though we have had some significant outcomes. Forest protection has also gained to halt our Reef Watch project for the time momentum, with widespread being, due to a shortfall in funding. First, we saw the delivery on an election recognition of the plight of the tiny Significantly we have had a number of staff commitment to ban cattle grazing in Leadbeater’s Possum and the proposed changes, with Nick Roberts (Red Gum Victoria’s Alpine and Red Gum national creation of a Great Forest National Park campaign), Simon Branigan (Marine and parks. This ban closes loopholes in the front and centre in the state election. Coastal campaign) and Wendy Roberts legislation and will hopefully see the end (Reef Watch) moving on this year. We The VNPA has been campaigning of this antiquated and damaging practice thank them for their hard work and for our parks and nature for more in our park system. dedicated service. than 60 years, so it is good to know We also worked successfully with that what we stand for has widespread Many thanks and congratulations to local communities on the Mornington public support. Polling commissioned the VNPA Council, staff and our many Peninsula to block a proposed large-scale by the VNPA last year showed almost committed volunteers, members and private development at the Quarantine unanimous support for national parks supporters for a great team effort. We look Station in Point Nepean National Park. across the Victorian community. forward to another good year in 2015-16. VNPA ANNuAl rePort 2014-2015 bushwalking and volunteers and Committee Convenors activities group VolunteerS Volunteer Committee administration assistants: david alberton, ConVenorS Jilly Casey, Christine Cockayne, Colette findlay, bushwalking & activities Group: margaret hattersley, raimonne mcCutchan, terese dalman. graham trigg, fredrick tropp-asher. Conservation & Campaigns: research assistants: bruce mcgregor. evelyn feller, dianne marshall. executive: russell Costello. Grow west & project hindmarsh: excursions: larysa kucan. John stirling and terese dalman plus Governance, policy & legal: vNPa planters. ann birrell. native Vegetation & Grasslands: finance: gary allan. andrew booth, adrian marshall. membership & marketing and naturewatch: (Office volunteers) emma education & events: euan moore. barnett, margreet drijfhout, Jill Johnson, meg loyn, ann williamson. (Team leaders) Committee VolunteerS Colin Cook, david de angelis, Jasper hails, michael longmore, Julia Pickwick, garry other than Vnpa Councillors van dijk, wilma van dijk, ian vaskess. and staff, the following (Equipment management) eddie schambre. volunteers have been members of Vnpa committees: PhOTO: MArY ferlin publications: Geoff Durham, Evelyn Feller, Mt Howitt, Alpine National Park. euan moore, Jenny Norvick, bernard slattery. fredrick tropp-asher, liz forbes, park watch mailout team: darren mcClelland, linda Parlane, First, I’d like to thank all our volunteers: walk mem alexander, murray bird, betna maelor himbury, larysa kucan, leaders, Emergency Contacts, leader mentors, dryden, Jan gay, brian groom, Jo groom, deirdre slattery, evelyn feller, event coordinators and committee members. margaret hattersley, leonie hudson, John fred gerardson, John renowden, CATTle PhOTO: Phil ingAMells; nATurewATCh PhOTO: TrACeY KOPer, vCMC. PT nePeAn PhOTO: MATThew MACKAY, inner lighT PhOTOgrAPhY; They made it possible to offer over 250 hutchinson, robyn lateef, keith lloyd, Joan lindros, gerard mcPhee, activities and social events for the year. margot marasco, ian mcdonald, sheina bernie mace, lindsay hesketh, Nicholls, mary-lou Phillips, Joan Phillips, terese dalman, rob argent, 35 weekend trips (overnight and base Barbara Prouse, Lorraine ratcliffe, gayle davey, sue Catterall, camps) were offered, and their leaders Paul stokes, graham trigg, Pat witt. Julia Pickwick, david moore. deserve special thanks for the extra commitment required. David Moore got our walks included in the These activities are not just enjoyable and Coach excursions Seniors Week program. We’ve also continued healthy – they help people appreciate our our ‘Bring a Friend for Free’ initiative. natural places. The Excursions Group conducted ten day trips in 2014-15, all well Highlights among the many activities Conservation attended by both members and visitors included a family overnight walk at Mt Baw BWAGers participated in a range of – a total number of 432 people. Places Baw, family bike rides, canoeing on the conservation activities including Project visited were Coolart Wetlands, Wilsons Goulburn, and snow shoeing. Overseas, Hindmarsh, Grow West, boneseeding on Promontory, the Maribyrnong River by John Bales led a hiking trip to Canada. the Mornington Peninsula, rabbit warren tram boat, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buangor surveys in Hattah-Kulkyne NP, NatureWatch SP, Morwell NP, Yea, Kinglake to social nights activities, Clean Up Australia Day, and a Seymour, Eynesbury and Blackwood, Presentations at these monthly social events Malleefowl nest survey. Walk, Talk and and lastly Walhalla. included Euan Moore on the Antarctic Gawk leaders offered 14 WT&Gs, with On these trips, all led by volunteers, Peninsula; controlling weeds in the Central one especially for children. we enjoyed walks in national parks Highlands; a foray in the fungi world; BWAG contributed $7,000 to VNPA with and along rail trails, picnics, and Caught on Camera footage; and John and income from walks and other activities. visiting farmers markets, historic Ruth Stirling’s Japan trip. homes and galleries. I especially want to thank outgoing Other social activities were the regular Convenor Russell Bowey for his excellent Christmas and mid-year dinners, and The VNPA has been using the services leadership of the Group over the past three monthly Under 35 dinners. Sue Catterall of McKenzie’s coaches since the early years. He’s so dedicated that he has stayed organised our very popular Odd Ball. 1960s and we thank them for their on the Committee as Secretary! And thank continued support. Their expert drivers Prospective leaders attended a Leadership you to Geoff Durham, who introduced the contribute greatly to the success of Briefing by Russell Bowey. Walk, Talk and Gawk concept. Geoff has the excursions. now stepped down as Coordinator. Some of our leaders deserve a special As a result of these trips the group mention. Larysa Kucan has done a wonderful And a final thank-you: thanks to the contributed $5,742 to the VNPA, up job coordinating the coach excursions, Geoff committee members for giving their time from the previous year’s $5,299. Durham led his Easy Going Ambles, and to make all this happen. Rob Argent, Ruth Stirling and Sue Parkhill continued Russell Bowey, Gayle Davey, Sue Catterall, Many thanks to the trip leaders, and their great Monday walk series. Deb Henry, David Moore and Julia Pickwick to all the members and visitors who participated in the excursions. Richard Tagg continued to promote BWAG – you’ve done a great job! activities through the website ‘MeetUp’, and terese dalman (Convenor) larysa kucan (Convenor) VNPA ANNuAl rePort 2014-2015 Statement by members of the Council the members of the Council have determined that the association is not a reporting entity and in our opinion the abridged special purpose financial report set out below presents a true and fair view of the financial position of VNPA as at 30 June 2015 and its performance for the year ended on that date. at the date of this statement there are reasonable grounds to believe that the vNPa will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due for payment. financial report this statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the Council and is signed for and on behalf of the Council by: abridged audited Special purpose financial report for the year ended 30 June 2015. Gary Allan (Treasurer) & Euan Moore (Vice-President) dated this 3rd day of September 2015.

