TRADITIONAL OWNERS CO-MANAGEMENT JUNE 2016 NO 265 REGIONAL FOREST AGREEMENTS TRUST FOR NATURE FIRE ISSUES MERRI CREEK MOUNT ARAPILES TRIBUTES TO BERNIE FOX Be part of nature PRESIDENT Euan Moore DIRECTOR Matt Ruchel CONTENTS Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 3 From the President ABN 34 217 717 593 Telephone: (03) 9347 5188 3 From the Editors Facsimile: (03) 9347 5199 4 New minister takes E-mail: [email protected] responsibility for parks Web: www.vnpa.org.au 5 Restoring the landscape VNPA’S VISION We share a vision of Victoria as a place with a diverse, secure and 6-7 Traditional Owners take healthy natural environment cared for and appreciated by all. on park management EDITORIAL COMMITTEE 8-9 Regional Forest Agreements: Euan Moore, Matt Ruchel, Philip Ingamells, Chris Smyth. nice idea, total failure 10-11 Conserving nature on private land GETTING INVOLVED IN VNPA Everyone can help in the conservation of Victoria’s wild and beautiful 12 The Covenantors places. You can: 13 Fuel reduction burns • make a donation fail to protect nature • become a regular giver or member • volunteer. You’ll be welcome in the office, on a campaign or in a park 14-15 A glance at fire impacts • leave a bequest to VNPA in your will. across Victoria PUBLISHING POLICY 16 Prom island cruises All advertisements should be compatible with VNPA policies. Publication 17 What feather is that? of an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the VNPA Inc. of the advertised product or service. The VNPA reserves the right to refuse 18-19 Vision for a green spine any advertisement at any time. 20 Exhibition celebrates Merri Creek Park Watch may be quoted without permission provided that 21 Inquiry report a door-stop acknowledgement is made. The opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the VNPA Inc. 22-23 Research roundup GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS 24-25 Citizen science – a two-way street You’re always welcome to contact the editor to discuss ideas for articles. 26-27 Climbing drawcard and mallee remnant Phone the VNPA or email [email protected]. Articles may be submitted by email, on disk or as hard copy. Include your contact 28-29 Exploring western Canada’s details and brief biographical information. Photos, maps and parks (part 2) drawings are needed too. Digital photos should be 300dpi and around 8cm by 12cm. 30-31 Neds Corner Station: from degradation to restoration COPY DEADLINE for September 2016 Park Watch is 1 August 2016. 31 NatureWatch – it’s all happening! DESIGN Mary Ferlin PRINTING Adams Print 32 BWAG: Walking in a winter wonderland FRONT COVER The Pharos at Mt Arapiles, Arapiles-Tooan State Park, 33 BWAG: A walk to Feathertop (nearly) is one of the park’s many rock climbing attractions. 34 Sharing nature with the family See article on page 26. Photo courtesy Glenn Tempest. 35 Getting away from it all at Edwards Point BACK COVER Eucalypt woodland at Neds Corner Station, 36-37 Vale Bernie Fox looking towards the homestead from near 38 Book review: Australian Wildlife After Dark the Murray River. See article on page 30. Photo: Shannon Reddaway, Trust for Nature. 38 Tributes: Frank Rouch and Kevin Jones Park Watch ISSN 1324-4361 39 VNPA staff news 2 PArk wAtch • JUNE 2016 NO 265 From the President PHOTO COURTESY EUAN MOORE We were shocked There is still much to do. The recent weakened protections under the guise of and greatly State Budget included $20 million reducing red tape, and where laws have not saddened to hear over four years to revitalise park been weakened they have been ignored. that past VNPA infrastructure, and we understand This is illustrated by the successful cases president Bernie there will be additional operational brought by Environment East Gippsland Fox had passed away funding from the Parks and Reserves against VicForests to have old growth and suddenly on 12 Trust, but Victoria’s parks service, rainforest protected as required by law. April. Bernie and his severely affected by years of savage staff The previous government weakened native wife Sue Hayman- cuts, now needs at least $30 million a vegetation clearing controls to the point Fox had been a force year in core operational funding just to of being useless. It is now time to rectify for conservation for reverse the damage caused by former this. The current review of the Flora and many years. state governments. Fauna Guarantee Act, native vegetation Friends, family and VNPA councillors, It’s not just public land that has high clearing controls and new marine and staff and members attended a celebration conservation value. In the most cleared coastal legislation is a once-in-a-generation of his life in Nhill on 29 April, and there bioregions of Victoria, most of the opportunity to improve the protection of were many fitting tributes. remaining conservation values are on our natural environment. Bernie’s and Sue’s more recent work had private land. Trust for Nature plays The