National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 © the State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2018

Home , Alpine National Park, Barmah National Park, Budj Bim National Park, Cape Conran Coastal Park, Dandenong Ranges, Leaghur State Park

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2018

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding, including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Printed by Mercedes Waratah Digital – Port Melbourne ISSN 1839-437X ISSN 1839-4388 (online) Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the ËÝ´§Ø§Á»§Òç§Ø¥ÁÝØČçÁ »í²§»ÁÎ§Òç¥Á´´íËËÎÁËÎ§Ø ÁÎíÁÝÎËÎØ§Ý´ÎËÝÎËÁÒÒ»Ø¥Î ÁÎ§Ò´§ºÒ´´ liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Further information For further information, please contact the DELWP Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 131 963. Notes • During the year the responsible Minister was the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. • In this report: – the Act means the National Parks Act 1975 – DELWP means the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning – the Minister means the Minister responsible for administering the Act – PV means Parks Victoria – the Regulations means the National Parks Regulations 2013 – the Secretary means the Secretary to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Cover image Anglesea Heath, Great Otway National Park (image: Saul Vermeeren) Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone DELWP Customer Service Centre 136 186, email [email protected], or via the National Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au. This document is also available on the internet at www.delwp.vic.gov.au Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Foreword

This annual report on the working of the National (»§Ø§Á»ØÁØ¥§ÒÒ§¡»§ċ»Ø´¡§Ò´Ø§Á»ŇÒÁºÁ Ø¥ Parks Act 1975 for the year ended 30 June 2018 is highlights for the parks system during the year provided to the Minister for Energy, Environment and include: Climate Change, the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, under section 35 of the Act. • adding some 6360 hectares to existing parks, notably most of the Anglesea Heath (6332 ha) The Act establishes the statutory basis for the to the Great Otway National Park protection, use and management of an outstanding system of more than 100 national and other parks • º»§»¡Ø¥ØØÁÎČØØ¥¥»¡Á »º covering approximately 3.46 million hectares. of Mount Eccles National Park to Budj Bim National Park The parks conserve some of Victoria’s most special places and provide a wide range of opportunities for • ċ»´§Ò§»¡Ø¥º»¡º»ØË´» ÁÎ´´ÁÎËÎØÒ visitors to experience and enjoy the state’s diverse of 10 river red gum national and other parks in natural environments. These visits, which, based on northern Victoria the latest visitor statistics in 2016-17, totalled some • Î´Ò§»¡Ø¥ċÎÒØÒØÎØ¡§Ë´»ØÁ¡Ý§Ø¥ 42.3 million visits to national and state parks, make æÎíÒ§¡»§ċ»ØÁ»ØÎ§ÝØ§Á»ØÁd§ØÁÎ§ŶÒæ§Ò§ØÁÎ management of feral horses in the Alpine National Park economy. • Ø¥Ò§¡»§ċ»Ø§»æÒØº»Ø§»ËÎÁ¡ÎºÒ§ºØ Until 12 September 2018 the Secretary has the controlling weeds and pest animals, including statutory responsibility for ensuring that the parks marine pests, such as the $1.5 million investment and other areas to which the Act applies are to protect alpine habitats controlled and managed in accordance with the Act. Parks Victoria is responsible for managing those • Ò§¡»§ċ»Ø»æ§ÎÁ»º»Ø´çØÎ§»¡§»ÒæÎ´ËÎ²ÒŇ areas on the Secretary’s behalf and works in including the delivery of more than 214 gigalitres partnership with DELWP. into the Snowy River and more than 110 gigalitres to Hattah Lakes W¥ÒÎÎ»¡º»ØÒ¥»¡Ò§¡»§ċ»Ø´íÁ» 12 September 2018 when the Parks Victoria Act 2018 • Á»¡Á§»¡çÁÎ²ØÁÎÁæÎ ÎÁºËÎæ§ÁÝÒÝÒ¥ċÎÒ commences, heralding a new era of governance and other emergencies arrangements for the management of Victoria’s parks. Parks Victoria will be re-established as a • the considerable maintenance work undertaken strengthened and more independent park on the Mount Buffalo Chalet. management agency with clearer lines of accountability to the Minister. These changes mean I would also like to highlight the work undertaken that Parks Victoria will become directly responsible in conjunction with Traditional Owner Land for the control and management of the national and Management Boards in the development of joint other parks under the National Parks Act. management plans for 10 parks under the Act in Gippsland and north central Victoria. There is an increasing focus on joint management, with negotiations underway with Traditional Owner groups in other parts of the state over the possibility of further joint management arrangements.

Working with the community and partner organisations is an increasing feature of park management. I acknowledge the extensive and committed contributions that volunteers and partner organisations – along with Parks Victoria and DELWP staff – made to the protection and management of our parks during the year.

John Bradley Secretary to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 1 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Contents

Foreword 1

Contents 2

A representative parks system 3 Areas managed under the Act 3 Changes to areas managed under the Act 3 Management and other planning 4

Managing natural and cultural values 5 Managing natural values 5 Monitoring natural values 8 Researching natural values 9 Managing cultural values 10

:»¡§»¡ċÎ»ºÎ¡»§Ò 11 :»¡§»¡ċÎ 11 :»¡§»¡ÎÁæÎí ÎÁºÝÒ¥ċÎÒ»ÁØ¥ÎºÎ¡»§Ò 12

Encouraging visitors, tourism and community involvement 13 Enhancing visitor enjoyment and tourism 13 Supporting visitors with disabilities 13 Visits to parks 13 Licensed tour operators 14 Informing, interpreting and educating 14 Volunteers 14

Partnering with Traditional Owners 15 Joint management 15 Co-operative management 15 Other Traditional Owner partnerships 15

Supporting park management 16 Management arrangements 16 Legislation 16 Authorities under the Act 17 Enforcement 17 Interstate cooperation 19 Advisory bodies 19

Appendix 1 – Areas managed under the National Parks Act 20

Appendix 2 – Location of parks and other areas 30

2 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

A representative parks system

Areas managed under the Act W¥Ø´ÒÁċ»ÒØ¥ Á´´Áç§»¡ÎÒç§Ø¥§» particular national parks: As at 30 June 2018 there were 139 areas with a total area of approximately 3.46 million hectares • 19 wilderness zones (Schedule Five) in 7 national managed under various provisions of the Act. parks (see Appendix 1) Appendix 1 lists the areas and Appendix 2 shows • 22 remote and natural areas (Schedule Six) in their location. 12 national parks (see Appendix 1) The 139 areas comprised: • 4 designated water supply catchment areas in the • 124 areas listed on various schedules to the Act Great Otway, Kinglake and Yarra Ranges national parks. – 45 national parks (Schedule Two) – 3 wilderness parks (Schedule Two A) Changes to areas managed under the – 26 state parks (Schedule Two B) Act – 5 coastal parks, 3 historic parks, 1 nature On 15 December 2017 an area totalling 6361 hectares conservation reserve, 8 regional parks and was added to the parks system and an area totalling Haining Farm (Schedule Three) 0.34 hectares was excised (see Table 1). Of particular note was the addition of most of the Anglesea Heath – 3 marine and coastal parks, 2 marine parks, to the Great Otway National Park. 1 marine reserve, 1 national heritage park and 1 nature conservation reserve (Schedule Four) There were also corrections to the plans of Lower – 13 marine national parks (Schedule Seven) Goulburn National Park and Warrandyte State Park. – 11 marine sanctuaries (Schedule Eight) The name of Mount Eccles National Park was changed in the Act to Budj Bim National Park in • 15 non-scheduled areas to which particular ÎÁ¡»§Ø§Á»Á Ø¥ÁÝØÒØ»§»¡Ý´ØÝÎ´Ò§¡»§ċ» provisions of the Act apply. of the Budj Bim area.

Table 1 – Changes to parks

Addition Excision Park Description (ha) (ha) Addition of area of formerly purchased land (Jingalong) Croajingolong NP 27 – east of Mallacoota Inlet. Addition of mostly vegetated government road and Greater Bendigo NP 0.36 0.14 excision of cleared powerline easement in the vicinity of Edwards Road. Most of the Anglesea Heath, with its exceptional Great Otway NP 6332 – §Á§æÎÒ§Øíæ´ÝÒŇ§»´Ý§»¡æÎí§æÎÒČÁÎ» several rare and threatened species. Adjustment of park boundary in vicinity of Warrandyte Warrandyte SP 0.03 0.02 Bridge. Addition of the Monster Meeting site near Chewton, Castlemaine Diggings Ø¥Ò§ØÁ ç¥Ø§ÒÁ»Ò§ÎØÁØ¥ċÎÒØºÒÒ 1.66 – NHP protest against a government in Australia in 1851 and a precursor to the Eureka Rebellion.

NHP National Heritage Park NP National Park SP State Park

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 3 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Management and other planning • Point Nepean National Park Master Plan – the plan çÒċ»´§Ò»Î´Ò ÁÎ§ºË´º»ØØ§Á» As at 30 June 2018 there were approved management plans for all or parts of 43 national This master plan provides a framework for parks, 3 wilderness parks, 25 state parks, 18 other investment in the adaptive reuse of heritage parks and reserves, 13 marine national parks and buildings within the Quarantine Station to support 11 marine sanctuaries. outstanding visitor experiences as well as a stronger emphasis on the park’s broader visitor The Partnering with Traditional Owners section of economy context, highlights the park’s natural and the report includes further information on cultural values and their relevance beyond the park, management planning for jointly managed parks. and includes a more robust implementation framework. During the year: • Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan – the • River Red Gum Parks Management Plan – the plan strategic plan for this multi-day walk through the çÒċ»´§Ò ÁÎ:§»§ÒØÎ§´ËËÎÁæ´»Î´Ò ÒËØÝ´Î´Ë§»;Ø§Á»´KÎ²çÒċ»´§Ò» in 2018–19. Finalising the plan involved extensive released community consultation and consideration of more than 170 written and online submissions • Shipwreck Coast Master Plan – precinct planning received on the Draft Plan to support the delivery of stage 1 of the plan was completed. The plan covers more than 215 000 hectares of parks and reserves along the Murray, Goulburn Amendments were made to the existing and Ovens Rivers between Wodonga and the management plans for the following parks: South Australian border. These include Gunbower, Hattah-Kulkyne, Lower Goulburn and Warby– • Dandenong Ranges National Park – to allow for Ovens national parks, part of Murray–Sunset cycling and mountain biking in nominated areas National Park, Leaghur State Park and Gadsen • :ÁÎ»§»¡ØÁ»K»§»ÒÝ´;Ø§Á»´KÎ²ũØÁÎČØ Bend, Kings Billabong, Nyah–Vinifera and Murray– the ban on dog walking in the park Kulkyne parks as well as more than 100 other areas not under the Act. • Lerderderg State Park – to remove camping as an activity at O’Briens Crossing, develop a camping area at Upper Chadwick and outline changes in related facilities.