income Statement For the Year ended 30 June 2015 balance Sheet aS at 30 June 2015 reVenue 2015 2014 aSSetS 2015 2014 operating activities $ $ current $ $ Appeals, Donations & Bequests 854,142 847,167 receivables and inventory 30,079 142,414 grants & Partner Contributions 106,379 159,527 cash and cash Equivalents 926,256 748,088 membership fees 109,067 116,668 Total Current Assets 956,335 890,502 interest income & sundry sales 59,906 62,304 non-current total income 1,129,494 1,185,666 fixed assets at written down value 23,151 32,421 eXpenditure total aSSetS 979,486 922,924 employment expenses 594,400 712,957 liabilitieS Campaigns, Projects, activities & education 100,747 89,114 Current and Non-Current 302,556 368,406 Office & Administration 157,750 164,656 total liabilitieS 302,556 368,406 Printing/Publications/web 54,558 70,032 net aSSetS 676,930 554,518 accommodation & insurance 99,627 103,246 Funded by: total expenses 1,007,082 1,140,005 association funds 676,930 554,518 operatinG (deFicit) SurpluS beFore tranSFerS (to) From reSerVe FundS 122,412 45,661 total aSSociation FundS 676,930 554,518 transfers from (to) reserve Funds (109,426) (20,089) NOTE: Independent Audit Report: As in previous years, the operatinG (deFicit) SurpluS aFter tranSFerS From (to) reSerVe FundS 12,986 25,572 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 Vnpa – actiVitieS accountS For the Year ended 30 June 2015 over all cash collections from donations prior to their initial the operating accounts for the bushwalking and activities group processing in the accounting records. 2015 2014 have not been consolidated into the general accounts above The full Independent Auditor’s Report will be tabled at the $ $ and are reported separately as follows: forthcoming Annual General Meeting as part of the Audited opening bank account balance 3,125 4,142 Financial Statements and the full text of the Report will be available at www.vnpa.org.au. income 10,060 9,365 expenditure (75) (382) funds Contributed to vNPa (7,000) (10,000) vnPa employees cloSinG bank account balance 6,110 3,125 executive Director: matt ruchel fundraising manager: emily Clough (maternity leave from dec 2014) vnPa supporters, donors and partners Direct Marketing Officer: maxine hawkins the vNPa acknowledges and thanks our key supporters, donors and partners finance & operations manager: heath rickard for their generous support. Administration Officer: Charlotte kandelaars Donors: project partners: administration assistants: irina de loche, ann williamson, tilly reynolds the following subfunds of the bankmecu australian Communities foundation: bendigo and district environment Council Marine & Coastal Project Officer: simon branigan alf and meg steel fund (to oct 2014); Chris smyth (from feb 2015) ecology australia bb & a miller fund Parks Protection Project Officer: Phil ingamells melliodora fund environment east gippsland Habitat Protection Project Officer: Yasmin kelsall the arnold foundation environmental Justice australia friends of bunyip state Park red Gum & river rescue project Coordinator: the dara foundation Nick roberts (to Jan 2015) Equity trustees Limited geelong environment Council manager, Community education and grow west field Naturalists Club of victoria engagement: caitlin Griffith (from March 2015) hindmarsh landcare Network gras foundation trust nature watch Coordinator: Christine Connelly museum victoria foundation for National Parks reef watch Coordinator: Practical ecology & wildlife wendy roberts (to sept 2014) the ian Potter foundation Preserve westernport action group Park Watch Editor/Publications Officer: rowe family foundation (Perpetual) the wilderness society michael howes the university of melbourne lord mayor’s Charitable foundation Conservation review project Coordinator: Parks victoria volunteering western victoria andrew Cox Port Phillip and westernport westernport & Peninsula Protection Council media & Communications Consultant: Catchment management authority wombat forestcare John sampson/ecotype Large old tree stumps at the Shepherds Flat mine site show how big the forest trees were before Europeans came. We need to protect the new forest that is growing back.

Plundering paradise?

GaYle oSborne of wombat forestCare warNs of the threat of gold miNiNg iN the forest.

The northern section of Wombat PhOTO: gAYle OsBOrne state Forest, adjoining hepburn regional Park, is a wonderful water issues. The Environment It is shocking that there are so few legal example of our drier forests. Department biodiversity officer can protections for our natural environment. usually only put in place restrictions On the face of it the processes are legal, There are many waterways flowing to protect threatened species, set the but it is clear that our environment is not north. These creeks can appear dry but amount of offset the licensee must protected. water seeps underground along them, purchase to compensate for loss often collecting in pools. of native vegetation, and detail the The department regulators are also the bureaucrats in charge of making sure Brilliant arrays of wattles, wildflowers rehabilitation of the site. mining proceeds. It is not in their interest and orchids abound in spring, Should the proposed works be to keep mining out of our waterways if with patches of the threatened within 20 metres of either side of that is where the gold is. Grevillea repens. a designated waterway, the water There are examples throughout the The area suffered greatly in the authorities should insist that the country where communities have stood 19th century mining boom, and licensee apply for a ‘works on up to the legal rights of miners. Many existing eucalypts are mainly regrowth waterway’ permit. have succeeded - look at the successes of from stumps. The process of the licensee applying the ‘Lock the Gate’ campaigns. But it’s still Tuan or Brush-tailed for a work plan only allows the As a community we need to do all we can. Phascogale territory. These cute community to object to the issuing Let’s work towards protecting this special but fierce marsupials like this drier of the licence. The objection from place. pW country, where they feed on smaller Wombat Forestcare was dismissed • mammals, birds, lizards and insects. on the grounds that it was ‘specific to potential impacts on the environment’. Recently, despite strong community We were told these issues will be opposition, a 53.8 hectare mining tAke ActioN licence (MIN5572) was approved dealt with in the work plan process, for an area within the forest near a process to which we have no write to: Shepherd’s Flat. input rights. hon. richard wynne Once the work plan is approved, the minister for planning This is probably to be expected, as 1 Spring Street, melbourne licensee has a legal right to proceed, mining is a permitted land use within ViC 3000 a state forest. ‘Park status’ for the and work can only be halted if there Wombat would have protected the site, are breaches of the work plan. Then a Cc the letter to: as mining is not allowed in national or mining inspector (or warden) is called hon. lily D’ambrosio state parks. in to deal with the breaches. There do minister for energy and resources not seem to be any instances where 121 exhibition Street, melbourne The next step is for the licensee to a mine has been closed due to non- ViC 3000 obtain an authorised work plan compliance. ask that sandy mining Pty ltd from the Department of Economic be required to complete an Development, Jobs, Transport and Also, once the work plan is approved, the licensee must commence a Environmental Effects Statement Resources. This document details the (ees) for miN5572 as there are operation and extent of the works. ‘community consultation’ process. However, this can be as little as having potentially significant environmental effects from mining this site. During this process the relevant a website. The licensee is not bound to authorities look at biodiversity and take notice of community concerns.

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 21 Are these cheerful environmentalists just planting trees, or are they really vigilantes planning to take legal action against the government?

Vigilance The Abbott Government has now moved to abolish all of section 487 or vigilantes? of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. Legal advice suggests that this would mean any person wanting to challenge a federal environmental approval would have to prove they had been directly and personally adversely affected. (Guardian, 19/8/2015).

This means repealing an important provision which recognises that nature cannot speak for itself, and therefore that environmental organisations need to be able to initiate legal challenges.

This is part of a chain of fronts opened up by the Federal Coalition. First, they started by pushing to hand back federal environmental powers to state governments, under the snappy slogan of a ‘one-stop shop’ for environmental approval – which in turn would mean decision-making under eight different jurisdictions in the one country.

This was followed by a House of Representatives Inquiry in May 2015 into the tax deductibility status of environmental groups. Liberal MP Alex Hawke, chairman of the inquiry, was quoted in the Australian Financial Review, 20 May 2015, as saying: “I think there is an argument mounting about what taxpayer concessions are being used for and if that money is being used for groups that are purely political who are claiming environmental work that is not being spent on the environment.”

Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane was also quoted as saying that it was quite clear some environmental groups were not playing

PhOTO: COurTesY grOw wesT by the rules. “You have to play by the rules. If they are an environmental vNPa exeCutive direCtor matt ruChel resPoNds to the reCeNt group and they are promoting the attaCks bY the federal goverNmeNt oN eNviroNmeNtal environment, that's fine, but to use grouPs, PartiCularlY iN relatioN to legal aCtioNs. money for political activism, that's a problem.”

Yet on the back of the Adani decision, The recent unprecedented political rhetoric The flurry of furious language came Attorney-General George Brandis said by the abbott government in declaring in response to the Federal Court on the ABC’s AM program (20 August): ‘war’ on ‘environmental vigilantes and decision this month to overturn “There may be people who care deeply saboteurs’, ‘green vigilantism’ and the use the approval for Adani’s proposed about the environment, but they of ‘lawfare’ (whatever that is) is part of $16 billion Carmichael coalmine in should prosecute their views through an orchestrated attempt to demonise the Queensland, delaying the project for the political system, not through environment and conservation groups. a few weeks. (Guardian, 19/8/2015). the courts.”

