National Parks Act Annual Report 2004 Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment October 2004. Also published on
Bushfire recovery, Mount Buffalo National Park
This annual report on the working of the National Parks Act several research projects. Information, interpretation and 1975 for the year ended 30 June 2004 is provided to the education programs to inform the community were a feature. Minister for Environment, the Hon. John Thwaites MP. It is The cessation of fishing in the four marine national parks and prepared for the purposes of section 35 of the Act. the remaining part of one marine sanctuary where it had been Victoria’s parks system comprises a very significant part of permitted to continue until 1 April 2004 means that all 24 parks our public land estate and is one of the state’s greatest assets. and sanctuaries can now be managed as a highly protected It plays a vital role in helping to achieve the government’s vision representative system. of protecting our precious environment for present and future Indigenous involvement in park management again increased generations and ensuring a more sustainable Victoria. As this year. Of particular note was the signing of the historic Yorta current custodians, we all have important roles to play in the Yorta Cooperative Management Agreement between the State stewardship of these magnificent areas. Government and the Yorta Yorta people. This is based on The year saw an emphasis on bushfire recovery works in the recognition, mutual respect and shared goals, and establishes aftermath of the major fires of the 2002–03 fire season. The the right for the Yorta Yorta people to be involved in the major Bushfire Recovery Program initiated last financial year management of certain Crown land in Yorta Yorta country, across all public land continued, with Parks Victoria redirecting including Barmah State Park. resources from other programs to boost those available for I thank all those who have contributed to this year’s recovery projects. A separate section of this report (Bushfire achievements. These include the particular initiatives mentioned recovery) highlights many of the activities undertaken as part above as well as the many ongoing tasks of park management of the recovery program. across the state. The year also saw Parks Victoria make considerable progress in several other key areas. Of note were the activities undertaken to implement the new and expanded parks in the Box-Ironbark region and the new marine national parks and marine sanctuaries.
In the Box-Ironbark region, Parks Victoria focused on management planning and the operational establishment of the new park areas. There were also projects relating to the protection of environmental values and cultural heritage, and Professor Lyndsay Neilson visitor facilities were enhanced in several parks. Importantly, Secretary to the efforts were made to promote the new parks in the community Department of Sustainability and Environment and to involve the community in the parks.
There was considerable work in establishing a firm basis for the management of Victoria’s 24 marine national parks and marine sanctuaries. A management strategy for the parks and sanctuaries for the period up to 2010 was released and management planning for seven of the 24 areas commenced, as well as
1 Contents
Foreword 1
Representative system 3 Areas managed under the Act 3 Changes to the parks system 3
Natural values management 4 Planning 4 Research 4 Environmental management 6 Fire management 8
Bushfire recovery 9
Cultural values management 11 Indigenous program 11 Non-Indigenous program 11
Community involvement 12 Volunteers 12 Community Group Grants 12
Visitor and tourism services 13 Information, interpretation and education 13 Enhancing park visits 14 Visits to parks 15 Tour operators 15
Supporting park management 16 Park management arrangements 16 Finance 16 Staff 17 Legislation 17 Consents and other authorities 17 Enforcement 19 Interstate cooperation 19 Advisory bodies 19
Appendixes 21 1 Land managed under the National Parks Act 21 2 Pest plant control projects 25 3 Pest animal control projects 26 4 Locations of parks and other areas 27
2 Representative system
Twelve Apostles Marine National Park and Port Campbell National Park
Areas managed under the Act Changes to the parks system As at 30 June 2004 there were 134 areas with a total area of There were minor excisions from Point Addis and Twelve Apostles approximately 3.2 million hectares managed under various marine national parks on 3 December 2003 as a result of the provisions of the National Parks Act (the Act). Appendix 1 lists Forests and National Parks Acts (Amendments) Act 2003. At the areas and Appendix 4 shows their location. The areas Point Addis Marine National Park a boundary coordinate was comprised: corrected while at the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park • 118 areas on the main schedules to the Act the remaining length of Clifton Beach was excluded as originally intended. – 39 national parks (Schedule Two) – 3 wilderness parks (Schedule Two A) On 1 April 2004, fishing ceased in Cape Howe, Corner Inlet, – 30 state parks (Schedule Two B) Discovery Bay and Twelve Apostles marine national parks and – 5 coastal parks, 1 flora and fauna reserve, 3 historic parks, the remaining part of Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary. This 4 regional parks and Haining Farm (Schedule Three) completed the establishment of Victoria’s world-class system of ‘no-take’ marine national parks and marine sanctuaries. – 3 marine and coastal parks, 2 marine parks, 1 marine reserve, 1 national heritage park and 1 nature conservation reserve (Schedule Four) – 13 marine national parks (Schedule Seven) – 11 marine sanctuaries (Schedule Eight) • 16 non-scheduled areas to which particular provisions of the Act apply.
The Act also defines: • 19 wilderness zones (Schedule Five) within 7 national parks (Appendix 1) • 22 remote and natural areas (Schedule Six) within 12 national parks (Appendix 1) • 2 designated water supply catchment areas (those parts of Melbourne’s water supply catchments and their buffers within Kinglake and Yarra Ranges national parks).
3 Natural values management
Ecological burning, Port Campbell National Park
Planning input and involvement, and workshops were held with several Management plans communities in Gippsland in relation to the marine national As at 30 June 2004 there were approved management plans for park management plans. all or parts of 38 national parks, 3 wilderness parks, 28 state Other plans and strategies parks and 11 other parks1. The Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries Management During the year the Minister released the approved plan for Strategy 2003–2010, which was finalised last year following a Mount Richmond National Park, Cape Nelson State Park and period of public consultation, was released. It provides a Discovery Bay Coastal Park (the Discovery Bay Parks plan) and consistent, state-wide approach for the management of these the approved plan for Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve. areas. The strategy was prepared with the assistance of a The final plan for Terrick Terrick National Park was submitted reference group including representatives from 15 community for approval, to be released in 2004–05. groups with a significant interest in the management of Victoria's marine environment. Draft plans for Baw Baw and Dandenong Ranges national parks and Cape Conran Coastal Park were released for public The strategic management plan for Barmah Forest Ramsar site comment. When approved, the plans for the national parks (which includes Barmah State Park) was also released. All of will replace the existing plans. Victoria’s Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance under the international Ramsar Convention) now have approved Work progressed on draft plans for: plans. Most Ramsar sites include land under the Act. • Corner Inlet, Point Addis, Port Phillip Heads and Wilsons Promontory marine national parks, Eagle Rock, Point Danger Research and Ricketts Point marine sanctuaries, Wilsons Promontory Research permits Marine Park and Wilsons Promontory Marine Reserve Research, study or investigation in a park under the Act requires • Greater Bendigo National Park, Broken-Boosey State Park a permit under the Act, sometimes in conjunction with a permit and Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park in the under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, Reference Box-Ironbark region Areas Act 1978 or Wildlife Act 1975.
