Parks Victoria Annual Report 2013–2014 I]^heV\ZVeeZVghWaVc`#DcXZXdckZgiZYidVc#Zeh[^aZ i]Zad\dWZXdbZhkZXidgVgi#I]^hXVci]ZcWZeaVXZYdc VXdadjgZYWVX`\gdjcY#I]ZhZ[^aZhVgZbV^canjhZYWn <gVe]^X9Zh^\cZgh#BV`ZhjgZi]^hiZmi^hgZbdkZY# Contents Report of operations Chief Executive’s message 4 Chairman’s message 4 About Parks Victoria 5 Year in review 9 Connecting people and parks 12 Conserving Victoria’s special places 16 Providing benefits beyond park boundaries 24 Enhancing organisational excellence 27 Compliance and disclosures 32 Appendix Disclosure statement 39 Financial report Annual financial statements 41 Through their rich culture, Aboriginal Traditional Owners have been ISSN 1448 – 9082 intrinsically connected to this continent – including the area now ISSN 1448 – 9090 (Online) known as Victoria and the state’s parks – for tens of thousands of years. Parks Victoria recognises this connection and acknowledges Published on www.parks.vic.gov.au the Traditional Owners of these areas. Photography: Charlie Brown (cover), Flynn Hart (inside front cover), Parks Victoria manages many different sites such as piers, waterways, Mark Rodrigue (inside back cover) ports, bays, historic buildings, trails, urban parks, small conservation reserves and large national parks. For the sake of brevity, these are collectively described in this document as ‘parks’ unless a specific type of site or park is mentioned. For further information about Parks Victoria and the parks it manages visit www.parks.vic.gov.au or call 13 1963. Copyright © State of Victoria, Parks Victoria 2014. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Level 10, 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Australia. Parks Victoria Annual Report 2013–2014 3 Chief Executive’s message In 2013–14, Parks Victoria released Shaping Our Future – our strategy to actively work with the community and partners for the shared management of Victoria’s parks over the next decade and beyond. In delivering our vision, Parks Victoria will focus on the We supported the Department of Environment and Primary following themes: Industries, Country Fire Authority, Metropolitan Fire Brigade and other fire and emergency services to respond to the • Connecting people and parks worst fire conditions since Black Saturday. • Conserving Victoria’s special places Statewide efforts to reduce the impact of invasive plants and • Providing benefits beyond park boundaries animals continued, exceeding on-ground targets. Scientific • Enhancing organisational excellence. monitoring with research partners progressed which ensures We believe Victoria’s parks are vital to the environmental, that park management decisions continue to be based on economic, social and cultural wellbeing of the state and the best evidence available. make a commitment of personal leadership on delivering It was a year in which over 30,000 volunteers contributed this strategy. We invite all friends, partners and everyone to the management and care of Victoria’s parks – surpassing who loves Victoria’s parks to participate. 2012–13 as the largest volunteer effort in Parks Victoria’s history. This report provides a snap shot of the substantial work I would like to thank Parks Victoria staff and supporters Parks Victoria delivered during the year. for all their efforts over the past year and look forward In 2013–14, we undertook significant organisational reforms to 2014–15. to create a more resilient organisation. This included a project Bill Jackson focused on improving organisational culture, reforming Chief Executive policies and procedures and making major improvements to occupational health and safety practices and information technology systems. Chairman’s message On behalf of the Parks Victoria Board, it is my pleasure to present the 2013–14 Parks Victoria Annual Report. It was a pivotal year in the history of our organisation with A highlight of the year was the commencement of the the launch of our new vision: to be a world-class park service Traditional Owner Land Management Agreement between ensuring healthy parks for healthy people. It is a confident the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and the vision that demonstrates our passion to our customers, State in September 2013. Parks Victoria also continued to stakeholders and the community. It gives clarity to where work closely with Aboriginal Traditional Owners and the we are heading and what we want to achieve. broader community to support a concerted and inclusive heritage management program of Victoria’s special places We are very proud of our organisation. The achievements and landscapes. of our staff and organisation over the past year have been commendable. We continued as a leader in nature- The safety of our staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors based tourism with the development of draft master plans remained paramount in all activities in 2013–14. We for the Grampians Peaks Trail, Shipwreck Coast and the continue to be committed to conserving Victoria’s many Falls to Hotham icon walk. We supported the Victorian special places we are responsible for, encouraging the Government initiative to redevelop of the Mount Buffalo community to value and benefit from them, supporting Chalet, progressed works on the Great Ocean Walk and local economies and helping to make communities safe. worked with tourism bodies across the state to promote I would like to thank the Board and all Parks Victoria staff connection with parks and nature. We also developed our and partners for the tremendous effort in 2013–14. commercial business systems to ensure we maximised the revenue from commercial services provided across the Andrew Fairley park network. Board Chairman 4 CEO and Chairman’s Message About Parks Victoria Who we are Parks Victoria also works in partnership with catchment management authorities, other government organisations, Parks Victoria is a statutory authority established under the private land owners, community groups, volunteers, licensed Parks Victoria Act 1998 to protect and enhance Victoria’s tour operators, lessees, research institutes and the broader parks and waterways on behalf of the government. The community. Together we work, plan and collectively achieve responsible Minister for the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June great outcomes for Victoria’s parks and amazing landscapes. 2014 was the Hon Ryan Smith MP, Minister for Environment and Climate Change. Vision Victoria’s network of parks is diverse and far reaching, covering Parks Victoria is a world-class park service ensuring healthy 4.1 million hectares of the state. It includes national parks, parks for healthy people. marine parks and sanctuaries, wilderness areas, state and metropolitan parks, thousands of Aboriginal and post- Approach European cultural and heritage sites, several local ports and major rivers, and around 70 per cent of Victoria’s coastline. Backed by research confirming the positive impact that time spent in nature has on health and wellbeing, the four key Parks Victoria delivers services across the state to ensure principles embedding Healthy Parks Healthy People into parks are healthy and resilient. Services include conserving Parks Victoria’s approach are: park ecosystems, protecting cultural heritage, developing opportunities for community involvement and preparing • The wellbeing of all societies depends on healthy for, responding to and recovering from fire, floods and ecosystems other emergencies. • Parks nurture healthy ecosystems Parks Victoria has a clear role to play in connecting people • Contact with nature is essential for improving emotional, and communities with parks. Research suggests that time physical and spiritual health and wellbeing spent in nature improves people’s health, reduces stress and promotes physical wellbeing. Parks Victoria developed and • Parks are fundamental to economic growth and to vibrant named this approach: Healthy Parks Healthy People. Healthy and healthy communities. Parks Healthy People is at the core of everything we do. Parks Victoria works with the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) and the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (DTPLI) to deliver land and waterway management services. Recognising and acknowledging Aboriginal heritage and connection to Country, we work in partnership with Traditional Owners in the joint management of parks. Parks Victoria Annual Report 2013–2014 5 Commitments Parks attract 95.8 million visits each year. Of these visits, 51.2 million are to parks and 44.6 million are to piers and In addition to the values defined in the Code of Conduct jetties around the bays. for Victorian Public Sector Employees, Parks Victoria has developed six commitments that underpin our vision and Organisational structure approach. Parks Victoria commits to: Parks Victoria’s Chief Executive is appointed by the Board, • Put safety first as approved by the Minister. The Board reviews the • Provide excellent customer service performance of the Chief Executive on an annual basis. • Collaborate During the reporting period, Parks Victoria’s Chief Executive • Lead innovation was Dr Bill Jackson. • Be accountable • Act with integrity. Parks Victoria’s Board The Parks Victoria Board has responsibility for the governance What we manage of Parks Victoria. On the recommendation of the Minister Parks Victoria manages an expanding estate covering more for Environment and Climate Change, Board members than 4.1 million hectares,