22 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 So according to the Abbott Government, conservation and Waleed Aly said in an environment groups should not be allowed to be engaged in the political excellent comment piece process, we are not playing by the rules if we do, and we should not be allowed (The Age, 21/8/15) that “[The term] to use the courts either. Really? ‘vigilante litigation’ is Sue Higginson, principal solicitor at the NSW Environmental Defenders literally nonsensical – like Office, said the action to change the standing provision in the EPBC Act ‘gluttonous starvation’ or “would probably be limited to farmers protecting their direct business interests, but not the interests of an ‘rapid-fire sluggishness’ ” endangered species or the Great Barrier Reef”. (Guardian, 19/8/2015)

Since the EPBC Act was enacted, about Government decision-making – is environment and economy are linked and 5,500 projects have been referred, but extraordinary. The Attorney-General that ‘our land of nature’s gifts’ (to quote fewer than 30 (about 0.5%) have been should be showing more respect for the national anthem) supports millions challenged in the courts. Only six of the separation of powers and the rule of jobs as well as being a key part of those challenges have been successful – of l aw.” our national identity. To demonise the 0.1% of total referrals! environment or conservation movement The move to attack environment will likewise get little traction across the The Human Rights Law Centre’s and conservation groups is clearly a community, but will no doubt sound Senior Lawyer, Ruth Barson, said that backward step, and is likely to be a good to some ideologues. changing laws to limit court scrutiny political over-step. The argument that of government decision-making is a environment groups have no right to In a state-wide poll last year, undertaken retrograde step in a democracy like highlight issues or take legal action by the VNPA, 78% of Victorians said Australia. unless they live ‘next door’ to a site is a they think it is important to have flashback to the antiquated ‘ nuisance’ a community-based independent “The ability to take legal action in the and amenity principles found in organisation to advocate for the public interest is central to ensuring centuries-old common law. protection of parks in Victoria. 29% governments remain accountable. said this was ‘very important’ and If this principle were to take hold, Locking particular groups out of the 49% ‘important’. More than 70% of all who would stand up for Australia’s courts is heavy-handed and will mean demographic groups believed that it public land or the vast swathes of that bad decisions will go unchecked was important. Commonwealth-controlled marine and unchallenged,” Ms Barson said in a waters – oil interests and fishers? ‘Foxes media release. It’s a great shame that conservative in charge of chooks’ comes to mind. politicians have drifted in this divisive “It is ironic that the Government is Looked at optimistically, this sort of direction when through the 1970s and rushing through this amendment attack must mean that the environment 80s, and even the 90s, they were leaders on the back of essentially conceding movement is having an impact – or in this space. It was the Howard inadequate ministerial decision- why would you bother potentially government which in 1999 passed the making. Without the legal scrutiny marginalising and alienating the EPBC Act, now presented as a problem of the environment groups who took millions of Australians actively involved of ‘war’ proportions. this case, it is entirely possible that in conservation and environment issues? significant environmental impacts Many of the places we love in Victoria would have remained overlooked,” On the other hand, there appears to be and Australia – Fraser Island, the she said. an attempt at a political strategy to link Franklin River, the Grampians, the the ALP with the Greens or the ‘anti- Alpine National Park and many others The Attorney-General has also been job, anti-development’ environment – would not be protected without the criticised for his inflammatory remarks movement, making environmental vigilance of the community and the about legal proceedings brought groups somehow anti-worker and conservation movement. by environmental organisations. anti-economy. Ms Barson said: “Using a term like These are not groups of vigilantes. These ‘vigilante’ when describing a court This approach is simply punching at are people with values, passion, and the case – one of the most orthodox clouds. Most Australians understand courage and vigilance to stand up for and proper methods for challenging and support the notion that what they love. • pW

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 23 This aimed to improve data-sharing and encourage use of big data in big technology supports repositories.

Three of the core ideas used in our data collection project – crowdsourcing, big data and citizen science – need a little further Graeme JohanSon rePorts oN New waYs of ColleCtiNg description. aNd shariNg iNformatioN about Nature. • Crowdsourcing involves enlisting a group of people with a shared interest. It is commonly done via the internet, two new portable technologies – the technologies could achieve, but increasingly on mobile computer digital camera and the smart phone also realised that many volunteer devices. – have changed the way in which organisations were not using them volunteers can collect data in the field. extensively. At the moment, most APSV data collecting is done in three stages: data Both technologies are used regularly Information and communication collection, uploading to a personal by Dr Russell Best of the Australian technologies (ICTs) are being used computer, then sending it to a Plants Society Victoria (APSV). When more and more. Yet there was scant repository via the internet. interviewed for our research project, he evidence of adoption of mobiles by said that the digital camera had made a volunteers for scientific purposes. When fully operational, mobile huge difference. crowdsourcing relies on ubiquitous We determined that a study of the wi-fi connectivity. Crowdsourcers He went on: “The other big technical interactions between a voluntary can draw from, or upload to, big data change has been the iPhone. The environmental group and big repositories remotely via their mobile amount of information you can collect repositories by means of crowdsourcing devices – so you can use a mobile is phenomenal.” The phone also gives and/or online connections would device to check a specimen against a him a GPS location. be useful. verified image of it on the internet. More and more digital repositories In the 1950s Australians were starting • Repositories containing crowdsourced collect data about nature for public use to turn to indigenous plants for data are called ‘big’ because they via the internet. A large group of people conservation, inspiration and national contain massive amounts of useful can collect and collate much more knowledge. Although propagation data on a huge range of topics. information than a single dedicated occupied the minds of most early • Citizen scientists are non-professional group of employed specialists. APSV members, there has been a volunteers who collect, analyse and commitment to research from share natural data. The term ‘citizen Every year the ‘Birds in Backyards’ the beginning. survey collects data for the science’ was coined in the USA in the 1990s and its use is catching on Birdlife Australia website – see With financial support from APSV and in Australia. www.birdlife.org.au the Norman Wettenhall Foundation, we undertook a three-phase study The main Australian database is the Atlas An aim of future research is to describe to understand how APSV members the relationship between citizen and of Living Australia (www.ala.org.au), used ICTs for collecting, analysing and funded by the federal government. professional scientists, and explore the managing their field data, and whether ramifications of trust between them. BowerBird, begun in 2013 and hosted they benefited from this, or could To make full use of each individual by Museum Victoria, contains masses benefit more. and group contribution to big data, trusting collaborations are essential. of Victorian flora and fauna data, In the first phase of our project (2011) and brilliant photographs sent in by we interviewed APSV members about The citizen science community is very nature lovers. A visit to its website their data collection and management, (www.bowerbird.org.au) is a visual treat. interested in our research. We have and use of ICTs. Despite their high applied for further funding, alongside NatureShare (www.natureshare.org.au) level of enthusiasm and commitment, Museum Victoria and the Atlas of Living is two years older, and primarily the work this showed that data collection, Australia. If readers are interested and of Russell Best. Members can help each management and storage were not would like to see our published papers other to identify specimens loaded on systematic or methodical, and that about the project, please contact to the growing database. very limited use was made of ICTs. [email protected] • pW

These repositories are still developing In the second phase (early 2013) we research team members associate as they become better known. noted slight improvements. In the Professor graeme Johanson, kirsty third, later in 2013, we devised a project williamson and mary anne kennan are We undertook our research to train members to maximise their in the faculty of information technology project because we knew what new use of NatureShare and BowerBird. at Monash University, caulfield.

24 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 VNPA Nature Watch volunteers and Friends of Bunyip State Park set up a motion-sensing camera to monitor wildlife.