• Warrandyte State Park (to replace the existing plan). During the year, 184 permits were issued (149 new permits Community consultation and 35 renewed permits), a significant decrease from last year. Local advisory groups were established to assist in the Of these, 168 enabled projects to be carried out in 92 parks development of the plans for the marine areas and the (a permit may cover more than one park, project or field of Box-Ironbark parks. These also enable Parks Victoria to study). Sixteen permits enabled work to be carried out in all better understand community and stakeholder views. parks if necessary. There were research permits issued for projects in all 24 marine national parks and marine sanctuaries. There was increased participation by Indigenous communities in park planning during the year. Discussions commenced with several communities in the Box-Ironbark region to seek their
1 The plans for 4 of the 38 national parks include plans that cover former national or state parks that are now part of the national parks. The statement in the 2003 Annual Report 4 should refer to plans existing for all or parts of 37 national parks, 3 wilderness parks, 27 state parks and 10 other parks. Figure 1 shows the number of permits issued in respect of those Research Partners Program parks for which there were more than five issued (excluding ‘all Parks Victoria’s Research Partners Program completed its fifth parks’ permits). The main fields of study were botany (covered and final year under the current contracts. The program was by 23 permits), ecology (63 permits) and zoology (31 permits). established to support high quality research into environmental More than half of the researchers were from tertiary institutions, issues in parks and included four partners: Arthur Rylah Institute including several from overseas universities. for Environmental Research, Deakin University, University of Ballarat and University of Melbourne. Examples of the diverse projects covered by the permits include: • a study of environmental change during the past 30 000 A review was undertaken to assess the outputs of the program years based on an analysis of sediments from Lake Surprise in over the past five years. The program has supported 100 Mount Eccles National Park projects relating to areas managed under the Act. In addition to the direct benefits to park management, the program has • a study of fire impacts on soils on the Bogong High Plains in supported ecological research and higher education in Victoria the Alpine National Park and has attracted substantial contributions of cash and in-kind • habitat mapping in marine national parks and marine support in addition to those provided by Parks Victoria. The sanctuaries outcomes of the review will assist Parks Victoria in managing its • the collection of naturally sloughed skin and faecal samples future research. A number of projects established under the of Blue Whales off the Victorian coast, including in Discovery program will have a life beyond the program, including those Bay Marine National Park mentioned below. • an assessment of the impact of the 2003 Eldorado Fire on Examples of projects undertaken as part of the program in the priority flora and plant communities in Chiltern-Mt Pilot past year include: National Park • the continuation of the fox adaptive experimental • documentation of fungi in several parks management program, which is examining the relative • a study of flatworms collected from freshwater crayfish in effectiveness of different fox control programs in several parks. Coopracambra, Grampians, Hattah-Kulkyne, Little Desert and Wilsons Promontory national parks
Figure 1 – Research permits
22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 Number of permits 4 2 0 Park Bunyip SP Alpine NP Otway NP Jawbone MS Wyperfeld NP Grampians NP Little Desert NP Snowy River NP Point Cooke MS French Island NP French Barwon Bluff MS Barwon Bluff Ricketts Point MS Croajingolong NP Croajingolong Murray-Sunset NP Mount Buffalo NP Mount Buffalo Nooramunga MCP Hattah-Kulkyne NP Angahook-Lorne SP Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP Port Phillip Heads MNP Dandenong Ranges NP Wilsons NP Promontory Mornington Peninsula NP
MCP Marine and Coastal Park MNP Marine National Park MS Marine Sanctuary NP National Park SP State Park
5 The project has resulted in new species records for some context, and prioritises management actions accordingly for the parks, including Southern Brown Bandicoot, Long-nosed environmental management of the area. The conceptual Potoroo and Long-footed Potoroo in Coopracambra National framework will be further refined and will be used in program Park and Little Pygmy Possum in Little Desert National Park. development in future years. Results to date indicate that continuous programs that The on-ground environmental management program is operate over large areas are more effective than seasonal categorised into eight program areas: or short-term programs. • threatened species management • the development of an interactive koala population and forest • ecological fire management dynamics model for Mount Eccles National Park • native animal management This project enables potential outcomes of different management scenarios to be explored and has been a critical • catchment and water management tool to support the planning of the koala management • pest plant management program in the park. • pest animal management • the establishment of ecological thinning trials of Box-Ironbark • grazing management forest in Paddys Ranges State Park and Castlemaine Diggings • marine protection. National Heritage Park This project is investigating whether thinning can expedite the The environmental management program in 2003–04 was development of older-growth characteristics of these forests targeted to works in the fire affected areas (see Bushfire to a state similar to pre-European conditions. During the year, recovery). The following sections provide examples of other the experimental design was developed, tested and modified projects within each of the eight program areas. in consultation with an external scientific reference group. Threatened species management Various scientific reports produced through the Research Projects undertaken in relation to threatened species Partners Program and other contracted monitoring have been management in areas under the Act included: published by Parks Victoria in a Technical Series which may be • surveys for the Brush-tailed Phascogale, Eltham Copper accessed at
Work commenced on State of the Parks 2005. This will expand Prescribed burns were undertaken to achieve both ecological on the first edition but with the key difference being a focus on and fuel reduction objectives (see also page 8). Specific the development of trends and longer-term performance measures. ecological burns were undertaken in several parks, including Chiltern-Mt Pilot, Croajingolong, Little Desert, Otway and Port Environmental management Campbell national parks. Information on the values of and risks to the parks system Native animal management contained in State of the Parks 2000 provided a basis for setting Programs to control kangaroo and koala populations continued strategic priorities. Parks Victoria’s Environmental Management in several parks where there is a demonstrable long-term impact Framework focuses on-ground works on the protection of the on park values caused by over-abundant populations. Programs highest values at greatest risk. were undertaken in accordance with established ecological During the year Parks Victoria developed a ‘Levels of Protection’ rationales developed with the support of key stakeholders, framework that assesses the contribution that a park (or part of including the Kangaroo and Koala technical advisory committees. a park) makes to biodiversity conservation in a landscape
6 Projects included: Pest animal management • a small kangaroo control program at Wyperfeld National Park. The protection of threatened species and communities and There was a general decline in kangaroo numbers in the other significant park values continued to be a focus for the Mallee parks as a result of drought management of pest animals. Cooperative programs continued with private landowners to control pest animals that threaten • a small-scale koala control program, involving relocation, at economic or ecological values. A number of pest animal control French Island National Park projects were also undertaken in parks as part of the Good • the development of an interactive koala population and forest Neighbour Program. dynamics model for Mount Eccles National Park (as part of the Research Partners Program). Appendix 3 lists the species and the areas under the Act that were targeted during the year in pest animal management The Kangaroo Technical Advisory Committee met to discuss projects. kangaroo management for Woodlands Historic Park and research at Wilsons Promontory National Park relating to Projects in 2003–04 included: grazing interactions and fire. • the initiation of the Southern Ark project, a major new conservation initiative aimed at facilitating the recovery of Catchment and water management native animals and improving the stewardship of public land This program area continued to focus on improving the in East Gippsland through an integrated, large-scale and condition of remnant vegetation and reducing priority ongoing fox control program. This is a joint program involving catchment degradation risks. Projects included: DSE, DPI and Parks Victoria, working closely with the East • on-ground works in various parks that form part of Ramsar Gippsland community, and is the first large-scale fox control wetland sites across the state, following completion of the project in south-eastern Australia strategic management plans for these areas. A number of on- • wild dog control programs in the Alpine, Mitchell River and ground works are being undertaken in partnership with the Snowy River national parks relevant catchment management authorities • the continuation of the fox adaptive experimental • revegetation and catchment protection works in a number of management project in several parks (see Research Partners parks including Mornington Peninsula and Terrick Terrick Program) national parks, Warby Range and Warrandyte state parks and Discovery Bay Coastal Park. • pest animal control projects in various Box-Ironbark parks • the Gamecon Goat Program, a trial program between Parks Parks Victoria also established two collaborative agreements Victoria and the Sporting Shooters Association of Victoria with Greening Australia Victoria and Greenfleet for them to which utilised shooting clubs to reduce the number of goats undertake strategic revegetation projects across Victorian parks. in Murray-Sunset National Park. During the year, 135 goats Pest plant management were destroyed over three weekends. The pest plant program was the largest program area for Natural Grazing management Values Management. Cooperative efforts with landowners and Alpine National Park other agencies to integrate pest plant control across land tenure A total of 865.5 adult equivalent (AE) cattle2 out of a maximum boundaries continued. The Good Neighbour Program funded a allocation for the park of nearly 8000 AE were recorded as number of pest plant control projects in parks. having grazed in the park in 2003–04. This low number One project of particular note was the control of willows in the reflects the reduction in grazing following the 2003 Victorian Upper Snowy River being undertaken by the East Gippsland Alpine Fires and the 1998 Caledonia Fire, and compares with Catchment Management Authority as part of the Snowy River 4335.5 AE3 in 2002–03 prior to the fires. rehabilitation program. This work complements control works upstream in New South Wales. In relation to the 2003 fire affected area, grazing was not permitted on 30 of the 43 affected licence areas. Grazing, Appendix 2 lists the targeted species for those parks where an subject to additional conditions, was permitted on the other area of more than five hectares was recorded as being treated 13 licence areas, although several of the licensees elected not for the purpose of control or eradication of that species. to graze.
2 A calf less than 12 months old is counted as half an adult. 3 This figure corrects the figure in the 2003 Annual Report. It is based on the numbers of cattle for the seven-year licences advised by licensees. 7 In relation to the seven Caledonia fire-affected licence areas (six Fire management of which were burnt), grazing continued to be excluded from The fire season four and was permitted on the other three subject to conditions Due to the ongoing dry conditions, the 2003–04 fire season (although one licensee opted not to graze). An assessment of was four months longer than normal. Despite this, there were sub-alpine bogs in the licensed areas across the fire area of the few large fires and only a small area of the state was burnt by park was conducted in Spring 2003. Cattle were found to have wildfire. DSE, along with DPI and Parks Victoria, were involved entered 30 of the 51 bogs inspected, including many that were in both wildfire suppression and implementing the prescribed outside the areas to which the return of grazing was permitted. burning program.