4 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Managing natural and cultural values

Managing natural values • alpine communities – the protection of alpine bogs and fencing to protect the long-term monitoring The basis for setting strategic priorities for plots environmental management in areas under the Act includes Parks Victoria’s State of the Parks • Òº§ŪÎ§çÁÁ´»ÁººÝ»§ØíũØ¥ċÎÒØíÎÁ Effectiveness Evaluation Program and relevant ċæŪíÎÎÁØØ§»¡ÒÝÎæíÁ Ø¥ÎÒËÁ»ÒÁ Ø¥§Ò conservation action plans. On-ground works are community to herbivore management in Hattah- prioritised to protect the highest environmental Kulkyne, Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national values at greatest risk. Examples of projects in the parks various environmental management program areas • Mallee Emu-wren – a trial translocation of 40 birds are provided below. from Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Sunset national Parks Victoria’s State of the Parks program parks to Ngarkat Conservation Park in South evaluates the condition of the parks network and the Australia to increase the dispersal of self-sustaining effectiveness in meeting park management goals populations and reduce the risk of losing the for nature conservation, culture and heritage, visitor Îº§»§»¡ËÁËÝ´Ø§Á»Ò§»Ò§»¡´ÝÒ¥ċÎæ»ØŌ ÒÎæ§ÒŇÁººÝ»§Øí»¡¡º»ØŇ»ċÎ» emergency management. The information is derived Managing invasive species ÎÁºÎ»¡Á ÒÁÝÎÒ§»´Ý§»¡Ò§»Ø§ċÎÒÎ¥Ň stakeholder and community knowledge, Traditional Managing invasive species is vital to protecting our Owners, state and corporate data sets and park parks and is a key delivery area in the management manager assessments. of natural values. Programs included those at a landscape-scale as well as projects targeting In 2017–18 assessments were completed for all parks particular species in various parks. under the Act. The information collected will be used R§¡»§ċ»Ø Ý»§»¡ÁºÒ ÎÁºØ¥Á»¡Á§»¡eÒ to highlight achievements as well as current and emerging threats and issues, to inform and adapt and Pests on Public Land Program, Good Neighbour park management programs, and to report to the Program and the Sustainability Fund to support Ò§¡»§ċ»Ø§»æÒØº»Ø§»Ø¥º»¡º»ØÁ community on management outcomes. invasive species. The federal government also Parks Victoria is developing conservation action contributes funding to some projects. plans for each of its 16 planning landscapes to guide investment in environmental protection, Developing improved approaches to the improvement and restoration of the public land management of feral horses and deer was a key conservation estate, including areas under the Act. focus during the year and involved comprehensive W¥ÒË´»ÒÒØ´§Ò¥´Î´íċ»Á»ÒÎæØ§Á» ÒØ²¥Á´Î»§»ØÎ¡»íÁ»ÒÝ´ØØ§Á»ŌW¥ċÎÒØ ÁÝØÁºÒ»ËÎ§ÁÎ§Ø§Ò ÁÎÒË§ċÁ»Ū¡ÎÁÝ» strategic plan to guide the management of feral strategies and activities that can be implemented, horses in the Alpine National Park was developed by monitored and adapted. Parks Victoria and approved for implementation by the Minister. During the year, conservation action plans for the Grampians and Wimmera landscapes were Landscape-scale programs included those ÁºË´ØŇ»Ò§¡»§ċ»ØËÎÁ¡ÎÒÒçÒº summarised in Table 2 as well as the long-term ØÁçÎÒċ»´§Ò§»¡Ë´»Ò ÁÎØ¥:´´ŇN§æÎN"ÝºŇ Eden and Ark programs, which include various parks and Gippsland Plains and Strzelecki landscapes. within their scope: • Eden programs – aim to control high-threat Managing threatened species and communities invasive plants

Parks Victoria and DELWP continued to work with the – Central Highlands Eden (Baw Baw and Yarra community and key partner agencies to manage Ranges national parks and Bunyip and threatened species. This work included programs Moondarra state parks) delivered as part of managing invasive species (e.g. fox control) or habitat restoration (e.g. the Victorian – Glenelg Eden (Cobboboonee, Lower Glenelg and Alpine Peatland Protection Program). The Mount Richmond national parks, Cape Nelson government’s Biodiversity On-ground Action Program, State Park and Discovery Bay Coastal Park) including Regional Landscapes and Targeted Action – Otway Eden (Great Otway and Port Campbell projects, supported several projects in parks. national parks)

Examples of activities during the year relating to the • Ark programs – aim to control foxes to protect management of threatened species and small native mammals communities include:

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 5 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

– Central Highlands Ark (Lake Eildon and Yarra Parks Victoria continued to work with the Australian Ranges national parks and Cathedral Range Deer Association and the Sporting Shooters State Park) Association of Australia (Victoria) using volunteer hunters to help control deer, feral goats, feral pigs – Glenelg Ark (Cobboboonee, Lower Glenelg and and foxes. Projects included those in the following Mount Richmond national parks and Discovery national parks: Alpine (sambar deer), Barmah (feral Bay Coastal Park) pigs), Dandenong Ranges (sambar deer), Grampians – Grampians Ark (Grampians National Park and (feral goats and red deer), Murray-Sunset (feral Black Range State Park) goats) and Wilsons Promontory (hog deer). This collaborative program is increasingly focusing on – Otway Ark (Great Otway and Port Campbell the impacts of deer in parks. national parks) – Southern Ark (Alfred, Alpine (part), The Managing marine values section of the report Coopracambra, Croajingolong, Errinundra, Lind contains information on the control of marine pests. and Snowy River national parks, Lake Tyers State Park and Cape Conran Coastal Park).

Table 2 – Landscape invasive species control programs

PV region / program Activity

Multi-region This program seeks to control invasive species on the public-private land inter- face. Environment and agricultural weeds, including blackberry, boneseed, broom, Good Neighbour cape tulip, gorse, Patterson’s curse, serrated tussock and St John’s wort, were Program controlled in high priority areas. Established pest animals including rabbits, foxes, goats and pigs were managed to reduce their impacts and contain populations. Northern Victoria Landscape-scale rabbit management in the Mallee parks (including Hattah- Recovering Kulkyne, Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national parks) continues to be delivered Rangelands: Mallee »Îċ»ØÁ¥´ËØÁËÎÁØØæÝ´»Î´çÁÁ´»»¡ÎÒÒ´»ÁººÝ»§Ø§ÒŇ Bounceback and to minimise the damage that rabbits can cause to Aboriginal cultural heritage. Eastern Victoria Alps Intensive This program again treated blackberry, broom, willow and several other species in Management Program the Alpine National Park and included wild horse control and monitoring. Volunteers again participated in this program aimed at detecting and eradicat- Hawkweed Eradication ing the three highly invasive and state-prohibited hawkweed species (King-devil, Program Mouse-ear and Orange) from the Bogong High Plains (Alpine National Park) and the adjoining Falls Creek Alpine Resort. Melbourne Metropolitan and Melbourne Marine and Maritime W¥§ÒËÎÁ¡ÎºØÎ¡ØÒÎÒ ÁÎçº»¡º»Ø§»Ø§ċí´Á´ÁÝ»§´Ò and public land managers, including Parks Victoria. It supports projects in Peri-urban Weed Melbourne’s peri-urban areas that protect key environmental values on public Management land from high threat weeds, including, in 2017–18, in Churchill, Dandenong Partnership Ranges, Kinglake, Organ Pipes and Point Nepean national parks as well as Arthurs Seat and Warrandyte state parks. This program aims to control invasive species across the Western Port and Port Phillip Western Shoreline Ramsar sites, including broadscale programs to control Ramsar Protection ÁìÒŇ Î´¡ÁØÒŇ Î´Ë§¡ÒŇ Î´ØÒ»ÁÒØ´çÒŌW¥ËÎÁ¡Îº»ċØÒ Program native species occurring in French Island, Port Phillip Heads and Yaringa marine national parks and the neighbouring French Island National Park.

6 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Managing native animals undertaken to reduce the threats to peatlands from pest plants and animal invasion and to improve Long-term programs to manage the impact of peatland resilience. These included weed control, overabundant kangaroo and koala populations peatland rehabilitation and deer control. continued in several parks. Excessive numbers threaten habitats and can result in animal welfare &Ø¥´»ċÎÁ´Á¡íËÎÁ±ØÒçÎÝ»ÎØ²» issues. The programs are underpinned by in the Grampians and Great Otway national parks established species management plans developed (Anglesea Heath). There was pre-burn monitoring with the support of key stakeholders, including of habitat structure and camera surveys for small technical advisory committees. mammals prior to autumn mosaic burning.