Celebrating incredible citizen scientists iN JulY, the vNPa’s CitizeN PhOTO: Andrew frAser sCieNCe sPeCialists Caitlin Griffith aNd ChriStine topic focused on an issue the community Reef Watch participants record fish ConnellY headed to can understand; an engagement strategy species along the Victorian coastline, CaNberra to share ideas to communicate the issues and build while NatureWatch involves designing with PraCtitioNers from partnerships with scientists and the projects with community groups, aCross the NatioN at the community; and efficient, flexible scientists and land managers on a range iNaugural australiaN technology to implement the program. of projects across Victoria. Volunteers CitizeN sCieNCe CoNfereNCe. are the core of these projects. And it’s not just about data. The information gathered helps in There have been great advances in science is about curiosity, observation, addressing important scientific the way technology can be used for a questioning and evidence. These are questions and can be a valuable learning broad community to collect critical data. things people practise all the time. experience for the participants. We’re not using them widely at this stage (apart from motion-sensing cameras), ‘Citizen science’ refers to members Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor of the public engaging in authentic and we’re still excited about the centuries- Ian Chubb, has recently released an old technology of pencil and paper. scientific investigations. It’s a big and Occasional Paper about citizen science, growing interdisciplinary field that You don’t have to be a technology buff recognising the value of people getting to take part in citizen science projects. can change the way we think and learn involved in citizen science projects. about science. Finally, we’d like to share a quote from “Science is awesome, and is crucially Deidre Murphy of the Corangamite CMA It’s not a new phenomenon. Science important to all our lives,” he says. became professionalised in the late which captures the sentiment of the “There is no better way to learn about conference: “From incredible volunteers 19th century, but before that nearly all science than to practise it.” research about the natural world was we collect credible data!” • pW conducted by people who were not The concept of citizen science has paid as scientists. for more information on the australian gained great traction in recent years, Citizen science association, including though when we first started running a downloadable book of the speakers’ Wine-growers in France have records key VNPA citizen science programs of grape harvests going back more than abstracts, visit www.citizenscience.org.au. Reef Watch and NatureWatch we hadn’t for the Chief scientist’s occasional Paper, 600 years. Amateurs gathered many heard the term. see www.chiefscientist.gov.au. specimen collections and observations for Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern botanical taxonomy. Charles Darwin relied on observers from naturalists Book offer across the world to develop his theory this year’s Project hindmarsh planting at antwerp of evolution. near dimboola was on the site of a eucalyptus oil plant (1880-1905) established by Joseph bosisto. the Today more than 130,000 Australians Bosisto company supported the planting and is offering take part in over 90 known citizen planters a free copy of its 170-page book Australia’s science projects across the country, natural wonder: eucalyptus oil, which describes over ranging from grass-roots and local 200 cleaning and other uses for the oil. a free bottle community group-based projects to of eucalyptus oil is included. large-scale national and international projects. if you have been a hindmarsh planter, contact the vNPa for your copy and sample. You can also pick them To be successful, citizen science up at the vNPa agm. Note that stocks are limited! projects need a compelling research

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 25 les smith, best Friend helen kaptein rePorts oN a well-deserved award.

The urimbirra Co-operative society is proud that leslie smith has received a 2015 best Friend award, coordinated by the victorian environmental Friends network. Les received the award for his work

in founding the Friends of the Little flOrA PhOTOs: MiChel BeuChAT, uriMBirrA Desert (FOLD) in 1988, and also Above and inset: The in recognition of his enormous Little Desert is famous for contribution to the Little Desert wildflowers. Co-operative since 1974. Left: The VNPA’s Geoff Durham He was part of the group which in (right) reads out the citation for Les Smith (left) at the Best 1974 bought a 400 hectare property Friend award function. adjacent to Little Desert National Park. A second block of 600ha was purchased in 1997. The group saw the Little Desert as a conservation ‘mecca’ and believed In a Friends Group that as much of it as possible should there is a delicate be preserved. balance between ideas and deeds. Les was a director of Urimbirra for There needs to be 33 years until his resignation in 2014. planning and the He was instrumental in getting the PhOTO COurTesY helen KAPTein ability to organise, Urimbirra properties protected by as well as hands-on covenants through Trust for Nature, Les Smith was the founder of FOLD, work. Les has done all these consistently ensuring their indefinite environmental which began soon after the legislation and persistently. protection. A huge achievement! for the large national park had been He also led the important work enacted. His devotion to the Little Desert He has also kept in touch with of gaining support from initially and his involvement with Urimbirra and environmental happenings across Victoria suspicious Little Desert locals. The the Friends continue to this day. and has developed a remarkable number outcome was a strong and positive of contacts in all areas. relationship between ‘town and In the beginning there was a lot of The wider community has rightly country’. weeding, then monitoring of Malleefowl mounds for many years until the acknowledged Les's outstanding vision One example of building this Malleefowl Recovery Group took over. and his years of bringing environmental relationship was the renovation by In 1990 the revegetation of the degraded awareness to the many people privileged Urimbirra members of Bill's Gully Hall, Kiata campground was begun and to know him. His FOLD colleagues put situated close to the block. Another was took 14 years to complete. Throughout it more simply: ‘Les is a good friend and introducing the expertise of locals such this time Les remained at the helm of great to work with.’ • pW as Alec Hicks to the Urimbirra group at the group, continuously serving on the their annual visits to the block. Les was committee and holding each position at at the forefront of all these initiatives. some time. to join the friends of little desert, He and his wife Helen have led annual contact sue hayman-fox on Les's vast knowledge is greatly trips to the block for many years. [email protected] respected. His passion and persistence Les was presented with the Best in environmental protection are greatly for more about urimbirra, including Friend award by Geoff Durham, from admired. Few have done so much for the joining the forthcoming annual FOLD, on 2 May 2015 at the Wyreena care and protection of the environment weekend trip on 26-27 september, Community Arts Centre in Croydon. as Les has; he was recently described contact anna heyward on The following is a summary of the as the ‘godfather of environmental [email protected] citation for his award: advocacy’.

26 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 PhOTO: dAvid neilsOn

Karen Alexander among the Congratulations to Snow Gums in the Alpine NP. Karen alexander oam The vnPa council, members, staff Karen worked with the Wilderness Society for and friends heartily congratulate a number of years, developing campaigns to former vnPa staff member and protect places such as the Franklin River, the Wet victoria naturally coordinator Karen Tropics of north Queensland, and Kakadu. Later, alexander on her Queen’s birthday she took on leadership roles in the Australian

award of an order of australia for Conservation Foundation, Bush Heritage and PhOTO: KAren AlexAnder services to conservation and the the VNPA. She also plays a key role in Landcare Karen’s photograph of an ancient Snow Gum environment, and to the community. in her local area around Emerald. pW became widely known when it was used for a • poster. Sadly, the tree was killed in the 2003 fires.

Karen Alexander and the Franklin River the Vnpa also congratulates the following recipients of the after some remarkable adventures in the Southwest tasmanian wilderness in order of australia in the the 1970s, Karen Alexander volunteered to organise the Melbourne office of the Queen’s birthday honours: tasmanian wilderness Society after its formation in 1976. Janet Stuart oliver, mornington. from upstairs rooms in hardware street, karen gathered and united a large contingent For service to conservation and of fellow volunteers as the campaign to save tasmania's franklin and gordon rivers the environment, and to the from a series of dams grew out of tasmania into a nationwide environmental furore. community of the Mornington melbourne became pivotal to saving tasmania's wild rivers. karen was the all- Peninsula. important co-ordinator of that campaign which culminated in rallies of up to 15,000 people in downtown melbourne, including on the eve of the 1983 federal election. Dr Valerie margaret tarrant, karen was Mc at the final rally, welcoming Opposition Leader Bob hawke to the black rock. podium where he declared that, if elected, he would stop the gordon-below-franklin For service to conservation dam then being built in the tasmanian wilderness. and the environment, and to community history. Valerie is a famously, hawke's wife hazel put on 'No dams' earrings while standing next to him. long-standing VNPA member. a fortnight later hawke swept to victory and made good his promise. Years of remarkable commitment by karen and her team culminated in these crucial emeritus professor martin river-saving events in melbourne. without that campaign, the wild rivers of tasmania edward westbrooke, would have been destroyed. buninyong. karen's award of an order of australia is as belated For service to ecology, and to as it is so richly deserved. From Bob Brown environmental management.