Most of the seven-year licences for the park expire in August In 2003–04, there were 708 wildfires across the state on public 2005. In May 2004, the Minister for Environment established a and adjacent private land recorded by DSE. These burnt Caucus Alpine Grazing Taskforce to investigate and report on approximately 22 000 hectares. A total of 80 fires were options relating to the future of cattle grazing in the Alpine recorded as starting in areas under the Act. These burnt National Park. approximately 4330 hectares. Most of this area is accounted for Barmah State Park by two fires: one in the Grampians National Park (burning an In Barmah State Park and the adjacent Barmah State Forest, 860 estimated 3384 hectares) and the other in Bunyip State Park cattle grazed from July to October (part of the 2003 winter (804 hectares). period), 1735 cattle grazed from November 2003 to May 2004 Prescribed burning (2003–04 summer period) and 725 cattle grazed from May to A total of 107 burns were undertaken in areas under the Act June 2004 (part of the 2004 winter period). for fuel reduction or ecological burning purposes as part of the Box-Ironbark parks 2003–04 statewide prescribed burning program. The program As part of the legislated transitional arrangements associated included approximately 39 000 hectares in areas under the Act. with the creation of new park areas in the Box-Ironbark region, Further information grazing continued on most of the more than 70 previously DSE’s annual report for 2004 contains further details about the licensed areas that are now included in Chiltern-Mt Pilot, fire season. It also refers to several initiatives in fire Greater Bendigo and Heathcote-Graytown national parks, management that have been taken in response to the Report of Broken-Boosey and Kooyoora state parks and Castlemaine the Inquiry into the 2002–2003 Victorian Bushfires (the Esplin Diggings National Heritage Park. Many of the licences cover report), the Auditor-General’s report on Fire prevention and only small areas and support low numbers of stock. A number preparedness and the Linton Coronial Inquiry. These initiatives of licensees chose to relinquish their licences during the period. aim to improve fire management performance on public land, Under the Act all licensed grazing will cease by 30 October including parks, across the state. 2005.
Marine protection A number of innovative marine research, or research related, projects commenced with the aim of obtaining quality baseline information across the marine national park system. Projects included: • fine-scale mapping of shallow water habitats of marine national parks and marine sanctuaries • marine biological benchmarking • the commencement of a project to prioritise threats to each marine national park and marine sanctuary.
In a major initiative to prevent the spread of aquatic pests, DSE and Parks Victoria widely disseminated information to the public and boating stakeholders regarding vessel cleaning and maintenance practices.
DSE coordinated a major project involving volunteers and government agencies to contain an outbreak of the Northern Pacific Sea Star near Inverloch. The pest had the potential to spread to marine national parks along the Gippsland coast (see also Community involvement).
8 Bushfire recovery
McNamara's Hut, Alpine National Park
In the 2002–03 fire season wildfires burnt approximately Some of the many activities undertaken or commenced in the 1.3 million hectares of the state. The largest fires were: affected parks during the year were:
• the Big Desert Fire, which burnt parts of Wyperfeld National Natural values management Park and Big Desert Wilderness Park in late 2002 • the completion of the assessment of control lines and road • the Victorian Alpine Fires, which burnt parts of the Alpine, and tracks and follow-up sediment control works Mount Buffalo and Snowy River national parks and Wabba • monitoring projects to assess the status and threats to Wilderness Park in early 2003 threatened flora and fauna across the Alpine National Park, • the Eldorado-Stanley fires, also in early 2003, which burnt Snowy River National Park and other parks in north-eastern parts of Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park and Beechworth Victoria and the Mallee. All flora survey work has been Historic Park. completed but field work for three fauna projects has been Details of the extent of the parks burnt are included in the carried over into 2004–05 due to unfavourable conditions National Parks Act Annual Report 2003. • alpine bog restoration, including the identification of several sites to study techniques for mossbed recovery, the results of There was extensive work during the year in the aftermath of which will be monitored over the coming years the fires to restore or rehabilitate the affected parks and to replace damaged visitor and other facilities. This continued the • pest plant control programs aimed at eradicating new weed major bushfire recovery effort initiated last year as part of the infestations and controlling and reducing infestations Bushfire Recovery Program. • the commencement of a major pest plant control project in the Alpine National Park to determine the most efficient and Bushfire recovery activities focused on: effective means of controlling English Broom through an • extensive site assessments of the extent of damage adaptive experimental management program. One of the • habitat restoration innovative elements of the project is the investigation of the • water quality management response of native vegetation to different control techniques • the control of pest plants and animals in priority areas • considerable work leading to decisions on whether cattle • management of cattle grazing could return to the fire-affected licence areas of the Alpine National Park in the 2003–04 grazing season. Parks Victoria • heritage surveys established a Scientific Advisory Panel to assist the decision- • site protection works at priority sites making process • restoration of access • repair and replacement of damaged assets.
9 Cultural values management Visitor and tourism services • on-ground Indigenous cultural heritage surveys, • assessments of the safety of visitor facilities, including roads anthropological research and oral history projects at 14 and tracks and picnic and camping areas locations in the fire affected areas of North East Victoria and • the clearing of roads and tracks, in line with an access East Gippsland, including in the Alpine, Chiltern-Mt Pilot, re-opening strategy Mount Buffalo and Snowy River national parks. This followed • the replacement of many park assets, including boardwalks, extensive consultation with traditional owner groups, relevant bridges, snow poles and toilets Indigenous communities and Native Title applicants. Some • the commencement of the re-marking of the Australian Alps 37 Indigenous people were engaged as supervisors and site Walking Track as part of a tri-state post-fire initiative monitors and as members of the Steering Committee, either directly by Parks Victoria or engaged through Aboriginal • a hut replacement workshop hosted by Parks Victoria and co-operatives attended by a wide range of stakeholders and interested parties, including from interstate This work led to the discovery of approximately 350 previously unknown Indigenous cultural heritage sites and • an assessment of the fire affected huts in the Alpine National places, producing a large amount of new information that Park and a determination of appropriate conservation actions will enable a better understanding of past Aboriginal use in consultation with key stakeholders. This led to: of the Victorian Alps. – the reconstruction of McNamara’s Hut using traditional • the establishment of a Fire Rehabilitation Implementation methods, in partnership with the Victorian High Country Indigenous Heritage Steering Group comprising Huts Association (VHCHA) and Mittagundi Outdoor representatives of Indigenous communities, DSE, Education Centre Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and Parks Victoria – the preparation of plans for the reconstruction of Federation and Michell huts (with construction to be • the completion of an historic gold mining sites survey, which completed in early 2005) took advantage of archaeological remnants freshly exposed by the destruction of vegetation cover. The subsequent report • the progressive restoration of access to the 64 licensed tour will inform their future conservation and management operators affected by the 2003 wildfires in the North east and Gippsland. Ongoing liaison with operators and the • the completion of a Heritage Action Plan for Wallaby Mine in Victorian Tourism Operators Association assisted Parks Victoria Beechworth Historic Park to set access priorities • information and interpretation initiatives involving tourism workshops, interpretative banners in information centres, on-site interpretation boards and face-to-face interpretation delivered by rangers • the wide distribution of the resource and interpretation kit Fire in the Cycle of Life to help visitor understanding of the recovery process • extensive stakeholder communication, including with tour operators, four-wheel drive groups and alpine hut groups, who were provided with information on the recovery progress and in some cases were actively involved in projects.
10 Cultural values management
Battery site, Spring Gully, Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park
Areas under the Act include a very diverse range of culturally • the launch of a new school based education program as part significant sites, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. These of the services provided by Brambuk the National Park and sites and values are protected to ensure that future generations Cultural Centre, which brings together environmental and have the opportunity to enjoy and understand the legacy of the Indigenous cultural education programs past. As with the environmental management program, there • Indigenous cultural heritage surveys at Coopracambra and was a particular focus during the year on works associated with Grampians national parks, Broken-Boosey, Cathedral Range recovery from the 2003 Victorian Alpine Fires (see Bushfire and Warrandyte state parks and Castlemaine Diggings recovery). Examples of other projects are provided below. National Heritage Park.