Red and Western Grey Kangaroos were again Managing environmental water controlled in Hattah-Kulkyne, Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national parks as part of managing the Following the wet year of 2016–17, much of the state total grazing pressure on the parks from kangaroos, experienced generally drier than average climatic goats and rabbits to protect regenerating woodland conditions in 2017–18. This meant that many of the habitats. wetlands which were inundated in the previous year í»ØÝÎ´ČÁÁ§»¡Ň»§»ÒÁºÒÒØÁËËÝËí Overabundant koalas in Budj Bim National Park environmental water, were receding by the start of continued to be managed through the use of 2017–18. contraceptive implants. On French Island, 141 female koalas were treated with contraceptive implants, As a result of previous rainfall, environmental water with the aim of managing the population to a holders held large allocations of water for the sustainable level and protecting associated koala environment. The Victorian Environmental Water habitat on private land and within the national park. Holder (VEWH), working in partnership with Koalas were again translocated from private land on catchment management authorities, waterway Cape Otway to the Great Otway National Park. managers and land managers including Parks Victoria, was able to allocate these entitlements to Managing habitat restoration ¥§¡¥ËÎ§ÁÎ§ØíÒ§ØÒç¥Î´Î¡ČÁçÒçÎÝÒØÁ consolidate the positive ecological outcomes that Programs during the year to restore habitat through çÎØÎ§¡¡ÎíØ¥»ØÝÎ´ČÁÁ§»¡Á ĒĐđĖŌ the control of invasive weeds, pest animals and over-abundant native animals included: Water was provided by the VEWH as well as the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (The Living Murray • Hattah-Kulkyne, Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld Program), the New South Wales Department of national parks – further revegetation in the Industry and the Commonwealth Environmental semi-arid woodlands to enhance natural Water Holder. regeneration enabled by grazer control, in areas ç¥ÎØ¥ÎÎ§»ÒÝ ċ§»ØºØÝÎ» Of particular relevance to parks: reproductive trees • Alpine and Snowy River national parks – more • Alpine and Dandenong Ranges national parks – than 214 gigalitres of water was released for the control of deer to reduce the impacts of deer on »æ§ÎÁ»º»Ø§»ØÁØ¥R»ÁçíN§æÎ§»ċæ¥§¡¥ŪČÁç wet forests and alpine peatlands events, the largest volume of water ever released from Lake Jindabyne to the Snowy River in one year • Budj Bim and French Island national parks – the management of koalas (see Managing native The releases aim to support ecological processes animals) in the river below Jindabyne Dam and improve the physical attributes of the river by scouring and • Wilsons Promontory National Park – continuation depositing sediment and limiting the growth of of the program to restore coastal grassy riparian plants within the channel. woodlands, including further development of a management approach to exotic and native • Barmah National Park – a new approach to grazers in the park. regulator operation was trialled which saw most regulators in Barmah Forest open between July The Victorian Alpine Peatland Protection Program, »;ÁæºÎĒĐđėÒČÁçÒ§»Ø¥:ÝÎÎíN§æÎ established in 2013, is a partnership between Parks ËÒÒØ¥ÎÁÝ¡¥Ň´´Áç§»¡ºÁÎ»ØÝÎ´ČÁç» Victoria, the East Gippsland, North East and West rise and fall in water levels within the lower lying Gippsland catchment management authorities and forest waterways the Australian Government. Projects were

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 7 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

»ØÝÎ´ČÁÁ§»Ý¡ÝÒØĒĐđė§»Ý»Ø Monitoring natural values ËËÎÁì§ºØ´íĔĐËÎ»ØÁ Ø¥Ø§æČÁÁË´§»Ň »Òº´´ÎČÁÁ§»ºÎĒĐđė§»Ý»Ø Monitoring is a fundamental part of good park ËËÎÁì§ºØ´íĒĐËÎ»ØÁ Ø¥ČÁÁË´§»Ō management. It is essential for understanding the Environmental water was used in between these state of our natural values and the things that Ë²ÒØÁº§»Ø§»Ø¥ČÁÁË´§»ºÎÒ¥´»¥§ØØ threaten them, as well as evaluating how effectively ØÁÒÝËËÁÎØ:Á§Î¡ÎÒÒ»»Ø§æċÒ¥Î§»¡Ō these threats and the conservation and protection Environmental water was also delivered to colonial of Victoria’s special places are being addressed. This waterbird breeding sites in Barmah Forest. leads to ongoing improvement in effectiveness by highlighting where we are doing well and where we • Hattah-Kulkyne National Park – the internationally can improve. Ò§¡»§ċ»Ø&ØØ¥4²ÒÎ§æºÁÎØ¥» 110 gigalitres of water for the environment in Terrestrial environments winter–spring 2017, providing the largest §»Ý»Ø§Á»Á Ø¥ČÁÁË´§»´²ÒÒ§»Ø¥đęėĐÒ Monitoring natural values in areas under the Act included monitoring the following: This environmental water delivery capitalised Á»Ø¥ČÁÁ§»¡Á Ø¥ËÎæ§ÁÝÒíÎŇÎÁ»§»¡ • the condition and rehabilitation of threatened Ø¥ìØ»ØÁ ČÁÁ§»¡ØÁ§»Ý»ØÒºÝ¥Á Ø¥ alpine peatlands in the Alpine National Park Hattah Lakes as possible, and supporting the further germination, growth and recovery of black • the condition of vegetation in Kara Kara National box trees. Park, including threatened and depleted vegetation communities Other environmental watering relevant to parks §»´Ý§»ÎÒČÁçÒ§»Ø¥´ÁçÎ"ÁÝ´ÝÎ»N§æÎØÁ • the condition of grassland habitat and populations ÒÝËËÁÎØØ¥º§¡ÎØ§Á»Á »Ø§æċÒ¥Š4ÁçÎ"ÁÝ´ÝÎ» of threatened grassland fauna in Terrick Terrick National Park) and watering at Lindsay-Mulcra- National Park Walpolla islands (Murray-Sunset National Park). • the assemblages of ground-dwelling mammals at Managing marine values Wilsons Promontory National Park.

Marine invasive species are a serious threat to the Monitoring environmental threats in areas under the integrity of Victoria’s marine ecosystems across all Act included monitoring the following: state waters, including in protected areas. These • exotic weeds and invasive native plants in the include exotic species that harm the health of Dandenong Ranges and Grampians national parks marine ecosystems as well as overabundant native ÒË§ÒØ¥Ø§»Î»ØíÎÒ¥æÒ§¡»§ċ»Ø´í • the responses of foxes to landscape baiting impacted on important habitats. programs through various Ark projects, including in Cobboboonee, Coopracambra, Croajingolong, During the year, a marine pest initiative focused on Grampians, Great Otway, Lower Glenelg, Snowy preventing the spread of pests, particularly from River and Yarra Ranges national parks. These Port Phillip Bay to other areas of the state, as well as projects also monitor threatened mammal species responding to new and emerging issues. which are subject to fox predation

The control of overabundant Black-spined Sea • the occurrence of foxes and feral cats in Hattah- Urchins was a focus in Cape Howe Marine National Kulkyne, Little Desert, Murray-Sunset and Park and Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary. Wyperfeld national parks, in conjunction with the In South Gippsland’s Nooramunga Marine and Victorian Mallefowl Recovery Group. Coastal Park, overgrazing by the Purple Sea Urchin DELWP’s Victorian Forests Monitoring Program has created large vegetation-free barrens in provides a platform to assess and monitor the seagrass habitats while, in Port Phillip Bay, the same health and condition of Victoria’s public forests, ÒË§Ò¥Ò´ØÁÒ§¡»§ċ»Ø´§»Á »Ø§æ²´Ë support policy and management decisions, and species on reefs in Jawbone and Point Cooke marine meet its reporting obligations. As at 30 June 2018 sanctuaries. Working in partnership with research the program had measured 683 permanent partners, volunteers, Victorian Fisheries Authority monitoring plots located in State forest and forested ÒØ »ÒÁºËÎÁ ÒÒ§Á»´ċÒ¥ÎÒŇKÎ²Òd§ØÁÎ§ parks and conservation reserves. These include a has been undertaking sea urchin culling trials using ÝÎØ¥ÎċæË´ÁØÒØ¥ØçÎÒØ´§Ò¥ÝÎ§»¡Ø¥ an adaptive management approach, including year in areas under the Act. removing approximately 17 000 Purple Sea Urchins from Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary.

8 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

The program also derives information related to the • Great Otway National Park – collection of seeds state and trends of forest areas from remote sensing and individuals of the Tall Astelia and establishment products using aerial photography and satellite of a new population to mitigate the risk of climate imagery. This analysis facilitates observations of change on this threatened rainforest herb disturbance dating back to 1988 and has the capacity to produce state-wide mapping layers of • Warby-Ovens National Park – research to forest biometrics including biodiversity, carbon and ÎÁ»ÒØÎÝØËÒØ»æ§ÎÁ»º»ØÒ§»Ø¥ČÁÁË´§» indicators associated with forest health. of the Ovens River through the examination of sediment cores from wetlands

Marine environments • Wilsons Promontory National Park – investigations Improved monitoring programs are being at Kanowna Island into the breeding and foraging implemented by Parks Victoria for Point Addis and ecology of diving petrels and fairy prions in Bass Port Phillip Heads marine national parks. The new Strait. program uses standard diver-based methods as well as new technology including drones, towed Research programs video, baited remote underwater video stations Parks Victoria’s highly successful Research Partners and multibeam sonar surveys. The program runs Panel facilitates collaborative research to answer in partnership with industry and university important questions and improve park collaborations. management. During 2017–18, 17 new projects were initiated in areas under the Act, and many other Researching natural values multi-year projects continued to address critical knowledge gaps. This work was in addition to the Research authorisations hundreds of research projects facilitated and supported by Parks Victoria each year through the Research, study and investigation in areas on the research permit system. schedules to the Act are authorised under section 20 or 21A of the Act, sometimes in conjunction with Research Partners Projects cover a diverse range of a permit under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act issues and involve expert researchers and students 1988, the Reference Areas Act 1978 or the Wildlife from the partner institutions. Projects involving Act 1975. terrestrial environments during the year included:

A total of 279 research permits were issued during • Alpine National Park – partnering with the Arthur the year: 181 were new permits and 98 were renewed Rylah Institute to assess feral horse impacts on permits. These permits enabled research to be fragile alpine peatlands and other environmental carried out in 111 parks (a permit may cover more values on the Bogong High Plains to help support than one park) or in all parks if required (23 permits). the Feral Horse Strategic Action Plan

The parks for which 10 or more permits were issued • Barmah National Park – working with the (in addition to the ‘all parks’ permits) were: Alpine [»§æÎÒ§ØíÁ :´ÁÝÎ»»ċÎº»¡º»Ø (34), Croajingolong (13), French Island (12), experts to develop optimal strategies to protect Grampians (15), Greater Bendigo (10), Great Otway Á´Á¡§´´í»Ý´ØÝÎ´´íÒ§¡»§ċ»ØÎ§æÎÎ (28), Mornington Peninsula (10), Mount Buffalo (12), gum trees during planned burn operations as a Murray-Sunset (14), Point Nepean (10), Snowy River case study which can be applied to other river red (11), Wilsons Promontory (21) and Yarra Ranges (20) ¡ÝºČÁÁË´§»ÎÒ national parks, Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park (10) and Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park (16). • Great Otway National Park – continued collaboration with Deakin University to understand Research authorised under the permits included: the status of endangered mammal species in the heathlands of the park, including new research to • multiple national and other parks along the coast, identify key habitat refuges marine national parks and marine sanctuaries, from Port Campbell National Park to Croajingolong • Wilsons Promontory National Park – a new project National Park – research to quantify carbon with La Trobe University to investigate the causes sequestered by coastal ecosystems of decline in Banksias.

• Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national parks – research into the accuracy, performance and utility of remote area fuel hazard assessment techniques

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 9 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Projects involving marine environments included: Managing historic heritage

• continuing the monitoring of marine biodiversity of The management of historic heritage in parks during inshore reefs at priority marine national parks, the year included: including Point Addis, Port Phillip Heads and Wilsons Promontory • works undertaken to protect the Mount Buffalo Chalet • æ´ÁË§»¡Ø¥ċÎÒØ Ý´´ÒČÁÁÎŠØ¥íºØÎíšºË of Bunurong Marine National Park and further – major maintenance works to repair and revitalise çÁÎ²Á»æ´ÁË§»¡Ø¥ċÎÒØ Ý´´ºËÁ ¥§ØØÒ§» Ø¥ ÎÁ»Øç§»¡Á Ø¥Ý§´§»¡ŌR§¡»§ċ»Ø Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park. structural repairs were carried out on the northern wall and the ballroom roof was replaced Managing cultural values – general maintenance works, including re- ÒØÝºË§»¡»ÎË§ÎÒØÁØ¥§»ØÎ»´ç´´ÒŇČÁÁÎŇ Managing Aboriginal heritage windows and doors, repair of external stonework, replacement of weatherboards and painting of Parks Victoria continued to actively manage internal rooms and external walls Aboriginal cultural heritage values across the state. Key projects undertaken during the year included: • repairs to the machinery shed at Glenample Homestead. • continuing a collaborative project in northern Victoria to undertake Traditional Owner-led Parks Victoria also worked to improve the way in on-ground protection of Aboriginal ancestral which it manages historic heritage in parks through remains and cultural heritage places, including the development of a Heritage Asset Management App to document the condition of the fabric of – constructing rabbit-proof fencing at Lindsay substantial heritage assets (buildings) and to Island (Murray-Sunset National Park) estimate the cost of repairs and catch-up maintenance. – capping roads in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park and at Wallpolla Island (Murray-Sunset National Park) – surveying an estimated 900 registered Aboriginal places in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park

• considerable work in relation to conserving rock art, including

– commencing an audit of the condition of rock art to determine the issues and risks to rock art so that these can be prioritised for restoration and protection with Traditional Owner groups – detailed cataloguing and recording of rock art shelters, including in Black Range and Kooyoora state parks – protection works at several rock art shelters in the Grampians National Park.

10 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

:»¡§»¡ċÎ»ºÎ¡»§Ò

:»¡§»¡ċÎ Melbourne Fire and Emergency Program

ÝÒ¥ċÎÒ The Melbourne Fire and Emergency Program aims to §ºËÎÁæÝÒ¥ċÎËÎËÎ»ÒÒ§»:´ÁÝÎ»ŶÒÝÎ» W¥ĒĐđėũđĘÝÒ¥ċÎÒÒÁ»çÒ§»ČÝ»íÎí areas. This year the program included Churchill, conditions over winter and spring, followed by Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, Organ average rain through the summer months. There Pipes and Point Nepean national parks, Arthurs Seat çÎĖĕĘċÎÒÝÎ§»¡Ø¥íÎ§»ÎÒÝ»ÎØ¥ØŇ »eÎÎ»íØÒØØËÎ²ÒŇ4íÒØÎċ´KÎ²» which burnt an area of 18 417 hectares. Woodlands Historic Park.

R§¡»§ċ»Ø´íŇĒėēÁ Ø¥ÁÒċÎÒçÎºËċÎÒ Activities completed in areas under the Act again ŠÁ»Ø§»ç§Ø¥§»Ø¥ŵċÎË´Ŷš´ ØÝ»ØØ»í included works on fuel breaks, upgrading roads and ËÎ²æ§Ò§ØÁÎÒ»đĖĔçÎċÎÒÒØÎØíºËċÎÒŒ ØÎ²ÒØÁ§ºËÎÁæÒÒ ÁÎċÎæ¥§´ÒŇËÎËÎ§»¡ ÎÍÝÒŌW¥ÎçÒ¡§»Ò§¡»§ċ»ØÁºË´§» Ë´»»ÝÎ»¡ÒŇº¥»§´ºÁ§ċØ§Á»Á activity by Parks Victoria and DELWP in relation to ÝÒ¥ċÎ Ý´»´§æÎ§»¡ËÒØË´»ØÁ»ØÎÁ´çÁÎ²Ò ºËċÎÒŌW¥ÁØ¥ÎÒ§¡»§ċ»ØÝÒÁ ÝÒ¥ċÎÒ post-burn as part of a 10-year program to improve this year in areas under the Act was lightning. vegetation condition to offset native vegetation losses from previous fuel break works. There was W¥´Î¡ÒØċÎ Ø§»¡ËÎ²ÒçÒØ¥WºÁÎ§Ø¥ũ ´ÒÁÒ§¡»§ċ»ØËÎÁ¡ÎºÁ ÁººÝ»§Øí Dingo Hill Track Fire, which burnt 10 839 hectares in »¡¡º»Ø§ºØËÎÁºÁØ§»¡ċÎÒ Øí remote areas of the Alpine National Park. Parks behaviour and community education. Victoria worked with DELWP to develop strategies Ø¥Ø´´ÁçØ¥ċÎØÁº»¡ØÁº§»§º§Ò Planning, monitoring and research biodiversity impacts and help reduce fuel levels. The ċÎçÒÁ»ØÎÁ´´ÝÒ§»¡ì§ÒØ§»¡ØÎ²ÒÒÁ»ØÎÁ´ W¥ÎçÎÒæÎ´ÝÒ¥ċÎ:Á»§ØÁÎ§»¡æ´ÝØ§Á» ´§»ÒØ¥ØÎÍÝ§Îº§»§º´¥§¡¥§ºËØÝÒ¥ċÎ and Reporting (MER) projects undertaken in areas suppression tactics (e.g. minimal use of bulldozers). under the Act. These projects provide valuable §» ÁÎºØ§Á»ØÁ§» ÁÎºÝÒ¥ċÎº»¡º»Ø Planned burning planning.

Dry conditions in early autumn delayed the start of KÎŪ»ËÁÒØŪċÎ Ý´¥òÎºÁ»§ØÁÎ§»¡çÒ the autumn planned burning program. Following rain undertaken to determine the effectiveness of in late March, conditions improved but were variable planned burning. Additionally, a fuel accumulation across the state in 2017–18. There were 67 completed pilot project was completed in the Grampians and burns undertaken in areas under the Act, treating a Lower Glenelg national parks, which will help inform total area of nearly 21 300 hectares. ÒØÎØ¡§ÝÒ¥ċÎº»¡º»ØË´»»§»¡»§» ÁÎº Ý´ÝºÝ´Ø§Á»ØÝÒ§»ċÎ¥æ§ÁÝÎ This area included burns in the following national prediction models. parks: Burrowa-Pine Mountain (approximately 1000 ha), Grampians (3600 ha), Murray-Sunset Ò§¡»§ċ»ØÁºËÁ»»ØÁ Ø¥:NËÎÁ¡Îº§Ò» (2700 ha), Little Desert (2100 ha) and Yarra Ranges ecosystem resilience monitoring program which was (just over 2300 ha) as well as in Mount Lawson State initiated in 2017–18 as a pilot involving monitoring Park (3700 ha). Also included were several burns habitat and fauna at 106 sites in the Grampians and totalling approximately 450 hectares in the Great Greater Bendigo national parks and Lerderderg AØçí;Ø§Á»´KÎ²Ňç¥§¥ÎÝÝÒ¥ċÎÎ§Ò² RØØKÎ²ŌW¥§ÒÒ§»Ø§ċ´´íŪÒËÎÁ¡Îº§ºÒ to some coastal communities along the Great Ocean to establish 2200 sites in native vegetation on public Road. land by 2025. In addition, there were four ecosystem resilience projects undertaken, one in each of four Planned burning was also undertaken in Wilsons Parks Victoria regions (Table 3). The outputs from Promontory National Park as part of the program to these MER projects will be used to inform improved restore Coastal Grassy Woodlands. ÒØÎØ¡§ÝÒ¥ċÎº»¡º»ØË´»»§»¡Ō

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 11 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Table 3 – Monitoring evaluation and reporting projects

PV region Park Activity Assessing habitat and fauna, focused on the Anglesea Western Victoria Great Otway NP heathlands. Assessing different mitigation techniques for protecting Northern Victoria Barmah NP Ò§¡»§ċ»Ø¥§ØØ»Ý´ØÝÎ´Î§æÎÎ¡ÝºØÎÒ§» relation to planned burning operations. Monitoring the effects of planned burning on the rare Eastern Victoria Croajingolong NP Mountain Banksia to improve knowledge of key meas- ÝÎÒÝÒ§»ÝÒ¥ċÎË´»»§»¡Ō

Melbourne :Á»§ØÁÎ§»¡ċÎ ØÒÁ»ċÎŪÒ»Ò§Ø§æØ¥ÎØ» Yarra Ranges NP Metropolitan species, such as Leadbeaters possum.