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 27 in ParKs

Werribee river Park

Geoff Durham DiSCoVerS a new park that linkS Cliffs along werribee Suburb to werribee park manSion. Werribee River near K Road. PhOTO: geOff durhAM it’s all somewhat confusing – Werribee through a flood plain in the Pleistocene acquired by the Hamer government Park, Werribee river Park, Werribee delta to the Werribee estuary and finally in 1973. gorge state Park and the Werribee into Port Phillip Bay at Werribee South. river, which has been described as The park has well-tended spacious ‘the river of many names and varied Rich irrigated alluvial soils, black at formal gardens with a parterre, lake and spelling’ – ex, exe, arndell, tweed, Bacchus Marsh and red at Werribee, grotto, historic farm buildings, picnic Peel, Weiribie, Wearaby and more. produce quantities of vegetables. South area, Sculpture Walk, polo field and of Werribee and west of the river is the the Victoria State Rose Garden. The Werribee township was once called flat, clear expanse of the old Werribee Mansion Hotel and Shadowfax Winery Wyndham, and what was Werribee sewerage farm. The big question is and café are privately operated. To the Council is now Wyndham Council. – what is going to happen to its vast north is the Open Range Zoo; east is the excess land? National Equestrian Centre and south ‘Werribee’ is believed to be an the Werribee Park Golf Club. Aboriginal word for ‘backbone’ or Wyndham is in a Residential Growth ‘spine’, perhaps because of the river’s Zone and is expected to double its Admission to Werribee Park is now free, many bends. It is the boundary population by 2031. As the developers’ but there are entry fees for the Mansion between Kulin tribes: the Wada tentacles advance, provision must be building. Don’t miss the detached Wurrung people to the west, and the made for open space and recreation, bluestone laundry and its audio-visual Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) and Boon but equally important is provision presentation. There is a café in the old Wurrung people to the east. for nature. The limited natural areas seminary library. that remain must be protected, and The river rises in Wombat State degraded areas restored. Community gardens near the farm Forest near Bullarto South and flows buildings are part of the ‘Working approximately south through Ballan, the mansion beyond Boundaries’ initiative for then south-easterly through the involving local ethnic communities. A Rowsley Fault escarpment at Werribee What is now Werribee Park on the track from near here leads down the Gorge and across the Bacchus Marsh eastern side of the river was the eastern escarpment to the river flats and a basin into Melton (Exford) Reservoir. centrepiece of the vast Chirnside footbridge across the river. pastoral empire. The impressive It then flows over the basalt plains mansion, completed in 1877, became Upstream is a bluestone ford and fish to Werribee township, meandering a Catholic seminary in 1923 and was ladder – the river is tidal below and fresh

28 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 PhOTOs: geOff durhAM

return walking and cycling track south along the valley floor and back above the western escarpment has great vistas featuring red escarpment cliffs. Stage two, south of Boundary Road, is not yet open to the public. At its southern end is a high significance conservation area with reed beds, saltmarsh and Orange-bellied Parrot habitat. The park is notable for its birds, particularly ground-nesting birds, water birds and raptors. It is a Ramsar site for migratory birds. Twenty-four species of fish are Top left: VNPA Walk, Talk and Gawk group in Werribee River Park, April 2011. recorded; Common Carp is one of three Top right: Red Gum picnic area. Note ground cover of weeds (Soursob). introduced species. There are wallabies, Lower: Fishing the river for Black Bream. snakes, Blue-tongue Lizards, skinks, and the nationally endangered Growling Grass Frog, and also rabbits and foxes. water above. There are platypuses and Degraded areas can be restored, as Rakali, the native water rat. shown at the adjacent Open Range Recreation activities are walking, picnicking, Zoo, and grants have enabled Parks cycling, boating and fishing, but no horse a new park Victoria to commence commendable riding or trail bikes. Dogs are permitted on work in controlling Spiny Rush Juncus leash above the western escarpment. Rubbish Werribee Park is well known and a acutus and Carpet Weed Galenia dumping is a management issue. major tourist destination, but few people pubescens. But it will be wasted money have heard of Werribee River Park, an Rocky Barca, Parks Victoria District unless ongoing funds are available for Manager, says: important addition to the Metropolitan follow-up. Parks system. Both parks are managed “Werribee River Park is a fantastic new open by Parks Victoria; Melbourne Water access, values and activities space. It allows the people of Werribee to manages the river bed and banks. experience nature at their doorstep. There are Stage one, the northern section of the Once part of the Werribee Sewerage great future opportunities to enhance this park park, was opened to the public in 2010. by providing access to the bay and continuing Farm, Werribee River Park is an 8km Vehicle access is from Old Geelong 260 ha Crown Lands Reserve linear the habitat restoration works begun by Parks Road on to New Farm Road, over the Victoria.” park along the river between the Princes Princes Freeway and left on to a road Freeway (Maltby Bypass) and the that leads to a small car park (Melway John Forrester of the Werribee River river mouth. It takes in five Ecological 244 J5 – the park boundaries shown are Association, and recipient of the 2015 Dame Vegetation Classes – Coastal Saltmarsh, not accurate). Phyllis Frost Award, offers a community Estuarine Wetland/Floodplain Reedbed, perspective: Floodplain Riparian Woodland, The Wyndham River Walk Development Escarpment Shrubland and Berm proposes access into the park from “Opening such a park in Wyndham has Grassy Shrubland. Werribee; only a short section under enabled a higher focus on the Werribee River the freeway remains to be completed. as many people are unaware of its many Residual indigenous vegetation includes features. The Werribee River Association has old River Red Gums along the river, some From the car park a ramp takes you undertaken bird surveys for three years now so Blue Box, and clumps of Moonah, but the down the escarpment to the river that as habitat works continue we can monitor ground cover is as alien as you can get, and into Red Gum picnic area with changes in birds seen. We encourage people to with swathes of Panic Veldt Grass Eherta tables but no toilets, and also to the become friends of the park, and support Parks erecta and Soursob Oxalis pes-caprae. footbridge to Werribee Park. A 3.5 km Victoria in the tasks ahead.” • pW

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 29 Pope Francis affirms that all life on Earth is interconnected.

Pope Francis on caring for our common home

anne boYD, editor of EARTHSoNG JouRNAL, writes about the reCeNt eNCYCliCal from PoPe fraNCis that has gaiNed

worldwide atteNtioN. PhOTO: hTTP://COMMOns.wiKiMediA.Org/wiKi/COMMOns:AlfredO BOrBA readers of Park Watch are well aware The title Laudato Si’ (Praised Be) of interest. Obstructionist attitudes, even of the integral nature of ecosystems, comes from the opening words of the on the part of believers, can range from so it is a delight to find that we have Canticle to Creation by the 12th century denial of the problem to indifference, recently acquired a valuable ally in the monk Francis of Assisi. This pope nonchalant resignation or blind surprise that is Pope Francis. of course chose the name of Francis confidence in technical solutions. We to demonstrate his commitment to require a new and universal solidarity. Coming as he does from the global simplicity, inclusion and a joyful spirit, south, Francis is acutely aware of the all evident in the life of this man. His In dealing with the human roots of the mutual impact of impoverished lands alignment with the values of Francis ecological crisis, the notion of unlimited and impoverished humans. He is of Assisi also includes speaking growth is challenged. Our ‘enthralment’ also acutely aware that the lifestyles with a prophetic voice and drawing with technology, along with the of wealthy westerners contribute attention to the needs of the poor and assumption that it alone can fix the disproportionately to global warming, disenfranchised. crises, is seriously questioned. Francis catastrophic weather events and calls for a more effective distribution of destruction of the homelands On Care for our Common Home is the wealth and a serious consideration of the and livelihoods of the planet’s subtitle. After presenting the scientific rights of future generations. poorest peoples. consensus on climate change, along with a description of other threats Chapter 4 addresses Integral Ecology, In his recent Encyclical (letter) to all to life on the planet including loss of and some will find this the most peoples on the planet, religious belief is biodiversity and other elements of refreshing section. The insistence on intrinsically tied to economic, political degradation affecting all life, the Pope the interconnectedness of all fields of and scientific discussion. In its very issues an urgent appeal for a new enquiry and all systems on the planet publication it bears witness to the dialogue about how we are shaping bears a strong resemblance to the work message it seeks to convey – that all the planet: of geologian (‘Earth scholar’) and life on this planet is interconnected, priest Thomas Berry, who asserts that and that no lens, social institution or We need a conversation which includes ‘the natural world is the larger sacred academic discipline alone can offer a everyone, since the environmental community to which we belong. To become sufficient understanding or insight into challenge we are undergoing, and its alienated from this community is to become the common good without intentional human roots, concern and affect us all . . destitute in all that makes us human. To conversation with the others. . We have forgotten that we ourselves are damage this community is to diminish our dust of the earth . . . our very bodies are own existence’. In its several hundred pages, the made up of her elements, we breathe her Encyclical references many sources, air and we receive life and refreshment The influence of liberation theologian including UN documents, the Greek from her waters. and Earth Charter Commissioner Patriarch Bartholomew, bishops’ Leonardo Boff can be also glimpsed in conferences from several countries In acknowledging the achievements of this chapter. including Australia, and a Sufi Muslim the world-wide ecological movements, mystic. While it aligns with the he regrets the resistance that has Some very practical suggestions are Catholic tradition by citing statements rendered many efforts ineffective: offered to those who belong to Catholic from previous papal documents, these communities. A process of conversion references make a significant advance not only because of powerful opposition is advocated along with calls for a ‘new’ into the wider world. but also because of a more general lack lifestyle and a new sense of identity:

30 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 , 24 JulY 2015 THE AGE CArTOOn COurTesY MiChAel leunig,

Both Pope Francis and cartoonist Michael Leunig are concerned about our ‘enthralment’ with technology, which can separate people from nature (and from other people).

