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For Parks Sake! For Parks Sake! Create the central west national parks IT’S TIME TO CREATE NEW PARKS DECEMBER 2020 NO 283 SPEAKING OUT FOR WESTERNPORT THE PROM RENEWED VICTORIA’S DEER “STRATEGY” RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIRE MANAGEMENT MARINE LIFE OF VICTORIA WILD FAMILIES SCAVENGER HUNTS Be part of nature PRESIDENT Bruce McGregor DIRECTOR Matt Ruchel CONTENTS Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 ABN 34 217 717 593 3 From the President Telephone: (03) 9341 6500 Email: [email protected] 4 Updates Web: www.vnpa.org.au 5-7 For Parks Sake! OUR VISION The Victorian National Parks Association vision is to ensure 7-8 Still time to create the central west Victoria is a place with a diverse and healthy natural environment national parks that is protected, respected and enjoyed by all. Everyone can help in the conservation of Victoria’s wild 9 Once lost now found and beautiful places. To find out how you can help, visit 10-11 Speaking out for Westernport’s wildlife www.vnpa.org.au/support or call us on (03) 9341 6500. 12-13 Deer destroying the Dandenongs EDITOR Meg Sobey PUBLISHING POLICY 13 Victoria’s deer “strategy” All advertisements should be compatible with VNPA policies. 14-15 The Prom renewed Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the VNPA Inc. of the advertised product or service. The VNPA 16 Strange, yet spectacular reserves the right to refuse any advertisement at any time. Park Watch may be quoted without permission provided that 17-19 Recommendations for fire management acknowledgement is made. The opinions of contributors are not 19 Life After Fire – new project necessarily those of the VNPA Inc. GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS 20-22 It’s tool time You’re always welcome to contact the editor to discuss ideas 23 A split list for articles. Phone the VNPA or email [email protected] COPY DEADLINE for February 2021 Park Watch 24-26 Old-growth forests –imperilled in Victoria is Friday 29 January. 28-29 Bogong Moths to Mountain Pygmy-possums DESIGN South Star Design PRINTING Adams Print – the case against ‘neonics’ FRONT COVER 30 Tribute: Graeme Worboys Wildlife of Victoria's central west forests, like this Barking Owl, are waiting for their homes to be protected in national parks. 31 Holden on See pages 5–9. Photo by Sandy Scheltema. 32 Members for Life Park Watch ISSN 1324-4361 Authorised by Matt Ruchel, Executive Director, 33 Members elect Council at AGM Victorian National Parks Association. Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053. 34-35 Special Species: Victorian Scalyfin 36 A decade of community passion for a native icon The Victorian National Parks Association acknowledges the many First Peoples of the area now known as 37 Being in the Brisbane Ranges Victoria, honours their continuing connection to, and caring for, Country, and supports Traditional 38-39 Marine Life of Victoria Owner joint-management of parks and public land Park Watch for conservation of natural and cultural heritage. is printed on 40-41 In Parks: Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve FSC certified Our office is located on traditional land of the paper. 42 Easy going ambler retires Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We offer our respect to Elders past, present and future. 43 Wild Families: Scavenger Hunts 2 PARK WATCH • DECEMBER 2020 NO 283 From the President VNPA Council recently adopted an communications campaign push Saturday fires in 2009 are now being updated Acknowledgement of Country. 'For Parks Sake! Create new central west forcefully recommended for adoption. It A focused working group was tasked with national parks'. Please share on social is unfortunate that a decade has elapsed the responsibility of recommending a new media and display the sticker prominently! without implementing many of the statement acknowledging the original proposals first put before the Victorian In recently breaking news, the Victorian custodians of the land we now call Victoria: Royal Commission. We now need to be Government has announced a number thankful that ‘common sense’ is prevailing The Victorian National Parks of important and helpful programs over adversarial political jockeying. Association acknowledges the many including the ‘Prom Sanctuary’ for Wilsons First Peoples of the area now known Promontory National Park, which VNPA The Victorian Government has also finally as Victoria, honours their continuing has been advocating for some years. We released their Deer Management Plan connection to, and caring for, Country, thank the government for these critical following widespread community concern and supports Traditional Owner joint- investments. Our membership of the about the adverse impact of deer species management of parks and public Prom Advisory Board is a valuable way for on our bushland, farmland and peri-urban land for conservation of natural and our staff to constantly advocate for critical areas. Unfortunately, it