NP National Park

:»¡§»¡ÎÁæÎí ÎÁºÝÒ¥ċÎÒ» • Wye River-Jamieson Track Fire (2015–16) – there was community consultation in planning for future other emergencies visitor facilities in the Great Otway National Park The recovery program associated with various as part of the recovery program, which is reaching emergencies since 2014 continued, along with the delivery phase of community recovery projects º»¡º»ØÁ æÎ§ÁÝÒċÎ»ÒØÁÎºæ»ØÒØ¥Ø from state funding of $3.4 million occurred during the year: • ċÎÒŇÒØÁÎºÒ»ČÁÁÒŠĒĐđĖũđėšũØ¥Òæ»ØÒ • "ÎºË§»Ò;Ø§Á»´KÎ²ċÎŠĒĐđĔšũºÁÎØ¥» affected numerous areas under the Act (including $4 million has been spent to date on recovery from some which were already in recovery from earlier Ø¥§ÒċÎŇç§Ø¥ËÎÁ¡ÎººçÁÎ²ÒË´»»ØÁ events such as the Alpine, Kinglake, Lake Eildon, conclude in December 2018 Murray-Sunset and Yarra Ranges national parks and Cathedral Range State Park), leading to a R§¡»§ċ»ØËÎÁ±ØÒÁºË´Ø§»ĒĐđėũđĘ§»´Ý recovery program of more than $10 million that is visitor asset repair or replacement, environmental ÝÎÎ»Ø´í§»Ø¥ċ»´ÒØ¡ÒÁ ËÎÁ¡Îºº§»¡» works such as the Integrated Pest Herbivore delivery. Control Program and the mapping, management and control of sallow wattle, and cultural heritage works including developing a Gariwerd Cultural Heritage Action Plan, a traditional ecological knowledge project, cultural site cataloguing and rock art conservation.

12 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Encouraging visitors, tourism and community involvement Enhancing visitor enjoyment and tourism Supporting visitors with disabilities

Parks Victoria continued to improve visitor and Parks Victoria continued its work to ensure parks are tourist access and enjoyment while maintaining park more accessible for people with a disability and to values and reducing risks. encourage greater inclusion. During the year:

Works to enhance visitor enjoyment and increase • Dandenong Ranges National Park – the volunteer nature-based tourism opportunities included: Sherpa program for visitors with mobility issues was expanded to include this park. There is a TrailRider • Grampians National Park – work on Stage 2 of the for visitor use at Grants Picnic Ground and visitors Grampians Peak Trail, including upgrading 50 can now explore selected walking trails in Sherbrooke kilometres of pre-existing tracks, designing hiker Forest with the assistance of Sherpa volunteers camps, securing planning approvals and undertaking ecological and cultural heritage • Wilsons Promontory National Park surveys along the entire trail length – an all-abilities Junior Ranger program was • Mount Buffalo National Park – upgrading the day delivered to children visiting the park over the visitor area at the Gorge and works on the lower Easter school holidays car park – there was work on developing a social script • Port Campbell National Park (using clear, focused language and pictures) to help children on the autism spectrum who may – design work for Stage 1 of the Shipwreck Master visit Tidal River Plan, which consists of a new Saddle Lookout and – Parks Victoria again supported Blind Sports and trails at the Twelve Apostles, a new lookout at the Recreation Victoria through its Walk in the Park Blowhole at Loch Ard and a new pedestrian Program for blind and vision impaired visitors bridge and trail at Port Campbell Creek undertaking group bushwalks in selected parks. – the engagement of Wannon Water to design Group camps were also held at Wilsons Promontory works to deliver drinking water from Port National Park and Cape Conran Coastal Park Campbell to the Twelve Apostles Visitors Centre and a new sewerage pipeline from the centre to • Yarra Ranges National Park – a trial was initiated at a treatment facility in Port Campbell selected sites in the park of a prototype accessible gate with a locking system for those walking paths • Wilsons Promontory National Park – that have entrance barriers installed to prevent dirt commencement of the design of works at the Wilson bike access. The gate allows visitors in wheelchairs Promontory Lightstation, including replacing the to open the gate independently with a special key. roofs of several buildings and upgrading the drinking water supply infrastructure and the sewer system Visits to parks • Arthurs Seat State Park – further implementation Parks Victoria’s latest Visitor Number Monitor, of the landscape master plan, including upgrading conducted in 2016–17, estimated that there were walking tracks, visitor facilities, carparks and 42.3 million visits made to national and state parks planning for the extended carpark associated with during that period. This is an 11.9 per cent increase the Arthurs Seat Eagle (gondola) on the number recorded in 2014–15. The monitor is • Bay of Islands Coastal Park – further planning, a biennial survey covering a sample of Victorian, including a cultural heritage assessment, for the interstate and international visitors and will be replacement of the steps at Childers Cove. conducted again in 2018–19. There is evidence of increasing visitation to parks under the Act. For example:

• Port Campbell National Park – at the Twelve Apostles, there was an 8.5 per cent increase in visitors during the year and a 10 per cent increase during the Chinese New Year period compared to the same period last year

• Wilsons Promontory National Park – there was a record number of day visitors to the park during the summer peak period and the most visitors over the Labour Day and Easter weekends.

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 13 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Licensed tour operators Volunteers

Tour operators are licensed to run organised tours Volunteers from a wide range of partner »ÎÎØ§Á»´Ø§æ§Ø§Ò ÁÎËÎÁċØÁ»d§ØÁÎ§» organisations, as well as individuals, made an public land. As at 30 June 2018 there were 496 extremely important contribution to the management operators licensed to operate in areas under the Act. of many parks under the Act. They provided a diversity of services including research, natural values and cultural heritage restoration, visitor services, Informing, interpreting and educating asset management and much more. Information, interpretation and education services Organisations including Bushwalking Victoria, Four relating to areas under the Act were provided to Wheel Drive Victoria and Friends groups contributed encourage visits, manage risks, increase knowledge many hours of volunteer time. For example: and understanding of parks and biodiversity, and encourage visitors to develop a stronger connection • the Land Rover Owners Club of Gippsland with the environment. contributed more than 1000 hours to the Wonnangatta Icon Drive in the Alpine National Park Information about parks continued to be provided to the public through Parks Victoria’s information • the Hawkweed Eradication Program in the Alpine service (13 1963), the Parks Victoria website, social National Park involved 92 volunteers and media and the Park Notes and Visitor Guides. contributed to the discovery and control of infestations of Orange, King devil and Mouse-ear Face-to-face interpretation activities were delivered to hawkweeds. 22 144 adults and children in 43 parks under the Act. This included delivery to 10 051 students at 26 parks, The involvement of volunteers in citizen science and the delivery of Parks Victoria’s Junior Ranger continued to grow, with many important Program to 8219 participants at 34 parks under the Act. contributions across the state, including Sea Search and Reef Life Survey. In January 2018 Coastcare Victoria’s annual coastal and marine activity program, Summer by the Sea, The Australian Deer Association and the Sporting was again delivered as a partnership between Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) again Coastcare Victoria, Parks Victoria and Victorian provided valuable support for several projects Fisheries Authority. The program included activities relating to managing invasive species (see Managing in coastal and marine areas protected under the Act. invasive species).

Junior Ranger Program Volunteers also contributed to programs designed to assist visitors in parks, such as the Campground The introduction of new Community Engagement Host, Four Wheel Drive Camp Host, Volunteer Sherpa Ranger roles across the state has supported the and Volunteer Track Ranger programs. growth of the Junior Ranger Program. Activities were ÎÝ»§»ċæ»çËÎ²Òº»¡Ý»ÎØ¥Ø ÁÎØ¥ ċÎÒØØ§ºŌ

There was also further development of resources to support the Junior Ranger Program, including two new activity booklets themed around alpine and river environments, as well as an animation to attract new families and increase mailing list subscriptions.

There was also work on developing a new training manual to increase the interpretation skills of rangers involved in delivering activities.

Bush Kinder

During 2017–18 there were Bush Kinders operating in 12 parks managed under the Act, including Dandenong Ranges, Kinglake and Grampians national parks, Arthurs Seat and Warrandyte state parks, Nyah-Vinifera Park and Mushroom Reef and Rickets Point marine sanctuaries.

14 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Partnering with Traditional Owners

DELWP and Parks Victoria continued to work with • Gunaikurnai parks – joint management activities, Traditional Owners across the state to implement including joint and co-operative management arrangements and to support the involvement of Traditional – the preparation of a geotechnical report and Owners in park management. installation of protection measures at New Guinea Cave II (Snowy River National Park) Joint management – Ý´ØÝÎ´ºËË§»¡Á Ò§¡»§ċ»ØÁÎ§¡§»´Ë´Ò and stories at Lake Tyers State Park. As at 30 June 2018 there were joint management arrangements in relation to parks under the Act with Co-operative management the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (north central Victoria), the Gunaikurnai Land and Parks Victoria continued to work cooperatively with Waters Aboriginal Corporation (Gippsland) and the the Budj Bim Council and the Gunditj Mirring Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation (Barmah Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation in the National Park). management of Budj Bim National Park, and with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Of particular note during the year was the Corporation in the management of Little Desert and considerable work associated with the preparation Wyperfeld national parks, Mount Arapiles-Tooan of management plans for the jointly managed parks. State Park and Lake Albacutya Park. These cover 10 areas under the National Parks Act. The plans aim to enable the knowledge and culture of the Traditional Owners to be recognised and Other Traditional Owner partnerships incorporated in the management of the various parks: Parks Victoria continued to work closely with other • the Dhelkunya Dja Traditional Owner Land Traditional Owner groups across the state to manage :»¡º»ØÁÎċ»´§ÒÎ Ø±Á§»Ø cultural landscapes and on several priority Aboriginal management plan which was released for public cultural heritage conservation projects focusing on comment and includes four Dja Dja Wurrung protecting ancestral burial sites and conserving rock jointly managed parks under the Act (Greater art (see Managing Aboriginal heritage). Bendigo and (most of) Kara Kara national parks and Kooyoora and Paddys Ranges state parks) Strategic discussions continued between the state and the Gariwerd Native Title Claim Group (which • the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land includes Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Gunditj :»¡º»ØÁÎçÁÎ²Á»ċ»´§Ò§»¡Š ÁÎ Mirring and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporations) release in 2018–19) the joint management plan in relation to an area that includes the Grampians that includes six Gunaikurnai jointly managed National Park and Black Range State Park. parks under the Act (Mitchell River, Tarra-Bulga, The Lakes and Snowy River (New Guinea Caves) There were also negotiations with the Eastern Maar, national parks, Lake Tyers State Park and Gunditjmara, Taungurung, Wathaurong and "§ËËÒ´»4²ÒÁÒØ´KÎ²šŌW¥Ë´»§ÒØ¥ċÎÒØ eÁØ±Á´Ý²WÎ§Ø§Á»´Aç»Î¡ÎÁÝËÒØÁċ»´§Ò such plan to be prepared in Victoria. recognition and settlement agreements under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010, which cover In addition to management planning, joint various national and other parks under the Act. management arrangements included the following activities:

• Dja Dja Wurrung parks – there was a focus on the joint management employment program, including

– creating a new cultural heritage ranger position with responsibility for assessing cultural heritage in the jointly managed parks – employing an archaeologist to provide advice and technical support to the ranger team – enrolling two joint management rangers in an Aboriginal Heritage Management Course – assessing cultural heritage sites

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 15 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Supporting park management

Management arrangements Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment Act 2017 The Secretary is responsible under the Act for ensuring that the parks and other areas to which the On 15 December 2017 this amending Act amended Act applies are controlled and managed in the National Parks Act to: accordance with the Act. • add 6332 hectares of the Anglesea Heath to the Parks Victoria, established under the Parks Victoria Great Otway National Park, with provision for a Act 1998, is responsible through a management further 88 hectares to be added after Alcoa agreement for managing the parks and other areas surrenders a further part of its lease under the Act on behalf of the Secretary. Various powers under the Act have been delegated to • alter the boundaries of Croajingolong and Greater employees of Parks Victoria. Bendigo national parks, Warrandyte State Park and Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park DELWP, on behalf of the Secretary, works with Parks (see Changes to areas managed under the Act) Victoria and provides strategic policy advice to the and correct the boundaries of Lower Goulburn Minister and the Secretary. Under the Act, the National Park and Warrandyte State Park Director of National Parks (who is the chief executive Á ċÎÁ KÎ²Òd§ØÁÎ§šËÎÁæ§Òæ§ØÁØ¥ • change the name of Mount Eccles National Park to Minister and the Secretary on the operational Budj Bim National Park elements of park management. • remove the Secretary or nominee and the Director R§¡»§ċ»Ø¥»¡ÒØÁØ¥ÁæÎÎ»¡º»ØÒç§´´ Á ;Ø§Á»´KÎ²ÒŠØ¥¥§ ìÝØ§æÁ ċÎÁ occur on 12 September 2018 as a result of the Parks Victoria) from membership of the National commencement of the Parks Victoria Act 2018 (see Parks Advisory Council Legislation). • streamline the provisions relating to the payment Parks Victoria’s 2017–18 business plan sets out the of sitting fees and/or allowances to the National management services and strategic priorities to be Parks Advisory Council and park advisory delivered for the year. Its annual report contains committees. information on the organisation and its operations for the year. DELWP and other organisations also Parks Victoria Act 2018 contributed to the parks program during the year. This Act was introduced into Parliament on 20 February 2018 and received Royal Assent on Legislation 5 June 2018. It comes into operation on 12 September 2018. It re-establishes Parks Victoria as a strengthened Amendments to the Act and more independent park management agency with ÒË§ċÁ±ØÒŇìË» Ý»Ø§Á»Ò»§ÎØ´» Victorian Fisheries Authority Act 2016 management powers and responsibilities. There will no longer be a management agreement between the A»đ1Ý´íĒĐđėØ¥§Ò»çØ´ØÎØ¥ċ»§Ø§Á»Á Secretary and Parks Victoria. ŵÝØ¥ÁÎ§ÒÁ ċÎŶÒÁØ¥Ø§Ø§»´ÝËÎÒÁ» appointed under the Victorian Fisheries Act as an The new Act contains several tools to assist Parks ÝØ¥ÁÎ§ÒÁ ċÎ ÁÎØ¥ËÝÎËÁÒÒÁ Ø¥;Ø§Á»´ Victoria’s management of parks and reserves, KÎ²ÒØŌW¥§Òç§´´»´ÒÝ¥ÝØ¥ÁÎ§ÒÁ ċÎÒ including: to assist in enforcement operations in parks. • requiring Parks Victoria to prepare a statewide Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung land management strategy that sets out the murron) Act 2017 general long-term directions, strategies and priorities for the protection, management and use This new Act aims to enhance the strategic planning of the land it manages – this will include the areas and management of the Yarra River and certain managed under the National Parks Act and must land in its vicinity. On 1 December 2017 this Act be consistent with that Act amended the National Parks Act to specify the obligations of the Secretary in relation to Yarra River • enabling Parks Victoria to prepare land land and when preparing a management plan for a management plans for the land it manages which park that forms part of Yarra River land. may cover more than one park or reserve – the preparation of such plans will, if applicable, be considered to have met the requirement to prepare a management plan under the National Parks Act.

16 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

The Act makes many consequential amendments to Other authorities granted under the Act or the the National Parks Act, including: N¡Ý´Ø§Á»Ò§»´ÝËÎº§ØÒ ÁÎÁººÎ§´ċ´º§»¡ and photography (section 21(1)), tour operator • making Parks Victoria, instead of the Secretary, licences (section 27D) (see Enhancing visitor responsible for the control and management of enjoyment and tourism), authorisations in relation parks under the National Parks Act and carrying ØÁËÎØ§Ý´ÎÁººÎ§´ċÒ¥§»¡æÒÒ´ÒØÎ»Ò§Ø§»¡ out various functions or powers Cape Howe Marine National Park (section 45A(4A) and event permits. Bee site licences are now granted • repealing the provisions relating to park advisory under the Land Act 1958 in relation to parks. committees and the Alpine Advisory Committee (Parks Victoria will be able to establish advisory committees as necessary under the Parks Victoria Consents to public authorities Act) Table 5 lists the consents granted under section 27 of Ø¥ØØÁËÝ´§ÝØ¥ÁÎ§Ø§ÒŠÒċ»§»Ø¥ØšØÁ • enabling the Minister to gazette certain works or carry out works, subject to conditions, in various parks. classes of permanent works which do not require ministerial approval Authorisation to hunt deer • updating the references to the former Warby Range State Park (now part of Warby-Ovens On 7 March 2018 an authorisation of the Secretary National Park) as a park where the searching for was published in the Government Gazette authorising gemstones may be permitted ÎØ§»´ÒÒÒÁ ËÎÒÁ»ÒØÁÎÎí»ÝÒċÎÎºÒÁÎ other weapons (bows and cross bows) in the course of • repealing several redundant provisions. hunting deer by stalking in the Avon Wilderness Park, WÎN»¡KÎ²»ÒË§ċÎÒÁ Ø¥´Ë§»» Baw Baw national parks. This authorisation also Authorities under the Act repealed previous notices applying to those parks. Leases, licences and other authorities Enforcement In relation to leases and licences granted under the Act: There were 13 individuals successfully prosecuted • Croajingolong National Park – the lease held by during the year for committing offences under the KRR Services Pty Ltd under section 19G of the Act Act (11) or the Regulations (15).1 Most of the offences for the operation and management of the Thurra related to carrying or possessing a gun or other River and Mueller Inlet campgrounds was weapon (9) or to dogs (6). surrendered and the sites vacated effective 30 April 2018 There were 105 infringement notices issued during the year in relation to prescribed offences against • Mornington Peninsula National Park – a three-year the Act or the Regulations. These included offences licence was granted under section 19K of the Act to relating to dogs (40), camping outside an area set Portsea Surf Life Saving Club Inc for the aside or an occupation site (17), lighting or construction of an access road and installation of º§»Ø§»§»¡ċÎŠđĖšŇÝÒÁ æ¥§´Šėš» services as part of the redevelopment of its ÎÎØ§Á»´ċÒ¥§»¡§»ºÎ§»»Ø§Á»´ËÎ²ÁÎ clubrooms that are subject to a lease. marine sanctuary (6).

The following agreements were progressed to W¥ÎçÎ´ÒÁēĐÁ ċ§´çÎ»§»¡Ò»ĒçÎ»§»¡Ò facilitate the Haining Farm Concept Plan: issued in relation to offences under the Act or the Regulations. • a deed of surrender of the Sharefarm Agreement to cease farming activities at Haining Farm

• a new 12-month licence under section 26A of the Act over parts of Haining Farm for grazing purposes and a residence.

Table 4 lists permits granted under section 21(1)(c)(ii) of the Act in relation to carrying out particular businesses.

1 The numbers refer to prosecutions during the year for which successful results were obtained regardless of when the offences took place.

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 17 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Table 4 – Permits

Park Permittee Purpose Dandenong Ranges, Hang Gliding Use and maintain hang gliding and paragliding sites Great Otway, Mornington Federation of Australia Peninsula, Mount Buffalo and Victorian Hang and Yarra Ranges NPs Gliding and Paragliding Association Bay of Islands, Cape Liptrap and Discovery Bay CPs Baw Baw NP Individual Mobile food van Knoxbrooke Training and skills courses at Tyson’s House and Dandenong Ranges NP Incorporated adjacent greenhouses Mobile food van and toboggan hire Yarra Ranges NP Individuals (2) Mobile food van Cape Conran CP Individuals (2) Mobile food van

CP Coastal Park NP National Park

Table 5 – Consents to public authorities

Park Public authority Purpose (»ÒØ´´ċÎÁËØ§´ÒËÎØÁ Ø¥;Ø§Á»´ Great Otway NP NBN Corporation Ltd Broadband Network. Murrindindi Shire Á»ÒØÎÝØËÝ´§ÝÒ¥ċÎººÁÎ§´Ø!Î»² Kinglake NP Council Thomson Reserve. Goulburn-Murray Region Lake Eildon NP Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection. Water Corporation Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection South East Water to public toilets at Sorrento. Mornington Peninsula NP Corporation Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection to public toilets at Koonya, Portsea and Rye. Yarra Ranges Shire Yarra Ranges NP (»ÒØ´´ċÎċ¡¥Ø§»¡çØÎØ»²ÒØ´²RËÝÎŌ Council Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection South East Water as part of Arthurs Seat Skylift development. Arthurs Seat SP Corporation Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection to Summit public toilets. AusNet Electricity Install underground powerlines to replace existing Bunyip SP Service Pty Ltd above ground powerlines. Mount Granya SP Telstra Corporation Ltd Install telecommunications equipment. Warrandyte SP Manningham City Council Operate a public listening post at Whipstick Gully. Optus Fixed Woodlands HP (»ÒØ´´ċÎÁËØ§´Ø"´´§Î»&§´´Ō Infrastructure Pty Ltd

HP Historic Park NP National Park SP State Park

18 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Interstate cooperation Advisory bodies

Australian Alps Cooperative Management National Parks Advisory Council Program The National Parks Advisory Council is appointed The Memorandum of understanding in relation to under section 10 of the Act. Its main functions are to the cooperative management of the Australian Alps advise the Minister generally in relation to the national parks (the MOU) covers – in Victoria – the administration of the Act and on particular matters Alpine, Baw Baw, Mount Buffalo and Snowy River in relation to which its advice is required under the national parks and the Avon Wilderness Park. Act or is sought by the Minister.