Indigenous program Non-Indigenous program Parks Victoria engaged with Indigenous communities around Non bushfire recovery conservation activity for non-Indigenous the State to establish and strengthen ongoing partnerships and heritage values and assets on land managed under the Act cooperatively preserve and interpret our diverse Indigenous focused primarily on low-key routine maintenance at selected sites. heritage. Highlights included: Highlights of the year included: • the completion of a comprehensive survey and review of all • the signing of the Yorta Yorta Cooperative Management huts in the Victorian Alps, including the Alpine National Park Agreement between the State Government and the Yorta • repair, maintenance and safety works at key heritage sites in Yorta people of northern Victoria. This historic agreement, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park and Castlemaine Diggings based on recognition, mutual respect and shared goals, National Heritage Park provides for a Yorta Yorta Joint Body comprising • a grant under the Victorian Heritage Program for the representatives of the Yorta Yorta people and the conservation of significant archaeological remains at Government to advise the Minister for Environment and land Butchers Gully Chinese Camp, Castlemaine Diggings managers on the management of certain Crown land, National Heritage Park including Barmah State Park, in Yorta Yorta country • the purchase of the very significant Herons Reef Gold • the continuation of the mediation processes for the Diggings for addition to Castlemaine Diggings National Wotjobaluk Native Title Agreement. This relates to areas Heritage Park. including parts of Little Desert and Wyperfeld national parks, Black Range and Mount Arapiles-Tooan state parks and Lake Albacutya Park • the release for public discussion of Parks Victoria's Draft Indigenous Partnership Strategy during Reconciliation Week. The strategy was developed to assist in breaking down barriers and to facilitate opportunities for real involvement of relevant Indigenous communities in the management of Victoria's parks as part of 'Caring for Country'
11 Community involvement
Tree planting, Heathcote-Graytown National Park
Volunteers • preserve and enhance recreational four wheel driving in Volunteers and community groups continued to support Victoria in an environmentally sustainable manner. environmental works, the protection of cultural values and Volunteer Group Grants visitor services in many areas managed under the Act. More than 60 community and friends groups continued to give Parks Victoria’s Volunteer Group Grants are available to substantial support. There was considerable support from community groups who wish to undertake projects related to volunteers in the bushfire recovery program. areas managed by Parks Victoria. Groups work in close conjunction with local Parks Victoria staff in developing and Examples of the many (non fire-recovery) contributions made implementing projects. during the year by volunteers, including students, include: Projects funded in relation to areas under the Act, totalling • assistance with delivering holiday programs and undertaking a $309 000, included: variety of minor research projects in parks throughout the state • improvements to ten bush campsites in the Grampians • the contribution of international volunteers to a wide range National Park by a community based project team led by the of park management activities Victorian Climbing Club and involving a range of participants, • the volunteer Camp Host Program in 15 parks under the Act including the Friends of the Grampians • surveys by the Grampians Threatened Species Group for the • landscaping, weed control and revegetation at the entrance nationally endangered Grampians Pincushion-lily and the area and car park at Sorrento Ocean Beach, Mornington Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby (critically endangered in Victoria) Peninsula National Park by the Nepean and Ocean Beach • seagrass monitoring in Corner Inlet Marine National Park and conservation groups Sea Spurge control at Sealers Cove, Wilsons Promontory • the production of a brochure on 28 short-walks by the National Park, by Friends of the Prom Friends of Angahook-Lorne State Park • the containment of an outbreak of the Northern Pacific Sea • the coordination by the Marine Discovery Centre at Star near Inverloch, which won the 2004 National World Queenscliff of volunteer monitoring and education and Environment Day Award for the 'Best Community Based awareness activities for visitors and the local community at Environment Project or Initiative' Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park and Barwon Bluff • weed mapping, weed control, installation of signs, fencing and Marine Sanctuary revegetation by a Green Corps team based at Lysterfield Lake Park. • environmental landscaping involving weed control and Memoranda of Cooperation revegetation at the Forest Creek Diggings area of Castlemaine Parks Victoria entered into memoranda of cooperation with the Diggings National Heritage Park, a community project Australian Deer Association (Victoria) and Four Wheel Drive involving the Golden Point Landcare Group and Chewton Victoria. The objective is to establish a framework to develop Primary School students and maintain protocols for a positive and constructive • the signposting of historic gold sites in Castlemaine Diggings relationship between the respective organisation and Parks National Heritage Park, involving the Bush Users Group Victoria that will: • the annual banding and monitoring of the Peregrine Falcon at • in areas where deer hunting is permitted, preserve and breeding sites across the state, including in several parks, by the enhance recreational deer hunting (stalking) opportunities Victorian Peregrine Project, often assisted by rock climbers. and apply science for improved management of wild deer 12 populations in Victoria’s national and other parks and reserves Visitor and tourism services
Interpretation program, Greater Bendigo National Park
Information, interpretation and education A comprehensive information service for parks across the state Information services providing current and relevant information was again offered through Parks Victoria's 24-hour Information to visitors, potential visitors and other interested members of Centre (telephone 13 1963). Parks Victoria’s website the public, as well as high quality interpretation activities and
Parknotes were made available in both paper and electronic form. They cover most national parks and other areas under the Act. New Parknotes were produced for several Box-Ironbark parks.
13 Education • the launch of a new school based education program at Education programs were provided for primary, secondary and Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre tertiary students as well as opportunities for the professional • the enjoyment by 16 underprivileged children of a development of teachers and others. ‘wilderness’ experience‘ at Wilsons Promontory National Park, The education section of Parks Victoria’s website an initiative developed by the Variety Club and Parks Victoria.
Table 1 – National park education programs 2003–04 student numbers Dandenong Ranges NP Grampians NP Wilsons Promontory NP Total Total fee-paying 3 030 3 638 5 662 12 330 student numbers
14 These projects enabled four-wheel drive access to be maintained Tour operators or improved by upgrading track surfaces, improving drainage Licensed tour operators continue to play a key role in facilitating and repairing creek crossings and bridges, and providing access to public land, promoting its values and appropriate use facilities at key four-wheel drive campsites. and encouraging tourism and recreation in Victoria.
Maps showing the seasonal track closures in parks and forests As at 30 June 2004, 225 tour operators were licensed to across the state were produced for distribution from conduct a range of guided activities in areas under the Act. information centres, work centres and via stakeholder groups These included 22 operators licensed to conduct tours in nine and Parks Victoria’s website. marine national parks.
Visits to parks Parks Victoria conducted nine workshops with licensed tour operators to discuss a range of industry issues and development The Visitor Number Monitor survey, which was introduced by opportunities. One of the main concerns for tour operators Parks Victoria in September 2001 to monitor the number of continues to be the cost and difficulty of obtaining appropriate visits to national and other parks and to report on change and public liability insurance. Parks Victoria has continued to work trends in visitation numbers, was not conducted in 2003–04. It with operators, industry and the government in managing this will be conducted again in 2004–05. complex issue. Targeted research was undertaken during the year in marine Parks Victoria has made compliance with the government national parks and marine sanctuaries to investigate the nature funded and industry endorsed Adventure Activity Standards of visitation by Victorians to these areas. Annual visitation was (AAS) a condition of all tour operator permits. It is envisaged estimated to be 2.7 million visits. that, over a three-year period, AAS will be developed for all Visitor research was also undertaken at four Box-Ironbark parks licensed adventure activities and apply to both commercial and to investigate the nature of visits and assist planning. non-commercial groups.
15 Supporting park management
Dandenong Ranges National Park
Park management arrangements The proposed park management services to be provided by The Secretary to the Department of Sustainability and Parks Victoria in 2003–04 were developed collaboratively by Environment is responsible under the Act for ensuring that staff from DSE and Parks Victoria. Following the Secretary’s the parks and other areas are controlled and managed in agreement to the proposed priority actions, these were included accordance with the Act. in Parks Victoria’s 2003–04 business plan.
Parks Victoria, established under the Parks Victoria Act 1998, is Finance responsible through a management agreement for managing Expenditure for 2003–04 in relation to areas managed under the parks and other areas under the Act on behalf of the the Act was $61.4 million in output costs and $7.6 million Secretary. There are also delegations of various of the Minister’s in asset investments (Table 2). The difference in output costs and Secretary’s powers to particular employees of Parks Victoria. compared with those of 2002–03 is due mainly to an Parks Victoria’s annual report for 2003–04 provides detailed adjustment to the capital assets charge, which is based on information on its operations for the year. the net value of the park infrastructure assets, together with DSE, on behalf of the Secretary, is responsible for overseeing the changes to cashflows for approved initiatives. For example, arrangements with Parks Victoria and for providing strategic set-up costs relating to marine national parks and Box-Ironbark policy advice to the Minister and the Secretary. Under the Act, parks were not required in 2003-04. The Asset Investment the Director of National Parks (who is the Chief Executive Program funds both land acquisitions and capital works, which Officer of Parks Victoria) provides advice to the Minister and the vary from year to year, depending on the approved program. Secretary about the operational elements of park management.