VNPA is actively working to have the been based largely in the Wimmera and an important role in the protection current government adequately resource Mallee, where they were heavily involved of these values, with more than 1,300 nature conservation and establish robust in habitat restoration. covenanted properties. And there are laws to protect our natural environment many more areas of remnant native long into the future. This work may Rest in peace, Bernie. You’ve left a great vegetation on private property that seem dull compared with some of our legacy for conservation, and many should be protected. other campaigns, but without a firm people, inspired by you, will continue foundation our conservation estate will Good legal processes are also essential your work. be undermined. PW for protecting our natural environment. • In recent years governments have Euan Moore, VNPA President The resourcing, legal and bureaucratic processes that govern our protected areas and guide the management of native species are often hard to get so it’s really been edited jointly. As for the excited about. But they are critically future, we’ll just have to wait and see. important for conservation across the So welcome to June Park Watch, which has state, and more widely. some very interesting and important stories: With a sound basis for resourcing and on Traditional Owner co-management of managing our natural heritage, we’re parks in north-central Victoria, the failure well on the way to protecting this of Regional Forest Agreements, the vital heritage in perpetuity. work of Trust for Nature, the future of From the Editors Merri Creek, and much more. Without adequate resources, parks and reserves become degraded. Invasive There are also three articles on walks species spread and become entrenched. Yes, we know – Michael was and one on nature activities for children, Built infrastructure decays. This supposed to step down as editor and tributes to Bernie Fox, Frank Rouch degradation results in reduced quality after the March issue. But sadly, and Kevin Jones. of ecosystem services like water supply, Chris, who was to produce June and fewer visitors. In turn, this affects Park Watch, became ill, and As always, thank you to all our services and employment opportunities Michael was asked to step up again. contributors, and please keep those in country towns stories coming in! PW However, Chris had already done • The VNPA’s ‘Rescue our Parks’ campaign quite a bit of work on the June issue, Michael Howes, Chris Smyth aims to redress this resources shortfall. PArk wAtch • JUNE 2016 NO 265 3 We’re hoping there’s more funding for parks and nature at the end of the rainbow. New minister takes responsibility for parks PHOTO (MT ARAPILES) COURTESY GLENN TEMPEST VNPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR • The controversial 5% prescribed marine and coastal environments, MATT RUCHEL OUTLINES burning target for public land has has been refreshing. been dropped and replaced by a more THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF Lisa also persevered as ALP shadow sophisticated risk-based approach. ENVIRONMENT MINISTER LISA minister for the environment during NEVILLE AND WELCOMES NEW • A State of the Bays report is under the long haul in opposition under the miNisTer lily d’ambrosio. way for Westernport and Port Phillip previous Coalition Government, and Bays. It will probably be released later helped fight the many backward steps this year or early next year. introduced in this time. A review of native vegetation The VNPA was disappointed to learn • Still, one person’s loss is another’s gain, regulations has commenced and about the recent (23 May) Victorian as the saying goes, and we congratulate, a discussion paper released, with cabinet reshuffle which saw Lisa and look forward to working with, Lily 29 areas of proposed improvement. Neville moved from Environment D’A m b r o s i o (MLA for Mill Park), who to take on the Police portfolio (while • A new statewide biodiversity strategy will take on the new portfolio of Energy, retaining the Water portfolio). has been released as a draft, and Environment and Climate Change, with a review of the Flora and Fauna a focus on renewable energy, energy Although this is probably a promotion, Guarantee Act commenced. it’s with reluctance that the VNPA offers efficiency and combating the effects congratulations to Minister Neville, who • Fees for camping in national parks of climate change – and, we hope, has achieved some important milestones and other reserves have been protecting and conserving nature. reviewed and many have been as Environment Minister and shadow As we have done for the last 63 years, reduced. environment minister. whoever the relevant minister is we • Dogs have once and for all been will always, on your behalf, speak up Minister Neville has driven a number banned on Mornington Peninsula of reforms important to the VNPA in for nature in Victoria.