The purpose of the MOU is to promote cross-border On 15 December 2017 the Act was amended to cooperation in the protection and management of this remove the Secretary (or his or her nominee) and the ¥§¡¥´íÒ§¡»§ċ»ØÁ»ÒÎæØ§Á»ÎŌW¥ ÁÝÎ¡»§Ò Director of National Parks (the Chief Executive involved in the MOU are Parks Victoria, the NSW A ċÎÁ KÎ²Òd§ØÁÎ§š ÎÁºØ¥ººÎÒ¥§ËÁ National Parks and Wildlife Service, the ACT Parks and the council. The council now comprises eight non- Conservation Service and the Commonwealth government members. As at 30 June 2018 the Department of the Environment and Energy. members were:

Several workshops and forums were held during the Convenor: Mr Doug Humann AM year, including a Volunteer Co-ordinators Forum, an Iconic Walks Summit, an Australian Alps Science Members: Associate Professor Ursula De Jong Management Forum and an Australian Alps cycling Ms Judith Dixon track scoping workshop. Mr Michael Fendley Ms Anna Foley AØ¥ÎËÎÁ±ØÒ»§»§Ø§Ø§æÒ§ºØ»ċØ§»¡ Mr Adam McLean mountain catchments and ecosystems across the Dr Mary-Jane Rogers Alps included: Mr Chris Rose.

• Î¥§æ§»¡Ø¥Ò§»Ø§ċ´¡íÁ Î´ÁÒØ§»Ň The council’s annual report for 2017–18 provides a pre-eminent alpine ecologist (Year 1 of 2) information on the council and its activities during the year. • training dogs to detect hawkweeds in the landscape and incorporating them into an There were also several non-statutory advisory integrated invasive species program (Year 2 of 2) groups which provided advice on the management of various parks. • monitoring sambar deer using GPS collars to uncover the secrets of this highly damaging pest species (Year 1 of 3)

• quantitatively assessing the abundance of feral horses

• using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle assessment of feral horse impact on streambanks and wetlands (Year 2 of 3)

• recording the stories of Aboriginal people with connection to the Alps

• a visual ecology communications project (an art/ science partnership).

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 19 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Appendix 1 Areas managed under the National Parks Act A National parks (Schedule Two)

Area (ha) Addition Excision Area (ha) National park 30 June 2017 (ha) (ha) 30 June 2018 1 Alfred 3 050 3 050 2 Alpine 661 777 661 777 3 Barmah 28 505 28 505 4 Baw Baw 13 530 13 530 5 Brisbane Ranges 8 885 8 885 6 Budj Bim# 8 565 8 565 7 Burrowa-Pine Mountain 18 400 18 400 8 Chiltern-Mt Pilot 21 650 21 650 9 Churchill 271 271 10 Cobboboonee 18 510 18 510 11 Coopracambra 38 800 38 800 12 Croajingolong *88 500 27 *88 525 13 Dandenong Ranges 3 535 3 535 14 Errinundra 39 870 39 870 15 French Island *11 160 *11 160 16 Grampians 168 235 168 235 17 Greater Bendigo** 17 324 0.36 0.14 17 324 18 Great Otway *104 015 6 332 ^*110 332 19 Gunbower 9 330 9 330 20 Hattah-Kulkyne 49 975 49 975 21 Heathcote-Graytown 12 700 12 700 22 Kara Kara 13 990 13 990 23 Kinglake 23 210 23 210 24 Lake Eildon 27 750 27 750 25 Lind 1 370 1 370 26 Little Desert 132 647 132 647 27 Lower Glenelg 26 430 26 430 28 Lower Goulburn 9 320 9 320 29 Mitchell River 14 395 14 395 30 Mornington Peninsula *2 680 *2 680 31 Morwell 565 565 32 Mount Buffalo 31 020 31 020 33 Mount Richmond 1 733 1 733 34 Murray-Sunset 665 400 665 400

20 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Area (ha) Addition Excision Area (ha) National park 30 June 2017 (ha) (ha) 30 June 2018 35 Organ Pipes 153 153 36 Point Nepean *578 *578 37 Port Campbell *1 830 *1 830 38 Snowy River 114 600 114 600 39 Tarra-Bulga 2 015 2 015 40 Terrick Terrick 6 390 6 390 41 The Lakes 2 390 2 390 42 Warby-Ovens 14 750 14 750 43 Wilsons Promontory *49 049 *49 049 44 Wyperfeld 359 445 359 445 45 Yarra Ranges 77 185 77 185 Total – National parks 2 905 482 2 911 824

# Formerly known as Mount Eccles National Park. * Area includes the area of the national park located beneath a marine national park. ** Parts of Greater Bendigo NP extend only to 100 metres below the land surface. ^ Area of park re-calculated. B Wilderness parks (Schedule Two A)

Area (ha) Area (ha) Wilderness park 30 June 2017 30 June 2018 1 Avon 39 650 39 650 2 Big Desert 142 300 142 300 3 Wabba 20 100 20 100 Total – Wilderness parks 202 050 202 050

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 21 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

C State parks (Schedule Two B)

Area (ha) Addition Excision Area (ha) State park 30 June 2017 (ha) (ha) 30 June 2018 1 Arthurs Seat 565 565 2 Black Range 11 700 11 700 3 Broken-Boosey 1 010 1 010 4 Bunyip 16 655 16 655 5 Cape Nelson 210 210 6 Cathedral Range 3 616 3 616 7 Dergholm 10 400 10 400 8 »ċ´ 4 400 4 400 9 Holey Plains 10 740 10 740 10 Kooyoora 11 350 11 350 11 Lake Tyers 8 680 8 680 12 Langi Ghiran 3 040 3 040 13 Leaghur 2 050 2 050 14 Lerderderg 20 185 20 185 15 Moondarra 6 330 6 330 16 Mount Arapiles-Tooan 7 470 7 470 17 Mount Buangor 2 400 2 400 18 Mount Granya 6 140 6 140 19 Mount Lawson 13 150 13 150 20 Mount Napier 2 800 2 800 21 Mount Samaria 7 600 7 600 22 Mount Worth 1 040 1 040 23 Paddys Ranges 2 010 2 010 24 Reef Hills 2 020 2 020 25 Warrandyte 693 0.03 0.02 *689 26 Werribee Gorge 575 575 Total – State parks 156 829 156 825

ł NČØÒÁÎÎØ§Á»ØÁØ¥ËÎ²Ë´»ØÁÎºÁæÎÒ§»ÁÎÎØ´íË§ØÒËÎ²ŠĔŌđ¥šŌ

22 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

D Other parks (Schedule Three)

Area (ha) Area (ha) Other park 30 June 2017 30 June 2018 1 Bay of Islands CP 950 950 2 Beechworth HP 1 090 1 090 3 Cape Conran CP 11 700 11 700 4 Cape Liptrap CP 4 320 4 320 5 Discovery Bay CP *10 460 *10 460 6 Gadsen Bend Park 1 620 1 620 7 Gippsland Lakes CP 17 688 17 688 8 Haining Farm 66 66 9 Kings Billabong Park 2 195 2 195 10 Lake Albacutya Park 8 300 8 300 11 Langwarrin FFR 214 214 12 4íÒØÎċ´KÎ² 1 397 1 397 13 Murray-Kulkyne Park 4 555 4 555 14 Nyah-Vinifera Park 1 370 1 370 15 Steiglitz HP 430 430 16 Tara Range Park 7 620 7 620 17 Tyers Park 1 810 1 810 18 Woodlands HP 820 820 Total – Other parks 76 605 76 605

CP Coastal Park FFR Flora and Fauna Reserve HP Historic Park * Area includes the area of the park located beneath a marine national park.

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 23 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

E Other parks and reserves (Schedule Four)

Area (ha) Addition Area (ha) Other park or reserve 30 June 2017 (ha) 30 June 2018 1 Bunurong MP *1 660 *1 660 2 Castlemaine Diggings NHP** 7 585 1.66 ^7 590 3 Corner Inlet MCP *18 000 *18 000 4 Deep Lead NCR (No. 1)** 1 120 1 120 5 Nooramunga MCP 15 000 15 000 6 Shallow Inlet MCP 2 000 2 000 7 Wilsons Promontory MP ) *10 000 *10 000 8 Wilsons Promontory MR ) Total – Other parks and reserves 55 365 1.66 55 370

MCP Marine and Coastal Park MP Marine Park MR Marine Reserve NCR Nature Conservation Reserve NHP National Heritage Park * Area includes the area of the park or reserve located beneath a marine national park. ** Castlemaine Diggings NHP and Deep Lead NCR (No. 1) extend only to 100 metres below the land surface. ^ Area of park re-calculated and rounded up.

24 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

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. There were no changes to the wilderness zones during the year.

