VICTORIA Annual Report of the NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE for the Year ended 30 June 1981 Ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be printed MELBOURNE F D ATKINSON GOVERNMENT PRINTER 1981 No. 23 National Parks Service 240 Victoria Parade East Melbourne. Vie. 3002 The Honourable W. V. Houghton, M.L.C. Minister for Conservation Dear Mr. Minister In accordance with Section 35(1) of the National Parks Act 1975 (No. 8702), I hereby submit a report on the activities of the National Parks Service for the year ended 30 June 1981. D. S. Saunders Director of National Parks 2 Contents Introduction 5 Parks and Other Areas Managed by the Service 6 New Parks7 Finance and Staff 8 National Parks Advisory Council9 Advisory Committees 9 Legislation and Regulations} 0 Mineral Exploration 11 Staff Development, Training and Safety 11 Donations and Assistance from Volunteer Groups12 Administration Division 14 Resources and Planning Division 16 Planning and Investigations Branch 16 Research Branch 16 Historical Services Branch 24 Interpretation Branch 25 Management Division 27 Park Management Branch27 Operations Branch 28 Park Protection Branch 29 Appendices 1 Receipts and Expenditure 31 2 Organisation Chart 34 3 Advisory Committees 35 4 Land Under Control of National Parks Service 36 Centre pages Map of National Parks Service Areas Photographs Cover photograph: Ranger and visitors, Gellibrand Hill Park 3 Introduction During the year ended 30 June 1981, significant improvements were made to that part of Victoria's park system which is managed by the National Parks Service. Important events during the year included: • The National Parks (Amendment) Act 1981 was proclaimed on 19 May 1981. • One new National Park (Otway) and two new Other Parks (Gellibrand Hill and Lysterfield) were included under the National Park Act. • Three National Parks and thirteen Other Parks were increased in size. • New Information Centres at Port Campbell and Wyperfeld National Parks were corn· pleted and officially opened. • A new nature trail at Warrandyte State Park, which has been specially designed to allow the disabled to enjoy and learn about natural bushland, was completed and officially opened. • The Service was awarded the Premier's Prize for the Best Government Exhibit in the Vie· torian Expo Centre at the Royal Melbourne Show1980. However, as set out in this report, the growth in the park estate was not matched by growth in staff and funds. In fact, due to financial con· straints, the Service's total staff numbers decreased from the previous year. Despite a three-fold increase in the area of parks, the real value of the Works and Services alloca· tion has remained static over the last three years. These are the funds which are used for mainten· ance, development and protection of the parks. If these trends in staff and funds continue, there is no doubt that the standard of management of parks will drop. Not only will the natural values of the parks suffer, but these valuable tourist resources will lose much of their attractiveness. The severe constraints on staff and funds in the face of increasing responsibilities placed a tre· mendous strain on staff throughout the last twelve months. My sincere thanks go to all Ser· vice staff, whether based in the parks, districts, or Head Office, whether permanent, exempt or casual, for their unstinting efforts in this very difficult year. D. S. Saunders Director of National Parks 42529)81-2 5 Parks and other areas managed by the Service Service-controlled areas are shown on the map in totalled 297,307 ha, an increase of 5,018 ha since the centre of this report. Further details of land 1 July 1980. The parks added to Schedule Three managed by the Service are given in Appendix 4. were Gellibrand Hill (part) and Lysterfield, both Under the National Parks Act 197 5 there is provi­ of which were previously managed by the Service sion for the National Parks Service to manage under other provisions of the Act. various types of land. Other Areas National Parks In addition to the parks listed and described in In defining National Parks, the Act provides: Schedule Two and Schedule Three of the National "that certain Crown land characterized by Parks Act, the Service manages land as provided its predominantly unspoilt landscape, and for in other sections of the Act. These include - its flora, fauna or other features, should be SECTION 12(1): The National Parks Advisory reserved and preserved and protected per­ Council may act as a committee manently for the benefit of the public." of management of reserved At 1 July 1981, the area reserved as National Crown land under Section 14 of Parks under Schedule Two of the National Parks the Crown Land (Reserves) Act Act was 497,609 ha, an increase of 13,986 ha since 1978. 