Table 2 – 2003–04 expenditure ($’000) for National Parks Act areas DSE Parks Victoria Total Output costs Salaries and oncosts 1 756 26 824 28 580 Operating 1 981 15 781 17 762 Other* 13 115 1 946 15 061 Total – output costs 16 852 44 551 61 403 Asset investment program 1 258 6 376 7 634 Total 18 110 50 927 69 037 * Other expenditure includes: – DSE capital asset charge, depreciation – Parks Victoria community grants, environmental initiative, environmental research and strategy initiative, Good Neighbour Program, Rabbit Buster Program, road and track maintenance (Four Wheel Drive Program, VicRoads)
16 Staff National Parks (Additions and Other Amendments) Bill As at 30 June 2004 Parks Victoria had 1041 direct employees, This bill was introduced into Parliament on 1 June 2004. comprising 905 ongoing full-time and part time staff, 69 fixed Debate was adjourned until the Spring 2004 Parliamentary term staff and 67 casuals. Parks Victoria manages a wide range Sittings. The main feature of the bill is the addition of nearly of areas, including all of the parks and other areas under the 37 000 hectares to the parks and reserves system across the Act, conservation reserves, regional and metropolitan parks as state, including nearly 14 000 hectares to parks under the Act. well as aspects of the bays and waterways around Melbourne. It will also amend the Act to excise small areas from several Several staff work in more than one type of area. parks, alter the membership criteria for the National Parks Advisory Council and Alpine Advisory Committee, insert It is estimated that 280 rangers (including 14 chief rangers) additional leasing powers relating to surf lifesaving club and 93 field service officers were engaged in managing areas purposes and repeal several redundant provisions of the Act. under the Act as at 30 June 2004. There were 42 ongoing and fixed-term Indigenous staff, including rangers, working National Parks (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.R. No. 150/2003) in areas under the Act. These regulations came into operation on 18 December 2003. An extensive recruitment campaign resulted in appointments They increased the fees and charges payable for entry into the to 50 new ranger and field service officer positions in rural five parks specified in the National Parks (Fees and Charges) and regional Victoria, most associated with areas under the Regulations 2001 and the fee for an annual pass for entry by Act. These positions are located across the state in areas of car into those parks. greatest need, including Portland, the Grampians, the National competition policy review Wimmera, the Alps and Wilsons Promontory. The National Parks (Additions and Other Amendments) Bill will Under the Seasonal Ranger Program, 22 seasonal rangers were amend the membership criteria of the National Parks Advisory recruited to run visitor services programs during the summer Council and the Alpine Advisory Committee so that the criteria period in areas managed under the Act. for members who are currently nominated by organisations will now be specified in terms of skills and experience. These Staff from DSE (particularly the Conservation and Recreation changes result from the National Competition Policy review of Division) and DPI (particularly fisheries officers) also contributed the Act. to the parks program.
Legislation Consents and other authorities Consents Forests and National Parks Acts (Amendment) Act 2003 (No. 97/2003) Consents were granted under the following sections of the Act: This amending Act came into operation on 3 December 2003. • section 27 – to various public authorities (as defined in the In relation to the National Parks Act, it ensured that the whole Act) to carry out works, subject to conditions, in various of Clifton Beach was excluded from Twelve Apostles Marine parks, as shown in Table 3 National Park, corrected a coordinate on the plan of Point Addis • section 30B – to Trinity Grammar School, Kew, to use a track Marine National Park and clarified several boundaries on the in the Alpine National Park for the purpose of accessing its plans of Cape Howe and Corner Inlet marine national parks. land There was also a consequential amendment to the • section 40 – to Essential Petroleum Resources Limited, to compensation provision in the Fisheries Act 1995 relating to further explore for petroleum in parts of Lower Glenelg marine national parks. National Park under a petroleum exploration permit granted Other Acts under the Petroleum Act 1998 (as at 30 June 2004 the Two other Acts passed during the year will amend the National consent was before Parliament). Parks Act: An application under section 40A of the Act to carry out seismic • the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003 will come into exploration in Twelve Apostles Marine National Park was refused operation on 1 July 2005. It will amend section 32 of the because the Minister was not satisfied that there would be no National Parks Act in relation to the Secretary’s responsibilities detrimental impact on the marine biota of the park. for the Loch Ard and Cape Otway public cemeteries • the Road Management Act 2004 provided for amendments to several sections of the Act on 1 July 2004 as part of law reform relating to road management in Victoria. These include an amendment to section 27 (relating to consents to public authorities) so that this section prevails over the Road Management Act to the extent of any inconsistency.
17 Table 3 – Consents to public authorities Park Public authority Consent purpose Alpine NP DSE Minor road works as part of salvage logging operations (outside the park) following the 2003 fires Sport and Recreation Victoria Installation of water storage tank at Howmans Gap Dandenong Ranges NP Optus Networks Pty Ltd Installation of underground cables Grampians NP Horsham Rural City Council Construction of a new earth drain at Dadswell Bridge Greater Bendigo NP City of Greater Bendigo Flood mitigation at One Tree Hill Heathcote-Graytown NP Optus Mobile Pty Ltd Co-location of communications facility on tower at Mt Ida Mornington Peninsula NP Commonwealth of Australia Operation of weather station at South Channel Fort (Bureau of Meteorology) South East Water Variation to earlier consent for a water storage Port Campbell NP South West Water Authority Upgrading of waste water pump station and installation and operation of new sewage and drainage lines Wilsons Promontory NP Optus Mobile Pty Ltd Co-location of a communications facility on tower at Mount Oberon Angahook-Lorne SP Barwon Region Water Authority Replacement of the Lorne water transfer main Telstra Corporation Ltd Upgrading of existing communications facility Cape Liptrap CP South Gippsland Water Upgrading of Venus Bay wastewater outfall pipeline Corner Inlet MCP South Gippsland Water Upgrading of Toora wastewater outfall pipeline and Foster wastewater outfall pipeline CP Coastal Park MCP Marine and Coastal Park NP National Park SP State Park
Leases and permits The Administrator chose not to operate the Mount Buffalo ski The lease granted under section 19(2)(b) for the operation of fields for the 2004 season. Instead, Parks Victoria contracted facilities and services at Princess Margaret Rose Caves was Australian Alpine Enterprises (the operators of the Mount assigned during the year. Hotham ski field) to manage and operate the Cresta Valley and Dingo Dell areas during the snow season. During the year the lessee (under section 31AA of the Act) of the ski fields and accommodation at Mount Buffalo Table 4 lists particular permits granted under section 21 of the Act. National Park was placed under Official Administration.