Area (ha) National park Wilderness zone 30 June 2018 1 Alpine Mount Darling-Snowy Bluff 40 400 2 Alpine Razor-Viking 15 700 3 Alpine Indi 13 800 4 Alpine Cobberas 10 000 5 Alpine Buchan Headwaters 30 000 6 Alpine Tingaringy 7 900 7 Coopracambra Genoa 19 400 8 Croajingolong Sandpatch 15 600 9 Croajingolong Cape Howe 7 100 10 Murray-Sunset Sunset 126 900 11 Murray-Sunset Minook 38 700 12 Murray-Sunset Galpunga 35 700 13 Murray-Sunset Mount Cowra 23 500 14 Snowy River Snowy River 27 000 15 Snowy River Bowen 17 500 16 Wilsons Promontory Wilsons Promontory 21 800 17 Wyperfeld North Wyperfeld 97 900 18 Wyperfeld South Wyperfeld 61 300 19 Wyperfeld Chinaman Flat 29 800 Total – Wilderness zones 640 000

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 25 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

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. There were no changes to the remote and natural areas during the year.

Area (ha) National park Remote and natural area 30 June 2018 1 Alpine The Governors 8 100 2 Alpine Macalister 33 300 3 Alpine Dandongadale 3 700 4 Alpine Bundara-Cobungra 13 700 5 Alpine Bogong 16 300 6 Alpine Davies Plain 10 500 7 Alpine Suggan Buggan 17 800 8 Alpine Upper Snowy 11 800 9 Baw Baw Baw Baw Plateau 6 500 10 Burrowa-Pine Mountain Mount Burrowa 6 200 11 Coopracambra Mount Kaye 8 100 12 Croajingolong Rame Head 9 800 13 Errinundra Brodribb 7 700 14 Grampians Victoria Range 14 000 15 Grampians Serra Range 11 200 16 Grampians Major Mitchell Plateau 6 900 17 Little Desert Little Desert 16 400 18 Mount Buffalo North Buffalo 6 500 19 Murray-Sunset South Sunset 24 000 20 Wilsons Promontory Wilsons Promontory Islands (12) 469 21 Wilsons Promontory Southern Wilsons Promontory 14 400 22 Wyperfeld Hopping Mouse Hill 32 100 Total – Remote and natural areas 279 469

26 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

H Marine national parks (Schedule Seven)

There were no changes to the marine national parks during the year.

Area (ha) Marine national park* 30 June 2018 1 Bunurong 2 100 2 Cape Howe 4 050 3 Churchill Island 670 4 Corner Inlet 1 550 5 Discovery Bay 2 770 6 French Island 2 800 7 Ninety Mile Beach 2 750 8 Point Addis 4 600 9 Point Hicks 4 000 10 Port Phillip Heads 3 580 11 Twelve Apostles 7 500 12 Wilsons Promontory 15 550 13 Yaringa 980 Total – Marine national parks 52 900

* Marine national parks extend only to 200 metres below the land surface. Some partly overlay parts of other parks under the Act. I Marine sanctuaries (Schedule Eight)

There were no changes to the marine sanctuaries during the year.

Area (ha) Marine sanctuary 30 June 2018 1 Barwon Bluff 17 2 Beware Reef 220 3 Eagle Rock 17 4 Jawbone 30 5 Marengo Reefs 12 6 Merri 25 7 Mushroom Reef 80 8 Point Cooke 290 9 Point Danger 25 10 Ricketts Point 115 11 The Arches 45 Total – Marine sanctuaries 876

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 27 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

J Other areas (non-scheduled)*

There were no changes to the non-scheduled areas during the year.

Area (ha) Area Section of Act 30 June 2018 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 Long Forest NCR 19B 283 6 Lower Glenelg PPR and SLR 19B 24 7 Main Ridge NCR 19B 64 8 Moreep BR 19B 10 9 Nyerimilang Park 19B 200 10 Wychitella NCR 19B 3 780 11 Mt St Gwinear access road 19C 35 12 Commonwealth land adjacent to Woodlands Historic Park 19D 31 13 Picnic area at McKenzie’s Flat (Lerderderg State Park) 19E # 14 Blackwood Ranges Track (Lerderderg State Park) 19E # 15 Glenample Homestead 32AA 8 Total – Other areas 4 442

N ÝÒ¥´»NÒÎæ ł A»´íÒË§ċÒØ§Á»ÒÁ Ø¥ØËË´íØÁØ¥ÒÎÒŌ NCR Nature Conservation Reserve # Area approximately 0.1 ha. PPR Public Purposes Reserve SLR Scenic Lookout Reserve

28 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

K Summary – areas managed under the Act

No. of areas Area (ha) Area (ha) Category 30 June 2018 30 June 2017 30 June 2018 A National parks (Schedule Two) 45 2 905 482 2 911 824 B Wilderness parks (Schedule Two A) 3 202 050 202 050 C State parks (Schedule Two B) 26 156 829 156 825 D Other parks (Schedule Three) 18 76 605 76 605 E Other parks and reserves (Schedule Four) 8 55 365 55 370 H Marine national parks (Schedule Seven) 13 52 900 52 900 I Marine sanctuaries (Schedule Eight) 11 876 876 J Other areas (non-scheduled) 15 4 442 4 442 Total 139 3 454 549 3 460 892

L Unproclaimed additions

As at 30 June 2018 the following legislation provides for future additions to the parks system.

Act Provision of Act Park Area (ha) 1 National Parks Act 1975 50K Greater Bendigo National Park *16 2 National Parks Act 1975 78 Greater Bendigo National Park *245 3 National Parks Act 1975 79 Great Otway National Park *88 4 National Parks Act 1975 Schedule One AA Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park *2 clause 20 5 National Parks (Amendment) Act 1989 29(3) Moondarra State Park 178 Total – unproclaimed areas 529

* Area will become part of the park on surrender of the title or lease to the Crown.

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 29 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Appendix 2 Location of parks and other areas National and other parks and 45 Mornington Peninsula NP 91 Tarra-Bulga NP areas 46 Arthurs Seat SP 92 Morwell NP 1 Murray-Sunset NP 47 Main Ridge NCR 93 Holey Plains SP 2 Hattah-Kulkyne NP 48 Bald Hills BR 94 Gippsland Lakes CP 3 Murray-Kulkyne Park 49 Flinders NCR 95 The Lakes NP 4 Big Desert WP 50 Flinders NIR 96 Mitchell River NP 5 Wyperfeld NP 51 French Island NP 97 Nyerimilang Park 6 Lake Albacutya Park 52 Langwarrin FFR 98 Snowy River NP 7 Little Desert NP 53 Churchill NP 99 Errinundra NP ĕĔ 4íÒØÎċ´KÎ² 8 Mount Arapiles-Tooan SP 100 Coopracambra NP 9 Dergholm SP 55 Bunyip SP 101 Lind NP 10 Black Range SP 56 Dandenong Ranges NP 102 Alfred NP 11 Grampians NP 57 Warrandyte SP 103 Cape Conran CP 12 Deep Lead NCR (No. 1) 58 Organ Pipes NP 104 Croajingolong NP 13 Lower Glenelg NP and 59 Woodlands HP and adjacent 105 Kings Billabong Park Cobboboonee NP Commonwealth land 106 Gadsen Bend Park 14 Discovery Bay CP 60 Kinglake NP 107 Nyah-Vinifera Park 15 Lower Glenelg PPR and SLR 61 Haining Farm 108 Gunbower NP 16 Mount Richmond NP 62 Yarra Ranges NP 109 Lower Goulburn NP 17 Cape Nelson SP 63 Cathedral Range SP 110 Lake Tyers SP 18 Budj Bim NP 64 Lake Eildon NP Marine national parks and 19 Mount Napier SP 65 Mount Samaria SP marine sanctuaries 66 Reef Hills SP 20 Langi Ghiran SP A Discovery Bay MNP 21 Mount Buangor SP 67 Broken-Boosey SP 68 Barmah NP B Merri MS 22 Paddys Ranges SP C The Arches MS 23 Kara Kara NP 69 Warby-Ovens NP 70 Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP D Twelve Apostles MNP 24 Kooyoora SP E Marengo Reefs MS 25 Wychitella NCR 71 Beechworth HP 72 Mount Granya SP F Eagle Rock MS 26 Leaghur SP G Point Addis MNP 27 Terrick Terrick NP 73 Mount Lawson SP 74 Burrowa-Pine Mountain NP H Point Danger MS 28 Greater Bendigo NP I Barwon Bluff MS 29 Heathcote-Graytown NP 75 Wabba WP 76 Mount Buffalo NP J Port Phillip Heads MNP 30 Castlemaine Diggings NHP K Point Cooke MS 31 Lerderderg SP and 77 Alpine NP 78 Avon WP L Jawbone MS associated leased areas M Ricketts Point MS 32 Long Forest NCR 79 Baw Baw NP and Mt St Gwinear access road N Mushroom Reef MS 33 Werribee Gorge SP O Yaringa MNP ēĔ »ċ´RK 80 Moondarra SP P French Island MNP 35 Moreep BR 81 Tyers Park 82 Mount Worth SP Q Churchill Island MNP 36 Brisbane Ranges NP R Bunurong MNP 37 Steiglitz HP 83 Bunurong MP 84 Cape Liptrap CP S Wilsons Promontory MNP 38 Bay of Islands CP T Corner Inlet MNP 39 Port Campbell NP 85 Shallow Inlet MCP 86 Wilsons Promontory NP U Ninety Mile Beach MNP 40 Glenample Homestead V Beware Reef MS 41 Tara Range Park 87 Wilsons Promontory MP 88 Wilsons Promontory MR W Point Hicks MNP 42 Great Otway NP X Cape Howe MNP 43 Point Nepean NP 89 Corner Inlet MCP 90 Nooramunga MCP BR Bushland Reserve 44 Collins Settlement HS CP Coastal 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 NCR Nature Conservation Reserve SP State Park MCP Marine and Coastal Park NHP National Heritage Park WP Wilderness Park MNP Marine National Park NIR Natural Interest Reserve MP Marine Park NP National Park

30 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning X 150 102

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•

105

BOR River Y H W 19 Mildura • • Warrnambool Ouyen Lake Albacutya 10

6 Wimmera 18 Lake Hindmarsh HWY G N L

R Horsham

Rocklands Reservoir E

HWY E N HENTY T E

S 8

1 E A G

Portland

W R Hamilton

5 annon E

17 W •

I W 7 16 13

PRINCES MALLEE 15 1

River Glenelg 14 9

4 STURT

National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 31 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

32 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 delwp.vic.gov.au