We lack an awareness of our common value of natural capital by comparison So in the words of the author: origin, of our mutual belonging, and with the myopic grasping at short- of a future to be shared with everyone. term financial profit by corporations. ‘Let us sing as we go. May our struggles This basic awareness would enable and our concern for this planet never the development of new convictions, Criticisms abound. Some believe take away the joy of our hope.’ • pW attitudes and forms of life. A great the Encyclical exceeds its purpose. cultural, spiritual and educational Climate sceptics refute the Pope’s challenge stands before us, and it will credibility in citing the reality of climate change and its impact, the earthsong educational demand that we set out on the long path Project began in 2003 from particularly on the poorest of renewal. members of several religious peoples; some are disquieted by his congregations wanting to This is a clarion call to extricate passionate denunciation of unbridled explore connections between ourselves from the anthropocentrism consumerism, unlimited growth and the environment and that characterises our contemporary the deification of technology. Others spirituality. it runs seminars, consumerist culture, and that, regret the avoidance of an expanded workshops, retreats and according to the pope, makes our discussion of the population issue. programs for adults and hearts feel empty. It is a plea for a senior students, and since more joyous, simple, generous and All things considered, however, this 2004 its EarthSong Journal has communally conscious way of living document is an important contribution offered Australian reflections to the global conversation for the on ecology, spirituality and As one reads this document, dozens future wellbeing of our planet. From education. of relevant examples in our Australian a religious perspective it affirms all of situation come to mind: the Great creation as sacred revelation, with an for more information, Barrier Reef and the Liverpool Plains integral relationship that calls for the and to subscribe to the are just two. What is the danger minimisation of destruction whereby inspiring EarthSong Journal, threatening them? The blindness, the one sector of the network imposes see www.earthsong.org.au deliberate blindness, to the enduring harm on another.

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 31 booK revieWs

balancing safety and biodiversity in handbook of managing roadside vegetation. Given the recent wholesale massacre of road ecology ancient trees along the Western Highway, you’d like to think that our Government by rodney van der ree, daniel J. budgets would stretch to the point of giving smith, Clara grilo a copy to every DELWP, VicRoads and isbN: 978-1-118-56818-7 Parks Victoria manager responsible for 522 pages. wiley-blackwell, June road and track management. 2015. rrP $212.95, ebook $170.99. If there’s a deficiency in the book it’s the The incursion of industrial-age offset), and recommend realistic measures muted look at the need to modify human transport corridors into ‘natural’ areas to protect the environment.’ behaviour. For example, references to has been problematic for a long time: road speeds are made intermittently in the The key word here is ‘realistic’, and who think of Wordsworth’s fulminations several articles dealing with vehicle wildlife can blame the publishers for wanting to against the intrusion of the railway collisions, but these are often bland. produce an informed view of road ecology into the lake district, for example. which could lead to our having our cake and We read that ‘road closures and speed reductions are not desirable for motorists This book doesn’t neglect this major eating it too? Not me: and yet, remembering or transport planners’. Is there a scientific issue. It contains a provocative essay disputed roads of recent generations – argument that they should be—or is this a on the Amazon, arguing that no matter Wonnangatta, the Daintree, the Tarkine – I philosophical question for another book? how sensitive and careful the road can’t help thinking we should never forget makers are, the very existence of a that roads can be a very bad idea. Maybe, but the book has a case study road will bring a trail of cultural Nor should we be seduced into on tiger conservation in India detailing and environmental destruction; allowing ‘offsets’ to become a licence for a successful campaign to reroute a road and also a persuasive essay arguing environmental damage. around a reserve, and to close it at night. The for road-free areas. campaign focused on educating drivers to Yet there’s plenty of interesting stuff here slow down, and building ‘public acceptance Unfortunately these essays are in a on practically every aspect of road/nature and support.’ minority of the 62 in the book, the interaction, mainly from Africa and Asia: overall impression of which is that we from animal/vehicle collisions to the More articles on how to do this would have can make roads more acceptable if only need for good scientific knowledge; from been good—especially if some of them were we ‘follow the mitigation hierarchy the effect of road noise on Mornington directed at road builders themselves. • pW (i.e. avoid, minimise, mitigate and lastly Peninsula birds to the challenge of review by bernard slattery.

This very readable book is full of Where the slime her excellent photographs, allowing the identification of many species, though she warns it can be difficult to mould creeps identify some of these shape-changing tricksters. by sarah lloyd. 102 pages. rrP $30.00. available at The book is also rich with clearly www.fungimap.org.au explained insights into slime mould biology. Their life cycles are very complex, and sometimes Without much doubt, slime moulds unpredictable. One group (the most are the most martian of earthlings: recognisable) can mutate from a fairly they have very strange lifeforms, normal single celled organism with a and live very odd lives. single nucleus, to a monster cell with They have also proved hard to classify, billions of nuclei. Sarah is one of those naturalists who not and at times have been grouped with only want to share their knowledge, but Sarah champions these often maligned fungi (they produce spores) and even are very good at doing that. Her intriguing species (some have common names animals (they move around and eat stuff). self-published book takes the reader like ‘dog vomit’), and shows us that Naturalist Sarah Lloyd has explored the through her own voyage of discovery, they are highly sensitive, often quite lives of these little-studied, but truly outlining where and how to find slime beautiful, and addictively intriguing. fascinating, creatures for many years, moulds (it turns out they’re pretty much This book is a great addition to any and has found around 100 species within everywhere), and even how to care for them nature lover’s bookshelf. pW a kilometre of her home at Birralee in at home. If you really want to get keen, she • northern Tasmania. offers some helpful hints on equipment. review by Phil ingamells.

32 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 conservation, as well in supporting stressed against the grain and often isolated farmers. Revegetation is just one practice being by bill hampel. rosenberg Publishing, 2015. soft cover, 280 pages. rrP $29.95. adopted by many of the landholders. The book also discusses how the properties are reaching carbon neutrality by measures such in this book, bill hampel introduces as supplying higher quality feed and oils to 14 victorian farmers and describes stock, improving soil carbon, employing how they are restoring their land while new techniques of fertiliser application, and responding to the threat of climate change. harnessing biofuels and renewable energy. Treasurer, as well as our Finance The farmers’ stories are highly personal and Operations Manager. Hampel dedicates almost half of the book to and enjoyable to read. Hampel articulates giving a context for the climate change issue. their love for their land and what they do, The book highlights Bernie and Sue’s He sets out the science underpinning climate as well as some of their gripes with the involvement in Project Hindmarsh change, and discusses Australia’s response agricultural industry. as well as the connection between to it in terms of the media and politics. that and NatureWatch’s ‘Caught on Featured among the 14 are Bernie Fox and Camera’ project, which has cameras I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in which Sue Hayman-Fox, who occupy an eco- operating on their property. Hampel effectively draws on science to tell a friendly terradome home built on their story about our lack of response on a national property in NW Victoria and harvest seeds Many of the profiled farmers are level, and the local farmers who are determined from native trees and shrubs to regenerate involved in Landcare, and Hampel to make a difference on a local level.• pW indigenous vegetation. Bernie was formerly stresses the importance of local VNPA President, and Sue was VNPA partnerships for environmental review by tilly reynolds