1 July 1980. The only new National Park estab­ SECTION 19A: Management by the Director lished was Otway National Park and there were of land subject to a manage­ increases to the area reserved in Brisbane ment agreement with the Vic­ Ranges, Fern Tree Gully, King lake, Morwell and toria Conservation Trust. Port Campbell National Parks. SECTION 19B: Management by the Director of reserved Crown land under Sec­ Other Parks tion 18 of the Crown Land The Act provides: (Reserves) Act 1978. "that certain areas of Crown land with land­ SECTION 19C: Management by the Director scape or other features of particular interest of land subject to a manage· or suitability for the enjoyment, recreation ment agreement with a public and education of the public or in matters ap­ authority. pertaining to the countryside should be SECTION19D: ManagementbytheDirectorof reserved permanently and made available land subject to an agreement for the benefit of the public and in particular with the Commonwealth or that there should be so reserved and made another State. available SECTION Management by the Director (a) areas with scenic, historical, archaeo­ 32AA: of "Glenample" Homestead, logical, biological, geological or other leased by the Crown. features of scientific interest that are At 30 June, land was being managed under Sec­ worthy of preservation but, whether by tions 19A, 19B and 32AA. The management of reason of the limited size of the areas or Langwarrin Reserve was also being undertaken the limited significance of the features, by arrangement with the Commonwealth prior to are not suitable for reservation as na­ the enactment of Section 19D. tional parks; In addition, the Service occupied a number of (b) areas that demonstrate man's effect on areas of land or of floor space for offices, depots, his environment whether through his workshops, other management purposes and for agricultural or pastoral pursuits or staff residences outside parks, under various ar­ otherwise; rangements made by the Minister for Conser­ (c) areas in or adjacent to urban areas of vation. natural beauty or interest or otherwise Significant tracts of land which are being manag­ suitable for recreational use; ed by the Service for conservation and/or recrea­ (d) areas of natural beauty or interest tion under one of the above provisions are: primarily for recreational and educa· tional use but parts of which may be us­ Pirianda Garden (11 hectares) ed for primary industry, hunting, An ornamental garden near Olinda, title to which shooting, fishing or other uses ap­ is held by the Victoria Conservation Trust. propriate to the areas; and (e) areas in their natural state for scientific Langwarrin (206 hectares) study or reference." A former military reserve, the property of the At 1 July 1981, the area reserved as Other Parks Commonwealth, managed under a permissive oc­ under Schedule Three of the National Parks Act cupancy. 6 Nyerimilang (176 hectares) animals show affinities with eastern Victoria and A property on the Gippsland Lakes which is Tasmania, and differ from the other parts of the managed in conjunction with Gippsland Lakes State. Coastal Park. The Otway National Park of12, 750 ha is represen­ tative of this wet mountain forest. It contains the Gellibrand Hill (379 hectares) Calder, Parker and Elliott River catchments, as The Factors property of 379 ha is being pur­ well as foothill forest, coastal vegetation and chased by the Government, and is managed in heathy to shrubby woodland, with their conjunction with Gellibrand Hill Park. associated fauna. Geological diversity and several uncommon plant and animal species "Glenample" Homestead enhance nature conservation values. There is a long history of attempts to protect the Scenic features include magnificent examples of important historic building, "Glenample". The myrtle beech gullies, cascading streams, and National 'Ihlst of Australia (Victoria) classified dramatic undeveloped coastlines. The park in­ the building in December 1972 and applied to the cludes the coastline from Princetown to the Historic Buildings Preservation Council in May Elliott River, but excludes the Cape Otway Light­ 1975 to have the buildings placed on the Register station Reserve, an area of Commonwealth land of Historic Buildings because it was in imminent which contains Cape Otway itself. Special provi­ danger of demolition. The National 'Ihlst and the sion is made for gemstone collection to continue National Parks Service wished to see the building in the vicinity of Moonlight Head. remain on-site in its context as one of the first homesteads along the coast and as the place to Gellibrand Hill Park - Declared 19 May 1981 which the survivors of the "Loch Ard" disaster The first stage of the park is the "Woodlands" were taken. property of 265 ha located close to the Melbourne In December 1978, under Section 11 of Act No. Airport, at Oaklands Junction. The land was ac­ 9247, Section 32AA was inserted in the National quired by the Government and was previously Parks Act 1975, providing for arrangements for managed by the National Parks Service under the control and management of "Glenample" and Crown Lands (Reserves) Act pending its declara­ surrounds.