Table 4 – Permits Park Section Permittee Purpose of Act Several (statewide) 21(1)(c)(ii), Hang Gliding Federation of Australia Use of hang gliding sites 21(3) and Victorian Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Mornington Peninsula NP 21(3) Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club Management of kiosk at the Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club Port Campbell NP 21(1)(c)(ii) Tolloch Ard Pty Ltd Management of Port Campbell Caravan Park Yarra Ranges NP 21(1)(c)(i) Megalink Australia Pty Ltd Trial of wireless broadband telecommunication broadcast Glenample Homestead 21(1)(c)(ii) D and J Curran Operation of homestead NP National Park
18 Enforcement monitoring, pest plant and animal control, waste management, There were 48 individuals successfully prosecuted during the and communication and interpretation. year for committing 51 offences under the Act. The main Highlights of the program during the year included: offences related to fishing (taking or attempting to take fish not • the completion of the Strategic Plan 2004–2007 for the for sale) in a marine national park or marine sanctuary (32) and Australian Alps National Parks Cooperative Management the carriage or use of a gun or other weapon in a park (8). Program Regulations to enable Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) to • the annual field workshop, held at Walwa in July 2003 and be issued for infringements against the National Parks (Park) attended by more than 50 agency staff. Key themes were Regulations 2003 were not finalised. Accordingly, no PINs were post-fire management, Aboriginal heritage management and issued during the year. the review of the strategic plan A total of 124 warning advisory notices were issued. Of the • the development of revised management plans for Baw Baw, total number, 82 were for fishing offences (all but one being Kosciuszko (NSW) and Namadgi (ACT) national parks. The recreational) in marine national parks and marine sanctuaries. plans, when completed, will reflect the diversity of These included 24 in Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park management approaches but will aim to complement each and 16 in French Island Marine National Park. There were other in a broader biogeographical context 19 warnings issued for offences in the Alpine National Park, • a combined scientific review by an expert panel to examine mostly relating to dogs. the responses of participating agencies to managing the There was again considerable enforcement effort in impacts of the 2003 fires. The review report is anticipated to connection with the marine national parks and marine be completed in 2004. sanctuaries. DPI fisheries officers continued to play the Advisory bodies major role in enforcement activities. National Parks Advisory Council Interstate cooperation The main functions of the National Parks Advisory Council are The Australian Alps Cooperative Management Program to advise the Minister generally in relation to the administration The ‘Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the of the Act and on particular matters on which its advice is cooperative management of the Australian Alps national parks’, required under the Act or is sought by the Minister. The signed by the conservation ministers of Victoria, New South Council’s annual report for 2003–04 provides additional Wales, Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth, information on the Council and its operations during the year. aims to promote cross-border cooperation in the protection The Council comprises the Secretary (or his nominee), the and enjoyment of all of the Australian Alps national parks. Director of National Parks (who is the Chief Executive Officer In Victoria, these are: Alpine, Baw Baw, Mount Buffalo and of Parks Victoria) and eight non-government members. Snowy River national parks and Avon Wilderness Park. Its membership during the year was as follows: The cooperative management program, run through the Convenor: Mr Arnis Heislers Australian Alps Liaison Committee (AALC), is recognised as an Members: Mr Tim Allen international example of cross-border management and Mrs Debra Bray cooperation. The AALC seeks to provide land managers with Mr John Burley (Secretary’s nominee) appropriate technical tools and sound scientific advice in Mr Tom Guthrie management reports and strategies to assist in achieving the Mr Ian Harris objectives of the MOU in delivering best practice land Dr Ruth Lawrence (from 16 December 2003) management across the region. Ms Jan Palmer Parks Victoria, along with conservation agencies from the other Mrs Deirdre Slattery jurisdictions, continued to fund grants to the AALC for works Mr Mark Stone (Director of National Parks) across the Alps. Parks Victoria staff played an active role in Dr Barbara Wilson (until 16 December 2003) managing projects within the Recreation and Tourism, Community Relations, Natural Heritage and Cultural Heritage working groups.
The 2003 fires, which burnt across the Australian Alps in three states, provided opportunities for cooperation. Since the fires, agency staff have worked on joint responses to a number of issues, benefiting from past work within the program on fire monitoring reference plots, rehabilitation techniques and
19 Alpine Advisory Committee Other park advisory committees The Alpine Advisory Committee advises the Minister on various Section 14 of the Act enables the Minister to establish advisory matters relating to the Alpine National Park. During the year it committees to make recommendations to the Secretary relating recommended the transfer of three grazing licences and advised to the care and control of a park or parks. on the replacement of the following five huts destroyed in the In March 2004 the Minister for Environment established the 2003 Victorian Alpine Fires: Burnside, Charlie Creek, Point Nepean Advisory Committee to make recommendations MacFarlane, Ropers and West Kiewa Logging huts. to the Secretary on the care and control of Mornington The membership of the Committee as at 30 June 2004 was as Peninsula National Park. The membership of the committee as follows: at 30 June 2004 was as follows, with two additional Convenor: Mr Geoff Provis appointments to be made: Members: Mr Robert Arnold Chair: Dr Mick Lumb Mr Don Cummins Members: Dr Michael Kennedy Mr Geoff Dinning Ms Judith Muir Dr Claire Garrett Ms Kate Baillieu Mr Jack Hicks Mr Harry Breidahl Mr Phil Ingamells Ms Dianne Weidner Dr Ruth Lawrence Mr Chris Smyth Dr Mick Lumb Dr Ursula de Jong Mr Allan Marsland Parks Victoria has also established several separate advisory Mr Tim Matheson groups to assist it in its management of particular parks. Mr Ken O’Connor Ms Jan Palmer Mrs Sue Reynolds Mrs Deirdre Slattery Mr Doug Stevenson
20 Appendix 1 Land managed under the National Parks Act
A. National parks (Schedule Two) B. Wilderness parks (Schedule Two A) Area (ha) as at Area (ha) as at National park 30 June 2004 Wilderness park 30 June 2004 1. Alfred 3 050 1. Avon 39 650 2. Alpine 660 550 2. Big Desert 142 300 3. Baw Baw 13 530 3. Wabba 20 100 4. Brisbane Ranges 7 718 Total – Wilderness parks 202 050 5. Burrowa-Pine Mountain 18 400 6. Chiltern-Mt Pilot 21 565
7. Churchill 271 C. State parks (Schedule Two B) 8. Coopracambra 38 800 Area (ha) as at 9. Croajingolong *87 500 State park 30 June 2004 10. Dandenong Ranges 3 215 1. Angahook-Lorne 21 359 11. Errinundra 26 875 2. Arthurs Seat 572 12. French Island *11 100 3. Barmah 7 900 13. Grampians 167 219 4. Black Range 11 700 14. Greater Bendigo# 16 984 5. Broken-Boosey 1 030 15. Hattah-Kulkyne 48 000 6. Bunyip 16 560 16. Heathcote-Graytown 12 700 7. Cape Nelson 210 17. Kinglake 21 600 8. Carlisle 5 600 18. Lake Eildon 27 750 9. Cathedral Range 3 616 19. Lind 1 370 10. Dergholm 10 400 20. Little Desert 132 647 11. Enfield 4 400 21. Lower Glenelg 27 300 12. Holey Plains 10 641 22. Mitchell River 14 250 13. Kooyoora 11 350 23. Mornington Peninsula *2 686 14. Langi Ghiran 2 695 24. Morwell 396 15. Leaghur 1 580 25. Mount Buffalo 31 000 16. Lerderderg 14 250 26. Mount Eccles 5 470 17. Melba Gully 65 27. Mount Richmond 1 733 18. Moondarra 6 292 28. Murray-Sunset 633 000 19. Mount Arapiles-Tooan 5 061 29. Organ Pipes 134 20. Mount Buangor 2 400 30. Otway *12 900 21. Mount Granya 6 140 31. Port Campbell *1 750 22. Mount Lawson 13 150 32. Snowy River 98 700 23. Mount Napier 2 800 33. St Arnaud Range 13 900 24. Mount Samaria 7 600 34. Tarra-Bulga 1 522 25. Mount Worth 1 040 35. Terrick Terrick 3 880 26. Paddys Ranges 2 010 36. The Lakes 2 390 27. Reef Hills 2 020 37. Wilsons Promontory *49 049 28. Warby Range 11 460 38. Wyperfeld 357 017 29. Warrandyte 676 39. Yarra Ranges 76 003 30. Werribee Gorge 575 Total – National parks 2 653 924 Total – State parks 185 152 * Area includes the area of the national park located beneath a marine national park. # Parts of Greater Bendigo NP extend to only 100 metres below the land surface.
21 Appendix 1 continued
Land managed under the National Parks Act
D. Other parks (Schedule Three) E. Other parks and reserves (Schedule Four) Area (ha) as at Area (ha) as at Other park 30 June 2004 Other park or reserve 30 June 2004 1. Bay of Islands CP 950 1. Bunurong MP *1 660 2. Beechworth HP 1 080 2. Castlemaine-Diggings NHP# 7 500 3. Cape Conran CP 11 700 3. Corner Inlet MCP *18 000 4. Cape Liptrap CP 4 175 4. Deep Lead NCR (No. 1)# 1 120 5. Discovery Bay CP *10 460 5. Nooramunga MCP 15 000 6. Gippsland Lakes CP 17 600 6. Shallow Inlet MCP 2 000 7. Haining Farm 66 7. Wilsons Promontory MP ) 8. Lake Albacutya Park 8 300 8. Wilsons Promontory MR ) *10 000 9. Langwarrin FFR 214 Total – Other parks and reserves 55 280 10. Lysterfield Lake Park 1 397 MCP Marine and Coastal Park 11. Murray-Kulkyne Park 3 530 MP Marine Park MR Marine Reserve 12. Steiglitz HP 469 NCR Nature Conservation Reserve NHP National Heritage Park 13. Tyers Park 1 810 * Area includes the area of the park or reserve located beneath a marine national park. 14. Woodlands HP 704 # Castlemaine Diggings NHP and Deep Lead NCR (No. 1) extend to 100 metres below the land surface. Total – Other parks 62 455 CP Coastal Park FFR Flora and Fauna Reserve HP Historic Park * Area includes the area of the park located beneath a marine national park.