appears that the cultural heritage. nature conservation management actions report has been hacked by conflicting at the Prom, work which continues out of Our office is located on traditional land interests and that the small hunting the gaze of the public. (Pages 14–15) of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin lobby has stymied critical ecological Nation. We offer our respect to Elders Action is heating up regarding the management actions. The Plan appears to past, present and future. proposal to build a destructive liquified be destined to be another dismal failure for natural gas (LNG) import terminal in the not acting decisively when the community For over 20 years VNPA has lent our middle of the internationally important is desperate for strong action. When will voice to a range of initiatives that support Westernport Bay (pages 10–11). VNPA these invasive and destructive pests be Aboriginal people to work on and care staff worked hard to wade through properly managed? (Pages 12–13) for Country. We will continue to advise the huge piles of reports into various government, the community and our I thank all who attended our Annual environmental values of Westernport members of the benefits for nature General Meeting in October, held for Bay. The local community are dead set conservation of joint management of the first time online. There was some against any more industrial development national parks and the conservation estate. apprehension organising the AGM with at Westernport and are supported by a all the key players located at their homes While Victoria is now easing the restrictions range of environment groups, including and the audience across Victoria. Over we faced as a consequence of the VNPA. Furthermore, almost daily, there 150 people attended, many saving COVID-19 pandemic, evidence is mounting is increasing evidence that it makes no considerable travel time. Thanks go to about the critical importance of nature to economic sense for Victoria to import our staff for again helping manage this the health and wellbeing of our community. LNG. The days of the fairy tale of the important governance event. Thank In fact, our recently commissioned polling importance of gas for Victoria are over. you also to those who sent the many has continued to demonstrate the strong But the environmental importance of positive messages after the meeting. support of Victorians for national parks, Westernport Bay will never be over. Many It is an honour to be re-elected as the nature protection and establishing new of you have made a donation to support VNPA President. parks in Victoria. (Turn to pages 5–9) this important campaign – on behalf of both Council and staff, thank you for We are hopeful that the state government I hope all our supporters and staff are your generosity. will adopt all the Victorian Environmental safe and well, especially with the festive Assessment Council (VEAC) Over the past few months, four inquiries season rapidly approaching. I thank recommendations for the forests of the have reported into various aspects of everyone who was able to support our central west region, and create many new the catastrophic bushfires Australia fundraising efforts during this difficult parks as a Christmas present to nature experienced last summer. Our Park year. The VNPA Council and our staff are and our communities. After four years Protection Campaigner, the legendary continually encouraged by our members, of expert consideration by VEAC, the Phil Ingamells, has been analysing and supporters and philanthropic partners report was delivered over a year ago, and giving thorough input to these inquiries who enable us to advocate strongly for the government was due to respond in and reports (Pages 17–19). Many nature in this wonderful state of Victoria. February. We are understandably getting of the actions that VNPA has been Thank you. • PW frustrated, so we have launched a final advocating for since the tragic Black Bruce McGregor, VNPA President PARK WATCH • DECEMBER 2020 NO 283 3 UPDATES COVID-19 Update Bushwalking and activities return soon The Victorian National Parks Association would like to acknowledge the deep impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the entire Victorian community in so many different ways. This came to us We are working hard to get our volunteer following a heartbreaking bushfire season, making 2020 a hugely bushwalking and activities program back challenging year for all of us. up and running from January. The summer As Victorians get back out and about and rebuild, we offer you this program will be available online and through ‘bouquet' of gorgeous Victorian wildflowers. We hope they bring you our email list. You can join the email list at joy and a reminder of this beautiful state we call our home. www.vnpa.org.au/bwag-sign-up and check the website for walks and activities For a full VNPA COVID-19 update including citizen science, www.vnpa.org.au/adventures.
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