that has gone from the rest of the country.’ The bush For millions of Australians, they are ‘the bush’ in its purest form. Watson gives two pages to travels in the heart a discussion of management issues in South of australia Australia’s Ngarkat Conservation Park, but there’s no context to this discussion. by don watson. hamish hamilton, 2014. In his eloquent conclusion, Watson argues that 427 pages, hardback. rrP $45.00. ‘we need a relationship with the land that does not demand submission from either party, that is built The Bush is an exhilarating read but with a more on knowledge than the hunger to possess, surprising gap in the perspective it offers. and finds the effort to understand and preserve as Watson admits the impossibility of his gratifying as the effort to exploit and command.’ subject: ‘The bush being so many different Isn’t this the view of those who fought things, to speak of it as one place is a heroic passionately to create and defend national assumption … the bush means everything parks? There are farmers who farm this way, he and therefore almost nothing.’ Indigenous people: ‘The bush is says, and he does discuss Landcare: but absent tainted with this cowardice’. He then proceeds to give this impossible from his story are the heroes of conservation subject a red-hot go, in a narrative mix This is the sad story of a country who are just as central to the bush’s history – of memoir, social and environmental lost in the mad and destructive Maisie Fawcett, Baldur Byles, Jean Galbraith, history, travel journalism and literary scramble of settlers to survive. Olegas Truchanas, the humble country field reflection. Aboriginal culture, squatters, Yet strangely, there is no naturalists who fought to create some of the miners, selectors, conservationist farmers, consideration of campaigns to create world’s first national parks. country towns, kangaroos – all get a run, and protect national parks. ‘Most in a narrative by turns affectionate, angry, These people are no more obscure than Australians,’ he says, discussing humorous, bitter, sardonic and elegiac. most of those whose diaries and memories the horrific scale of environmental he cites. Does Watson consider them less Ignorance is a major unifying theme destruction, ‘… have only known representative of ‘the bush’ than station hands through all these subjects: ‘A great deal the bush when it was half dead, a and drovers? If so, he’s conceding ground to the of what European Australians came to shadow of itself.’ Perhaps: but the kind of people he excoriates in his consideration ‘know’ about the land had either shaky closest most of us have come to of the Winton museum in Queensland, whose foundations or none at all.’ The settler bush that isn’t just a shadow of its exhibits skip from dinosaurs to settlers, leaving society, he says, ‘willed its own ignorance’ best is in these parks. You could a gaping hole where Indigenous culture screams through its refusal to accept Aboriginal say of them what Eric Rolls said of for consideration. • pW knowledge of the country—and to our forests 35 years ago: they are acknowledge crimes against the the ‘packed containers of so much review by bernard slattery

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 33 Always a special place

bwaG leaDer taariq haSSan reportS on two enJoYable hikeS he leD in the alpine national park in JanuarY anD marCh thiS Year.

Discovering the Hut, from where there is another fine Pretty Valley Pond and morning victuals high Country huts view of Mt Feathertop. Lunch here at Pretty Valley Hut. was followed by more sightings of wild The January trek was a three-day 45km horses on the way up to the signpost More vast High Plains vistas were pack-carry across the Bogong High and pole line junction for Tawonga revealed en route to the Cope Saddle Hut Plains on part of the Australian Alps Huts. (aka the SEC hut), where we consumed Walking Track. the last of our rations and sought shelter Once again we were above the treeline from insects and the strong sunshine. At first the weather was cold and windy on the vast undulating High Plains, The last leg was easy going as we had only and we put on goretex jackets. Starting after spending time on the valley floor. 5 km left to walk on an easy section of at the Cope Hut car park, we followed The wind had now died down and it the AAWT. the pole lines across the treeless plateau was sunny. and camped at Dibbins Hut by the A quick visit to Cope Hut rounded off the Upper Cobungra River, bumping into We had the beautiful scenery at High Country huts walk. We had indeed VNPA stalwart James Shannon while Tawonga Huts all to ourselves on the seen more mountain huts in three days enjoying the views on the summit of second night. After setting up camp, it than we had seen previously in years. Mt Jim. seemed that a walk to the rocky summit of the Jaithmathangs would have to busy weekend at mt howitt As we descended through the treeline wait until next time, but there was a we saw the Basalt Temple and had wonderful sunset to compensate. In March the busy Labour Day long some great views of Mts Feathertop weekend saw a full contingent of walkers and Hotham. It was very chilly that night and we lit heading up the dusty and often rocky a fire in one of the huts. At dawn there Howitt Road to Macalister Springs. The tour of High Country huts was ice on our tents. continued on day 2 with a visit to We met in the Wellington River valley Blairs Hut for morning tea by the After packing up, we headed above the on the Friday night, and on Saturday upper Kiewa River. We then climbed 1800 metre mark, with a fine view of morning went on in two cars up to the steeply to the recently rebuilt Westons The Fainters before we descended to scenic Howitt High Plains. Some of

34 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 Left: Sunset over The Fainters summits, from Tawonga Huts. Right: VNPA hikers on the Crosscut Saw. Below: Heading for Pretty Valley. PhOTO: TAAriq hAssAn PhOTOs: TAAriq hAssAn the walkers had never been to this litter and taking wood from the The next morning we walked back to amazing, remote and wild part of the Vallejo Gantner Hut without replacing the cars across Clover Plain through Alpine National Park, so it was a thrill it. And of course you had to queue the snow gums well above 1600 metres for them to see it in such good weather. at the ‘loo with a view’ to answer and enjoying a very sunny morning. Up nature’s call. there, such good weather is a blessing. After about two hours of driving along the very rough Howitt Road, avoiding After setting up camp we walked Later we returned to the much warmer monster 4WD trucks driven by hoons to the Mt Howitt summit and the Wellington River valley and spoke with at high speed in dust-storm-creating summit to the west in clear autumn a ranger about the poor behaviour of convoys, we arrived at the Howitt weather. The wonderful views from some of the other park users. Some Plains car park. the treeless rolling summit plateau of us then had a dip in the river at didn’t disappoint anybody. campsite no. 11. That was just the It was full. The campsite was crowded ticket and a great way to finish a beyond capacity, and even the The next morning we headed off for fabulous weekend in the superb approaches to the site were showing a day walk to Mt Buggery along the Victorian High Country. signs of overcrowding in what is usually Crosscut Saw. This is a wild and scenic a quiet and serene place. place in good weather, but I imagine it I really love the Mt Howitt area but would be hazardous and inhospitable prefer it when it’s not so busy. Of I later found out that a recent Royalauto in poor conditions. The views of Mt course, hiking up there from the Upper magazine had run a story about Speculation and The Viking from Mt Howqua campsite along the western Macalister Springs and how it’s only Buggery were magnificent. ridge of Mt Howitt is much tougher 5-6 km from the car park. This seemed and more demanding. If that was the to bring all kinds of people out of the We had lunch along the way and got only way to Mt Howitt, one would find woodwork – people in teams clad back to Macalister Springs well before a different sort of camper at Macalister in jeans and carrying unwieldy car dark. That evening I played some Springs in peak periods. camping tents were lighting giant songs on my travel guitar by the fire bonfires in a fuel-stove-only zone, inside the Gantner Hut, amusing my None the less, the Alpine National Park washing plates in the springs, dropping fellow hikers. is always a special place. • pW

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 35 Mt Wellington, Alpine National Park. bushwalking on wheels PhOTO: JOhn hAsler prue haSler desCribes the beNefits of usiNg four-wheel-drive vehiCles to visit our Parks aNd remote PlaCes. standing on mt Wellington in the snow but not by myself, I joined the Land historical features, and chose pleasant at easter, finding the black-allen Rover Owners’ Club of Victoria in places for our bush camps. We stone cairn marking the victoria-nsW 2001. Before I went on my first trip made new friends, learnt bush skills border near mt tingaringy, looking I attended their accredited driver and found places to explore in the for the Pale golden moth orchid and training course, an evening of theory company of knowledgeable people latham’s snipe in the Wonnangatta and a day of practical experience. – some who had been exploring the valley – these are all possible on a country for decades, others inspired weekend from melbourne for people Even though I’d been driving 4WDs for by the Leyland Brothers. with a suitably equipped 4Wd vehicle. years, I learnt much about the vehicle and its capabilities, and many important The Code of Conduct adopted Many people think of 4WDs in a safety and environmental lessons: how by all 4WD Clubs affiliated with negative way, seeing what look like to drive in wet conditions, in sand, on the peak body Four Wheel Drive large aggressive mud-splattered vehicles steep slopes; what to do when stuck; and Victoria (FWDV) guides members returning from exploring the bush. how to recover a vehicle. Later lessons in respecting the environment and But there’s much to recommend using included convoy procedure, navigation, other people in the bush. You also a 4WD to safely discover our special communications, vehicle set-up, first aid learn how to set up your vehicle natural places. and trip leading. to travel safely and comfortably, and come to understand why some Growing up on a farm in the 1960s, The fun of attending trips now began modifications and recovery gear are our family vehicle was a Land Rover and I really started to discover Victoria’s important. for both the farm and the highway. many remote places, like the Deddick We explored the Toolangi, Eildon and Trail in far east Gippsland, the Davies You learn about snatch straps, Marysville areas on family outings. Later High Plain, and snow camping on the UHF radios, cargo barriers, tyres, we bought a 4WD to travel deeper into Howitt High Plains. And I learnt about diff lockers, dual battery systems the Victorian High Country on weekend the bush, natural features, flora and and more. Travelling with experts and longer hiking trips, and in 1997 to fauna, Indigenous history, explorers ensures the safety of the group and an cross the Simpson Desert. and early settlers along the way. enjoyable trip. From my first trip I saw the camaraderie and willingness of When personal circumstances changed Trip leaders included many stops for everyone to assist others, even though and I still wanted to travel in the bush, walking and discovering natural and many people had not met before.