F. Wilderness zones (Schedule Five) Wilderness zones are located within several national parks, as set out below. The areas of the wilderness zones are included in the areas of the relevant parks in Part A of this appendix. Area (ha) as at National park Wilderness zone 30 June 2004 1. Murray-Sunset Sunset 126 900 2. Murray-Sunset Minook 38 700 3. Murray-Sunset Galpunga 35 700 4. Murray-Sunset Mount Cowra 23 500 5. Wyperfeld North Wyperfeld 97 900 6. Wyperfeld South Wyperfeld 61 300 7. Wyperfeld Chinaman Flat 29 800 8. Alpine Mount Darling-Snowy Bluff 40 400 9. Alpine Razor-Viking 15 700 10. Alpine Indi 13 800 11. Alpine Cobberas 10 000 12. Alpine Buchan Headwaters 30 000 13. Alpine Tingaringy 7 900 14. Snowy River Snowy River 27 000 15. Snowy River Bowen 17 500 16. Coopracambra Genoa 19 400 17. Croajingolong Sandpatch 15 600 18. Croajingolong Cape Howe 7 100 19. Wilsons Promontory Wilsons Promontory 21 800 Total – Wilderness zones 640 000
22 G. Remote and natural areas (Schedule Six) Remote and natural areas are located within several national parks, as set out below. The areas of the remote and natural areas are included in the areas of the relevant parks in Part A of this appendix. Area (ha) as at National park Remote and natural area 30 June 2004 1. Murray-Sunset South Sunset 24 000 2. Wyperfeld Hopping Mouse Hill 32 100 3. Little Desert Little Desert 16 400 4. Grampians Victoria Range 14 000 5. Grampians Serra Range 11 200 6. Grampians Major Mitchell Plateau 6 900 7. Baw Baw Baw Baw Plateau 6 500 8. Alpine The Governors 8 100 9. Alpine Macalister 33 300 10. Alpine Dandongadale 3 700 11. Alpine Bundara-Cobungra 13 700 12. Alpine Bogong 16 300 13. Alpine Davies Plain 10 500 14. Alpine Suggan Buggan 17 800 15. Alpine Upper Snowy 11 800 16. Mount Buffalo North Buffalo 6 500 17. Burrowa-Pine Mount Burrowa Mountain *6 200 18. Errinundra Brodribb 7 700 19. Coopracambra Mount Kaye 8 100 20. Croajingolong Rame Head 9 800 21. Wilsons Promontory Wilsons Promontory Islands (12) 469 22. Wilsons Promontory Southern Wilsons Promontory 14 400 Total – Remote and natural areas 279 469 * Stated incorrectly in the Act as 6500 ha.
H. Marine national parks (Schedule Seven) I. Marine sanctuaries (Schedule Eight) Area (ha) as at Area (ha) as at Marine national park* 30 June 2004 Marine sanctuary 30 June 2004 1. Bunurong 2 100 1. Barwon Bluff 17 2. Cape Howe 4 050 2. Beware Reef 220 3. Churchill Island 670 3. Eagle Rock 17 4. Corner Inlet 1 550 4. Jawbone 30 5. Discovery Bay 2 770 5. Marengo Reefs 12 6. French Island 2 800 6. Merri 25 7. Ninety Mile Beach 2 750 7. Mushroom Reef 80 8. Point Addis# 4 600 8. Point Cooke 290 9. Point Hicks 4 000 9. Point Danger 25 10. Port Phillip Heads 3 580 10. Ricketts Point 115 11. Twelve Apostles# 7 500 11. The Arches 45 12. Wilsons Promontory 15 550 Total – Marine sanctuaries 876 13. Yaringa 980 Total – Marine national parks 52 900 * Marine national parks extend to 200 metres below the land surface and some partly overlay parts of other parks under the Act. # Minor excision on 3 December 2003.
23 Appendix 1 continued
Land managed under the National Parks Act
J. Other areas (non-scheduled) Section Area (ha) as at Area of Act 30 June 2004 1. Bald Hills BR 19B 1 2. Collins Settlement Historic Site 19B 1 3. Flinders NCR 19B 1 4. Flinders Natural Interest Reserve 19B 4 5. Johanna BR 19B 64 6. Long Forest NCR 19B 283 7. Lower Glenelg PPR and SLR 19B 24 8. Main Ridge NCR 19B 64 9. Moreep BR 19B 10 10. Nyerimilang Park 19B 200 11. Recreation Reserve, Otway 19B 1 12. Wychitella NCR 19B 3 780 13. Mount St Gwinear access road 19C 35 14. Commonwealth land adjacent to Woodlands Historic Park 19D 31 15. Loch Ard and Cape Otway public cemeteries 32 1 16. Glenample Homestead 32AA 8 Total – Other areas 4 508 BR Bushland Reserve NCR Nature Conservation Reserve PPR Public Purposes Reserve SLR Scenic Lookout Reserve Only specific sections of the Act apply to these other areas.
Summary – land managed under the National Parks Act Area (ha) as at Category No. 30 June 2004 National parks (Schedule Two) 39 2 653 924 Wilderness parks (Schedule Two A) 3 202 050 State parks (Schedule Two B) 30 185 152 Other parks (Schedule Three) 14 62 455 Other parks and reserves (Schedule Four) 8 55 280 Marine national parks (Schedule Seven) 13 52 900 Marine sanctuaries (Schedule Eight) 11 876 Other areas (non-scheduled) 16 4 508 Total 134 3 217 145
Unproclaimed areas Legislation provides for the following future additions to the parks system. Act/park Section of Act Area (ha) National Parks (Amendment) Act 1989 1. Moondarra State Park 29(3) 178 National Parks (Yarra Ranges and Other Amendments) Act 1995 2. Melba Gully State Park 31(b) *8 National Parks (Box-Ironbark and Other Parks) Act 2002 3. Greater Bendigo National Park 50K *16 Total – unproclaimed areas 202 * Area will become part of the park on transfer of title to the Crown.
24 Appendix 2 Pest plant control projects
Pest plant control projects Park Target species Alpine NP Blackberry, Cape Broom, English Broom, Grey Sallow, Himalayan Honeysuckle, Montbretia, Orange Hawkweed, Ox-eye Daisy, Paterson’s Curse, Shasta Daisy, Spear Thistle, St John's Wort, Sweet Briar, Willow-herb Angahook-Lorne SP Boneseed, Coast Wattle, Monterey Pine Barmah SP Paterson’s Curse Baw Baw NP Blackberry, Gorse Bay of Islands CP Boneseed Beechworth HP Blackberry, Paterson’s Curse, Watsonia Brisbane Ranges NP Gorse, Serrated Tussock Broken-Boosey SP Paterson’s Curse, Prairie Ground Cherry Bunyip SP Blackberry, Ragwort, Spanish Heath Burrowa-Pine Mountain NP Blackberry Cape Liptrap CP African Boxthorn Carlisle SP Ragwort, Spanish Heath Castlemaine Diggings NHP Gorse Cathedral Range SP Blackberry, Tutsan Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP Blackberry, Olive, Paterson’s Curse, St John’s Wort, Watsonia Churchill NP Blackberry, Boneseed, Gorse, Sweet Pittosporum Corner Inlet MCP Cord-grass Croajingolong NP Bridal Creeper, Common Dipogon, One-leaf Cape Tulip, Rat-tail Grass Dandenong Ranges NP Blackberry, Cape Broom, Sweet Pittosporum Dergholm SP Paterson’s Curse Discovery Bay CP African Boxthorn, Boneseed, Cape Tulip, Flax-leaf Broom, Paterson’s Curse, Sea Spurge, Tufted Honey-flower French Island NP African Boxthorn, Annual Veldt-grass, Blackberry, Cape Tulip, Cluster Pine, Sallow Wattle, Sweet Pittosporum, Two-leaf Cape Tulip Grampians NP Early Black Wattle, Scotch Thistle, Tree of Heaven, White Arum-lily Hattah-Kulkyne NP Bridal Creeper, Caltrop, Paterson’s Curse Kinglake NP Spear Thistle, Tutsan, Wood Forget-me-not Kooyoora SP Horehound Lake Albacutya Park Bridal Creeper, Caltrop, Horehound, Prickly Pear Lake Eildon NP Paterson's Curse Leaghur SP Paterson’s Curse Lerderderg SP Gorse Little Desert NP Bridal Creeper, St Barnaby's Thistle Lower Glenelg NP Agapanthus, Angled Onion, Banana Passion-fruit, Blackberry, Blue Periwinkle, Boneseed, English Broom, Italian Buckthorn, Monterey Pine, Ox-eye Daisy, Paterson’s Curse, Vipers Bugloss Lysterfield Park Artichoke Thistle, Blackberry, Boneseed, Bridal Creeper, Paterson’s Curse, Sweet Pittosporum Melba Gully SP Ragwort Mornington Peninsula NP Pampas Grass, Polygala, Ragwort, Sea Spurge, Spear Thistle Morwell NP Blackberry, Ragwort Mount Arapiles-Tooan SP Bridal Creeper, Horehound Mount Buangor SP Early Black Wattle, Gorse Mount Buffalo NP Blackberry, Himalayan Honeysuckle Mount Granya SP Blackberry Mount Lawson SP Blackberry Mount Worth SP Blackberry, Ragwort Murray-Kulkyne Park Paterson’s Curse Mushroom Reef MS Sea Spurge Organ Pipes NP Artichoke Thistle, Serrated Tussock
25 Appendix 2 continued
Pest plant control projects
Otway NP African Boxthorn, Apple of Sodom, Banana Passion-fruit, Blackberry, Giant Honey-myrtle, Ivy, Marijuana, Ragwort, Scotch Thistle, St John's Wort, Wandering Jew, White Arum-lily Point Cooke MS African Boxthorn Port Campbell NP Cotoneaster, Ragwort Port Phillip Heads MNP African Boxthorn, Polygala, Sea Spurge Reef Hills SP Paterson's Curse Snowy River NP Willow St Arnaud Range NP St John’s Wort Steiglitz HP Gorse Tarra-Bulga NP Blackberry Terrick Terrick NP Paterson’s Curse Wabba WP Blackberry Warby Range SP Paterson’s Curse, St John’s Wort Warrandyte SP Blackberry, Large Quaking-grass, Serrated Tussock Werribee Gorge SP Paterson’s Curse, Serrated Tussock Wilsons Promontory NP Asparagus Fern Woodlands HP Chilean Needle-grass, Paterson’s Curse Wyperfeld NP Amsinckia, Bridal Creeper, Caltrop, Horehound, Paddy Melon, Paterson’s Curse, Prickly Pear, Silver-leaf Nightshade Yarra Ranges NP Blackberry, Ragwort, Tutsan, Variegated Thistle
Appendix 3 Pest animal control projects
Pest animal control projects Park Target species Park Target species Alpine NP Dog, pig, rabbit Little Desert NP Rabbit Barmah SP Fox, pig Lysterfield Park Rabbit Bay of Islands CP Fox Mitchell River NP Dog, fox Brisbane Ranges NP Goat Mornington Peninsula NP Fox, pig Bunyip SP Fox Mount Buangor SP Fox Cape Liptrap CP Fox Mount Richmond NP Fox Cape Nelson SP Fox Murray-Kulkyne Park Rabbit Carlisle SP Fox Murray-Sunset NP Goat, rabbit Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP Fox Otway NP Fox Churchill NP Rabbit Port Phillip Heads MNP Fox Dandenong Ranges NP Fox Snowy River NP Dog Discovery Bay CP Fox Terrick Terrick NP Fox, rabbit Gippsland Lakes CP Fox Warby Range SP Fox, rabbit Grampians NP Goat, rabbit Warrandyte SP Rabbit Hattah-Kulkyne NP Rabbit Werribee Gorge SP Rabbit Lake Albacutya Park Fox, rabbit Wilsons Promontory NP Rabbit Lake Eildon NP Fox Woodlands HP Cat, fox Langi Ghiran SP Fox Wyperfeld NP Fox, rabbit Leaghur SP Fox Yarra Ranges NP Fox
CP Coastal Park NHP National Heritage Park HP Historic Park NP National Park MCP Marine and Coastal Park SP State Park MNP Marine National Park WP Wilderness Park MS Marine Sanctuary 26 Appendix 4 Location of parks and other areas
National and other parks/areas
1. Murray-Sunset NP 46. Otway NP 90. Wilsons Promontory NP 2. Hattah-Kulkyne NP 47. Angahook-Lorne SP 91. Wilsons Promontory MP 3. Murray-Kulkyne Park 48. Collins Settlement HS 92. Wilsons Promontory MR 4. Big Desert WP 49. Mornington Peninsula NP 93. Corner Inlet MCP 5. Wyperfeld NP 50. Arthurs Seat SP 94. Nooramunga MCP 6. Lake Albacutya Park 51. Main Ridge NCR 95. Tarra-Bulga NP 7. Little Desert NP 52. Bald Hills BR 96. Morwell NP 8. Mount Arapiles-Tooan SP 53. Flinders NCR 97. Holey Plains SP 9. Dergholm SP 54. Flinders NIR 98. Gippsland Lakes CP 10. Black Range SP 55. French Island NP 99. The Lakes NP 11. Grampians NP 56. Langwarrin FFR 100. Mitchell River NP 12. Deep Lead NCR (No. 1) 57. Churchill NP 101. Nyerimilang Park 13. Lower Glenelg NP 58. Lysterfield Lake Park 102. Snowy River NP 14. Discovery Bay CP 59. Bunyip SP 103. Errinundra NP 15. Lower Glenelg PPR & SLR 60. Dandenong Ranges NP 104. Coopracambra NP 16. Mount Richmond NP 61. Warrandyte SP 105. Lind NP 17. Cape Nelson SP 62. Organ Pipes NP 106. Alfred NP 18. Mount Eccles NP 63. Woodlands HP and adjacent 107. Cape Conran CP 19. Mount Napier SP Commonwealth land 108. Croajingolong NP 20. Langi Ghiran SP 64. Kinglake NP 65. Haining Farm Marine national parks and 21. Mount Buangor SP marine sanctuaries 22. Paddys Ranges SP 66. Yarra Ranges NP 23. St Arnaud Range NP 67. Cathedral Range SP A Discovery Bay MNP 24. Kooyoora SP 68. Lake Eildon NP B Merri MS 25. Wychitella NCR 69. Mount Samaria SP C The Arches MS 26. Leaghur SP 70. Reef Hills SP D Twelve Apostles MNP 27. Terrick Terrick NP 71. Broken-Boosey SP E Marengo Reefs MS 28. Greater Bendigo NP 72. Barmah SP F Eagle Rock MS 29. Heathcote-Graytown NP 73. Warby Range SP G Point Addis MNP 30. Castlemaine Diggings NHP 74. Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP H Point Danger MS 31. Lerderderg SP 75. Beechworth HP I Barwon Bluff MS 32. Long Forest NCR 76. Mount Granya SP J Port Phillip Heads MNP 33. Werribee Gorge SP 77. Mount Lawson SP K Point Cooke MS 34. Enfield SP 78. Burrowa-Pine Mountain NP L Jawbone MS 35. Moreep BR 79. Wabba WP M Ricketts Point MS 36. Brisbane Ranges NP 80. Mount Buffalo NP N Mushroom Reef MS 37. Steiglitz HP 81. Alpine NP O Yaringa MNP 38. Carlisle SP 82. Avon WP P French Island MNP 39. Bay of Islands CP 83. Baw Baw NP and Q Churchill Island MNP Mount St Gwinear access road 40. Port Campbell NP R Bunurong MNP 84. Moondarra SP 41. Loch Ard and Cape Otway S Wilsons Promontory MNP public cemeteries 85. Tyers Park T Corner Inlet MNP 42. Glenample Homestead 86. Mount Worth SP U Ninety Mile Beach MNP 43. Johanna BR 87. Bunurong MP V Beware Reef MS 44. Melba Gully SP 88. Cape Liptrap CP W Point Hicks MNP 45. Recreation Reserve, Otway 89. Shallow Inlet MCP X Cape Howe MNP
BR Bushland Reserve MNP Marine National Park NHP National Heritage Park CP Coastal Park MP Marine Park NP National Park FFR Flora and Fauna Reserve MR Marine Reserve PPR Public Purposes Reserve HP Historic Park MS Marine Sanctuary SLR Scenic Lookout Reserve HS Historic Site NIR Natural Interest Reserve SP State Park MCP Marine and Coastal Park NCR Nature Conservation Reserve WP Wilderness Park
27 28 29 www.dse.vic.gov.au