36 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 robert Pepper’s 4Wd handbook Above: Bluff Hut, Alpine NP. by robert Pepper Left: Mist at Millers Published by boiling billy. second Hut, Alpine NP. edition, 2014. rrP $44.95.

This book unlocks the secrets of buying, owning and driving a 4WD vehicle so you can safely journey into the remote bush and outback. All the information you need is here, from setting up your PhOTOs: JOhn hAsler vehicle to driving, recovery and the importance of specialised maintenance. With an emphasis on looking after the environment, and written in The 4WD Club trip calendar includes FWDV which suggested that seasonal clear language with comprehensive all types of trips, from base camps with closures of tracks would ensure they photographs and diagrams, this day trips to weekend trips and longer, were not damaged during winter. detailed book is recommended for more remote trips. Standards are easy, everyone from the complete beginner Other initiatives include co-ordinating medium and hard. to the experienced 4WD driver. club assistance in times of fire and Some trips, such as to Lake Tarli Karng flood, assisting land managers by review by prue hasler. and Mt Feathertop, have a strong clearing tracks of fallen timber, and the bushwalking component. Others ‘Dob in the Hoon’ program to report explore gold mining areas, feature High criminal and irresponsible activity in Country huts and waterfalls, or take the bush. in Victoria’s desert regions. Specialist Providing logistical support for the And when you have little ones, are trips include following the tracks of time-poor, less physically able or no explorers like Burke and Wills, crossing Museum Victoria and Parks Victoria Bioscan in the remote north-eastern longer able to carry a pack, have medical Central Australian deserts and other conditions, or are elderly but still areas opened up by Len Beadell, the Victorian Alps was a special time for those involved, and a new Clean Up the passionate about exploring the bush, a ‘last true Australian explorer’, and trips well-set-up 4WD, some training and across Mongolia and Russia. Bush program builds on the successful use of club 4WDs to remove rubbish your camping gear will give you that Trips after bushfires show how the bush dumped in the bush, from car bodies freedom. • pW regenerates, and others look at land to garden and household waste and Prue hasler (thwaites), has been management practices such as logging. building rubble. assisting husband and keen amateur A club trip across Australia with Mike Yes, there are some irresponsible naturalist John hasler in running 4wd and Margie Leyland as special guests trips in victoria and interstate since users of 4WDs, but there are many was a real highlight. 2002. they support Parks victoria more responsible 4WDers who value, with track clearing and field work and This year marks the 40th anniversary appreciate and enjoy their time in are members of the vNPa, the field of FWDV, which has been involved the bush, responsibly discovering our Naturalists Club of victoria and birdlife in keeping many tracks open over the natural heritage with their families australia. they have submitted two trips years for responsible public use. It was and friends. to the vNPa for the next bwag program.

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 37 Tributes elery hamilton-smith

long-time vnPa member and academic elery hamilton-smith, who died on 27 June aged 85, had latterly been adjunct professor of environmental studies at Charles sturt university. He had worked in teaching and community services, and later in social policy and as a planning consultant. He was appointed lecturer and continued as Professor in Social Policy and Community Services (1969-95), carrying out research and consultation in leisure policies and programs. In the 1990s Elery moved from outdoor recreation into examining issues of sustainability and environmental studies, working as an advisor with IUCN and the UNESCO World Heritage Bureau. He was closely involved with conservation, particularly tourism and visitor appreciation of wilderness and national and urban parks, and (as a keen caver) the management of caves and karst areas. He also assisted the VNPA in developing community education policies. Elery’s contributions to society were recognised in 2001 when he was awarded Membership of the Order of Australia. • pW

FeliCity Wishart

The vnPa was saddened by the unexpected death in her sleep of Felicity, aged only 49, on 19 July. A scientific officer with Parks Victoria in its early years, Felicity (Flic) was a senior leader and campaigner with the Wilderness Society from 2004 to 2013, when she became Director of the Great Barrier Reef campaign for the Australian Marine Conservation Society. She was a great and inspiring leader for the environment, dedicating her entire adult life, over 30 years, to environmental protection and campaigning. She was also partner to Todd and the mother of two boys. We extend our sincere sympathy to them, to her other family members and to her many friends and colleagues. • pW

PhilliP toyne

We also remember environmentalist, lawyer and co-founder of the national landcare program Phillip toyne, who died from cancer on 13 June, aged 67. Phillip will be remembered for his influence in the environmental movement, his ability to be a bridge between farmers, green groups and government, and as a life-long advocate for Aboriginal land rights. As the head of the ACF from 1986 to 1992, he led successful campaigns to protect Kakadu, the Daintree rainforests of Queensland, and the Antarctic. And along with Rick Farley of the National Farmers Federation, he elevated the emerging Landcare movement to the national stage. Landcare became a national program in July 1989. The VNPA extends sincere sympathy to Phillip’s family, colleagues and friends.• pW

38 PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 Continued from page 17 andrew schulz – a tribute

His area of responsibility was full of complex park management issues. He could find himself dealing with a difficult The late weed problem in the coastal park, water Andrew Schulz. management and protection of breeding bird colonies in the wetlands, and balancing fire protection with threatened species needs Equally he was known for his in Holey Plains, all in a day’s work. empathy, good nature and wicked sense of humour, while showing Often there were difficult challenges. genuine care for others when dealing Funding and staffing levels are rarely with staff, contractors, other agency adequate, local stakeholders can be staff, the local Indigenous community demanding, and servicing the internal and the public. His legacy lives on in bureaucracy can be gruelling. But Andrew the land that he cared for. had a way of making the best of the situation and getting on with the job. Rangers around the state have stories similar in some ways to Andrew’s. He tackled each issue and problem with They have all made, and are still a clear focus on putting the protection of making, a positive difference to the environment first. His knowledge of our protected public lands, just as Gippsland’s flora and fauna, ecological Andrew did. • pW awareness, and understanding of wetland and fire management all helped shape his this tribute is by Peter lawrence, a PhOTOs: COurTesY PeTer lAwrenCe management style, greatly admired by colleague of andrew’s and former Breeding Royal Spoonbills at Dowds Morass State Game many of his colleagues. Alpine NP ranger based at heyfield. Reserve near Sale – part of the area Andrew looked after.

Willis’s Walkabouts Build Up & Wet Our most dramatic seasons

Our water is warm! Southern Australia has nothing like our tropical seasons. We can't do them justice here. Check out our Build Up and Wet season pages and see why. ecotours and walking www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au/buildup.shtml in the high Country, www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au/wet.shtml east gippsland and beyond We want more of you to experience our amazing seasons so we will give a minimum of a $500 discount to anyone who quotes this ad and books one of our Are you curious about the natural world? Australian trips beginning between October 2015 & March 2016. Ask for details. If so, how about immersing yourself in Better still, go fishing and ...... you could win $1 million. nature and letting us share our love and knowledge of the environment with you. Let us arrange the accommodation, the driving, the walks and talks. Even your meals appear like magic. Enjoy the companionship of like-minded nature lovers and return home refreshed, informed and invigorated. For full details of the current program visit the website or contact Jenny gippsland high Country tours Phone (03) 5157 5556 Email: [email protected] www.gippslandhighcountrytours.com.au

Advanced Ecotourism Certification. Est. 1987 www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au [email protected] Ph: 08 8985 2134

PArk wAtch • September 2015 No 262 39